Five tips to make cleaning fun

Cleaning never has to be a mundane job. Take a look through some of our top tips.Getting kids to clean their rooms can be one of the hardest tasks for any parent. Although getting them to help out around the house can be even harder! This is because cleaning just doesn’t seem that much fun to them, and they’d rather be playing on Playstation or watching TV or heading outside to spend time with their friends. However, if you can make cleaning fun then you may be able to convince them to help you out around the house, and perhaps even clean their bedrooms!

 Here are five top ways to turn cleaning into a very enjoyable activity:

• Do it with music – put on their favourite soundtrack and dance around whilst cleaning. This will quickly create smiles all round.
• Do it as a family – this way you can bond as well as get the housework done. Clean together with your husband and children and follow it up with a lovely meal. You’ll get it done far quicker too.
• Use it to improve the room – Cleaning and tidying provides more space for new items, so you could incentivise cleaning by telling your kids that there’ll be enough space for a games console or TV once you’re done. For a less expensive treat, new plants and board games are good choices.
• Delegate the exciting jobs – a lot of kids (especially boys!) love hoovering, which presents a great opportunity to get them involved and give them responsibility. Let them take care of the vacuuming, leaving you to get on with other tasks.
• Follow it with a treat – nothing gets kids involved more than following a task with a special treat, such as going out for food or heading to the park. It also teaches them responsibility and that they have to work hard, so it’s a win-win situation for all!

If you’re looking for a range of cleaning products to help clean your house with the family, please check out Click Cleaning’s full range of cleaning supplies. From brooms and mops to kitchen and oven cleaners you’ll find everything you need to get your home into shape quicker than before. We’re also available to speak to by phone if you’d like some quality advice – just phone 0845 680 1955 to speak to one of our experts.

Sick of stained carpets? Not any more!

There are many carpet cleanign products available at Click CleaningIf there’s something that everyone hates, it’s a stain on a carpet – particularly if you’ve just had them fitted. Even if you haven’t, stains are incredibly unsightly and can really make your carpet look like they’ve seen better days. And sometimes no end of scrubbing will get the stain out, and even if it does it can leave your carpet looking forlorn and rough. Scrubbing is hardly ever the best solution – in fact if you need to scrub then you probably aren’t using the right products. So why not find out the best way to remove stains so your carpet is quickly returned to its original condition?

Here are the steps you need to take to banish stains in a flash;

STEP 1: Remove solid matter

Always remove as much solid matter as possible using a spatula or blunt knife edge. Do not use anything sharp as this can cut into your carpet and damage the fibres. Do this as soon as you can; the longer a stain is left to dry the harder it is to remove.

STEP 2: Blot the stain

This is important if the stain is fresh. Remove as much of the liquid as possible with white paper towels or tissues, but never use coloured products as the colour can transfer and add to the problem. Apply the tissue with firm, even pressure and gently press down. Repeat several times until you cannot lift any more liquid.

STEP 4: Pre-test products

With any chemical product you should always pre-test it in an inconspicuous area, such as under a sofa or behind a piece of furniture. If you’ve got any carpet left over in your loft or shed you could use this – if it reacts badly you won’t have damaged anything valuable.

STEP 5: Remove the stain

The type of stain will dictate the products you need to use, and the order in which you use them. Read out stain removal guide for full details on every type of stain you can imagine!

Apply a small amount of your spotting agent to the carpet fibres and blot gently with a clean, new white towel. If colour transfers to the towel or a colour change occurs, do not continue and consult a professional. Otherwise do not rub or brush, but continue blotting the stain. Do not over-wet the stain, but use small amounts of the spotting product – you can always apply more. Keep applying and blotting until the stain is gone. Apply your next product and repeat the process.

STEP 7: Rinse the area

Use a fabric rinse or water to rinse the area and remove all traces of the spotting agents. Again, do not over wet the area – apply a small amount the blot repeatedly.

STEP 8: Reset the fibres

All that work will probably have moved the fibres about – it’s important to brush them back into place so the area doesn’t look out of sync with the rest of your carpet. Work from the outer edge to the centre to prevent ring marks forming, and use a soft brush to prevent damage.

How to Clean a Car

Make your car look brand new againCleaning a car is easy, but cleaning a car well is very difficult. The obvious way to do it is often the worst way and it takes a very carefully disciplined process to ensure. In addition, getting your car sparkling is a laborious process that cannot be completed in a spare half hour – expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, and perhaps more, to give the vehicle a full clean.

STEP 1: Rinse the vehicle

Rinse and wet your vehicle with normal tap water, but do not use a sponge. It will pick up grit and function like sandpaper on the surface. A high pressure hose is ideal but a good quality hose with a strong flow will also work. Make sure you get all surfaces wet several times – the water will wash off the loose dirt and will gradually help dissolve the heavier dirt.

You’ll need the leave the water for the time being to work into the dirt.

