Scary chocolate stains on your carpet?
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Halloween is just around the corner and those chocolate stains just have a way of finding our carpets and they often remain long after Halloween is over. It’s always better to get to work on those stains as soon as possible. If you have excess chocolate on the carpet, gently scrape it away and dispose of it. Add a tablespoon of liquid hand dish washing detergent to a couple of cups of warm water. Gently wet the chocolate stain and sponge until thoroughly dampened. Grab some white kitchen roll and blot until stain disappears. If stain remains sponge again and blot.
We wish you a fun and safe Halloween!
If you have a particularly stubborn carpet stain you can always call us at 480-821-1481 and we’d be happy to help.
Cleaning Your Indoor Air Naturally
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I love living here in Arizona but I would prefer it if the dust stayed outside where it belongs! This long summer with our windows mostly closed and our air conditioning units running 24/7 can leave us wondering how clean the air really is in our homes and offices. I have spoken previously about how we can each take simple steps to reduce our indoor air pollution, but did you know that certain plants help to clean our indoor air?
Since the 1960s NASA have been looking at ways to clean the environment using plants. A NASA scientist by the name of Wolverton spent years examining how plants can work effectively to clean indoor environments both here on earth and potentially in space and other planets. Read more about his findings here.
It is suggested that there are 10 houseplants that can improve indoor air quality. Remember to check if any of these plants are toxic to pets before placing them in your home.
Here’s to cleaner indoor air and a healthier living environment for our families. To take advantage of our current specials please sign up for our e-newsletter today by visiting our website at cleannfreshcleaning.com. To schedule an appointment please call The Clean Team at 480-821-1481.
Just like you, I enjoy volunteering and ‘giving back’ to my local community and beyond. I volunteer with several causes that I am passionate about helping. We have an opportunity for you to help a worthy cause and have fun at the same time. Sound good? As President of Kyrene Corridor Rotary Club I would like to invite you to join us for a day out of winetasting here in Arizona. Proceeds will be going towards eradicating polio. Details are below. Hope you can join us! ‘Like’ us on Facebook at CLEANNFRESHAZ and tell us about your favorite charity.
Have a fun & safe Labor Day weekend…
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This weekend is Labor Day weekend so we thought we’d share some Labor Day facts.
Did you know?
- Labor Day is the first Monday in September.
- The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City.
- In 1884 the first Monday was chosen as the Labor Day holiday.
- According to the US Dept of Labor this day is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
- Unofficially Labor Day marks the end of the summer, although here in Arizona our temperatures are still soaring. We have just experienced the hottest August on record and our heat advisories continue into the 11th day!
Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend whatever your plans are. We’d love to hear about your plans for the long weekend at CleannFreshAZ. If your carpet is looking tired after your weekend guests, it’s probably time for a professional clean. Call us at 480-821-1481 for a quote.
Are your hard earned $ melting away?
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It’s August here in the valley of the sun and this week we are seeing some more record breaking temperatures - 115 degrees tomorrow! Keeping your home cool and trying to stop those hard earned dollars melting out the door can be challenging. Our a/c is humming away 24/7 and those bills just sky rocket until we feel the temps dip in late October. According to SRP, air conditioning can account for 50% or more of your electric bill.
Quick tips:
- If you have an off-peak time for electricity and gas, find out from your provider what those times are. Use your dishwasher, dryer and washer during the off-peak times.
- If you are not at home raise the thermostat temperature by a couple of degrees. Better still, have a programmable thermostat installed so that the temperature is lower when you are at home.
- Fans help to cool a room and reduce your a/c bill as a result.
- Closing your curtains/shutters during the high heat of the day will assist with keeping the house cooler.
- Tinted windows in your house will reduce the strong glare and heat of the sun. An awning installed over a window can provide extra shade inside.
- Find new ways to grill your food using your outside BBQ. It’ll keep the heat outside where it belongs. Using the oven indoors will only bring the inside temperature up quicker.
- You can find many more cooling and money saving tips for the home at http://www.srpnet.com/energy/ess/cooling.aspx .
Stay cool in this extreme heat and don’t forget to join us at www.facebook.com/cleannfreshAZ. We would love to hear how you are staying cool this summer. What have you found effective for cooling the house AND saving money?
Do I Hear Silence?
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During August some moms in the valley are sad, others are leaping with joy and many have emotions somewhere inbetween. It’s back to school! Children have approximately 8-11 weeks summer break in the valley of the sun and that is enough to exhaust even the most patient parent. If the return to school has brought quiet to your house during the school day, it is a good time to check your house for that summer break damage, plus get some household tasks completed that have been on your ‘to do’ list since school finished in May.
Post Summer Break Checklist
Carpets – Time to spot clean carpets. If there are more spots than carpet, it’s a good time to get those carpets cleaned. This also helps with reducing indoor air pollution that tracks in on shoes, bare feet and pets.
Upholstery – Time to spot clean, or, if necessary, get a professional in to clean your sofa and chairs.
Tile and grout – Heavy traffic on your tile and grout may have taken it’s toll on it’s appearance during the summer. It’s time to assess the damage and, if necessary, get a professional cleaner in to do the job.
Windows – You can clean the inside of your windows to get rid of sticky finger prints. However, it may be wise to leave the main outdoor window cleaning until the end of the monsoon season. You don’t want another haboob sweeping through spoiling your hard work, plus the strong summer sun makes smudge free windows a rare achievement.
