Cleaning Bedroom
Use Vinegar to Clean Your Bathroom and Save Money Too
White vinegar is a natural, inexpensive, and highly effective cleaning and sanitizing agent. It’s widely available in gallon size jugs in supermarkets and big box stores. The following are among the many ways it can be used to make your bathroom sparkle:
- Floors: Dilute ¼ cup of white vinegar in a bucket of warm water to clean any type of floor except marble or wood.
- Mold or soap scum on walls and shower curtains: Apply white vinegar with a sprayer and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Rinse and let dry.
- Shower heads: Pour vinegar into a bag and use rubber bands to tie the bag over the shower head, or remove the shower head. Let it soak overnight, and rinse.
- Windows and mirrors: Mix ¼ cup of vinegar with a tablespoon of Castile soap and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray windows and mirrors and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.
- Unclog and deodorize drains: The combination of vinegar and baking soda is one of the most effective ways to unclog and deodorize drains. It’s also far gentler on your pipes (and your wallet) than commercial drain cleaners. Use a funnel to pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup vinegar into the drain. When the foaming subsides, flush with hot water. Wait five minutes, and then flush again with cold water. Besides clearing blockages, this technique also washes away odor-causing bacteria.
Why use harsh, expensive chemical products when vinegar can do the same job? You’ll soon discover many additional uses for this natural, non-toxic cleaning agent that saves money and helps to protect the environment.
What our Customers Say
Awesome Company
These people know their stuff. They perform their work well. timely, great job, live up to the standards and surpass.
Great Service for Busy Family
With time not on our side during the week, we began using Sponge & Sparkle a couple months ago. Read the reviews on Kudzu, after a friend suggested we use them. So far, going great. I only wish we could clean our house as fast as they do, remarkable! Very nice people to work with.
My house is CLEAN!
We have had Sponge & Sparkle for a few years now and I am a fussy homeowner. They do a fantastic job–coming home after a hard week, it is so wonderful to have everything so clean it sparkles. Baseboards, blinds, all the surfaces are spotless. And they come on time every time. Great cleaning service.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
5 Steps to Cleaner Home in 2015
by Raina Raflo, Founder, Sponge & Sparkle – Atlanta House Cleaning Experts since 1981
Half of New Years’ resolutions do not last past February 1. Did you look around your home and resolve to get it clean and clutter-free so that it “rises to meet you?”
Having a clean home not only holds amazing benefits, it is vitally important to a sense of self worth. Following these 5 steps will help you to get there.
Step 1 – Make your Bed
In his commencement address to graduates of the University of Texas at Austin, Navy Seal Admiral McRaven said, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
Making your bed takes, at most, 2 minutes and can really go a long way towards giving you a feeling of serenity. On the other hand, since the bed is probably the largest piece of furniture in your bedroom, having it untidy and messy is guaranteed to raise your stress level. Even if your day is hectic, at least you can look forward to a tidy, serene bedroom at the end of the day. Doesn’t the thought of it just ease the stress out of your body?
Step 2 – Watch your Hands
Do this exercise for 10 days, and I guarantee you will be on your way to a much cleaner home. Watch your hands – every single time you put something down, ask yourself if you are placing the item in its proper place. If the answer is no, make sure you put it where it belongs. After 10 – 14 days performing this new exercise, you will find your home getting cleaner, almost as if by magic.
Step 3 – Hire a Professional House Cleaner
Get a jump on your resolution – start with a clean slate. This simple step will make achieving your goal of a clean home much easier. By hiring a professional cleaning service to provide a detail clean, you will quickly gain traction on your New Year’s resolution.
One of our clients said we provide the “best deep cleaning in town.” Another client writes: “Sponge and Sparkle are doing a great job and helping me live in a much cleaner home.”
Step 4 – Clear Clutter
Clutter attracts dust bunnies. If you find the thought of cleaning clutter intimidating, do not attempt it all at once. Instead, work on one room for 15 minutes at a time. Steady, consistent progress is infinitely better than no progress at all. Need help clearing your closet? Click here for our closet clearing tips.
