tips and tricks Archives - KTMA Ltd. happy house cleaning services london Mon, 08 Apr 2024 14:34:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 How to Clean and Maintain Your Sofa Bed and Extend Its Lifespan https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/clean-maintain-sofa-bed-prolong-lifespan/ Sun, 01 Oct 2023 13:58:26 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=15490 Image by artursafronovvvv Sofa beds have always been a popular choice for guest rooms. However, recently, we've been noticing an increasing trend of people using this style of sofa in place of a bed in their homes. There's a good reason for this shift! These pieces of furniture are practical, comfortable, and space-saving, [...]

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Image by artursafronovvvv

Sofa beds have always been a popular choice for guest rooms. However, recently, we’ve been noticing an increasing trend of people using this style of sofa in place of a bed in their homes. There’s a good reason for this shift! These pieces of furniture are practical, comfortable, and space-saving, and, not least, they come in a wide range of beautiful and high-quality models. As upholstery care specialists, we see a good deal of sleeper sofas in our work. But as we encounter sofa beds more frequently, it becomes evident that people often overlook the fact that this type of furniture requires different maintenance compared to a conventional sofa. Here are some expert tips for cleaning and caring for your sofa bed, ensuring it looks great and stays comfortable for years to come.

Read also: How to Properly Care For a Fabric Sofa

Sofa beds have two very different uses that lead to different issues with their maintenance. Image by Freepik

Understanding the Unique Maintenance Needs of a Sofa Bed

People opt for this type of sofa for various reasons – some live in compact spaces, others prefer having a functional guest room, and a few even consider Airbnb-ing their spare room. Regardless of the reason, a sofa in these scenarios serves a dual purpose: seating for relaxation and a bed. This dual role poses several challenges, including wear and staining. Besides the susceptibility to spills and stains, sofa beds are exposed to the same dirt and grime that mattresses endure. Prolonged use can lead to fabric wear, cushion deformation, and more. So, how can we tackle these issues? Read on to find out.

Check also: 5 Upholstery Cleaning Hacks to Keep Your Sofa As New

Vacuuming your sofa bed prolongs the life of the upholstery. Image by senivpetro

Keeping Your Sofa Bed Clean and Fresh

Regular vacuuming of your sofa bed is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy living environment. Soft furnishings tend to accumulate dust, dirt, pet hair, and debris, which can lead to various problems if left unchecked. These particles not only spoil the sofa’s appearance but can also harbour allergens like dust mites, pollen, and pet dander, potentially causing allergies or respiratory issues. Frequent vacuuming helps prevent premature wear and tear, preserving the fabric and cushions and ultimately extending the lifespan of your sofa bed. By making regular vacuuming a part of your sofa bed cleaning routine, you ensure a cleaner, more inviting, and longer-lasting piece of furniture in your home.

Read also: How to Keep Your Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free

A waterproof mattress protector is a game changer in preventing stains on your sleeper sofa.

Preventing Stains During Sleep

When it comes to mattress cleaning, the most common stains we encounter are from sweat, blood, greasy sebum stains, and, in some cases, urine. This is perfectly normal, as each of us produces these bodily fluids. While hiding such unsightly stains on a mattress with sheets or a duvet cover is easy, the same cannot be said for a sofa bed. Using a mattress protector is a smart move to avoid embarrassing moments with your guests and stubborn stains on the upholstery. While some furniture brands offer special protectors for sofa beds, a regular waterproof mattress protector works wonders. Ensure it fits your sofa bed size and place it beneath the sheet. This way, your furniture is shielded from blemishes, and if an accident occurs, simply toss the protector in the washing machine for easy cleanup.

Check also: How to Keep Your Mattress Odour-Free

Snacking on your sofa can lead to food and beverage spills, so it’s wise to avoid it as much as you can. Image by Freepik

Preventing Daily Stains on Your Sofa Bed

Sitting or sleeping on a sofa bed that smells like beer or pizza sauce is not enjoyable. To prevent stains:

  • Avoid eating on the sofa bed, or consider using covers. In case of spills, promptly address the stain to prevent it from becoming stubborn and difficult to clean.
  • Schedule professional deep sofa cleaning at least twice a year.
  • Request that the professionals treat the fabric with Scotchgard; this way, you won’t need to worry about accidental spills.

Read also: When to Hire a Professional Upholstery Cleaner

Sebum stains can be quite difficult to remove as they cling to the upholstery’s fibres. Image by katemangostar

Preventing Sebum Stains on Your Sofa Bed’s Back and Armrests

A ‘sebum stain’ is the result of the oily secretion from our skin’s sebaceous glands, including those on our scalp. When we repeatedly rest our heads in the same spot, this greasy substance can leave stubborn stains on the upholstery. Sebum stains can pose a challenge when cleaning your sofa bed, as the oiliness can cause it to cling to the fabric fibres. Luckily, there’s a straightforward solution – place a piece of linen on the area where your head touches the upholstery while sleeping. This clever trick will safeguard your upholstered furniture during relaxation and movie nights and prevent the buildup of unsightly sebum stains. By covering the back and armrests of your sofa bed, you can significantly extend the life of the upholstery.

