Cleaning Tips

Here are some tips to keep your house looking spick and span this summer with minimal effort required!

1) Clutter free summer is the way forward

Having loads of stuff around the place encourages dust and allergens to collect. Doing a bit of de-cluttering is essential for your home to be clean and a healthy place to live.

If you only have a few minutes opt for a quick tidy rather than a deep 'dust clean'. Get the children to help, and encourage them as young pre-schoolers to put dirty clothes in the laundry basket and put toys away after use. With supervision they can also tidy their own bedrooms too. By making your home a clean, clutter free environment and getting the children involved too will also help your child master the cleaning tasks and you can make house cleaning an enjoyable, fun task.

2) Tackle the small jobs first

Tackle the jobs early before they turn into big overwhelming problems.

What not try clockwise cleaning? Move around the room clockwise, putting cutter and mislaid items away. Any bits and bobs that don't belong in that room stack outside the room to be put away later.

Dust shelves, window sills, blinds, lamps, tables and TV/computer screens with a damp cloth. (Dusting with a dry cloth could scratch the surface and create a dull finish). Make your mirrors and windows gleam by using vinegar and glass cleaner solution and a squeegee.

Get the vacuum out and vacuum voraciously. Make sure you do upholstered chairs and sofas and also vacuum near the door ways to lift out trapped in dirt.

3. Stop the dirt at the door!

Even if it sounds a bit drastic, get a door mat and stop sand and grit at the door by making people take off their shoes prior to entering. On the inside, place rugs (washable) in high traffic areas to prevent dirt from being transferred around the rooms of your house.

Try to ensure that people eat in the kitchen or the dining room so crumbs don’t drop all around the house.

4. Get the Bathroom sparkling

Sanitize the toilet bowl. Make sure you squirt toilet cleaning around the inside of the bowl and also under the rim. Use a long handled toilet brush, swish the cleaning all around the bowl and under the rim.

Clear the counter top of your personal items and spray the surface with an all purpose cleaner. Get the spray glass cleaner and clean the mirror.

Dust and smudge duty. Clear shelves and dust. Spot-clean wall smudges with an all-purpose cleaner and sponge. Give full attention to areas around light switches and doorknobs - a favourite gathering place for germs and bacteria. Now for the floor, vacuum or sweep then mop after. Also make sure you empty the rubbish bin and replace with a clean poly bag to dispose of any waste hygienically.

Woldbrite professional floor cleaners are a driving force in domestic and commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning for over 30 years. For additional information please call 01509 881 137 or email us on tony.woldbrite@btinternet.com. 

How to dry floors properly

Drying floors can be a lengthy process if they have been affected by flood. Drying flood damage floors can also be a bigger  inconvenience than you realise as you might have to seal the room completely which could mean that the occupants have to temporarily relocate.

If you have ever been affected by flood damage (whether it be as a business or as a home owner) you will know it can be very costly. The cost either hits the business or the homeowner or the insurance company. The quicker a floor can be dried out the better in terms of keeping the costs down. Drying out a floor naturally isn't very cost effective. Fortunately there is equipment out there that can speed up the drying process.

So what is the most efficient way to dry a flood damage floor?

Step one. Floor coverings such as rugs, mats or carpets should be removed, then you need to remove as much of the excess water as possible. This will involve using a specialist pump.

When the pumping has removed all excess water soak up the rest with mops and sponges.

When you have removed as much water as possible, the next step will be to dry out the floor.

Heat Drying

Step two. heating a damp surface will make it dry faster.

However using heat can be tricky as hot air rises so it might involve having to heat the entire room before it starts to dry out the floor. This could take a long time.

Using a fan will help circulate hot air around the room. Ensure that the room is well ventilated this will help moist air to escape.

If the water damage isn't too severe it might be possible to re-use the carpets and rugs. If the carpet is has been damaged with contaminated water then it will need to be professionally cleaned. It might however be cheaper to replace the items

If you are unsure if the carpets where exposed to contamination you should disinfect them to kill any spores left in the carpet as these could be very harmful to your health.

The floor must be completely dry before laying any new carpets or flooring. If they are left damp, it could cause the carpet to stretch and become raised or cause wooden floors to warp.

Remember if the floor isn't completely dried out, mould or mildew could grow, causing respiratory problems and potentially long term damage to your property.