Here’s a quick question to help you decide if you need to keep or toss an item: “Is it beautiful or useful?” If the answer to is no, this item should be removed as soon as possible. Assign it to one of the following three categories: garbage, charity, or sale.
Step 5 – Learn to Clean Faster
Studies show that each of us spends, on average, 685 hours each year cleaning. That’s almost an entire month! One option for maintaining a clean home is to hire a house cleaning service for bi-weekly cleanings. If you’d rather do it yourself, learn to clean faster. By learning how to speed up the process, you will save untold hours and reduce your aggravation and frustration.
Put these 5 steps into practice, and you will find yourself in a cleaner home before you know it.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
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Have Pets? Here are 3 Ways to Keep Your Home Clean
Sponge & Sparkle’s Simon
They’re adorable, they’re loving, and they help us live longer, happier lives. But boy, are they messy!! Their hair gets everywhere, they spread dander, and they track ticks and mites into our homes from the great outdoors. And let’s not mention the dreaded “accidents.”
I’m talking about our cats and dogs, of course.
It is possible to have the best of both worlds – the joy of having pets and a clean, nice smelling home.
Here are some quick cleaning tips for you if Fido or Mr. Fluffy is “like one of the family.”
Keep your Pets Groomed
The best way to not have shed hair all over the place is to prevent it from happening. Regular baths and brushing will do the trick.
Prevent Repeat Pet “Accidents”
When your dog or cat has an “accident” they mark the spot as a safe place to “do their business.” What this means for you is that as long as their sensitive noses can pick up a whiff of a scent, they will return to the area again and again. To prevent repeat accidents, have the area deeply cleaned as soon as possible.
Don’t Let It Accumulate
Do not let dirt and dander pile up. If you have cats, clean the litter box frequently. You can go low tech (and low cost) by using a bag as a liner so that the “mess” does not leave a lingering smell, or purchase one of the higher end litter box systems.
Hire the Experts
An investment in a professional cleaning service is worth it if you do not have the time to clean. As one of our clients says:
Client Feedback: Best Cleaning in 15 Years
I needed above and beyond the average type of cleaning. Sponge and Sparkle came through beautifully. They cleaned everything everywhere! I have 3 kids, 2 large dogs, and a long haired cat. It was not an easy job! For me it was the best cleaning job I have ever had and I have used housekeepers for 15 years! I am going to continue to use them as my house remains on the market. They’re an asset now I would never let them go! I would recommend them to anyone!…
Wonderful Staff – They have done a great job every time. We have had multiple different people clean our house and they all are so friendly to us and our cats! I would highly recommend them.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
Quick Household Tips – Atlanta House Cleaning Blog
by Raina Raflo, Founder, Sponge & Sparkle – Atlanta House Cleaning Experts since 1981
Here are 13 quick tips that work for keeping your house smelling fresh, cleaning your jewelry, reducing the spread of viruses and more.
Tips to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
Lightly spray a bit of perfume on light bulbs to create a lovely scent when the light is turned on.
Drip a few drops of essential oil into the water of your humidifier. A wonderful natural fragrance will fill your home.
Kitchen & Dish Washing Tips
Spray your Tupperware with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces and it will remain stain-free.
Throw your kitchen sponges in the dishwasher cutlery tray. They will stay in place there and come out bacteria free.
Purchase inexpensive oven liners (I get mine at Kroger) so that toxic oven cleaners never need to be used.
Laundry Tips
Substitute oxygen bleach for chlorine bleach. Unlike chlorine bleach, this environmentally safe alternative will keep clothes vibrant without yellowing or weakening fibers, or leaving a bad odor.
You can throw most baby or pet toys in the washer with warm water and all purpose detergent. Throwing in a towel along with them will help to get any slime off.
For a nice change, try drying at least your towels outside in the fresh air and sunshine when the weather is nice.
Reuse Tips
Use an empty tissue box to store and reuse those plastic grocery bags.
Save the spare sets of chopsticks from Chinese take-out and use them to stake indoor plants and for paint stirrers.
Miscellaneous Household Tips
Polish jewelry by popping 2 Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immersing the jewelry for 2 minutes.
