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Cleaning Tips, Tricks, and Tools
When it comes to cleaning, having a few tricks up your sleeve is the way to go. And if you want to know how to quickly get rid of dust bunnies, grime, dirt, and allergens, count on The Maids to provide the best cleaning tricks for your home. With over 30 years of experience under our belts, we have more than a few house cleaning tips to share. After all, we don’t go anywhere without a vacuum and cloth in hand! Read on to learn more about cleaning tools and housekeeping strategies you can use to get your home shiny and bright.
Whether you’re a collector of rare or antique books or simply enjoy reading, knowing how to clean books is an excellent skill to have. Rare or not, cleaning books safely requires a delicate approach and proven cleaning methods. Unlike many other surfaces in your
5 Things You Should Not Put in Your Dishwasher
Washing dishes is a real pain, which is why automatic dishwashers are one of the most helpful kitchen appliances. If you read our blog, you know your dishwasher can clean much more than dishes, pots, and pans. From sanitizing baby toys to cleaning light fixtures, a
How to Clean A White Couch: A Definitive Guide
Here’s the scenario. You’ve finally gotten that white couch of your dreams. It’s soft, roomy, and works great in your living room. Maybe it’s plush white microfiber or beautiful white leather. No matter your taste, every time you walk in the door, your couch is
How to Get Rid of Paint Smell in a House
A fresh coat of paint inside your home can give you the most bang for your buck when updating the decor. Whether you’re changing the color scheme or lightening things up, nothing makes a home look fresh and new like painting. While that new coat of paint gives a
How to Get Makeup Out of Sheets and Pillowcases
If you’ve ever gone to bed and forgotten to remove your makeup, we feel you. We’ve all done it, and most of the time, everything turns out okay. But sometimes, we end up with terrible makeup stains and smears on our pillows and sheets. And when those
How to Disinfect Your House After the Flu or a Cold
Cooler weather often means a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to the flu to the coronavirus, so you must know how to minimize the spread of germs. Over the last couple of years, we have all become more aware of the dangers that arise from viruses and other
How to Clean and Degrease a Stovetop
Grease, grime, and dirt are just par for the course in most homes and keeping things clean takes skill and planning. In your kitchen, all that greasy buildup can be tough to handle and could even cause health problems. The Maids® has been cleaning stovetops for
How To Clean A Rug
Area rugs certainly do a lot to visually unite a space, but they also take on a lot of wear and tear and accumulate plenty of dirt and dust. Being at the center of common living spaces means more foot traffic, not to mention paw prints and muddy sneakers. With all
How to Get Slime Out of Carpets, Clothes, Hair, and More
Making and playing with slime is an uber-popular pastime for kids and tweens. But what they may not tell you is this stuff is murder to remove. Removing slime can be extra challenging because of the ingredients used to make it. FYI: If you buy slime at the store, the
The Ultimate Holiday Cleaning Checklist
Before, during, and after the holidays, housekeeping can be quite a challenge. Cooking, celebrating, and entertaining take center stage, and all that fun can put housekeeping on the back burner. Instead of choosing between having fun, holiday house cleaning, or guilty
How to Wash Pillows for a Better Night’s Sleep
You do your best to keep your home clean and healthy. You sweep and vacuum, keep up with the laundry, and maybe even clean the mattresses once in a while. But what about your bed pillows? Many people wash sheets, pillowcases, comforters, and even throw blankets once a
How to Get Your Shower Doors Squeaky Clean
Glass shower doors with visible soap scum, hard water stains, or mildew can make your bathroom look dingy and dull—and promote the growth of mold. In the largest bathrooms, shower doors account for a good chunk of your “wall space” and can enhance or detract from your
A Guide to Your Fridge’s Humidity Control Drawers
You likely have a humidity control fridge in your home, whether you realize it or not. We’ve all seen the knobs, but how many of us leave our refrigerator humidity controller on the middle setting? These settings have quite an impact on your fruits, vegetables,
How to Clean Granite Countertops
Many of us dream of living in a home where granite countertops span the kitchen and bathrooms. Granite makes a beautiful and elegant decorating statement, but it requires some maintenance to keep it clean. Many people assume that because granite is sealed, it can be
How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances
Properly maintained and clean stainless steel adds elegance and sophistication to any kitchen. However, if you don’t know how to clean stainless steel appliances or clean them often enough, you could be left with a room full of dull, grey appliances. You can maintain
How to Make Your House Smell Good
No matter how often you clean and deodorize, you’re bound to run into unpleasant odors from time to time – even if you have a regular housekeeping service that keeps your home always guest-ready. As long as you cook, eat, sleep, and use the bathroom, odors will creep
Fall Home Maintenance Tips
Fall is the last time before spring when you can comfortably work on your home inside and out. The changing seasons also mean it’s time to ensure your home and family will be warm when cold weather rolls in. With fall home maintenance tips, a checklist, and a
Vacation Rental Cleaning Guide
When you think about your summer vacation rental, you’re probably thinking of marketing your property, decorating your summer rental, and other ways to keep your place booked all summer long. Whether it’s good ol’ word of mouth or a digital review, how favorable
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in Your House
Have you noticed tiny flies buzzing around your home? The dreaded fruit flies have arrived, and they won’t go away, despite your efforts to keep things tidy. These tiny nuisances breed quickly, so you might notice a single fruit fly one day and then a swarm only a day
How to Clean a Glass-Top Stove
A shiny new glass-top stove is a beautiful thing to behold. The light bounces off the perfect finish and creates a bright and elegant atmosphere in your kitchen. Fast-forward a year or so, and that once-glistening stovetop is now just a dingy, dull appliance. If this
How To Wash and Care for Wool
If you’ve ever wondered why wool clothing like sweaters and socks seem to be immune to odors, the answer is just one of the many advantages of wool. Wool contains naturally antimicrobial lanolin oils, so the bacteria that typically cause odors can’t
How to Clean and Care for Your Picture Frames
The proper frame for a photograph or piece of art does just what the name implies—it “frames” the work for a finished look. Combined with the right matting and frame design, your favorite pieces of art and pictures also serve as decor elements. While old photos and
Household Cleaning Products You Should Never Mix
Few things are more satisfying than successfully scrubbing up a stubborn stain. Some cleaning know-how and a little elbow grease and what once was thought to be a permanent mark is now a thing of the past! Hey, we’re right with you; we love removing stains—it’s
How to Get Stains Out of Baby Clothes Naturally
Baby clothes with their tiny stripes and ruffles are the cutest! But nothing ruins a romper faster than a stain you can’t lift off. Throwing away a favorite bib or sleeper is heart-wrenching. Plus, if you’re planning on having more than one child, reusing clothes that
How to Organize Your Pantry
You’re in the middle of cooking your signature dish. The pan is hot, the smells are exquisite, and all you need to do is add your favorite spice before the food gets too crispy. You turn to your pantry and…can’t find the spice. Instead of a quick fix, you’re shifting
Cleaning While Pregnant the Safe Way
If you were to ask, “Can you clean the house while pregnant?” and it was 1955, the answer would be “no.” Doctors often prescribed plenty of bed rest and no strenuous activities like housekeeping. But way back then, drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes wasn’t
How to Clean and Organize Your Mudroom
Mudrooms are notoriously hard to keep clean transition areas in many homes. It’s where your family pulls things together as they head out the door each day—and where they dump everything as they walk back in. That’s a lot of traffic, dirt, and clutter, so
How to Clean, Preserve, and Store Your Wedding Dress
Your wedding day is one of the most important and memorable events in your life, and your dress is probably a large part of what made it so special. Let’s be frank, you probably shelled out quite a bit of money for your gorgeous gown, so you’re going to want to keep
How to Organize Junk Drawers Once and For All
Pop quiz: how many junk drawers do you have in your home? If you don’t know the answer, you’re not alone. Many of us probably think we are organized enough to answer only “one,” but the truth may be far more! That’s why you need to learn how to
How to Clean Up Broken Glass the Safe Way
Glass has been one of the most popular materials for vases, drinking glasses, mirrors, and, of course, windows for centuries. We love the beauty, practicality, and durability of glass, but we don’t love the mess it leaves when broken. Learning how to clean up
Things That Must Be Cleaned Before Bringing a New Baby Home
Whether they are your first or third, bringing home a new baby is always exciting, but it can also be stressful. Chances are a new mother won’t have time to do housework as she bonds with her baby and takes her well-deserved break from everything else.