Dehumidifiers

Step three

These work by removing moisture from the air and replacing it with dry air. One of the problems with using a dehumidifier is that it will collect moisture from the entire room (not just the wet surface in question). This basically means that the process will take a lot longer. The room will need to be sealed throughout the process.

The issues with traditional drying equipment is that the drying process is not entirely focussed on the wet area. Therefore will be time consuming.

Sealing the room can be very inconvenient especially for a business. This may also incur other costs such as the storing of any furniture or additional equipment whilst the floor is being dried.

Step four. Don’t waste time, remember “ Time is money” get in touch with the professionals and take away the misery of flood.

Crisp & Brite specialise in providing technical advice and cleaning solutions for carpets, upholstery and hard floors. Call us today on 01509 881137 for a no obligation quotation and see what we can do for you...

Top cleaning tips that will change your Summer

Remove the clutter!
Set a goal to de-clutter your home this summer. If you have lots of stuff around it enables dust and allergens to collect. Get on the ball and start de-cluttering.

Think small for a big summer cleaning impact
If you tackle smaller jobs before they turn into big ones is definitely the best strategy. Remember if you make it a group (family) effort you will in turn get the cleaning done faster in the allotted time. Give each family member a job and get cracking.

Stop the dirt and dust at the door!
If you can stop the dirt and dust at the door by having people remove their shoes will drastically reduce the dirt from entering the household. Use door mats to catch the dust, dirt and pollen brought in from outside. Also try to confine eating to the kitchen/dining room so that crumbs won't go all around the house.

Quick Kitchen Cleanup!
Fill your sink with hot soapy water, and soak your stove burner rings and vent hood filter for at least 20 minutes to soften baked on food and splatters.

Clean the sink and faucet with a sponge and dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaner. To make the faucet sparkle, spray it with a glass cleaner and polish dry. Wipe the countertops and refrigerator door handle clean with a odour free disinfectant to avoid disinfectant smells contaminating the food.

Crisp and Brite Professional Cleaning Products supply everything you require to keep your home clean, sparkling and dust free. For additional product information please call 01509 881 137

What is Green cleaning?

Green cleaning is all about cleaning with methods and products that are completely 'environmentally friendly'.

The procedures and ingredients are designed to be beneficial to the environmental quality and to help ensure good health.

For a product to be classed as green, there cannot be any chemicals that are classed as toxic in the manufacturing process.

Some products that emit volatile organic compounds causing respiratory, dermatological and other conditions are not considered Green.

If the manufacturing process of the cleaning materials is environmentally friendly and the products that are used are classed as biodegradable then the term 'green' or 'eco-friendly' may apply.

If you want to learn more about green products, or the full product range that Crisp & Brite use and supply please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Crisp & Brite provide the most professional cleaning products available. For further information please call 01509 881 137 or email us at tony@crispandbrite.co.uk

Are you cleaning your windows properly?

Love it or hate it there are many techniques and methods that you can adopt to clean your windows. We thought we would take this opportunity to see how the professionals do it. They have all the tips and tricks to ensure you have nice clean windows.

Firstly what do you need:-
1.    A large dry brush or broom handle for removing cobwebs and dust.
2.    A sponge.
3.    A bucket.
4.    A Squeegee.
5.    Purpose made window cleaning solutions or vinegar.
6.    Brown paper or a newspaper.
7.    Chamois or micro fibre cloth.
8.    Dry lint free cloth or drying pad.
Let's get started!

1. Get rid of any dust
Tie back curtains and blinds, use a dust pan and brush and brush around the corners of the window and sill to get rid of any dust.

2. Wash your window with a sponge
Get some soapy water and remember - the fewer suds the better. Be careful not to use strong window cleaning solutions as they may damage the paintwork surrounding the window.

3. Wipe the excess water
Use a clean squeegee, start at the top of the window and work down in a reverse-S pattern for best results. Wipe the squeegee blade clean to avoid transferring the dirt around the window.

4 Remaining water now needs to be removed
Use a microfibre or chamois cloth to remove the remaining water from the glass. Now dry the windowsill beneath where there still may be some drips.

5. Clean your windows on a cloudy day!
Direct sunlight does make it easier to see the dirt, it also however makes the windows dry too quickly, which in turn please streaks on the glass. Pick a cloudy day to clean your windows but beware of rain!

