Category: Toronto & York

Regular kitchen cleaning is a vital part of home maintenance, whether you choose to tackle it by yourself or enlist the help of house cleaning services in Toronto. This hub of activity often falls prey to a cocktail of food particles, food-borne bacteria, smears, and grease, which makes meticulous care crucial.

Focusing on the upkeep of your kitchen cabinets is a great starting point. Whether you’re gearing up to tackle this task on your own or simply seeking insights into the process, the guide below provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to cleaning your kitchen cabinets.

 

What is the best way to clean kitchen cabinets?

Your cabinets may not get as visibly dirty as the stove, countertop, or appliances, but over time, they do accumulate a lot of grime both outside and inside. Below, we’ll walk you through effective techniques and strategies to help you transform your cluttered and grimy cabinets into a realm of cleanliness and order with ease:

 

1. Setting up the area & supplies

Begin the task by first gathering your supplies and preparing the area. You’ll likely just need a duster, soft cloths, a small brush, your preferred product or solution, and a step ladder. To prepare the area, ensure good ventilation and protect nearby surfaces from potential spills.

 

2. Emptying the cabinets

Next, it’s time to empty the cabinets. While this step is not necessary during a daily spruce-up where you just wipe the outsides, now we’ll dive deeper. Place everything in a secure place out of the way, but don’t focus on organizing anything during this step. This is a perfect opportunity to tidy up and sort everything, but for now, just putting things away is enough.

 

3. Tackling the dust & particles

With cabinets empty, it’s time to dive into sprucing them up, and dusting is the first task on the list. If your vacuum allows, use the soft bristle attachment to do a first pass of the shelves and drawers to remove any accumulated particles or bits. Next, use a soft cloth to do a second pass and carefully remove dust from all surfaces. Pay special attention to those areas that are often overlooked during regular dusting, such as the tops of the cabinets and woodwork or crevices.

 

4. Addressing the interior

It’s time to take your cloth and cleaning solution to tackle the insides of your kitchen furniture. We recommend microfibre cloths to make quick work of loosening dirt and spills. Wipe all interior surfaces, and pay special attention to grimy spots, corners, the backs of deep cabinets, and under the shelves. A small brush or a toothbrush is ideal for getting into crevices and corners.

 

5. Cleaning the exterior

Mix a solution of warm water and a mild product for the exterior of the cabinets. Wipe down doors, handles, and outer surfaces with a damp cloth, but be careful not to saturate the wood. For stubborn grime, use a non-abrasive cleaner – just be careful to use it safely and gently scrub to avoid damaging the surfaces.

 

6. Putting the items back

Now that your cabinets are pristine, it’s time to strategically replace their contents. Take time to organize the items thoughtfully, considering the most practical placement for each. Preventing clutter depends heavily on ensuring things are conveniently placed, whether you’re organizing your spice drawer or tidying up your children’s rooms.

 

 

Where can I find professional house cleaning services in the Greater Toronto Area?

If fitting these kitchen cabinet cleaning steps into your hectic schedule seems daunting, or if you simply prefer a professional touch for your home, Hire A Maid is here to assist. As a trusted provider of home maintenance solutions since 2008, Hire A Maid serves a wide range of locations from Downtown Toronto to Richmond Hill and beyond. 

With our friendly team of extensively trained cleaners, all dedicated to their craft, liability-insured, WSIB-protected, and carefully vetted for your peace of mind, we can make your living space truly shine. Whether you need help with the upkeep of your kitchen, ensuring your residence is pristine clean throughout the year, or any other cleaning task you’d rather not do yourself, you can count on us for help. Contact us today for a free quote!

The coronavirus pandemic has caused us all to reexamine the way we approach cleaning and placed greater emphasis on personal hygiene. For those seeking assistance to maintain a clean and healthy environment at home, booking professional house cleaning services has become a popular practice across York Region. 

Even so, germs and toxins have ways of getting into our homes that aren’t immediately obvious. To help you keep your home clean and healthy, we have prepared a short guide on what you should concentrate on when disinfecting your house or apartment and provided a brief list of everyday items that may contain harmful toxins. Read on.

How do you keep your house clean and safe?

