6 Ways To Show Your Home Some Love

 

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Do you feel love in the air? Well, if you’re looking for more ways to bring this positive energy into your life, it might be time to show your home some extra love this February. Get into the season of celebration by taking on these six important tasks to help care for your humble abode and surround yourself with a loving feeling leading up to this holiday.

 

1. Deep Clean

The best place to start is with a deep cleaning of your home. Take some time to clean areas you don’t get to daily, or maybe even hire a professional to really get the job done. Either way, your house deserves a spa day every once in a while too!

2. Consider a Makeover

Have you been thinking about changing the color of your living room walls for a while? Or have you been meaning to try a new decoration theme for your bathroom? Now is the time to start! Whether you want to make it simple or feel like taking on a big project, any makeover in your home can help bring the love back to your space.

3. Treat Yourself

Sure, you can treat yourself in many ways that don’t involve home upgrades, but you shouldn’t hesitate to get a gift or two for your living spaces this month! Get that lamp you have been eyeing, buy that pretty vase, or hang that elegant painting. It’s the little things that make a home feel whole.

 

4. Brighten Your Spaces

It’s easy to forget about the sun during the winter months. A great way to feel happy in your humble abode is to remember to keep things brighter. Consider opening your window shades more often or even filling an area with lighter colors to help contrast how dark it gets at night during this time of year.

 

5. Take Good Care of It

Your home is your sanctuary, so it’s essential to ensure it’s well taken care of. This includes checking in on items such as your HVAC system, roof and siding, attic and crawlspace, and more. This also includes ensuring that problems are fixed with haste, such as remediation for water damage.

 

6. Keep Up With Regular Maintenance

Like the points mentioned above, keeping up with maintenance checks for all areas of your house is the best way to ensure everything is in order. From cleaning your air ducts to insulating your attic, give all your love to your humble abode this season with regular professional checks!

 

Get In Touch With Us For All Your Cleaning and Restoration Needs

Cleaning and organizing your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

Don't Fall For These Foolish Cleaning Myths

 

When it comes to keeping your home clean, it can take a lot of work. And nothing is worse than doing more harm to your house than good due to misinformation. There are many common cleaning myths that homeowners fall for every year, but we're here to make sure you never let another one of these slip by again. So, here are some cleansing folk tales to be made aware of this season.

 

Myth #1: Bleach Cleans Everything

Bleach is a go-to item for helping to get tough stains out and whitening items, but it shouldn't be utilized for every home surface. It can't tackle grease, grime, and dirt particles. It's better used for stains, mold or mildew, and keeping surfaces disinfected.

 

Myth #2: It's Okay to Wash Your Sheets Every Two Weeks

We're sorry to break it to you, but you should be washing your sheets weekly! Many people tend to sweat while they sleep, allowing many nights of skin and oil to build upon their sheets. Two weeks is pushing it.

 

Myth #3: Your Appliances Clean Themselves

Sure, your dishwasher and laundry machines are designed to clean items. The thing is, that doesn't necessarily mean they are any cleaner than other appliances. From food bits to dirt from clothes, this debris can accumulate and sit. It's best to go in every once in a while and clean these appliances yourself!

 

Myth #4: Air Fresheners Clean the Air

Sure, after a spray, the area will smell very nice. However, no cleaning materials are coming from your mist — it's merely acting as a perfume for the room. If you find that after the smooth lavender or sweet dessert scent fades, there's still a strong odor lingering, you could be dealing with water damage issues or an unclean air duct, attic, or crawlspace.

 

Get In Touch With Us For All Your Cleaning and Restoration Needs

Cleaning and organizing your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

Indoor Air Quality in Winter: Tips for Your Home and Health

 

Naturally, when it comes to wintertime, we tend to spend more time indoors. With a lack of natural sunlight and cooler temperatures, it’s easy for our home’s indoor air quality to suffer. From mold growth to dust accumulation and more, there are plenty of ways that your home’s indoor air quality will be less than ideal this season. So, here are some simple tips to help ensure you’ll have a happy and healthy winter!

