Cimara Cleaning Services Articles

The No-Sneeze Guide for Allergy Cleaning in Your Home

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 20:53:00 GMT

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, more than 50 million Americans experience some kind of allergies. If you’re one of them, you may be spending hours cleaning your home every day. It can be frustrating then when the lingering effects of allergies still stick with you:

Are you supposed to be cleaning even more than you already are?

Regular cleaning can help with seasonal or ongoing allergies, but if you aren’t doing it right, some cleaning products and methods can actually exacerbate your allergy symptoms if you aren’t careful. With the right strategies though, you can keep allergies at bay.

Allergy cleaning looks a little different than the regular cleaning methods you might be used to when you want your home to look sparkling clean. Here’s what you need to know about cleaning to remove allergens.

The Best Materials for Allergy Cleaning

If you have a dust allergy, it doesn’t make much sense to use a feather duster that will kick up dust and send it straight into your sinuses, right? The best tools to keep on hand for allergy cleaning are the ones that trap dust and keep it out of the air you breathe.

These are the best tools to use for routine and deep spring cleaning to keep your allergy symptoms to a minimum:

Clearing Your Home of Allergens

One of the best ways to keep allergens under control in your home is through routine cleaning. The Mayo Clinic has the following recommendations for cleaning and allergy-proofing your home:

Around Your Home

Each week, you should vacuum carpets and rugs with a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner to rid your floors of trapped dust and damp-mop wood or linoleum flooring, especially in the corners where dust tends to settle. All other surfaces can be wiped with a damp microfiber cloth, including:

You may also want to consider removing items that can collect dust like knick-knacks, books, and magazines. You should also wash your curtains once per season, and may want to wear a dust mask while you are cleaning.

As recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology , you should keep windows closed during pollen season, and clean mold and condensation on window frames and sills using a solution of ¾ cup chlorine bleach diluted in 1 gallon of water.

Cleaning the Kitchen

To keep allergens under control, wash your dishes each day, then scrub the sink and faucets to clear away food debris and keep mold from growing. Wipe cabinets and countertops with detergents and water.

Your fridge can also foster the growth of allergy-causing mold spores. To prevent this, wipe away any excess moisture and throw away expired food. Also, you will want to regularly empty the dripping pan and replace moldy rubber seals around the refrigerator door.

Cleaning the Living Room

Wash or vacuum any area rugs or floor mats during your weekly house cleaning, and vacuum all upholstered furniture. If you have potted plants, you may want to consider re-homing them or spreading aquarium gravel across the soil to contain any mold growth.

Cleaning the Bedroom

Many people with allergies choose to encase their pillows, mattresses, and box springs in dust mite-proof covers. You should also wash your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets weekly in water that is at least 130° Fahrenheit.

Hire Professional Cleaners

You don’t have to handle all of this extra cleaning on your own! Cimara Cleaning Services can answer all your cleaning questions . With monthly cleaning services, weekly cleaning services, and everything in between, we have the services you need to keep your allergy symptoms to a minimum. We’re meticulous about the work we do, leaving no corner unswept. We’ll tackle your dust bunnies so you don’t have to!

Some of our house cleaning services geared toward allergy sufferers include:

Take a look at the reviews from some of our happy customers and then discover the Cimara Cleaning Services difference for yourself. It’s time to breathe easier at home. We can help. Request an online estimate today !

Here is How You Can Refresh Your Carpets Like a Pro

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 23:41:00 GMT

Fun fact: carpets can hold four times their weight in dirt, grime, and bacteria. So think about every time you’ve stepped on your carpets with dirty shoes or spilled wine everywhere — there’s a good chance those stains and dirt are still present deep in the fibers.

Bacteria can also live up to four weeks in your carpet. You read that right — four weeks. So that means if anyone in your family has been sick or has allergies, those things are still stuck in the fibers if you don’t clean your carpet regularly.

But how do you combat this if you’re not an expert carpet cleaner? Easy. You use our tried and tested carpet cleaning tips at Cimara Cleaning to give you an edge and figure out what works best for your carpets.

Benefits of Regular House Carpet Cleaning

Before you get on your knees and start scrubbing out those red wine stains, let’s talk about what the benefits are of regularly cleaning your carpets. The thought of cleaning your carpets once a week can seem over the top to some, but if you understand the benefits you get from them, it can be a motivator to stay on top of your carpet cleaning schedule.

Most importantly, a cleaner carpet can protect the health of every single one of your family members. Dirty carpets put dirt and allergens in the air, which can affect family members’ breathing and general comfort. If you have small children who are on the carpet a lot, it can expose them to dirt and germs. A regularly cleaned carpet helps fight those problems.

Another benefit is your home simply looking better. If you’re a homeowner who hosts a lot of events or has pets, your carpets take a beating every day and have stuff fall over them. By regularly cleaning your home will simply look better — and it will feel really nice on your feet.

By the following carpet cleaning tips, you should be able to get a clean that you can both see and feel.

Vacuum Often

When it comes to carpet care, you can never vacuum too much. The average person who lives alone or with one other person can vacuum once a week and be good to go, although vacuuming more wouldn’t be a bad idea .

For those with allergies or other medical conditions, you should vacuum once or twice a week, especially when your allergies are worse than normal.

If you have kids or live with a large number of people or host events often, then vacuuming three to four times a week wouldn’t be a bad thing, too! A quick run-through at the end of every other day would at least put you ahead and save yourself from bacteria and dirt getting deeper into your carpet fibers.

Make sure you clean your vacuum bag and filter often. Try to get a vacuum that has extra power or is specifically designed for pets if you have them.

Blot Stains, Don’t Wipe

Although it can be easy to want to grab a washcloth and scrub it out, don’t do that. Simply get the cloth wet and lightly blot the area for a few minutes.

From there, you’ll need to get stain remover, spray it on, let it sit, and then lightly blot that up as well. When you scrub a stain, it makes it go deeper in the carpet and spreads it over a wider area.

Ice vs. Gum and Slime

Getting gum or slime on your carpet can be extremely frustrating. Those aren’t the kinds of things you can get out easily. However, ice can get the job done , believe it or not!

You’ll want to put an ice cube directly over the slime or gum and let it get as cold as possible. It should thicken up enough to where you can scrape it up off the carpet with a spoon. From there, you can use water and dish soap to scrub it out and repeat as necessary until the goop is gone.

Baking soda Is Your Best Friend

Baking soda is a great ingredient to add to your vacuum or on your carpets to fight odor, especially if you have pets or kids. You can put it down as much as you want. There are usually specialized baking soda mixes at stores that you can buy specifically for pets as well.

Deep Clean Every Three Months

Although regular cleaning is important, it’s also important to regularly deep clean your carpet as well. The best and easiest way to deep clean your carpets is with hot water extraction. You can usually find hot water extraction machines at your local hardware store.

By using hot water extraction, you push in a hot water solution that gets deep into the fibers and gets rid of dirt and bacteria, and then sucks it back up. You might have to go over your carpets quite a few times before the water runs clear, which will show just how much dirt gets caught up in your carpets.

Hiring Professional Carpet Cleaning Services

Let’s face it — finding the time to clean your own carpets on a regular basis can be hard. With a job, a family, and things to do, it would just be easier to hire carpet cleaning services from a trusted company like Cimara Cleaning, and here’s why!

Not only do our customers love working with us , but we offer an extensive list of carpet cleaning services to give you exactly what you want. We want to protect you and your family from allergens, dust, and dirt, and we clean with that in mind.

We’ll look at your space and identify the areas of your carpets that need the most attention. From there, we’ll go through our inventory and decide the best way to clean your carpet in sections to make sure each area is thoroughly cleaned. Unlike other companies, we use hot water extraction, a gentler option for your carpets that will not only clean them but also help them last longer.

The best part is that our service is hands-on and customizable, so if at any point you want to update your cleaning plan, you can. It’s that simple. If you’re ever not satisfied with your service, we’ll come and fix it right away as well.

We can provide our expert carpet cleaning service to the following areas :

Is your home not in the following areas? Don’t worry! Request a quote today, and we’ll discuss with you possible service options for your home.

Request a Quote

We hope our carpet cleaning tips have made you more prepared to tackle your weekly carpet cleanings! However, if you need any help, the experts at Cimara Cleaning can be reached on our contact page .

If you know that you want to hire expert carpet cleaning services, then request a quote today. Let us handle the hard work so that you can focus on your own life and the things you love.

Top 7 Upholstery Cleaning Tips

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 03:11:00 GMT

Almost everyone can remember a time in their life — most likely in their childhood — where they were told they couldn’t eat or drink on the couch. As kids, it was annoying. All you wanted to do was enjoy some chips and watch your TV show!

But as adults, we understand the warning we were given. Your upholstery, whether it be couches, chairs or loveseats, are not only an investment but say a lot about your home.

You don’t want to sit on cheese marks from chips or see grape juice stains and spots everywhere. You certainly don’t want your guests seeing it either.

But what happens if you have kids? Or pets? Or you just have an accident yourself and need it cleaned ASAP?

The cleaning professionals at Cimara Cleaning have you covered. With these 10 upholstery cleaning tips, the process of cleaning your upholstery will be easy and as stress-free as possible.

1. Check Your Labels

It’s easy for people to assume that every piece of furniture is the same. It’s all fabric so just splash together a solution and you’re good to go.

However, those people would be wrong. There’s actually a guide on your upholstery’s label that shows you what cleaner is recommended and it’s the perfect way to know how to clean the specific type of upholstery that you have.

The code goes as follows:

It’s always better to hire professional cleaners, especially if you don’t have a label to go off of or can’t find the information online. However, if you do have a label you can then tailor your cleaning techniques to fit the proper recommendation.

2. Vacuuming is Your Friend

The first step before you do any cleaning should be vacuuming your upholstery. Your vacuum has a lot of tools that can be helpful in getting into tight spots such as the crevice tool.

The best way to vacuum is to start out with a general sweeping tool connected to the hose that can do large sections. Then switch to smaller, specialized tools to get up as much dirt and particles as possible, especially food.

This is a super important step in your upholstery cleaning process. If you don’t vacuum up crumbs or dirt, then when they get wet they can sink into your fabric more, causing more of a mess. It can even lead to unsavory smells.

3. Always Test Your Solutions

We understand the desire to dump your cleaning solution all over your dirty couch and get to scrubbing. But that would be a mistake.

You should always, always check your cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous spot before using them all over your furniture piece, even if you followed the code from the upholstery guide. This will allow you to make sure that the solution you’re using doesn’t make matters worse by staining your couch in ways you can’t fix.

Also, be sure to use your solution only on the fabric area. If it gets onto the legs or other non-fabric parts of your couch it can ruin them.

4. Dish Detergent and Baby Wipes Can Be Helpful

As crazy as it sounds, there’s a reason why dish soap and baby wipes are used by parents everywhere, all the time . With just a bit of water and dish soap, you can sometimes blot out light stains from your couch and allow it to air dry.

Baby wipes can have the same use. Thanks to their light mix of water and soap, it can be a great tool for quick cleaning, especially in places like the car. However, you should always test these first too.

5. Clean Stains Immediately

The best way to save yourself time and frustration is to clean stains at the moment they happen. It’s just like with clothes, the quicker you handle the stain, the less of a chance it has to set in.

When trying to get up a stain quickly, make sure to dab and blot, not scrub. Scrubbing can make dark stains worse and can push them deeper into the fabric.

Try a little bit of water and detergent to start. If that doesn’t work, you can go a little heavier on the cleaner the next day and use the recommended solutions.

6. Go Easy on the Water

Although you may need water to clean your upholstery, you don’t want to overdo it. By overusing water on your fabric, it can make it smell and cause other dirt, such as oils and foods, to sink deep into your fabric and start to smell.