Closets - If you have recently bought new school clothes for your children, it’s a good time to look through their closet and donate items that they have outgrown over the summer. It’ll make more room for the new school clothes.
If you just want to put your feet up and RELAX, or you are too busy to clean your house, call us and we can send one of our trustworthy employees out to bring CLEAN and FRESH back into your home. Hopefully your post summer break house assessment will be quick and easy to fix, but if you need additonal help or cleaning advice, please don’t hesitate to call Clean ‘N Fresh Cleaning Service at 480-821-1481.
Are you getting your H2O?
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The temperatures are above 100 degrees during our Arizona summer, so it seems the perfect time to remind ourselves of the importance of keeping the family hydrated. It’s a regular occurence on our local news channels – stranded hikers being rescued by firefighters after hikes “turned bad”, or rather hikers ran out of water. Many hikers wildly underestimating how much water they would need in the intense heat of the Arizona sun.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, water helps to:
- Keep temperature normal
- Lubricate and cushion your joints
- Protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues
- Get rid of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements.
So it’s vital for our survival and let’s remember that on average, up to 60% of our bodies are water.
We need to stay hydrated and avoid dehydration. Signs of mild dehydration can include:
- Feeling sleepy and lethargic
- Dry skin
- Headache
- Feeling dizzy/lightheaded
Further symptoms and information on dehydration
There is so much information out there in cyberspace on how much water we should be drinking daily, and apparently it is not so easy to calculate exactly how much we need from day to day. Here’s some information on water consumption from the experts and some practical tips from www.cdc.gov on how to increase your water consumption on a daily basis to a healthy level.
Enjoy Arizona this summer and stay hydrated – Your body will thank you!
We would love to know how you stay cool and hydrated this summer in Arizona. Connect with us on Twitter @CLEANNFRESHAZ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CleanNFreshAZ.
Here in the Valley we experienced the worst dust storm or haboob that most valley residents remember in recent years. It rolled in and engulfed the valley early evening last week, and the sky turned dark in minutes. We expect the occasional dust storm during our monsoon season but this was one to be remembered. The storm at it’s worst looked like a winter’s snow storm. The dust created from the haboob was deposited in our yards and some made it’s way into our houses on our shoes, clothes, pets and through the small window and door vents in our houses, adding to the indoor air pollution in our homes. Take a look at this amazing video taken by a local photographer of the dust storm fast approaching http://youtu.be/RLGCmnX_yH4
A study by researchers at John Hopkins University found an association between increasing levels of indoor air pollution and the severity of asthma symptoms among children. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors. The causes of asthma are complex, but studies suggest that indoor air pollution can trigger asthma attacks.
Reduce indoor air pollution by not allow smoking in the house. Use high-efficiency air filters for your heating and air-conditioning system. Get rid of mold and mildew and do not use scented candles or air fresheners. Do not use spray cleaners or aerosols, and ventilate a room where a fuel-burning appliance is used and, wherever possible, vent to the outside. Use pest control that is hypoallergenic. Ensure that your flooring is cleaned/vacuumed regularly and leave your shoes at the door. Placing a mat inside and outside the door will reduce the amount of dust that enters your home on visitor’s shoes.
At Clean ‘N Fresh Cleaning Service we are on the forefront of new products and procedures to help clients achieve their goals for cleaner indoor environments.
As always we welcome your comments and feedback. Please join us at Clean ‘N Fresh Cleaning Facebook page. We value your opinion!
Clean ‘N’ Fresh Cleaning Service offers a wide range of services to both commercial and residential clients. Call us at 480-821-1481
Carpet Spot Cleaner Pitfalls
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We all need a spot cleaner on our carpet now and again, particularly with children and pets. Be aware that not all spot cleaners are created equally!
Avoid all-purpose cleaner on your carpet. The spot cleaner should be intended for use on carpets only. All-purpose cleaners generally leave a trouble causing residue that is difficult to remove and causes re-soiling.
Do not use any canned foam cleaners on your carpet. The foaming agents generally leave a sticky re-soiling residue which is also difficult to rinse out of the carpet.
Clean ‘N Fresh Cleaning sells a complete range of spot cleaners. For more details and to purchase please visit our store or call us at 480-821-1481.
Tips for Hosting a Green Summer Party
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If you are hosting a summer party this year for your family, neighbors and friends, here are some easy ways to make the celebration a little greener:
- Avoid using disposable plastic, Styrofoam or paper plates and replace them with reusable ones.
- Use cloth napkins, if it’s practical with your number of guests.
- Use stainless or silverware, instead of plastic.
- Use glass, or ceramic cups and mugs.
- Compost your kitchen food scraps, remembering you cannot compost meat or grease.
- Reuse plastic margarine tubs or yoghurt containers for storing leftovers.
- Lower the lights inside to create a warm ambiance that’s relaxing. You could use sustainable candles to create a flattering light, keeping in mind safety at all times.
- Keep a recycle trash can in your kitchen or your backyard so that it’s easy for your guests to see and use.
- Buy locally grown fruit and vegetables to prepare your food. It will taste delicious and be more eco-friendly. Try the local Farmer’s Market for produce.
REMEMBER, it’s good to be passionate about “Being Green”, but don’t spend your party preaching. Your guests are there to have fun and enjoy your good food, drink and excellent company. Hopefully seeing your great ideas will encourage others to follow suit.
ENJOY!
At Clean ‘N Fresh Cleaning we understand the importance of cleaning Green. Call us today at 480-821-1481 to schedule your next cleaning appointment.