 

Keep Your Home a Little Cool

Try to keep your indoor temperature around 68 to 71 this winter. Of course, if temperatures drop to freezing, you should turn up your heating. But, when you can, it’s best to try and keep your home from warming up too much. The dry air caused by heating our homes during the winter months means fewer molecules in the atmosphere to carry away pollutants like mold spores or bacteria. This can increase respiratory problems such as asthma or allergies during this time of year.

Use a Humidifier

With cold weather comes dryness in the air, so it is important to do everything possible to keep your home moist. You can start by adding a humidifier to each room of your house. Make sure that they are set at about 40% humidity or higher if possible. You can also use an old pot filled with water as a temporary solution until you get a humidifier of your own.

Be Careful Using Your Fireplace

While a wood-burning fireplace is a great way to warm up this winter, it can often cause the air in your home to become low quality very quickly. Sure, it’s beautiful — however, wood smoke is very unhealthy. Whether or not your system is airtight, using your wood-burning fireplace too often this season can lead to increased levels of indoor air pollutants.


And, most importantly, keep up with your air duct cleanings during the winter months! Luckily, Greenpro Cleaning and Restoration can help.

 

Get in Touch With us For All Your Air Duct Cleaning Needs

Getting your home and business ready for winter weather and protecting your heating can be time-consuming tasks, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage.

3 Winter Decluttering and Organizing Projects

 

It's easy to feel overwhelmed during the winter season. From holidays to intense weather, homeowners often find themselves unable to keep their homes as organized as they want. Clutter can build up quickly, especially during this upcoming season. So, here are some easy ways to ensure you're able to declutter!

 

Clean Out Your Closet

Time to switch out your fall clothes and jackets with your winter ones! Clear out all the clothes from your closet and put them in bins by category (shirts, pants, dresses). Then take everything else off of the hangers and fold them neatly on top of one another. You'll notice what items you wear most often when they're at eye level. From there, consider donating anything you don't think you'll wear this season!

 

Sort Through Papers

Many people have a habit of piling up their mail on the kitchen counter or dining room table until they can find time to go through them. If you don't want these piles taking over your space, be sure to sort through everything before the holiday season.

 

Tackle Your Coat Closet

It's easy to throw your winter coats and jackets on the nearest chair or surface, but that's what leads to clutter! Hanging up all those jackets and coats will give you more space in your bedroom or living room. Not only that, but they'll be easier to find when heading out!

 

Get In Touch With Us For All Your Cleaning and Restoration Needs

Cleaning and taking care of your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

5 Ways to Celebrate National Lazy Mom’s Day

 

We all know how hard-working moms can be! Whether they are working late or helping around the house, being a mom can be hard work. That is why National Lazy Mom’s Day was created— to give every mother out there a chance to have a relaxing day. And we have some great tips to make the most out of today:

 

Stay in Pajamas

The best way to have a full-on lazy day is to stay in your pajamas all day long. Not only are your PJs more comfortable, but also you don’t have to worry about choosing something to wear or going out. Just kick back, relax, and snuggle up in your most comfortable clothing.

 

Order Out

Cooking can be a lot of work, so why not skip out on measuring and boiling and consider ordering some food! Everything is already prepared for you— with all your favorites being available to you whenever you’d like. What better way to celebrate today!

Take Time to Relax

It’s essential to take this time to find an opportunity to relax and destress from everyday life. Whether that be watching television, getting some extra sleep, doing some yoga, or meditating, finding time in the day to sit back and take it easy can be the best form of laziness out there.

Enjoy The Outdoors

The weather is still nice outside, so now is the perfect time to enjoy the last few summery days. Lay out and catch some sun, or take a nap in your hammock— either way, there are plenty of ways to stay lazy while enjoying the outdoors.

 

Leave Chores to Someone Else

Today is your day to be lazy, so leave all your household chores to someone else for a change! Invest in some professional home cleaning services to get the job done right, like the team here at Greenpro Cleaning and Restoration! We offer many residential services, from air duct cleaning to attic cleaning— we’ll take care of anything you need!

 

Get In Touch With Us For All Your Cleaning and Restoration Needs

Cleaning and taking care of your home can be challenging to deal with, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your ducts, attics, crawl spaces, and water damage needs.

Ideas for Organizing Your Cleaning Supplies

Keeping up your home’s cleaning routine is a lot easier when you have well-organized cleaning supplies. The question is: what is the best way to organize your supplies? The answer will depend largely on your home’s storage options, but your personal preference will come into play as well.