Check also: 5 Tips on Cleaning Your Suede Sofa

Treating spills right away is the best way to prolong your sofa bed’s beautiful appearance. Image by pressfoto

Dealing with Stains on Your Sofa Bed

In the event of a spill on your sofa bed, acting swiftly to prevent a permanent stain is essential. Here’s what you should do:

  • If the stain has solid particles, gently remove them with a spatula or spoon without applying excessive pressure.
  • Use a clean, white* cloth to blot the spot gently, absorbing as much liquid as possible.
  • Before treating the stain with a stain-removing product, spray the affected area with cold water.
  • Apply an upholstery stain remover according to the product’s instructions. After treating the stain, allow the sofa to air dry completely before sitting or sleeping on it to prevent filling deformation and re-soiling of the fabric. Avoid using multiple products on the same stain, as different ingredients may react unpredictably and seal the stain.

*When using a clean, colourless cloth, you avoid transferring dyes onto the sofa fabric during the stain removal process.

Suppose you’re uncertain about cleaning the sofa yourself or dealing with stubborn stains. In that case, it’s best to book a professional sofa cleaner.

A top mattress will do wonders in supporting your back during sleep and will help prevent cushion sagging.

Preventing Cushion Sagging

Most sofa beds aren’t designed for daily use as a bed, and they often lack proper back support. However, if you find yourself needing to sleep on the sofa bed daily, prioritize your comfort. With frequent use, you’ll likely notice the cushions sagging and lumps forming in the filling. To address this issue, consider investing in a high-quality sofa bed mattress specifically designed for this purpose. This will distribute your weight more evenly, preventing cushion sagging. Additionally, using a top mattress offers the added benefit of protecting the upholstery from stains during sleep. Top mattresses not only make your sofa bed more comfortable but also extend the lifespan of your furniture.

Check also: 5 Things to Consider When Buying a New Sofa

By following these tips and guidelines, you can ensure that your sofa bed remains in top condition, providing comfort and functionality for years to come.

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How to Remove Limescale From Your Toilet https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/how-to-remove-limescale-from-toilet/ Mon, 06 Jul 2020 09:03:24 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=15035 Ah, the humble lavatory. The place where we go to relieve ourselves, not only from the usual bodily needs, but from the stress of a long day. Our trusty friend and companion, the loo, is a wonderful refuge from our day-to-day life. That’s why we need to take care of it. Limescale is a devilish [...]

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Ah, the humble lavatory. The place where we go to relieve ourselves, not only from the usual bodily needs, but from the stress of a long day. Our trusty friend and companion, the loo, is a wonderful refuge from our day-to-day life. That’s why we need to take care of it. Limescale is a devilish little thing that lurks in the water. It loves to grip onto our lovely white toilet bowl, which in time, leads to an unseemly discolouration of the porcelain. That’s why we’ve decided to put together a guide of the do’s and dont’s on how to remove limescale from your toilet.

Check out also: End of Tenancy Cleaning London Prices.

What is Limescale?

First things first, before you tackle the beast, you need to know what it is. Limescale is a sneaky little thing. It’s a hard, chalky deposit, made up of mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It often tends to build up in kettles, hot water boilers, and pipework, especially for hot water. Limescale builds up in places where “hard water” evaporates. After which, limescale usually turns a funny colour. The colours can vary from off-white through to a range of greys and pink or reddish browns. In addition to being hard to clean and not so pleasing to the eye, it can cause serious damage to plumbing and heating components.

How NOT to Remove Limescale

As always with cleaning methods, there are many cleaning myths out there. That’s why we have tried and tested those methods and we’re here to give you the results. Here are the two most popular limescale removal myths we’ve discovered:

  1. Bleach – Common bleach is one of the best friends of the household. It can remove tough stains, brighten darkened surfaces, disinfect, and it kills basically everything. So it would be understandable as to why so many people think it works. The truth is that it doesn’t actually remove the limescale. It just brightens the discolouration. In this case, it makes the limescale more destructive, as you can’t see it and aren’t aware of the damage it’s doing.
  2. Coca-Cola – According to this myth, pouring a bottle of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and leaving overnight will destroy the limescale. The idea is that the acid in the cola will get rid of the limescale. Our results on this test weren’t great. All we got was a cola-coloured limescale stain.

coca cola

How to Remove Limescale From Your Toilet?

Ok, so now we’ve cleared up those little myths, we’ll tell you a few DIY ways of de-scaling your toilet. You will need:

That’s it! Here are our two methods from limescale removal:

How to Remove Limescale with Vinegar:

  1. Get 1 litre of undiluted white vinegar and pour it into the bowl. Make sure you get all sides of the toilet bowl.
  2. Now, it’s waiting time. Give it at least 3 hours to sit.
  3. Using a toilet brush or a scrubbing sponge with more white vinegar, scrub ot the toilet bowl.
  4. Flush to remove all residue.
  5. Repeat until your toilet is sparkling like new!

How to Remove Limescale with Sandpaper:

We recommend using 2 types of sandpaper for this job – medium-grain and fine-grain

  1. Scrub the inside of the toilet starting with the medium-grain sandpaper.
  2. Carry on until the majority of the limescale is gone and don’t apply to much pressure so as not to scratch the bowl.
  3. Using the fine-grain start to buff the inside of the toilet until the stain is completely gone.
  4. Flush the loo to get rid of any residue and clean the toilet as you usually would.

Need professional cleaning help? Check out our one-off cleaning service!

