Weekly Cleaning Routines 

Of course there are some jobs you don't need to do every day. That doesn't mean you have to save them up all for a mammoth cleaning blitz at the end of the week. Oh please, get a system or you'll be in one heck of a mess. Do a couple of these things along with your daily routine and you'll never spend a whole day cleaning again.

1. Change the bedlinen (twice weekly is best in hot weather)
2. Change bath and shower towels two or three times weekly.
3. Vacuum carpets and floors.
4. Wash or mop all hard floors.
5. Dust the surfaces (if you're pressed for time, dusting will always wait - dust doesn't smell but toilets always do).
6. Wipe finger prints from door handles and light switches (do this as you go round, it only takes a second and keeps germs away).
7. Thoroughly clean the bathroom: toilet, sink, shower, tiles, toothbrush holders, mirrors and floor.
8. Attend to the areas of the kitchen not covered by daily routines: wipe cupboard doors, splashbacks, oven, microwave, fridge, windows, and rinse and disinfect rubbish bins.
9. Iron the laundry. 

Daily Cleaning Routine

If you try to do the following little tasks every day they will soon become second nature, and won't even notice you're doing them. A couple of minutes here, a few seconds there, and you'll soon wonder what all the fuss was about.

1. Pull back the bedcovers to air while you shower and breakfast. Open the window: this will reduce humidity and limit the number of dust mites.
2. Keep the kitchen clean and tidy. Wash up after each meal, and keep surfaces clean.
3. Change dishclothes and tea towels daily.
4. Vacuum or sweep the kitchen floor.
5. Keep sinks clean and hand towels fresh.
6. Keep toilets scrupulously clean.
7. Return things to their place so clutter doesn't build up.
8. Consider nominating days for laundry: e.g. Saturday for bedlinen, Monday for towels, Tuesday for coloureds, Thursday for whites. Hang laundry up to dry to make ironing easier. 

Are You Looking For Cleaners on the North Shore?

Welcome to cleaning services in the North Shore, Auckland. If you are looking for cleaners in the North Shore area and would like to receive free quotes from more than one cleaning company to ensure that you obtain the best value for money possible.

Cleaning Quotes can provide accredited, registered, and approved North Shore cleaners in the North Shore area. All professional cleaning service providers registered with us have gone through a rigorous approval and registration process that includes validation of relevant health and safety certification, insurance and previous client testimonials.

We allow you to compare quotes from three approval local North Shore cleaners quickly and easily.

If you are looking for a competent, reliable, and flexible cleaner for the maintenance of your home of office in North Shore you have come to the right place.

Our cleaners have established themselves in the market and satisfy their customers with a professional cleaning service and employ only the most dedicated cleaning teams who take advantage of the most modern and environmentally friendly cleaning technologies.

All our cleaning partners in the North Shore area offer a comprehensive range of service in the fields of both domestic and commercial cleaning.  Every one of our cleaning partners are master craftsmen for cleaning services and of course work professionally and conscientiously.

It is important to ensure that your home or office is cleaned on a regular basis if you would like to keep it nice and tidy. Of course you can clean yourself or you can relax and let the professionals who have all of the right cleaning equipment breeze through the work for you. This can save you a lot of time and energy.

When is the right time to hire a North Shore cleaning company? Performing periodic cleaning is essential to making an environment fit for use, whether an office, warehouse, a shed or even you home. Removing dust from the spaces, rugs, carpets and furniture is also essential to prevent allergies and various diseases cause by mites, which unfortunately spread very easily, and become a nightmare to remove. In many cases it is necessary to hire cleaning companies that offer specialist services. Cleaning Quotes provides the best option when it comes to finding cleaners to clean and sanitize environments, we only work with fully qualified companies to handle the most diverse services required.

Often with the rush and stress of modern life there is simply not enough time to reconcile our professional life with the housework. With the dirt, dust and other unwanted things accumulation at home it is the perfect time to hire a cleaning company to return your house back into a home. 

Cleaning service requirements are everywhere, if you require a professional cleaning service in the North Shore please consider using our FREE service to source 3 independent quotations from cleaning companies. You don’t need to waste time ringing around trying to get hold of a cleaning company. Instead, let 3 local cleaning companies to follow you up.

How Clean Is Your Routine?

Until well past the middle of the last century housework was a daily routine that dictated what jobs were done on each day of the week. Monday was washday, and women would all race to get their washing on the the line. Chimneys were still in use then, and washing left to dry outside would often become soiled with coal smuts and would have to be done again. Ironing would be done on Tuesday, and during the evening clothes would be mended and socks darned.

