How to Professionally Clean a Bathroom.

How to Professionally Clean a Bathroom.

How to Professionally Clean a BathroomLearn How to Professionally Clean a Bathroom! When I ran my cleaning business, I actually preferred to clean the bathrooms. Crazy I know, who likes to clean bathrooms? Well, this girl does.

At first, bathrooms were the one area that would take me the longest to clean. It was frustrating when the dust and hair would become wet and it would be impossible to get up. Gross. I hated, what felt like hours, of scrubbing the shower and tub walls. I would go through so many towels trying to dry up so that I would not leave behind water spots.

With practice and researching the best tools, I developed this professional cleaning system to help me improve how I cleaned bathrooms. When cleaning houses for a living, the more time you spend on a cleaning task the less you make. My goal was to clean in less time, but also maintain a high standard of quality.

That is when I developed my bathroom cleaning system. I was cleaning large master bathrooms in less than 30 minutes. And small bathrooms in 15 – 20 minutes. The best part was, I was still cleaning with a high level of detail that other companies were not.

 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are Affiliate Links. What that means is I may earn a small commission if you click on one.  This comes at no additional cost to you as the buyer.  All of these products are products that I used exclusively in my Cleaning Business.  I only recommend products or services which I have used, tested, and highly respect. When you order through my link it helps to provide you with free content. I greatly appreciate your support!

 

 

 

How to Professionally Clean a Bathroom

Follow along with this process to learn how to professionally clean a bathroom for a FASTER and DEEPER clean!  The purpose of this process is to teach you how to deep clean a bathroom in less time. You will let your cleaner work for you, not clean an area more than once, and minimize your steps so that you are cleaning efficiently and effectively every time.

 

Start with the Right Tools

  1. All Purpose Cleaner
  2. Long Duster
  3. Microfiber Clothes
  4. Small Detail Brush
  5. Tile Scrub Brush
  6. Plastic Cup

To check out all the tools I used in my cleaning business click on my Cleaning Supplies for Professional House Cleaners.

 

 

1. Prep your areas:

 

Shake off all rugs

Give the rugs a good shake then roll them up neatly and set them right outside the door.

 

 

Long dust

Start to the left of the door, run the long duster in the corners where the ceiling meets the wall, making your way around the bathroom.  Catch any light fixtures, ceiling fans, exhaust fans, and trim above doorways. If you have high cabinetry, this is the time to dust them as well.  When done, set the duster right outside the door.

In my cleaning business, I used a long duster similar to the one below. There are several attachments to clean the tops of cabinets and air vents which is great for bathrooms where dust can be difficult to remove due to the high humidity.

Click here to see the current cost on Amazon

 

 

 

Vacuum the Bathroom thoroughly

It’s important to vacuum the bathroom BEFORE you start cleaning with water and cleaners.  Water will splash and inevitably make its way to the floor during the cleaning process. Once that happens, it will make it impossible to vacuum up all the hair and debris that you just shook off from the rugs.

Use a vacuum that is made for hard floors. In my cleaning business, I used a combo vacuum cleaner that vacuumed both carpet and hard floors. You can read about choosing the Best Vacuum Cleaner for your cleaning business here. Vacuum around all edges and under cabinetry/vanities if there is space between the floor.

If you have a garden tub with a large edge, use the hose of the vacuum to take a quick run over the surface to pick up the dust. The more dust you pick up now, the less rinsing and wiping you will have to do later.

 

 

Spray down ALL surfaces with your All Purpose Cleaner

Make sure you spray all surfaces first, before any scrubbing.  This is when your cleaner will work for you.  Many cleaners require a few minutes time to penetrate surfaces.  If you are scrubbing right after you spray, you will work twice as long and twice as hard!

Spray in the following order: Vanity and sink, Toilet (spray outside and inside), tub (if you have a separate tub), and finish with the shower/tub combo.  This step is super important in your speed cleaning as most all cleaners require time to penetrate soap scum and build up.  Always let your cleaner do the work for you!

Pro Tip: Make sure when spraying surfaces that you spray enough cleaner to soak surface.  Again the goal is to make your cleaner work for you.  If it is not given time to penetrate or there is not enough on the surfaces it can’t do its job!

