Cleaning with vinegar has been re-gaining popularity over the last decade as people in the ‘green movement' have increasingly sought to use more eco-friendly methods and products. Using white distilled vinegar as a cleaning product not only avoids using harsh chemicals and is environmentally friendly, but it also has high levels of acidity, which makes it effective for safely killing most mold, bacteria, and germs.

The rationale behind using a more eco-friendly cleaner also extends to the health and safety of spouses, children, and even pets. The chemicals we often use for cleaning purposes can do much more than simply disinfect; If used consistently, their properties can become part of our home environment. According to the EPA, indoor air is 2 to 5 times more contaminated than outdoor air. This is because these chemicals to clean and disinfect can harm us when they come in contact with our skin and when we breathe them in. They have been known to cause health problems like skin and eye irritation, been linked to asthma, and have even been linked to reproductive harm. In fact, many scientists now believe that chemical exposure, even at very low levels, can have many adverse impacts on the reproductive system.

We know very little about the long-term health impacts of chronic exposure to chemicals in household cleaning products. In fact, thousands of chemicals are marketed everyday as household cleaners, with little information on the potential health and safety consequences, and little oversight by the government. Even more troubling, there are no legal requirements for ingredient labeling on household cleaning products.

There are many reasons that cleaning with vinegar makes sense, and here are a few ways to put vinegar to use:

Cleaning shower curtains: Keep vinegar in a spray bottle near the shower and squirt the shower curtains once or twice a week. There is no need to rinse. If mildew leaves a stain that needs a little extra power to destroy, try a mixture of borax with enough vinegar to create a paste, then scrub the affected area.
Restoring Silver: Immerse silverware and silver bracelets, rings, and other jewelry items for up to 3 hours in a mixture of 100 ml of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Then rinse with cold water and dry using a cloth for the best results.
Destroy mold: Stains on fabric left by mold are especially annoying, due to the difficulty in removing their trace. Cleaning with vinegar is a good way to safely remove mold without worrying about extra ventilation. Cleaning rugs with white vinegar is also a good way to prevent mold from appearing in the first place.
Cleaning blinds: Mix a solution made up of equal parts vinegar and hot water and wipe bar on both sides with a cloth. Keep a bucket of clean water handy to wash away grime from your cloth as you're cleaning.
Cleaning Toilets: Cleaning with vinegar is very easy in this area; Just pour 1 cup into the toilet and allow it to percolate for 30 minutes. Then add about a half a cup of baking soda, scour with a toilet brush, and rinse.
Deodorize and clean drains: A vinegar and baking soda combination is a startlingly effective way to deal with clogged and smelly drain pipes.
Polishing brass and copper: It is also possible to restore brass, bronze and copper items by creating a paste made of equal parts white vinegar, salt, and baking soda. Once the concoction has been applied and stops hissing, use a clean, soft cloth or paper towel and rub the items until they shine. Rinse and dry afterward.

Cleaning with vinegar is an excellent way to address the cleanliness of your home, become more environmentally friendly, and protect your family’s health and safety. However, if you do not wish to partake in all this green-cleaning on your own, Contact Sweep Home today and leave the cleaning to us!

 

Chicago commercial cleaning companies do more than simply wash and wax floors and clean up office restrooms. They are essential in boosting workplace morale and productivity, enhancing the overall work environment, and improving safety. Commercial building cleaning companies provide daily services that can help businesses run efficiently and successfully.

There are several reasons that businesses should enlist the services of a commercial cleaning company.

1. Improve Workflow: Cleaning companies can help boost productivity by taking the responsibility of cleaning the workplace off business owners and managers, which allows these professionals to focus on the tasks that they are trained to do. 
2. Enhance Image: Routine maintenance and cleaning of your facility will improve its appearance and create a welcoming, hospitable environment for your clients and staff.
3. Produce a Sanitary Environment: A proper, thorough cleaning and maintenance routine, coupled with responsible staff, will help ensure that exposure to the flu and other illnesses are kept to a minimum. 
4. Increase Safety: Scheduled cleaning services can improve workplace safety. Commercial building services cleaning companies help businesses adhere to safety guidelines and requirements mandated by the OSHA. Injury at the workplace can cost a businesses many thousands of dollars each year due worker's compensation claims alone.

 

 The winter months can be an uncomfortable time for dust mite allergy sufferers. Increased time indoors leads to prolonged exposure, which can exacerbate symptoms. Completely removing mites can be difficult, but knowing what actions can reduce exposure and thus curb the frequency and strength of allergic reactions will make home life much more comfortable. Sweep Home Chicago can assist with this task.