The best way to avoid this kind of mistake is to find pre-made upholstery solutions and follow the direction exactly. This ensures your fabric is cleaned as thoroughly as possible.

7. Make it a Weekly Chore

Out of all of our upholstery cleaning tips, this one is the most important: do your upholstery cleaning regularly. The more consistent you are with cleaning your furniture, the easier it will be to clean and maintain.

To keep smells at bay , try sprinkling bicarbonate of soda over your fabric and leave it overnight to get rid of them. This will make your furniture smell better and last longer.

Hire Expert Help

Let’s be honest, knowing how to clean upholstery at home can be a hassle. That’s why instead of trying to do it yourself, we recommend hiring a professional upholstery cleaning service to take care of your upholstery cleaning needs, like the service we offer at Cimara Cleaning.

Our services come highly recommended by our clients because it’s clear they’re created with customers like you in mind. Not only do we clean your space, we do things to maintain it and make your life easier.

For example, with our upholstery service, we’ll deep clean your fabric by using the necessary solutions and vacuuming it all up. It’s a type of hot water extraction. We’ll then apply fabric protectors to help your upholstery maintain its beauty.

We’re always here to answer your questions and set up a cleaning service that fits your schedule and budget.

Request A Quote

Cimara Cleaning is excited to offer its upholstery cleaning service to the following areas :

Reach out to us today for a free quote so you can get one step closer to cleaner, healthier upholstery in your home.

The Ultimate Office Cleaning Checklist

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 22:09:00 GMT

Finding professional office cleaning services can be stressful and overwhelming. Not only do you need to stick to a budget, but you need to know the people you hire know what they’re doing.

Companies will try and showcase this in many different ways. Some will show you testimonials that could be easily out of date or not relevant. Others will focus on their cleaning crew, saying they have clean backgrounds and are trained and certified.

While all of those things are important, they still miss the mark on what you need to know: Can they do the job and can they do it well? Will they be able to provide an office cleaning service that checks every box ?

That’s why we’ve created an all-inclusive office cleaning checklist that highlights all of the things that need to be done by the office cleaning services that you hire. If a company can’t do all of these things on the checklist, we recommend going to more experienced and trusted cleaners, such as our team here at Cimara Cleaning.

Providing Correct Cleaning Solutions and Equipment

Just because you find an affordable office cleaning service doesn’t mean you should sacrifice the quality you deserve. If a cleaning company is experienced and trusted, then they should be able to provide everything that’s needed to keep your space safe and hygienic.

If you have to fork out extra money to get cleaning supplies or equipment for your cleaning company, that’s your first red flag. If they do provide their own supplies and equipment, you should ask them about the products they use and if they have the ability to kill as many germs and viruses as possible.

Some common cleaning products and items a company should have include:

All cleaning solutions should be EPA approved to protect you and your staff. It should also be possible for them to clean your space and then you come into work hours later and not see sticky residue or smell an overpowering aroma from the products.

Cleaning the Reception/Front Area

Your reception area is the first place people see when they walk in. Above all other rooms, that one has to sparkle and shine. Not only should the floors and ceiling be free of dust and dirt, but so should the upholstery, countertops, and windows. If you make the best first impression possible, you have a better chance at making them come back for more.

Some common cleaning tasks that need to be handled in the front area include:

Cleaning the Cubicles/Office Rooms

The cubicles and general office area is where all the action happens. Your professional office cleaning service should pay extra attention to these spaces— after all, it’s your team’s home away from home almost every day of the week. Some common cleaning tasks include:

Cleaning the Bathrooms

Bathrooms can become a cesspool for germs and bacteria, leading to the spread of sickness faster than you might imagine. Deep cleaning the bathroom is essential to the health and safety of every person who comes through your office; some of the main tasks that should be done daily include:

Cleaning the Breakroom

The breakroom is the place where staff members can enjoy a break from their work. Maybe they’re eating lunch or grabbing another coffee, but whatever they’re doing, they should be doing it in a clean and sanitary environment. With so many people in there daily, it’s important that office cleaning services complete daily tasks such as:

Cimara Cleaning: A Professional Office Cleaning Service

Serving Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas , Cimara Cleaning is a first-class office cleaning service ready to provide you with exceptional service. Our customers love working with us because we genuinely care about their business. We want every customer to have a clean space in which they can thrive.

You could say we’re experts in creating first impressions that last. Whether that’s through our disinfection services or our organizational skills, you’ll impress your customers and ensure that they feel comfortable every time they come into your office.

Most importantly, our services will help prevent the spread of illness or sickness, increasing work morale and giving your business the day-to-day manpower it needs to succeed.

The Benefits of Working with Cimara Cleaning

The benefits that come along with outsourcing your office cleaning services are the kind that keep on giving. When you work with us you get:

We work with you to provide a cleaning service on your schedule. Everything is in your hands.

Request a Free Quote Today

We hope that by going through our list it allows you to make better decisions in regards to who provides your office cleaning services. We also hope you’ve seen that Cimara Cleaning is always a top-tier choice when it comes to cleaning offices. To request your free online estimate today, go to our website. We can’t wait to meet you.

If you still have questions after reading our ultimate office cleaning checklist, reach out to us on our website for more information.

Everything You Need to Know About Disinfection Services Today

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:51:00 GMT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection services are more critical than ever. Businesses who forgo effective disinfecting services put employees and guests at risk for infection. You don’t want to be the facility that’s spreading disease.

If you have been using a commercial cleaner before the pandemic, you might think you’re covered now. But there’s a big difference between standard cleaning and real disinfection. If you haven’t hired disinfecting cleaning services yet, who knows what pathogens are lurking in your workplace?

Here’s the low-down on professional disinfecting services and why they are so vital to the safety of those entering your facility.

Cleaning Services vs. Disinfecting Services

How clean is your facility? You probably can tell just by looking at the surfaces in your building. What you don’t know is how many germs are still on those surfaces.

Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing. If you hire cleaning services, they only are removing the visible dirt and grime from your facility. Some of the pathogens hiding in that grime will go with it, but unless your cleaners also disinfect surfaces, most germs will remain where they are, waiting to make people sick.

Disinfection kills the invisible microbes that hide on the surfaces of your facility. Regular disinfecting services significantly reduce the risk of disease transmission, not to mention the ick factor of all those germs!

The bottom line: Cleaning is about appearance, and disinfection is about health and safety. Both are important, but only one will protect people from illness.

Why You Need Professional Disinfecting Services

Some facility owners and managers might believe they can handle commercial disinfection themselves. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the 2020 pandemic, it’s that many people do not understand how disease-carrying pathogens spread and how to stop them. Putting out hand sanitizer and wipes just won’t cut it.

Whether you’re in charge of sanitation for an office , store or another type of facility, you need professional disinfecting services to get the job done right. Trained technicians understand the science of commercial disinfection and how to sanitize your facility to prevent germs from spreading. They know what areas and surfaces collect the most germs and what chemicals are appropriate for each surface.

If an untrained person attempts to disinfect your workplace, they probably will miss vital areas or cause damage to your property. Using the wrong chemicals also can be dangerous to people.

Speaking of danger, it’s no secret how contagious COVID-19 is. Millions of people worldwide have been sickened, and hundreds of thousands have lost their lives. The last thing you want as a facility owner or manager is for your customers or employees to get sick—or worse—because you failed to maintain a sanitary workplace.

If you’re concerned about the cost of disinfection services, consider the costs of lost productivity and increased healthcare benefits if your employees contract COVID-19. If customers get sick, they may blame you and never do business with you again.

Investing in the best disinfection services shows your goodwill towards the public and boosts your reputation, earning you more business. People want to support entities that contribute positively to their communities and make them feel safe. As companies and organizations begin reopening their doors, you want to be one that people trust.

To create a truly safe business environment, hire disinfection services. Regular commercial cleaning services or DIY attempts simply aren’t enough. Proper disinfection is vital to stopping the spread of coronavirus and other illnesses.

Best Practices of Disinfection Cleaning Companies

Choosing the right disinfection services has never been more important. However, not all disinfection services are created equal. All disinfection cleaning companies claim they will rid your facility of germs, but many do not use industry best practices, and they leave many unseen germs behind.

So how do you know which professional disinfecting services are worth it and which ones are just going through the motions? Here are some industry best practices that reputable disinfecting cleaning services follow:

When deciding between disinfection cleaning companies, look for one that follows these standards to ensure you’re hiring the professionals and not amateurs.

Essential Disinfection Services for Your Maryland Facility

Do your part to prevent the spread of coronavirus by choosing the proven disinfecting cleaning services of Cimara Cleaning Services.

Our complete disinfection services combat COVID-19 and other infectious pathogens to create a healthy, safe environment for everyone at your Maryland-D.C. area commercial facility. Our employees follow strict industry standards of sanitation and use only EPA-approved disinfectants.

We guarantee to make this process stress free for you. All of our employees are background checked, insured and bonded. They bring all of their supplies with them and are trained to provide exceptional service every time. There’s a reason our clients give us five-star ratings!

For reliable disinfecting cleaning services, request a free estimate today, and breathe easier with Cimara Cleaning!

Essential Home Office Organization Tips You Haven’t Heard Yet

Tue, 12 May 2020 19:20:00 GMT

Like much of the workforce, you might be working from home now more than ever. Maybe your transition into this work-from-home era has been an easy one; your home office is organized and clutter-free, and your space promotes focus and productivity.

It’s also possible that, while you adjust to working from your house in these uncertain times, your home office feels distracting or cluttered. If so, you might need some strategies to organize your space.

Your home office setup is the key to your success in working from home. Imagine the difference it could make to work in an environment that promotes peace and puts your work at the focal point instead of stacks of paper, charging cables or office supplies everywhere.

Here’s how you can achieve work-from-home, home office organizational bliss :

Make Use of Shelves

If your home office isn’t very large, it can start to feel cramped pretty quickly. So why not go vertical?

Don’t get bogged down by a lack of space—you can find more organizational space to store necessary items with economical use of shelves. Open shelves can provide form and function: You can create storage solutions that are both beautiful and practical. Why not convert an entire wall into a well-organized shelf system? You’ll end up with an accent wall that provides interest in the room.

Here are a few examples of functional, beautiful home office shelving systems. Try adding bins and baskets that compliment your decor to keep supplies out of sight and give your room the right vibe.

Store Your Tech

There are already enough distractions when you’re working from home without the addition of your phone buzzing every time you get a message from a friend or your Kindle beckoning to you to read the next chapter of your book.

The technology we have in our homes—and the tangle of charging cords that accompanies it all—can distract you and make your space look cluttered. You can shift your productivity into high gear by putting away attention-grabbing technology when it’s time to work.

Create a docking station for all of your devices to keep you on task. This is also the perfect time to come up with ways to detangle your charging cords with a cord management system that works for you. Suddenly your desk is clear of devices and the space underneath isn’t muddled with cords.

Close Up Shop

If your workspace is also a common space or part of the guest room or dining room, you’re not alone. You can shut down for the evening and instantly give yourself a tidy-looking space with a chic-looking secretary desk that closes if space is at a premium in your home. Better yet, you also can convert your old armoire into a workspace for a home office that is easily concealed.

The added benefit? When you close up your desk for the day, you can separate your work life from your home life, which otherwise can be challenging when you’re spending all your time at home.

Give Your Family a Command Center (Elsewhere)

One of our favorite home office ideas? Your home office organization doesn’t have to stop in your space. When the whole family is working from home, you’re interrupted countless times during the day with family members wandering in to use the printer, grab office supplies, or use the scissors and tape. The result is that your home office ends up cluttered with school projects, mail and other messes tracked into your workspace.