It’s important to establish a regular maintenance cleaning schedule for your home. Before doing so, a deep cleaning is recommended to tackle hard-to-reach areas and any heavy build-up. After a detailed cleaning, bi-weekly maintenance cleanings are sufficient for most homes, however, more frequent cleaning may be required.

The frequency of your maintenance cleanings will depend on the size of your household, the amount of daily foot traffic in your home and whether you have children or shedding pets. To stay on track and make sure nothing is missed, consider creating a detailed cleaning checklist for your home. Having a ready-to-go checklist will also be helpful if you have to get a lot of cleaning done in a short amount of time.

To limit the spread of germs, high-touch surfaces need to be regularly disinfected using appropriate hard-surface disinfectants.

These frequently touched surfaces include:

• • • Railings
    • Countertops
    • Light switches
    • Toilet seats
    • AC and TV remotes
    • Game controllers
    • Oven and microwave buttons
    • Faucets
    • Tables
    • Desks
    • Computer mice and keyboards
    • Handles of all types
    • Touchscreens
    • Doorknobs

How can I reduce the toxins in my home?

While regular cleanings are the most efficient way to reduce the amount of dust, dirt and allergens in your home and keep it sanitary, you may be bringing dangerous toxins into your home without even being aware of it. That’s because many common products we use on a daily basis may contain chemicals that are harmful to our health.

Here are some products to avoid and suggestions for healthy alternatives.

• • • Plastic water bottles may contain BPA (Bisphenol A) and/or BPS (Bisphenol S). Both substances can negatively impact babies and small children. Replacing plastic bottles with reusable glass or stainless steel water bottles is the recommended option.
    • Plastic food containers sometimes contain phthalates that can cause birth defects, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance. This is especially problematic if you regularly heat up your food in the microwave before taking it out of the plastic container. Use glass dishes or ceramic containers instead.
    • Microwave popcorn is often made using artificial butter flavours that contain harmful chemicals such as pentanedione. You can avoid this exposure by using unseasoned microwave popcorn, or by preparing your own popcorn at home. Either way, seasoning it yourself will also help to keep unhealthy fat and sodium content out of your diet.
    • Hand sanitizers that are based on chemicals other than ethyl alcohol have been known to aggravate respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis and asthma. If this is a concern, be sure to use one that is based on ethyl alcohol. You can check public health guidelines and lookup tools to confirm the ingredients for hand sanitizers that are approved.

Where can I schedule detailed house cleaning services in the York Region?

Between work and other obligations, many Canadians have precious little free time to do the things they enjoy. It can be a struggle to regularly clean and disinfect your home, and keep it free of toxins. Luckily, you don’t have to do everything on your own!

By outsourcing your housekeeping to a reputable cleaning company, you will not just get a comprehensive cleaning, but also reclaim some leisure time for the things you love. Whether that’s spending an afternoon outdoors at the Boyd Conservation Area with your family, or catching up with friends for dinner on Main Street in Unionville, you can also look forward to coming back to your spotlessly clean home!

As an established provider of residential cleaning services across York Region, Hire A Maid will give your home a truly premium quality cleaning. Call us today!

The invention of electric ovens revolutionized the way we cook at home, with the ease of assembling ingredients into one pan, setting the temperature and letting your oven do the actual cooking. Whether you’re an ambitious baker who loves to try out new recipes or you just love the convenience of popping a frozen tray of lasagna in for dinner, your oven gets the job done!

Of course, ovens aren’t all hassle-free time in the kitchen. Keeping an oven hygienic and grease-free is notoriously difficult and time consuming, especially if you’re not in the habit, or simply don’t have time to wipe the inside of your oven each time, after it cools. Over time, the splatters and spills build up and get baked onto the oven walls and door. It may become tough to clean and unpleasant to put your food inside. 

Oven cleaning doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore though. To save time and keep the inside of your kitchen appliances and cabinets fresh and clean, you may prefer to outsource these tasks to a professional home cleaning service in Downtown Toronto. If you’re up for the challenge of doing it yourself, we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide to help make your oven spic and span. Read on.

How do you clean the inside of an oven?

Follow the steps below to clean your oven without using harsh chemicals or breathing dangerous fumes.