6. You need to clean your windows at least twice a year
You will be surprised at how dirty your windows will get. Clean windows will make your rooms lighter and brighter.

7. Make your own cleaning solution
Get a small bucket of warm water and add two tablespoons of vinegar.

8. What if your windows are really greasy and dirty?
Get two tablespoons of domestic borax or household ammonia and rise with the vinegar solution mentioned above. Finish with a dry, lint free cloth.

9. Buffing
Get a crumpled up newspaper and us it to buff the clean, dry glass. The ink that the printers use window give your window that extra sparkle.

Crisp and Brite Professional Cleaning supply everything you require to keep your windows clean, sparkling and streak free. For additional product information please call 01509 881 137 or email us on tony@crispandbrite.co.uk. 

The process for cleaning a sandstone floor

If a sandstone tile floor is correctly maintained it can make for a durable and striking choice as a kitchen or hallway floor. When cleaned and sealed properly its contrasting shades will make the tiles look beautiful, giving an instant impression.

Sandstone if often made up of the mineral quartz and comes in a variety of colours including tan, yellow, brown, red, pink, white and black, but if not cleaned correctly those colours can become dulled and grey, causing it to lose its unique appearance.  

It’s important to take care of your sandstone tiles in order to keep them looking at their best. Always blot up any spillages as soon as they happen, sweep it regularly to remove dust and dirt, if wanting to mop your floor DO NOT use shop bought or any harsh cleaning chemicals, just use warm water or a specialised cleaning solution suitable for sandstone.

A typical cleaning and restoration process for a sandstone floor.

Inspect & Protect – Identify any existing stains, tile damage or loose grout and if needed protect any nearby furniture.


Dust & Dry Soil Removal - Before beginning the main clean, remove any dry soil and debris from the floor surface. 


Apply cleaning solution and agitate – Starting with a small section of floor, apply a specialist cleaning solution to a small area and agitate it deep in to the sandstone using a rotary machine with a brush attachment. 


Create a slurry and rinse – Using the rotary brushes with the cleaning solution will cause a slurry to form, remove this using a wet vacuum and repeat his process as many times as necessary until all ingrained soiling is removed and it is completely clean. 


Dry and Seal – Once 100% sure the floor is restored to its best condition, dry and seal the floor.

Carpet Cleaning – Tips for small but major stain issues

Regardless of how much effort you put in to cleanliness, your carpet is eventually going to end up being a casualty of careless spillages, accidents and whatever may be on the souls of your footwear.

Below are some tips to take on board so you can handle some of the smaller but more major problems that your carpet can face and help you keep it looking fresh.

Don’t rub, dab

Never start with rubbing a stain, if you can dab it away. Dab the offending stain with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, sponge or a paper towel or towelette. The key here is to blot the stain and soak it up, always starting from the outside of the stain and moving inwards.

Rubbing causes particles to get worked into the fibres of the carpet and can lead to those fibres breaking down prematurely.

Tackling gum

Whether you’re unfortunate enough to have stepped in gum and traipsed it in to the home or you just missed the mark when going to put it in the bin, there’s a simple trick to get it out.

Grab yourself a couple of ice cubes out of the freezer and place on the gum to freeze it (should only take around 30 sec), once frozen use a spoon to lift and a pair of scissor to remove it from the carpet all together, cutting as little of the carpet as possible and as close as possible to the gum to leave you with a spot that should be unnoticeable.

Washing-up liquid, it’s not just good for the dishes

That’s right; washing up liquid is an ideal cleaner for any stain that involves grease, it loves cutting through it and the carpet is no exception. Simply use a drop or two in a solution of water and fill a spray bottle, spray the stain and then blot. This might need to be repeated for larger stains.

Waxy situations

Having candles burning in the home will always come with the risk of spilling wax on the carpet, well don’t be put off lighting them in fear of that spillage anymore. If you do happen to get some wax on your carpet get a white cloth or thin towel and turn your iron on, were going to heat it back up.

Place the cloth or towel over the wax and then heat with the iron to warm it up, now scrape the wax off with a blunt knife (can use a butter knife). Once you have done that, repeat the process but use a paper towel as the fibres will help pick up the remaining wax. You might have to repeat the last process a few times to get rid of it all.