Keeping the temperature indoors at 68 degrees or above and the humidity at 50% may decrease the likelihood of transmitting the flu virus through the air according to a 2007 study by the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in NYC.
Try putting Listerine in a spray bottle to deter mosquitoes! I tried this and it really works. Just spray liberally around where you are going to be sitting and wait about 10 minutes.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
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Spring Cleaning 2014 | Your Room-by-Room Checklists
Well, it’s that time of the year again – Spring! Do you feel the need to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in? Would you like for your home to be as fresh and clean as Spring feels?
Of course, the easiest way to get your home sparkling clean is to hire a professional cleaning service like Sponge & Sparkle to do the heavy lifting. That way you experience all of the benefit and none of the work.
Here’s what our customers Gregory and Deb say:
Best Deep Cleaning In (Atlanta)
Raina and her crew do a fantastic job. I just knew when I spoke to her that I was working with a pro and they delivered in a big way. My house is not just clean. It sparkles! I would recommend these folks to anyone who seriously wants their house clean. They are the best from start to finish.Cleaned Every Nook & CrannyWalking into my house after Sponge & Sparkle had cleaned it was fantastic! They cleaned every nook and cranny, steamed the cabinets, got the cobwebs from our vaulted ceilings – even set my daughters doll on a pillow with a blanket. These folks care about what they do and it shows! They do a fantastic job, are reliable, honest and a pleasure to work with. My house was a mess and they fixed it!
If you’d rather tackle spring cleaning yourself, we’ve rounded up our checklists to take you step-by-step through each room of your home.
Before You Begin
The History of Spring Cleaning
Essential Tips for Organizing your Spring Cleaning
Pre-clean Before You Tackle Spring Cleaning
Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklists
Your Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist
Your Bathroom Spring Cleaning Checklist
Your Bedroom Spring Cleaning Checklist
Spring Cleaning Checklist – Furniture, Floors and Dusting
Spring Cleaning Like the Professionals
The Spring Cleaning Checklist We Use for our Clients
How to Spring Clean Like the Professionals
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
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8 Steps to a Cleaner Home in 2014
by Raina Raflo, Founder, Sponge & Sparkle – Atlanta House Cleaning Experts since 1981
Given the amazing benefits of a clean home and how important it is to a sense of self worth, it is no surprise that a clean and organized home is a perennially popular New Year’s resolution.
At Sponge & Sparkle, Inc. we want to help you keep your resolution, so here are a few quick tips to make it easier to keep your home clean.
Tip 1 – Clean Faster
Studies show that each of us spends, on average, 685 hours each year cleaning. That’s almost an entire month! By learning how to speed up the process, you will save untold hours and reduce your aggravation and frustration.
Tip 2 – Hire an Imaginary Inspector
Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? Well, now it’s time for your imaginary inspector. The inspector’s only task is to ask the following question about items in your home: “Is it beautiful or useful?” If the answer to is no, this item should be removed as soon as possible. Assign it to one of the following categories: garbage, charity, or sale.
Tip 3 – Get Professional Help
Starting with a clean slate will make achieving your goal easy. By hiring a professional cleaning service to provide a detail clean, you will quickly gain traction on your New Year’s resolution.
Tip 4 – Watch your Hands
Do this exercise for 10 days, and I guarantee you will be on your way to a much cleaner home. Watch your hands – every single time you put something down, ask yourself if you are placing the item in its proper place. If the answer is no, make sure you put it where it belongs. After 10 – 14 days performing this new exercise, you will find your home getting cleaner, almost as if by magic.
Tip 5 – Make your Bed
Imagine coming home at the end of a long day to a tidy, serene bedroom. Doesn’t the thought of it just make the stress drain out of your body? Making your bed takes, at most, 2 minutes and can really go a long way towards giving you a feeling of serenity. On the other hand, since the bed is probably the largest piece of furniture in your bedroom, having it untidy and messy is guaranteed to raise your stress level.
