Spring cleaning: How to clean your house and keep it that way

One of the things most people don’t love about spring or any time of the year is the thought of giving your home a thorough cleaning — inside and out.

It’s just filled with all those major projects that involve seemingly overwhelming tasks like cleaning out closets, deep cleaning room by room, decluttering and more.

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But it doesn’t have to be that way. Experts advise setting a goal and doing something every day or every week until the jobs are done. Don’t worry whether it’s enough to pass the white glove test. What you are going for is an easy, comfortable and non-stressful living space that makes you and your family happy.

Amy Bates, owner of Merry Maids Tulsa Metro, offers the following tips for tackling spring cleaning at your home or apartment.

1 Declutter, donate and toss: Get rid of the clutter that’s taking up space in the home. So donate it or toss it. Or hold a garage sale to get rid of those unwanted items and make a little extra cash in the process. That includes old clothes (if you haven’t worn it in a year, it’s old), old books, broken toys, etc. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to declutter.

2 Go the natural way: Use natural cleaning products rather than harmful chemicals. Stock up on natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and tea tree oil. Those are effective and inexpensive.

3 Start top to bottom: Start upstairs and tackle one room at a time. Get that sense of accomplishment by focusing on one room at a time. Stopping and starting to go from one room to the other seems to slow down the process. Or spread your cleaning out over two days. Do the upstairs on day one and the downstairs on day two. It makes the tasks seem much less daunting.

And really clean top to bottom. Don’t forget to dust on top of book shelves and mantels.

4 Use simple cleaning tricks: Faster, more effective cleaning can be accomplished using simple tricks. For example, cleaning windows and mirrors with newspapers instead of paper towels leaves fewer streaks and no paper towel lint. Dryer sheets work great on baseboards. They clean off the dirt and dust and reduce future dust buildup. And have you ever thought of using an extra sticky roller on couches to get rid of pet hair? Try it.

5 Don’t forget the big stuff: Don’t overlook major appliances when you’re doing your spring cleaning. Give them a nice, deep clean. Run baking soda and vinegar in your clothes washer for a clean, fresh scent upon completion. Run vinegar through the dishwasher to get rid of hard water. Wipe down the inside of your refrigerator with a vinegar and water mixture to sanitize and freshen.

6 Get your outdoor spaces ready: You’ll be spending more time outdoors, so wipe down chair handles with a damp cloth and vacuum the dust out of cushions. A quick trick is to put cushions in a trash bag, insert a vacuum hose into the bag, wrap the bag around the hose and turn it on. The suction from the vacuum will flatten the cushion and inhale all dust and pollen. Get those outdoor grills clean and ready, too. And sweep away the cobwebs from the corners of your porch.

7 Organize your closet by color: Organizing your closet is one of the first steps to the rest of your home. Organizing your clothes by color will make your closet look nice and uniform and makes getting dressed in the morning a snap. Your closet will look appealing, and your everyday routine will be easier.

8 Give your carpet a fresh, clean smell: Give it a boost with ½ cup of Borax, ½ cup baking soda and several drops of your favorite essential oil. Sprinkle it on the carpet and let it sit 30 minutes. Then vacuum away. Your carpet and your entire room will have a fresh aroma. And ask people to take their shoes off when entering your home. It will take away from tracking in the outside.

9 Change things up: One way to give your home a fresh feel is to make some simple changes. For an easy makeover, change out your couch or bed pillows to set a different mood. Or place fresh-cut flowers throughout the house. You will instantly feel revitalized in your home.

10 Change those filters: It’s a great idea to use spring cleaning as a time to change all your filters — air filters, water filters, etc. Changing the air filters in your home will cut down on the amount of dust you see on surfaces, and the air will smell fresher.

Rita Sherrow 918-581-8360

rita.sherrow@tulsaworld.com

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Spring cleaning: How to clean your house and keep it that way

Dust Collectors extend filter life via cartridge cleaning system.

Micro Air Clean Air Systems recently introduced the new FORCE™ line of dust collectors, featuring the exclusive Roto-Pulse® cartridge-cleaning system.

The Roto-Pulse system is an automatic, incrementally rotating filter cleaning system that uniformly cleans 100% of the cartridges’ surfaces, 30% – 40% more filter surface than conventional reverse pulse (backflush) systems. Roto-Pulse® cleaning is quieter, typically 15 dBA quieter than reverse pulse cleaning systems and requires less compressed air, thus extending the life of the filters and compressor.