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How to Keep Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/how-to-keep-upholstery-stain-and-odour-free/ Fri, 17 Apr 2020 14:39:37 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14968 After a long day, you just want to kick back and rest. The worst thing ever is when you get to that point of the day, and there’s an unpleasant odour coming from your comfy couch. Sometimes keeping on top of odours can be a tough and constant job. That’s why we’re here to give [...]

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After a long day, you just want to kick back and rest. The worst thing ever is when you get to that point of the day, and there’s an unpleasant odour coming from your comfy couch. Sometimes keeping on top of odours can be a tough and constant job. That’s why we’re here to give you the know-how to suppress the bad smells that love to lurk in the fibres of upholstered furniture.

upholstery

Read also: Precautions and Prevention of Contracting and Spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus).

The Best Shelf Products for Keeping Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free:


Scotchgard Fabric Upholstery Cleaner – £10


Northern Labs Formula 1 Dry Upholstery Cleaner – £12.50


Sonax (289300-755) Leather Foam – £13


Hoover 2X PetPlus Concentrated – £16


Rust-Oleum 278146 – £13


These are the top cleaning products for upholstery and their average prices. If they’re not available on the shelf in your local stores, they’re available for order on Amazon.

How to Use Shelf Products for Cleaning Upholstery:

When it comes to the shelf-bought products, you need to stick to thеse rules. Always approach with caution when using chemical-based cleaners. You don’t want to damage your upholstered furniture.

1. Always check your furniture labels for cleaning instructions before use;
2. Never stray from the instructions on the product label.
As long as you stick to these rules, you can’t go wrong. It’s as simple as that.

Tried and Proven DIY Solutions for Stain and Odour-Free Upholstery:

We did a bit of digging through the best DIY for upholstered furniture. Here are our top 3 methods for stain and odour-free fabric furniture:

1. he best upholstery brightening cleaner – 1 cup hydrogen peroxide (3%) and 1tbsp of dish soap. Mix them in a spray bottle and you’re ready to go!

  1. Spray on upholstered furniture until lightly soaked;
  2. Leave to rest a few minutes;
  3. Using a furniture brush lightly scrub upholstery;
  4. Spray with clean water and hoover until dry.

2. The best general upholstery cleaner – 1 cup of water or soda water with ½ cup white vinegar, ½ cup dish soap. Mix them in a spray bottle and you have your DIY product.

  1. Spray onto upholstery until lightly soaked;
  2. Scrub lightly with a furniture brush or clean cloth;
  3. Spray with clean water;
  4. Vacuum until dry;

3. The best dry upholstery cleaner – ½ cup of baking soda with ½ cup of cornstarch with just enough water to make a paste-like mixture. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oils for pleasant odours.

  1. Spread the mixture over the surface of your furniture;
  2. Leave for at least 30 minutes. Leave overnight for more serious cases;
  3. Vacuum until no traces of the mixture are left;
  4. If your upholstery is super sensitive, leave the water out of the mixture and just sprinkle the dry ingredients over your upholstery. After vacuuming then drop about 10 drops of your favourite essential oils over your upholstered furniture.

Need Professional Upholstery Cleaners?

Sometimes we’ve loved our upholstery so much that it needs professional care. Don’t hesitate to contact Happy House Cleaning services. Guarantee your settees and armchairs that new, spick and span look. Our professional upholstery cleaners will carefully tend your furniture with top-notch professional cleaning products. Combine our services – antiviral sanitisation, end of tenancy cleaning, carpet cleaning, and more!- and get a juicy discount. Go to our main site and get your free quote now!

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5 Simple Ways to Save Money When Cleaning Your Home https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/5-simple-ways-to-save-money-when-cleaning-your-home/ Wed, 18 Sep 2019 08:51:56 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14702 If you trace your expenses, you will be shocked to discover you are spending a small fortune on home cleaning tools and products every year. Keeping your home sanitised is crucial for your family’s health, and you shouldn’t cut corners while doing it. However, you will definitely reduce some of your expenses and save some [...]

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If you trace your expenses, you will be shocked to discover you are spending a small fortune on home cleaning tools and products every year. Keeping your home sanitised is crucial for your family’s health, and you shouldn’t cut corners while doing it. However, you will definitely reduce some of your expenses and save some money with these 5 tips from our domestic cleaning experts.

Read also: How to Make Your Home Greener and Healthier?

This is about all the cleaning tools you need to maintain your home.

Stop Buying Unnecessary Home Cleaning Tools

Nowadays you can easily buy all kinds of housekeeping tools and gadgets online or in the nearest supermarket. However, KTMA Ltd. experts believe 90% of them are just a waste of your hard-earned money. Actually, all you need to keep your home clean are high-quality products and only a few simple tools. Forget about buying single-purpose gadgets that you will use once or twice (or, let’s face it – probably never!). Instead of buying specialised towels and cloths, re-purpose old cotton and wool clothes to use as rags. The ordinary dish sponge is as efficient as any other sponge if you need to scrub off some built-up dirt. Your old toothbrush is also an excellent tool you can use to clean hard to reach places. So, when you are in the home and garden section of the store, stick to the basic tried and tested items – this will save you a lot of money over time.

Check also: Does Hiring a Home Cleaner Worth the Money

The worst thing that can happen to your laundry detergent after it expires is to lose its fragrance.

