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Introduction…Wheredoyoustart?Doesthissoundfamiliar?Afterworkingallweekyou'vefinallyputasidesometimeandmustereduptheenergytocleanyourhouse.Maybethedirthasbeenpilingupforweeks,thingsarejustgettingtooclutteredandyoucan'tignorethemessanylonger.Ormaybeyou'vegotcompanycomingoverandyou'refranticallytryingtomakethingslookdecentintimefordinner.Eitherway,you'vedecidedtorollupyoursleevesandgetcleaning.Butwheredoyoustart?Theapproachmostpeopletake(andtheoneIusedtotakebeforeIranmyownhomecleaningbusiness),wastojustpickarandomroomandstartsomekindofcleaningtask.Maybeyouwouldstartbycollectingitemsthatneedtobethrownout,orvacuumingthecarpetormaybewipingdowncountertops.Whileallofthesetasksareimportant,thismethodusuallyleadstodistractionand"multi‐taskingparalysis"asyoucontinuallydiscovernewthingsthatpullyouawayfromthetaskathand.Cleaningandediting,ororganizing,aretwodifferenttasksandit’shelpfultokeepthemseparate.


Sometimesjustthinkingaboutcleaningafewroomsinyourhouse,letalonethewholehouse,canseemlikemajorundertaking.Butitdoesn'thavetobe.Yescleaningyourhomewilltakesomeeffort.Butifyou'reorganizedaboutitandhaveafewsimplestrategiesinplace,youcandrasticallyreducethetimeandeffortrequiredtomakeyourhouselooktrulyremarkable.Havingacleanhomeisoneoftheeasiestwaystoimmediatelyimproveyourday‐to‐dayqualityoflife.Notonlydoeseverythinglookgreatandsmellgreat,butyoualsobecomemoreorganized,productiveandstressfree.Yourhome,condo,orchaletisprobablythebiggestfinancialinvestmentyou'llevermakesowhynotmaximizetheenjoymentyougetoutofit?Butmostimportantly,acleanhomeisacozierandhealthierenvironmentforyourfamilymembersandpets.Sohowdoyouachievethislevelofenjoyment?Readon.HowToCleanYourHouseLikeAProMycrewandIhavebeenhouse‐cleaningprofessionalsforover10yearsandinthattimehavecompletedover15,000cleaningjobs.


I'velearnedwhatmakesahouselookgreatandthedifferenceisinthedetails.Iusethissystemandthesetechniqueseverytimewecleanaclient’shouse.Andthesearen'tyou're"standardmaidservice"tasks.Ifyoufolloweverystepinthisguide,Iguaranteeyou'llhaveyourhouselookingsogoodyourguestswillcomplimentyoueverytimetheycomeover.Iputthisguidetogetherforthosetimeswhenyou'refeelingmotivatedtocleanyourhomeandwanttocapitalizeonyourwillpowerbutaren'tsurewheretostart.NotonlywillIshowyouhowdocleanyourhouseproperly,I'llalsoshowyousomeimportantthingstoavoidsoyoudon'truinanyofyourfurnitureorappliances.WhenIoriginallydesignedthisguide,itwascreatedasatrainingmanualformycrew.AsIwasputtingittogetherIhadthegoalinmindthat"ifwecleanahouseonaregularbasis,theclientshouldneverhavetocleananything."Sohere'showtotakeprofessionaltechniquesandimplementthemyourself.DustingLet'sfaceit.Mostofusdon'tenjoydusting.Whilemycompanydoescomprehensivedustingasabasicserviceeveryvisit,ifyoudustjustonceamonth,it'soneoftheeasiestwaystogetyourplacelookingbetterthantheaveragehome.Dustingisagoodplacetostartwhencleaningyourhousebecauseitgivesyoutheopportunitytopickthingsupoffthefloor,fluffpillowsandcushions,foldthrowblankets,andperformbasictidying.Whendustingyourplace,ifyoumissanarea,it’llbequitevisiblewithinacoupleofdaysascomparedtoeverywhereelse,sobethorough.