Try creating a family “command center.” It’s a one-stop-shop with a printer, corkboard, family calendar, school and office supplies, notecards, pens, a place for incoming and outgoing mail, a place to stow your keys, and more. It will mean less traffic in and out of your home office when someone needs to print a worksheet or report, grab an envelope, or finish a project because that all happens elsewhere. Your office stays organized, and your family stays more organized too.

File It Away

It’s easy for papers to pile up on your desk: mail, the kids’ school projects, your own work. Papers can accumulate quickly, and your desk can look messy as a result. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to implement a well -organized filing system with specific drawers designated for home and work use.

Not thrilled with the look of most regular filing cabinets? You can redo an old filing cabinet to match the most contemporary of decors and still keep your home office looking stylish.

Extraordinary Organization

What else can you do to keep your home organized? Try these organizational tips:

Start With a House Cleaning Service

Your whole family is working and learning from home right now, so if you are struggling to keep up with organization, you’re not alone. Cimara Cleaning can transform your workspace and your home so you can focus on transitioning your work life to your home office while helping the kids with their math homework.

We want to be your go-to coronavirus cleaning company. Our bonded, insured and highly skilled team members are taking every precaution to keep your family safe while providing you with an exceptionally clean and sanitized home—just ask our happy clients ! If you’re spending all your time working and living at home, why not do so in a beautifully clean space?

We offer a wide range of services to keep your home looking its best, from recurring cleanings to upholstery and carpet cleanings. We even can clean your windows so you can stare out a sparkling-clean window to brainstorm the best ideas from your home office!

We are standing by, ready to give your home office a major cleaning makeover. Let’s get started. Request a quote today !

Quarantine Clean: 7 Things to Scrub While You Have the Time

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 01:29:00 GMT

We’re all spending our days at home physically distancing ourselves to protect our neighbors and loved ones. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably started cleaning your home from top to bottom with all the extra free time on our hands. Have you gotten to the frequently forgotten or seldom-cleaned spots though?

Here are a few house cleaning tips and tricks to take care of the spots in your home you may have forgotten to clean—or just not had the time before. While you’re home, you can get the whole family involved in cleaning these oft-missed tasks so you can relax in a totally clean space.

Cleaning High-Touch Surfaces

Whether you’re completely quarantining and working from home or you work an essential job, you’re probably bringing outside supplies in—things like groceries, cleaning supplies, online orders. With these orders come germs, so it’s crucial that you disinfect high-touch surfaces to keep your home virus-free.

What are the germiest places in your home that need to be sanitized regularly? Start with your cell phone, TV remotes and computer keyboards. After all, they all are getting lots of use right now. What else ?

Hand the kids a sanitizing wipe and a checklist every day so you can trust these high-touch spots to be clean and germ-free. You also should regularly replace your dish sponge, which can be a breeding ground for germs.

Other places to clean?

Dust and Clean Your Walls

Chances are you’ve never cleaned your walls, but dust and cobwebs accumulate. You easily can do this without having to climb a ladder. Attach a dry cloth to your Swiffer mop , and run it along walls, near the ceiling, in corners and along baseboards. Your walls will be clean in no time and with very little effort!

Clean Your Bedding

Have you cleaned your mattress lately? How about your pillows or your bedding? Cleaning your mattress is a quick task, but it’s one we don’t think to do frequently. Vacuum the whole mattress with an upholstery cleaner to start. Spot clean any spots with a stain remover, but be careful about what you’re using on your specific mattress. A memory foam mattress, for example, never should get wet. Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress, and let it sit for a few hours. This will break down acid and absorb odor and moisture. Then vacuum the baking soda.

You also can wash your pillows by hand or in the washing machine using hot water and low-suds detergent. Throwing a few tennis balls in the dryer with your pillows not only will cure any remaining germs but will fluff your pillows so they are cozy and clean too.

Wash Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher cleans your dishes, but who cleans the dishwasher? Each time you use your dishwasher, you can wipe away remaining food remnants that end up in the drain at the bottom of the appliance, but it should also be cleaned from time to time too .

Pour two cups of white vinegar in a glass liquid measuring cup, and run it through an empty cycle on the top rack (with no detergent) to cut through grease and grime. Then sprinkle one cup of baking soda along the bottom of the dishwasher and run it again on a short, hot cycle to brighten and deodorize your dishwasher.

Clean Your Coffee Maker

Coffee from the coffee maker can keep us going when we’re working from home and don’t have access to our favorite coffee place. However, your coffee maker can harbor all kinds of germs. To clean your coffeemaker , run all the removable parts in the top rack of the dishwasher, and clean the reservoir with a mixture of white vinegar and water.

Tackle Bathroom Drawers and Cabinets

Are your bathroom drawers and cabinets stuffed to the brim with expired samples and accumulated hair and makeup products? Go drawer by drawer and get rid of things you’ll never use again—empty toothpaste tubes and lotions, leftover pill bottles, old razors, and products that ended up being a bust. All of these things can go into the trash, and your drawers can get wiped down and reorganized.

Clean Your Bagless Vacuum

If you’re vacuuming to suck up extra dust and get moving, your bagless vacuum might be filled with debris. Disassemble your vacuum cleaner, empty the receptacle and then rinse all of the removable pieces in warm water. Hair and strings might be caught up in the roller brush, and these can be carefully freed with a seam ripper or scissors.

If the filter on your vacuum can get wet, you also can rinse it until the water runs clear. You may find that your freshly cleaned vacuum cleaner works like a brand new one!

Trust Us to Be Your Coronavirus Cleaning Company

Are you in need of a house cleaning service ? If you need professional disinfecting services, Cimara Cleaning can be there to clean your home after an illness or in order to help prevent one.

In addition to our house cleaning tips, we offer a host of services , including spring cleaning and recurring cleanings so you can enjoy a clean home while you quarantine at home.

Our insured and bonded staff are trained thoroughly in the best procedures to sanitize your home, and we are taking every precaution to keep our team and your family safe during these uncertain times.

Listen to our satisfied customers —you deserve the benefits of a professionally cleaned home. Request an estimate today , and let us provide you with a perfectly pristine work-from-home space.

Carpet Cleaning: What You Need to Know First

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 18:03:00 GMT

Are you in need of a house carpet cleaning service? Spots or dingy tracks through your carpet may leave you feeling like your whole house needs to be scrubbed from the ceilings to the carpets.

If you’re hoping to give your floors a facelift, there are a few things you should know first.

Important Carpet Maintenance Tips

What kinds of things can you do to extend the life of your carpet? With regular care, you can keep your carpet looking like new. Carpet in your home is an investment, so here’s how you can protect it :

How to Get Spots Out of Carpet at Home

Stains and spills are an unavoidable part of life; they just happen sometimes. We do our best to prevent a mess, but muddy footprints or a spilled glass of wine tend to happen no matter what we do.

When stains happen, how do we get them out? Regular vacuuming can extend the life of your carpet and keep it from looking too dirty, but if you’re dealing with a stain, you’ll need a little more elbow grease and the right tools.

For most carpet stains, you can use this simple method , which works on everything from wine spills and pet accidents to muddy footprints:

How to Remove Coffee Spots from Carpet

The second a coffee cup gets knocked over or flies out of your hands, there’s that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach: Will the coffee spot ever come out of the carpet? Here’s how to tackle those coffee spills right the first time.

You may want to test a small, inconspicuous section of your carpet first to make sure that the peroxide won’t discolor your carpet. If you’ve spilled a cup of coffee with cream, you may want to use an enzymatic cleaner to break down the protein in the cream.

How to Remove Old Spots From Carpet

Did you find an old spot under the coffee table or maybe a spot on the carpet when you moved into your new home? Have no fear, you can still remove set-in stains with the right techniques—of which you have a few options .

Let the Professionals Take Care of It

Do you have lots of set-in spots or heavy traffic patterns that need to be removed? Maybe it’s time you let the professionals handle the house carpet cleaning.

If you’re in need of residential carpet cleaning, let Cimara Cleaning Services handle it for you. We know that even if the rest of your house is clean, if your carpets are dirty, it still feels like there’s more cleaning to do.

This is why we have perfected the art of professional carpet cleaning. Other companies place unnecessary wear and tear on your carpet with their harsh steam cleaning and dry cleaning methods, but at Cimara Cleaning, we offer a gentler water extraction method , which not only is better for your carpet but is more effective too. We pump water deep into the fibers of your carpet to loosen all the dirt and grime so your carpets end up looking their very best.

Can we take your carpets from “good” to “great?” Our team of highly trained, insured and bonded technicians is ready to give your home’s carpet the cleaning it deserves. Listen to our very happy customers , and request an online estimate today.

The Must-Read Guide to Home Disinfecting

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:43:00 GMT

If you’re concerned about keeping your family safe and healthy after the cold or flu hits your home, you’re not alone. When illness hits your home, all you want to do is clean and sanitize everything to keep the rest of your family from getting sick too.

When someone in your home is sick, or if there’s a flu bug running through your child’s class at school, don’t let worry ruin your life. Instead, you can disinfect your home to keep sickness from disrupting your plans.

What are the proper ways to disinfect your home so that it is actually germ-free? How can you keep your family from spreading germs via the surfaces in your house? Here’s what you need to know about hom e disinfecting.

Finding the Best Disinfectant Spray for Home Use

If you choose the right cleaning products to disinfect your home, a lot of the work is already done for you. There are a few things to consider when finding the right spray for your house.

First, read the label, and check the contact time; how long does it take for the disinfectant to kill all the germs? Proper contact time is key to killing germs where they live. The label also will tell you if that is the right cleaner for your surfaces. Wood, marble and granite all can be damaged if you pick the wrong cleaner, so make sure your cleaning products are safe for all the surfaces for which you plan to use them.

Do you want to use an all-natural cleaner in your home, you can kill most (but maybe not all) germs with an all-natural antibacterial cleaner if you’re worried about the kinds of chemicals you’ll find in household cleaners.

You’ll also want to make sure that you use the right cleaning tools for each product you select. Do you need rubber gloves? Can you use paper towels, or does a certain product require a rag or sponge? Is it safe to use in your home if you have young children or a family member with breathing issues?

When in doubt about which products will kill germs, you always can consult this list of the best disinfecting cleaners to use in 2020 .

The Best Steps for Disinfecting Your Home After Flu Hits

If someone in your house falls ill with the flu or any virus for that matter, you can help keep the sickness from spreading by disinfecting your home during and after the time they are sick.

What can you do to keep the flu from taking over your home? Here are a few tips to keep things sanitized :

After someone gets very sick, you also may consider using a disinfecting fogger . You place the fogger in a vacant room, and just a few hours after starting it, the surfaces in your room are disinfected, with no moisture or residue. Don’t forget to get your pets out of the room first!

How to Disinfect Linens

When someone has been ill, you really should disinfect the linens throughout your house. These linens should be disinfected regularly too. You already should be washing your bed linens once per week, but it’s a good practice to disinfect them occasionally and always after someone has been sick.

How can you disinfect linens to ensure they’re fully germ-free? Here are the steps you need to take:

You also may want to add one cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. Vinegar can help kill germs and deodorizes linen, which is a strong indication that germs are dead too. It should be noted here that vinegar is not an EPA-approved disinfectant, but it can do a great job taking care of some of the germs in loads of laundry that can’t be bleached, and it also acts as a natural fabric softener. Here are a few other l aundry additives that kill germs that you might want to try.

Do you need professional help with your home disinfecting needs after the flu? Or maybe you just need some extra help keeping germs at bay each week?

Cimara Cleaning Services is a professional house cleaning company that can help you disinfect your entire home.