Tip 6 – Corral your Stuff
Instead of having items strewn all over the place, get in the habit of placing like items together in containers. Corralling can be done in any room in the home. Anything from jewelry to magazines to pot lids can be easily organized in containers or baskets. In addition, cleaning around containers takes less time than having to move and clean around individual items. Here’s another tip: use similar or matching containers in each space to make each area look “pulled together.”
Tip 7 – Clear Clutter
Clutter attracts dust bunnies. If you find the thought of cleaning clutter intimidating, do not attempt it all at once. Instead, work on one room for 15 minutes at a time. Steady, consistent progress is infinitely better than no progress at all. Need help clearing your closet? Click here for our closet clearing tips.
Tip 8 – Pull Rank
You know those little people – also known as your children? Put them to work. Even young children can be assigned small, age-appropriate cleaning tasks. Do not carry the entire cleaning load on your shoulders.
Put these quick tips into practice, and you will find yourself in a cleaner home before you know it.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
How to Maintain the Benefits of your Professional House Cleaning
by Raina Raflo, Founder, Sponge & Sparkle – Atlanta House Cleaning Experts since 1981
So, you’ve had your house thoroughly cleaned by a professional house cleaning service. It sparkles, it smells great.
Do you want to maintain the benefits of the cleaning for as long as possible? Of course!
Here are a few tips to help you maintain the clean.
Avoid Clutter
Repeat after me: “Clutter attracts dust bunnies.” After you’ve had your professional cleaning, resist the urge to let things pile up. An easy way to avoid clutter is to make clutter “homeless.” If you tend to use a corner table as a catch all, for example, try putting a plant there instead.
Make your Bed
Making your bed every morning not only starts your day with a clean slate, you will breathe a sigh of relief when you step back into your bedroom at the end of a long day. Speaking of the end of the long day …
No Sleep Until the Kitchen Sink is Clean
Before going to bed, make sure the kitchen sink is clean. Put the dishes in the dishwasher, or better yet, wash and put them away before going to bed.
Take 30
Taking 30 minutes a day to sweep or vacuum the floor, dust your furniture and handle other small maintenance tasks means you can prolong the clean until your next visit from your professional house cleaning service. Speaking of professional house cleaning …
Increase the Frequency of your Professional House Cleaning
Studies show people spend 685 hours a year – that’s 28.54 days! – cleaning their home. Perhaps the best way to prolong the benefits of your professional house cleaning service is to schedule more frequent cleanings. Most of our clients schedule weekly or bi-weekly cleanings and couldn’t be happier with the results.
Atlanta House Cleaning Service Reviews
As one client says:
Great service for a busy family … I only wish we could clean our house as fast as they do, remarkable! Read the full review here.
Another says:
20 years and still happy! I started with S&S when I realized I couldn’t keep up with my housework, a child, and full-time job. The team came weekly for years and now after the kids have gone, they come every other week. It’s been a great relationship and I trust them completely. Read our 60+ 5 star reviews here.
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
House Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners
Sponge & Sparkle’s Simon
They’re adorable, they’re loving, and they help us live longer, happier lives. But boy, are they messy!! Their hair gets everywhere, they spread dander, and they track ticks and mites into our homes from the great outdoors. And let’s not mention the dreaded “accidents.”
I’m talking about our cats and dogs, of course.
It is possible to have the best of both worlds – the joy of having pets and a clean, nice smelling home.
Here are some quick cleaning tips for you if Fido or Mr. Fluffy is “like one of the family.”
Grooming is Essential.
The best way to not have shed hair all over the place is to prevent it from happening. Regular baths and brushing will do the trick.
A Little-Known Way to Prevent Repeat Pet “Accidents”
When your dog or cat has an “accident” they mark the spot as a safe place to “do their business.” What this means for you is that as long as their sensitive noses can pick up a whiff of a scent, they will return to the area again and again. To prevent repeat accidents, have the area deeply cleaned as soon as possible.
Stay on Top of It
Do not let dirt and dander pile up. If you have cats, clean the litter box frequently. You can go low tech (and low cost) by using a bag as a liner so that the “mess” does not leave a lingering smell, or purchase one of the higher end litter box systems.
