Tag Archives: House Cleaning

Child’s play, house cleaning with a baby

Housework can be time-consuming, whether it is the main part of your daily to-do list, or an add-on after a day spent in a job outside the home.

There always seems to be something to do and somewhere to wipe. Throw a new baby into the mix, and your time is squeezed even further while the mess factor increases by ten.

So how do you juggle the demands of caring for a baby with the essential work of keeping the house clean, hygienic and pleasant?

Lower your expectations…
Don’t dwell on your previously spotless, tidy – and childfree – home. You have a new demand now, and they are adorable, fascinating and constantly there. They must come first and your stream of health visitors, family, friends and baby worshippers should realise that.

Don’t tire yourself out making everything perfect for them. And most importantly, if your visitors offer their help to clean the house, take them up on it!

… but try to stay organised
Take advantage of the famed nesting instinct to get ready as much as possible before the birth. Health and time permitting, clean the house while you have the time and stock up with baby essentials. Make sure you have the hygienic basics covered, such as emptying bins, wiping food and bottle preparation surfaces.

Have plenty of spare baby gros and bed lined to avoid endless washing and work out how you are going to handle the dirty nappies – be they disposable or made of terry cloth.

Tackle things in chunks
Don’t tackle everything in one go when it comes to house cleaning with a baby. Do it in chunks, perhaps tackling one room at a time. Or allocate one or two evenings per week to the laundry. Tidy up as you go, rather than leaving it all to sort in one big tidying session. Try to multitask too – fold clothes while watching TV or chop vegetables while planning your next online shop.

Baby safe
Always have your baby’s safety in mind while cleaning the house. Place them somewhere safe where they can still see you while you clean, such as in a car seat or appropriate age bouncer. You could even place then in a baby carrier that straps to your body, so they can come along with you as you clean. Or time your cleaning sessions round their naps when you can place them quietly in their cot with the baby monitor on.

Avoid spraying cleaning products in the same room as the baby and keep products well out of their reach when not using them. Alternatively, treat yourself to a professional cleaner and take your baby out for a stroll while they get on with making your house sparkle for you and your new family.

Never too early…
Finally, use the housework to your baby’s advantage. Vacuum just before their naptime so that the white noise of the cleaner can lull them to sleep. Gove your baby a clean duster or plastic bowl to play with while you are cleaning and sing as you go around the house to keep them entertained. Or play peek-a-boo with your baby as you fold the towels. What better way to combine crucial bonding time with house cleaning with a baby?

Saying farewell to nasty household smells

Maids and Cleaners that work at Cheap Cleaning Services Ltd often write useful hints, tips and strategies on how to best clean your home or office, this post explains on how you can get rid of nasty household smells. In the future, we will also write about deep house cleaning and tips on how to best clean your kitchen, bathroom and toilet.

Cleaning and freshening the things you can see is one thing. But what can you do to fight back against intangible undesirables such as nasty smells and lingering odours?

What if opening a window just isn’t enough? Visitors to a house that smells strange will be much less likely to appreciate, or even notice cleaning efforts made in other areas.

So how to tackle the invisible enemy?

1. As with any conflict, the first thing to do is identify what you are up against. If you can smell mold, rotting food or urine, don’t just mask it with air fresheners. Look for the source of the problem so that you can sort it out properly.

2. Pets, although adorable, bring their own particular smells. If your pet uses an indoor litter tray, clean this out as much as you can. Use proprietary litter, or add charcoal to the tray. Keep fish and reptile tanks clean and freshen the cages of small mammals or birds frequently.

3. Keep your waste disposal unit smelling fresh by chopping up an orange or lemon into big chunks and running these through the unit every so often. Follow this up with a cup of vinegar if required.

4. Talking of waste, there is no reason why your bin needs to niff. Add some charcoal at the bottom to neutralize odours and take rubbish out to the dustbin regularly. Wipe the bin clean every time you change the bag – you might like to double bag the contents too, to avoid any spillages.

5. Fill a dishwasher-friendly cup with white vinegar, place it on the top rack of your dishwasher and run it on a full cycle with no other plates, cups, cutlery etc. This will cut through any residual grease and freshen up the inside beautifully.

6. Keep an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb smells. Change it every few months, and keep it away from vegetables, as it can cause leafy veg to wilt quickly.

7. Clean up a smelly microwave by placing a dish of water and a few chunks of freshly chopped lemon inside. Set it going on high for a minute or two to allow the steam and citrusy smells to permeate.

8. Keep bathrooms smelling lovely by lighting scented candles. Alternatively, place your favourite essential oil in a shallow ceramic dish and place it on a hot radiator. Or carefully wipe the glass part of a lightbulb with the oil so that its aroma is released when the light is turned on.