Important:IrecommendyouusePledge.I'vetriedabunchofdifferentproductsanditalwaysgivesmethebestresults.ButmakesureyousprayPledgeonyourcloth,notonthefurniture.Microfibercleaningclothsalsoworkverywellfordustingaswellasformirrorsandglass.MoveItemsIt'simportanttotakethetimetomoveitemspriortodusting.Thisisactuallymoreefficientthanpickingupeachitemanddustingunderit.Ifyou’reworriedabouthowthingslookedbeforeyoumovedthemandwanttomakesureeverythinggoesbackexactlythesame,youcanalwaystakeapictureonyourcellphoneorcamerabeforeyoustart.WindowLedgesWhendustingwindowledges,raiseallblindsorcurtainstoaccessallledges.CeilingFansOnceyougetyourceilingfanclean,it’sacinchtodoiteverytime.I’veseenmanyceilingfansthatcanbeeasilyreachedbyafootstoolorchairthatareliterallydrippingwithdust.BaseboardsWealwaysdobaseboards.Mostservicesnevertouchthembuttheyareoneofthekeyelementstomakingyourhouselookclean.Evenifyoucleaneverythingelse,dirtybaseboardswillstickout.Ifyouhaven'tgottoyourbaseboardsinawhileandtheyarereallydirty,thencleanthemwithadampmopand/orvacuumthem.DoorJams&LightSwitchPlatesAdampclothwithalittlecleaningproductonitwilllookaftertheseeasytomissareas.


PatioDoorsPatiodoors,andentrydoorsareamust.Watchfornoseprintswhereanimalslive.BasicsTheseotherareasareallpartofwhatIconsidertobebasicdustingthatyoucandoifyourtimeislimitedandyou'rejusttryingtotidyupabitandgetyourplacelookingfreshquickly.Basicsthatshouldnotbemissedinclude:bedframesincludingthesiderail,thesideofcabinetsandarmoires,doorpanels,banistersandspindles,chairlegsandbases,curtainrods,picturesandtheirframes,stairwellledges,diningroomtablelegsandbases.Ifyourhousehasalotofvacuuming,youshouldliftthecushionsonyourcouchesanddustcrumbsanddebrisontotherugorfloor.Thissavestimewhenvacuumingandavoidshavingtopulloutthevacuumagainlaterwhenyounoticethis.BathroomsBathroomsareoneofthemostimportantareastofocusyourenergywhencleaningyourplace.Notonlydoyouusethemregularly,butsowilleveryguestyouhaveover.Alotofusgetusedtohowourbathroomslookovertime.Ifyou’replanningonentertaining,tryandlookatyoubathroomassomeonewhohasneverseenitbeforewould.Maybetherearesomelittlethingsthatyouhavegottenusedtobutothersmayfindunsightly.Thebusiercountersandbathtubledgesarewithpersonalitemsandnicnacs,themoretimeconsumingtheywillbetoclean.


MirrorsMirrorsshouldbestreak‐freefromallangles.Ifthey'renot,theywillnotlookcleanandyou'lljustbeforcedtodothemagain.Themirrorwillalsostaycleanerlongerifit’sreallyclean.IrecommendafoamglasscleanerlikeInvisibleGlassorBonAmi.Ifyoustillcan’tgetyourmirrorclean,tryvinegarandwater,asthiswillremoveanybuildupthatyoumayhavefromotherproducts.ToiletsMakesuretocleanthebowl,lids,fronts,bases,tops,andespeciallyinandaroundtheseatfastenerswheredirttendstocollect.WerecommendSprayVimfortheentirebathroom.Wipethebaseofthetoiletandinbehindthetoiletbyhandincludingthebaseboardasamopjustcan'tdothisjob.FixturesCleanalllights(includingthebulbsoncetheyhavecooled),toiletpaperandtowelracks,andthetopsoftheshowercurtainrod.Alsotakecaretocleantheundersideoftapsespeciallywheretapsmeetsinksandtubs.Hotwaterandasimplescrubbiewilltakeawayallgunk.Ifyouhaveashowerdoorwithmetaltrim,takethetimetocleanthetrack.Ifyouhavehalogenlightsoveryourmirror,trytocleanthemirrorbeforeyouturnonthelights,asthelightsheatupthemirrorandthereforemakeitimpossibletogetastreakfreefinish.


TowelsTryandfoldalltowelshotelstyle(inthree).Thisisasimpletechniquethatwillreallygiveyouthatprofessionallook.Seethewelcomevideoathttp://www.therakeandbroom.com/forhowtodothis.WallsManypeoplehavesplashmarksonthewallwherethehandtoweliskept.Checkyourwallsallaroundthebathroomespeciallynearthetoilet.VacuumingDependingonthesizeofyourplace,thiscanbeabigjob,butit'spossibletobefastandalsobethorough.It'simportanttovacuumwellasIrecommendmopingafterwardsandthiscanonlybeasgoodasthevacuumthatprecedesit.FurnitureIfyouareableto,tryandmovecouches,chairs,andotheritemslikebedsidetables.Youshouldalsotryandmoveyourbedseverytwotothreemonthsandvacuumunderneath.AreaRugsForlargearearugs(8x10andup)vacuumundertheedgesorfolditback.Vacuumandthenpickupsmallerrugstoprepareformopingafterward.FireplacesandWoodStovesIfyouhaveoccasionalfiresorawoodstove,vacuumhearthstoremoveashesastheycanblowaroundtootherpartsofyourhouseeasily.