1. Gather the following supplies:

• • • Dish detergent
    • Scrubbing brush
    • Garbage bag or newspaper
    • Baking soda
    • Vinegar
    • Scrub sponge (use inexpensive ones from the dollar store)
    • Plastic scraper
    • A few old rags
    • Rubber spatula or plastic spoon
    • Rubber gloves (optional: use if you don’t want to get your hands messy)

2. Soak the oven racks

• • • Remove racks from the oven and submerge in warm water mixed with 1/2 cup of dish detergent
    • If you don’t have a sink or container that’s large enough, you can soak the racks in your bathtub. Before putting the racks in the tub, be sure to spread an old towel on the bottom to prevent scratches.
    • Allow racks to soak for a few hours, then scrub with a brush and rinse

3. Prepare and apply your cleaning solution

• • • Spread a garbage bag or newspaper on the floor underneath the front of the oven to catch any drips or debris
    • Mix 4 parts baking soda with 1 part water to form a thick, spreadable paste
    • Use a spatula or your fingers to spread paste over dirty areas inside the oven. Avoid getting it on the heating elements. 

4. Let it sit 

• • • Close the oven and leave the paste on for 30 – 45 minutes
    • Don’t be concerned if the baking soda paste turns brown. This is an expected reaction which means it’s working to lift and absorb the grease and grime.

5. Apply vinegar and scrub

• • • Dip the scrub sponge in undiluted vinegar then scrub the areas where you applied the baking soda paste
    • Use the plastic scraper to help loosen any stubborn spots

6. Wipe the oven clean

• • • Reach in and thoroughly wipe down the interior of your oven with damp rags
    • Remove all traces of the baking soda and vinegar and clean off all the softened grease
    • Finish by wiping with a dry rag and buffing the glass on the door

Enjoy having a fresh, clean oven again!

Where can I book premier home cleaning services in Downtown Toronto?

If you want to take a break from cleaning, our team of expert cleaners are ready to tackle all your household cleaning challenges, including a dirty, greasy oven!

Since 2008, Hire A Maid has been providing clients in Downtown Toronto, Etobicoke, Whitby, Richmond Hill and other communities in the Greater Toronto Area with flexible options for one-time and recurring residential cleaning services.

Our WSIB protected and extensively trained cleaners adhere to systematic procedures that ensure effective cleaning and sanitization, including the high-touch surfaces in your home. We customize our service to meet your requirements. Fill out our online form or reach out to us via phone to request your free, custom quote today!

It’s safe to say that not everyone enjoys cleaning. While most people would prefer to be doing other activities, house cleaning chores are unavoidable. For those who suffer from a chronic lack of motivation when it comes to regularly cleaning their home, this begs the question: apart from outsourcing your cleaning to an established maid service in York Region, is there another solution to this problem?

You bet there is! By planning out your housekeeping tasks beforehand and adopting a few helpful habits and motivational strategies, you can maintain a tidy home environment like a pro. Like the professional cleaners at Hire A Maid, you may even begin to enjoy cleaning your home!

How do I motivate myself to clean?

You need to think of cleaning as a marathon rather than a sprint. Dealing with a huge mess all at once shouldn’t be your goal. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you won’t be able to focus on getting things done. Try to break it down into manageable tasks that can be completed within the amount of time you have available. 

By reducing the number of chores you have to tackle each day, you’ll make it much easier for yourself to find the motivation to clean. After all, it’s easier to get motivated to do something when the task doesn’t seem as difficult. 

Here are 3 strategies to help you get motivated:

1. Set the mood 

Listening to music that makes you feel good or catching up on your favourite podcast while you’re cleaning is a great way to make housecleaning something you can look forward to doing. Cleaning is also an excellent workout. Think of it as time well spent taking care of your home, your mind and your body!

2. Tackle one area at a time

If you only have 20 minutes to spare on a busy day, that’s not when you want to attempt to clean an entire room. You can, however, still get one chore done and feel good about it. Think of cleaning as work in progress. 