STEP 2: Clean the inside

Pick up sweet wrappers, crisp packets, tissues and any other rubbish. Take out foot mats and vacuum them away from the vehicle. Shake them out and leave them hanging outside to freshen them up. Hoover the rest of the interior including upholstery (you may need to use a special pet hair attachment if you own a dog). Wipe down the dashboard and other plastic areas with a damp cloth, and use a mild detergent to remove dirt. Do not use chemical cleaners as these can ruin the finish. Carpets and upholstery can be cleaned using a specialist fabric shampoo or a steam cleaner. Finally, hoover out the boot and wipe down surfaces.

Be VERY careful when cleaning the pedals. Silicone and oil based cleaners can leave a slippery residue which could have disastrous consequences when driving. Use only water.

STEP 3: Pre-wash the exterior

Hose the outside again to remoisten and use a soft cloth to gently rub down the entire exterior. Start at the top and work downwards, doing the bumpers and number plates last – the aim is to remove all dirt and grime. Make a solution in a bucket of fresh water and a well-known car prewash product. Apply sparingly, rub in gently then wash off with fresh water.

STEP 4: Wash the exterior

Use a reputable car shampoo and mix a solution with water, or follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The previous prewashing and rubbing should have effectively removed all dirt so this is the time to really get your car sparkling. A harder sponge can be used on hidden areas such as sills, which tend to get very dirty.

STEP 5: Tyres and wheels

These will most likely be filthy and require special treatment along with a lot of elbow grease. Clean as much as you can with a brush first, then progress to a scrubbing pad although watch out as you don’t watch to scratch the rims. Excess brake dust and ground in dirt may require a chemical cleaner to remove – check in at your local car superstore to see what products they have.

After cleaning the tyres and wheels, rinse them off thoroughly with water.

STEP 6: Dry the car

Use a chamois leather to dry the car using very gentle circular movements. This takes quite a while so be prepared to be patient. It’s best if you wash your car on a day when there’s not much sun as this will give you plenty of time to dry the car with the leather before sun dries it.

STEP 7: Clean the glass

Go over the windows – inside and out – with a dedicated car glass cleaning product. Again, use gentle circular movements and don’t rush, or streaks will appear. Microfibre cloths are best for this as they won’t leave a residue or allow the windows to streak.

STEP 8: Polish the car

Polish is frequently applied in the wrong way and can very quickly ruin a hard day’s work if you do this. Polish is designed to be rubbed on, not in. Rub it on in lines so that it forms a light shimmer then buff it using a microfibre cloth. After this use a clean soft cloth to buff it even further.

STEP 9: Show off your car

Get in and drive it around, showing off the exterior for all to see!

If you’re looking for a range of specially formulated car cleaning supplies to help you return your car to showroom brilliance, check out Click Cleaning’s car cleaning products today or call 0845 680 1955 for a free consultation.

Spring Cleaning your Kitchen

Revive your kitchen back to newThis could be the job you have been treading, as it seems to be the biggest spring clean to do, but with this step by step guide, spring cleaning your kitchen could be made a breeze.

•    Start with an initial cleanup, removing dirty dishes and clutter to make room for your spring clean.

•    Dust the ceiling, corners of walls, artwork on the wall and the ceiling fan if you have one.

•    Wash all curtains and draperies and wash the inside and outside of the windowsill(s) as well as the window itself.

•    Save time and do two jobs at the same time. Leave the oven cleaner to do its job as you clean the inside and outside surfaces of the fridge, but before you start cleaning the fridge make sure it is unplugged. This is also a great time to sweep and mop underneath the appliances. After cleaning the fridge, follow the instructions on the oven cleaner to finish off the inside of the oven.

•    Complete the oven clean by removing and washing the knobs, burners, burn covers and spill catchers and wipe down the stove area.

•    Wipe down and clean all small appliances, such as the microwave and toaster.

•    Now it is time to clean all kitchen cupboards and drawers, by removing all the contents and binning all the rubbish before wiping down.

•    Make your dishwasher gleam. Remove all food from the bottom; wipe down all outside surfaces before running the dishwasher with cleaning products.

•    Now comes the smaller jobs, wash down counter tops, the sink and make sure you empty and wash the bin.

•    To finish off sweep and mop, then sit back and take a look at a kitchen that looks brand new.
 


How to clean a washroom sink

Wash your sink with the help of our great tipsGetting on top of the house work can get a little too much, and you can find yourself in a muddle over what agents and products to use for what job. The sink seems to be the last thing that people think to clean, but it is quite simple to do and quick. It is amazing how much bad bacteria can accumulate in your bathroom sink, just think how often you use it and for so many different reasons. So cleaning it on a regular basis is vital when wanting to protect yourself and your family from those harmful microorganisms.

There are easy steps to clean your bathroom sink effectively:

• Fill the basin with water and rinse it down with a sponge, making a clean surface so you can tackle all the stubborn grime underneath.
• Pay special attention to the taps, making sure the mould and grime around the metal fixtures is combated. A great agent to use is glass cleaner for tackling unwanted matter.
• Spray the rest of the basin and scrub down until satisfied, concentrate on the metal ring at the bottom of the basin, making it squeaky clean and gleaming.
• Spray the basin again and then let the water carry it down the drain.

After following these quick and easy steps you will be the proud owner of a clean and shiny bathroom basin, but if you think that the drain also needs some attention use drain agents, but make sure to follow the instructions.