Our entire team at Cimara Cleaning has been expertly trained in all the proper techniques , which means that when you’re sick, you can leave the disinfecting to us. Let our long list of satisfied clients win you over. We don’t leave any part of your home go untouched by our safe, effective disinfectants.

Bringing in the professionals for your house disinfecting needs will let you move on with your life after the cold or flu. You’ll be able to rest easy, knowing your home has been cleaned and sanitized from top to bottom.

Let us help— request an online estimate today !

Here Is How You Should Tackle Spring Cleaning (Stress-Free)

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 19:34:00 GMT

As winter ends, you’ll soon see signs of spring-like blooming flowers, leaves on trees and cleaning supplies.

Yes, cleaning supplies. Spring is the perfect time to rid your house of the grime and germs of winter. But while many people enjoy this annual ritual, others dread it.

If deep cleaning your home sounds overwhelming or impossible, don’t give up hope! Often all you need is to get started and follow a plan.

Not sure how to start spring cleaning? This spring cleaning guide has everything you need to take the plunge and enjoy a beautiful home this season.

When to Do Spring Cleaning

While spring cleaning is generally reserved for the warmer weather of spring, you can decide when spring cleaning works best for you.

If you have a busy season ahead, go ahead and start early. Still enjoying the last remnants of winter? Take your time getting started. Just don’t let your home become a complete disaster in the meantime!

Vital Tips for Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is easier when you have a plan to follow. Try these tips for getting started and working more efficiently.

Your Whole House Spring Cleaning Checklist

To make spring cleaning a breeze, use this comprehensive spring cleaning checklist. It will help keep you organized and on task. It also will keep you motivated as you see the progress you’re making!

You can add other tasks you think of or cross off irrelevant ones as needed.

Entryways

Give family and friends a warm welcome with a clean entryway!

Living, Family and Play Rooms

Guests and loved ones always appreciate a clean place to hang out.

Office

You’ll get more done in a clean workspace.

Bathrooms

Nothing feels nicer than a shower in a clean bathroom!

Dining Room

Serve dinner in style in your newly cleaned dining room.

Kitchen

No one wants to eat food from a dirty kitchen!

Laundry Room

Laundry may become your favorite chore in a clean laundry room!

Stairwells

While not a room, your stairs get a lot of traffic and get dirty quickly.

Bedrooms

Everyone sleeps better in a clean room!

Outside

Enhance your home’s curb appeal with a little cleaning!

Need Help Spring Cleaning? Try a House Cleaning Service

All the tips and checklists in the world won’t help your spring cleaning efforts if you simply don’t have time for house cleaning. Luckily, for busy people like you, there’s always Cimara Cleaning Services .

Cimara Cleaning provides detailed spring cleaning services for Silver Spring and surrounding areas . We make scheduling easy and send only certified cleaners to your home. They scrub and disinfect every inch of your home until it shines! Best of all, our services are top quality and still budget-friendly!

If you’re looking for highly rated house cleaning services that make your life easier, Cimara Cleaning is the answer. Contact us today for a free estimate , and we’ll schedule your spring cleaning ASAP!

Are You Benefitting from Weekly House Cleaning Service Yet?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 17:23:00 GMT

There are a lot of reasons to love your house cleaning service from Cimara Cleaning Services. We save you the time and stress usually spent on cleaning and leave your home in pristine condition. But are you enjoying the full benefits of what professional house cleaning has to offer?

Many house cleaning clients are hesitant to commit to weekly house cleaning. We understand. If you haven’t used a cleaning service before, you might be wondering if it’s worth it . After all, you probably did your own cleaning up to that point, and house cleaning services come at a cost. To mitigate that cost and ease into the professional house cleaning experience, many of our clients start with monthly cleaning services to see how things go.

What these clients don’t know, however, is that monthly house cleaning services don’t serve them well. While we like to offer our clients flexible scheduling to fit their many different needs, for most homeowners, monthly cleaning services do not have the kind of impact they are looking for in their busy lives.

If you want to save yourself time, enjoy a sparkling house, and all the other benefits of professional house cleaning, the best way to do that is with weekly house cleaning services. To help you see the difference, here are the benefits of weekly house cleaning services compared to monthly cleaning services.

Weekly House Cleaning Leaves Your Home Cleaner

This is the most obvious benefit, but a home that is cleaned more frequently stays cleaner. Your family tracks in dirt, drops crumbs, and leaves behind fingerprints every day. The longer you go between cleanings, the more all of that grime builds up. Then when we come for your monthly cleaning, it’s harder to cut through that build-up and give you the clean results you deserve.

With weekly house cleaning, you don’t have to live in filth three weeks out of the month. Each weekly appointment leaves your home feeling fresh and easily eliminates the past few days’ messes. Your home will consistently look and feel great instead of just once a month.

Your Family Will Be Healthier

No one likes the look or feel of grime, but you also know that a dirty house is unhealthy . Germs, allergens, and molds love to hide out on the household surfaces that your family touches every day. Without regular cleaning, your family and guests are at risk of illness and allergies.

The best way to combat bacteria and other dangerous particles is with weekly house cleaning. Our team is trained in all the best ways to sanitize household surfaces and eliminate the germs and allergens that make your family sick. However, the effects of monthly cleaning services wear off quickly. Protect your loved ones all month long with recurrent weekly house cleaning services.

You Will Save More Time

Without a cleaning service, how much time do you spend cleaning each week? Imagine if you got all of that time back rather than a quarter of it.

Weekly house cleaning services versus monthly gives you back part of your week every week instead of just once in a while. Think of all the more appealing things you could do with that time. Your schedule would be lighter, and your days less hectic. You could focus on the things you want to do or are more pressing. You’d have more flexibility when emergencies arise.

They say everyone has 24 hours in a day, but a weekly house cleaning by Cimara Cleaning Services lets you choose how you spend those hours.

You’ll Save Money Too

Saving money is often the motivation behind monthly house cleaning services, but you might be surprised to find that weekly house cleaning is a better bargain.

Just like when you buy in bulk at the grocery store, the more recurrent cleaning appointments you schedule, the cheaper they are individually. That means that per hour, your monthly cleaning service cost is actually higher than that of weekly or bi-weekly house cleaning. And because frequent cleaning gets your home cleaner, you’re getting more for your money with weekly house cleaning.

Still not convinced? There are other little ways you’ll save money with weekly house cleaning services too. For instance, you can cut back on cleaning supplies because we bring our own. You can also save money on conveniences like the fast food you have for dinner when you’re too busy cleaning. Some individuals even find that the time they save is more valuable than the money they pay for cleaning .

Your Stress Will Decrease

You can check house cleaning off your to-do list this week and the next and the next when you schedule recurring weekly house cleaning with Cimara Cleaning. Having just one less thing to think about each week can take a load off your mind and reduce unhealthy stress .

With less time spent on cleaning, you’ll have more time to take care of yourself and fewer things to worry about, like if your home is clean for visitors or how to fit cleaning into an already full week.

Cimara’s dependable weekly house cleaning services are designed specifically to give you a break and simplify your life not just once in a while, but week after week, so you can enjoy your home and your life more. If you aren’t enjoying all of these benefits yet because you’re stuck with monthly cleaning appointments, talk to us today about upgrading to weekly cleaning services!

Enjoy All the Benefits of Weekly House Cleaning Services By Cimara Cleaning

You can never have too much of a good thing. Make the most of your favorite Cimara Cleaning Services with weekly house cleaning. We save you time, money, and stress with high-quality cleaning week after week. Our loyal clients love the difference that frequent cleaning makes in their lives, and you will too.

Our expertly trained team comes to every appointment prepared to tackle all of your household messes. They clean and sanitize all of your living space surfaces and leave you with a fresh, healthy home environment. All of our services are backed by our satisfaction guarantee . Giving you a quality experience is our top priority!

To book your valuable weekly house cleaning services, start with a free online estimate , and let us know what you need from us. We are happy to answer all of your questions and create a customized cleaning plan for you!

Is Your Cabinet Missing These Twelve Safe Household Cleaners?

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 02:08:00 GMT

Like most homeowners, you take care to use the right cleaning products for the surfaces in your home. You use glass cleaner on glass, stainless steel cleaner on your stainless steel appliances, and upholstery cleaner on the furniture.

But are these cleaners the best choices for your family’s safety?

In recent years, Americans have become aware of the environmental and health risks associated with many commercial household cleaners. The chemicals and active ingredients in these cleaners that kill germs and molds so well also can have adverse effects on the people and pets in our homes as well as on Mother Nature.

With their newfound knowledge of dangerous cleaners, many households have begun seeking natural cleaning solutions that are environmentally friendly but still effective at cleaning and sanitizing. In turn, manufacturers have responded by creating and selling more nontoxic cleaners to meet the demand.

But many of these products still fall short. This leaves discerning consumers wondering how to know which household cleaners are safe and which ones are dangerous.

Only you can decide if you’re ready to switch to alternative cleaners, but here is the truth about the chemicals you’ve been using all these years and how to find the best safe household cleaners on the market right now.

What Makes Some Household Cleaners Unhealthy?

Many people know that typical household cleaners come with some risks. After all, most have labels warning users against ingestion and splashing into eyes. But surely they aren’t so bad when used correctly, right?

As it turns out, even the correct usage of these cleaners puts you and your family at risk.

Many cleaning supplies contain chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that irritate the eyes, sinuses and throat if inhaled. They can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and headaches. Since many come in spray bottles or create fumes, inhalation is very common.

Caustic cleaners can cause chemical burns to the skin. Many fragrances used in air fresheners and cleaning supplies can react to ozone and create the carcinogen formaldehyde in the air. If bleach and ammonia, popular cleaning ingredients, are accidentally mixed, the dangerous fumes can cause chronic breathing problems or even death.

While proper safety measures can prevent contact during cleaning, do you really want to leave these substances on the surfaces of your home that your family touches every day? Do you want them to come home to air that has those chemical compounds floating in it?

If the answer is no, read on to learn more about how to know which household cleaners are safe and to see a list of alternative products that consumers love.

With a little education, anyone can take steps to clean out their cleaning supply cupboard and replace toxic products with safe household cleaners for their family’s safety and comfort.

How to Know Which Household Cleaners Are Safe

With so many people looking for safe household cleaners, it seems that manufacturers would make it easy to find these products. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

U.S. law does not require manufacturers to list all their ingredients on household cleaners, so it’s impossible to tell what exactly you’re getting. To complicate matters, no one is regulating the use of words like “all-natural” and “green,” rendering them meaningless on bottles. If you’re looking for pet-safe or baby-safe household cleaners, don’t let the cute pictures on the labels fool you.

Instead, consumers have to use their own tricks to sort the good from the bad. When reading household cleaner labels, look for ingredients that are:

Avoid cleaners with ingredients that:

If you are unsure of a cleaning ingredient, the best way to determine if it’s safe or not is to look it up online. The Environmental Working Group’s website is also a fantastic resource for looking up which household cleaners are safe.

Replace the Chemicals with These Safe Household Cleaners

Now that you know what kind of cleaning ingredients to look for and which to avoid, it will be easier to start stocking your home with safe household cleaners. To make it even easier, we’ve compiled a list of tried and true products to get you started.

All of these products have earned grade A from EWG , meaning they contain nontoxic ingredients but are still effective against household germs and grime:

Guaranteed Safe Cleaning Every Time

If you clean for your family’s health, pick cleaning products for their health too. Studies are still following the long-term effects of household chemical exposure, but in the meantime, you can reduce your loved ones’ risk of suffering known complaints by buying only safe household cleaners. You’ll rest easier knowing your family is safe from germs and poisons.