ClosetsOpenclosetdoorsandvacuumintothem,andevenemptythemout,especiallythefronthallclosetwherealotofdirtcanbetrackedinonshoesfromoutoutside.KitchensAsyouvacuumthroughyourkitchen,openthebreaddrawerorwhereyoustorethetoasterandvacuumupthecrumbs.Dothesamewiththecutlerydrawer.LampShadesTheytooneedtobevacuumed,butholdtheseamswithonehandwhilevacuuming,andifpossible,reducethesuctiononthevacuumassomeshadescanbedelicate.GaragesIfyouhaveanentrancefromthegarageintoyourhouse,vacuumtowardsorintothegaragewhichwillkeepgritfrommakingitswayintoyourhouse.PatioDoorsOpenpatiodoorsandvacuumthetracks.Whenmycrewgoesintoahousetoclean,wevacuumallfloorsurfaces,asvacuumingisbetterthansweeping.Thisincludesbathrooms,kitchens,&stonefloors.Ifyourbaseboardsareverydustyvacuumthembeforemoping.KitchensWhencleaningyourkitchenyoushouldstartwithyourfridgeandstove.FridgesBesuretowipethedoorpanel,handleandthetopofthefridge.OvensIfyousprayanovenaheadoftime,youmakesureyouremoveofthelowerdrawerbecausetheovencleanerdripsintoitandthecleanerwillremovetheenamelonthedrawer.Placeabout4or5sheetsofnewspaperonthefloorto


catchanydrips.Removalofthedraweralsomakesiteasiertocleanunderthestove.Asanaddedprecaution,foldacoupleofsheetsofpapertowelandplacetheminthedoorcrackandthenclosethedoor.Thiswillabsorbanydripsthatmayoccur.Self‐CleanOvensRemovetherackspriortosettingtheselfcleanincludingthesideracks.SmallAppliancesCoffeemakers,toasters,microwaves—cleanandpolish.DishwasherWipecleantheoutsideofyourdishwasher.SinksCleanunderkitchensinks,tidy,wipeanddothesameforthegarbagearea.Thisareagetsalotofuseandbecomesdirtyquickly.MoppingIfyouhavehardwoodfloors,IrecommendyouuseMurphy’sOilSoap.Therearesomeotherhardwoodfloorproductsonthemarketdesignedforhardwood,andtwothatcometomind:PledgeHardwoodFloorCleaner,andBona.Onceagain,ifyoufindthatyoumighthaveabuildupofproductonyourfloorsthenusevinegarandwateracoupleoftimesandthatshouldbringbackyourshine.Fortile,andeverythingelse,weusePineSol.


Wealsousetwotypesofmops,bothofwhicharemadebyVileda.Thefirstmopisaragstylehead,inwhichtheactualmopheadismadeupofblueandwhitestripsofcloth,andweusethisonbaseboardsandalltilefloors.WetypicallyusePineSolandyoudon’tneedverymuchproduct.Thesecondmop,isaflatmicrofiber,whichiswhatweuseonhardwoodfloors.BaseboardsAlwaysdothebaseboardsfirst,(withtheragmop)andmakesurethatthemopiswetenough(butnotsoaking)toactuallycleanthebaseboards.Dotheentirehouseatonce.Itwon’tmatterhowcleanyourhouseisattheend,ifyourbaseboardsarestilldirty,thenyourhousewilllookdirty.TileFloorsUsethesamemoptowashallofyourtilefloors.Youcandotheseallatonce,orifyoupreferyoucandoaflooratatime.Whetherit'stileorhardwood,besuretomoparoundtableandchairlegs,andunderfurniture.HardwoodFloorsWhenmopinghardwoodfloors,useaboutacapfullofMurphy’sOilSoapinabout6litersofwarmtohotwater.Youmustgetthemopheadwetandringitoutbyhand,againyouwantitwetbutnotsoakingwet.GeneralMopingTipsMopyourwayoutofaroom,andithelpstokeepthemopheadgoinginthesamedirectionofthegrainofthehardwoodfloor–thisreducesthechanceofstreaksforming.