On the other days women would clean. Every day the front step would be scrubbed and the water sloshed across the payment to keep the dirt from coming in. Your neighbors expected all the water to be 'joined up', otherwise they would gossip about your slovenly ways. Shopping would be reserved for the day the wages were brought home in a brown waxy envelope, usually Friday or Saturday. Baking would be done on Saturday, and Sunday was a day of rest, although there would usually be a roast dinner to prepare and cook.

Spring-cleaning was necessary because people heated their homes with open coal fires, lit them with gas lamps and burned candles. The soot and dust had to be cleaned away once the days lengthened, the first went out and the sun showed up the dirt. For many people this routine continued until at least the 1960's.

Homes lacked the marvelous gadgets we have today. A whistling kettle was considered a great novelty! Carpets were brushed or beaten, driving up clouds of dust. Laundry was done in the sink, and put through the mangle to squeeze out the water. Dishes were always washed by hand, and in the days before fridges and freezes shopping was far more frequent done.

When you consider how time-consuming running a home was in the last century, you really have no excuse not to be able to keep up now, even though both men and women tend to go out to work. Haven't thing changed! There are many labor-saving devices predecessors would have give their right arm for. We have vacuum cleaners, washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, enormous fridges and freezers, microwaves, duvets (rarely sheets and blankets), and a dazzling array of products designed to tackle every task. 

A Tidy Home Is A Clean Home

Cleaning will always be easier if you are tidy and put things back each time they are used. Become a gatherer! Pick things up as you go, returning them to their proper place. Keep a little basket by the stairs - don't make unnecessary trips. Get into the habit of scooping things up before bedtime, collecting mugs, glasses, ashtrays, papers and post; give the cushions a bang and everything will be shipshape for the morning. Who wants to be confronted at the start of a new day with yesterday's filth? 

We're all hoarders to some degree. If you cupboards and drawers are so crammed full that you are short of storage space and cannot find a permanent home for things, then you need to clear out an dispose of the items you no longer need to use. Your home will be much more comfortable and run more efficiently if things are put away. You will also have the added advantage of being able to locate what you need quickly, without the frustration of searching through endless piles of things. Once clutter is removed you can keep the surfaces clean and healthy.

Do A Little Bit Each Day

Some people cannot relax until every last chore is done, others just can't seem to get started, or don't know where to start. We're making a lot of excuses for ourselves about why we don't have time around the home 

Tidy as you go; a quick flick here and there with a duster - don't let it build up, dear - you make life easy or you make life hard, and we know which we prefer. Keep on top of the laundry, restore order in the kitchen after every meal, a quick run around the centre of each room with the vacuum, and you'll be keeping a lovely happy home. If other's don't or won't help, don't scream and give yourself a headache - if they want to wallow in their own dirt, let the get on with it!

Related article:

Commercial Cleaners in Auckland 

Commercial Cleaning Auckland

Are you looking for reputable commercial cleaning Auckland services? 

Get 3 Free Quotes now from accredited and approved commercial cleaners by simply completing the form on the right-hand site. 

Cleaning Quotes provides you with the opportunity to compare office and commercial cleaners in the Auckland region. 

We assess your specific and individual cleaning requirements and then match them to the best cleaning service provider. Each cleaning provider registered with us is vetted and approved to ensure they meet our strict criteria for membership in our database. We will provide you with a maximum of 3 quotations from professional providers. 

Commercial cleaners registered with us are categorized by industry sector to ensure that you receive information from only the experience providers that meet your needs. 

To get started simply complete the enquiry form on the right hand side of the page and a team member will get back to you shortly to confirm your specific requirements. 

Our goal is to make finding the right cleaning provide for you as stress free and risk free as possible. There is no obligation to use any of the providers and we would recommend that you control the entire process from start to finish. 

If you are reading this you need to find a cleaning service provider who services the Auckland are. 

How much does commercial cleaning in Auckland cost? This depends on a few factors, such as how large, or how many square-feet the space is, as well as where it is located. If you are looking for a quote, then you have come to the right place. 

Here at Cleaning Quotes, you can provide details about your commercial cleaning requirements, as well as where you are located, and a few other pieces of information about yourself and we can help you find the best quotes. 

