Beware of Bad Food!


Some people eat to exist, and some say they exist so they can eat. Some consider food a necessity, while others consider it a delicious activity.


But we often don’t eat everything when we eat, so we store some for later. That’s where food storage comes in because if not done properly, you end up with bad food, which can lead to waste, illness, and even worse.
Food storage is an important part of maintaining health and ensuring the safety of food that goes through our bodies. Proper storage helps maintain the quality of flavors in foods and protects one from foodborne illnesses caused by harmful bacteria and pathogens. The best practices in food storage greatly reduce the chances of eating poor food and health concerns.
Good food storage is built on understanding the foods you are working with and their storage needs. Generally, foods can be separated into three groups: 1. perishable, 2. semi-perishable, and 3. non-perishable.
Here are some easy tips to keep your food fresh.
Store in airtight containers
Food must be stored in airtight containers to preserve it for longer and eliminate contamination. This practice is crucial, especially for dry groceries such as flour, sugar, and cereals. Hermetic containers deny food air, which spoils the food and attracts pests.
Label and date stored food items
This method will enable you to track when food was stored. Thus, it minimizes the waste of older items, as these would be used before the newer ones.
Avoid overcrowding
Adequate air circulation is needed to ensure uniform temperatures inside the refrigerator. Overcrowding blocks air flow and results in uneven cooling, which might cause spoilage.
First in, first out (FIFO)
This means using food products according to their dates, with the oldest being used first. You can easily achieve this by rotating foods in your pantry and refrigerator.
Store food at the recommended temperature
Each type of food has its optimal storage temperature. Use a thermometer to ensure your fridge and freezer are kept at the proper temperatures. Eating improperly stored or spoiled food can lead to harmful health effects.
Besides keeping your food fresh and healthy, don’t ignore other aspects of health — such as keeping the entire home sparkling clean. Call your favorite cleaning company when you need help with specialty projects, such as carpet and furniture cleaning or hard wood floor care. After all, it pays to call a pro!

Beware of Dirty Air!
Your home may be considered a haven, a place of comfort and safety. But lurking and often invisible to the naked eye is a threat that could undermine this sense of security: Poor indoor air quality. Dirty air in your home can have serious health consequences; therefore, it must be dealt with. Let's take a closer look at the dangers of unclean air and why air quality is something all homeowners should be concerned about.
A hidden danger is indoor air pollution. This means that harmful pollutants originating from a range of sources are in your house, including, but not limited to, mold and mildew, dust and pet dander, volatile organic compounds, tobacco smoke, and cooking fumes.
The impacts of dirty air on health are vast and multifaceted. Some key points to think on:

• Respiratory issues: Poor air quality can worsen conditions like asthma and bronchitis and, in extreme cases, lead to chronic respiratory disorders.
  
• Allergies: Dust, pet dander, and mold are typical indoor allergens. Exposure to these might cause sustained allergic symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes.
  
• Heart disease: A recent study revealed that the exposure of a person to indoor air pollution over a long period could predispose them to a higher risk of heart disease.
  
• Cognitive effects: Other studies have also suggested poor air quality might affect mental function.
  
• General discomfort: Particularly not leading to ailments, dirty air can cause headaches and fatigue and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
  

The long-term benefits
Improving your home's air quality is an investment in your health and well-being. You can bet on improved health, increased comfort, and energy efficiency, to name but a few. Dirty air in your house comes with lots of health risks, but the good news is that you have practical actions to take to ensure air quality in your home. By prioritizing clean air, you invest in your family's good health, comfort, and high-quality living. Proactive steps by a homeowner in maintaining the indoor environment of the house safe and healthy would result in an investment that pays its dividends in the long run.
But for a guaranteed clean home with good air quality, use the expertise of your favorite local cleaning company, especially for specialty cleaning, such as carpet and furniture. After all, it pays to call a pro!

Beware of Dirty Oven Racks!


Keeping the oven clean is essential for health, hygiene, and even the flavor of the food. Imagine putting a perfectly crafted pizza on an oven rack with several months’ worth of food clinging for life. Yes, an oven cleaning may take care of the sides and bottom of the oven, but those racks are another story.
Oven racks must be removed for cleaning — don’t try to clean the oven with them inside. Remove the oven racks from the oven very carefully. Try not to let bits of baked-on food drop on the floor or let the greasy racks touch the walls or floor. This way, you don't have to do a separate cleaning job.
Spread some newspapers on your patio or driveway and lay the oven racks on top. Per the manufacturer's instructions, spray the racks with your traditional oven cleaner. Leave the cleaner to work for the stated period to break the grease and grime down.
Put racks that you think are still unclean in a plastic bag. The best types for this method include large trash bags and garden leaf bags.
Pour 1/2 cup of ammonia inside the bag with the racks. The ammonia will break down stubborn grime and help open any remaining debris on the racks. While doing this, think about safety. Ammonia is a potent chemical. Keep it away from children and pets, and ensure the area is well-ventilated during cleaning.
Seal the bag tightly so there are no leaks and put it on a shelf in your garage that is out of the way of children and pets. Leave it there overnight with the ammonia.
Take the bag outside the next day—don't open it in your kitchen. With gloved hands, lift the racks from the bag and discard the bag in the trash. The contents may be disgusting, so be careful.
Inspect the racks. If there is still any grime, lightly scrub with a soft sponge or green scrub pad to scrape off the remaining gunk. Scrub until all the grime is gone.
Rinse racks thoroughly enough to remove all traces of the cleaner and ammonia. You may air-dry the racks in a dry, safe, clean area, free from dust, or wipe them with a clean, soft cloth. Once the racks are completely dry, return them to the oven.
Oven cleaning is a tough chore. Once you finish this, you won’t want to tackle the carpet, furniture, or other surfaces. Leave that to your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

Beware of Dirty Carpet!