 

 

 

2. Scrub your bathroom surfaces

 

Clean the vanity

Grab your detail brush, like the one below, and scrub along where the faucet meets the countertop and around the drain. This will loosen any build-up around these areas and quickly get into the cracks and crevices.

Wet your rag with hot water, ring it out so that it is not soaked, and wipe down the vanity and then the sink.  Make sure the rag is not soaked, a soaked rag will leave water on surfaces that can leave water spots.

Make sure you are using hot water, this will help aid in disinfecting plus will dry faster and least likely to leave streaks. We turn the water on as hot as our hands could stand.

Wipe countertops, faucet, and then sink bowl finishing with a quick rinse of the sink. Rinse your rag, and ring it well. Use a dry towel to wipe off any splatter marks that made it to the mirror.

 

 

Clean the mirrors

Use your glass cleaner and the microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirrors. Start from the top and wipe down. Once complete, use a clean, dry terry cloth to wipe off any fibers left by the microfiber towel and buff for a streak-free look.

If you enjoy a more green clean, you can use this towel set and warm water for a streak-free finish on your mirrors.

Make sure your rag is not soaked. Use a dry cloth dry to buff out the mirror making your way all the way to the top of the mirror and back down moving in a side-to-side motion.

 

 

Clean the tub

Use the detail brush around the faucet, drain, and any other hard-to-reach crevices around your tub. Wet your towel (you can use the same one that you used on the vanity) with HOT water.  Wipe the faucet, around the top of the tub, and make your way to the bottom. Finish with wiping the floor of the tub.

Using HOT water and your small plastic cup rinse your tub starting with the side farthest from the drain. Pour the water using a motion to guide the water into the drain. At this point, you do not want to dry the tub. Leave the water to dry while you move on to the shower.

 

 

Clean the shower

Fill a plastic cup with HOT water.  Dunk your tile brush in the water and start scrubbing the tile. Always start from the top of the shower and make your way down.  Move in a side-to-side motion along grout lines, and create a circular motion for areas with built-up soap scum.  Keep the brush wet with hot water and refill the cup when needed.

When choosing a scrub brush for cleaning showers, I always opted for a utility brush like the one below. It cleans tougher and reaches hard-to-reach corners.

See the current price on Amazon

When finished with the walls use the tile brush on the shower floor.  Start where the floor meets the wall and move the tile brush along grout lines and while also moving the brush in a circular motion around the shower floor. If you have a shower door be sure to run the detail brush along the track of the door. Rinse the brush and grab a clean rag.

Wet your rag with HOT water and wipe down any glass walls and doors. If you have a removable shower head, turn the water on HOT and rinse the shower. Always start from the top of the shower and rinse the cleaning solution and grime down and into the drain.

Once the shower is rinsed down, take a squeegee and wipe down excess water off the walls and floors and push it down the drain. Same as with the tub, don’t dry the shower yet with a towel. Let the remaining water air dry. If you used hot water to rinse the shower, you should not get any streaks or water spots.

 

 

Clean the toilet

Start at the top of the toilet, and wipe down until you get to the seat. Wipe the back where the lid is connected to the toilet and the top of the lid.  Lift the lid, and wipe under the underside, then wipe down the toilet seat.  Lift the seat, lift, and wipe the under the seat, and around the rim.

Get a new towel, and repeat from the beginning to dry off the toilet.  Once you have dried the rim, make your way down the toilet bowl to wipe it down. Don’t forget the foot of the toilet. While you are cleaning the foot of the toilet, use a new towel to mop the floor, baseboards, and walls surrounding the toilet. This area is notorious for getting splashes when the toilet flushes.

Take the toilet bowl brush and start-up under the rim of the toilet bowl making your way down to the bottom of the bowl.  Flush the toilet and put down the lid, letting the brush dry.

 

 

3. Buff and Shine Surfaces

Now you get to dry those surfaces you cleaned! But they have had time to dry so you will not have to use as many towels or sop up lots of water. The trick is to use dry clean microfiber towels.

 

 

Dry the Vanity and Mirror.

Using a clean microfiber cloth, start at the back of the vanity, dry off all water still standing and buff out all metal fixtures. This includes the faucet and drains. Use the now slightly damp cloth to dust/wipe down the sides of the vanity (or sink if you just have a pedestal sink).