Don’t Throw Away Expired Cleaning Products

People are creatures of habit. We are used to throwing away expired foods, so naturally, when we do the same with our home cleaning products. However, this isn’t always necessary. Unlike food, detergents can be used even after their expiration date. This is especially true if you have stored the cleaning products properly – in a dry environment, out of sunlight and at room temperature). So, next time you see an expired floor cleaner or laundry detergent – keep them and use them, instead of buying new ones. This way, you will definitely cut your home-cleaning expenses, and save yourself a walk to the store.

Read also: 10 of the Most Common Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them – 1

Prepare green home cleaners simple ingredients with you probably already have at home.

Prepare Your Own Home Cleaning Solutions

We spend lots of money on home cleaning products we don’t really need. Well, we do need to deal with stains and dirt, but we can do it as efficiently with homemade solutions as with readily made cleaners. There are plenty of recipes you can find online. But if you don’t want to waste your time on doing the research, you can check our blog for some tried-and-tested DIY cleaning products. Our suggestions will help you maintain your home pristine while saving you money.

Check also: 11 Unbelievably Efficient DIY Silver Cleaning Recipes 

Wait until you have enough laundry to fill the drum of your washer.

Don’t Run the Washing Machine Unless It’s Full

If you want to cut down your electricity bills, you can simply try to be more efficient when using your cleaning appliances. When you start running a fully loaded washing machine, you save not only money on electricity, but you also save on your water bill. The same applies when you run your dishwasher. Another way to save on electricity while cleaning is to run your appliances during the night when the consumption rate is cheaper.

Read also: How to Clean Your Dishwasher in 8 Easy Steps

We regularly offer various promotions on our cleaning services on our website.

Book Package Deals When Hiring Home Cleaning Services

We have said it before, and we would say it again. Professional home cleaners package deals and special offers are one of the best ways to save money on cleaning! On the one hand, you are getting experienced technicians to do the dirty job for you, and this means no compromises on the quality. On the other – you pay less than these services would usually cost. It’s a win-win situation. So next time you have to spring-clean your home, don’t hesitate to check what are your local cleaner’s offers. You will be surprised how much money you can save by booking windows and furniture cleaning, or other two services together!

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The Most Important Things You Should Know Before You Do an End of Tenancy Cleaning https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/most-important-things-before-move-out-cleaning/ Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:44:52 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14599 All walls should be spotless, so you might have to plan a small renovation before the move-out cleaning. If you happen to be one of the not so lucky people to have a place of your own, you sure know that you must clean up your rental before you move out. Trying to [...]

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All walls should be spotless, so you might have to plan a small renovation before the move-out cleaning.

If you happen to be one of the not so lucky people to have a place of your own, you sure know that you must clean up your rental before you move out. Trying to do the end of tenancy cleaning on your own can be risky because you could lose your deposit if the property is not in good condition. Many renters never obtain a considerable amount of their deposit money due to lack of knowledge on what they need to pay attention to. That is why we have put together this easy to follow move out cleaning guide to make sure you won’t miss any details when preparing the rental for the final inspection.

Read also: The Ultimate Cleaning Checklist When Moving Out

Although these are both great tips, your end of tenancy cleaning list should be considerably longer than that.

Have you prepared well for the end of lease cleanup?

Whether you’ll be attempting to do the end of tenancy cleaning yourself or you will try hiring a professional service, it’s necessary to understand how this job has to be done. Only this way you can be confident that you or the cleaning company have done the job adequately, and you can eliminate any concern about reclaiming your tenancy deposit in full.

Check also: How to Choose Reliable End of Tenancy Cleaning Company

Carefully check the inventory list, especially if you are renting a fully equipped apartment.

First of all, you have to ask your landlord to present you their final inspection checklist as well as the inventory list they had prepared when you moved in. By doing so, you can make sure that you meet all the criteria and guarantee the reimbursement of your security deposit. Here are some basic things you should know before attempting an end of lease cleanup:

• It is essential that you replace broken items and repair any damage occasioned during the time of your contract.
• If you are doing the move-out clean up yourself, it is vital that you plan enough time to get the tedious task done and to allow furniture and carpets to dry.
• You should also make sure you have all the suitable cleaning products and equipment beforehand. This step is important if you want to prevent damaging the furnishings by using an inappropriate product or tool.
• In case you are not sure how to deal with a particular piece of furniture or carpet, it is best to consult a professional cleaning service to avoid damage.

Read also: DIY or Professional End of Lease Cleaning

If you hire professionals you can rest assured they will do an immaculate end of lease cleaning job.

Should You Do the Move Out Clean Yourself or Hire End of Tenancy Cleaners?

Making the choice of taking on the job on your own or booking end of lease cleaners can sometimes be stressful. You may be anxious about spending a lot of money by hiring professionals or losing your tenancy deposit by doing the job inefficiently.

Don’t forget to polish the hardwood floors before moving out.

How Much Work Has to be Done?

The way of approaching this decision would be to assess the amount of work that needs to be done. Think about how many rooms you need to clean, how much of a mess you need to deal with. That way, you will determine whether or not your everyday tasks would allow you to spare enough time to get on with the job. If you think there is a chance to overwhelm yourself with the task, it may be better to book an end of tenancy cleaning company. In doing so, you can free up your schedule and get on with the rest of your move-out to do list. Whatever you decide, don’t allow stress to get in the way of recovering your tenancy deposit in full.

