The truth about toilet paper

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Around the world, we dump the equivalent of almost 300000 trees every day. 10% of that waste istoilet papertoilet paper.

There is a regular increase on paper demand from both developed and developing countries. But, at the same time, there are being strong efforts from organizations and governments to save old growth forests.

This means that paper industry is moving into tree plantations to keep up with the supply. While this looks, at a glance, like a good solution, in fact is actually displacing regional species, as the use of fertilisers is very high. Toilet paper is responsible of this turn into tree plantations as its demand is higher every day.

Some companies now are turning into recycled toilet paper, using less row material and water on its production.

Maybe next time we go to the supermarket we can think about changing to recycled toilet paper instead!

How to clean leather sofas

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leather sofaMaintain a regular cleaning routine of your leather upholstery so it will not look dull and tired. The best thing to use is a damp cloth to get rid of soft stains and dust.

Any stain on leather has to be removed as soon as possible. If the stain is not too big you can use baby wet wipes. It will leave also a very nice smell!

For water based spills or stains, use a soft cloth to absorb the excess and allow to dry for three or four days. If the stain is still visible, you can polish the area very gently with a clean dry cloth.

For oil based spills or stains, use a mild soap and then rinse the area with clean water. Allow to dry for three or four days.

How to get rid of cigarette smells

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cigaretteThe International Free Smoking day last 31st of May got me thinking. At www.amycleaning.co.uk we have received already comments from domestic cleaners concerned about how difficult it is to get rid of that strong smoke odour. No matter how much you clean there is always that smell of cigarette in the air…

Here are some quick tips on how to make smoke odour disapear:

–Vinegar: I know, the smell of vinegar is not great, but with some time and ventilation it will diminish, unlike the cigarette smell. You can use vinegar on non fabric surfaces.

–Baking Soda: Good to use of fabrics. Sprinkle on the area and leave for as long as you can. Then just vacuum!

Someone still smoking in your house? Put some coffee grounds on the ashtray and use it to extinguish the tip of the cigarettes. This will help absorb and neutralize odours.

Glass, stainless steel and the lot

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glass buildingsWalking the City of London, I look at those new buildings, full of stainless steel and glass, and I can’t help but feel sorry for the cleaners.

I know! I am the first one to say how great those buildings look! How many of us have a state of the art kitchen with limestone floors, granite work top and stainless steel appliances? It is a pleasure to see the shininess and we can even see our gleaming smile reflected on the surface! But for how long?

All those new and “cool” materials are so difficult to keep clean that even the best cleaning product (and the best domestic cleaner) will not return the shine of the first day. They require a daily maintenance.

Cleaning stone and stainless steel takes time and requires constant work to keep them up to standard. If you are one of the lucky ones who can enjoy the pleasure of having those materials at home, speak with your domestic cleaner, make sure you have the right cleaning products; and if you cannot give her more time to clean them properly, be understanding with her when you find the odd finger print or mark.

Cleaning blinds

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blindsBlinds are lovely until we realize we have to clean them. Don’t worry! Cleaning them doesn’t need to be a nightmare for you!

Dusting them regularly with a microfibre cloth or a flicker will keep them clean and looking nice for longer. But still, you will have to deep clean them at least once per year. How to do this?

If you have a plastic or metalic blind, the best you can do is properly shut them and put them on the bath with warm water and soap. After one or two hours on warm water the grease and dirt will be easier to remove (using a cloth or soft brush if needed). Then just rinse them with cold water, open them and leave them to dry.

If you have wood blinds the method is different. First of all, close the blinds and wipe with a soft cloth all the slats. Then close the blinds on the opposite direction and wipe again with a soft cloth. Do not use any oils or damp cloths on wood blinds as it can leave smears.

Try this tips and your blinds will look like new!

Cleaner of the month: June 2010

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medalOur Best Cleaner Award this month goes to Maria Ana. She started in April and since then she has been doing an excellent job.

Some of her clients’ feedback:

“Maria is absolutely fantastic – I would like to increase her hours per week please.”

“Thank you for sending Maria; she did a really good job.”

“I’m very happy with Maria’s work. She is experienced and very trustworthy.”

How to organise a first meeting with your cleaner

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At http://www.amycleaning.co.uk we receive a lot of requests from our clients to organise first meetings with their new cleaners. It is understandable that, even if you know that you will be having a professional domestic cleaner, you would like to have and idea of who will be going into your house on a regular basis.

Find on this article some tips on what to look for and what to say on a first meeting with your cleaner.

What to look for:

-First things first! your new cleaner must be on time for the meeting.

-What she doesn’t say. Non verbal communication is even more important that what she says to you. So if she is yawning or looking around while you are explaining where the hoover is kept most probably she won’t do a good job.

–Pen and paper. Domestic cleaners are busy people; they tend to work for different clients on the same week. If your cleaner writes down your requirements and any other information needed she is proving to be a very organised professional.

What to say:

We expect all domestic cleaners to do an excellent job from day one. But we can always help them a little bit by just explaining our priorities and specific expectations.

-Tell your new cleaner if you consider ironing more important than cleaning, or vice versa, so she can organise the work based on this.

-Tell your new cleaner if you will leave any note with specific tasks.

-Tell your new cleaner if you do any kind of recycling in the house and where to put the rubbish.

-Tell your new cleaner where you keep the chemicals/hoover/mop/cloths and anything she may need.

-Tell your new cleaner about the alarm and the use of the keys (make sure she practice with you in case there is any special trick to open the front door!).

Finding a magic cleaner is difficult sometimes, but these tips may help you to have an idea on how your new cleaner will respond to different situations, saving you any hassle in the future.

I need a new vacuum!

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Is your hoover not working well any more? Do you feel your carpet dull and without life even after vacuuming? Think before you spend another £100 buying a new hoover!

Most of the times we do not manage to vacuum the carpet properly,  leaving behind dirt and soil particles that will damage the carpet on the long run. How do you know if you are vacuuming your carpet properly?

Hoover on different directions. This will maximise removal of particles and dust.

Change the bag regularly. A full bag will prevent the vacuum to work well. Your hoover will need good airflow, so change the bag when is half full to avoid any problems.

Check filters and clean your vacuum. Dirty filters will not let the vacuum take all the dirt. Clean your vacuum regularly.

Precious water

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waterWater is becoming the talk of the year (the 22nd of March being the World Water Day). 70% of our planet is water. Only 2% of it is considered fresh water, that is drinkable. But with all the waste and chemicals discarded on the water every day we are making much of our fresh water unusable.

Scientists are saying that by 2030 we most probably run out of water before running out of fuel.

Companies now are more  aware of their responsibilities to use water more wisely. But we can, as individuals, put our little grain to help the situation. Here are some ideas!:

–Check pipes for any leaks.

–Take shorter showers! Reduce it by one or two minutes and you will save up to 680 litres per month.

–Use dishwasher/washing machine on full loads.

–Do not leave water running unnecessarily.

It is never too late to start doing something!

Cleaner of the month: May 2010

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medalThis month Elena  is the cleaner of the month. She started in January and since then she has been doing an amazing job!

Some of her clients’ feedback:

“We’re very happy with Elena. She’s very thorough and probably the best cleaner we’ve had!”

“We have concluded that we are happy with Elena, she does a good job and is very trustworthy.  We would like her to continue cleaning the flat”.

“All going very good with Elena, thanks!”

Thank you Elena for your great job!