Lemons Lemons Lemons

Lemons Lemons Lemons

If you’re wondering why lemons and lemon juice are often recommended for cleaning, you’re not alone. I had the same question, but a quick search confirms this is down to the properties found in citric acid. These help lemon juice function as an antibacterial, antiseptic, and bleaching agent.

This is also what makes lemons so great in a kitchen, where you’re bound to confront a wide variety of messes in all of these categories and more, from grease to rust.

Cleaning My Countertops
We live in a rental, and—if I’m being honest—our countertops are not my preferred finish. They’re a black granite that instantly shows any crumb or mark, and can easily look scuffed and stained. Paired with hard water, the area next to my sink is constantly dull and covered in white limescale rings.

Usually, we tackle these with either an all-purpose spray or white vinegar, both of which work fine—though I’m not the biggest fan of the vinegar smell.

Because lemon is supposed to be great for removing these stains, I decided this was a good place to start. I simply cut a lemon down the middle, and used one half as if it were a sponge, wiping in a circular motion around the whole area. The end result?

Not too bad, actually! It removed the rings, and smelled great. This is definitely something I’d do again, especially if I had a leftover lemon I could use rather than toss.

Killing Bacteria on Wooden Accessories
Like many kitchens, most of our cooking utensils and cutting boards are wooden. Because of the aforementioned antibacterial properties found in citric acid, I learned that wooden kitchen accessories take well to being cleaned with lemon. Naturally, I decided to take the second half of my countertop lemon and scrub accordingly.

Once again, the lemon smelled great and it certainly didn’t seem to harm anything (with no suds and no shiny, sparkling end result, I honestly can’t be sure if it worked).

I think in the future, this would be a great option to quickly clean after cutting veggies or stirring pasta water with my wooden spoon. Though for anything with real bacteria—such as raw meat—I’ll stick to more traditional dish soap.

Removing Odors From a Microwave
For my next lemon-flavored trick, I cut a second lemon in half and squeezed all the juice into a Pyrex measuring cup full of water. Then, I popped the glass container into my microwave and blasted it until it was boiling.

After a recent family movie night that left our microwave smelling extra buttery, this was my favorite hack so far. The odor was completely cleared, leaving only the scent of lemons in its wake.

This is one I’m sure I’ll do again and again.

Leaving Glassware Streak-free
I let this microwaved mixture cool in the fridge, and then poured it into a spray bottle and tackled a few drinking glasses, wiping them down with the solution. While I was promised a streak-free shine, I was dubious about this tip—and I was right to be.

The end result wasn’t particularly streak-free, and I decided to revert back to my normal cleaning methods for glass moving forward.

Conclusion
Out of the many natural home cleaning hacks I’ve seen and tried – this makes the top of my list. I loved the way it made my kitchen smell, and in a few places, it was incredibly effective. My favorite, hands down, was to remove the odor in my microwave.

How to make cleaning a game with kids

How to make cleaning a game with kids

Teaching your kids to clean up after themselves can be a chore in itself. (And good luck trying to enlist an extra pair of hands when you’re trying to declutter or deep clean the entire house.) Though having a little one at home means it’s inevitable that mounds of toys and clothes will pop up, there are actually plenty of ways to make cleaning fun for your kids. Making kids part of the solution is all it takes. And at the end of the day, keeping things tidy is a plus — the real goal is to instill good habits in your children at a young age. So if you’re wondering how to make cleaning fun for your family, here are easy ways to get your kids cleaning (without a fuss).

Teach Them How to Organize
At some point, it’s worth incorporating a bit of design or aesthetic instruction into your child’s cleaning routine. After all, kids might be so eager to finish the actual task of organizing their room that they rush through it and end up sweeping things under the rug, literally and figuratively. Teaching your child to color-code their toys can be a great way to have them engage more deeply with the way their belongings are stored. When it comes to books, for instance, show your child your own library and how to organize their books the same way. Work with them to develop a purpose for every drawer or shelf, so that every object has a home that makes sense.

Stage a Cleaning Contest
Why not entice your kids to clean by offering them a fun contest? If you have more than one child, you can assign each one a room to clean and whoever can clean that room the quickest will receive a prize You can also set a sliding scale for allowances — for example, if your kids clean their room once a month, they get $10. If they clean the living room on top of that, they’ll get an extra $10. Instead of money, you can also invent a points system, where each household chore earns a certain number of points that can be traded for rewards such as an extra book at bedtime, a video game, a toy or a sweet snack, depending on their age.