All kitchen appliances in the rental should be spotless for the final inspection with the landlord.

Safety Tips

When doing the end of tenancy clean, you should make sure you use all cleaning tools and products correctly. Read the instructions on the labels – knowing your equipment and detergents is a guarantee you won’t damage, scratch or stain any surface, carpets or furnishings in the property. When you are done with the move-out cleaning, ask someone to give a good look around the rental in case you’ve missed a spot. By following this end of tenancy cleaning tips, you can be confident in getting your tenancy deposit back in full.

Check also:

10+ Packing Hacks For a Stress-Free Moving Out Part 1

10+ Packing Hacks For a Stress-Free Moving Out Part 2

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10+ Packing Hacks For a Stress-Free Moving Out Experience – Part 2 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/10-packing-hacks-stress-free-moving-out-experience-part-2/ Tue, 02 Apr 2019 18:08:00 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14509 In the previous part of this post, we’ve shared with you 5 packing tips that would make your next moving-out a bit simpler. Here are the rest of the advice you can follow for a smooth and stress-free relocating. Balanced weight in the moving vehicle mean safer transportation. Load the Heaviest Items First [...]

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In the previous part of this post, we’ve shared with you 5 packing tips that would make your next moving-out a bit simpler. Here are the rest of the advice you can follow for a smooth and stress-free relocating.

Balanced weight in the moving vehicle mean safer transportation.

Load the Heaviest Items First

Weight distribution is essential when you want all your belongings to arrive safe and sound. After you are done packing put the heaviest boxes aside to be loaded first in the moving truck. This way you will prevent them from smashing other packages containing fragile items. This will also help distribute the weight evenly and can help you save some money on gasoline. The poorly distributed load can make the vehicle more difficult to conduct, so a well-balanced weight in the moving car also means lowering the risks of accidents.

Check also: DIY or Professional End of Tenancy Cleaning?

Try the trick below and you won’t have to loose time when packing and unpacking your clothes.

Pack Clothes on Hangers to Save Time

Packing up your wardrobe, and particularly the hanging clothes is quite time-consuming. Just think of all the blazers, shirts, and dresses you have to take off from their hangers. And even if you fold them carefully, you will probably need to iron them before you re-hang them when you unpack them at your new place. To simplify this chore, you can just take all the clothes off the rack without removing them from their hangers and put them in a bag. Leave the hooks jutting out of the end and tie them together to ensure they won’t be moving around during the relocation. Once you arrive at your new home, just untie the hangers and arrange them on the rod.

Read also: How to Prepare for a Stress-Free Summer at Home

Get the toiletries and other essentials in a separate easy to find box.

Pack a Box for the First Night

When you finally get to your new property, there is a big chance you will be pretty tired. Finding everything you need for the first night at your new home can be pretty challenging after relocating and could bring you over the edge. This is why KTMA Ltd. experts advice to always pack a “first night bag” when packing your belongings. This bag should contain pyjamas, toothbrush, toothpaste and some other basic toiletries, clean underwear, as well as some medicine. It is also a good idea to pack some ready-made meals to avoid cooking after the long move-out day. Follow this tip, and you will be able to get a good rest before you have to continue with the general unpacking the following days.

Check also: How to Choose Reliable End Of Lease Cleaners When Moving Out?

Having someone to help keep the kids busy will make packing during moving out easier and safer.

Hire a Babysitter for the Moving Day

Most people of us don’t realise how distracting and stressful packing and moving can be. Things get even more complicated when you have small children. They can get bored and start playing around during the preparation and loading, which can slow the whole process and even – to lead to accidents. This is why our experts advise you to hire an experienced babysitter or ask a relative to help watch your children on a moving day. This will get you some extra time to deal with the relocation chores without worrying about keeping your kids busy and safe.

Read also: How to Get Your Teen Help With the Chores at Home

You can prevent unpleasant accidents by taping glass items when packing them.

Tape Mirrors and Glass Items for a Safe Transportation

Stick masking or painters tape on all mirrors and glass items before loading them into the moving car. This might not prevent the material from breaking during the move, but it will keep the glass inside the frame. This way all of the other items won’t get covered in small sharp pieces of glass and unloading them will be safer for you. A simple, yet effective way to avoid accidents and getting to the ER right after you relocate.

Pack the tools you will need right away separately to save time when assembling the furnishings at your new home.

Keep Tools and in Sealed Plastic Bags

After you disassemble big pieces of furniture, put all screws in Ziploc bags and label them. Use a separate bag for each set of screws to make sure it will be easy to find what you need as soon as you decide to assemble the item at your new place. It’s also a good idea to place all the tools you will need to get the furnishings back together in a small box, and you won’t need to go through your big toolbox wandering what to use during the unpacking.

Check also: How to Organise Your Garage This Spring

If you want to have more time to organise your relocation leave the move-out cleaning to us. Let us handle your rental property so you will be able to please even the most demanding landlord and take your deposit money back.

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10+ Packing Hacks For a Stress-Free Moving Out Experience – Part 1 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/10-packing-hacks-stress-free-moving-out-experience-part-1/ Wed, 13 Mar 2019 09:25:01 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14458 Relocating can be a stressful and exhausting experience, especially if you are on the clock. However, with these 10+ packing and organisational tips from KTMA Ltd. team will turn you into a move-out expert for your next move. A pre-move-out garage sale is a good idea when dealing with the things you [...]