When it comes to commercial cleaning services in Auckland, you might be able to get a fixed rate, pay per visit a cleaner makes or be able to enter into some form of contract. These things are determined by a few factors, with one of them being the actually commercial cleaning company you decide to do business with. This is another reason why getting quotes is a good idea. You will be able to find out what each company charges, how they charge and then you can decide which company meets your cleaning needs the most, and this includes how they charge you and how often you get billed. 

Some cleaning companies may simply charge you by the hour, but the size of your property will likely be the major deciding factor in how much they will charge you, as well as whether or not there is heavy lifting involved. A company may decide to charge you around $20 to $30 per hour, but there are some that may charge more or less than those prices. This is why it is important to get a few quotes from a number of companies, as you want to receive the best services at the best prices. 

The type of commercial property you want to have cleaned plays a major role in finding the right commercial cleaning company. For example, some cleaning companies may be willing to clean an entire restaurant, bar or retail store, while others do not clean such places. some cleaning companies may only provide commercial cleaning services to medical facilities such as hospitals, small doctor offices, clinics and so forth, while others clean churches, schools and so on. 

Why Choose Cleaning Quotes to Find Auckland Commercial Cleaners?

Our commitment to quality: We require our cleaners to be accredited and insured. We work hard to keep your personal information safe and secure. 

• Only complete one simple 30 second form
• Cleaning companies contact you directly with quotes
• View their accreditation's and compare services
• Compare commercial cleaning quotes
• Save time and money!

With so many cleaning companies it can often be a very time consuming exercise chasing up the various cleaners just to get a simple quote.

Be using Cleaning Quotes you will receive free commercial cleaning quotes from local Auckland cleaners in your area, so you can start comparing services and prices without the hassle. 


Why Commercial Cleaning?

You can sum it all up in five words: Sanitation, Safety, Scenery and Serenity and Savings.

Your Office is Your Second Home

Let's face it. After your home, the next place where you spend most of your time would e your office. And since you spend a lot of time in your office, your would want to have the same clean environment in your office as in your home.

Let Cleaning Quotes do the homework so you don't have to. We only work with commercial cleaning companies who have a strong track record of providing consistent service quality. 
We also require comprehensive background checks and all cleaners registered with us are required to maintain any necessary insurance and must be registered companies. 

Commercial cleaning covers a vast range of services plus a lot of specialist tasks. The importance of maintaining high standards in modern offices and facilities cannot be underestimated. Clients, employees and the general public have come to expect excellent levels of cleanliness and hygiene at all times and all it takes is one bad experience to have a lasting impact and it is not easily communicated via the many active social media channels now available. 

Get Free Quotes for Commercial Cleaning in Auckland 

We invite you to get free price quotes for your commercial cleaning needs. As previously mentioned, you just need to enter a few details about yourself and your cleaning needs and before you know it, you will be shown three free quotes. Once you receive your quotes, you can contact each company and then choose the one you think can meet your needs. 

If you have commercial property in Auckland and you need to have it clean, then get some quotes today and find the right company to clean your commercial property in Auckland.

Related links:

Carpet Cleaners Association of New Zealand
Auckland Chamber of Commerce

Are you looking for Auckland Movers?

One of the biggest changes you can make in life is moving to a new home. The average person will move about 11 times throughout his or her life, and 40 million people are said to move each year. With so many people relocating so often, there is no denying the impact that moving has on everyone.

While moving is itself a big change, the need to relocate is often due to changes in a person’s life. A newly married couple trying to start a family might want to move into a larger house, while parents whose children have grown up and moved out may want to downsize to a smaller unit. Some less joyous life events, like divorce or the death of a family member, are other reasons for relocating.

Aside from these family-related reasons, there are plenty of other life changes that cause people to move. A college student who plans to live on campus will have to move. A member of the military could be assigned to a station on the other side of the country. Senior citizens who can no longer live on their own might decide to move to an assisted living facility. Additionally, a company may want to relocate an employee to another location or move its entire office to a new building. All of these changes can result in the need to move.

But the reasons for relocating are far from limited to the list above. Each individual move is different, and so may be the reason why a particular person needs to move. In addition, the destination that people move to is also a major part of their own moving story. Moves are generally classified into the categories of local, long distance, and international, each with its own share of specific challenges.

Whatever your reason for moving and no matter where you need to go, a major change in life like relocating should not be taken lightly. And that is exactly why we recommend engaging the services of a professional moving company.

Our partners, New Zealand Van Lines Auckland Movers, specialise in both domestic and international relocation's. 

If you are based in the Auckland area we recommend contacting NZ Van Lines Auckland Movers for a free no-obligation quotation today.

