Bed bugs

1 Reply

1038456_roach“Good Night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite” is a saying that has become so common in our evening routines. Bed bugs have been around for thousands and thousands of years. Previously on a strict diet of body fluids of animals they have recently found another target – us.

Normally bed bugs are found in places where overall cleanliness is not of a high standard. However, it is a common problem everywhere and probably each and every one of us will have to face it sometime. Getting even a couple of these visitors can complicate things enormously as one bug can reproduce 3 times during its life laying 500 eggs at the rate of 5 eggs per day. It is therefore very important to know how to avoid them and how to act if they have already made a home in your bed.

Keep the room clean and well dusted at all times. Wash with a proper floor cleaner regularly. Change your bed linen often and meticulously clean rugs and mattresses. Consider buying mattresses and pillow covers that are bed bug proof. Inspect. Look for brown, rusty looking spots of bug excrement on your mattresses or bed boards and if you spot any, act immediately!

Prepare the area

• If the infestation is severe, things like stuffed animals, soft toys or blankets or even laptops should be removed, cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and bagged for a couple of days.
• Where possible dismantle bed frames. By doing so you can expose additional bedbug hiding sites.
• Remove drawers from desks and dressers, to inspect and clean all hiding spots.
Inspect
• Look in any place that is dark and isolated. Inspect adjoining rooms where an infestation is found.
• Most popular hiding places for these bugs are cracks and crevices in head and foot boards and attached side railings and supports. They can also hide in tears on mattress.
• Stand up the box spring and shine a flashlight through the gauze fabric to expose bed bugs.

Treat

• Vacuum along baseboards, nearby furniture, bed stands, rails, headboards, footboards, bed seams, tufts, buttons, edges of the bedding as well as the edges of the carpets(particularly along the tack strips).
• Scrub infested surfaces with a stiff brush to remove all eggs.
• Discard vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag when finished.
• Seal all holes where pipes and wires penetrate walls and floor, and fill cracks around baseboards and moldings to further reduce harborages.
• Caulk cracks and crevices in the building exterior as much as possible as those can also become alternate hosts for bed bugs.
• Garments and bed linen can’t be treated with insecticide therefore they will need to be laundered in hot water (120°F minimum).
• Spray affected areas with insecticide sprays

Be aware that most of bed bug sprays will need more than one application so do not punch the air in celebrations if you do not seem to find them after first treatment. It will take more than that to get rid of them fully.

Amy Charity 2011

Leave a reply

Samuel HarrisonAnother fantastic example of where the Amy Charity helped was for an elderly gentleman who lives on his own in East London. He found his every day cleaning duties extremely difficult and was falling behind with his everyday cleaning tasks. He has lived on his own for 10 years since he and his wife divorced.

In order to ascertain this client cleaning needs we completed a cleaning audit and a blitz clean with the cleaner and our house keeping supervisor as the client’s home needed a lot of work and tender loving care. This supervision enabled the cleaner to prioritize her cleaning as there was a lot of work to be done and to get the client home back to its original sparkling condition. The feedback from the client was so great that the cleaner became cleaner of the month title as she completed such a great job and the client was extremely happy with her and our services.

The cleaner then cleaned on a weekly basis for 2hrs.

Upon our initial charity visit to his home , he informed us that he needed new carpets for his hallway and laminate flooring for his toilet and he also needed a new toilet as his toilet had a leak. We directed the client to the right people he needed to speak to within his council borough with regards to his problems. We can now confirm that he now has new carpets in his hallway and stairs, new laminate flooring in his toilet and a new toilet. We not only help with cleaning/ironing needs but also gives advice and support with any other concerns, issues or problems that people may have and that we can help with.

We are very pleased to have helped this elderly gentleman and thanks to the kindness of our customers as a percentage of the agency fee they pay goes towards the Amy Charity, we are always looking for more people who we can help and fit the Amy Charity criteria.

The Amy Charity is simple, if you are or know someone with a disability, or whom is elderly and is deserving help as they have been kind to others and is struggling with their everyday cleaning/ironing needs then simply give us a call. The charity is popular and places do get filled up quickly but please do contact us as we would love to be able to help.

We will take a few details over the telephone from you, just to give us an idea of the help that is required. We will then book an appointment with you so that we can complete a home visit and if eligible we can then allocate a cleaner. So please don’t struggle in silence and give us a call on 0845 062 9999.