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Relocating can be a stressful and exhausting experience, especially if you are on the clock. However, with these 10+ packing and organisational tips from KTMA Ltd. team will turn you into a move-out expert for your next move.

A pre-move-out garage sale is a good idea when dealing with the things you won’t need anymore.

Throw a Garage Sale ASAP

Every item you decide to take with you when relocating means a lot of work – packing, labelling, and lifting. Not to mention the more things you move, the more you will have to invest in transporting them. Go through your belongings, decide what you really want/need to keep and get rid of the rest. Our cleaning and organisation experts recommend throwing a garage sale instead of just tossing the items you won’t need. This way you can even make some money and invest them in transportation, porter fees, or in end-of-tenancy cleaning in case you are leaving a rental home.

Learn also: 9 Steps For Organising and Cleaning the Garage

Using vague labels often causes as much confusion as not putting descriptions at all.

Stick Detailed Labels on Everything

Make yourself a favour and get into excruciating details when labelling your belongings after you pack them. Most people don’t go beyond “kitchen stuff”, “clothes”, or “fragile” to mark the content of the boxes and bags they are about to move. Having such vague labels is better than not having labels at all, but won’t help you find the exact thing you are looking for after the relocation unless you unbox everything. Spare some extra time and carefully describe the items in each box and bag to save time and efforts when unpacking. Here is an excellent labelling hack – take a picture of the contents of the boxes with your phone before sealing them, save the photo using a number and write a number on each container.

Read also: How to Choose Reliable End of Tenancy Cleaners When Moving Out

Storage containers like this one can be stacked which makes them perfect for transportation.

Swap the Cardboard Boxes for Clear Plastic Containers

Consider getting a few transparent plastic boxes, instead of cardboard ones when you plan the relocation. Use them to store the items you know you will want to find immediately at any point after the relocation. For instance, you can pack your child’s favourite toys and clothes, or items for personal hygiene such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap and shampoo.

Check also: How to Boost the Value of Your Property When Selling Part 1

Make sure the movers know which boxes contain fragile items.

Packing Tricks for Fragile Items

Get creative when packing fragile items like crystal glasses and mirrors when moving. For instance, If you want to protect the mirror, you can wrap it in paper and slide it between the box spring and the mattress of your bed. Crystal glasses should be carefully wrapped in paper or bubble wrap before placed together in a box. You can also wrap fragile items in newspapers and wrap fabric cloths around them to fill the space and make sure they don’t touch any hard surface.

Check also: DIY or Professional End of Lease Cleaning

A few pictures of your electronics’ setup can save you hours of wiring when you move in your new place.

Take Pictures of the Electronics’ Setup

Connecting all the devices after relocating can be a challenging experience. Before unplugging your computers, router, or TV take photos of the cables. This way you will know how to easily wire everything back without reading the electronics’ manuals or watching endless how-to videos on the web.

Check also: How to Safely Spring Clean Your Electronics 

If you want to get your deposit back when moving out of your rental, don’t hesitate to book our professional end of lease cleaning service. The cleaners will leave the property in a pristine condition and make sure you pass the final inspection with the landlord.

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4 Simple Ways to Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/4-simple-ways-keep-your-home-clean-tidy/ Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:08:28 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14356 There is a stress-free way to a comfortable and cosy home! Sometimes tidying and cleaning the house can seem like an impossible, overwhelming task and we tend to postpone it as long as we can. Luckily our experts decided to share 4 simple ways to keep your home organised and cleaned with ease. [...]

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There is a stress-free way to a comfortable and cosy home!

Sometimes tidying and cleaning the house can seem like an impossible, overwhelming task and we tend to postpone it as long as we can. Luckily our experts decided to share 4 simple ways to keep your home organised and cleaned with ease.

Read also: 30 Things You Need to Throw Away Before Spring Cleaning of the House

Keeping dry foods in stackable containers will save you a lot of space in the kitchen.

Get Rid of the Packaging

Original packaging of groceries tends to be rather bulky and takes a lot of the space in your home. One way to keep your cabinets clutter-free and organised is to consider investing in plastic or glass containers, preferably some kind you can stack neatly onto each other. And if you put the extra 5 minutes to label them, you will never have to wonder what’s inside.

Check also: 15 Lifehacks From the Professional Cleaners That Will Blow Your Mind – Part 1

Actually, this tactics works excellent not only for dry food but also for cleaning detergents, pet food, small toys, office supplies and more. Ditching original packaging has one more unexpected benefit. Keeping everything in similar (or same type/size) containers creates a cohesive look and gives your storage spaces more minimalistic and organised feeling.

Read also: Professionals Share 8 Tips to Help Your Home Stay Clean Longer – Part 1

There are a lot of small chores you can do in the evening, you can even fold laundry while watching TV!

Tidy Up in the Evening

Waking up to a dirty, messy house can have a demotivating effect on your whole day. Not to mention it can be quite time-consuming to get ready for work if you have to spend half of the morning searching for your things. However, this happens quite often if you leave all the tidying for the weekend. Instead of dedicating just one day of the week for organising and small clean-ups, KTMA Ltd.’s experts recommend trying doing this chore every evening. If this is not possible – every other evening. Dedicate 15 minutes of your after-work time at home to tidying up. You will be amazed at how easy it is to keep your home organised and welcoming throughout the week.

