Apartment Cleaning Archives | Performance Property Services Group

8 Places in Your Home You Might Not Realise Needs Cleaning

Now is the perfect time to make a full sweep of your home and clean every nook and cranny to guarantee a germ-free existence.

Unfortunately, when we say “clean”, most people only think about the more obvious places in their homes – like the floors, the window cleaning, the sofa, and so on.

You might not realise it but you’re missing a lot of possible places where dirt, grime, mold, and germ can settle. Here are some of the top parts of your home that could use a good clean.

Bed and Pillows

That’s right – your bed and pillows need some TLC, too. We’re not just talking about the sheets but the fluffy materials themselves. Pillows are best cleaned through sun exposure.

Just put them outdoors under direct sunlight and they will absorb any moisture that might have accumulated in your pillow. When you take them back inside, you’ll notice how they’re so much fluffier.

As an added bonus – the sun is also a natural antibacterial. The same can be done for your bed, although it might take some work to drag it out there.

Trash Can

Don’t forget to clean the trash can as well since this can collect not only grime but also the odor of your trash. Even if you use a trash bag all the time, the fact is that there could be an overspill that taints the inside of the can.

Take a good whiff whenever you’re replacing the trash bag – does the can still smell? If so – wash it with soap and water and give it a new lease on life.

Under and Over Furniture

While you many not exactly “forget” to clean under furniture, it’s not really a pleasant experience. Moving large furniture around – like the sofa or the fridge – can be exhausting. This is why you should only do it once every few months or so.

The upside however is that you’ll feel more confident knowing that there are no dust bunnies accumulating underneath your sofa. Don’t forget that some appliances also need cleaning on top – such as the fridge.

Cleaning Items Need Cleaning

Take a good look at the appliances you use to clean the rest of your home. There’s the dishwasher, the washing machine, the mop, the broom, rags, and so on.

These are the ones that take most of the brunt of household chores and fortunately, there are now convenient ways to clean them.

For example, some dishwashers can be loaded with cleaning agents designed specially to remove any grime that might have built up inside it.

The same goes for washing machines. Ideally, mops are cleaned after every use so you’re not just spreading the dirt around the house.

Sink and Garbage Disposal

Don’t wait for clogs to appear before you do something about your sink. Ideally, you should be throwing some hot water in there once a week just to clear up the pathways and minimize the chances of clogging.

Here’s a cool trick – you can clean your sink AND coffee maker at the same time. Just load your coffee maker with a combination of vinegar and water and allow it to run. Pour the hot mixture down the drain and you’re good to go.

Back of Toilet

No one really likes to clean the toilet – but it’s something that has to be done. The back area is typically forgotten since it is often out of sight.

Note though that with all the natural curves of the toilet, the back portion is a hotbed of grime accumulation. This is why it’s best to clean this area as often as possible so you don’t have to spend a long time with each session.

Fans and Air Conditioners

It’s easy to spot gunk buildup in fans but the process of dismantling it can be tough if you’re new to the process. You will find however that cleaning a fan will give you cleaner and cooler air afterwards.

The same goes for air conditioners. Now, a deep clean of air conditioners require expertise, but the filter itself can be removed, cleaned, and reattached in a matter of minutes.

It’s the Small Things

The small stuff also deserve attention – especially since they’re the ones that are often touched. Think lamp switches, wall switches, door knobs, and the remote control.

All these things are a hive for bacteria since everyone touches them all through the day. Wipe them out with alcohol as often as you can.

Of course, those are just some ideas on what parts of the home may need additional attention on your part during a spring clean. For a deep clean without the hassle however, it’s also a good idea to simply hire professionals for the job.

Typically, professional cleaners also take these locations in consideration, often having a checklist to ensure that they hit all the hot spots.

Make your house clean and germ-free, let our professional and reliable commercial cleaning team help you with that. Contact Performance Cleaning at 1300 867 872

Cleaning and Disinfection for Residential and Commercial Buildings During COVID-19

The World Health Organization has recently warned the public that the coronavirus might be here to stay.

While there had been developments of possible vaccines for the virus, the best everybody can do at the moment is to practice safety precautions, clean, disinfect and sanitize the surroundings regularly to help prevent further infections.

For proper guidance in cleaning and disinfecting residences and workplaces, here are some FAQs (frequently asked questions) that you need to know.

Cleaning and Disinfecting: What’s the Difference?

Cleaning and disinfecting at times have been used interchangeably. However, they do have their differences.

Cleaning is the physical act of taking away bacteria, viruses, dirt, grime and debris from surfaces by means of water and detergents. Detergents, once mixed with water, help to break down oil and grease.

