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How to use your cleaning supplies
Below is a complete list of the tools and products we use for cleaning. Please familiarize yourself with each item:
Cleaning apron
The cleaning apron saves more time than all other products combined. It carries all the supplies and tools you need to walk around the room once, then you’re done. Wear it when cleaning from start to finish. Always put the sprayers back in the same loops, and the tools in the same pockets after each use. You should know where everything is without looking. Practice until its automatic!
Small brush
The handiest brush for getting into tight places like nooks and crannies around faucet handles, stove parts, light switches, etc. Some things will not come up when wiped, but will easily come up when agitated with a brush and some general purpose cleaner.
Plastic Scraper
You may encounter dried up globs that are difficult to remove with a small brush. Many spots like this can be easily removed in seconds with the plastic scraper. Food and dirt can be placed into a plastic baggy located in the in the pocket of your apron.
Caddy
This is where you store supplies that you aren’t carrying in your apron and for transporting supplies between homes.
General Purpose Cleaner – heavy duty
Comes in many different brands, make sure you know which cleaning liquid is being used for this purpose. This cleaner should be non-toxic and bio-degradable. It will come in a concentrated form and will be diluted with water. The usual areas this cleaner will be used are for cleaning counter tops, sinks, tubs, etc.
Glass Cleaner – light duty
Usually a blue liquid. Used to spray glass, mirrors, and windows. Wipe with a lint-free dry cloth.
Bleach – super heavy duty (to be diluted)
Be careful, do not let this chemical touch your skin or eyes! Used for soap scum and mineral build up in the tub and shower area. Cleans away soap scum, mold, mildew, hard water deposits, rust stains, body oils, fats and dirt. Can be used to clean surfaces such as tubs, showers, toilet bowls and urinals. Especially effective on removing difficult stains from grouting. For tough areas, spray and let soak 10 to 15 minutes.
NEVER mix with other cleaners. NEVER use on stone counter tops (marble or granite), stainless steel or hardwood floors.
Oven Cleaner
Be careful, do not let this chemical touch your skin or eyes! Use with gloves and safety glasses! Used for inside oven ONLY. Cleans away burn on food. Spray and let soak 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse very well, ensuring no residue is left behind.
NEVER use this on stovetop or anywhere else. Inside oven use only!
Feather duster
Used for moving small amounts of dust, typically on a recurring cleaning. It very quickly moves the dirt from a higher level to a lower level where most of it can be vacuumed when doing the floors. Use feather dusters that are made with real feathers. To prevent putting more dust into the air, bring the duster to a complete stop after dusting a surface. Regularly tap the duster on your shoe to release the dust low to the floor where it will be vacuumed later.
Microfiber cleaning rags
Used for wiping surfaces. Different colors for their different uses. Be sure to wash each color separately.
- Red – bathroom
- Yellow – Kitchen
- Green – Floors & misc areas
- Gray – Dusting used with furniture polish
- Pink – Sanitizer
Lemon Oil
Used on wood furniture primarily.
Powdered cleaner
Always use scratch free! Clean and whiten tough stains and built up grim in tubs, sinks, and showers
One pint plastic cup
Used for rinsing hard to reach areas of the shower or tubs. Can be used to heat water in a microwave to loosen stuck on food.
Whisk broom
Used to clean carpet edges, vents, hard to reach corners
Toilet brush
Used to scrub inside the toilet bowl with a small amount of the powdered cleaner. Always used client’s toilet brush whenever available. Yours is used as a back.
Shower brush
Typically used for dark stains and soap scum in the lower areas of tubs and showers. Wet area, sprinkle powdered cleaners, scrub. For tough stains, do this when first when starting a bathroom. Let the scrubbed powder cleaner soak to lift dirt and whiten surface.
Magic Eraser
Used when a cleaning cloth isn’t strong enough. Ideal for scuff marks on walls and baseboards.
Hard floor mop
Used to clean hard floors such as wood and tile. Reusable mop pads are used, then thrown in the wash to be reused again.
Bona Hardwood Floor cleaner
Use a tiny amount diluted in a bucket of water for best results
Vacuum cleaner – canister
Use specific tools for hard floors, stairs, edges, and hard to reach places. Use specific attachment for carpet vs hardwood floors.
Fan brush
Used for maintaining of ceiling fans and base boards. Not used for heavy build up.