Below, we’ve gathered some brilliant ideas for storing and organizing the odds and ends of your cleaning arsenal.

1. The Basics

A lot of us own duplicate cleaning supplies without even knowing it. Before attempting to organize what you have in the smartest way possible, make sure you’re only keeping the supplies you actually need.

2. Lazy Susan

If you store your cleaning supplies underneath your sink, it can be hard to reach the items stored toward the back. A Lazy Susan is a perfect solution. Instead of fumbling through bottles and brushes, simply spin the item you want to the front.

3. Tension Rod

Maximize the space underneath your sink by installing a tension rod. It’s a great place to hang brushes and the handles of spray bottles.

4. Towel Rod

Add a small towel rack to the inside of your cabinet doors for more hidden hanging space. (It’s a great way to store rubber gloves!)

5. Shoe Organizer

Short on space under your sink? Try an over-the-door shoe organizer. Each shoe pocket can hold most standard-size cleaning supplies and keep them all within easy reach.

6. Baskets with Handles

Store cleaning tools and products that you take from room to room in plastic baskets or caddies with handles. This will allow you to complete your tasks around the house more efficiently. If your kids have chores, make a basket for each of your kids with the supplies they’ll need inside it.

7. Broom-Holder

To prevent long-handled cleaning supplies from getting in the way and falling over, mount them on a wall. A broom-holder with multiple slots will do the trick!

At GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration, we're taking eco-friendly cleaning solutions to a higher standard and striving for cleaner indoor air quality for all of Long Island. Contact us today to learn about our “green” cleaning solutions for attics, crawlspaces, and air ducts.

Brilliant Products That Make Cleaning So Much Easier

While some people enjoy cleaning as a way to destress, let’s face it: most people would much rather be doing something else. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to make cleaning easier than ever before. If you find yourself short on time, these brilliant products will be a welcome addition when completing your household chore regimen.

Electric Scrubber

Why scrub away soap scum using manual power when you could have a relatively inexpensive power tool scrub for you? Electric scrubbers are designed with rounded nylon brushes that rotate at high speeds to clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces when combined with cleaning formulas. You can even buy cleaning brush attachments that are designed to attach to a cordless drill.

Microfiber Cloths

These inexpensive cloths can be easily found in stores and online. Their superpower is their versatility. Microfiber cloths can wipe up spills, apply cleaning products to a variety of surfaces, and dust much more effectively than a fluffy feather dusty.

Extendable Dusters

While a microfiber cloth makes a great duster on surfaces you can easily reach, it can be a challenge using one to dust things that are high up like ceiling fans and light fixtures or underneath couches and beds. For areas that are difficult to reach, use an extendable duster with a microfiber cover. These dusters have telescoping handles that allow you to dust any area of your home that’s difficult or otherwise impossible to reach.

Garbage Disposal Cleaners

Sometimes a garbage disposal can develop bad odors due to food and grease that builds up under the blades and splashguard, along its internal walls, and in its other components. Getting rid of that stubborn grime can be a challenge because of how hard it is to reach--unless you use a foaming cleaner. This particular foaming cleaner from Glisten comes in a biodegradable packet, uses a bleach alternative, and contains natural ingredients.

Reusable Pet Hair Collector

If you’re a pet owner, you probably go through lint rollers by the dozen to get pet hair off furniture, bedding, and clothing. Instead, invest in a pet hair collector that you can use over and over. Simply roll it over your clothes just like a lint roller--no batteries or electricity required!

When it comes to cleaning air ducts, attics, and crawl spaces, trust the professionals at GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration to provide you with superior results using earth-friendly, non-toxic treatments.

Did You Know Your Vacuum Cleaner Could Do This?

Most people use vacuum cleaners for what you’d expected: sucking up the dust, dander, hair, and numerous other particles that find their way onto floors and upholstered furniture. However, you may be surprised to find out that your vacuum cleaner can be used for much more than cleaning floors and sofas.

Here are some brilliant, new ways to make use of your vacuum cleaner. Get those attachments ready!

1. Prevent Dryer Lint Fires

Dryer lint buildup can pose a serious fire hazard to any home. At least a couple of times each year, take out your dryer’s lint trap and use your vacuum cleaner’s thin wand attachment to suck out excess lint from the vent.