The Ultimate Pre-Vacation House Cleaning Checklist
Why would you need a house checklist before vacation? Because it’s hard to be organized before the trip, and you don’t want to leave your home dirty. There are family suitcases to pack, keys to leave for the neighbor, mail to check, and a host of other
How to Clean a Patio Umbrella
Now that it’s getting warmer, your family is starting to spend more time outdoors entertaining guests and lounging in the sun. While you’re soaking up the rays, your umbrella is taking a beating from the elements. If you want to keep your outdoor area looking good
How to Get Blueberry Stains Out of Clothes and Carpet
Warm weather brings new crops of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and other healthy treats, and we all have our favorites. But nothing says summertime like fresh, plump blueberries. Blueberry pie, blueberry slushies, blueberry popsicles, blueberry muffins,
How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Towels
If your family’s towels smell like a locker room instead of home sweet home, the culprit may be mildew. When damp towels pile up in the laundry basket or lay on the bathroom floor too long, mildew can grow. That musty odor you smell is caused by mildew that is
How to Clean a Kitchen Trash Can
Even if you use the best housekeeping checklist and stay on top of the dirt and dust, there’s always a cleaning task or two that are overlooked. Some areas of your home that are out of sight may be out of mind for you, but they aren’t for germs and grime.
How to Clean Your Air Fryer in 4 Easy Steps
Air fryers are popular because they can help you whip up a tasty snack quickly while still helping you eat more healthily. The heated air produced in air fryers replaces the need to use oil for cooking, but these handy appliances can still get pretty grimy. And while
Attic Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Attics can be ideal for expanding your home’s living space, but for many of us, they serve as at-home storage units. Depending on how long you’ve lived in your home, your attic could be housing everything from 1980’s water beds to last
How to Clean a Front Door
Nothing helps your home’s curb appeal more than a beautifully clean front door. Since you see it every day, you may not notice how dirty and dull your front door is—but you can bet visitors notice it. Your front door is one of the first things guests see when
How to Get Rid of a Musty Smell in Your House
You’re walking down the hallway and out of nowhere, you catch a whiff of a musty aroma. You backtrack, then go to the other end of the hallway, but you can’t quite pin down the source. A musty smell in a house can come from various sources, so it’s
How to Get Makeup Out of Carpet
Whether you are a beauty makeover artist or only use makeup when you have to, you’ve probably run into a makeup stain on your clothes. Many of us have a trick or two for cleaning up makeup, but what do you do when you get makeup on your carpet? You turn to The
How to Clean Tile Floors Like a Pro
We love tile floors, and we know many of our readers and customers love them too. It’s no wonder tile floors have been a favorite floor covering for thousands of years. Tile is beautiful, durable, and competitively priced. There’s a lot to love about
How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains
If you feel like your bathroom cleaning routine is up to snuff, but you still can’t get rid of toilet bowl stains—we get it. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much elbow grease you put behind your toilet scrubbing, as you still can end up with unsightly
How to Remove Coffee and Tea Stains From Cups
Whether you’re a tea drinker or a coffee drinker, you’ve probably looked down at the telltale stains and wondered, “Why do they make teacups and coffee mugs white on the inside!” We assume it’s just a natural result of the china or ceramic
How to Remove a Red Wine Stain On Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery
Of all life’s toughest stains, red wine stains may be the most feared—and for good reason! Fabrics are in danger any time someone uncorks a bottle of red, so it’s vital to understand red wine stain removal hacks for clothes, carpet, and upholstery. So why
How to Wash Stuffed Animals Without Ruining Them
Many of us had favorite stuffed animals when we were kids—and there’s a good chance our parents never washed any of them. We’ll skip the nasty details, but suffice to say that kids’ messes can be a challenge. Thankfully, we know a lot more about dirt
Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning With Pre-Spring Cleaning!
If a messy house keeps you from hosting play dates or neighborhood coffees or book clubs, cringe no more. The Maids has been cleaning and disinfecting for more than 40 years, so we know a thing or two about house cleaning. We know that tackling big projects like
How to Keep a Kid’s Room Clean and Organized
If you find yourself walking by your child’s room for the umpteenth time and shaking your head, it’s probably because you can’t stand the sight of such a mess. Dirty clothes on the floor and bed, toys scattered everywhere, empty bags of chips and discarded juice
Top 5 Practical and Painless Ways for Paring Down Your Belongings
Many of us know the benefits of decluttering, but few do it often enough. When decluttering isn’t a part of your regular housekeeping routine, the accumulation can create unnecessary stress and anxiety. If you find your belongings closing in and taking over,
How To Remove Hard Water Stains The Easy Way
Depending on where your home is located, your water could be categorized as hard or soft. Hard water doesn’t feel “hard,” and soft water doesn’t feel “soft,” so what’s the difference and how can you tell? Water hardness or softness refers to the