Saturday, March 13, 2021

Do You Want To Keep Your Carpets Fresh And Remove Stains? You Are All Made Up

 She is the social influencer, where literally millions of people in the UK hang on her every word. Especially when it comes to giving tips, some call hacks, on keeping their home and workplace spotless, and now she is showing us how to keep our carpets clean.

They call her Mrs Hinch, AKA Sophie Hinchcliffe; the cleaning guru who has gone down a storm on Instagram; posting advice on how to deal with those troublesome problems. If you have a stubborn stain you cannot get rid of, need help scrubbing your oven, or cleaning your carpet, then Mrs Hinch may have the answer.

The domestic goddess has written books on the subject, as well as appearing on TV and posting online about her specialist subject. She also shared tips on a Facebook group offering cleaning advice. after a homeowner asked for help sanitising his carpet, and what you should or should not do.

According to the expert, you can keep your carpet fresh by giving it a regular cleaning. However, it can prove even more difficult if the carpet has a stain. Therefore, it is recommended you freshen your carpet with cleaning products and give it a quick vacuum.

On the other hand, if your carpet is stained, the online community offered other, less obvious tips, to clean it up. For instance, people generally douse the rug in a carpet cleaner, washing powder or vanish.

But who would have thought that, of all things, ladies make up could do the trick?

In the past, some have been known to try hairspray, but members of Mrs Hinch’s Facebook group suggested using nail polish remover to get the stain out.

There are other, more conventional methods you could use to keep your carpets fresh and immaculate. It is advised you should clean them on a regular basis, whether they have any stains or not.

If that is not all, experts say, to freshen your rug or carpet, you should hoover at least twice a week, or even as much as three or seven days a week if you have pets or small children.

All in all, to keep your carpet spotless, it is advised it should be cleaned by a professional, at least once a year, to ensure it is done right.

Whether following the advice of a social influencer or bringing in a pro, there are many ways to keep your carpet fresh and clean.

If you have a difficult household chore or that job you have been putting off for a while, you do not have to feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under your feet. You can always find the perfect cleaning solution, to get rid of those troublesome stains on the carpet.


White House To Have Deep Cleaning Before Biden Moves In

 Normally, during a transition of power, there are certain protocols, to say nothing of traditions, you would expect to be followed, although nothing about the past year has been normal.

Now that current US President Donald Trump is leaving, to make way for President-Elect Joe Biden, The White House is preparing for the changing of the guard. Trump will be dropping off the keys and Biden will be putting down the welcome mat, on Inauguration Day in January.


But how does a defeated President leave, and the new one move in, in the time of Covid? Especially after the White House has been the site of various outbreaks, and many employees, and members of the First Family, have tested positive for coronavirus.

Therefore, during the transition period, when one administration ends and another begins, the White House will be doing something different this time: carrying out a deep cleaning.

It has been revealed, before Joe Biden takes office, the world-famous address, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, will be thoroughly sanitised. It is believed the furniture, window treatments and bathroom fixtures, as well as the floors, doorknobs, light switches and elevator buttons, alongside other features will be disinfected.

The White House covers approximately 54,900 square feet, encompassing the East Wing, where the first lady works, and the West Wing, where the President runs the country. It is due to have a deep cleaning on the 20th of January. The very day Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

The disinfecting job will fall to The General Services Administration, an independent agency of the US government, tasked with managing the basic, everyday functions of American federal agencies, including taking care of the White House.

They maintain their staff will use the finest cleaning products, adhering to directions from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), to eradicate the coronavirus and prevent its spread.

It was also revealed the GSA has given approval for a cleaning country to be contracted, to provide disinfectant misting services at the White House, for the next 12 months.

Reportedly, Joe Biden and his team have imposed stringent Covid precautions and protocols which are all set to continue when he becomes President.

It marks a striking change from the outgoing administration and First family, where Donald Trump, his wife Melania, and their son Barron all contracted coronavirus. As well as many of the President’s staff, top aides, and advisers, including Mark Meadows, the White House Chief of Staff, and Kayleigh McEnany, the press secretary, among others.

The New Year will see the onset of a new era, where the US will not only herald in a new President, but a possible different approach to handling the coronavirus. Starting with a thorough deep cleaning of the White House.

Looking To Keep Your Windows Clean? Remember The Old Wives Tale About Using Vinegar?

 There is an old wives tale, passed down the generations, about how vinegar is a magic bullet when it comes to cleaning. For years, it has been seen as an essential ingredient, which can work wonders on stubborn stains and keeping your home clean.