Whenit’salldry,putbackyourmats,chairs,andanythingelseyoupickedupoffthefloor.Removethemopheadsandplaceinthewashingmachine.BonusTipsAndInsiderSecrets

• Stainlesssteelappliances:Therearetwowaystocleanastainlessfridgedoor.Theeasiestistotakeamicrofiberclothandwethalfofit.Cleanthedoorandthentakethedrypartoftheclothanddryit.IfyouwanttouseStainlessCleaner,HomeDepot(Zep)and3MmaketheonlytwoproductsthatIrecommend.Alwayswipeinthedirectionofthegrainofthestainless.

• Ifyouhaveastainlesssteelcooktopyoumayfindthatyouhavebrown

stainsthatyoucannotremove.Takeacanofovencleaner,andspotspraywherethestainsare.Waitabout10minutesandeitheruseaspongeorsoftclothtowipeitclean.Nevereveruseanythingmorethanasoftclothorspongeonstainlesssteel.

• Ifyouhaveblackshinytileanywhereinyourhome–useVimOxyGelwhen

mopingtokeeptheshine.

• Ifyouwanttogetyourrefrigeratorlookingreallycleanyou'regoingtowanttopullitout.Therearetwothingstoremember.Doyouhaveanicemaker?Ifsothere’sadirectwaterfeedandyoudon’twanttopullthislineawayfromthewall.Arefrigeratorisheavyandmayscratchyourfloors,sohavehelpandkeepaneyeonthefloor.

• Sitonthetoilet,whatdoyousee?Besurethatthesightlineisclean.

Nowthatyouknowhowtogetyourhouselookinglikeaprofessionalcleanedit,makesureyoudownloadandprintthesimplechecklistIputtogethertomaketheprocesseveneasier.


Youcangetitathttp://www.therakeandbroom.com/free-home-cleaning-guide Ifyouareabletocompletethislist,yourhouseshouldlookcleanerthaniteverhasbefore.Atthispointyoushouldgrabamagazineandyourfavouritebeverageandmakeupanexcusetocallsomefriendsover.Yourhouselooksbeautiful!Needsomehelp?Don’tWorry,That’sNormal!Ifyou’veletthings‘getaway’fromyouandthethoughtofcleaningyourhomeisjusttoooverwhelming,it'scertainlyunderstandableandverynormal.Butitmightbetimetocallinaprofessional.MostcleaningcompanieswillconsideraonetimecleanandIprovidethisservicetoanyclientthat'sinterested.EverythingthatIoutlinedaboveisallpartofour"basic"cleaningservice.OneofthethingsIhearoverandoverfrommyclientsisthefeelingofhappinessandelationthatwashesoverthemwhentheycomehomeandopentheirfrontdoortoanabsolutelypristinehouse.Itsimplyallowsthemtoenjoytheirplacemoreandmakesthemwanttoinvitepeopleover.Wealsodoseasonalcleaningifyou'rehavingafamilyeventorapartyduringtheholidays.IhaveaveryloyalcustomerbaseinthegreaterCollingwoodareaandthereasonpeopleloveourservicesisbecauseweareabletotailorthemtoeachcustomer.Ihavebeenluckytobuilduphigh‐trustrelationshipswithmyclientssoiftheygooutoftownforawhiletheyknowIwillalwayslookouttomakesureeverythinglooksasitshouldwhenIcometocleantheirplace.AlotofseasonalvisitorsandchaletownersparticularlyenjoyanicelevelofcomfortknowingthatIcomebytheirplacewhenthey’reaway.Andevenifyouhaven'tbeenupsincemycrewandIlastcameby,wewillpickanewpetproject


eachtimebeyondour"basic"cleaningtomakesureyougethighvalueoutofourservices.Ifyouwanttogetyourplacelookingbetterthaniteverhasbefore,simplygrabthephoneandgivemeacallat705‐445‐6019oremailmeattherakeandbroom@rogers.com.Ihopethatyoufoundthisguideusefulandthatitgetsyoumotivatedtocleanyourhomesoyoucanenjoyitfully.Ifyouthinksomeoneelseyouknowwouldalsofindthisguidevaluable,pleaseemailittothemeveniftheydon'tliveanywherenearCollingwood.Thanksforreading,andifyouseemearoundtown,pleasecomeupandsayhi!I'dbehappytoansweranyquestionsyoumayhave.Sincerely,MitchCollinsP.S.–Wanttobringyourgardenbacktolife?Orhowaboutgiveita“facelift”soit’snosoboring?IalsohaveyearsexperienceworkinginanurseryandIknowhowtomakeyourgardenuniqueandbeautifulwithoutresortingtothesameoldboringplantsandflowers.Simplygotohttp://www.therakeandbroom.com/servicestoseewhatserviceswehaveavailable.

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