When drying mirrors and finishes in the bathroom, it is important to use a high-quality microfiber cloth. Cheaper clothes will leave lent behind or streaks. This will not leave a clean finish. I purchased my towels in bulk from MicrofiberWholesale.com

 

 

Dry the tub

Wipe and dry the surface buffing and shining any metal fixtures.  If you have a ledge around your tub, this is a good time to dust it and any decorations using the slightly damp cloth you used for drying.

 

 

Dry the Shower

Using a dry clean towel start from the top of the shower and dry any remaining water left on the shower walls. Buff out glass doors and/or siding as well as all metal fixtures to shine. Use the towel to mop up any remaining water on the floor of the shower.

 

 

Mop the Floor

The last step of cleaning your Bathroom is mopping yourself out of the room. Bathrooms are smaller areas and for most bathrooms, you will be able to mop with your hands so that you can get into small spaces and wipe down baseboards.

Start cleaning your floors at the farthest point from the door. Get on your hands and knees, spray the floor with your All Purpose cleaning and use the damp microfiber cloths you used to dry surfaces and wipe the floor clean.

Wipe all baseboards as you move along the room. Bathrooms have high humidity and are prone to splashing, it is best to wipe the baseboards with each cleaning so that the bathroom always has that professional clean look.

 

 

 

Now step back and look at your work!

Use these steps to practice how to professionally clean a bathroom efficiently and effectively every time.  If you use your cleaners right, use the right tools you’ll spend less time and less elbow grease getting your bathrooms shiny every time!

Next time you clean your bathroom set a timer and follow my steps.  Comment below to let me know how you did!

 

 

 

 

Frequently asked Questions for Professionally Cleaning a Bathroom

What are the biggest mistakes when cleaning a bathroom?

Not using hot water, using too much water, and not rinsing surfaces enough.

How can I remove hard water stains on shower doors?

Spray a mixture of water and vinegar on your shower doors and let sit. Then wipe off with a microfiber towel. For tougher stains, use a higher concentration of vinegar and spray multiple times before wiping to allow the vinegar to penetrate the hard water stains. Vinegar is an acid and is very effective at cutting through hard water stains.

How can I remove rust and hard stains on my bathtub?

I like to use bar keepers friend for removing stains and rust from tubs. Sprinkle the cleaner on the tub, use a damp microfiber cloth and move in a circular motion over the stains. You can also use a scrub brush as well.

How do you remove hard water stains in the toilet bowl?

Bar keepers friend will help remove the hard water stain in your toilet bowl as well. Sprinkle the cleaner into the toilet bowl and onto your toilet brush. In a circular motion, scrub around concentrating on the stain. Flush the toilet when done.

How to Clean a Flat Screen TV or Computer Screen

How to Clean a Flat Screen TV or Computer Screen

This article will share with you how to clean a flat screen tv or computer screen without causing damage.

Cleaning sensitive electronics can be a nerve racking or scary experience.

Hi my name is Jason. I am a computer science professor, PC repair specialist and computer nerd.

I have been working with computers and technology before flat screen TV’s and monitors were a thing. In my profession, I have had to repair devices due to in correct cleaning habits.

If not cleaned properly, it is easy to damage the screen on a computer, Macbook, laptop or television, resulting in hundreds of dollars in repair or replacement costs.

However, cleaning these items are pretty straightforward with the proper supplies and techniques.

 

How to clean a computer or flat screen tv

 

Cleaning tv and computer without damaging the screen

A Few Do’s and Don’ts when cleaning technology:

Please note, this article may include affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.

Make sure your device is turned off

When cleaning the device’s screen, it is important to have the device turned off before cleaning.

It is possible to damage your electronics if you clean them while they are powered on.

Ask your clients to shut down any computer or tv’s before your visit.

When the device is off it is will also be easier to get a streak-free clean because the screen will be black.

 

Never use paper towels

Paper towels or other abrasive cloths can scratch and severely damage the LED, LCD or OLED screen, resulting in unhappy clients and hundreds of dollars in damages.

To remove dust from the device’s television screen it is best to use a clean, dry microfiber or antistatic cloth.

I recommend that you have a dedicated cloth for only cleaning these types of screens to help prevent leftover residue from damaging the screen or leaving streaks.

 

Never use water

I am sure you have heard the saying that electronics and water do not mix. Well, it is not a myth….Water can damage the screen on your device, as well as the electronics inside.