An investment in a professional cleaning service is worth it if you do not have the time to clean. As one of our clients says:
Client Feedback: Best Cleaning in 15 Years
I needed above and beyond the average type of cleaning. Sponge and Sparkle came through beautifully. They cleaned everything everywhere! I have 3 kids, 2 large dogs, and a long haired cat. It was not an easy job! For me it was the best cleaning job I have ever had and I have used housekeepers for 15 years! I am going to continue to use them as my house remains on the market. They’re an asset now I would never let them go! I would recommend them to anyone!…
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
Atlanta Spring Cleaning Checklist – Bedrooms
Nothing aids a good, restful night of sleep like having a clean, quiet, clutter-free bedroom. (Not to mention, if you’ve been working along with our Atlanta Spring Cleaning Room by Room series you are overdue for a nap!)
Before I share the bedroom cleaning checklist, may I make a suggestion? Why don’t you spend your time doing something you enjoy, and leave us to handle what we enjoy – making Atlanta homes sparkle! As our client Gregory says:
Our Loft Always Looks Brand New
We’re really happy we went with Sponge and Sparkle. The cleaners Mabia and Jared are fast but very thorough, and are always on time. We have a converted loft that gets dingy and dusty very easily, and it always looks and feels brand new after they’ve cleaned. Highly recommended.
Bedroom Spring Cleaning Checklist
- Strip the bed.
- Clear out your closet clutter. Remember the mantra: Clutter attracts dust bunnies. This is the best time to give or throw away anything that isn’t useful or beautiful.
- Remove your curtains. This is a good time to get those winter window coverings cleaned and replace them with lighter, spring-time ones.
- Clean the ceiling fan.
- Dust the ceilings, corners, lamps, picture frames and knick-knacks.
- Clean and polish all furniture – dressers, chests, etc.
- Clean your floors – including in your closets, under the bed and under furniture.
- Replace the window coverings.
- Make the bed.
Want More Spring Cleaning Tips?
The Spring Cleaning Checklist We Use for our Clients
Essential Tips for Organizing your Spring Cleaning
Pre-clean Before You Tackle Spring Cleaning
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
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4 Solutions to a Chronically Messy Home
Life happens, and an occasionally messy or cluttered home is to be expected. A home that is always untidy, however, is a source of stress and embarrassment to everyone who lives in it.
You can conquer clutter and mess.
Here are 4 tips to get you started.
Messy Home Solution # 1 – Use Containers.
Using containers creates a uniform look that is peaceful and pleasing to the eye.
I’m using the term containers to refer to anything you use to keep like items together – magazine files, baskets, filing cabinets, etc. You can use containers for container lids, cleaning supplies, paper, and much more.
Here are a couple of rules for using containers:
- Make sure your containers are uniform. Use the same color, same style, or same materials.
- Measure the area before going container shopping. It is so frustrating to come home with a stack of containers only to find out they aren’t the right size for the area or the items you want to keep organized.
Messy Home Solution #2 – Label Everything.
Using labels takes away the guesswork of having to remember what goes where. If your kids aren’t able to read, use pictures to label their areas. Label your shelves. Label your file cabinets. Label your laundry baskets.
Get in the habit of labeling, even if you live alone. This is a one-time task that pays huge dividends. Although labeling may seem extreme, those seconds and minutes you save will add up.
Messy Home Solution #3 – Get the Kids Involved.
If you blame most of the messiness on “the kids,” you are not alone. Children are, however, a wonderful resource known as free labor! Even the tiniest tyke can be trained to pick up.
Messy Home Solution # 4 – Invest in Regular, Professional Maid Service.
What is your peace of mind worth? Investing a little bit in a professional maid service to clean once or twice a month provides a clean, clutter-free slate without any of the hassle.
Setting up a regular, ongoing appointment with a maid service (ex., the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month) will not only translate into lower fees, it will also mean one less item on your to-do list!
Please click here to get Sponge & Sparkle blog updates via email.
About the author:
Raina Raflo owns Sponge & Sparkle, Atlanta’s oldest and most reputable independent maid and house cleaning service. (404) 633-9652.
Read more Atlanta maid and house cleaning service customer reviews on our site.
Request a cleaning quote.
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