Show Appreciation
Instead of resorting to punishments or rebukes when your child throws a tantrum or makes a halfhearted attempt at cleaning their room, try to be supportive and encouraging as often as possible. Make sure to thank them for their hard work rather than insincerely praise them for a less-than-successful execution, and find opportunities to continue practicing the task again together while giving them helpful hints that will make them more successful the next time around. If you ask them for help during a spring cleaning binge or weekend tidy-up, be sure to express your gratitude and explain to them exactly how they’ve made the space clean to positively reinforce their contribution.

After some great bonding time and cleaning with the kids – and if you are looking for a easy solution for all your in home cleaning needs and services – we can help! For ongoing cleaning whole home schedule– using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006

Valentine’s Day House Cleaning

Valentine’s Day House Cleaning

Valentine’s Day is all about love, connections, and creating beautiful memories. Whether you plan an intimate dinner at home or just surprise your loved one with a warm, cozy place, creating a perfect place for love, cleanliness, and freshness.

Tidy Up Angels makes your home shine and preparing your place for any occasion or event. With attention to every detail and tailored cleaning solutions, we leave every corner sparkling so you can focus on what matters, making this Valentine’s Day unforgettable.

Why Valentine’s Day House Cleaning is the Perfect Gift
A clean home would be the perfect Valentine’s gift since it implies thoughtfulness, care, and attention to detail, just like genuine love. You and your partner won’t need to think about doing the house chores and enjoy your day of relaxation.

Every corner of your home is deep cleaned, from your living room or bedroom to your kitchen. Give your partner the house cleaning gift of comfort and relaxation this Valentine’s Day with our residential cleaning services, which speak volumes about your love.

Declutter for a Stress-Free Space
Decluttering forms the foundation to create a smooth, welcoming ambiance that boosts romance. Removing clutter reduces distractions and enables one to find time for having quality moments with their partner.

Deep Clean Key Areas for Maximum Impact
Deep cleaning specific areas, including the bedroom, bathroom, and living room, is essential to creating the most romantic and inviting atmosphere on Valentine’s Day. When a bathroom shines, it makes a place seem luxurious, and the living room is the center of your home and should be a fresh space for spending quality time together.

Professional deep cleaning services handle every minute detail, such as dust-free surfaces and shiny fixtures. Our Valentine’s Day house cleaning services will make your residence a lovely place to live.

Valentine’s Day House Cleaning
Freshen Up with Seasonal Touches
Add a subtle yet romantic touch to your home this Valentine’s Day through fresh flowers, soft candlelights, and crisp linens. These touches enhance a welcoming ambiance that invites love and relationships.

With expertise in residential cleaning services, we transform your space into a spotless, fresh environment perfect for creating romantic moments. We deep clean key areas, handle those hard-to-reach spots, and deliver exceptional results to make your Valentine’s Day stress-free and memorable.

If you are looking for a easy solution for all your in home cleaning needs and services – we can help! For ongoing cleaning whole home schedule– using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006

How to clean up salt after tracking it into the house

How to clean up salt after tracking it into the house

Cleaning the salt residue left behind from being tracked into the house may be a large job, and you may not have the time,  But here are the things needed and a recipe for those hard surface floors and carpets.

RECIPE FOR CLEANING SALTY HARD SURFACE FLOORS
THINGS NEEDED:
White vinegar
Warm water
Microfiber mop/soft mop/soft scrubber
Towels

YOU MIGHT NEED:
Gloves (if washing by hand)
Liquid dish soap (if floor residue is really built up)
Deck brush (if floor residue isn’t coming up easily)

STEP 1: VINEGAR AND WATER
Ratio of water to vinegar:

1 cup vinegar to every 3 gallons of warm water.
If your hard surface floor is covered with winter salt, you can choose solution below if you need a more aggressive cleaner:

1 cup vinegar and 2 Tbls. liquid dish soap (preferably Dawn) to every 3 gallons of warm water.

STEP 2: CLEANING CLOTH TO USE
Use a microfiber mop (or something similarly soft when cleaning your flooring)
Don’t have a microfiber mop? It’s ok, hand-cleaning with towels works just as well. The floor is more exposed when vinegar and coarse salt is moving around, and a light, soft cloth will less likely scratch your flooring.

Make sure to use gloves and protect your hands. If the salt buildup is very bad and the vinegar and soap solution isn’t working properly, try using a floor scrubber or deck brush if your flooring allows.

STEP 3: CLEANING YOUR FLOOR
Apply water/vinegar solution of your choice to the floor.
Let the solution sit for about 10-15 minutes.
Use cloth of choice (microfiber mop, floor cleaner, deck brush, clean towels) to wipe down the floor and remove all liquid from the floor.

Salt ruins floor finishes, and using the wrong cleaners can possibly (1)concentrate the amount of sticky residue and leave excessive amount on the floor (2)begin to dissolve the finish on the floor.
Don’t leave the salt residue on your floors for too long, or you may need your floors stripped and re-coated.