If you must use a screen cleaner for streaks and smudges, it is important that you spray the cleaner on the microfiber to slightly moisten it rather than spray the cleaner directly on the screen.

This will ensure that you do not get any of the liquid on the sensitive electronics. If you can if can squeeze or ring water out of the cloth it is TOO WET!!!

 

Steps on how to clean Technology

Like dusting a room, it is best to start at the top and work your way down.  Start at the top of the device and dust the perimeter, back and cables.

This handheld microfiber duster is great for getting around and behind the technology.

It is faster than using a microfiber towel. Plus, you can run it over the cords for a quick dust.

Before cleaning the screen, it is important to dust the top and sides of the device before cleaning the screen.  LED, LCD and OLED screens create a magnetic charge that attracts dust.

If you clean the screen of the electronic device before dusting the rest of it, may result is double the work as you may have to clean the screen again.

Also, when cleaning the screen, it is best to start at the top of the device and work down to prevent falling dust from clinging to the newly cleaned screen.

 

Cleaning the computer or flat screen tv

Use a separate cloth to clean the screen than you used when dusting the perimeter, back and cables. This way you are not transferring dust onto the screen.

 

How to clean a macbook screen

How to Clean a MacBook Screen

Cleaning a MacBook screen is similar to the steps above.  Make sure your MacBook is turned off to prevent damage.  Use a dry microfiber to dust the entire device before cleaning the screen.

Since the screen is located directly above the sensitive electronics of the device, be extra careful that any electronic cleaning solution you use does not run down into the keyboard or screen bezel.

To reiterate from above, it is best to use a dry microfiber to dust the screen and use dedicated electronic cleaning wipes to remove fingerprints and smudges.

 

 

how to clean a laptop screen

How to Clean a Laptop Screen

Cleaning a laptop screen is similar to cleaning a MacBook, however, some laptops have touchscreens that may make cleaning a little more involved.

It is extremely important that the device is turned off, not only to prevent damage, but to prevent accidental input from touching the screen.

There have been a few times where I have cleaned a touchscreen only to accidentally change a setting or close some important work.

Touchscreen devices tend to get more fingerprints, smudges and grime that traditional, non-touch screens.

Using an electronic cleaning solution sprayed on the microfiber or using a pre-moistened electronic screen wipe is best for these types of devices.

 

 

how to clean a flat screen tv

How to Clean a Flat Screen tv

Similar to cleaning a MacBook screen, most flat screen tv’s do not have touchscreens.  However, these devices are much larger and can be more difficult to reach.

Often times, utilizing a dry microfiber towel is all that is needed to dust off the screen of the device.

If the TV is located in a hard-to-reach area, a cleaning pole with a microfiber duster or extender may be needed, however, take care not to damage the screen.

 

Best Products to use when cleaning a computer screen or flat screen tv

 

Cleaning Cloths safe to clean flat screen tv and Computer Screens 

For general dusting and cleaning of LCD, LED or OLED screens it is best to use a lint-free microfiber designed for electronics.

These Wisdompro microfiber cleaning cloths are great for cleaning these delicate surfaces.

The cloths can be washed and reused, however, do not wash them with detergent, fabric softener or soap as it can damage the microfiber and the electronic devices you clean with them.

 

Spray Cleaner safe for flat screen TV’s and Computer Screens

For fingerprints or smudges, it may be necessary to use a cleaner that is designed for LED, LCD and OLED screens.  Using a product such as Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit, is a great way to get rid of those unsightly blemishes.

Cleaner for TV and Computer screens to clean smudges off.
When using the Screen Mom Screen Cleaner Kit It is important that you spray the cleaner on the microfiber to slightly moisten it rather than spray the cleaner directly on the screen.  This will ensure that you do not get any of the liquid on the sensitive electronics.

 

Cleaning Wipes safe for Computer Screens and TV’s

If using a spray cleaner is not to your liking, you can also use a product like Endust for Electronics.

Cleaning wipes that are safe for Screen and Electronics

These pre-moistened, one-use wipes are great for a quick, smudge-free cleaning. However, make sure any wipes you use are designed for use on electronics.

Never use furniture wipes, they can contain oily chemicals that can damage your screen or leave hard to remove streaks.

 

How to clean flat screen tvs and computer screens

 

Speed Cleaning Tools for Professionals

Speed Cleaning Tools for Professionals

Tools for Speed Cleaning

Cut cleaning times in half with out compromising quality by using the tools the Pro’s do.