Cartridge filters are cleaned by pulsing air into a specially designed stainless steel rotating tube with pre-drilled holes. As air enters the tube it incrementally rotates a number of degrees, distributing the pulse of air across the length of the inside surface of the cartridge, dislodging clogged dirt from the cartridge.  Time between pulses and duration of each pulse are factory pre-set for optimal cleaning, but can also be adjusted for various applications or processes.  This allows for long-term savings by further reducing compressor and replacement filter cost.

Micro Air Clean Air Systems
www.microaironline.com
donh@microaironline.com
PHONE: (866) 566-4276, FAX: (316) 219-2995

Dust Collectors extend filter life via cartridge cleaning system.

Are Your Home's Air Ducts on Your Spring Cleaning Checklist?

SOURCE: SERVPRO Industries, Inc.

GALLATIN, TN–(Marketwired – Mar 27, 2015) –  Whether you are looking out your window at a blanket of snow or a grove of palm trees, March is the month when spring finally arrives. And traditionally, this is the time when homeowners begin to make a list of spring cleaning chores to prepare for warmer weather ahead. This year, remediation specialist SERVPRO^® suggests including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct maintenance on your to-do list.

“At the very least, performing some simple maintenance on the ducts in your home will help your HVAC system work at maximum efficiency,” said Sue Steen, Servpro Industries, Inc. chief executive officer. “In some cases, it may highlight a problem you need to address.”

Steen offers the following guidelines based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations for routine maintenance of the HVAC system in your home:

1. Maintain filters.
Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your HVAC system and change filters regularly. If your filters become clogged, change them more frequently. Also, be sure you do not have any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.

2. Minimize dust.
Dust and vacuum your home regularly, using the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take — preferably HEPA bags. If you undertake dusty construction or renovation work in your home, seal off supply and return registers and do not turn your HVAC system on until you have cleaned up the dust.

3. Clean cooling coils and drain pans.
Cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air, can be a major source of moisture contamination that can lead to mold growth in your HVAC system. Make sure that the drain pans under these coils drain properly and check any nearby insulation for wet spots. If you see substantial standing water and/or debris in these pans, contact a qualified service professional immediately. If your system includes an in-duct humidifier, be sure to follow manufacturer operating instructions.

For some homeowners, this routine maintenance may uncover evidence of a larger problem, like mold growth, rodent or insect infestation, or ducts so clogged with dust and debris that particles are being released into the home through air supply registers. Steen says this is the time to call in the professionals for an expert evaluation of the problem and, if necessary, a cleanup plan.

“Restoration and remediation specialists like the technicians at SERVPRO can help you determine how serious the problem is,” says Steen. “In many cases, routine maintenance is all that is required. But if the problem could pose a health threat to people living in the house, you need to call in the professionals. SERVPRO technicians are trained to use specialized cleaning and disposal techniques to remove any contaminants from your ducts safely and completely, without releasing them into your home.” 

For more information on air duct cleaning and other related cleaning services, please visit https://www.servpro.com/airduct-cleaning.

About SERVPRO^®
Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO^® Franchise System is a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of nearly 1,700 individually owned and operated Franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar losses. Providing coverage in the United States and Canada, the SERVPRO System has established relationships with major insurance companies and commercial clients, as well as individual homeowners.

Are Your Home"s Air Ducts on Your Spring Cleaning Checklist?

Cleaning device may aid asthmatics

Press Association – 

A cleaning device which sucks particles from the air could help asthma sufferers while they sleep.

The Temperature Controlled Laminar Airflow (TLA) machine filters out allergy particles, known as allergens, and is being trialled by doctors at Southampton General Hospital.

By removing the particles, which increase at night when body heat and movement carry them from bedding to the nose and mouth, patients’ lungs and airways are able to “rest” in clean air, according to a University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust spokesman.

Around 10% of the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma have the most severe form, which leaves them unable to control their symptoms, resulting in frequent attacks, despite taking multiple high-strength medicines.

Professor Peter Howarth, a specialist in asthma and allergy at Southampton General Hospital, said: “While the majority of asthmatics are able to control their symptoms with medication, around one in 10 regularly experiences life-threatening symptoms and attacks for which current treatments are insufficient.

“There is a desperate need for new and innovative treatment options for patients who suffer from severe asthma and this is an extremely exciting device which offers the hope of real progress for this vulnerable patient group.”

The £1.2 million study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Programme, will involve 222 adults.

Half will be given a TLA device that is working and the other half given an inactive version, the trust spokesman said.

Earlier studies have shown that the TLA device can reduce exposure to potential allergens by a further 99% when compared with the best-in-class air cleaner, he said.

But experts now want to see if it can reduce asthma attacks and asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.

Prof Howarth said: “With such a significant reduction in exposure to allergens, we believe that targeting this equipment specifically to the breathing zone of a patient may succeed in an area where so many other measures, including air filters, have failed.