Chores you can do in 20 minutes or less:

• • • Gather dirty dishes and soak them in the sink or load up the dishwasher 
    • Clean inside the microwave
    • Sweep or vacuum the room that needs it most
    • Empty all of the trash buckets and replace the liners
    • Wipe down the coffee table, TV stand or bookshelf in the living room
    • Put items that have been left out back in the drawers or cupboards where they belong

3. Share the work

If you don’t live alone, figure out creative ways to share the housework. We all have chores that we’re better at than others, or we don’t mind doing as much. Maybe you prefer tidying the kitchen after dinner, while someone else does laundry duty. If a member of your household is good at organizing, put them in charge of keeping the pantry or the family room organized. 

This approach may be easier said than done, but establishing a routine where everyone helps out will free up time to do some fun activities together, like visiting Crosby Park. Think of it as a reward for pitching in to help get the work done. 

Where can I book a dependable maid service in York Region?

Even with your best intentions, work and other responsibilities may not leave you with enough time or energy to achieve the level of cleanliness you want in your home. With the health and safety concerns of the coronavirus pandemic putting greater emphasis on the importance of sanitization to reduce the spread of germs, a professional cleaning service could save time and help you keep your home tidy and hygienic.

Hire A Maid can assist with a range of home maintenance cleaning services for residents of York Region. With more than 13 years of experience, we have the expertise to meet your every cleaning need. Contact us today to book your cleaning!

Knowing how to quickly and efficiently clean your house saves you time, provides you with a healthier living space, and prevents dust and clutter from building up to the point where finding the motivation to clean becomes a challenge in its own right.

And while booking a recurring maid service in York Region, Ontario is by far the easiest and most effective way to make sure you always have a clean and fresh home, sometimes you want the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

The good news is, there are ways to speed up your cleaning routine that do not require you to be a cleaning expert. Read on!

What is the fastest way to clean a messy house?

By preparing a good cleaning checklist and incorporating the tips and techniques below into your approach, you’ll be able to speed up your cleaning and achieve a high level of cleanliness in your home.

Here are a few strategies and time-saving tips:

1. Gather your cleaning supplies beforehand

Get an easy-to-carry bag or basket and fill it with the supplies you need before you start cleaning. This way, you will always have the right tools at hand and you’ll avoid unnecessary trips back and forth to get what you need.

2. Do the messiest rooms first

Tackling the most difficult cleaning challenges while you’re rested and motivated will enable you to clean faster. This approach also creates an impression that the cleaning is getting easier as it goes along and keeps you from becoming demoralized.

3. Top-to-bottom cleaning

Deal with dusting the upper areas first (high shelves, light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc.) and then work your way down. This way, you won’t have to reclean surfaces and all the excess dust and dirt will end up on the floor, where it can be easily vacuumed at the end of the cleaning. 

4. Make it a team effort

Your efforts to lead by example may encourage other members of your household to help lighten your load. For instance, you could task your kids with tidying up their rooms. Even small children can help out by gathering their toys and putting them in a basket. If you live alone, consider asking willing friends and relatives for help.

How do you clean in a hurry?

You’ve been working and commuting all day, you’ve barely had enough time to get the items you need at the Vaughan Mills, and now you have to quickly tidy up your home before your guests arrive. 

Since there’s no time to be thorough, you should focus on the areas your guests will be in. Take care of demanding cleaning problems first and leave small issues for later.

When pressed for time, here’s what you can do:

• • • Tidy up the clutter. Gather toys, magazines, newspapers, remotes, game controllers, chargers, food wrappers, and put them where they belong.
    • Disinfect touch points such as door handles, light switches, countertops, TV remotes, and so on using a certified household disinfectant. 
    • Quickly vacuum key areas such as the kitchen, living room, and ground floor bathroom.
    • Wash the dishes or put them in the dishwasher. The last thing you want is for visitors to see a pile of dirty dishes in your sink.
    • Remove pet hairs from furniture with a lint roller.

Where can I find a dependable maid service in York Region, Ontario?

The best way to keep your home clean is to never let it get messy in the first place. As an award-winning cleaning company in York Region, Ontario, Hire A Maid cleaners can keep your home healthy and fresh at all times. We deliver a high-quality, detailed service by following a customised checklist that’s designed to meet the unique cleaning requirements for your home.  

Use our simple online form to request your free, zero-obligation quote today. You can also reach out to us by telephone if you’d like to ask questions or schedule a cleaning. We’ll make your home shine before you know it!