According to the Mayo Clinic, dust mites eat skin cells shed by people, and they thrive in warm, humid environments. In most homes, bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting provide an ideal environment for dust mites. While dust mites are too microscopic to bite or sting, their presence can be felt in other ways, as illustrated below.

Common symptoms of an allergic reaction to dust mites include:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Frequent awakening
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes

These symptoms can often be confused with the common cold. However, for an allergy sufferer in a home infested with dust mites, this ‘cold’ never ends unless action is taken to remediate the problem. Fortunately, there are several effective steps you can take to combat dust mites.

The following are a few steps one can take to reduce exposure to dust mites:

• Use allergen-proof bed covers
• Wash bedding weekly
• Keep humidity low
• Choose bedding wisely
• Buy washable stuffed toys
• Remove dust
• Vacuum regularly
• Cut clutter
• Remove carpeting and other dust mite habitats wherever possible

One of the most effective options to combat the allergic reaction brought on by dust mites is to hire a professional cleaning service. Consistent, professional steam cleaning can remove remaining offending allergens by thoroughly rinsing and extracting carpet and upholstery. Even if your upholstery cannot be steam cleaned, proper solvent cleaning will give you similar results. Having your home and furnishings professionally cleaned on a regular basis will help you stay healthier and more comfortable.

The professional cleaning services offered by Sweep Home Chicago can work with you to combat any suspected dust mite issues. We strive to make our service as convenient as possible to complement your lifestyle and schedule. Your comfort is our number one concern!

 

The holiday season is upon us and it's time for all the parties, dinners, and get-togethers that make it a magical time of year. The holiday parties are certainly fun and exciting to attend, but for a busy host, where do you find the time for all the cleanup? The Sweep Home Chicago cleaning staff can handle the job quickly, leaving you with time for all your other holiday obligations.

The winter holidays can feel like a very stressful time as we take extra-special care to prepare for a memorable holiday with our family, friends, and loved ones. Preparing for and executing a holiday party can require substantial time and effort, and anything that lightens the burden can be a most welcome relief!

Whether polishing the silverware, cleaning the dinnerware, preparing your home for guests, or cleaning up afterwards, leave it to the professionals to ensure that your holiday parties are enjoyable and stress free.

For added convenience and flexibility, you can choose to have a cleaning service for a single event as needed, or opt for a weekly service to save you the drudgery of having to maintain the cleanliness of your home during an otherwise enjoyable holiday season. With family and important guests stopping by, present your home as a magazine-esque reflection of your style and personality, without having to spend the time and hard work on cleaning chores.

Creating a fun and inviting experience for both yourself and your guests during the holidays is one of the outstanding benefits of having a professional cleaning service care for your home. Spend time with family and friends without the worry of cleanup.

Our Sweep Home Chicago family is comprised of some of the most experienced and friendly people in the industry. Always detail-oriented, always punctual and always trustworthy, our cleaning staff is carefully screened and selected to ensure that every experience meets your needs and expectations.

Contact Sweep Home today in preparation for those holiday parties and leave the cleaning to us!

 

Hiring a professional service for scheduled cleaning can provide help around the house for people who just don’t have the time or energy to perform necessary upkeep themselves. However, while this type of service can be very useful it does not fit everyone’s needs or budget.

Even though scheduled service may not fit the needs of one and all, there are many events over the course of a year which necessitate a spotless, sparkling appearance. Engaging Chicago cleaning service for important events can save time, cut down on stress, and can present property in the best way possible.

The following are 5 instances when hiring a cleaning service is especially beneficial:

Move-Out/In

In any move, the “to-do” lists and stress levels run extra high. With so much on your plate, taking the time to scrupulously clean your home for the next tenant can be a daunting task. A professional service will be able to devote the attention to detail that you may not have the time for, which becomes an excellent investment to make sure you get that deposit back! In the same way, it can be difficult to make time to clean prior to moving into a new home. Move-in cleaning services offer wide variety of house cleaning solutions that ensure a sanitized, clean, and sparkling new home.

Post Construction/Renovation

Any major construction or renovation project can unsettle the tidiness of a home or office. Dust particles can appear everywhere, junk and debris are scattered far and wide, and dirt is often tracked all over as work proceeds. Hiring post-construction cleaning services takes the burden off your shoulders and ensures that you will quickly be enjoying a spotless living or work space

Spring Cleaning

A long winter of hibernation can also mean an accumulation of dust, dirt and grime. Spring is a time for rejuvenation, and hiring a professional service to help around the house can leave you feeling renewed, while saving you time and toil. While spring cleaning alone may take days or weeks, within hours, a professional cleaning service can do the job, even on those tasks you absolutely hate, like cleaning the oven interior.