WHAT ABOUT SALT ON CARPETS?
If not horribly stained, Please take caution as carpets are more delicate than you think, especially when stained with winter salt residue.

STEP 1: GET UP ALL SALT POSSIBLE
Vacuum first or sweep. Go back and forth on angles, making sure to push and pull from all angles of the carpet’s fibers.

Remember: any salt or soil still left in the carpet will dissolve when you add the solution and will hinder cleaning up the stains. Use a soft brush to loosen all salt and dirt, and then vacuum again before cleaning with the solution.

STEP 2: APPLY WATER/VINEGAR SOLUTION
Lightly apply the solution, using the mixture above, with a sponge or towel on a spot test area. If it passes the spot test, apply to salt stained areas and let sit 10-15 mins.

STEP 3: DAB UP SOLUTION
Remove all water solution from carpet using a clean dry sponge or towel. Blot the carpet until dry. You may possibly want to blot again with a damp sponge or towel to rinse and then blot again to dry. Make sure not to scrub.

If you are looking for a easy solution for all your in home cleaning needs and services – we can help! For ongoing cleaning whole home schedule– using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006

Organizing and Cleaning – Tips for the New Year New You

Organizing and Cleaning – Tips for the New Year New You

Give Your Home a Thorough New Year’s Cleaning
Decluttering can make housekeeping much more manageable throughout the year, so kick things off with a clean slate to start the New Year. Unless you went overboard while decluttering, there are plenty of items in your home that need cleaning. Along with the usual suspects like floors, windows, and furniture, include those often-missed areas that never seem to make the cleaning list.

Before learning how to get more organized, give your home a good cleaning. We make it easy to keep track of all the areas in your home you should clean and even give you cleaning tips.. So grab your cleaning supplies and follow our proven cleaning plan that covers every room of the house and you’ll have the freshest, cleanest start to the New Year yet.

Plan a Cleaning Schedule
Want to learn how to get organized for the new year? Start by making a cleaning schedule and a customized cleaning list for your home. The cleaning schedule can be broken down into daily, weekly, monthly, and even quarterly sections, depending on your schedule and the best frequency for your cleaning needs. As a general rule, scheduling one or two cleaning tasks daily is a proactive approach that helps make general housekeeping more manageable by minimizing weekend cleaning marathons.

Create a Comprehensive Cleaning List
Before you can create a workable cleaning schedule, you’ll need to know what to clean and how often. Make a list of all the cleaning chores you’ll tackle throughout the year, and estimate how often they’ll need to be done and how long each task should take. This compilation of tasks will help ensure you don’t forget anything once you start cleaning your home.

Map Out A Cleaning Schedule That Fits Your Lifestyle
Now that you’ve compiled the ultimate cleaning checklist tailor-made for your home, it’s time to determine your cleaning style. Are you proactive, which means you don’t mind cleaning up a little each day? Or do you enjoy breaking out all the cleaning supplies every Saturday and knocking out the whole thing with one hardcore cleaning session? Maybe you’re at work all day and have little time for routine cleaning. Whatever your cleaning style is, creating a schedule that fits your style will make sticking to it much easier. Here are a few cleaning schedule formats to help you get started.

Quick Daily Cleaning
If you simply can’t stand a dusty, cluttered home, or you or someone in your family has allergies, then daily cleaning may be the foundation for your cleaning schedule. Just keep in mind that not everything in your home requires daily cleaning, but there are routine cleaning chores you’ll want to handle ASAP. The advantage of daily cleaning is that you can reduce the time and effort it takes to do a more thorough cleaning of your home. To make the most of daily cleaning time, it helps to learn how to clean certain rooms in your house efficiently. Check out our guide for cleaning your bedroom fast to get started.

Weekly Cleaning Blocks
A weekly cleaning plan works best when combined with a daily and monthly schedule. Weekly cleaning blocks are typically one-hour windows where you work on specific cleaning tasks on your list. If you don’t finish a particular cleaning job in one day, just pick up where you left off the following day. As you complete each item on your list, check it off and move along to the next one. At the end of the week, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much you’ve accomplished.

One Room or One Cleaning Chore
Although this cleaning strategy involves daily cleaning, you won’t be sprucing up your home from end to end. Instead, you will assign one room or one cleaning task to each day of the week, like bathrooms on Monday or vacuuming on Wednesday. Keep in mind that the rooms and chores with designated cleaning days can’t be too small, or you’ll end up doing a big cleaning on Saturdays again!

New year new you…. Tidy Up Angels would be a great next step to get you ready for the New Year and treat yourself to an ongoing cleaning whole home schedule– using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006