Looking for an easy way to enjoy green cleaning in your home? Save time and worry with the expert housecleaning services of Cimara Cleaning Services. Our green cleaning solutions eliminate dirt and bacteria from your Chevy Chase area home without leaving toxic fumes and residues behind.

We come highly rated by our clients , who love our dependability, affordability and convenience . Our staff is friendly and professionally trained to handle every cleaning challenge. Your home will never look or feel fresher than after we’re through with it.

For safe cleaning without the hassle, request an online estimate today, and let us know how we can make your life easier.

Who’s better? Cleaning Services Company VS Independent Cleaner

Sat, 18 Jan 2020 02:13:00 GMT

Your schedule is full, and you need help at home. Family activities pull you in every direction, and it seems as though there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Is it time to bring in the professionals to take care of your household chores?

If you are in the process of hiring a house cleaner, there are many factors to consider. The biggest one? Whether you should hire an independent cleaner or a professional cleaning service. When narrowing down your options to find the right house cleaner for you, this is the main deciding factor as to what your experience will be.

We may be biased, but in our opinion, there’s no other real option besides hiring professional cleaners . Why? Let’s take a look at the benefits of hiring the pros to take care of your home.

You will get a Better Availability

If you hire an independent contractor to clean your home, you are basically tied to their schedule and their availability. If you have a full calendar, this may not work for you.

What happens if your independent house cleaner is sick, has an event they can’t miss, has to pick their child up from school unexpectedly, or is otherwise engaged? You are left high and dry, with no one to clean your home. And if you are preparing to entertain or have houseguests? That can be a major inconvenience.

However, if you are working with a professional cleaning service like Cimara Cleaning, there is a plan in place if someone calls in sick or can’t make it. Cimara Cleaning Services is a family-owned and operated business. This means that your satisfaction means the world to us; we will go the extra mile to ensure that your house is cleaned on time– no matter what.

Also? Perhaps you would prefer a specific time and day of the week for your recurring cleaning. Your independent cleaner may not have the availability to make that happen. But a professional service will have more employees and more flexibility to better match your schedule and your needs.

Insurance and Legality Questions

Did you know that if you earn more than $2100 from one family in a single year, the IRS considers this an employer/employee relationship? This means that you are required to withhold and pay taxes . But when you hire a professional cleaning company? You don’t have to worry about a thing. Don’t add extra hassle to your relationship with your house cleaners– when you work with the professionals, they handle all of the taxes on their own, and you’re off the hook.

Also? Many independent contractors aren’t insured or bonded. It’s how they can afford to charge less than professional cleaning companies. But how does this affect you? This means that you are financially and legally responsible for items that might get broken, or for any injuries that happen on your property.

Because a house cleaner is not a guest, and someone who you are paying to work in your home, they are not covered under your homeowner’s insurance. And if you’ve hired an independent contractor, this means that you are personally financially responsible for medical bills or lost wages if someone is injured while they are cleaning your home. But with a professional cleaning company like Cimara Cleaning Services, all of our employees are fully bonded and insured , so you never have to worry about being financially liable.

Likewise, with an independent cleaner, if something is broken, or if the wrong cleaning product damages your wood floor or granite countertop, you are the one to foot the bill for the repair or replacement. But with a professional service, an insurance plan is in place to alleviate any financial burden you might otherwise have with an independent contractor.

You will get a Deeper Clean

Professional house cleaners go through extensive training to learn how to clean your home well, and how to clean it efficiently. There is a big difference in the result you get when you hire a professional house cleaning service. Technicians who work for a house cleaning service like Cimara Cleaning learn proper cleaning techniques to deep clean your home, as well as time efficiency, appropriate use of tools and cleaning products so that your home is cleaned to the very highest of standards, in record time. It not only looks cleaner, but it is cleaner.

If you hire an independent house cleaner, they may not have learned these skills, and it may take them considerably longer to clean your home. While a team of trained professionals might clean your home in an hour or two, it could take an independent contractor all day, with less impactful results. You sacrifice efficiency and get a home that doesn’t look quite as clean, and receive very little payoff in return with an independent cleaner.

Do you know the difference between cleaning your home and sanitizing it? Cleaning your home means that you remove all clutter and mess. Things are put in their proper place. But sanitizing your home is a focus on your house’s hygiene. Some cleaning products don’t remove all germs and viruses , which exposes your family to illness.

A well-trained team of professional cleaners know the germ-iest places in your home , and how to properly handle them. They know which products to use, and how to use them safely to kill bacteria and keep your home safe. And they focus on efficiency, thoroughness, and professionalism, cleaning every room to the fullest extent.

If you’re looking for a house cleaning company in Maryland with unparalleled professionalism, look no further than Cimara Cleaning Services. We take care of families in areas from northern Virginia to D.C. , and whether it’s recurring, weekly cleanings, window cleanings, or spring cleanings, we have the services you need to get your home looking its very best.

Ask our clients– they love the work we do for them , and we could not be more proud of the impact our professional cleaning services have on their lives. That’s why we do what we do.

Let us show you the professional difference; you won’t believe how your home can sparkle and shine. Request a free estimate today!

The Secret Of How To Clean Hardwood Floors In Minutes A Day

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:36:00 GMT

There’s nothing quite like a gleaming, immaculate hardwood floor.

Having a hardwood floor can make your house feel warm, expansive and welcoming all at the same time, and the addition of a well-placed, cozy rug sitting atop the hardwood can make your house truly feel like a home.

But it’s notoriously confusing when it comes to knowing the best way to clean hardwood floors. Too much exposure to water, and your hardwood floors may end up warped or water-stained, but letting dirt and dust settle into the corners and along the baseboards isn’t an option either—especially if you have pets or children who spend their time close to the floor.

If you’re wondering how to clean hardwood floors, you’re not alone. It’s a tricky thing. Your hardwood floors are an investment in your home, and you want to get it right.

Let’s take a look at the best ways to protect your investment and get your hardwood floors to shine.

Preparing Your Hardwood Floor for Cleaning

Before you begin to clean your hardwood floors, it’s best to clear the floor of anything that might get in the way. Not only does this help clear the floor of dust bunnies and dirt, but it also helps prevent liquid from pooling or sitting too long in one area, damaging your hardwood.

Clear away all rugs, mats, and furniture, being careful not to scratch the floor. You’ll also want to fold up any floor-length curtains over the curtain rod to protect them. You don’t want to get cleaning products on your curtains, and you certainly don’t want wet curtains to sit atop your hardwood floors for an extended period of time.

Getting Rid of Dust and Debris

One of the easiest things you can do to keep your hardwood floor looking clean is to vacuum it regularly. You may think of vacuuming as something exclusively for carpets, but a vacuum is a great tool for cleaning your hardwood floors too.

It’s also a great idea to vacuum before you clean the floor with any kind of cleaning product, so you aren’t just spreading the dust around.

However, not all vacuums are made alike. Use the wrong setting, and your vacuum brush can scratch your floors or wear away at the finish over time. There are thousands of vacuums on the market. So which one is the best vacuum for hardwood floors?

You should use a vacuum that is specifically designed for hardwood flooring. And if you have a combination of carpets and hardwood floors in your home? You can always find a vacuum that is configured for both floor types.

Your vacuum should have adequate suction and be fairly lightweight, with wheels that will not scuff your floors. Many homeowners with hardwood floors opt for canister vacuums, cordless stick vacuums and lightweight upright vacuums for their hardwood floors, but you can check out a list of great vacuum options here .

And For the Days When You Just Don’t Feel Like Vacuuming

Some days, you may not be feeling particularly inspired to vacuum. And who can blame you? It’s loud, and you may be tethered to a cord, or perhaps you have to empty the canister.

On those days, you can always use an old-fashioned bristle broom to sweep, but an even better option is a dust mop or a dry mop with a microfiber towel or pad attached to catch every last speck of dirt and dust.

Sweeping or vacuuming daily or even every few days is your best defense against surface damage to your floors. It’s an important step and one you won’t want to skip.

Choosing the Right Cleaning Product

Using the wrong cleaning product for your hardwood floors can damage them—and even be dangerous.

If you’re looking for how to clean hardwood floors, it’s important to know that some products may stain or bleach the finish of your floors, and others can even be dangerous! Sure, a wood polish like Pledge may be safe to use on your wood furniture, but can you imagine how slippery your floor would be after using a polish?

Don’t use these products: Water and vinegar, which can dull your floor’s surface over time, soap-based cleaners, wax, or steam cleaners. Soap and wax can both leave a residue, and steam uses too much water that can lead to cupping.

So what kind of hardwood floor cleaner should you use? You want to pick one that won’t leave a residue and one that won’t leave traces of water behind that can damage and warp your floors.

A spray-and-mop solution is most often the best bet for your floors; a cleaner that you spray directly onto your floor and wipe up with a dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth or microfiber mop.

There are countless cleaning products available on the market, but we love the ones included on this list of the best hardwood floor cleaners of 2019 . They’ve been field-tested and work like a charm.

Wondering how to deep-clean hardwood floors? It’s all about using the right products. Once you vacuum or dust and are ready to spray and mop, all you need to keep in mind is that you need to mop with the grain of your floorboard and not let water or moisture settle too long. If you feel like you’re swabbing the deck, you’re using too much liquid cleaner!

Other Helpful Information

Maintaining a beautiful wood floor is just as important as cleaning it properly. With the right amount of care and attention, your hardwood floor can last for years to come.

So what else do you need to know to keep your hardwood floor looking great for as long as you can?

– Put furniture coasters or felt pads on the feet of all the furniture that sits on your hardwood floors to prevent scratching.

– If you have area rugs, you may want to put a non-slip rubber mat underneath. Not only does this prevent slipping, but the backing of some rugs is hard and coarse, and over time it can scratch up your hardwood floors.

Bona, one of the most preeminent hardwood floor cleaners, has compiled a great checklist for caring for your hardwood floors :

Want an easier answer? Let us clean your hardwood floors for you.

At Cimara Cleaning, we offer a host of services , each executed by our expertly trained and knowledgeable staff, including cleaning your floors.

We take care of your home and your hardwood floor as if they were our own. We provide the products , the know-how and the elbow grease. And we definitely know how to clean hardwood floors.

We’re proud to serve families right here in northern Virginia , leaving them not just with clean hardwood floors but also clean homes and empty to-do lists so they can spend their time together instead of spending it cleaning the floors. And our clients love the work we do .

Let us care for your hardwood floors so you can get back to focusing on what really matters to you. Ready to hand over the floor cleaner? Get an online consultation today , and see how easy it can be.

Things To Consider Before Hiring Professional House Cleaners

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 17:14:00 GMT

Are you considering hiring a cleaning service to come in and take care of your home? There are certainly perks to having someone else handle the dirty work so you can spend more time with your family and doing what you love.

While it may be tempting to hire a low-cost, untrained cleaning company or an independent individual or team to come in and clean your home, you may be risking more than you gain.

There’s a noticeable difference in a professional house cleaning session, and it’s not just in how the pillows are fluffed or the vacuum patterns we leave in your carpet (although we have to say, at Cimara, we’re pretty exceptional at those things too).

What you may not have considered in hiring a professional cleaning service is all the training and care that goes into protecting you, your home and our staff with each cleaning session.

A great deal of thought goes into how to clean safely, efficiently and effectively when you hire a professionally trained cleaning service.

The Difference in How Clean Your Home Is

Do you know the difference between a clean home and a hygienic one? Does your cleaning service?

A professional house cleaning includes proper sanitizing, which is vital to keep your home a healthy one.

Yes, cold and flu viruses spread through the air, but they also can live for several hours and sometimes even days on the surfaces in your home , infecting you and your loved ones. In fact, viruses tend to live longer on hard surfaces like stainless steel, plastic and other hard surfaces like countertops and door handles.