A clean floor is a healthy floor. Yet many neglect cleaning one of the most common surfaces — carpeted floors. There are many reasons to beware of dirty carpet!


While “clean” has primarily been directed at surfaces, what is hiding or that lies beneath, such as what can be in your carpet, is potentially harmful. If you have a significant amount of carpet in your home, it’s your biggest filter, and it collects a lot of dust, dander, and allergens.


Look at your carpet from several angles. It’s a significant part of your home décor, it’s comfortable, it’s acoustical, among other great qualities. But it is also a reservoir for soil.


Carpets may trap allergens like pollen, house dust mites, mold, animal dander, and microscopic parts of insects. These may cause allergic symptoms such as sneezing, red and itchy eyes, a runny nose, or breathing discomfort. This can become a serious health issue, especially for people with developing or advanced respiratory conditions.


The situation is sometimes aggravated when improper vacuuming loosens particles into the air, which may cause instant allergic reactions. Dirty carpet carries harmful bacteria from a variety of sources. And this can be more threatening for children and pets because they are in contact with carpet for an extended period.


Moreover, spills or pet urine, in particular, foster mold growth, expanding the potential health hazards through gut health and possibly acting as a repository for potential toxins. This can lead to microbial activity, causing carpet fiber damage, and can impact overall immunity in those you love. High microbial contamination in an environment like a dirty carpet causes the body's immune system to work more to fend off possible infections. Skin contact with dirty carpet can also cause irritations and infections like athlete's foot or worsen preexisting skin problems, such as eczema.


It is essential to recognize potential issues and do the right thing: Keep your carpet clean. It’s just like any other surface. It would be unheard of to go a year without sweeping and mopping your hard floors. Imagine a bathroom floor going weeks or months… you get the picture. Why allow the carpet to go that long between cleanings?


While you should beware of dirty carpet, you should embrace clean carpet. Do the right thing right now. Call your favorite cleaning company and book your cleaning appointment. While you are at it, book some furniture cleaning, too. After all, it pays to call a pro!

Determined to Degrease




Have you seen yellow spots on the edges of your toaster, oven hood, or grills? You might wonder how it got there in the first place?


Contrary to what you might think, these marks don't result from burning or heat—they're likely congealed cooking grease. But how do you tackle grease solidified on appliance surfaces, seemingly impervious to traditional cleaning methods?


Here's how to banish stubborn yellow grease from your kitchen appliances.


While a selection of degreasing products is available, you can also whip up effective solutions using items you already have at home. However, before using any product—store-bought or homemade—ensure compatibility with the surface of the appliance you are to clean. To avoid adverse reactions, test the solution on a small, inconspicuous area first.


Mix half a cup of dish soap, three tablespoons of ammonia, and half a gallon of warm water to create your degreaser. Apply this mixture generously to the appliance, using an absorbent cloth (do not soak electronic appliances, obviously, and make sure whatever you work on is unplugged), allowing it to soak for a few minutes, depending on the amount of the soil. Afterward, carefully scrub the area with a pad or brush, avoiding abrasive or metal scrubbers to prevent surface scratches. Finally, rinse the area with soap and water, then dry with a paper towel.


Another effective solution is WD-40. Apply it to the affected area and scrub the grease using a pad or brush. Then, wash the grease and WD-40 off with soap and warm water for a sparkling clean finish.


Of course, the best defense against stubborn grease buildup is prevention. Make it a habit to wipe down your appliances regularly, especially after cooking sessions that generate a lot of grease. Simply using soap and warm water to wipe down kitchen surfaces can save you from facing future tough scrubbing battles.


By incorporating these cleaning methods into your routine and staying proactive about maintenance, you can keep your kitchen appliances free from unsightly grease buildup and ensure they remain sparkling clean for years.


Cleaning your home is often challenging to do and time-consuming for most. There’s an easier way, especially for special projects such as carpet and furniture cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, window washing, and more. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

How to Load a Dishwasher


You open the dishwasher, pull out a rack, and drop a dish into a slot. You keep doing that until there is no more room and push “start.”


Is that the best way to load a dishwasher?


Loading a dishwasher may seem like a simple task, but doing it right means sparkling clean dishes, and doing it wrong means scraping the crud your dishwasher missed and then just redoing a load.


There are a few easy, expert tips you can implement to get the most from your faithful dishwasher.


Pre-Rinse


You don’t need to do this with a modern dishwasher. They are designed to remove food residues, and they do it well. While you should scrape large food particles from your dishes, put them in the dishwasher dirty. Give your dishwasher a chance.