2. Blow Up an Air Mattress

Have no fear if the electric pump to your air mattress dies. A bagged vacuum cleaner can do the job as well!

3. Find Tiny, Lost Items

We’ve all done it. At some point, we’ve dropped a pin, earring, needle, or some other small object into carpeting and simply could not find it. If this happens to you, stretch a stocking or the foot of a pair of tights or pantyhose over the mouth of your vacuum’s attachment, and vacuum over the area where you lost the item. The vacuum will suck up the item from the carpeting, and the stocking will keep the item from going all the way up into your vacuum cleaner.

4. Re-fluff Carpet Indentations

If you’ve ever moved furniture around, you’ve probably noticed the indentations that furniture leaves behind on carpeting. If an indentation is particularly stubborn, place an ice cube directly on the spot and allow it to melt. Once the water has mostly dried, vacuum over the area in every direction. Note: Refrain from using an excessive amount of ice cubes, as too much water can lead to mold growth under the carpet!

5. Clean Your Curtains

Curtains often get neglected during housecleaning, but they collect a large number of airborne particles, including dust and mold spores if they’re next to an open window. If you have curtains that can’t be machine-washed, use your vacuum cleaner’s upholstery attachment to give them a good dusting.

Vacuum cleaners certainly are handy appliances, but for certain areas of your home, a heavier-duty solution is needed. If your air ducts, attic, or crawl space is in need of a professional cleaning, contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration!

10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do with Distilled White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar’s acidity and natural properties as a disinfectant have made it a household cleaning staple for generations. In fact, vinegar has more uses around the house than most people even realize. Check out these 10 brilliant hacks that make use of this non-toxic, all-natural ingredient to achieve a cleaner, healthier home.

5 Uses for Vinegar in the Kitchen

1. Eliminate grease. Tackling some particularly tough grease on a dish? Amp up some hot soapy water with a tablespoon of vinegar to cut through the grease and deliver sparkling results.
2. Clean your dishwasher. To prevent soap residue from building up in your dishwasher, add 1 cup of vinegar to a complete cycle on a monthly basis. (This will also help remove spots on your glassware!)
3. Clean your microwave. If grime is clinging to the interior of your microwave oven, microwave a mixture of 1 cup of water, a ¼ cup of vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice long enough to create ample steam. As the mixture steams, it will start to break down the grime and make it easy to wipe away with a clean rag.
4. Shine stainless steel. If your stainless steel sink or cookware is getting spotty, polish it with a clean rag that’s damp with vinegar to restore its shine.
5. Freshen up a kitchen drain. You can combat a smelly sink by pouring 1 cup of vinegar down the drain on a weekly basis. Make sure to wait at least half an hour before running any water.

3 Uses for Vinegar in the Laundry Room

1. Clean your washing machine. To freshen up your washing machine and break down soap residue, add 1 cup of vinegar to your washing machine, and let it run through a regular cycle without any clothes.
2. Eliminate stains. Forget Oxiclean. If there’s a stubborn stain on your favorite shirt, rub vinegar into the stain to make it easier for your washing machine to remove. Afterward, wash the garment in the highest heat that the fabric can tolerate.
3. Brighten colors. Adding a ½ cup of vinegar to your washing machine’s rinse cycle will help bring out the colors in your clothing and remove lint as well.

 2 Uses for Vinegar in the Bathroom

1. Eliminate mineral build-up on plumbing fixtures. Faucets and showerheads can become clogged with calcified minerals, but soaking them overnight in vinegar can cause the minerals to dissolve. You may need to tie a plastic bag full of vinegar onto plumbing fixtures that you can’t remove so that they can be soaked properly.
2. Clean glass shower doors. To eliminate the hard water spots and soap residue on your shower door, wipe the glass with a vinegar-soaked sponge or cloth. Rinsing is not recommended.

How to Clean Your Microwave with All-Natural Ingredients

If you’re like most Americans, your microwave oven is an essential home appliance that you use on a regular basis. Because microwaves get put through so much use, that means that they also end up needing a good cleaning more frequently than almost any other appliance.