Spring cleaning checklist

1 Reply

901029_mopSpring has arrived and there is no better time for deep cleaning your home than now. Everyone knows the term “spring clean”. For most it means torture, for few it means joy or for the lucky ones it may mean few extra pounds for experienced, agency trained cleaner who will carry out all the hard work for you.

To help you or your cleaner out we have set up an “Amy Cleaning checklist for spring clean”.
Before starting, you must remember that spring clean is all about reaching out for those places that you would normally miss on a regular clean so keep your eyes wide open and roll your sleeves up.

Kitchen: Defrost and thoroughly clean fridge and freezer. Place a dish of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge to remove odors. Clean oven and microwave. Reach out not only inside but also the top of your kitchen cabinets. Clean surface of your kettle and descale it; get rid of breadcrumbs in your toaster.
Bedroom: Strip the bed and launder winter bedding ready for storing; vacuum and flip the mattress. It would be ideal if you would give your bed a preventative treatment against bed bugs to avoid any possible future problems. Reorganize and de-clutter your wardrobes; store winter clothes; shine and protect wood furniture.
Living room: Declutter and organize your shelves; clean fireplace and electronics.
Bathroom: Throw out expired hygiene and cosmetic products, wipe surfaces and frames of mirrors; give a thorough clean to bath tub, toilet basin, sink. Make sure you reach out hidden sides and behind where possible.

Clean windows and cob webs everywhere. For eco friendly window cleaner, fill an old spray bottle with half vinegar and half water. Clean and change ventilation filters, wipe down dirt from doors, light switches, pendants and shades.

Open all windows to allow spring air in and save your air fresheners. Essential oils such as tea tree or eucalyptus are great for purifying the air too and also act as a natural disinfectant. Dab some on a piece of tissue and leave it in the bottom of your rubbish bin.
Donate your clutter and help others too or if that cleaner is charging extra for spring clean why not sell all the unnecessary things in car boot sale?

A cleaner house will give you a boost of positivity even when those rainy days will come back.

What to expect from your cleaner

Leave a reply

935633_heroA domestic cleaner is always a great help and sometimes a real savior but she is never a superwoman.

If you want a good and lasting relationship with your cleaner be realistic with your requirements and treat her with the respect that she deserves. You are paying her for professional service and for her knowledge so trust and listen to her. Perhaps your domestic cleaner does not always have perfect English but she will always, especially if you choose her through a reputable agency, have plenty of experience and will know her job. Try not to take this as invitation to fill her task sheet with never ending duties though. Your role must not be diminished as well. No job will be done well if you will not find time to buy suitable cleaning products. Ironing will not be finished to high standard if you will leave piles and piles of it. Allow plenty of time if you want the job done to good standards. Miracles do not happen, mostly they are just the result of very hard work.

Be realistic. We, at Amy cleaning agency normally advise that it can take up to 1 hour to iron 5 shirts. It can take even more if they are over dried or have not been pressed the correct way previously. For example it is nearly impossible to take out creases from your shirt sleeves if they have been pressed with creases in before. It will take more than a few washes to achieve this. Change water in your iron as old water will leave lime scale marks on your clothing. Clothing stains should also be left for the dry cleaner, not a domestic cleaner to deal with.

Be careful with stains on surfaces. Some stains such as lily pollen, glue, mustard, blood or ink are nearly impossible to remove. Do not expect your cleaner to be a magician. Bear in mind that scrubbing stains on carpet carries heavy risks of damage and discolouring to material. Same goes for wood, marble or any stone surfaces. Invest in good products. Avoid the so called cleaning “shortcuts” as bleach or abrasive cloths. They will cause more harm than good.

There is always a reason why a cleaner is saying “no” to your request. Listen to her advice and you will have someone who will clean for you to come.

How to clean silver

1 Reply

1218128_silverThe beauty of silver is also its curse. Although we love silver items for their ability to withstand time, we find ourselves disappointed when after opening that expensive box of silver cutlery we are greeted with stains and discoloring. There is no need to invest in expensive products and silver polishing creams. The contents of your kitchen shelve will do just as well.

You will need: sink or glass pan, hot water, baking soda, salt, and aluminum foil.

• Line the sink or a glass dish with foil.
• Fill it with hot water.
• Add 2 table spoons of salt and 2 table spoons of baking soda.
• Place the silver items into the dip. Position the so that they are touching each other and the foil.
• Allow up to 5 minutes for heavily tarnished items.
• Rinse the silver with water and dry with a soft towel.