Speed cleaning is about eliminating steps, using the right tool for the job, and cleaning in a continuous motion without cleaning an area twice.  To do this it takes tools to clean tough jobs and tools to clean lighter jobs.

Spending time trying to get grime off a surface will only cost you money and energy. Having to walk back and forth to a cleaning caddy will cost you LOTS of time. And in the cleaning business TIME is MONEY.

It is not always easy to raise prices in the cleaning industry to increase profits.  But what we can control, is the time we spend in homes.

Speed Cleaning allows for house cleaning business owners to clean faster without compromising quality. In turn you can increase profits with out raising rates.  This keeps customers happy and your wallet happy.

Related Resources: How to Give a House Cleaning Quote and What to Charge for House Cleaning Services

Below is a list of tools Professional Cleaners use every time they clean.  These tools help them to work smarter not harder!

Please note, this article may include affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.

 

 

Tools for Speed Cleaning

 

Apron

House Cleaning ApronAprons are a MUST for speed cleaning.  Aprons allow you carry your tools and supplies with you as you clean. This limits your steps by having all of your tools in reach when you need them.

Supply Maid offers an outstanding Apron.  The Apron was designed by Maid Service Owners for Maid Services. You can purchase the apron here —-> Supply Maid Apron

I highly recommend you carry clean microfiber towels, your cleaners, razor blade, scrapers, small tile brush and other tools needed to get the job done.

As your moving around a room whether dusting, cleaning a bathroom or kitchen, you will not need to take unnecessary steps to get a tool to tackle a task.

 

Here is the idea of how an apron helps with speed cleaning

When dusting a living room moving in a continuous motion starting from the left of the room.  With your hand duster, you dust a table with frames, move to a couch place hand duster in back pocket, grab whisk broom and quickly brush off pet hair and food crumbs.

Moving your way to the other end of the couch to a glass table with a lamp, use the whisk broom to brush off the lamp shade.

Put the whisk broom back into the apron, grab hand duster to dust remaining parts of lamp and table contents.

Place hand duster in back pocket grab glass cleaner and microfiber, spray glass, place cleaner back on apron wipe down table. Place microfiber back into apron.

Continue around the room until you are done.  Using the apron you can have the living room cleaned and dusted in 5 minutes tops.

Couches and chairs are straightened, lamp shades are dusted, all glass is wiped down and all surfaces are dust free.

 

What kind of Apron is best for speed cleaning?

When buying an apron for cleaning, you will want to make sure it has loops on both sides and has several pockets for all of your gadgets.

You can find full length aprons or those you just tie around your waste. Either works great, the full size will protect your clothes but are more costly and not necessary.

My recommendation is the apron over at Supply Maid. This apron was designed by maid service owners. It has pockets for all the needed gadgets, loops for spray bottles and additional attachments for other tools.

This article Reviews Cleaning Aprons and what to look for when purchasing one.

 

Long Duster

Dusting in high and low areas can take up time when having to climb a ladder and bend over.  You don’t have time to spend bending over to clean baseboards.

Cleaning a ceiling fan requires a ladder so most cleaning businesses just don’t clean them in a normal cleaning visit. Using a long duster will allow you to clean these areas quickly and safely.

I recommend this Long Duster from Microfiber Wholesale. You can purchase the duster here —> Chenille Microfiber Duster

 

What kind of Long Duster is best for Speed Cleaning?

When buying a long duster make sure to get one that is retractable.  Not all houses will have the same ceiling height.

You want to make sure your long duster will reach vaulted ceilings.  But you also want it to quickly retract to dust base boards efficiently.

Another thing to keep in mind is a removable dusting cloth.  Make sure to use one dusting cloth per house.

You do not want to cross contaminate between houses.  Choose a duster which has removable microfiber dust clothes that can be washed with each use and purchase enough to clean multiple houses in a day.

We found these chenille microfiber dusters at Microfiber Wholesale.  They are good quality and hold up over time.

 

Hand Held Duster

Hand held duster for speed cleaningA hand duster will allow you to quickly dust objects and surfaces in area’s like the living room and bedrooms.  These are used for dry dusting.  If you have to use a cleaner, you will want to use a separate cloth.