Is your cleaning crew knowledgeable on how to clean and sanitize your home? If they are not professionally trained like our team at Cimara Cleaning, they may not be.

The biggest difference? Professional house cleaners know the importance of sanitizing over disinfecting. Sanitizing kills all germs within 30 seconds, while disinfectants may not kill every germ on that surface.

A professional cleaning service is trained to keep your home not just clean but hygienic. What’s the difference?

“Clean” means that things are put away and perhaps dust is removed, but a professionally trained cleaning staff will know that you also want your home to be “hygienic,” which means that the risk of infection is properly dealt with. Those hard surfaces that harbor germs and viruses are sanitized. You are less likely to get sick because of your own home.

Well-Trained Cleaners Clean Efficiently

As trained professionals, we have a system in place to help get your home to a sparkling shine in record time .

We aren’t wandering haphazardly around each room like an untrained crew might, but instead we use tried and true methods to be working at full potential every time we come into your home—like working clockwise, top to bottom, using both hands and working quickly but thoroughly to deliver a clean room in a fraction of the time it might take an untrained technician or a non-professional.

We also have access to exceptional cleaning tools and take care of them so they aren’t leaving streaks from a cleaning cloth or using an inefficient or clogged vacuum. A trained cleaning technician knows just the right cleaning spray to de-grease your stovetop and invests in high-quality vacuums and mops because training shows us how much of a difference these tools can make.

What products do professional house cleaners use to handle these messes? We have carefully crafted formulas and specifically selected products like microfiber cloths, high-powered vacuums, effective cleaning sprays and streak-free mops, all designed for quick use and clean results.

Untrained cleaning companies might stumble on a few of these, but trained professionals learn which products and tools are the best to use in your home. With trained cleaning professionals, there’s a checklist for how to care for your home and also a checklist for how to care for the tools used to clean your home.

And because there are all kinds of ways life in the digital age is easier, trained professionals also know how to use technology to clean your home efficiently . We’re not talking robot vacuums or drones with scrub brushes. We’re talking software designed for professional cleaning services.

With software programs like this one , designed just for focused, driven professionals like us, bookkeeping is a breeze, and we can work through a manual checklist to ensure that every part of your home is cleaned to our high industry standards. This allows us to work at our maximum level of efficiency, so your home is cleaned—and cleaned well —in record time.

Professional House Cleaners Know How to Keep You Safe

A professional house cleaning is so much more than just vacuuming and a dust rag. A lot of care goes into choosing the right cleaning products—products that work well and are safe to use in your most personal space, your home.

As a result, professional house cleaners have access to safety data sheets on every product we use , and we know how to use them. What is a safety data sheet? It’s an informational fact sheet that manufacturers are required to provide to the general public to learn things like storage methods, proper handling, health effects and reactivity.

Trained professional house cleaners, who receive an education on how to serve you and your family, not only learn the importance of these safety data sheets but also how to read them. These safety data sheets are meant for occupational use, and their availability is mandated by OSHA to help keep us and you safe.

How do these safety data sheets affect you and your home? A professional house cleaner will know to consult these safety data sheets for every cleaning product we use in your home. Perhaps you’ve heard the perils of using bleach and ammonia simultaneously because it forms a dangerous, toxic chlorine gas that can prove fatal.

Are there other products that don’t commingle well? A trained professional knows to consult each and every safety data sheet to know what cleaning products “play nicely” with one another. We also understand and know how to analyze each safety data sheet.

Can you be sure an untrained cleaning service does the same? In your own home, safety matters.

… And Professional House Cleaners Also Know How to Stay Safe

You aren’t just hiring a cleaning service, you’re inviting people into your home, many times when you aren’t there. They might be on step ladders or cleaning under low spaces or shelves, where the risk of falling or straining one’s back is high. Chemicals may spill or splash near eyes. If someone is injured in your home, are you liable?

Many untrained cleaning crews also are uninsured, which means you are the legally and financially responsible party if someone gets injured. Hiring a professional cleaning service means that more likely than not, the company is insured, removing you from the legal burden of an accident in your home while your house is being cleaned.

Professional cleaning services like Cimara Cleaning are insured , which means our employees are protected in the event of an injury and you are not liable. We also receive extensive training to prevent injury as much as possible, but we cannot always say the same for untrained cleaning crews, which means they are at higher risk of injury.

We receive lots of training to prevent things like:

Professional Cleaning Services Learn How to Avoid Damage

We also are trained in how to prevent damage in your home, like furniture getting scuffed or delicate lamps or heirloom vases being broken.

But if the unthinkable happens, we are insured to handle it. We take great care to leave your home—and everything in it—better than when we arrived.

Not all untrained cleaning crews can say the same. They don’t receive the same training we do, and so you might find the surface of your granite countertop ruined or a picture or art piece knocked off the wall during a dusting session. And with these untrained cleaning crews, who is the liable party? Without insurance, it may be you.

Cimara Cleaning proudly offers these professional services in Gaithersburg and the surrounding areas because we value the difference of a professional house cleaning. Our clients hire us because we not only give them a clean home, we give them peace of mind as well, and as a result, they are thrilled with the work we do in their homes. They too know the difference of a professional house cleaning.

Whether it’s a weekly cleaning or something more specific like window or upholstery cleaning, we take great care with each of our services to ensure a safe, quality, professional clean every single time.

Want to see the difference a professional house cleaning can make in your home? We can’t wait to show you what our training, hard work and exceptional service can do for you.

Request an online estimate today!

Five Benefits Of A Clean Home That Will Improve Your Well-being

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:36:00 GMT

Today’s Washington D.C. area families are busier than ever. While we know keeping a clean house is a necessary detail to stay on top of, the truth is, cleaning is usually one of the first things to slip by the wayside when we get extra busy.

Unfortunately, this can compromise your health, among other things. A clean home is important for many reasons, not least of which is your physical and mental well-being.

Here are just five of the many health benefits of a clean home:

1 – Clean Homes Reduce the Spread of Germs, and You May Experience Fewer Viral and Bacterial Illnesses

How important is keeping a clean house? Well, many areas of the home, if not kept clean, can be hotbeds of viral and bacterial growth.

The kitchen, where raw foods are regularly prepared, if not kept cleaned and sanitized, can lead to a long list of illnesses, not least of which is salmonella. In fact, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) conducted a study in 2013 that found E. coli, salmonella, listeria, mold and yeast in the kitchens of study participants.

The bathroom earns second place for the germiest zone of the home, with toilet flush handles and sink faucet knobs being repeatedly exposed to dangerous bacteria.

Keeping these areas clean and sanitized can help keep your family healthy and can help prevent germs from spreading rapidly when someone in your home does happen to get sick.

2 – Clean Homes Reduce Allergy and Asthma Symptoms

Those who suffer from environmental allergies know the scene all too well: You walk into a dusty, musty space—or out into a pollen-filled morning—and immediately your head feels full, eyes begin to water, nose runs and a fog settles over your head.

Since typically outdoor allergens such as mold spores and pollen can be tracked in on feet, clothing and even pets, a house that isn’t regularly cleaned can affect those with outdoor allergies as well as typical indoor allergies to things such as dust and pet hair.

Why is it important to have a clean house? Keeping your home clean and clutter-free and minimizing dust, pet hair and mold can significantly improve your allergy and asthma symptoms. Vacuuming with a high-powered, HEPA-filter vacuum, minimizing airborne dust by using a dusting spray when wiping surfaces, regularly changing bed sheets, and cleaning window dressings like curtains and blinds are all helpful in reducing your seasonal allergy symptoms.

3 – Clean Homes Help Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health

When the home is in chaos—clutter, dust, crusted who-knows-what on counters, pet hair clinging to furniture—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

A dirty, messy home can actually make you feel more stressed, anxious and even depressed. A study conducted by Princeton University found that clutter can overwhelm our brains. Clutter and mess overload the visual cortex, with so much information competing to be processed, it makes it more difficult to focus on tasks actually needing your attention.

This is certainly not the only study that has correlated improved mental health and clean, tidy spaces. Psychology Today has compiled an entire article full of studies, including one that found that people who have clean sheets and bedrooms get better sleep. Clean house, clean mind!

4 – Clean Homes Are Safer Homes

Two of the main causes of injuries and deaths inside homes are fire and falls. Tripping over clutter left out on the floor or slipping on dirty or greasy flooring can lead to a trip to the emergency room for anything from a sprain to a head injury.

Cluttered homes that aren’t cleaned regularly can also become a major fire hazard. Cluttered, dirty spaces can be fast fuel for fires, while at the same time, the messy space could prevent you from escaping or getting rescued if it becomes necessary.

Keeping a clean, relatively clutter-free home can minimize the risk of falling accidents as well as reduce the severity and speed at which a fire moves through the home if one should occur. It increases your chances of escape or rescue, with fewer items that could potentially block exits.

5 – Clean Homes Can Lead to Better Food Choices

You may think, sure, those who have the self-discipline and can “make” the time to clean their homes regularly surely have the self-discipline to make wise food choices. While this may be true, a study performed at Cornell University in 2016 found that those working in chaotic home spaces ate more than twice the sweets than those in a neat, clean home space.

The participants were split into two kitchen environments: one that was clean and organized and another with dirty, messy tables and piles of dishes scattered around.

“We found the more cluttered and confusing the environment was, the more people ate,” stated one of the authors of the study, Brian Wansink. “It made them feel more anxious, and when they got anxious, they ended up eating more cookies.”

Why is cleaning important? Because keeping a clean home can help you feel calmer and less anxious and even improve your eating habits.

Cleaning for health

There are many benefits of a clean home, from simply keeping germs at bay to helping you feel less stressed and eat healthier. Unfortunately for so many Washington D.C. residents, making the time for cleaning and maintaining a clean home can be just as stressful and exhausting as living in a messy, dirty space.

Enter Cimara Cleaning. We can create a clean, healthy living space for you and your family, so you don’t have to worry about shoehorning it into your busy life.

We provide high-quality cleaning services in the Washington D.C. metro area. We offer a variety of cleaning services for all of your needs . Whether it be a one-time deep cleaning to get you on track to clean regularly yourself or regularly scheduled maintenance cleaning, Cimara Cleaning has you covered.

Receive your free online estimate for cleaning services by clicking here now!

Does Hiring a Cleaning Service Really Save You Time?

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 18:05:00 GMT

If you are not someone who enjoys cleaning, this article is for you. With most of our waking hours spent on the job and the rest taking care of family, free time is hard to come by.

Most people don’t like spending their free time cleaning. That would make free time not really free if you’re working to clean your home. You’d rather be doing something else, anything else but cleaning up, right?

If you dread the thought of cleaning the toilet, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, and doing other household chores, and you’d rather be doing literally anything else, then hiring a cleaning service is priceless.

7 Benefits of Hiring a Cleaning Service

This is the number one benefit of hiring a professional cleaning service. Having someone come in to clean your home will free up time for you. You could spend this extra time with family and friends.

Who wants to spend their evenings or weekends off from work cleaning their house? You need more time to relax and do the things you enjoy like binging your favorite TV show, exercising, or sleeping.

The residents of Bethesda are very educated and among the wealthiest in Maryland. Bethesda offers a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment. Don’t let a messy home keep you down. Hire Cimara Cleaning Services so you can get out there and have some fun!

As things pile up, you may feel stressed by the end of the week. Having cluttered surroundings can cause stress and anxiety. This stress and anxiety may increase as the week progresses, leaving you staring at a long list of overwhelming chores to do over the weekend.

What could be better than having a professional cleaner come to your home at your convenience? While your home is being cleaned you could be running errands or helping your kids with homework.

If you are like most people, you rarely have time to do a deep clean, right? Professional cleaning services have the best products and procedures to do a deep clean in less time than it would take you.