Check also: How to Live with a Teen and Have a Clean Home?

Spring Cleaning brightens your home and boosts your mood, so don’t skip it!

Don’t Skip on the Spring and Autumn Cleaning

Even if you clean and tidy up on regular basis dust, dirt, and chaos are still finding a way into your home. Deep cleaning the house once or even better – twice a year helps to keep your place in a great overall condition. We have already written about the importance of deep cleaning your home during Spring and Autumn. There are some fantastic things you can do for your own comfort and protection by not skipping these semi-annual clean-ups.

Placing a door mat near every entrance helps trap the dirt and dust transferring inside the house.

Minimise the Amount of Dirt Inside the House with Ease

We can’t help bringing dirt and grime into the home, especially when it’s raining. However, there is a simple solution. Our home cleaning experts advise to stock a few clean rags in a convenient spot in your hallway. You can also place doormats on every door to prevent fast soiling of your carpets. If you use a doormat to wipe your shoes when they are particularly wet and muddy, you will significantly lower the amount of dirt inside. Another great solution for preventing dirty floors and carpets, especially for the pet owners – place a tray or a placemat under your four-legged friends’ food and water bowls.

Read also: How to Live With a Dog and Have a Clean Home

Too tired or busy to deal with the chores? We can help! Contact us to book our home cleaning professionals in London and enjoy a tidy and clean house. You can use your online form or just give us a call at 077 3548 6642, and we will find a solution that best fits your needs.

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15+ Lifehacks from Professional Cleaners That Will Blow Your Mind Part 2 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/15-lifehacks-professional-home-cleaners-blow-your-mind-part-2/ Sun, 07 Oct 2018 11:28:38 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14190 Our expert cleaners are always eager to find out alternative cleaning methods and love to experiment to see the results. In our previous post, we have shared the first 6 cleaning hacks that allow you to clean almost anything with limited supplies. Today we continue with 5 more amazing cleaning tricks. Use paper tape [...]

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Our expert cleaners are always eager to find out alternative cleaning methods and love to experiment to see the results. In our previous post, we have shared the first 6 cleaning hacks that allow you to clean almost anything with limited supplies. Today we continue with 5 more amazing cleaning tricks.

Use paper tape to deal with pet hair on furniture and clothes fast and easy.

Tape Out The Annoying Pet Hair

Only pet owners know how frustrating is to remove all the fur from the furniture and clothes, especially when you are in a hurry. Fortunately, there is an easy and fast way to deal with pet hair – all you need is paper tape. Wrap a piece of the adhesive tape around the palm of your hand and gently tap onto the upholstery or garment to collect the fur. This trick is wonderful if you need to clean your coat in a middle of a workday when you don’t have a lint roller at hand.

Read also: How to Live With a Dog and Have a Clean Home

You can easily remove the stale odour from your water bottle using nothing but vinegar.

Fight Bad Odours in Plastic Utensils and Boxes with Vinegar

If your plastic containers and utensils have soaked some strong food odour and you can’t get rid of it, there’s no need to throw them in the junk. Instead, you can use white vinegar to deodorise the plastic kitchenware. Fill the containers in warm water and let them soak for a while, then wash them with dishwashing liquid. After cleaning with soap, fill the containers with a solution made from 1 part of white vinegar and 3 parts of warm water. Let them sit like this for 1 hour. Rinse and dry.

Check also: 8 Things You Should Never Clean With Vinegar

You can use coarse salt for scrubbing off stubborn stains on cooking pans and pots at home.

Remove Stubborn Stains From Cookware with Salt

Removing burnt milk, old grease, and scorched food on pots and pans are among the least favourite cleaning chores. For most people dealing with old and stubborn stains means putting on rubber gloves and using the strongest detergent. However, cleaning your pots with salt might be easier. Presoak the dirty cookware with warm water and add a generous pinch of salt. Let the pot stay like this for 30 minutes and throw out the liquid. For especially stubborn stains, you can sprinkle the spot with salt after presoaking with the salty solution and scrub with a sponge. Rinse and wash the pot as usual.

Read also: 5 Tried and Tested Green Kitchen Cleaning Recipes

Remove tea and coffee stains from your favourite cup with lemon.

Use Lemon to Make the Porcelain As New

If your favourite cup has gotten brownish from tea and coffee, you can easily return the shining white colour of the porcelain using nothing but lemon! So next time, after washing the cup, rub the coffee and tea stains with a lemon wedge and let it sit like this for 30 minutes. After the time is up, wash off the lemon juice with soapy water and rinse the cup well.

Check also: 6 Surprising Ways to Use Grapefruits When Cleaning Your Home

You can prolong the life of your epilator if you clean it regularly using rubbing alcohol.

Clean Electric Shavers and Epilator Heads with Rubbing Alcohol

If you have the feeling that you razor’s blades have lost their sharpness or that your epilator just doesn’t work as well as before, don’t rush to the store to get a new one. Over time, a thin coat of skin cells and oils covers the epilator’s tweezers or the shaver’s blades and prevents them from working properly. You can easily sanitize the device and make it work as new. Soak the epilator or shaver’s head in pure rubbing alcohol. After 20 minutes scrub the area with a soft brush. Rinse with rubbing alcohol, to remove the residues. Let the gadget dry completely before using it. The alcohol will dissolve the dirt fast, without damaging the device. You can use this trick for cleaning hair clippers as well.