Do not forget to store your silver in a low-humidity environment. You can place a piece of chalk in the storage area to minimize future tarnish. Only clean silver when needed as over cleaning may cause damage. And use it…it is not mean to stay locked in boxes.

Disinfect or not to disinfect?

1 Reply

1147668_question_iconThere is a lot of debate at the moment about the importance of disinfectants in cleaning and whether they are used correctly. Here at Amy Cleaning we noticed that clients always request for the obvious: clean and disinfected toilet bowls, sinks, kitchen surfaces. Every professional cleaner will know the bearing of these, however not everyone is aware that things that may look like they need less attention are actually the biggest hot spots for bacteria.

For example, we all know that dangerous bacteria can be present in toilet bowls and therefore these must be disinfected regularly. However, we fail to realize that the only people that will come in contact with it would be those doing the cleaning itself and they will surely use protective gloves to avoid any possible risk of cross contamination. It may not be necessary to use strong chemicals for this type if cleaning.

On the other hand, how many of us would look twice at the products we use for cleaning our chairs, tables and kid’s highchairs? These are the items that are used by numerous people throughout the day and can easily become covered with dangerous bacteria. The best approach to cleaning such items and areas would normally be disinfectants and conventional cleaning products. Unfortunately these are normally very dangerous to the environment and unless labeled as “eco friendly”, will always leave toxic footprint.

Disinfectants are normally evaluated by their performance in cleaning germs and not by their friendliness towards environment so do avoid using them where it is not necessary. There are ways to disinfect without chemicals and new products are pushing their way through to the market, but it will probably be a while until it will reach domestic sector. Until that happens, think twice before reaching for disinfectant spray and be sure that it really is necessary. This does not mean skipping cleaning of our toilet bowls just because they are not touched but that we should have a second look around the house and decide what places and things attract the most bacteria and carry the biggest risk of contamination and then use disinfectants accordingly.

Know the difference between disinfectant and sanitizer too. Disinfectant is designed to completely destroy all organisms on surface while sanitizer reduces bacteria on the surface to a safe level. Do not mix these two and make the right decision about where and when each of those should be used.

How to save energy when doing laundry

1 Reply

481258_money_launderingOne of the biggest energy eaters at home is the washing machine and although it is not possible to live without it, there are ways to put it on “energy diet”.

90% of the washing machine’s power consumption comes from heating the water so the cooler temperature you set it on to, the more you save. There are special detergents that work wonders with cold washes. Look out for those ones.

The temperature of rinse water does not affect cleaning so set your washing machine for cold water rinse cycle. If your clothes are heavily soiled then you can pre-soak them before washing to maximize the effect.

The simplest way to avoid excessive energy use is to hang your clothes on a drying rack or outside when possible. Use the dryer only when there is no alternative option.

Dry full loads but don’t overload. Load similar types of clothes together and try to dry few loads one after another, this way you will be able to use the heat from previous loads. Take clothes out while they are still slightly damp to reduce the need for ironing.

If you have one, take full advantage of dryer’s moisture sensor. This automatically shuts itself off when the clothes are dry. Switch to the cool-down cycle halfway through the drying process. There is always plenty of heat left in the dryer to finish the process.

Clean the dryer filter often. A clogged filter will reduce efficiency.

Finally, don’t leave washing machine on standby.

Value of good training

Leave a reply

329649_training_room_2The advantage of having a cleaner through a reputable agency, such as Amy Cleaning, is that they train their staff. The importance of training is as significant in cleaning as in any other industry. For example spread of MRSA bacteria was increased due to incorrect usage of disinfectant wipes. Although very effective, these are only designed for single use therefore will lose its effect if used repeatedly. Proper training could have easily prevented this. Examples of such crucial mistakes can be easily found everywhere, in domestic cleaning as well.

When training our cleaners at Amy Cleaning we always stress the importance of using different cloths/wipes for different areas to avoid cross contamination. If the cleaner will use your products, make sure you buy new cloths regularly. Be extra vigilant if you have babies or kids in your household; those tiny hands will always reach for every corner and will have to touch every surface so you must make sure they are all cleaned thoroughly and correctly. In cases where there will be no option to use different cloths any good cleaner must be trained how to disinfect their cloths. It is also helpful to introduce colour coding system, especially in bigger properties. For example have red cleaning cloths and products for kitchen, blue for bathroom etc. This will alert the cleaner and prevent any possible problems. First introduced in 2007 by one of the biggest cleaning contractors this method has since been used widely in both domestic and commercial cleaning. Workers come to cleaning industry from various backgrounds, cultures and with different levels of English therefore this also has advantage of preventing language barrier problems as your cleaner will always know what chemical to use and where without you telling her.

