The Do's And Don'ts For Cleaning Hardwood Floors!

A hardwood floor can last for decades. However, to keep it in top condition, you need to clean it frequently and carefully! Nobody wants an ugly scratch or a dull finish on their floor. What's the best way to clean your floor? Learn here the do's and don'ts of cleaning hardwood floors!

DO: remove dust regularly

Neglecting regular cleaning on your floor could be counterproductive—cleaning a dirty hardwood floor is riskier and takes a lot of time! Instead, to keep your floor clean for longer, remove loose dirt and debris daily. 

Sweeping your floor won't take you much time. The best tools to use are a soft-bristle broom or a dust mop.

DON'T: use the beater bar attachment

You could also use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from your floor. However, you need to be careful! Never use a beater bar or any other attachment that isn't specifically designed for hardwood flooring.

Other tools to avoid are steam cleaners. Steam mops are great for tile or many different types of floor, but they will wreak havoc on your hardwood floors!

DO: clean messes right away

A spill is easier to clean with a damp cloth before it sticks to the floor surface. Keep a soft cloth ready to tackle any mess right when it happens, from dirty footprints to food spills.

DON'T: wet the floor

Water and wood don't mix well. Many hardwood floors have a protective coat that prevents water from penetrating into the wood. However, in waxed floors and other types of finishes, sitting water could still cause damages. 

If you decide to mop your floor, ensure you are not wetting it too much!

DO: deep clean every few months

It doesn't matter how frequently you dust your hardwood floor; you still need to deep clean it from time to time. Usually, deep cleaning a floor means mopping it. 

Can you mop hardwood floors? In most cases, you can. However, always use a trusted commercial or DIY hardwood floor cleaner to be sure it won't damage the finish. Also, if you are using a traditional mop, wring it well before mopping!

DON'T: overclean low-traffic areas

You should sweep the floor every now and then in a high-traffic area and mop with each seasonal clean. However, the low-traffic areas on your floor can go without cleaning for longer. Mopping a low-traffic floor twice a year is enough! This way, you can lower the risk of dulling the finish!

DO: protect your floor

Using floor protectors in high-traffic areas can save you a lot of cleaning. Place rugs and mats in entryways, hallways, and other living areas. Also, you can place floor protectors under furniture to avoid scratches!

DON'T: skip refinishing

Cleaning your floor is an excellent way to keep it looking like new. However, sooner or later, you'll need to refinish it. The frequency of refinishing can go from once or twice a year to every five or ten years. It depends on the type of finish on your floor!

No time to clean your floors? We can help you!

Vital Cleaning Solutions is ready to amaze you. We are a local cleaning company delivering high-quality house cleaning services to Chicago homes! Booking is easy, and your satisfaction is guaranteed! Learn more about our services by visiting our homepage!

Contaminants In Your Home and Workplace That You Didn't Know About

We might think we are living in a clean, safe home and that our workplace is hygienic. Sometimes this is not the case. There can be many contaminants that we cannot see with the naked eye. They are present and are silently affecting our health. Today we have gathered a list of these contaminants that are hidden and are a silent predator.

Contaminants and their sources:

The following biological contaminants can be found in the environment you live and work.

• Pollen: It is a very fine powder that is produced by plants, grasses, flowers and weeds. Many people have an adverse immune system response when they breathe in pollen. The immune system mistakenly considers it some harmful substance and starts producing chemicals to fight it which leads to many allergic symptoms. Find out more about harmful effects of pollen.  

• Viruses: These are usually transmitted by people and animals.

• Molds: It is a type of fungus with small microorganisms found almost everywhere. This can grow and spread on moisture. If this happens then it releases small spores which can be inhaled and produces harmful effects. 

• Bacteria:  These are usually spread around by people, animals and wastes of soil and plants.

• Animal contaminants: Pets and other animals can be a source of saliva and dander.

• Small pieces or body parts of insects, wasps, pests and cockroaches.

• Urine of certain animals such as rats and mice is also harmful. These can dry and become airborne.

• Contaminated central air handling systems are a home for molds and other biological contaminants. They also get transferred to the air in the home. 

  Mosts of these contaminants are such small particles that they can easily be inhaled without even knowing.

Adverse effects of contaminants on health:

The contaminants in our air can cause allergic reactions such as:

• hypersensitivity pneumonitis

• allergic rhinitis

• asthma

Molds produce disease causing toxins which are responsible for many diseases like chicken pox and measles.