Read also: Happy House Cleaning Tips for Safe and Green Cleaning of the Electronics at Home

Be sure to check our blog often for more tips like these! Also, don’t hesitate to contact us for any cleaning job! We offer a vast range of professional cleaning services for your home or office in London.

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15+ Lifehacks from Professional Cleaners That Will Blow Your Mind Part 1 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/15-lifehacks-professional-home-cleaners-blow-your-mind-part-1/ Thu, 13 Sep 2018 23:45:39 +0000 https://thehappyhousecleaning.co.uk/?p=14129 These cleaning and organisation tricks will make your jaw drop. Our professional cleaners are always interested in learning more cleaning methods and experimenting to see the results. Searching for surprising tricks and recipes has become a hobby for some of our technicians, and we can often hear them discussing their strangest findings. We [...]

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These cleaning and organisation tricks will make your jaw drop.

Our professional cleaners are always interested in learning more cleaning methods and experimenting to see the results. Searching for surprising tricks and recipes has become a hobby for some of our technicians, and we can often hear them discussing their strangest findings. We have asked our cleaning team to pick the most efficient and handy tricks they know for our readers, and the result is the list below.

Check also: 5 Upholstery Cleaning Tricks to Help You Keep Your Sofa as New

How to Clean Anything, Anywhere, Anytime (with Limited Supplies)

Some of the hacks we share today are great for dealing with everyday chores at home, while others can help you contain the situation during a trip or while at work. However, they all provide an alternative solution for those moments when you don’t have specialised cleaning products and tools at hand.

Read also: 5 Amazing Lifehacks That Can Save Your Outfit During a Workday

This is probably the best way to clean suede without using a specialised product or tool.

Clean Suede Shoes with Lint Roller

Suede is a stylish choice for shoes and accessories, but this material quickly gets dirty and starts looking shabby. Removing dust or scuff marks from suede shoes can be tricky if you don’t have a specialised cleaning product at hand. However, you can pick up dirt and dust from this capricious leather using a lint roller. Gently run the tool onto the shoes, without pressing too much. The light adhesive will collect the dirt, without ruining the suede.

Check also: 5 Tried and Tested Tricks for Cleaning Suede Sofa

Grab the salt to remove the grease stain while it’s still fresh.

Remove Grease a Stain With Salt

Getting a grease stain on your clothes when you aren’t home doesn’t mean you need to put up with the unsightly spot during the whole day. Dampen the spot with little water (don’t over-soak it) and pour table salt generously over the area without pressing or rubbing. Let it sit for 15 minutes to let the salt soak up the grease, then carefully brush the condiment off. The method conceals the spot, especially on dark clothes, prevents it from becoming a permanent stain and makes it easier to wash the garment later.

Read also: S3 Awesome Natural Substances to Use to Green Clean Your Home

Play dough is your best friend when you need to clean glitter.

Use Play Dough to Get Rid of Glitter

Even the most powerful vacuum can fail to do the job if you have to remove tricky small particles from the carpet – like the annoying glitter or the dangerous little chunks of glass. However, play dough is a great “tool” for this task! So next time you can’t collect all the tiny particles from your carpet, grab a ball of the modelling compound and gently dab the area and you will be able to pick everything in seconds.

Check also: How to Clean Your Home Before and After Having a Party?

Olive oil is a natural leather conditioner.

Condition Leather with Olive Oil

There are plenty of products designed to condition and polish leather furnishings, shoes, and accessories. However, if you don’t have any specialised conditioner at hand, you can use olive oil for dark leather. Apply a few drops of olive oil on a soft cotton cloth and gently rub the surface you want to condition. Don’t use this trick for light-coloured leather to prevent unwanted staining. You can use colourless petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to treat light leather goods and furnishings safely.

Read also: How to Clean Leather Furniture to Prolong Its Life

This surpRICEing cleaning trick removes stubborn residues in hard to reach places.

Clean Tall Containers with Rice

Sometimes there is dried food or liquids left in a bottle or other tall, hard to clean container even after soaking with water and soap. These residues can be cleaned fast and easy with rice! Pour a spoon of the grains inside the bottle along with some cold water and a few drops of liquid soap. Cover the lid and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. The rice will scrub off all the residues. Rinse the container thoroughly and let it dry. Voila!

Check also: How to Clean Your Home With Grapefruit

Fight fire with fire: try this trick next time you have to deal with red wine stain.

Clean Wine with Wine

If you spill red wine onto your shirt at a party, you don’t have to wait until it dries to clean it. All you need to remove the beverage and prevent it from becoming a stubborn stain is some more wine. Yes, you have read this correctly! Pour a small amount of the white wine directly on the red wine spill. Try to stretch the textile a bit and pour through it, only where necessary to avoid spreading the red coloured liquid. Rinse the spot on the fabric with cold water to get rid of the smell and alcohol residues. Wash your garment as usual.

Read also: How to Remove 5 Types of Stubborn Stains From Your Sofa

Be sure to check our blog regularly for more cleaning tips like these! Also, don’t hesitate to contact us for any cleaning job! We offer a wide range of professional cleaning services for your home or office in London.

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