Healthy Living Archives -

Post-Remodel Cleaning – What You Need To Know

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:17:23 +0000

After having spent a lot of time and money on a home or business renovation, the amount of post-remodel dirt, dust and debris that is left behind after the workers leave can feel overwhelming. If you’ve never hired a professional housecleaning service before, now’s the time!

Post-Remodel: What Can You Expect?

When it comes to post-remodel housecleaning, clients can expect a comprehensive and detailed cleaning service that focuses on transforming their space into a pristine and comfortable environment.

Hiring a professional cleaning service will ensure that there are no screws, nails and other materials laying around the house, no debris that may stick to your shoes and no drywall in random places.

What are the Three Phases of Post-Remodel or Post-Construction Cleaning?

Phase 1 – The Rough Clean

The rough cleaning phase takes place during the construction or renovation project’s final stages. It focuses on removing the major debris, dust, and construction materials left behind by the builders. The key tasks involved in the rough cleaning phase include:

Removing large construction debris, such as wood scraps, drywall remnants, and packaging materials.
Sweeping and vacuuming the floors to eliminate loose dust and dirt.
Cleaning windowsills, frames, and tracks to remove excess dust and debris.
Wiping down surfaces, including countertops, appliances, and fixtures, to remove surface-level dust and grime.

The purpose of rough cleaning is to create a foundation for the subsequent phases by eliminating the bulk of the construction-related mess.

Phase 2 – The Final Clean

The final cleaning phase takes place after the construction work is completed. This phase involves a more detailed and meticulous cleaning to prepare the space for occupancy or use. The primary objectives of the final cleaning phase include:

Removing fine dust and debris from all surfaces, including walls, ceilings, light fixtures, and baseboards.
Cleaning and sanitizing all kitchen and bathroom surfaces, including countertops, sinks, showers, toilets, and fixtures.
Thoroughly cleaning windows, glass surfaces, and mirrors to ensure a streak-free finish.
Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping all floors, paying attention to corners and hard-to-reach areas.
Polishing stainless steel appliances and fixtures to restore their shine.
Conducting a thorough inspection to ensure that no areas have been overlooked and that the cleaning meets the desired standards.

Phase 3 – Touch-Up Cleaning

The touch-up cleaning phase is the last stage of post-construction cleaning and is often performed just before the client’s final walkthrough or handover. This phase focuses on addressing any remaining minor cleaning tasks or touch-ups to ensure that every detail is attended to. The touch-up cleaning phase may include:

Spot cleaning of walls or surfaces to remove any marks or stains.
Dusting and cleaning of hard-to-reach areas that may have been missed during the previous phases.
Polishing of glass surfaces or stainless steel to ensure a flawless finish.
Addressing any specific cleaning requests or concerns from the client.

The touch-up cleaning phase ensures that any last-minute cleaning needs are met, providing a final polish to the space before it is handed over to the client.

By following these three phases of post-construction cleaning, Domestica can deliver a comprehensive cleaning service that transforms your construction site, home or office into a clean, safe, and inviting space for occupancy or use.

For more information or to book your post-remodel cleaning appointment, get in touch today!

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Top 6 Essential Oils for Housecleaning

admin — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 11:38:22 +0000

Photo credit: Annie Spratt via Unsplash

Essential oil benefits come from antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and their uses range from natural medicinal treatments to housecleaning products.

They have been used for centuries by cultures all over the world for their medicinal purposes and are awesome-smelling natural options for homemade cleaning recipes, with absolutely no risk of giving off scary fumes like the regular toxin-filled cleaning products.

A couple drops of your favorite oil in the following cleaning recipes can do wonders!

Are you ready to go green? Here are our top 6 uses for essential oils in housecleaning.

1. Lemon and Orange Oils

Both these oils have peppy, clean scents and are powerhouses in homemade green housecleaning recipes. Not only are they naturally antibacterial and antiviral, they are amazing against grease!

Use 1-2 drops of either of these essential oils to remove grease from surfaces or combine 12 drops with 1/4 cup castile soap and water in a spray bottle to clean greasy stove top and counter splatters.

2. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil can do it all! It’s great for fighting against bacteria, viruses and germs. Add 3 drops of tea tree and lemon oils to warm water, give it a gentle stir. Spray surfaces with the mixture and give them a wipe down to disinfect naturally.

3. Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus is a natural germicide that has a clean smell to it. Add 3 drops of eucalyptus oil to baking soda to deep clean your mattress or add a few drops to your next wash cycle. To eliminate shower curtain scum, in a spray bottle, add 3 drops of eucalyptus oil and 3 drops of tea tree oil to warm water. Then spray it on your shower curtains.