Knowing how to optimize your cleaning routine is crucial when it comes to creating an enjoyable home environment and protecting your family’s health. This is particularly important if you hire professional house cleaning services in York Region, Ontario to help keep your home hygienic.

In this article, we’ll help you get the most out of your home cleaning by examining the comprehensive checklists used by reputable cleaning companies. This can help you achieve excellent results and ensure your home is always healthy and clean. Read on!

What is a good house cleaning routine?

Most homes need to be given maintenance cleaning on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This includes vacuuming, mopping, dusting, wiping down surfaces, and other regular cleaning tasks that are necessary to keep a house tidy.

The frequency of your regular cleanings may be determined by whether:

• • • You have a large household.
    • Your household has active children or pets.
    • You live close to a major thoroughfare, near a construction site, or in an area that gets higher-than-usual dust and dirt buildup.
    • Someone in your household suffers from allergies (e.g. dust). 

To ensure lasting cleanliness, reputable cleaning companies recommend giving your home an extensive deep cleaning during their first visit. This is a thorough cleaning service that’s designed to tackle accumulated dirt in greater detail and prepare your place for regular maintenance visits.

What is a professional house cleaning checklist?

Successful cleaning companies create detailed cleaning checklists to ensure a client’s home is cleaned to meticulous hotel-like quality. These checklists can be further customized to meet a client’s needs by including occasional services such as cleaning inside appliances, cabinets or closets.

Here’s an example of a premium home maintenance cleaning checklist:

General housekeeping 

• • • Vacuuming and mopping floors
    • Vacuuming floor coverings (rugs, carpets)
    • Cobweb removal
    • Cleaning windowsills, baseboards & ledges
    • Washing doors, door frames & window frames
    • Vacuuming window tracks
    • Dusting light fixtures
    • Wiping down door handles & switch plate covers
    • Emptying trash and recycling bins & replacing liners
    • Dusting shutters

Bedrooms

• • • Straightening linens
    • Vacuuming upholstery & under furniture
    • Dusting furniture, lampshades, picture frames, shelving, artwork & knick knacks

Living, dining and family room areas

• • • Dusting furniture, electronics, artwork, shelving, picture frames & knick knacks
    • Vacuuming upholstery & under cushions
    • Vacuuming under furniture
    • Cleaning interior glass doors

Kitchen

• • • Wiping down backsplash & countertops
    • Cleaning inside the microwave
    • Cleaning the outside of all appliances
    • Cleaning eat-in kitchen furniture
    • Cleaning drains, sinks & faucets with a toothbrush
    • Cleaning cabinet & drawer doors
    • Cleaning handprints on patio door glass
    • Wiping down open shelving & contents
    • Removing build-up on surfaces

Bathrooms

• • • Cleaning tile walls & grout
    • Cleaning bathtubs & showers
    • Cleaning and sanitizing toilets
    • Washing countertops
    • Wiping down door handles, switch plate covers, towel racks & paper holders
    • Cleaning and polishing chrome & mirrors
    • Dusting picture frames, shelving & toiletries
    • Washing the outside of cabinets & vanities
    • Vacuuming ceiling fans
    • Removing build-up on surfaces

Additional services (on request)

• • • Cleaning inside kitchen cabinets & drawers
    • Cleaning inside bathroom cabinets & drawers
    • Cleaning inside closets
    • Cleaning inside large appliances (fridge, oven)
    • Sweeping porches or balconies
    • Washing walls
    • Replacing bed linens
    • Finished basement cleaning
    • Cleaning blinds
    • Removing heavy build-up

Where can I book dependable house cleaning services in York Region, Ontario?

Many people are simply too busy with work, caring for family members or looking after pets, and other responsibilities to clean their home as often or as thoroughly as they would like. To say that COVID-19 has further complicated things would be a huge understatement. 

When dirt and clutter accumulate, it can be overwhelming and difficult to muster the motivation to clean. Hire A Maid can help solve this issue by providing you with comprehensive home maintenance cleaning services.

Let our reliable and hardworking cleaners perform a thorough cleaning of your home while you take care of other obligations or spend a relaxing afternoon at Lake Simcoe. Call us today to book your cleaning!