I recommend these Hand Held Dusters by Microfiber Wholesale you can purchase them here —->  Small Microfiber Duster

When looking for a hand duster make sure it can easily fit into a back pocket.  This will make it easier to carry around with you when cleaning.

I am not a huge fan of feather dusters, though there some cleaning companies and business coaches will recommend them.  I don’t like that they can not be washed from house to house.

 

Feather Duster or Microfiber Duster?

When I first started out, my cleaners wanted to try feather dusters.  I gave them a go ahead for a few months and finally said no.

Feather dusters start loosing feathers over time. I found feathers would drop in clients homes and would not want them to find feathers around their house after we cleaned.  So we switched to a reusable and washable microfiber duster.

I highly recommend using a microfiber removable cloth which can be removed with each house and be washed.

Microfiber Wholesale has a great and affordable small microfiber duster. It is small enough to fit in your back pocket and similar to the Swiffer hand held dusters except the microfiber covers are washable and reusable.  It makes your pocket happy and the planet happy!

 

Speed Cleaning Tools for professionals

 

 

Razor Blade

Razor blade for speed cleaningThis tool has multiple uses and is a must have in every cleaning apron or caddy.  It helps to remove tough spots and goo on surfaces without scratching quickly saving you elbow grease and time!

When using, make sure your blade is not compromised with rust and not dull, as these can scratch surfaces.

I recommend a small pocket sized retractable razor blade. These carry easily in your apron, are easy to use for quick use and are an inexpensive tool.

We purchased ours in bulk at Amazon —-> Hyde Tools 13050 Delta Heavy Duty Glass Scraper

 

Razor blades are very versatile and can be used for many different jobs.  Here is an idea of what we used them for in our house cleaning services:

 
Showers and Soap Scum

This is extremely helpful on first cleans or move in/out cleans.  Using a razor blade in conjunction with your all purpose cleaner, you will be able to remove soap scum instantly in a shower.

Don’t spend extra time and energy trying to remove heavy stuck on soap scum with a scrub brush.  You will waste time and tire out quickly.

 
Glass stove tops

Razor blade work wonders on a glass top stove.  Avoid buying expensive cleaner marketed for glass stove tops.  The less cleaning chemicals you use the more efficient and cost effective your cleanings will be.

Using your all purpose cleaner spray it on the stove and scrap off spots with your razor blade. Tip: Using the blade on a dry surface can cause scratching, so make sure you spray enough cleaner down before using the razor blade.

 
Glass and Mirrors

Razor blades are a must when cleaning windows and glass.  Hard to remove stickers or gunk can be quickly removed with a razor blade.

Just spray your All Purpose cleaning on the spot and remove with the blade. You will save lots of time and not scratch the glass.

Again, you want to make sure you are spraying your All Purpose cleaning on the window first to avoid scratching.

 
Floors

Don’t spend a lot of time mopping over a spot that is hard to remove. You can use a razor blade to quickly get up gunk, old food or even gum.

 

 

Small Tile Brush

Small tile brush for speed cleaningThe small tile brush is a small nylon brush that can get into crevasses and detail grout between tiles.  This little guy is a must for speed cleaning while maintaining a high level of detail in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Use the small tile brush around sinks, drains and faucets.  You will be able to clean into the crevasses round these areas very quickly.

It is a huge pet peeve of mine when a cleaning company cleans a house and just wipes over these surfaces without clean around a faucet.

I recommend purchasing 2 different colors, 1 for kitchens and 1 for bathrooms. This way you won’t bring the bathroom yuck out into a customers kitchen.

 

 

Small Whisk Broom

Whisk broom for speed cleaningWhisk brooms are great for dusting fabrics.  Fabrics collect lots of dust and crumbs, dusting with a cloth does little to remove either and vacuuming can be very time consuming.

A whisk broom is tough enough to remove pet hair and dust and easy to carry around in your apron.  It will save you lots of time while helping you to provide a more detailed cleaning.

Just another way for you to provide an excellent service!

 

Where to use your Whisk Broom

 
Couches

Use the whisk broom to brush off any crumbs, pet hair or dust.  For our biweekly and weekly cleaning clients we provided rotational services which included vacuuming living/family room furniture.

Using the whisk broom in between vacuuming, helps to keep down the pet hair and debris.  Clients really appreciate this as most cleaning companies do not vacuum furniture.