4. Cinnamon

Not only is cinnamon antiseptic and antibacterial, it leaves the place smelling sweet with the nostalgic memories of the holidays. You can diffuse cinnamon oil in the air to benefit from its antibacterial properties. You can even add 5 drops in the vacuum bag of the vacuum cleaner to leave a sweet smelling trail around the house!

5. Lavender oil

Lavender is one of the best-smelling essential oils. It pairs great with vinegar, another commonly used natural cleaner. Add a couple drops to your vinegar cleaning mixture for a more tolerable scent. You can also diffuse it around the house to reduce stress and anxiety.

6. Peppermint oil

Another great smelling oil that reminds you of the holidays! It has that unique, invigorating scent and has countless medicinal properties. For a natural air freshener that also deters little insects, add 10 drops of peppermint oil to 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray around your house for a cool sensation.

Domestica exclusively uses The Essential Oil Company in Portland, Oregon for our cleaning product oils.

For more information on Domestica or to book your next cleaning 60 seconds, visit our website HERE.

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Prepping Your Home for the Market in 10 Organized Steps!

admin — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 12:31:44 +0000

Selling your home can be one of the most stressful and emotionally-charged things you do and every seller wants to have a quick sale and get top dollar for their home. (Our personal favorite – #6 – Make that house sparkle! – Book a Move-Out Cleaning Now and let Domestica take care of the work for you!)

Every seller wants to have a quick sale and get top dollar for their home and that doesn’t happen by accident. Preparing you home for going to market takes our expert guidance, careful planning, an expert eye for design and with our help, an extra special deep clean to get your home into tip-top shape. When we have buyers come through your home-our goal is to have them writing great offers!

Looking to buy or sell a home in Portland? Aryne & Dulcinea of Portland’s Living Room Realty are at your service and recommend the following tips:

1. Call Us

To know where to begin and what is important, we will meet with you and discuss your goals, plans, and give you the information you need to proceed with confidence.

2. Get Mentally Prepared

You have already decided to make your move and sell your home…it’s time to go forth and begin to think of your home as if it is a product you are selling. You need to de-personalize and make it appealing for others to envision living in.

3. De-Clutter & Pre-Pack

You want buyers to imagine themselves living here, not wondering “What kind of people live in this home?”

Pack up all family photos, images of your travels, books, dvds and movies, seasonal items you are not currently using.
Pare down your plant collection and clean surfaces throughout the home.
Know that the special things you surround yourself with, others may not experience it with the your same sentimentality.

4. Organize Closets and Cabinets

Channel Martha Stewart! Buyers will always explore the house and see what storage capacity it holds. Organized closets and storage areas make the home seem much more livable and gives the impression that the rest of house is taken care of, as well.

Line up cans, boxes and alphabetize spice jars
Neatly stack dishes
Line up shoes
Hang clothes neatly, with shirts buttoned up and facing the same direction
Buy matching bins and use them to store away items that do not need to be displayed or are in use.

5. Rent a Storage Unit

Most of the time when we live in our homes, we have something for everything we do, but it is important to remember that homes with less furniture and fewer items on shelves show better.

Store those now-empty bookshelves
Remove extensions from tables to make the room look larger
Leave just enough furniture in each room to show its purpose and lots of room to move around

6. Make Small Repairs

Replace burned-out light bulbs
Fix cracked tiles in the floor or counters
Makes sure doors and drawers open properly
Repair holes in the walls
Paint rooms with neutral colors

7. Housekeeping 101 – Don’t Forget a Good Cleaning!

Wash interior and exterior windows
Re-caulk tubs and showers
Polish chrome and faucets
Whiten dirty grout – Make a paste with baking soda and water, spray with vinegar and scrub
Hang up fresh towels and replace worn out rugs and mats
Clean out the refrigerator (yes, that will get opened, too!)
Dust cobwebs and light fixtures
Vacuum every day
Make sure it smells clean – odors and musty smells are a no-no

8. Remove and Replace Favorite Items

Remove and replace anything you are not including with the sale – window coverings, light fixtures and appliances. We all want what we can’t have and if a buyer sees something you are keeping, they will want it even more!

9. Details Details Details

Walk through your front door and ask yourself if this home looks inviting as you enter
Stand in the doorway of each room and imagine what the room will look like to a buyer
Check that furniture is arranged in a way that makes sense for the room
Make sure window coverings hang level

10. Check Curb Appeal

Mow the lawn and trim bushes
Keep sidewalks cleared
Plant flowers or groups pots of flowers together (yellow is a great color!)
Make sure the house number is visible

–Dulcinea Myers-Newcomb is an Oregon Licensed Broker, Earth Advantage Broker, and ADU Specialist

For more information or to book your move-out cleaning in 60 seconds, please visit our website!

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