How to remove candle wax stains.

Did you know that November is National Candle Month?

Not that I need an excuse to light a candle, it's the first thing I do when I get home from work now that the evenings are so dark. Nothing is more cosy and comforting than the soft flicker of a scented candle.

If your candle burning however, has left you with a few waxy drips don't panic, its not that difficult to clean up. Here's how to remove wax from most:-

Hard Surfaces.

1. Freeze to harden wax using either a plastic bag filled with ice cubes or a packet of frozen peas. Protect your hands with gloves.

2. Use a blunt knife to gently scrape away wax from surface, being careful not to scratch it.

3. Wipe with a sponge dipped into a solution of laundry powder or dish washing liquid in warm water, a small amount of either soap is sufficient. Repeat until stain disappears.

Washable Fabric.

1. Scrape away excess wax and place the affected area in between two pieces of white blotting paper or kitchen towel.

2. Press gently with a warm iron and change the paper as it absorbs the stain.

3. Use the stain removing solution above on non colour fast fabric if any residue remains. For whites and cottons you can flush hot water straight through the fabric.

4. Allow to dry. If the stain remains repeat the above step.

5. When all trace of the stain have gone, wash in the washing machine as normal. 

Carpet. 

1. Freeze candle wax using the previous method.

2. Remove excess wax with a blunt knife or spatula.

Place a piece of grease proof paper over the stain and press with a warm iron. Change the paper and repeat until no stain remains.

3. Use the dish wash solution, 1/4 teaspoon to a cup of warm water to blot clean the residue. Repeat as necessary.

Of course preventing any candle wax stains is safer and obviously cleaner, so my top tips are:

• Position your candle where you want it and light it there. Don't light your candle and then carry it to where you want it!
• Always use a candle holder and place on heat resistant surfaces.
• Keep away from soft furnishings and drafts.
• Keep out of reach from children and pets.
• Never leave a lit candle unattended.
• Use a candle snuffer or a spoon, never blow out a candle as you could spread wax or sparks. 

I'm a Candle Connoisseur Extraordinaire! What is your candle IQ?

Written by Julia Poole owner at Elite Cleaning Ltd

   

How to clean your shower in 4 steps.

Are you cleaning on a Sunday and if so what? The question I asked my Facebook fans last weekend.

Cleaning the bathroom was the answer I had, and in particular from Katie,"I hate cleaning my shower cubicle".

So, just for you Katie, and anyone else who hates this chore, here's how I clean my shower.

You will need:

3 cups of white vinegar

1 cup washing up liquid (dish soap) any brand will do
Sponge scourer
Bucket
Microfibre glass cleaning cloth
Old toothbrush/nail brush
Spray bottle


Simply add 2 cups of vinegar and washing up liquid together in a jug and carefully pour into spray bottle. If you warm the vinegar in the jug first for about 1 minute and then pour the washing up liquid into the jug there will be no waste, it'll slide out!

1. Empty your shower of any items and if you have a removable shower head, unscrew and soak in the bathroom basin with hot water and a cup of vinegar. Place a large towel, or a non slip bath mat in the base of your shower. You may need to use a step ladder to reach your tiles. This will stop you from slipping and marking the base.

2. Get in the shower, close the door and generously spray every surface with the vinegar mixture, (please note this is not suitable for cleaning marble or any natural stone products). Pay particular attention to the door runner base. Your toothbrush is needed for this bit. Now step away from your shower and go do something else for the next 20 minutes or so. Keep in mind, the dirtier your shower, the longer you will need to leave the solution.

3. Fill your bucket with hand hot water, soak your sponge and start cleaning your tiles, then door from the top down. Use the scourer side for any stubborn marks, nail brush for grout areas and your toothbrush for hard to reach parts such as inside the door runner. Rinse with fresh clean water, I use the shower hose to do this.

4. The shower base is the last thing to clean and you'll need to be half in, half out on your knees to do this. Who said cleaning was easy?! Spray with solution and repeat the above process. Replace shower head, turn on water and let run for a few minutes to rinse any residue of vinegar away. Remove excess water from the base, tiles and door with a damp microfibre glass cloth.


Repeat this deep clean every month or so, depending on how quickly it becomes dirty again. Spray clean in between using a solution of half vinegar/water. This will keep your tiles and chrome free from limescale marks, and keep your door and base clear of any soap scum.

I don't have a problem with black mould in my bathroom, but if you do here's some extra information on what causes it and how to deal with it.


Written by Julia Poole owner and Elite Cleaner

3 reasons why you should be cleaning your office regularly.