Other health problems caused by contaminants are as follows:

• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Lethargy

• Fever

• Digestive problems

• Bacterial or viral infections

How to reduce the exposure to contaminants in our environment?

The best bet we have against controlling the spread of contaminants is to keep our surroundings clean and hygienic. Remove all sources of pollutants and regularly clean any space which might be susceptible to any kind of contaminants.

Change your air filters regularly . You can easily find the information on how often you should change your air filter from the manufacturer depending on the thickness of the filter. Similarly, An air purifier should help your home rid of invisible airborne pollutants as well as helping to extend the life of your furnace filter.

At Vital Cleaning Services we have an experienced and well trained team. We provide professional cleaning services to help you minimize the exposure to  all the harmful toxins and contaminants in your homes and workplaces. Our top of the line equipment is designed with HEPA filters that trap these contaminants for effective removal. We only use the most effective eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe for your family and pets. For your peace of mind,  our disinfectant solutions are approved by the EPA so you can be sure of their effectiveness against harmful bacteria and viruses.  When choosing the right company to clean your home and workspace, choose one that offers all of these services. As always, if you need help keeping your home or office clean, we are here to help. Speak to one of our experts or book an appointment online at your convenience.

[Infographic] 6 Common But Incredible Dust Sources

Dust is a big deal for most allergy sufferers. The first thing to do is knowing where dust is coming from, and it might even surprise you! These are 6 common dust sources.

Your home doesn't need to be full of dust. Vital Cleaning Solutions can help you with the regular chores. Learn more about our services by visiting our homepage!

Don't Feel Like Cleaning? 4 Tricks To Motivate You To Clean!

Few people love doing the cleaning chores, but nobody wants to live in a messy place! For this reason, sometimes, homeowners use tricks to motivate themselves and tackle their chores. 

If you struggle to get into a cleaning mood, remember that the first step is always the hardest! Learn how to get motivated to clean. Here you'll find four tricks that can give you that little push you need! 

Why is cleaning motivation important?

Skipping a day or two in your cleaning routine is not wrong. However, sooner or later, you'll have to catch up with the piled-up chores. These tricks can help you clean a messy home or prevent it! Mostly, they work by changing your mindset about the cleaning chore.

Here is how to get motivated for cleaning!

Trick #1. Set a timer!

What task seems more appealing to you: cleaning your home or cleaning your home for 15 minutes?

People often procrastinate because they feel overwhelmed by a task that seems too big and lengthy. If you try to "clean your home," it's more likely that you fail to start. However, you can make a chore seem more manageable by delimiting it in a specific period. 

To make it work, start with a 10-minute timer and focus on cleaning during those minutes. Motivating yourself to clean is similar to learning a new healthy habit. You need consistency over quantity!

Trick #2. Write down every task left

Breaking down the chores into small tasks can make you see them with different eyes. 

Write down all your tasks in a list. Make them specific—for example, "vacuuming the entryway rug." If you are still overwhelmed by the list, prioritize the essential task and put the others in the background. 

Trick #3. Pair cleaning with music

Cleaning has many benefits, but they are not always visible in the short term. For this reason, things that bring you instant gratification can make you forget about housework! It's another reason why people procrastinate.

However, you can have the best of both worlds! How? All you need to do is find something that you love and do it while you clean. The default choice for many is listening to music. Playing your favorite songs can get you in the mood and motivate you to clean!

Note:

If music is not your thing, try listening to a podcast, hearing the news, or anything that can make cleaning more enjoyable!

Trick #4. Post your cleaning projects on social media 

Sometimes, people don't realize how powerful social motivation is! You can get motivated for cleaning by posting your achievements and tasks on your social media. Maybe you can encourage more people to clean their homes!

Or,

If you prefer, you could speak about your cleaning projects with friends and family! No need to do it through a screen! Sharing your achievements with people around you could be enough to motivate you to clean.

Is there any other way? Outsource your chores!

What if someone else could clean your home? That's what companies like Vital Cleaning Solutions do! Many homeowners feel guilty about not cleaning their homes, but hiring home cleaners is like hiring any other professional!
Do you want to give it a try? Enter here to get your free quote today!

How To Clean Wood Furniture: 6 Essential Tips

Wood can make your home look great, not to mention it's also easy to clean! However, it needs careful maintenance. Avoid stains, discoloration, and scratches on your wood furniture and floors with these tips!

Need help with your cleaning chores? Vital Cleaning Solutions is here for you! We love cleaning homes, and that made us the best cleaning company in Chicago! Book directly from our homepage!