Pre-Event, Post-Event

Hosting events and parties can be a lot of fun, but the stress involved in the preparations can put a damper on your enjoyment of the occasion. Eliminating a major step by allowing professional cleaners to help around the house and make your space sparkle will allow your focus to remain where you need it to be; hosting and having fun! Post-event clean up can also require a good deal of unwanted work. Cleaning services can assist here as well, by quickly and efficiently restoring your home to a pre-party shine.

Prior to a Home Sale

An important aspect to selling a home is making sure it is properly prepped. This not only helps a home sell faster, but increases the likelihood that you receive optimum value for your home. Especially in a buyers market it is crucial that no potential advantages are overlooked. Booking a cleaning service will ensure that your home is looking its best when the time comes for an open house or series of showings.


The above examples not only display the value of professional cleaning services in terms of time, energy and stress saved, they also show how a thorough, deep clean by experienced professionals can be an investment which saves you money. Presentation can be key; whether selling a home, restoring an office space to working condition after construction, or making an excellent impression while hosting a party or function.

If scheduled appointments aren’t for you, Chicago cleaning can be your strategic source for timely cleaning services.

 Due to our busy schedules, the job of cleaning our homes is sometimes left to cleaning services Chicago—some of whom we can never be sure to have already shifted to using non-toxic cleaning products.

To ensure that toxic chemicals that harm our health and the environment are kept out of our homes, we have to either do the cleaning ourselves using green cleaning Chicago products or make sure that the cleaning services Chicago we hire use safe products that are free of phosphates, bleach, chlorine, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals.

Of course, there will always be doubts as to the wisdom of joining the green cleaning Chicago bandwagon. Thus, given below are 5 reasons why we all should “green” our cleaning routines:

Prevents Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

When we are indoors, the air we breathe is limited only to what is available inside. Polluting this confined air with harmful chemicals from toxic cleaning products and we end up breathing these chemicals ourselves. Replacing these products with natural cleaning agents that do the same job is a lot safer.

Prevents Asthma and Allergies

Having germs, bacteria, mold and mildew inside the home can be annoying; that’s why we do our best to remove them. But is using noxious-smelling cleaning products that irritate our nasal passages, cause allergies, and trigger asthma attacks the solution? Many cleaning services Chicago these days are aware of this; that is why they—and you—should prefer using non-toxic cleaning products.

Prevents Accidents

Green cleaning Chicago efforts also pay off by preventing emergencies in the home like the accidental inhalation or ingestion of toxic chemicals. There will also be no more need to be anxious where you store green cleaning products.

Prevents Pollution

We use water most of the time to wash off dirt and the germs, mold and mildew removed by cleaning products along with it. The toxic chemicals in these products find their way to the ground where they are absorbed by plants or to the sea where fish come into contact with them. By using plant-based cleaning products, for example, we prevent polluting the Earth.

Prevents Overspending

Cleaning products are expensive. Cut back on the spending, and shift to natural cleaning products. They are “greener” and safer to use, and not to mention, less expensive. These “green” cleaning agents are actually already in your home, like vinegar, lime, and baking soda for example.

 Post-construction cleaning services in Chicago provide a service that is often overlooked or given less importance.

However, with the amount of junk, left over materials, and the dirt and dust generated during all the construction activities in Illinois, the function of cleaning services Chicago cannot be viewed as insignificant.

In fact, construction companies do not think about cleaning; they are focused on their job—constructing. That means they do not have the skill or the right people to pick up after themselves.

To make that transition from building phase to open-for-business phase, one has got to hire post-construction cleaning services.

Hiring cleaning services Chicago will benefit one in the following ways:

A Clean Building

This benefit is obvious. Again, construction is a generator of dirt, dust, junk, and left-over construction materials of all kinds. It can become a nightmare to clean up and tidy the place up in time for opening.

Post-construction cleaning services have the tools, the know-how, and the right attitude to tackle post-construction clean up. They will clean the ceilings, walls, floors, and basically prepare the whole building for the inauguration day.

They also know the particulars in waste disposal so that one does not have to run afoul with any local waste disposal ordinance.

No Extra Employees

Outsourcing the task to cleaning services Chicago will help one avoid having to hire extra employees to do the cleaning. Think of the salary, insurance (health, workers compensation), and other benefits to be paid when hiring extra employees. Assigning the task of cleaning your office or building post-construction to the professionals will save one a lot of money.