Most of us manage to clean the obvious places, and neglect the details, such as window sills, blinds, baseboards, and behind the toilet. Your cleaning service has these services scheduled into their list of specifications. And cleaning them on a regular basis will avoid the nasty buildup that can happen over time.

Host that get-together you’ve been putting off. Enjoy your dinner party and leave the cleaning to the pros before and after.

Don’t ever be caught off guard again the next time you get a surprise visit from a friend or family member. Also, they don’t need to know that you hired a cleaning service. So no need to feel embarrassed about taking care of your home.

There are many health benefits to keeping a clean home. Germs can build up, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. It is important to keep in mind the harmful effects of cluttered or unsanitary surroundings.

4 Harmful Effects of Clutter

According to The Health Site , clutter:

Your surroundings influence your mental state. A cluttered space signifies a cluttered mind. You can begin to gain some control and discipline once your home is clean and clear. Hire a cleaning service to stack your books, wash and fold your sheets and take care of those dishes in the sink.

A cluttered space increases your chances of tripping and falling. Imagine ending up in the ER after tripping over all that stuff piled up on the stairs.

A 2017 study jointly conducted by the US and Australia showed that people tend to overeat, or binge eat when they live in cluttered surroundings. According to the research, subjects ate more cookies when they were offered the treats in a cluttered kitchen than in an organized, clean kitchen.

Living in messy, unclean surroundings makes you feel stressed, drained, and unhappy. Cluttered surroundings also contribute to anxiety and bad sleep hygiene.

Wouldn’t You Rather Be Having Fun?

Your brain may need a cleanup too. It’s more than worth it to fit hiring a cleaning service into your weekly or monthly budget. Your time is valuable. Hiring a cleaning service can free up a lot of time. Having more time to have fun is priceless.

What would you do with two hours? Psychology Today discusses how making time for fun is essential to clean up the clutter in your brain. Taking time to play with your kids is significant for their development.

Adults need playdates too. Taking time to have fun is a great way to boost your physical and mental health. NBC News did a story about how important it is to make time for fun.

You could do something physical like hiking which has many health benefits. When was the last time you went to a social event? Socializing with friends increases the release of good hormones like endorphins which alleviates stress and decreases depression and anxiety.

How much cleaner could your Bethesda home be? When you hire Cimara Cleaning Services , you can rest assured that every inch of your home will get the attention it needs to sparkle and shine.

To learn more about the benefits of hiring a residential cleaning service, or to receive a free quote for cleaning services at Cimara Cleaning Services , visit us online .

What Are The Best Methods For Upholstery Cleaning?

Sat, 17 Aug 2019 10:35:00 GMT

There’s a reason your mom never let you eat on or put your feet on the furniture. Upholstery is like a magnet for dirt, crumbs, stains, and bacteria. All of these things cling to the fabric’s fibers like few other household surfaces, and soon your once comfy couch or chair is too crusty, smelly, or discolored to enjoy.

What Mom may not have told you, however, are the many ways to clean your upholstery. No matter how careful you are, there will always be dust and accidents. You can extend the life and enjoyment of your furniture when you know how to clean your upholstery properly. Follow these tips for upholstery cleaning and always have great-looking furniture.

What is upholstery cleaning?

Upholstery cleaning is what it sounds like–cleaning the upholstery, or fabric, on your furniture. It differs from other household cleaning tasks in that fabric is more delicate and absorbent than other surfaces so it can be damaged more easily by messes and cleaning products alike.

That is why it is so vital that you learn the right upholstery cleaning techniques. Otherwise, you may make your furniture look worse than before you cleaned it!

What is the best way to clean upholstery?

The best way to clean upholstery starts with how often you clean it. To keep your upholstery in good condition and help it last longer, make cleaning upholstered furniture a weekly chore. Otherwise, all the dirt and crumbs your upholstery picks up each day gets ground in and will become harder to clean off later.

To clean upholstery, start by vacuuming it . This is vital because if you get dirt and crumbs wet, they’ll just dissolve and sink deeper into the upholstery fibers where they may never come out.

The easiest way to vacuum your furniture is to use the hose and upholstery attachment. This allows you to vacuum both the cushions and all those nooks and crannies where food, loose change, and the remote love to hide. Vacuum from top to bottom and left to right in short, overlapping strokes for the best effect.

After vacuuming, treat stains. The best way to clean stains is to do so as soon as they happen and pat them with a damp cloth to soak up the spill. However, if you have children or pets, you’re probably familiar with mystery stains that seemingly appear out of nowhere.

If you find a mystery stain, mix about 2 cups of water with a drop of clear dish soap to make a cleaning solution. Test the solution on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it won’t hurt your upholstery.

If it appears fine, blot–don’t scrub–the stain with the corner of a cloth dipped in the solution. Follow by blotting the soap away with a cloth dipped in pure water and pat dry with a towel.

How to remove stubborn stains

Have an especially stubborn or old stain ? Try the above method with a little diluted vinegar. If that doesn’t do the trick, invest in a commercial cleaner. For the best results, check the cleaning symbols on the furniture tag.

These will tell you whether to use a water-based detergent (W), water-free solvent (S), either one (WS), or neither (X). If commercial cleaners are not recommended, you’ll have to call the professionals for help.

Some stains won’t come up with either water or chemicals, such as grease stains. For these, you can absorb the oil by sprinkling cornstarch on the spot and letting it sit for 30 minutes. Vacuum the corn starch and check the stain. Repeat until the stain is gone.

Wine stains are many furniture owners’ worst fear, but they don’t necessarily spell the end of your favorite couch. Blot away (remember, don’t rub!) as much excess wine as possible. Dilute the remaining wine with a little club soda and continue blotting. Repeat until gone or no more wine is coming up. If the stain remains, treat it with the clear dish soap solution from above.

How do you deep clean upholstery?

Sometimes the typical home treatments aren’t enough to freshen up your furniture. Body oils, pet stains, cigarette smoke, and bacteria can all make your furniture stink and look dingey over time despite your best efforts. The best way to deep clean your upholstery is to hire the pros once a year.

Most professional upholstery cleaning services use a process called hot water extraction. Their machine injects hot water and cleaning solution into the fibers of your upholstery to dislodge particles hiding there. Then it all gets sucked up with a powerful vacuum. This method is very effective at removing all the gross grime hiding in your furniture without damaging the material.

How much does upholstery cleaning cost?

Upholstery cleaning shouldn’t cost an arm(chair) and a leg, but it will depend on the pieces you’re having cleaned and where you live. The main determining factor is size. Single chairs cost less to have cleaned than a large sofa. Areas with higher costs of living will also have more expensive services.

However, here are some estimated average prices for upholstery cleaning in the US:

-Chair: $40

-Loveseat: $50

-Sofa: $80

-Sectional sofa: $150

Affordable upholstery cleaning

You can get a lot more use out of your furniture when you use proper upholstery cleaning methods. These methods are easy and require very few supplies, so it shouldn’t be difficult to extend the life of your furniture and save yourself the cost of buying new pieces every few years with regular upholstery cleaning.

Even the annual investment of a professional deep clean is worth it when you think about how it will preserve your furniture in the long run.

Looking for a highly-rated upholstery cleaning service you can trust in Takoma Park ? Cimara Cleaning Services offers Takoma Park residents superb house cleaning services that are guaranteed to beautify your home.

We provide convenient, quality cleaning for all surfaces of your home, including upholstery cleaning, at affordable rates. Let us spruce up your furniture after you request a free quote today.

Professional Carpet Cleaning: why you should go beyond vacuuming

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 21:51:00 GMT

Appearances can be deceiving. Carpet that doesn’t look discolored or dirty might still hide bacteria, allergens, grime, or dirt.

Regular vacuuming is a necessary element of home maintenance that can certainly help keep your carpets looking their best. However, it’s still important to book an annual or semi-annual professional home carpet cleaning to refresh and sanitize the floor you walk on and the carpet your children play on.

Keep odor, discoloration, and illness at bay. Let the professionals who are familiar with efficient and effective cleaning methods take on your carpet cleaning.

Extend the life of your carpet

Replacing carpet requires a lot of time and effort, not to mention money! You’ll need to budget for tearing out the old carpet, purchasing new carpet, installation fees, time for the install, and a plan for moving the necessary furniture for the work to be done.

Avoid the hassle of replacement by helping your current carpet last as long as it can with just a few easy steps.

How often should you clean?

Not all carpets in your home are the same. They may vary by texture, style, type, and foot traffic, all important factors in determining cleaning schedules. Depending on the location of the carpet, some sections may see heavier foot traffic, requiring more frequent cleanings.

According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration (IIRC) , carpets should be cleaned at least once a year, on average. Carpets that see high traffic may need to be cleaned quarterly, while low-traffic areas can be serviced about every 12 to 18 months.

If you have pets, children, or smoke in your home, you may consider a more frequent cleaning schedule— two to four times a year. This will keep allergens, stains, and smells at bay.

Benefits of a full house carpet cleaning

Consider your routine dental cleanings; regular toothbrushing helps you keep a bright, healthy smile, but only when coupled with a professional checkup. Professional house carpet cleaning services address stubborn stains and kill bacteria, using the latest technology to keep your carpet fresh and assess wear and tear.

Some of the most notable benefits you’ll see from your carpet cleaning service include:

• Professionals are familiar with different carpet types, materials, and cleaning methods.

• Services have access to more effective cleaning machines with the latest powerful technology.

• A professional service kills bacteria and dust mites, resulting in a reduction in overall allergens.

• Removal of stains without damage to the carpet.

• Low-moisture equipment and techniques that prevent the development of mold growth, which you may see from non-professional machines.

Professional teams at Cimara Cleaning Services are vetted thoroughly and undergo weeks of intensive training. We want you to be completely comfortable with those who enter your home to clean it. If you are not 100% satisfied for any reason, we want to hear about it and we will work to correct it!

Aside from satisfaction in service and cleaning, you’ll also save on the cost of supplies and machine rental. Better yet, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your carpet is thoroughly clean.

Tips to keep your carpets clean between cleanings

Regular professional cleanings are only one part of extending the life of your carpets. Here’s how you can reduce the amount of dirt and grit that can accumulate over time.

Vacuum – In general, it’s a good idea to vacuum low-traffic areas once a week and heavier use areas multiple times each week. This will help pick up loose dirt and dust, preventing it from accumulating and damaging the carpet fibers.

Treat spots quickly – When possible, treat spots as quickly as you can. The longer they sit on the carpet fibers, the harder they are to remove. They may ultimately cause permanent discoloration – in other words, a stain that will never come out. Place a towel over the stain to collect liquid and proceed by treating according to the specific type of stain .

Remove shoes – Muddy shoes aside, even if shoes seem relatively clean consider removing them indoors . Carpet holds on to pollutants that not only accumulate but also slowly break down carpet fibers. If you have small children or pets, your carpet can become a source of sickness or allergies.

Professional carpet cleaning methods

Before you decide on a professional cleaning service, it’s a good idea to ask about the method used. Some companies use steam or a dry clean approach. This, unfortunately, can destroy carpet fibers over time.

A gentler and more effective method of water extraction will help your clean carpets last longer. Cimara Cleaning uses portable carpet cleaning extractors to pump water and a carpet cleaner solution deep into your carpet to loosen all the dirt hiding in the fibers. Everything is then suctioned back into the machine, leaving your carpet fresh and clean. Best of all, this method doesn’t just give you a cleaner carpet, but it allows it to dry faster than other methods.

Carpet cleaning costs

According to Home Advisor , the national average for carpet cleaning costs is about $175. These costs are dependent on the square footage of your home, your location, and custom needs like targeted stain removal, color repair, or pet odor treatment.