Disinfecting on the other hand makes use of chemicals to treat microbes on surfaces. Cleaning is required for the target surface first before disinfecting. This is due to the fact that dirt, grease and grime can inhibit the performance of the disinfectant to get rid of germs and other types of contaminants.

Which areas of the home or commercial building needs regular cleaning and disinfection?

Surfaces that are touched often must be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Examples of these spots include the following:

• Door handles
• Toilets
• Tabletops
• Phones
• Counters
• Light switches
• Kitchen surfaces
• Cupboard handles
• Taps

Areas that are visibly dirty should be taken care of immediately as well.

How often should these areas get cleaned and disinfected?

Routine cleaning and disinfection are recommended for homes or areas that engage minimal interaction or are typically attended by a small number of individuals. However, places like retail stores or any workplace that involves accommodating many people day by day need to cleaned and disinfected more frequently.

Disinfecting surfaces should be done regularly on surfaces that many people get in contact with. Proper disinfection must be done at least once a day.

What products should I use for cleaning and disinfecting?

For cleaning surfaces, using warm water and detergent is recommended since it is effective in breaking up oil, grime and dirt. There are lots of detergents in the market which can do this job capably. After cleaning, the surface should then be disinfected.

Disinfecting hard surfaces is best done with disinfectants that contain equal to or more than 70 percent alcohol, chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach or quaternary ammonium compounds.

Always look for disinfectants with anti-viral properties to kill viruses. Check the label of the disinfectant to guarantee that it’s made to remove viruses.

You can also make use of diluted bleach. If this is your preferred option, make sure to follow the instructions for correct dilution and use of the product. The solution will only be effective once it is diluted according to the prescribed concentration.

To maintain the bleach’s efficacy, make sure that you store the item away from sunlight and extreme temperatures.

Is it okay to create DIY solutions to disinfect surfaces?

Commercial disinfectants are effective since they are required to meet specific government standards. If disinfectants are often out of stock in your area, making your own disinfectant using bleach and water is recommended as well.

However, items like baking soda, vinegar, saline solutions and even mouthwashes and essential oils are not recommended for disinfecting since these items cannot destroy the COVID-19 virus.

Ensure that you are handling chemicals like bleach properly when making your own disinfectant since these items can be harsh. Always keep up with manufacturer’s instructions and comply with the safety precautions mentioned on the product label.

Will detergents and disinfectants with anti-bacterial properties kill the COVID-19 virus?

Detergents and disinfectants with anti-bacterial features are meant to kill bacteria only, not viruses. Therefore, COVID-19 being a virus from the coronavirus family, will not be destroyed by anti-bacterial products.

What cleaning methods should not be used?

Make sure to steer clear of cleaning methods that can produce droplets or scatter the coronavirus like dusters, dry rags or cloth, pressurised air products and pressurised water devices.

Disinfectant fogging might seem like a good idea. However, this is not recommended as well since it does not have the capability to clean up surfaces and its success rate of killing COVID-19 is still suspect. Improper application of this method can also expose individuals to chemicals that are hazardous.

A good way to survive the coronavirus pandemic, apart from social distancing, frequent handwashing and a stronger immune system is through regular cleaning and disinfecting.

Make sure that the methods for clean-ups and disinfection that you apply are done correctly to guarantee a higher success rate.

For more information about proper cleanliness and sanitation for our times, you can also visit official online sites of government agencies tasked to help on the matter.

This is not the time to sit on your hands. Do what needs to be done to stop the harm done by COVID-19.

For any cleaning and disinfection questions and inquiries this COVID-19 pandemic, call us at 1300 867 872 and we will be glad to assist you.

Tile Common Area Cleaning: Apartments

Cleaning poorly maintained tiles to bring them back to life

In our industry there are many challenges we face with rejuvenating all types of surfaces whether it be tiles, vinyl, carpets and the list goes on. In this instance a common area requiring tile rejuvenation was a challenge as the build up of grime was stubborn.

We applied a product called crossfire which we found works wonders once you allow it to penetrate into the tile. Our next step was to use a slow speed swing buffer with a tynex brush to agitate the grime on the tile .
We then cleaned the tile with a neutral detergent called viewquick. The end result was pleasing and the client was over the moon. We did this for our commercial cleaning client in Richmond.

This issued occurred due to not using the correct chemicals to maintain the floor to a high standard. With all cleaning of any surfaces, correct procedure and product is the key to achieve the end result.

The image shows a section of cleaned tile compared to the uncleaned area.

Performance Cleaning has a commitment to give utmost cleaning service to all its clients. If you need cleaning services for your home or office, don’t hesitate to call us at 1300 867 872 and we are very happy to assist you.