 
Dinning Room chairs

Dinning chairs almost always have food crumbs on them.  Use the whisk broom to quickly remove the crumbs to the floor for easy vacuuming.

 
Lamp Shades

Lamp shades are like dust and animal hair magnets.  Using a whisk broom to quickly dust them will help you provide an excellent service in

 

Incorporating these cleaning tools into your cleaning routine will help to improve your cleaning time significantly, while still maintaining a high level of quality.

Make sure as you are looking for ways to improve your cleaning times you are not sacrificing quality!

Next Steps: If you are looking for a cleaning supply checklist, visit our page House Cleaning Supply Checklist.

 

Speed Cleaning Tools

5 Rules to Speed Cleaning

5 Rules to Speed Cleaning

As a Maid Service provider, your time and your cleaners time is money in your pocket.  To run a successful Cleaning Business you must have an efficient and consistent cleaning system in which you and your cleaners use ever time they clean a home.  This system should provide the highest quality in the least amount of time.  In the cleaning industry we call it SPEED CLEANING!!!

The most important thing with cleaning efficiently is to have a plan, move sequentially with your steps. Don’t waste extra time and steps going back over surfaces or grabbing supplies from another room.  Cleaning should flow from one surface to the next and one room to the next.

When I owned my cleaning business, we used this process every time with no deviation.  We were able to clean a 3000 square foot home, with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in 2 hours and 45 minutes. With 2 cleaners 1 hour 25 minutes!

FREE RESOURCE: This is the system my cleaners used to achieve the cleaning times listed on my FREE price worksheet provided here——-> What to Charge for House Cleaning Services

Speed Cleaning will maximize your steps (you should never clean the same surface twice) and maximize your cleaner products cleaning power (let your cleaning product work for you!).

5 Rules to Speed Cleaning

  • Have your cleaner and tools in reaching distance. Wear an apron AND carry a bucket.  Don’t waste time looking for a cleaner or wasting steps to get a tool. By wearing an apron and having a cleaning bucket you will always have the right tool in hand.
  • Avoid having to clean an area more than once. Always clean from top to bottom.  Gravity is real, dust and debris will fall onto area’s already cleaned.
  • Limit the amount of steps you take. To maximize your steps, clean left to right. You will make a complete circle around the room never wasting a step.
  • Use the right tools for the right job. Use tougher tools for tougher jobs. For example, use razor blades to scrap off stuck on grime. Related Source: Must Have Tools for Speed Cleaning.
  • Let your cleaner work for you.  Let your cleaner work.  Most cleaners need to sit on surfaces to penetrate grime.  Let them and you will scrub less.

The more you adapt to the cleaning process the faster you and your cleaners will become!  Make speed cleaning a game.  Each time you and your cleaners clean, try to achieve more efficient bench marks.  Quality should never be compromised, but reward your cleaners for meeting goals!

The Cleaning System –

Master Bathroom.

  • Remove rugs, shake debris off and set to the side.  Vacuum the floor. It is easier to vacuum 1st before the floor gets wet.  After that it is nearly impossible.
  • Clean the vanity, wiping with your dominant and lifting contents with your other hand. Try to avoid removing every thing and having to place it back.  It wastes extra time and steps.
  • Sanitize and clean the toilet.
  • Scrub the tub and the shower.  Make sure your cleaner has time to soak on the surfaces.  Soap scum will clean off easier with minimal scrubbing required.
  • Mop the Floor. Start in the farthest corner of the bathroom and mop your way out of the door.

Effecient Cleaning Routine

Master Bedroom.

  • Moving from the bathroom, dust from left to right, top to bottom of the room.  First start with long dusting, then follow with short dusting.
  • Vacuum starting from the furthest corner of the room and making your way out the door.

Smaller Bathrooms.

  • Attack these bathrooms in the same progression as the master bathroom.  They are smaller and will take a third of the time.

Dusting

  • Start in the children/guest bedrooms.  Dusting from the left of the door, long dust and follow with a short dust.
  • Dust the living room, family room, den, and any other remaining rooms. Use the same dusting pattern, left to right and top to bottom.

Kitchen

  • Starting left of the kitchen sink, wipe down the counters and any appliances and cabinet faces you pass by.  Continuing on, lift with your dominant hand and wipe with your other.  Wipe all debris to the floor, you will vacuum them up later.
  • Wipe the face of the refrigerator, stove top and inside of the microwave when you pass each.
  • Finish the kitchen with the sink.