Costs can range from $200 to $300 for a 1,000 to 1,500 square foot home or $400 to $500 for a larger area. Most professional home cleaning services offer discount opportunities that are worth asking about: referrals, multiple rooms, adding upholstery cleaning, and returning customers.

Prepare for your next house carpet cleaning services

Preparing for your professional cleaning service couldn’t be easier. The service provider takes care of the equipment, cleaning methods, cleaning products, and doing the work.

To ensure the best possible clean it helps to:

Keeping clean carpets contributes to a fresh and healthy home. Cimara Cleaning Services wants to help you regain your free time to enjoy the important things in life. Servicing the Gaithersburg area , we work hard to ensure your needs are met 100%. Request a free quote today. Our cleaning process will extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking great!

How Much Does House Cleaning Cost?

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 00:02:00 GMT

For some, one of the biggest hurdles they face when they consider hiring a professional cleaning company is how much house cleaning costs. Sometimes, the fear that’s it’s out of their budget keeps homeowners from further investigation!

In truth, the cost of house cleaning varies greatly, depending on the services you are provided and the type of company you want to work with. According to the national average, a weekly cleaning will cost between $75- $125 a week for a 2,000 square foot home. If your cleaning company charges by the hour, it might cost between $25-40 per hour. Additionally, a 10-15% tip is standard for house cleaners.

That might seem like a wide range, but it all depends on the many factors involved in your house cleaning.

House Cleaning Cost Factor #1: Pets

If you have any kind of pets that walk freely around your home, your house cleaning rate is likely to go up. This includes dogs, cats, bunnies, and any other pet that might shed, track in dirt, or make other kinds of messes. As pet owners know, your sweet fluffy pets can really do a number on your home, particularly your floors. Many cleaning companies will adjust their pricing accordingly.

House Cleaning Cost Factor #2: Size

The size of your home is a big factor when it comes to the house cleaning rate you will be quoted by cleaning companies. The more square footage there is, the more professional cleaners they will need to send into your home. They’ll also require more time to clean it. If your cleaners also provide their own cleaning products and equipment, they will take that into account as well.

House Cleaning Cost Factor #3: Your Rooms and What is in Them

A house cleaner will also take note of the amount of rooms in your home. The kind of furniture is in them, the materials they will have to clean, and the general size of the mess will all factor into their quote for the regular cleaning of your home. A one-time deep clean will be at a different price point than a regular cleaning, though the first time a cleaning company comes into your home to do a house cleaning is generally more expensive than all subsequent visits.

Other Factors to Consider

There are also factors to consider when you consider how much you are willing to pay for professional house cleaning services. Depending on the decision you make, there is potential for risk and reward.

If you choose to hire an individual rather than a company, you will probably save money. They do not have the overhead that fully formed companies are paying for, so you will not have to incur those costs. However, you’ve heard the old saying, “You get what you pay for,” right? Most individuals won’t be licensed, bonded, and insured. You take on the risk anytime they enter your home; in other words, if something happens to them on your property, you may be liable for costs.

When you choose to hire a cleaning company, you may pay a little more, but you also have fully trained, qualified, and insured people working in your home. They will often bring their own cleaning products and equipment, so you need not worry about keeping those things stocked. They will also send more than one cleaning professional into your home— they’ll be able to clean your house thoroughly from top to bottom faster than an individual cleaning your house.

Here are some other things to think about when considering the cost of hiring a house cleaner for your home.

Do they use green products?

You can expect that if a company uses green cleaning products and they provide the products for your cleaning, they will charge up to 25% more than their competitors. However, if the environmental impact of the cleaning products that are used in your home is important to you, this may be an increase you’re willing to pay.

Are they licensed, bonded, and insured?

Big national companies are definitely bonded and insured, and they cost more than private house cleaners. The middle of the road is a company that is locally owned and operated. That kind of company won’t charge as much as the national companies because they don’t have as much overhead, but they will still be licensed, bonded, and insured, so you won’t have to worry about any liability if something should happen on your property.

How frequently are they going to clean?

The more often a house cleaner comes to your house, the lower the per visit fee will be. Knowing the frequency you’d like your cleanings to happen will help the house cleaner determine your price.

Professional house cleaning saves you time and energy , giving you more time and energy to spend with your friends and family or further your career. You’ll do more of what you want and be able to relax and unwind when you are at home.

If you’re ready to hire a professional house cleaning service, call the team at Cimara Cleaning in Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas. We will get you a complimentary quote on your house cleaning services today!

Why You Should Hire a Cleaning Company Today

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 22:28:00 GMT

There are millions of people who clean their own homes. Sometimes, they might think that they’d rather hire a cleaning company to handle this chore. But those same people might also think, “Why should I hire someone else to do something I can do myself?”

Well, when you hire a professional cleaning company, you might be surprised by the difference it can make. Just as you could technically change the oil in your car yourself, it’s easier for you to have someone with knowledge and expertise tackle the task. The people who come in and clean your home have been specially trained in residential cleaning. They will likely take the time to clean things you typically don’t.

Let’s talk about some of the advantages that come with finding the right cleaning company to clean your home.

What Is Your Time Worth?

On average, people clean six hours a week . Women spend at least an hour more per day cleaning up around the house. Think about your hourly rate at your job. Say, for example, you make $30 per hour and you spend six hours cleaning your home a week. It costs $180 of your time to clean your house.

Add in the fact that the time you spend your home could be spent with friends and loved ones. You could spend that time working out and focusing on your health. You could volunteer for a cause close to your heart. Whatever you’d rather be doing may add to the cost.

Think about what having a professional residential cleaning team clean your house would give you— in addition to a clean and healthy environment for your family to live in. Why spend six precious hours cleaning when you can hire a cleaning service that will work quickly to professionally clean your home.

Cost Efficient

Have you ever thought about how much money you spend on cleaning products per month? Buying cleaning products that are safe to use around your family and pets can make up a chunk of your monthly budget. What about the cleaning equipment you use? Vacuums are expensive to replace. And don’t forget to include mops, cleaning cloths, or any other pieces of equipment needed to clean your home.

If you hire a cleaning service to come once per week, you can cut that monthly spending down to practically nothing. Of course, you’ll still need supplies to clean up messes that happen throughout the week, but you will use less product overall. The life of your vacuum will also be extended as its usage will be reduced.

The money you spend on a cleaning service will most certainly be offset by the money you save on cleaning supplies.

Improved Consistency

We’ve all been there. You are cleaning the house, and you know you should wipe down the cabinets. But you did it last week and today, you’re in a hurry. So you skip it. The same thing may happen the week after, and the week after that. All of a sudden, it has been a month. The light hits the cabinets just right and you’re horrified to see that they’re filthy. You quickly grab your cleaner and towel and wipe down all the cabinets… if you have time at the moment, that is.

With a professional cleaning company, that inconsistency does not happen. Your cleaning team will clean your entire home , per your cleaning plan, each and every time they come. So once a week, once every other week, or once a month, your home is cleaned correctly.

Because you’ll be getting a more consistent clean, there will never be a dirt build up around your home that takes a lot of time or energy to fix. Your home will be generally healthier thanks to the consistent cleaning of your residential cleaning company.

Find a Cleaning Company You Trust

Finding a cleaning company you can trust is vitally important. Often, your cleaners might be in your home when you are not. Make sure you find a house cleaning service that’s insured, licensed, and bonded. If any accidents should happen, you won’t be held financially responsible for them.

Additionally, ask the cleaning company if they do background checks on all their employees. This will ensure that they’re only hiring employees with the utmost integrity.

Finally, check their ratings online and with the Better Business Bureau . Knowing how they have treated other clients is a good indicator of how they will treat you.

As you search for a house cleaning service, you are taking the first step to making house cleaning simple and easy. Cimara Cleaning Service is here to help. Call our team and ask for your complimentary quote today. We are standing by to answer all of your questions and get you booked for your first cleaning!

Six Steps to Get Your Home Winter Ready

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 19:09:00 GMT

It is the coziest time of year—the time when we drink hot chocolate, wear warm fuzzy socks, curl up by a fire while the snow drifts softly down from the sky, and get our home winter ready.

Sure, prepping for winter might not sound as soothing as the other activities associated with the season, but if you don’t get your home winter ready, you’ll surely be sorry. The dropping temperatures, wind gusts, and icy conditions winter inevitably brings can do serious damage to your home. Make sure your winter isn’t a chilly one— or worse, one that will break the bank— with a few simple steps to get your house winter ready.

Get your Exterior Winter Ready

Of course, the outside of your home takes the brunt of what winter weather has to offer. With that in mind, it’s important to include your exterior as you make your winter-readiness plans.

Step One: Water Lines and Pipes

Unhook your hose pipes. Turn off the water to the outside of your house. If you are a new homeowner, follow these instructions to turn off outside water lines. An important part of making your home winter ready is to ensure that your water pipes don’t burst. If you have any exposed pipes, outside or inside, consider investing in pipe insulation to keep the pipes from freezing.

Step Two: Windows and Doors

Windows and doors should have a good seal on them, keeping drafts of cold air out of the house. Some windows must be locked for the seal to be complete and your home to truly be winter ready. If you do find that there are drafts after you’ve locked the windows, you can add caulking to fix the problem. Depending on the severity of the season, it might also be a good idea to swap out screens in windows and doors for storm doors. The glass adds an extra layer of insulation to your house.

Step Three: Gutters

Most homeowners who have fully grown trees on their property know an annual gutter clean is crucial. Cleaning out your gutters means there will be less chance of an ice dam when snow and rain freeze around leaves and other trash in your gutters. This can cause a great deal of damage to your home’s foundation and landscaping. Getting your home winter ready often begins as early as September.

Get Your Interior Winter Ready

Sure, the inside of your home isn’t exposed to the elements, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready for what winter can dish out. Here are some tips for getting your interior prepped for the season.

Step Four: Check the Furnace and Fireplace

The first time you have to turn on your furnace, you want to make sure it will fire up . Have your furnace checked annually by a heating and cooling company; this will ensure that any necessary maintenance is done before there is a problem when you most need a furnace to warm your home. Throughout the entire year, your furnace filter should be replaced regularly.

Homes with a wood burning fireplace must have the chimney inspected prior to the first use of the season. Even if you don’t use the fireplace often, checking for drafts and buildup is essential to home safety. If you do use your fireplace often to heat your home, stock up on wood for the season early, so you aren’t stuck toting cords of wood in the colder temperatures. There are special techniques for storing wood so that it stays dry throughout the winter. You are winter ready if you are sure you can heat your home!

Step Five: Bring on the Cozy

In order to keep heating bills down, it’s smart to add an extra blanket to all of your beds. This will allow you to turn the thermostat down at night. Get the kids (and yourself) fluffy socks to keep feet warm and keep warm blankets available in every bedroom. These are just a few tips to keep your family warm and your energy bills down.

Lighting candles will actually make your home warmer (and smelling amazing), too! You might consider switching to heavier curtains for the winter as well. It will add an extra layer of much-needed insulation around your windows. Your family will be winter ready and cozy all season long.

Step Six: Reverse All Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans normally run in a counterclockwise pattern to create a breeze that cools the space below it. In the winter, you can reverse your ceiling fans to run clockwise . Why? Well, this will pull the air from the ceiling down to you. Warm air rises, so this will pull it back down to the room below. The fan speed should be set on low, so as to not cool the warm air down.

When making sure your home is winter ready, you may very well uncover some dirt. A good winter cleaning is just as important as a spring cleaning! Cimara Cleaning Services is eager to help you make your home winter ready. Our staff is trained and motivated to clean your home quickly and efficiently. Give us a call today to get your estimate for residential home cleaning.