CLEANING, THE BASICS

THINGS TO KEEP ON HAND
TOOLS FOR THE JOB

Paper Towels
Rags (or bar wipes)
Bucket
Mop
Toilet brush (Old tooth brush (for hard to reach places)
Sponge

BASIC CLEANERS
Glass cleaner
Cream cleaner
Toilet bowl cleaner
General purpose cleaner
Bleach
Disinfectant
Dish soap
Foam cleaner (with bleach in it)

DISINFECTANT- Fill a spray bottle with water and add a tsp hydrogen peroxide or bleach. Label it with a permanent marker. Use it in the bathroom and on kitchen counters.

TOILETS- Brush weekly to prevent stains. If you are out of toilet bowl cleaner you can spray disinfectant in first or pour in some bleach and let sit to remove the ring. A cream cleaner may be used to clean stains on the in-sides of bowl as well.

CARPET STAINS- First grab a clean white rag or paper towel and blot the spot using your finger tips. If the spot is dry, try wetting it with some cold water and then blot. Repeat as long as something is coming out. If the spot is ink you may need to use a gas product, even hair spray has been known to work. For blood stains use hydrogen peroxide and rub gently.

WINDOWS/MIRRORS- Use glass cleaner and a paper towel. Follow the directions on the bottle. Generally, spray and wipe. For streak free results, some people swear that dish soap in a bucket and a soft, lint free cloth works just as good. Glass cleaner works great on the chrome too!

Window sills moldy and green? Spray with a disinfectant or glass cleaner, wipe with rag and get the corners with cotton swabs or an old tooth brush. Remove screen and do outside as well!

SINKS(STAINLESS/PORCELIN)- To clean sinks use a wet rag with hot water, squirt cream cleaner in sink and rub (with grain if stainless). Rinse well with hot water. Use a cup to pour water down sides of sink.

FLOORS- Use a general purpose cleaner or floor cleaner. Place a small amount of cleaner in a bucket and fill half way with warm water. Use a mop or rag and wash. After washing, use your mop/cloth and rinse the job with warm water to remove the soap residue.

SHOWERS AND TUBS- Use a foam cleaner for shower stalls and follow the instructions, wipe with a sponge and rinse with warm water. For tubs, I find that a cream cleaner works best and just like the sinks, use hot water with a rag. Squirt the cleaner in the tub and rub well, especially where the ring is! Rinse with hot water.

Tips are provided by Rick Abbot, the owner of Northfield Janitorial in Nanaimo, British Columbia. If you have any cleaning questions for Rick, send him an email at rickabbot@hotmail.com.

We always recommend that if you are trying a tip you are unfamiliar with, try it in an inconspicuous place first!

SAFETY NOTE! KEEP ALL YOUR CLEANING MATERIALS UP AND OUT OF YOUR CHILDREN'S REACH!

If you have any cleaning tips that work for you, let us know at editor@dads101.com.

Happy cleaning!

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