How to remove dust in your home in 7 easy steps

1. Dry dusting vs Wet dusting.
   
   Both dry dusting and wet dusting have their own benefits and drawbacks. Dry dusting is done with a dry cloth, feather duster, or microfibre cloth (very much like our favourite Magiclean duster wipes), where as wet dusting is, well, with dusting a wet/damp cloth. When you do dry dusting, dust is very effectively collected onto the cloth, but the loose dust on the surfaces of your furniture is likely to be shaken into the air. This would probably irritate your nose, and if you are asthmatic, be extremely uncomfortable. The dust in the air will also eventually settle somewhere else. Wet dusting, while it lowers the chance of having dust fly around in the air, the moist surface that is left behind after dusting attracts even more dust. Choose between these two options, one might just work better for your home!
2. Remove carpeting – or if you can’t, vacuum it well and often.
   
   Carpets collect dust, which ends up as good breeding grounds for germs and dust mites, and can be laborious to clean thoroughly. We say ditch the carpets! Or clean damn regularly enough.
3. Remove clutter from the floor
   Dust easily settles on them even if you’re cleaning around them. Best that you put these things away where they belong, and don’t leave them lying around
4. Wash bedding and pillows regularly
   Dead skin cells and dust get collected on your bed so it is important to wash the sheets and take care of the mattress and pillows. Throw them in the washing machine and add baking soda along with detergent.
   
5. Keep the humidity levels in your home between 40-50%
   This reduces static as this is likely to attract and trap dust, making it difficult to move and leave the room. Installing a dehumidifier could be useful for some people, but proper maintenance and upkeep to prevent mould from developing is important and could be a hassle.
   
6. Use air purifiers in your room.
   Some people opt for HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorption) air filter that helps clean the air in the room. Be warned that ozone is released and could really affect those people with asthma. Alternatively, choose fan-powered cleaners instead.
   
7. Try to keep pets out of the bedroom.
   Their fur carries dust and pathogens from outdoors, and having them snuggle up with you on your bed is going to be really bad for your health.

Do you know your curtains?

Your curtains help to frame your house. Not taking care of them might affect the overall ambience at home. Here are 2 very important things you need to know about your curtains:

1. They are (actually) pretty dirty.

A lot of people ignore and neglect the curtains during their regular cleaning. What we don’t realise is that curtains are very good at trapping dust in the home, which can affect the health of family members, especially if they have asthma. This makes it a hotspot for germs to grow and may make you ill. Most of the time, it is sufficient to give your curtains a proper vacuum to get rid of the dust.

 

2. They need professional care for washing.

It’s unlikely that your curtains are going to survive a normal wash in the machine like the rest of your clothes. They need special attention. The first (and best) choice is to send it for professional cleaning. These people know exactly how to clean your curtains without damaging them. It is also probably worth the extra cost if it’s going to prevent you from having to buy new ones. Alternatively, you can try sending them for dry cleaning. This option is still a risk as incompetent companies may not be familiar with the appropriate moisture level required for unique curtain-types, which could lead to shrinking and tight creasing.

4 simple steps to take care of your mattress properly!

A good night’s sleep is so important for us. It determines how you will wake up the next morning and can affect your mood for the rest of the day! More importantly, your body is supposed to recover and recuperate during your sleep, yet an unclean or neglected mattress could be the very thing making you fall sick. Here are 4 simple things you can do to take care of your mattress:

1. Rotate the mattress so that the part where your head rests is now at the foot of the bed. This reduces the chance of creating permanent depressions which affects the longevity of your mattress. Do this every 3-4 months.
2. Flip your mattress (unless you use a pillow-top mattress) once every 3-4 months
3. Use a mattress protector. This helps to maintain the condition of the actual mattress more effectively and the protector is easily washed or can be replaced.
4. Clean the mattress by leaving baking soda on the mattress-top for about ten minutes before vacuuming it up. This helps to remove odours and bed bugs that may be living in the mattress.

 

It’s as simple as that! Make sure you clean your sheets regularly and you’ll feel like you’re sleeping on a bed fit for the king!

Shine On

Feeling a little lacklustre these days? Maybe some of the dullness from your furniture is rubbing of on you.

Here’s a fool-proof list of ideas on how to keep different surfaces shiny!

Mirrors – Rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) and coffee filters

Add a little dab of rubbing alcohol on a stack of a few coffee filters. The rubbing alcohol cleans thoroughly and evaporates perfectly, and the coffee filters tidy up the debris without leaving anything behind. Do a final wipe down with a microfibre cloth! 

Tarnished Silver – Baking soda and hot water

Line a sink or bowl with aluminium foil (shiny side facing up) and place all tarnished silver pieces inside. Add a cup of baking soda over the items and fill the bowl up with HOT water. Leave to sit until water cools down. Take everything out and wipe away residue. 

Tarnished Brass – Lemon juice and baking soda

Make a paste using lemon juice and baking soda. Wipe the brass with the paste using a soft cloth.

Wood furniture – (120ml) Olive oil and (60ml) lemon juice

Mix olive oil and lemon juice to make your own wood furniture polish.Use a small amount each time when applying. Store in the fridge between uses. 

Marble – Soap and water

Never use acidic cleaners (lemon juice, vinegar) on marble because they will cause etching marks on the surface. Instead, soap and water is sufficient. If stains seep into the surface, create a paste from baking soda, dish soap and water and apply directly. Cover it in plastic wrap and leave it moist for a day 

 

 

 

 

6 dogs you need that can actually help you clean the house

It’s that time of the week again. How am I going to finish doing the dishes, mopping the floors, cleaning the toilets, dusting the furniture and washing the laundry….

What if all we needed was an extra pair of paws? Select your helper:

1. Laundry Dog

Provides top quality services for both top-loading and front-loading washing machines. Disclaimer: Not sure if able to separate whites from colours due to colour blindness. But still a great help.

2. Dishwashing Dog

Dirty plates and utensils guaranteed a thorough and generous wipe down with this great dishwasher. Not a trace of food will remain. Disclaimer: Noise rating may fluctuate – expect short spurts of barking sounds.

3. Vacuuming Dog

Cordless and able to target areas under low furniture/awkward corners. Most importantly, easily rechargeable with treats.

4. Mop Dog

Larger than other mop heads found in the market, with quality comparable to using premium microfibre mops. Expect a spotless, squeaky clean home over a game of “fetch”.

5. Dust-busting Dog

Our french maid comes dressed in a black with white trim one-piece uniform. Ooh La La, not another speck of dust will ever be seen.

6. Speed-Cleaning Dog

Most popular choice. Best for families that regularly engage in 10-minutes-before-guests-arrive mass clean-ups. Fully trained and certified in an elite shuttle run college – now a qualified master at tidying up under 5 minutes.

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Warning: All helpers require adequate attention when off-duty and will not be held responsible for causing undying emotional attachment with family.