How often have you looked inside your microwave to find crumbs, specks of liquid, and a blob of who-knows-what on the walls or turntable? It’s not exactly the squeaky clean and sanitary conditions in which most people would prefer to warm up their food. By that same token, scrubbing and disinfecting your microwave with bleach or other harsh chemical cleaners also raises some health concerns.

Luckily, there’s good news: you can clean and disinfect the inside of your microwave using 100-percent, all-natural ingredients.

Here is what you’ll need:

• ½ cup of distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup of clean water
• 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice OR a few drops of lemon essential oil
• 1 microwaveable bowl
• 1 clean rag

Step 1: Get Your Mixture Ready

Pour the cup of water and the ½ cup of vinegar into your microwaveable bowl. The smell of the vinegar can be a little too strong for some people, so to neutralize the odor, add the 3 tablespoons of bottled or freshly squeezed lemon juice or a few drops of lemon essential oil.

Step 2: Heat It Up

Place the bowl into your microwave, and set it on high for at least 4 minutes. The mixture needs to create steam in order to loosen grime, so microwave the mixture for an extra minute or two if necessary. Carefully remove the bowl from your microwave so as not to burn yourself with the liquid or on the bowl (oven mitts recommended). Set the bowl aside for now, but don’t throw out the mixture just yet.

Step 3: Wipe, Wipe, Wipe

With your clean rag, start wiping the interior of your microwave. If necessary, dip your rag carefully into your hot vinegar mixture to attack those extra-stubborn spots that are still clinging on for dear life.

You’re all done! If your microwave’s gasket needs some TLC as well, scrub it gently with a water and baking soda mixture (best applied to a clean sponge), and then rinse it with a damp cloth.

5 Bad Cleaning Habits to Break Right Now

We’re all guilty of a few bad cleaning habits. It might just be because they seem like the “easy” way of doing things or because we never even knew they were bad habits to begin with. Whatever the case may be, reversing bad cleaning habits can make maintaining a clean house a whole lot easier.

Are you guilty of any of these bad cleaning habits?

1. Using more cleaning product than directed

Aside from costing you more money in the long run, using an excessive amount of cleaning product can leave the surface you were trying to clean with residue, which then attracts dirt. Only use the amount of cleaning product recommended in the directions, or simply start out with less and use more if needed.

2. Not using the right cleaning product for the surface you want to clean

We’re sorry to have to tell you, Dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Windex is not an all-purpose household cleaner, much less a miracle cure for any ailment. Even gentler, homemade cleaning solutions can cause irreversible damage to some surfaces during cleaning. For instance, cleaning solutions with white vinegar can etch the stone of a marble countertop because of the vinegar’s high acidity.

3. Letting dishes “soak” in the sink

Always try to wash your dishes or load them into the dishwasher immediately after each meal. Allowing dirty dishes to pile up in your sink not only looks untidy, but it also attracts flies, ants, and cockroaches and encourages bacteria growth.

4. Scrubbing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher

In most scenarios, using your dishwasher as opposed to handwashing your dishes will save you time, water, and money, so that’s one reason to let your dishwasher do the “dirty work." Interestingly, your dishwasher will also have a harder time doing its job properly if there isn’t some kind of food residue left on your plates for its cleaning agent to interact with. Next time before you load the dishwasher, rinse larger food remnants off of your dishes but load them still a little dirty.

5. Letting papers pile up.

This can happen quickly due to the amount of junk mail that winds up in our mailboxes. Make it a habit to sort your mail daily and toss junk mail in with your recyclable garbage. Buy your household a small paper shredder for discarding bills that no longer need your attention or other documents that you don’t want to keep but that contain personally identifiable information. Better yet, switch to paperless invoices and statements whenever possible.

The Secret to Deep-Cleaning a Couch in 5 Steps

Just like your floor, your kitchen counters, and your bathroom sinks, your couch gets daily use. You use it, your kids use it, and maybe even your pets use it! Even so, many people don’t think about what kind of cleaning that a couch requires.

If your couch is overdue for a deep-cleaning (and let’s be honest--most of our couches are), here is how to do it in 5 steps.

1. Learn what cleaning method suits your upholstery.

In order to clean your couch properly, you have to first know what kind of material the upholstery is made of. The couch’s label should tell you this and should also include a list of codes to let you know what kind of cleaning can be performed upon the upholstery.