How to Remove Basic Stains

When dealing with a stain, a lot of people think they can improvise. After a spill, they head to the cleaning cupboard, pick what they believe might work, and give it a go. When that doesn't remove the stain, they try something else, then when that isn't successful, they bring out another product and on it goes until they end up making an even worse mess. Keep in mind that every time you add another chemical, you change the stain's chemical signature. For example, if you spill red wine on the carpet, clean it with bicarb and vinegar; however; if you've mistakenly used soda water; then a spot remover, you can't can't then just use bicarb and vinegar because the stain signature has altered. You're no longer dealing with a simple red wine spill - you have to remove the new stains you've created in addition to the red wine stain! The take-home message from this is: fist, work out what the stain is, then what the surface is and fix it. 

Here is a checklist of things to consider before tackling a stain:

Work out what the stain is made of: is it protein, fat, chemical/biological dye or resin/glue?

Know what the surface is - the kind of fabric, flooring, benchtop etc. that you've stained.

Know the appropriate chemicals to use to remove the stain. If in doubt, speak to an expert. Try to minimise the number of chemicals you use. 

Unless you know it will work, always do a test patch first. It's a good practice run! 

Never spot clean stains on your carpet within four weeks of it being stream cleaned. Vacuum clean the carpet four times before you spot clean it as spot cleaning stains can adversely react with steam cleaning chemicals. 

Never use excessive water or moisture on carpet. More is not better!

Wear appropriate clothing, such as gloves, goggles and mask, especially when using heavy chemicals. 

Don't make chemical mixes you don't understand. Mixing certain chemicals can create toxic fumes. You could add one chemical to another and create a toxic fume, ruin a surface or even have an explosion!

Remove stains as soon as you notice them. Don't wait - they become harder to shift with time.

Stain-removals solutions are not interchangeable. You can't use advice relating to carpet on your woolen jumper . Every surface is different.

There is no substitution or approximation. If you don't know, get expert help.

Protein stains are one of the trickiest to remove because you must not use heat, detergents or many commercial spot removal products on or near them. If you do, it sets the stain. It's just like cooking an egg which goes hard as soon as you add heat. Many proprietary cleaning products will set protein stains. The best way to remove protein stains is with facial soap, cold water and, if it's on carpet, a little water. Scrub soap on the stain, then blot it with a paper towel until it has been removed. Protein includes any animal product such as blood, gravy, meat, eggs, cheese, milk, seeds and beans, Once you remove the protein part of the stain, you can then apply heat to remove other stains.

Oil, grease and fats include vegetable oil and butter. The best de-greaser is dish-washing detergent. You can see how it works when detergent is added to a greasy sink! Be aware that fat stains are often combined with protein stains. If food has been cooked in oil, or has fat in it, such as a lamb chop, the protein part of the stain has to be removed first. Make-up generally contains lots of oil too; detergent is the solvent to use. The best way to determine oil stains is by rubbing the stain between your fingers - fat and oil make your skin slippery and shiny. To remove them, use detergent and warm water. Only use the tiniest amount of water on carpet or upholstery.

Carbohydrates are starches and sugars. They're found in potato, rice and paper glues. The best way to deal with these stains is to allows them to dry, then brush or vacuum them out. For example, if you spill rice on the carpet, remove any solids, pat the area with paper towel, leave to dry then vacuum. If the stain has any other component, such as salt, dilute with a little water first, then apply the process describe above. For sugar stains, add a little vinegar or a little detergent to help break then down.

Inks, paints and dyes require a solvent. Vegetable dyes, such as those found in artificial or naturally coloured foods, are best removed with sunshine. If you can't get the stain in the sun, use an ultraviolet light which can be hired from the chemist. Sponge the area with a small amount of equal parts lemon juice and water then aim the ultraviolet light over the stain. Check the stain every 2 hours until it fades. Some vegetable dyes oxidise, which means they respond to oxygen in the air - like a cut apple turning brown on its surface. As they oxidise, a tannin stain is produced. Remove tannin stains by wiping with a little glycerine, leave for 15 minutes then sponge out with a cloth that's been wrung out in vinegar. Repeat until the stain is gone. The glycerine takes the stain backwards in time a little. This procedure is particularly good for beetroot stains. Again, if the stain is on carpet, don't use too much moisture.

To remove paint stains, you need to know if the paint is water-based, acrylic or oil based. For children's water-based paints, remove with soap and water. For acrylic house paint or tube paint, use methylatd spirits. If oil-based, use white spirit/dry cleaning fluid.