No Distractions

Business is business; however, if one spends part of his time worrying and attending to cleaning tasks, he will have less time to focus on his business. Leave the cleaning part to post-construction cleaning services, and spend more time growing the business.

Other Benefits

Cleaning services Chicago do not just clean construction and office sites, they also take care to provide a professional clean all over. Thus, hiring post-construction cleaning services benefit one in many other ways, like in carpet cleaning, utility cleaning, toilet cleaning, and others.

Cleaning services Chicago provide several cleaning specialists, and they charge fees on the extent of the work and the time needed to finish it.

Although, one’s relationship with post-construction cleaning services may only be brief, one can always extend his contract with them.

Thus, if one likes how a particular cleaning services Chicago does its work, one can enter into contract with them to provide cleaning services on a regular basis.

 We all have careers that keep us busy that most of the time we simply cannot do housekeeping tasks anymore. This is where you require the help of executive housekeepers Chicago services.

You will not regret the decision to use a domestic maid service Chicago as they will provide you with the right domestic staff to take over the job of keeping your house clean and orderly.

However, as wonderful as the services offered may sound, homeowners will always have concerns regarding the quality of the service they would be paying for, as well as the trustworthiness of the domestic staff they would let into their homes.

If you are planning on utilizing services offered by an executive housekeepers Chicago service, you have to choose wisely.

Below are tips on how to choose the right domestic maid service Chicago for your home:

• Make a note if the executive housekeepers Chicago service believes it is important to match the domestic staff with your family.
• Find out if they have a person who interviews and screens their staff thoroughly before hiring.
• Find out how fast they can provide staff for short-notice placements.
• See if their representatives are friendly and willing to work with you when finding the right domestic staff.
• Check if their housekeepers are properly trained, especially when it comes to handling valuable furnishings for a home.
• Ask for references from present or past clients.
• Be sure to go over their record of accomplishment (check success rate in home placement).

Relying on a domestic maid service Chicago to find the best staff for your needs benefits you as the agency saves you time and effort.

Can you imagine how long you have to spend waiting for people to answer your classified ad? And then there is still the part where you interview and screen the people who answer your ad. You would want to be sure about the person you are allowing access into your home, right?

An executive housekeepers Chicago service would meet with you and discuss the services you need as well as determine whether you need full-time or part-time housekeepers or not.

They will ensure that you are provided only the best domestic service by trustworthy and well-trained staff so that you could concentrate only on your work and not bother about the house all the time.

 Been BEEhaving badly?

If you suffer from allergies, and cleaning pollen from your apartment in Chicago is the only thing you can think of for the moment, then here’s a tip—stop acting like a bee.

Bees hop from flower to flower drinking nectar and unwittingly collect and spread pollen around. You are like a bee. You unknowingly collect pollen as you walk around and deposit them in your home or apartment.

If you want to put an end to watery eyes, runny noses, and all that sneezing, then your best apartment cleaning Chicago strategy right now is to nip this BEEhavior in the bud.

This means you have to try to dust or shake off as much pollen from your clothes before you enter your house. When the pollen are abundant because of the season, wash your clothes immediately.

Washing your hair is an effective way of cleaning pollen from your house as the hair is a very good vehicle for spreading them around, especially the bed.

These steps are pretty effective for your apartment cleaning Chicago operation against pollen, but won't make your home pollen-free without a few additional measures.

You have to be aware also of the fact that pollen does get blown in through the doors, windows, air ducts, and furnaces.

Below are several more tips to help you in cleaning pollen from your apartment or home:

1. Seal the house. That means closing the doors and windows where pollen enters. Such a measure may force you to use more energy for cooling your apartment or home, but sometimes you have to sacrifice to preserve your health—especially during severe allergic reactions to pollen.

2. Use air filters and change them regularly. Air conditioners, heaters and air ducts use air filters. Changing them on a regular basis helps you in cleaning pollen from your home. Buy an air purifier when you can.

3. Check pets. If your hair can trap pollen, so can animal hair. Bathe your pets regularly, too.

4. Use a micro-fiber cloth. One secret to apartment cleaning Chicago targeting pollen is the use of a slightly moist micro-fiber cloth when dusting or wiping. This cloth can remove pollen better.

Following the above-given tips will help you tremendously in cleaning pollen from your apartment or home.

You can also hire an apartment cleaning company in Chicago to help you stay on top of the pollen build up inside your home. But most of all, stop BEEhaving badly and return home pollen-free!