Here are the codes you’re likely to encounter on your couch’s label:

• S: This means that you should only use a dry cleaning detergent.
• WS: You can use either a steam vacuum with a mild detergent or use a dry cleaning detergent.
• W: This means that water is okay to use for cleaning.
• X: Only vacuum when you see this symbol. Don’t use any water.

2. Vacuum every inch.

Before deep cleaning, you’ll want to be sure to get rid of any hair, crumbs, fur, and other particles from your couch’s upholstery. Make sure to use your vacuum’s attachments so that you can get into the crannies and creases of your couch as well as its larger surfaces.

3. Disinfectant any non-upholstered parts.

Once your couch has been thoroughly vacuumed, wipe down any non-upholstered parts of your couch with a bleach-free disinfectant. It’s best to test a small spot first to make sure there are no other agents in the disinfectant that alter the color of the non-fabric parts.

4. Use baking soda to remove odors.

Baking soda is great for removing bad smells, and with all the moisture and bacteria couches can retain, it’s no wonder that they can begin to have a less-than-fresh odor after a while. That being said, you’ll want to test this step on a small, inconspicuous section of the upholstery to make sure that the baking soda doesn’t have a bleaching effect on it.

Once you’ve determined that the baking soda isn’t lightening your upholstery, it’s safe to use it on the rest of your couch. Sprinkle baking soda onto the area that needs deodorizing and spread it evenly with a bristle brush. Let the baking soda sit for a few hours before vacuuming it with your vacuum’s brush attachment.

5. Use water, white vinegar, and Castile soap for lingering odors and tough stains.

If your upholstery is able to get wet, create an all-natural upholstery cleaner and disinfectant for it to remove any stubborn odors or spots. Spray the solution onto the area in need, work it into the upholstery with a white cloth, then blot.

Vinegar Solution Recipe:

• 1 cup of warm water
• ¼ cup of white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of Castile soap (or substitute with 1 tablespoon of mild detergent)

10 House Cleaning Shortcuts You'll Wish You'd Known About Years Ago

Time is precious, and no one (well, almost no one) wants to spend most of it cleaning. Between all the other things you have to do on a day-to-day basis (running errands, going to work, taking care of kids and/or pets, etc.), you want to ensure yourself some spare time at the end of the week for whatever strikes your fancy.

With these 10 speed-cleaning tips, you’ll be ready reclaim your free time in less time than ever!

1. “Trick” yourself by attaching a quick chore to something you actually enjoy doing.

For instance, you can wipe down your kitchen counters and clean your sink while waiting for something delicious to bake in the oven. You can also work on sorting your laundry while enjoying a moisture-infused face mask.

2. If you live in a two-story home, keep two sets of cleaning supplies.

One set will be for upstairs, and the other will be for downstairs. This saves you the hassle of lugging them around from one floor to the other and allows you to start cleaning more quickly.

3. Break up chores into “bite-size” pieces.

Don’t try to tackle the whole house or even a whole room at once. Try focusing on just one side of one room for half an hour, and make it your goal to clean as much of it as you can. If you finish with time to spare, you might even feel like attacking the other side of the room.

4. If you have kids, keep bins or baskets for toys in multiple rooms.

Instead of trying to herd all of your children’s playthings into one toy box, keep some stylish baskets or bins in several rooms--or even every room--so that you have a place to collect toys for a quick cleanup.

5. Keep new garbage bags at the bottom of your trash cans.

This eliminates the extra steps of going to the cupboard or closet to fetch a new bag every time you empty the trash. Once you lift up and tie off the full bag of garbage, your next bag is right there waiting for you.

6. Don’t wait to clean or wipe down your shower.

Just pick a day and clean your shower while you’re still in it, or tack on a small section of grout each day for a few minutes with a toothbrush. If your shower has glass walls, keep a squeegee handy or use a towel to wipe it down after each use.

7. Don’t wait to wipe up a spill.

The longer you wait, the more a spill solidifies, and the more it solidifies, the longer it’s going to take to clean.

8. If a spill has crusted onto your stove, let it soak.

Don’t waste time scrubbing away at spots on your stove. Instead, lay a rag soaked in soapy water over the area you wish to tackle, find a different thing to clean for ten minutes, and then wipe the dirty spots away.