Vacuum and mop

  • Starting in the farthest bedroom vacuum your way to the kitchen.
  • To mop, follow the same progression as vacuuming. You should finish by the front door to eliminate tracking on wet floors.

I want to hear from you!

Let me know how you did!  Track your steps and you time and comment below.

Do you have any tips on how you improve your cleaning efficiency? Let me know, I love hearing other ideas on how other companies cut cleaning times while still maintaining quality!

How to Clean your Hardwood Floors like a Pro

How to Clean your Hardwood Floors like a Pro

Hardwood floors are beautiful and relatively easy to maintain. They give a warm elegant feeling to a home that tile and carpet just can’t provide.

It is important to develop a routine cleaning regime to keep up their charm. If they are not dusted regularly or you use the wrong cleaner, they can be damaged. This can cause them to appear dull and scratched.

I had clients who would struggle with getting their wood floors streak free and non sticky clean. When your wood floors feel like your feet stick to them with each step you take they feel…Yuck!

Follow along with this guide to ensure your hardwood floors always look their best.

1. Prep

Vacuum up all debris and gritty dirt. Sand and dirt can scratch your floors, so it is important to keep up on this daily. It is ok to use dusting mops on areas where there is just dust build up, but for high traffic areas like entry ways, hallways and kitchens it is best to use a vacuum. If there is any sand and dirt you won’t want to push it around, increasing the likelihood of scratching your floors.

When choosing a vacuum, use one that is made for hard surfaces, they are closer to the ground and will have better suction as opposed to those with a beater brush made for carpet. I highly recommend the Shark Rotator Upright vacuum. It has an excellent hard floor vacuum that picks up all debris. Pro Tip: To ensure you’re getting all the sand and grit, vacuum with the grain of the wood. This will help to get in all the cracks and crevices. Use a hose attachment to get along the wall and base boards. For areas with stubborn sand use the hose directly for a stronger more direct suction.

2. Tools

Bona Floor Mop is the absolute best mop and cleaning solution on the market for cleaning your hardwood floors. Bona is a non-toxic, biodegradable, mild, pH neutral cleaner. This makes it safe for the environment, safe to use around your family and safe to use on your wood floors.

What I like best about the Mop is its ease of use, it is a spray bottle and mop all in one. No need to mop with one hand and spray with another! It feels sturdy, and their microfiber pads are excellent quality. I don’t recommend purchasing the Bona Express Mop. You may be tempted by the price and how light weight it is, but it is flimsy. When you apply extra pressure to get stubborn areas, it feels as though the mop might break in half. Refills can be expensive, purchase this cleaner by the gallon in concentrate for extra savings. What’s great about the Bona cartridges is they are sturdy and can definitely be reused to save money and reduce waste.

3. Technique

To mop you will want to make sure you have several mop pads with you. If you use an apron while cleaning you can have one pocket for clean pads and a pocket for the dirty pads.

Starting in the back corner of the room, spray the floor lightly. Light spraying is best for area’s that do not get much traffic and basically need a damp dusting. Increase the number of sprays in areas with higher traffic (front entry way) and more spots and spills (kitchens). You don’t want to over saturate the floors, as this can be damaging to hardwood and this is where streaks can happen, start with one spray and increase if needed. Moving with the grain of the wood to reduce streaking, start mopping your way out of the room. You never want to mop yourself into a room with no choice to walk over wet flooring. This will leave foot prints and if you have any debris on your feet it will stick to the floors. You already worked this hard up to this point, you don’t want to ruin it with dirty feet!

4. Let dry and admire you’re work!

Following this routine on a weekly basis will help your floors look bright and clean like they did the day they were installed. Tip: make sure to ALWAYS use a pH neutral cleaner (look for pH 7), anything else can damage your flooring finish, cause streaking and create a sticky residue. The great thing about using Bona wood floor cleaner is that it is a mild and neutral cleaning agent. It will not damage the finish of your hardwood floors. When choosing a cleaner for your hardwood floors it is extremely important to choose pH neutral. Anything else will damage any sealer you have protecting your floors exposing them to dulling, cracking, and other damage. See why other flooring companies recommend it as well