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Cleaning Basics

In order to keep your home clean and sparkling, you need to have some basic cleaning tools and products. You will also need to know how to carry out basic techniques, such as dusting and mopping, to keep your house in top condition..Before you start, make sure you have all the cleaning materials you need close by.

Cleaning Products

• Use cleaning products only on the surfaces and in the manner recommended on the label.
• Don’t use a harsh cleaner when a mild all-purpose product will do the job.
• When mixing solutions, pour in the water before the cleaning product so you don’t risk splashing the undiluted product on surrounding surfaces.
• A concentrated cleaner is more effective diluted than straight out of the bottle.
• Always test a new product on a small area before using it.
• To save time, put together a basic cleaning kit composed of products you need to clean the kitchen and the rest of the house. Every home is different, so go from room to room in your own home, making a list of all cleaning products you are going to need. It’s a good idea to have a specific cleaning kit in areas of high use such as the kitchen, the bathroom and the utility room or laundry (if you are lucky enough to have one).

Basic Cleaning Kit

Absorbent kitchen paper Micro-fibre cloth All-purpose household cleaner Non-chlorine bleach Ammonia Nylon scrubbing pad Anti-mildew tile and bath cleaner Plastic caddy organizer with a handle Baking soda Sponge Disinfectant cleaner Squeegee Furniture polish Washing-up liquid Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol White vinegar Large and small nylon brushes Window cleaner Lint-free cotton cloths

Homemade Cleaners

In addition to knowing which cleaning products you need for each room and surface in your home, it’s good idea to be able to create your own cleaning solutions from common household ingregients. The following all-purpose disinfectant cleaners are generally safe to use on most surfaces.

Mild All-purpose Cleaner
- Mix four tablespoons bicarbonate of soda with one litre warm water.
- Wipe the surface or item, then rinse.

Concentrated All-purpose Cleaner
Do not use the following solutions on aluminium, marble, porcelain or crystal.
- Add one tablespoon each of ammonia and liquid laundry detergent to 500 ml warm water a stir well.
- Alternatively, add 125 ml washing soda to four litres warm water.

Semi-abrasive Cleaner
This will remove difficult stains on various surfaces in your home and can be used as an alternative to proprietary scouring powders.
- Make a thick paste with bicarbonate of soda and water. Apply to the surface with a sponge or a cloth.

Window Cleaner
- Fill a spray bottle nearly to the top with half water and half rubbing alcohol. Top up with household ammonia and shake lightly.
- Spray on the window, then wipe with dry, lint-free cloth.

Detergent Solution
This solution is good for cleaning grease or water-soluble stains on most surfaces.
- Mix one teaspoon washing-up liquid with 250 ml warm (not hot) water.
- Dampen a white cloth in this solution and carefully rub out the stain until it is gone. Rinse well with clear water.

Ammonia Solution
This is effective in cleaning stubborn floor stains, as well as kitchen appliances and painted wall surfaces. caution should be used when applying to marble.
- Mix one tablespoon clear household ammonia with 125 ml water.
- Dampen a white cloth in the solution and carefully rub the stain until is gone. Once it has gone, rub the area with vinegar solution (see below) to avoid any possibility of skin irritation.

Vinegar
Used on glass, mirrors, laminates and chrome, vinegar is an excellent disinfectant, cleaner and hard-water stain remover.
- Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water. Apply with a cloth

Dusting

When you dust, start at the top of the house and work your way down. Do one room completely - seeing a newly dusted room will be a great incentive to move on to the next one.

Wood Furniture

• Quickly dust the tops of wooden tables at least every other day. Thoroughly dust once a week.
• For cleaning all wood furniture use an old, soft cotton rag - old cotton T-shirt are great for this. Synthetic material won’t absorb cleaning fluids, you need 100 per cent cotton.
• The simplest way to dust is to wipe the surface with a cotton cloth moistened (not saturated) with clear water. However, this won’t condition the wood in any way.
• Dust-removing sprays or cloths can be used on wooden surfaces but avoid oils, which attract more dust and finger prints.
• Make sure you dust under table lamps and knick-knacks.
• Dust intricate furnishings, such as those with carvings, with a small, soft brush, such as natural-hair artist’s brush or a dry, soft toothbrush.
• Dust using a circular motion.
• Clean all cloths and brushes when you have finished.
• Furniture wipes treated with furniture polish are now on the market, which make the task even easier. Keep a box of them in your cleaning kit at the ready.

Glass-topped Tables and Monitors Screens

• Dust glass-topped tables and televisions screens twice a week with a soft cloth and glass spray cleaner.
• Wipe down computer screens once a week. Check the manufacturer’s or retailer’s recommendations for special cleaning pads for optical plastic and glass.

Ornaments and Knick-knacks

• Clean all objects twice a week.
• Dampen a soft cloth with water and few drops of washing-up liquid and use to clean off your porcelain or china figurines.
• Clean crystal objects with a proprietary glass cleaner.
• Dry dust all books with a soft cloth. Alternatively, use the upholstery nozzle of your vacuum cleaner.

Using a Mop

The following instructions are for wood floors and for the everyday maintenance of tiled and stone floors.

• Mop your wood, tiled and hard floors at least once a week. Heavily soiled areas, such as the hallway, kitchen or bathroom, may need to be cleaned more frequently.
• Sweep the floor with a broom or anti-static cloth mop or vacuum to remove as much dust and debris as you can before you start the wet mopping process.
• Moisten your mop with clear water and an appropriate cleaner for the type of flooring. (Do not use soap on wood floors; instead, add a drop of wood-cleaning detergent to the water.)
• Mop the floor in a sweeping motion, forwards and backwards; do not make a circular motion.
• Lift the mop between strokes to avoid streaking the floor.
• Between strokes, shake off any dust that has gathered on the mop as you work. The mopping process will pick up any dust left behind by the broom.
• Use this mopping process for general, everyday maintenance of tile and stone floors in high-use areas.
• Choose a mop with a removable head that you can launder. String mops are best. Make sure you clean it regularly, and use bleach in the water to disinfect it.

Using a Vacuum Cleaner

Keep carpets and rugs in top condition by regular vacuuming. use doormats at the main entrance to your home to pick up debris from the street. Put castor cups under furniture to protect the carpets and rugs.

• Shampoo your carpets every one to two years depending on whether you have small children and pets.
• If you have a cylinder vacuum cleaner, use the floor attachment for bare floors or valuable carpets or rugs.
• For regular carpets, use a turbo-brush attachment.
• To maintain beautiful wood floors, vacuum them along the grain of the wood, preferably with a cylinder rather than an upright cleaner.

Which attachment to use?

Cabinets, shelves, books, hard floors - all-purpose cleaning head
Narrow areas, detailing - radiator brush (if supplied)
Difficult places to clean - crevice nozzle
Skirting boards and moulding - dusting brush or upholstery nozzle
Upholstery - upholstery nozzle