At Amy Cleaning we also train our staff on health and safety, how and what chemicals to use as well as how to be proficient in customer service.

Cleaner’s job might often go unnoticed unless it is not done properly. Go with the agency and let us do the training for you.

Confused with employment law?

Leave a reply

1282167_hammer_1If you decide to get domestic help, it is likely that you are leading a very busy lifestyle and may not be able to be there when they clean. Therefore, you will be handing over keys to your property. Naturally, you must trust the person entering your house and carry out necessary checks to put your mind at ease.

Domestic cleaning industry in London is dominated by immigrant workers, therefore it is important to keep yourself up to date with employment law so you would not make crucial mistakes that may result in penalties. If you have decided to go through a cleaning agency, there might be an option for all this to be done by them. We at Amy Cleaning carry out careful vetting with each applicant; all documents are being monitored on a daily basis. If you decide to go solo and hire a cleaner yourself, there are few main immigration rules that you should know.

European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals are free to live and work in the UK. However, workers from A8 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia) countries may need to get authorization from the UK Border Agency to work in the UK. This is known as workers registration scheme (WRS). They may be exempt from this because they came to the UK before the WRS started (1 May 2004) or they have already worked in the UK for 12 months without a break

A2 nationals (Bulgarians or Romanians) are free to come to the UK but they do need work permits.
Most of Romanians and Bulgarians walking through our agency doors will already have domestic cleaner/ student visa or blue or yellow cards permitting them work. If this will not be the case, they would need to apply for self employment straight away in order to work for us. Same as with A8 nationals, Romanians and Bulgarians no longer need permission to take on work after they have worked legally for 12 months. They do not need permit to work as self employed, but they do have to register. Current rules state that anyone working on a self employed basis must register within three months of starting.

Foreign students: most of student visas will allow 10 or 20 hours a week work during term time and full-time work during vacation periods.

Be vigilant though as new types of visa’s and permits are issued everyday and new employment laws are being introduced. Not knowing will not protect you from responsibility.

How to fight mould

1 Reply

496826_mouldMould is a common problem in Britain mainly due to weather conditions, the number of rented properties that are not being looked after properly and simply lack of awareness on how to deal with it.

It is caused by humidity, poor heating or ventilation and water leaks. Mould cannot exist and grow without moisture. Therefore you must first find and eradicate the source. Be careful though as mould spores have been related to various health problems including infections, asthma, allergies and sinusitis. It may be worth considering getting a professional company to do the cleaning especially if you have existing health problems. If you do decide to take this on single handedly then make sure you use all the precautions: rubber gloves, eye goggles, overalls and dust mask. Avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the contaminated area as well.

Most of the cases of mould will appear or become worse after major leaks, floods or other water damages in house. It is very important to clean up and dry-out the property immediately if you want to prevent this. Open windows, use ventilators or dehumidifiers. Avoid using fans if mould damage is visible as this can spread the bacteria more easily. Pay extra attention to ventilation after cleaning as although current equipment will dry your carpet up to 90% you still must have air circulation in the house afterwards to dry it out properly to avoid condensation.

Propionic acid is the most effecting mold remover as well as Borax and borates although these will not remove the staining from mould. Use phosphoric acid for that instead of bleach. Vinegar is a good green alternative too.
Borax and borates can be effective but will not remove the staining from molds – phosphoric acid can do this in preference to bleach. In some cases staining can only be covered by painting, but it is very important to dry area out first.

Make sure you also clean things that were affected, not only surfaces. If anything has been affected by mould, it is best to get it removed where possible. If this is not possible, dry them out (make sure you move things away from walls first), clean and disinfect. For badly affected items begin by using a high suction industrial vacuum cleaner then damp-wipe. Dispose of your wipes and rinse water frequently – as they will be contaminated with mould quickly. Scrub all contaminated surfaces thoroughly with stiff brush, hot water, and a non-ammonia soap/detergent or commercial cleaner. Collect excess cleaner and cleaning water using a vacuum cleaner, a mop or sponge. Finally, rinse the surface or items with clean water and dry everything out as quickly as possible.

It is unlikely that any home will be completely free of condensation, but adjusting your lifestyle and knowing how to fight mould off will make enormous changes. Clean more often, ventilate and make sure you dry any major spillages and leaks quickly and efficiently.