Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

Christmas Cleaning Tips

Christmas Clean | Flat Rate Carpet BlogAs we get closer to Christmas it seems like there is so much more to do, and so much less time to do it. Before you get even more overwhelmed, we’ve got a few tips to help you make it to Christmas with a clean house and some sanity!

Start by sitting down and making a list of all the housework that needs to be done. Now take a second look at the list and cross off anything that doesn’t really need to be done. For example, Christmas means guests dropping by, so it’s good if any bathrooms open to guests are clean but your own bathroom can wait. Made beds are less important than a tidy living room and allowing yourself to forget less important chores will open up time for the important stuff.

Don’t do it all alone. Sure it feels like everything falls on your shoulders, but it’s time to call in the backup troops and put the rest of the family to work. Put a positive spin on chores by giving the kids a chance to earn bonuses on their allowances.

Take it all one step at a time. If you’re trying to do all the laundry, you might find yourself so overwhelmed that you get nothing done at all. Instead, decide to do one load of laundry a day. That way clean clothes keep coming and you still have time for other activities.

Remember, in the end nobody will know if you haven’t cleaned your bedroom in a week. What’s really important this time of year is spending valuable time with the people you love.

Merry Christmas.

How to Remove Candle Wax From Carpets

Candle Wax | Flat Rate Carpet BlogHannukah is right around the corner, and it’s time to break out the beautiful menorah’s and little candles that will light up the home for eight fun filled nights. Don’t let a few drips of candle wax on the carpet ruin your holiday this year. With this easy way to remove candle wax from carpets you’ll never worry about getting candle wax on your carpets again.

Taking care of any stain right away increases your chance of getting the wax out completely, but make sure not to rub the stain in any further.

For wax stains on carpets, put some ice in a waterproof bag. Place the ice over the wax, allowing the wax to freeze. Getting water on the wax will make it harder to get out, so make sure no ice is dripping into the carpet.

Once the wax is frozen, gently scrape it off the carpet with a knife. Don’t worry about getting out everything, just get out as much as you can without ruining the carpet.

Next, spread a clean cloth or paper bag over the remaining wax stain. Use and iron to go over the area, drawing the remaining wax into the cloth or bag. Continue this last step until all the wax is gone.

This Hanukkah spend your time opening presents and eating latkes, instead of stressing over a few drips of candle wax.

Happy Hanukkah!

How to Clean Christmas Ornaments

Christmas Ornaments | Flat Rate Carpet BlogThanksgiving is over and it’s time to get the tree up and decorated. Of course we all want our tree to be bright and beautiful, and that’s why we put so much effort into decorating. Cleaning your Christmas ornaments before hanging them on the tree is an important step in keeping your tree beautiful and making sure that your ornaments stay beautiful for years to come.

Start by making sure that you have the right equipment for Christmas ornament cleaning.

  • Glass Cleaner (windex is fine)
  • Feather Duster
  • A soft, cotton cloth for cleaning
  • Gloves (not large dishwasher gloves, latex is best)

Next, separate all your ornaments and divide them for easier cleaning. Each type of ornament is cleaned differently.

  • Glass, acrylic or perspex Christmas ornaments are cleaned by spraying a bit of glass cleaner on a clean cloth and gently wiping the surface.
  • Glittered ornaments can be cleaned with a gentle dusting of a feather duster. If too much glitter is coming off, then gently blow on the ornament and forget about any dust that won’t go away.
  • Crystal and porcelain ornaments are best cleaned with either a feather duster, or a gentle cleaning with a soft, cotton cloth.
  • Hand painted ornaments must always be cleaned while wearing gloves, so that the oils from your skin don’t damage the paint. Clean hand painted ornaments with a feather duster, and never use any cleaning products as they can easily damage the paint.
  • Wood and Resin ornaments are best cleaned by gently rubbing them with a soft cotton cloth.
  • Gold and silver ornaments are cleaned with jewelry cleaner and a soft cotton cloth.

Keeping your ornaments clean will not only make your tree sparkle, but it will also extend the lifetime of your ornaments so that you can pass them down for generations. Merry Christmas.

Cleaning up Christmas, Pine Needle Pick Up

Still enjoying the beauty of a live Christmas tree? Although there are so many benefits to having a live tree, clean up can be a nightmare. Using a regular vacuum to pick up pine needles doesn’t always work, and can cause some serious damage to your vacuum cleaner.

Instead of clogging up your vacuum cleaner this year, just follow these simple tips and taking down that tree will be easier than ever.

Sweep up the majority of the mess with a broom and dust pan. The remaining needles can usually be removed with a large lint roller. You can also wrap duct tape around your hand with the sticky part facing out. It might take some time, and a lot of duct tape, but it’s easier than picking up each needle one by one.

Baking soda is the perfect solution to getting up any remaining needles that are stuck to your carpet with sap. Sprinkle on the baking soda, and wait 10 minutes before picking up the sticky needles.

Although the clean up of a live tree is quite a hassle, the pleasure it brings during the Christmas season is worth all the effort. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

Holiday Stress Management Tips

’Tis the season of joy, laughter, family, friends and tons of holiday stress! With so much to do it’s easy to lose the spirit of the holidays. Make this a stress free holiday season with five minutes and a few simple strategies.

When we’re stressed our breathing becomes shallow, and increases anxiety. Taking a few deep, long breaths is a quick way to reduce holiday stress by making us feel instantly calmer.

Exercise gets rid of negative emotions and releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel good chemical. To take advantage of this great stress buster just do a few jumping jacks or take a walk with a friend.

Music is a great mood enhancer, and can help take your mind off your ever growing to do list. No matter what you’re doing, putting on your favorite music and sing your way to a stress free holiday.