9. Clean a lampshade with a lint roller and a hairdryer.

Roll the lint roller along the inside and outside of the lampshade to pick up dust in a hurry. If dust collects in the seams, use a hairdryer to blow it out.

10. Start vacuuming/sweeping/mopping from the corner farthest from the room’s doorway.

Once you do this, work your way out towards that doorway. This prevents you from stepping directly onto the floor that you just cleaned.

Winter Cleaning Tips

 

Winter is approaching and it's important for homeowners to ensure they're taking the necessary steps to ensure they have everything clean and ready to endure the harsh weather on the way. 

There are a number of different things that you can do to keep your home ready for winter and cleaning is probably one of the most important steps. Here are some of the things that you can do while it still falls so you can have a worry-free winter. 

Check and Replace Your Air Filters 
The air filters in your home are often very important; however, they are not looked at as often as they should be and it can be problematic. Air filters are responsible for keeping certain allergens and particles out of your indoor air. If they become too full, your heater may not work as it should. 

Ensuring You Have a Clean Furnace 
Your furnace is going to be the hero of your winter because once the weather gets colder, you need to stay as comfortable as possible and your furnace goes a long way to helping that. If your furnace is dirty, it not only works inefficiently, but it can also be a fire hazard. 

Clean Behind Your Refrigerator and the Coils 
Your refrigerator coils and the area behind the refrigerator should be cleared of any potential debris using a vacuum and then wiping away the rest of the unwanted dirt. Make sure you first unplug the fridge and use any attachments that can help you scrub them away. 

Dryer Vent Cleaning 
In the dry winter months, the dryer vent can become a big problem as lint begins to build up in the lint trap and the vent. If the lint is not removed, the heated pipe can become too hot and the excess lint can catch fire. Be sure to use a dryer vent snake to remove the excess lint and debris. 

Get In the Deep Spots 
During the winter, you may want to get down to the nitty-gritty and perform a deep clean throughout your home. Start with your kitchen. Take everything out of your cabinets and drawers to clean inside, remove any unwanted items, and replace liners in the drawers. This may also be a good time for you to check so you can get the cleanest possible kitchen. 

As a homeowner in Suffolk County or Nassau County, you need to have professionals who can come out and help you get the job done right. Ensuring you have a clean home for the winter should be a top priority for you and it's important you know exactly what to do. 

If you're unsure of all the things you need to do, know that our cleaning experts at GreenPro are here for you. Trust that we'll come out, provide you with an accurate estimate and help you get the deep cleaning you need. We're the professionals you want and need to get the job done right the first time.

Are Vapor Barriers Worth It?

Vapor Barriers - The Pros and the Cons

What Do Vapor Barriers Do?

If you are building a home or other structure on your property you will be faced with whether or not to add a vapor barrier during the construction. Another name for a vapor barrier is 'moisture barrier' and this name might make more sense to some people. We all understand that moisture in a home is bad, right? These barriers protect against moisture, but where are they applied and how do they work exactly?

When and Where A Vapor Barrier Is Necessary

Barriers work in crawl spaces generally. There are specialized moisture barriers that wrap the exterior walls of homes as well. If your home is two story or has very high vaulted ceilings that allow warm air to rise, you should strongly consider using a vapor barrier. Some area building codes require them.

As warm air is drawn upwards in your home, cooler air is pulled from below. The air flow in your home will be drawing in mold, bacteria, and spores. These are drawn into your house through crawl spaces or basement walls that are not airtight.

Mold spores can be drawn indoors. Not only can these spores be problematic for those with allergies, but they can also be very bad and cause illnesses in otherwise healthy people.

What Does a Vapor Barrier Look Like?

A typical barrier is placed on the inside walls of your basement before they are finished off with drywall or paneling. If you have a crawl space below your floor. The barrier is placed all around this space underneath your home. The barrier itself is a sheet of specialized plastic that is designed to last many years.

The reality is that everyone should want to have a moisture barrier because the pros far outweigh the cons. The only real con is that it will be more upfront cost to constructing your home. The costs are minimal and will quickly pay for themselves in the saved heating and cooling. There is no way to gauge how much healthier your family will stay, but your allergy sufferers will definitely thank you.