It stands to reason. After all, white vinegar is high in acidity, which makes it ideal for cleaning. It can be used in all sorts of ways. Ranging from removing dirt and grime and cleaning surfaces to getting rid of unpleasant aromas, among other tasks. You will not believe how versatile it can be, and what an essential role white vinegar can play in housekeeping.


For instance, are you aware white vinegar is renowned for eradicating limescale on kitchen and bathroom taps? It is also tried and trusted for dealing with mouldy surfaces or fabrics. Experts recommend filling a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar and spraying it on the affected area. You should then wait for an hour, and then rinse it down with water.

Many experts, from professional cleaners to domestic goddesses, advise using white vinegar to scrub the microwave.

You fill half a cup of water and half with white vinegar and put it in a bowl, before placing it in the microwave for a run-through. Heat the water and vinegar mixture until it boils, steaming up the windows. It is then advised to let the microwave stand and cool for a couple of minutes, before wiping the interior down with a damp cloth or sponge.

However, for a long time, vinegar has also been used to wipe down window and glass. Many have spoken of its excellent cleaning properties. People use sprays containing one part vinegar to ten parts water and wiping a window or pane of glass with a cloth or paper towel, before spraying the surface and wiping it down again, careful not to leave streaks behind.

Down through the ages, vinegar has been considered the ideal for treating your windows and glasswork, as well as removing stubborn stains, and doing other important jobs around the house.

There are many different ways to keep your house clean, from using age-old natural remedies to the latest cleaning products.

So, whether scrubbing your windows with white vinegar, or bringing in professional cleaners, using the most up to date techniques, you can find the right solution to suit you, to keep your home spic and span.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Just The Sight Of Cleaners At Work Can Be Reassuring Amid Covid Crisis

 They say a magician should never show you how the trick was done, and the mystery of the movies is lost when you discover what goes on behind the scenes.

However, it seems this is no longer the case, where we appear to be entering a new age of transparency. In the time of coronavirus, people wish to peek behind the curtain, and a service which was once performed behind closed doors is now being carried out in public. Some say this may be the secret to maintaining customer confidence, in an ever-changing world, rendered almost unrecognisable by Covid.

There was a time when people would come into the office the next morning, after the cleaning crew had been working the night shift and may not give it much thought. They may notice the cleaners had done a good job, but not fully appreciate what may have gone into it.

There is an organisation known for assisting a cross-section of people, place, and spaces, providing integrated facility solutions. Ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. ABM UK, based in Glasgow, serves around 1,500 sites all over Britain, from commercial locations and shopping centres to airports, amongst others. They operate in a wide range of industries and services, including aviation, retail, banking, and cleaning, amongst others.

ABM UK compiled independent research examining how people feel about the presence of cleaners in built environments regarding Covid, in comparison to before the pandemic started and the results were interesting. They reveal that, for many people, just the sight of cleaners working away, and disinfecting a public space can reassure them the area has been scrubbed down and rendered safe, which can inspire confidence, making them less wary about going on-site or back to work.

During the research, of which about 1000 people asked, around three-fifths stated observing cleaners at work in public faces shows them safety measures are being followed, providing a sense of security. At the same time, almost half of those surveyed said observing public spaces being cleaned hit home the importance of maintaining cleanliness and taking precautions.

In the end, around 25% of those surveyed said actually observing cleaners at work, sanitising a busy environment like an office space, airport, or shopping centre, helped them trust their surroundings and feel safe.
We all must work together, to help one another make it through this crisis. The survey suggests seeing with your own two eyes a workspace being cleaned can put your mind at ease, which, in these special circumstances, can ultimately be the most important thing.

Source: retailtimes.co.uk


How To Clean Up Your Home After You Clear Away The Christmas Decorations?

 One of the most exciting parts of getting ready for Christmas is putting up the decorations and trimming the tree. When the holiday starts, you cannot wait to put up the lights and hang the tinsel.

However, as much fun as it was putting them up, what goes up must come down and, when it is all over, you must deal with the aftermath!

Not wishing to sound like a Scrooge or The Grinch, but once the decorations have been taken down, you must do the cleaning up. The question is, how do you put your home back to the way it was when everything returns to normal.


For instance, when you disassemble your Christmas tree and put it away, one of the biggest problems is tree sap. Especially if you have a real tree, the sticky sap can get everywhere and can be a pain if it gets on the carpet.

You can leave a bald patch on the rug or carpet if you try to scrape the sap away. Therefore, it is recommended you should harden the sap to start with, using rubbing alcohol, hand sanitiser or ice, and then chip it away, removing any stains from the carpet.

When hanging decorations on the hall, you should avoid using Blu Tack or tape, as they may damage or discolour the walls when peeling them off. Instead, you are advised to utilise pre-existing fittings.

