Madison House Cleaning

Archive for October, 2008

We are living in amazing times in our countries history. Every time I pass by a gas station it seems gas prices are changing. The Wall Street Markets are changing and our government is changing like never before.

It seems that all of this change is happening around us almost minute-by-minute.

With all this change, where is the stability?

What do we have to hold onto when things get hard?

Where do we go?

Our home should be a safe and happy place to return to after a hard day a work, driving the kids to/from school and school activities, or after a day of running errands. Our home should be a place where friends and family come to have a meal or drink and connect. It’s a place where memories are made and dreams  begin. It should be a place to relax with friends and neighbors.

During this time of change, our home is the one place we can count on to help us during the ups and downs of an ever-changing world.

When it comes to choosing a house cleaner, you need to keep the safety of your home and family in mind as well.

The Association of Residential Cleaning Services International,  ARCSI, asks the question Am I better off with an individual or a service cleaning my home? This is a question that you yourself will have to answer. Both have pros and cons. With an individual it is a more personal relationship, if the relationship is stable. This can be a good situation for both parties involved. In the event that you hire an individual to clean your home you need to be aware of and make sure you comply with local, state, and federal laws concerning taxes and insurance. If you hire an individual and they do not take care of the taxes they owe on the money you pay them, YOU can be held liable for the taxes. If you use a service you are more than likely protected from these liabilities. Another plus of a service is if the person who is cleaning your house quits or is not doing a good job they can be replaced with a professionally trained employee, without any effort on your part.

A Helping Hand is the Madison area’s first professional housecleaning business to become a member of ARCSI.

“We clean homes to give families more quality time.” With A Helping Hand you will have a trusted, tested and stable, housecleaning business right here in Madison ready to help you prepare your house to be a safe, comfortable, and stable place to come home to.

Cleaning tips for when a pet joins the household from Cleaning101.com

If you’ve been thinking about adopting a dog, there’s never been a better time. Animal shelters in many parts of the country are overcrowded because the economic downturn has caused a matching decline in pet adoptions. To help find new homes for human’s best friends, the ASPCA has designated October as Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month.

Housebreaking a puppy requires patience. The ASPCA recommends employing the three C’s: Consistency – a regular schedule of walking and feeding; Confinement – in a crate if necessary, to build bladder and bowel control; and Cleaning – clean up accidents promptly and then treat the spot with an odor neutralizer.

“Bringing a new pet into your household presents some additional cleaning challenges”, says Nancy Bock, Vice President of Education at The Soap and Detergent Association, “particularly if there are family members who suffer from asthma or allergies”.

• Vacuum regularly to keep up with the pet hair. An upright vacuum or a canister style vacuum with a nozzle will pick up two to six times as much dust from a rug as canisters without a power nozzle. Be sure to move the pet to another space when you vacuum; otherwise, the noise may upset him.
• Brush the dog frequently. If possible, do it outside, away from those with allergies. When you’re finished, wash your hands with soap and water.
• Pet-proof the environment. Tuck electrical cords out of the way. Install safety latches in lower kitchen cabinets. Don’t leave small items around that might be mistaken for chew toys. And don’t leave any type of cleaning liquid out where pets might be tempted to take a drink.
• Wash food dishes daily. Otherwise, they can be a magnet for ants and other crawly critters.
• Choose a pet bed with washable, removable cushion covers to make cleaning easier.
• Put a washable blanket or throw over your pet’s favorite chair or corner of the sofa. Have multiple covers so that one is available while the other is in the wash.

  

For more information on adopting a pet in Dane County visit the Dane County Humane Society Website after viewing their video here.

*This post is brought to you by your pet-friendly housecleaning company, A Helping Hand Residential Cleaning Professionals, LLC