Whether it's an entire floor in a commercial building, or a tiny, cramped home office, keeping your office clean is essential to motivate both yourself and your employees. We've compiled a list of 3 of the most important reasons you need to keep your office tidy...

Appeal

Imagine turning up to an office, ready for a meeting and dressed to impress, only to find that the office has quite the opposite idea. In business, first impressions count dramatically, and greeting potential clients, customers and employees with an unorganised mess doesn't say much about you. Your office reflects you - if you really think desks overloaded with dust and paper, overflowing bins and countless coffee rings represents you perfectly, then carry on.

It's not just the appeal to others either. Employees need to stay motivated in order to be productive and happy within their working environment, and a dirty working area isn't going to promote any kind of efficiency. De-clutter and wipe down your own space regularly to create an organised, peaceful environment; shuffling through that mountain of paper for one document when you're stressed is the last thing you want to do.

Pride

If your employees have no pride in their working space, how can you expect them to have any pride in their work? A clean, sharp, organised working space will ultimately produce clean, sharp and organised results, and if your office is dirty, dull and unpleasant, you can guess what kind of results you'll be achieving. Give your workforce an office to be proud of, an office that is a pleasure to work in, and you'll notice it in their results. They say a clean home is a happy home, and we think a clean office is a happy office too.

Health

It seems obvious, but in huge shared spaces (or small home office style spaces for that matter) bacteria is everywhere, and unhygienic conditions could potentially make you ill. Staff absenteeism is an unwanted cost for any business, so it's important to make sure your office is germ-free and absentee-free. Our desks are full of nifty electronics too, which we all love, but bacteria loves them too. Give your electronics a wipe regularly, especially your mobile phone, you'd be surprised just how dirty they really are... probably so surprised you wouldn't put it anywhere near your face again. Having a reasonable and sensible attitude to providing a healthy workplace for employees shows you genuinely care about their well-being at work, and you're employees will feel valued and content.

Change your cleaning habits for the better, and you'll change your working habits too.

This blog was written by Darren Timon, the Managing Director of Aroma Cleaning UK Ltd; a nationwide domestic and office cleaning company.Darren writes regularly on his own blog on the Aroma Cleaning website.

We get into the nooks and crannies other cleaners just skirt around, and no job is too large or too small. From domestic ovens to windows and carpets; from offices to schools and shopping centres, Aroma Cleaning outshines the competition at every level. 

Elite Tips To Save You Time On Your Office Cleaning.

If you don't hire professional cleaners at your workplace, and you don't employ an in house cleaner, who does the cleaning? As the business owner, do you do it yourself or do have your own employees to clean up?

Whatever your arrangements, it can be an overwhelming task, especially if you have a large area to clean. Being organised and methodical enables you to spend quality time cleaning thoroughly and correctly.

Here are some Elite tips to help you save time on your office cleaning.

1. Draw up a specification of daily, weekly and monthly tasks. This makes cleaning of an area large or small more manageable and less stressful. Knowing what you have to clean and when makes things much easier.

2. Don't let just one person have full responsibility for cleaning. Delegate certain areas to individual  people, this ensures best results and is fair all round. You can even make a rota so each person in the building takes a turn.

3. If you have a workplace over more than one level, provide cleaning equipment such as vacuums, mops/buckets on each level for convenience. Stock kitchen/toilet cupboards with the essentials, multi purpose cleaner, polish, toilet cleaner, coloured cloths, soap, toilet rolls and paper hand towels.

4. A bucket or a trug filled with cleaning supplies makes it easy to have everything at hand, you don't want to waste time going to and fro the cleaning cupboard if you've forgotten something. Just carry it all with you. I even tie my cleaning cloth to my spray bottle for extra speed.

5. Where applicable, always load the dishwasher first. When cleaning is finished the dishwasher is ready to unload. If there isn't one, make certain that your staff are responsible for cleaning their cups and dishes after use. This is a simple task, often overlooked but  when left to build up can take so much time to wash up.

6. Place a few bin liners at the bottom of your bin, this is excellent for quick and easy replacement. Just remember to replenish once you've used them all.

7. Dust before you vacuum. Doing it the other way around makes more mess and you have to vacuum again if you have a messy, dusty desk. You can also implement  a clean desk policy. Getting everyone to organise their desk at the end of the week makes it so much easier and quicker to clean.

We hope these simple yet effective tips are of some use to you.

Of course you could always engage the services of a cleaning company to do everything for you. You don't have to have daily office cleaning. It can be once, twice or three times a week. 

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions www.elitecleaners2008.co.uk 

Written by Julia Poole