“By allowing the lungs and airways to rest in clean air overnight, we expect to see a reduction in symptoms which, in turn, will cut the risk of attacks and vastly improve quality of life for these patients as a result.”

The trial, known as the LASER study, is being carried out at Southampton General Hospital and the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, with sites in Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Bradford also recruiting participants.

Further centres are being established in Hull, Oxford, London and Liverpool.

For more information go to www.asthma-treatment.org.uk.

Cleaning device may aid asthmatics

6 Cleaning Tips to Make Your Home Healthier in the New Year

Ready for a brand new you and a healthier home in 2015? Jotham Hatch [pictured below], director of Training at Chem-Dry, is here to share six tips that will transform your surroundings right before your very eyes!

1. Regularly wipe down countertops. Countertops are not only where food is prepared, but it’s also where dirt, dust, bacteria and allergen particles floating in the air often settle. If you have a countertop with granite or tile, it’s best to use a mild cleaner and preferably one that can refresh the sealer. Sealers can degrade over time and it’s important to keep that sealer fresh to prevent bacteria from getting into the porous areas of the stone.

2. Keep carpets and rugs clean. To improve the life and appearance of your carpet, vacuum your carpets and rugs weekly with a bag vacuum, preferably one that has either a HEPA filter or a microfiltration system. However, it is important to note that while vacuuming does pick up dirt and dust on the surface, there can be a lot of bacteria and allergens trapped deep down within the fibers of the carpet – including pet dander and urine, particle pollution and everyday dirt and dust. While these toxins may not be visible to homeowners, they can still be the source of unpleasant health issues and allergy symptoms. Vacuuming and routine cleaning are helpful in maintaining cleaner carpets, but they are simply not enough. For this reason, the EPA recommends getting carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year, and in homes with pets and/or children, it recommends bringing in a cleaning service two to three times per year. For homeowners with pets, it’s advisable to find a professional cleaning service that has an effective urine detection and removal process. To eliminate the maximum amount germs from your carpets and rugs, request adding a sanitizer to the cleaning process to kill off and eliminate bacteria as well as a protectant, which puts a protective coating on the carpet fibers and makes it easier to keep carpets cleaner for a longer period of time on your own.

3. Don’t forget about your upholstered furniture. Most people think about vacuuming and cleaning their carpets and rugs but they forget about cleaning their upholstery, despite spending significant time every day on their couches and chairs. Similar to countertops and carpets, particles like dust, dirt and allergens settle on upholstered furniture as well. Vacuuming upholstered furniture is nearly as easy and is just as important as carpets, particularly in the high-traffic areas like family rooms. It’s recommended to vacuum the upholstery in your home once every other week and have it professionally cleaned once a year.

4. Sanitize high touch points around the house. Popular “hot spots” include door knobs, toilet handles, faucets and light switches. Spending a few minutes sanitizing those areas, particularly before and after guests come into the home, can go a long way toward minimizing the spread of germs. More preventive approaches to minimizing the spread of germs include being vigilant about washing your hands regularly throughout the day and placing a bottle of hand sanitizer in the high-traffic areas of the home, making it easy and convenient to keep your hands clean and germ-free.

5. Use door mats or area rugs in entry ways and high-traffic areas. While it’s easy to forget them, door mats and area rugs do a great job of trapping dirt and allergens before they enter the heart of your home. Part of the reason they aren’t as common in homes today is due to the misconception that hard surfaces are healthier than carpets or rugs, which is not the case. The fact is that carpets and rugs act as filters that capture and trap dirt, dust and allergens and prevent them from getting into the air and spreading throughout the home. On hard surfaces, these particles simply settle and then are stirred back into the air the next time there is traffic and activity in the area. Using door mats and area rugs is an effective and inexpensive way to prevent unwanted and unhealthy particles from getting deeper into your home or from remaining in the air where they can spread more easily to members of the family.

6. Check and replace your heating and air conditioning filters. While furnaces are vital to keeping homes warm in the colder months, it’s important to change the furnace air filter at regular intervals to prevent dirt, dust and other unhealthy particles from being distributed around the house. Follow the recommended replacement timing for each filter that is indicated on the filter package. To remind yourself when it’s time to change the filter, write the date that you’re performing the replacement on the outer edge of the new filter that you’re installing to make it easy to know when your next one is due. Another way to stay on schedule with future filter replacements is to send yourself an invitation in your online calendar for the date of the next replacement or for replacements for the remainder of the year, based on the manufacturer’s recommended cycle.

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6 Cleaning Tips to Make Your Home Healthier in the New Year