Dust N Shine Cleaning Services is a TRUSTED REGINA MAID AND CLEANING SERVICE.

 6 Things You Should Clean More Frequently

Staying Covid, cold and flu-free this season comes down to a few simple tactics: 

1. First, get a flu shot. 
2. Second, steer clear of co-workers who hit the office sniffling and coughing. 
3. And third, know the places where viruses and bacteria tend to hang out and how to properly clean these things—so you can drastically reduce your odds of accidentally buying yourself a week in bed with body aches and a fever. 

1. A Shared Computer

Anything that gets a lot of direct contact with hands and fingers tends to have a scarily high concentration of germs, and all it takes for you to contract something is touching the mouse or keyboard and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Even if it’s only used occasionally by one or two people in your household, wipe it down before each use with an alcohol-based towelette designed for cleaning electronics, says Gerba.

2. The Refrigerator Door

Whether it’s in your home or the one in the office break room, this handle gets a lot of play all day, says Gerba. And if there are even microscopic bits of food on it, bacteria and viruses can feed and multiply. Once a week (or daily if someone in your household is sick), rub a disinfectant wipe up and down the entire length of it, especially in any tiny grooves. “A disinfectant spray works too, but studies show that the disinfectant from the wipe stays on the surface longer, so it’s more effective,” says Gerba. “With a spray, we tend to wipe it away quickly with a paper towel rather than let it sit and kill bugs.”

3. The Inside of Your Car

Run a disinfectant wipe over your vehicle dashboard weekly, which accumulates germs thanks to the heater or AC blowing them there, says Gerba. Cup holders are also germ hangouts, thanks in part to the food residue you can’t even see. “If you have a child car seat, wipe that down, too, because kids are always sick and touching various parts of it,” says Gerba.

4. Your Remote Control

You’ve heard reports that these are crawling with germs in hotels. But even in your own house, it’s one of the germiest surfaces, says Gerba. Everyone touches it all the time, especially when they’re eating, and that leads to bacteria and virus growth. Give it a wipedown weekly with an alcohol-based electronics cleanser.

5. Your Purse

Not only are you constantly touching the handle or strap, but you end up leaving it on a dirty restroom floor or store counter more than you think, and these areas have huge germ traffic. When you bring your bag into your house, you risk spreading anything you’ve picked up to yourself or family members. Spray or wipe it daily (or whenever you use it) with a fabric-safe sanitizing spray and paper towel, and hang it on a hook when you’re home so microbes can’t be tracked through the rest of the house.

6. Your Cell Phone

Considering all the handling it gets via germy, food-laden hands and fingers, and the fact that food helps bugs thrive, it’s a miracle this device doesn’t actually grow mould. It’s begging for a weekly cleansing with an alcohol-based cleaner meant for digital devices, suggests Gerba

Contact Dust N Shine for your free estimate today!

Dust N Shine Cleaning Services is a TRUSTED REGINA MAID AND CLEANING SERVICE.

Dust N Shine Cleaning Services is a TRUSTED REGINA MAID AND CLEANING SERVICE.

General household cleaning tips!

2. When dishes come out of the dishwasher with residue, run an empty load with 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the detergent cup. Alternately, use several tablespoons of Tang, lemon-flavoured Kool-Aid or powdered laundry detergent for the same effect.

3. To combat grease buildup and maintain cleanliness, grind a handful of ice cubes in the garbage disposal every few weeks. Add the peels from lemons or limes to help eliminate odours. 

4. The anti-static component in dryer sheets helps break down the bond between food and pots and pans, so put a sheet in a dirty pot filled with water, soak it overnight, and easily scrub the pot clean the following day.

5. Keep shower doors clean by using a glass cleaner to initially remove streaks, and use a Magic Eraser to navigate the crevices of textured glass. Razor blades can scrape off the more challenging buildup. Dry the door, and then use a water-repellent product, such as Rain-X or Aquapel, to cause water to bead up and wash away from the glass. Wipe the repellent with a microfiber cloth, and repeat the process every six months.

 

Contact Dust N Shine for your free estimate today!

Dust N Shine Cleaning Services is a TRUSTED REGINA MAID AND CLEANING SERVICE.

IS YOUR HVAC SYSTEM READY FOR WINTER? 

Soon temperatures will be dropping like the leaves and now is the best time to get ready for our Saskatchewan cold winter weather.  Getting your HVAC system ready sooner rather than later is always a good idea.  The change of seasons is often a trigger for many to do a thorough cleaning of the home – washing walls, cleaning closets, etc. but is your heating, ventilating and air conditioning system ready for the cold weather?  It too should become part of your regular cleaning schedule.  Full Throttle has a team of professionals ready to help!

Your HVAC system is important in regulating your family’s comfort.  There are several things you can do to prepare your heating system for these frigid temperatures.  One of the most important things is to make sure all components are clean.  Blockages or restrictions anywhere in the system reduces efficiency and can negatively affect the air quality in your home.  One of our trained professionals can ensure your furnace and ductwork are thoroughly and properly cleaned.  Something homeowners often do not think about in the winter is the air conditioning coil.  Dirt and debris accumulating on an air conditioner coil can block airflow across the coil, increasing the cost of heating or cooling your home. In severe cases, air conditioning coils or condensing coils can become so blocked that airflow is seriously reduced.

Spring Cleaning? Don't forget about your air conditioning coil!

When many people think of their air conditioners, they think only about the outside unit (condenser unit).   

Evaporator coils (see diagram below), commonly referred to as air conditioning coils are almost always indoors, so they are safe, right? Afraid not. With nearly all the air in your house passing through the evaporator coil (even in the winter when your heat is on), they are repeatedly exposed to everything in the air. Even with a good filter, there can be a substantial buildup of dust particles, grease, smoke, dander and pet hair.

But wait, there’s more! The evaporator coils are usually damp from condensate and are placed in a cool, dark place — an ideal environment for breeding bacteria and other microorganisms. 

Dirt and debris accumulating on an air conditioner coil can block airflow across the coil, increasing the cost of heating or cooling your home. In severe cases, air conditioning coils or condensing coils can become so blocked that airflow is seriously reduced, possibly also leading to an evaporator or cooling coil icing problem indoors which can lead to overheating and damaging the compressor (the heart of your air conditioning), or simply loss of cooling capacity of the system. 

In addition, a blocked evaporator coil can cause the AC compressor to run at higher than normal temperatures - a condition that over time can break down lubricants circulating inside the system, thus shortening the life of the compressor motor itself. 

Cleaning the evaporator coils not only helps the system operate properly, but it could also help avoid illness and maintain a healthy living environment for the home’s occupants. 

Picture of the dust and debris removed from an air conditioning coil by one of our trained technicians!