Dish Placement


If you want hot water to spray easily on all surfaces, put large items on the bottom rack, as the directions should say. Face them inward toward the spray jets, but leave room for water to spray up and past those, reaching other dishes. Your dishwasher may have more than one spray arm, but it doesn’t hurt to leave gaps between dishes so more water flows throughout the interior.


The Top


The top rack, that is. All your smaller items go here, including cups and glasses. Place everything so dishes won’t tip over. If you have plastic dishes to wash and are concerned about the high heat and possible warping, those should go right at the top. If you are really concerned, you know what to do: Wash by hand.


Utensils


Your dishwasher has a special place for utensils, and you might think, “I’ll just put them all in there, and all good.” That might work, but some utensils, such as forks and spoons, can stick together, limiting cleaning. Put some upright, some upside down, and leave room for water circulation.


The Right Stuff


When choosing a detergent for your dishwasher, do your research. Look at the reviews. If your dishwasher has a prewash option, use it. It’s there for a reason.


While you may do your dishes, you should leave some cleaning for the professionals, such as your carpet, furniture, and hard floors. Those are tougher than dishes. After all, it pays to call a pro!

The Dirty Sponge


We all need towels, rags, or sponges to clean hard surfaces in our homes. The ubiquitous sponge is a very common one found in virtually all kitchens and most bathrooms. They are used to clean everything, from dishes to countertops to stovetops and more.


And while we tend to toss paper towels into the garbage can, or wash cotton or other cloths when we do the laundry, at times the sponge can be used and reused and weeks—even months—can go by without cleaning the sponge itself.


How can you clean and reuse sponges? According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), your microwave or dishwasher is one of the best ways to clean them and kill bacteria simultaneously. They can eliminate nearly 100 percent of bacteria, helping you to maintain proper hygiene practices.


For cleaning and disinfecting sponges in the microwave, thoroughly wet the sponge before putting it inside. Do not microwave a dry sponge, that’s a fire hazard. Microwave the wet sponge on high for just one minute. That zaps the bacteria. Take it out, thoroughly wash it with soap and water, and wring it out and you now have a fresh, clean, healthy sponge to use again.


Your dishwasher is effective as well, but not as quick. When you wash your dishes, put it on the top rack and let the dishwasher do all the work. It’s pretty simple. Having the drying option activated means it gets that high heat, which will kill bacteria.


But there comes a time when you need to make a hard decision. Yes, that sponge has been faithful, but a kind but firm farewell is warranted after so many uses. The USDA recommends replacing sponges every two weeks to minimize the risk of bacteria buildup and even more often if they get a funky odor. Most do not follow this recommendation, but it's an option if your budget for sponges is healthy.


Other maintenance tips include wringing them out in hot water after every use and allowing them to dry completely by putting them in a spot that provides fresh air and even sunshine, which is often possible in a kitchen.


Keeping your home nice and clean and healthy is important, and besides doing some of the tasks yourself, there is a better way. Call your favorite cleaning company today, especially for those tough project jobs such as tile and grout cleaning, carpet cleaning, and furniture care. After all, it pays to call a pro!

Create a No-Pet-Hair Furniture Zone


As pet owners, we love our furry creatures and the company and comfort they bring to us. But with that is one challenge we often face: Dealing with pet hair on our furniture. If you're tired of constantly battling pet hair on your sofa, loveseat, chairs, or anything that is made of cloth, here are some effective strategies to keep your furniture looking clean and pet-hair-free.


Vacuum for the Deepest Clean


The most basic and efficient method to removing pet hair from your furniture is by thorough, detailed vacuuming. Regular vacuuming using an upholstery brush attachment can remove loose pet hair and also embedded dander, which is what causes allergic reactions. If you don't have the proper attachment, consider investing in a universal attachment set with an upholstery brush and a crevice tool for those hard-to-reach areas. There are many small, hand-held devices that are perfect for this.


Use Hair Removal Tools


Turn to handy tools like sticky rollers and furniture brushes between vacuuming sessions. Oversized sticky rollers or those with extendable handles are particularly effective on upholstered furniture, covering more surface area with each pass.


Common Household Items


You don't always need specialty tools to combat pet hair. Everyday household items can be just as effective. A straightforward method is to put on a rubber glove, dampen it, and run your hand over the sofa's surface, causing the hair to ball up for easy pickup and disposal.


Groom Your Pets


Prevention is a great way to keep your furniture pet hair-free. Regularly groom your pet with guidance from your vet or groomer to reduce shedding and maintain a healthy coat. Grooming gloves, which help reduce shedding and straighten hair follicles, can effectively remove pet hair from your couch.


Now what?


Vacuuming, hair removal tools, everyday household items, textile preparation, and regular grooming of your furry companion can make all the difference in keeping your furniture fresh and comfortable for you and your pets. But there’s more! Don’t forget that removing pet hair is just part of maintaining your furniture. Having your furniture professionally cleaned on a regular basis is recommended. Do the right thing and call your favorite cleaning company now for an appointment. After all, it pays to call a pro!