However, if you have used tape or Blue Tack on the walls, you could dab the remnants of sticky tape with a sponge coated with baby oil, let it lay for twenty minutes and then wipe it away, to get rid of any leftover sticky substances from your walls.

There can be nothing more fun at Christmastime than putting up the tree and decorations, without thinking about the mess we may be making in the process.

But it does not have to be a chore to clean up your home once more when the festive season is over. By following a few simple hacks, you can have everything back in order in no time, until next Christmas of course.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

East Midlands Railway Hires More Cleaners As Second Lockdown Ends In England

 Now that England is coming out of its second lockdown and adopting a tier system, cleanliness and hygiene has become even more important. This applies to homes, workplaces, and public transport, as a growing number of people are venturing out of their homes and travelling on buses and trains.

The end of the second lockdown has seen one of England’s major rail companies beef up its cleaning regiment. Spending more and hiring a squad of new cleaners, to sanitise its trains and carriages, keeping them safe and clean.

East Midlands Railway, the Mainline operator in the central part of England, has raised the amount it spends on sanitising its train stations and carriages, as well as hiring almost 600 new workers. Adding up to the most cleaners they have ever employed, for a massive undertaking.

The operator has stated it is adopting heightened safety and cleaning measures over its’ vast network of trains, stations, depots, and staff areas. Taking every step to ensure their premises are properly sanitised, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

It is said more staff have been brought in to oversee the cleaning, many of whom have been reassigned from other positions. It is estimated the number of cleaning staff has risen by over 30% from before the coronavirus began.

They shall be helping oversee the implementation of numerous steps, to improve hygiene on rail premises and trains. Ranging from constantly supervising cleaning to increasing the rate of touchpoints being cleaned, using high strength disinfectant products. Staff will also utilise a piece of specialist equipment known as a Motorscrubber, to produce micro droplets for in-depth touch point cleaning.

The rail firm is also using a specialist fog machine to create an antiviral disinfectant mist, to sanitise large spaces like the inside of train carriages, alongside other measures.

East Midlands Railway is committed to keeping its staff and customers safe, by bringing in more employees and using the latest equipment, to ensure their trains and stations are clean.

So, now lockdown has ended in England, the operator is determined to letting train commuters feel they can travel in confidence. Thanks to the skills and dedication of their growing cleaning staff.

Source: Business-live.co.uk


Monday, November 23, 2020

Car Giant Working On Robot Cleaners-It May Not Be Sci-Fi After All

 There are millions of people out there who love cleaning the house. They enjoy brushing up and doing the dusting, often feeling a sense of achievement and accomplishment when it is done.

However, at the same time, some see doing the housework as a chore or an inconvenience. Many do not enjoy tidying up, considering it a necessary hardship.

Not to put too fine a point on it, cleaning can sometimes be a bit of a pain, which they would gladly leave to someone else if they could.

But, in this age of technological advancement, what if you no longer had to do the cleaning up, and in fact, the job could be done by a robot?

Robot Cleaners-It May Not Be Sci-Fi After All

Yes, you read that right! This is not a science fiction story or an episode of `The Twilight Zone`. Believe it or not, a major Japanese car manufacturer is now developing cutting edge robotic systems, which could be used to clean people’s homes.

It has been revealed researchers at Toyota are working on a prototype for a house cleaning robot. One actually suspending from the ceiling, with arms which can reach down and wipe the kitchen surfaces with a sponge while at the same time, another robot is buzzing round the living room, wiping down the tv screen, or clearing the coffee table.

It seems incredible, but boffins at the $1 billion Toyota Research Institute in Los Altos, California have set up a mock house laid out like an actual home, experimenting with various systems, to someday make household cleaning robots a reality.

Toyota opened its California institute five years ago, to bring its knowledge of car manufacture into the world of robotics. As a matter of fact, it is believed computer and actuation equipment used in contemporary vehicles can be transferred to the building of robots.

Advances in Artificial Intelligence could also herald a new era in robotics. We could see them evolve from carrying out simple repetitive movements to gathering sensory and planning skills and mastering machine learning.

In other words, we may soon see the day when robots carry out more complex tasks and even learn to think for themselves. Who would have thought it?

However, at the moment, it is still quite challenging for robots to carry out household tasks like cleaning. So, we may not yet see every home with its own android, wearing an apron doing the dusting or hoovering up, but they are still working towards it.

Especially, in Japan, where scientists believe robots, in decades to come, could play everyday roles in assisting the ageing population. Could they help the elderly keep their homes clean, or even become live-in carers?

Who knows what the future will bring!