Resin stains require a chemical solvent. For apoxy resins, use acetone. You must use acetone and not nail-polish remover. Take care using heavy chemical solvents. Be mindful that the solvent may break down surfaces around the stain. For example, white spirit/dry cleaning fluid will break down paint, so only apply the solvent to the stain itself, rather than the surrounding area. Be careful how much you use.  

Quick Guide to Removing Stains

Below is a kind of ready reference or quick guide to stain removal from fabrics:

Beer (including dark beer) Paint a paste of Napisan Oxygen on the stain and leave for 15 minutes. Then wash normally. 

Beetroot Treat with glycerine before washing normally.

Bird droppings Wash fabric normally.

Blood Wash fresh bloodstains through the washing machine on the cold setting. If you can't, use cornflour and water. For old bloodstains, use cold water and soap.

Chewing gum Harden the gum with ice and cut as much of as possible with scissors or a blade. Then apply dry cleaning fluid with a cotton ball, sprinkle talcum powder to absorb it and work the remaining gum out by rubbing in circles.

Chocolate First clean with soap and cold water. Then clean with soap and hot water.

Coffee or tea For fresh stains, use glycerine applied with a cotton ball, then wash in washing powder. For old stains, use glycerine, then dry-cleaning fluid and detergent.

Deodorant Use dry-cleaning fluid before washing.

Egg yolk Use soap and cold water first, then washing powder and warm water

Fruit juice Use detergent and sunshine. For stone fruits and fruits with a high tannin, treat the stain with glycerine first.

Grass Use dry-cleaning fluid before washing in washing powder.

Grease and oil Detergent suds. For heavy staining, soak in baby oil first.

Hair dye Dry-cleaning fluid or kerosense, or hairspray if you can get to the stain immediately.

Ink or ballpoint pen Rotten milk or dry-cleaning fluid. Use glycerine first on red ink.

Lipstick and make-up Dry-cleaning fluid.

Milk Wash normally on cold cycle.

Mud For red clay mud, apply dry-cleaning fluid then wash. For black mud, wash in the washing machine.

Nail polish Apply acetone, not nail polish remover.

Paint For water-based paint, use methylated spirits. For oil-based paints, use turpentine.

Rust Use CLR or lemon juice and salt.

Sap Apply dry-cleaning fluid.

Shoe polish Use methylated spirits.

Soft drinks Treat as though it's fruit stain because soft drink are made of vegetable dyes.

Sweat Make a paste of Napisan Oxygen and water and leave on the stain for 15 minutes before washing normally.

Tar Use baby oil, kerosene or dry-cleaning fluid.

Urine Wash in washing powder and dry in sunshine.

Vomit Washing powder, sunshine or Napisan, washing machine and dryer. 

Wax Ice, dry-cleaning fluid, talcum powder.

Wine New red wine - vinegar. Old red wine - glycerine, bicarb and vinegar. White wine - vinegar. 

Prevention is Better than Cure

It's a well-known phrase, but a good one. Ask yourself before you embark on an activity; what can go wrong and how can I prevent it? Try to anticipate potential stains and put into place measures to avoid them. For example, for high dirt areas, spray carpet with Scotchgard (this works on shirts as well); use old newspapers on the tops of cupboards to capture grease and grime. Don't do things like serve spaghetti bolognese on white shag-pile carpet - your're just asking for trouble! Create specific areas for doing messy jobs. For example, clean shoes outside or on several layers of newspaper.

And remember: when removing stains from carpet, always rinse chemicals out after you've cleaned. This applies even with basic chemicals such as vinegar and milk. If you don't you'll be left with bad smells and more stains.

When doing the laundry, prevent disasters by reading the labels on your clothes. Use the recommended washing temperature. If the information isn't included on your clothes, I recommend washing in warm water - unless there's a protein stain. If there's a protein stain, wash in cold water. Warm water relaxes the fibers and makes cleaning easier. To avoid shrinkage, use the same water temperature in the wash and rinse water. Wash woolens in blood-heat water.

For new garments, put the iron on a cool setting in case the garment contains a fiber, such as elastin, that reacts with heat. You don't want to end up with a shriveled shirt! Never iron clothes with any stains on them because you will set the stain.

Since cleaning is essential for a healthy comfortable lifestyle, make it fun: stick a smile on your dial and do it together. Alternatively, you can always get a free quote from one our accredited Auckland commercial cleaners.