Author: spongeoutlet

Cleaning Up Illness at Home

portrait of a sick woman blowing her nose while sitting on the sofa

Getting sick is literally THE WORST, but getting sick twice or spreading your germs to other household members or loved ones is even worst. No matter if you’ve just kicked a cold or the flu to the curb, once relief is in sight, it’s key to spring into action, ensuring you get rid of the germs that caused yours and your loved one’s misery in the first place. Here are some easy tips to help you handle the icky business of cleaning up after being sick.

TOUR DE HOME: CLEANING EDITION

Make sure the cleaning supplies you are using is a disinfectant and kills whatever virus you are trying to evict from your home. The bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and living room are usually key areas to keep in mind during your cleaning session. Don’t forget to give extra attention to where you spent most of your time. Scrub down sinks, doorknobs, counters, light switches, and so forth with a scrubby sponge.

LOAD UP THE WASHER

After spending several days getting some quality time binge-watching your favorite TV shows while you were on bed rest, you came in contact with several items of clothes and linings that are in need of a good wash post-sickness. These items include clothing you wore, bedding, towels, face cloths, kitchen towels, etc. Wash in hot water, as long as the care instructions for those items allow.

TOUCHPOINTS & TECH

While you’re sick, it’s unavoidable to touch a lot of things. Even when practicing good hygiene and washing your hands often, you still run the risk of spreading germs. Be mindful of door knobs, faucets, handles and windows. Also, remember to give special attention to any technology you used to keep yourself occupied, like phones, remotes, computers and tablets. Clean items and wipe them dry with a microfiber drying towel, and throw the towel in the washer when you’re done.

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE FRESH AIR

Open your windows and get a good cross breeze going. The fresh air will help move some fresh air in your home, while pushing out any icky germs that may be lingering.
For more tips on keeping your home sparkling clean, visit Spongeoutlet.

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Don’t Just Clean With Your Sponge

fridge

A good thorough cleaning is not just about what cleaning products you are using; it is also about the physical items you are cleaning with.

Not all cleaning solutions do the job they claim to do, but when accompanied by a great sponge, you have a much better chance of a greater clean.

Sponges are one of the most versatile, and one of the most used, cleaning products in both commercial and residential spaces.

You can use a sponge on just about every type of surface and they are a “go-to” cleaning product for many people.

For instance, our eraser sponges can be used for a variety of cleaning jobs.

While we are pretty familiar with the amazing cleaning benefits of a sponge, you wouldn’t believe the creative uses people utilize sponges for. Below are some really unique uses for a sponge:

Keep Fridge Odor Free

To eliminate fridge odors, sprinkle a damp sponge with baking soda and place in the fridge.

  • The sponge will absorb the odors so that it will keep the fridge smelling fresh for quite some time.

Chinese Eraser Sponges – Beware!Clean Hard to Reach Objects

For cleaning the bottom of those narrow vases and salad dressing bottles that you can never seem to get clean, cut a rectangle from a sponge and tape it onto the end of a chopstick for those hard to reach places.

Keep Plants Hydrated

To keep your potted plant’s roots moist, (let’s be honest, we are all guilty of letting them go to long without water) cut a piece of sponge to fit tightly in the bottom of the pot.

  • The sponge will soak up the water to keep the plant’s roots from drying up.

Send Out “Thank You” Cards

If you have a lot of of thank you cards or invitations that need to be mailed out, you can save yourself the time and the taste of licking each one by sealing the envelope shut with a damp sponge instead.

Make Yard Work Comfortable

You can make the task of raking or shoveling by covering the handle of the tool, wherever you grip it, with a sponge. You can tape the sponge onto the handle with duct tape.

  • This will make the handle much more comfortable to hold onto.

Spongeoutlet has a variety of great sponges as well as other cleaning supplies available at great prices. Trust the versatility of a sponge for all of your cleaning needs.

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Washing Your Car in Winter Months

winter car wash - a man washes his car in winter

Washing your car in winter months is just as important as washing your car in summer months.

Most mechanics will tell you that as part of your car maintenance, regular washing is important, especially in winter months when salt and sand covers the roads.

Washing your car in the winter can help preserve your car long-term. Washing in the winter is critical because you are removing all of the debris that typically rusts and rots a vehicle quickly, like salt, snow, ice, and mud.

It might feel bizarre to wash your car in relatively cold temperatures, but as long as temperatures aren’t below freezing, it is a task that will do your vehicle a lot of good.

In fact, you should be washing your car once a week in winter months.

Road salt often can result in a car rusting out if the salt sits on the body of the car for too long.  Not only does rust look bad on a car, it also eats away at the body and the under carriage.

Simply rinsing your vehicle with water won’t do the trick of removing built up snow and salt and you’ll need to scrub your car with soap and water, and thoroughly dry it after doing so.

The supplies you use will have a big impact on how clean your vehicle gets.

Our microfiber towels are a great tool to use for drying your car off after washing, which is a vital step in washing your car in winter months.

Due to cold temperatures, you need to be sure your car is completely dried off so water doesn’t freeze onto your car.

Microfiber

The benefits of using a microfiber cloth to dry off your car include:

  1. Microfiber does not scratch.
  2. It does not leave behind any soap residue.
  3. There is no need for additional towels to be used.
  4. Microfiber locks in moisture, leaving your vehicle 100% dry.
  5. Microfiber also locks in dust and other debris that may not have been washed off.
  6. The finished product is shiny and looks polished.

If you are planning to wash the salt off of your car as a part of preventative car maintenance, take a look at Spongeoutlet’s microfiber towels to make the job easier.

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Clean Your Home to Maintain Your New Year’s Resolution

It is 2017 and many of us have made our new year’s resolutions that likely revolve around living a healthier lifestyle.

With health being the focus of the majority of resolutions made, many of us are doing our best to pay better attention to your physical and mental health and making changes to improve both.

Cleaning can positively impact your mental and physical health, and you might benefit by making a new year’s resolution about keeping your home cleaner.

Cleaning is not just a chore, it is a benefit to your overall health.

Diminish Stress and Depression

Both stress and depression negatively impact energy levels and mood. The stress hormone “cortisol” increases when stress increases.

To reduce this, researchers have indicated that chores and housekeeping duties on to-do lists will help combat the fluctuation of hormone levels.

  • Set aside a night when you’re not feeling well and dust those “neglected” items in your home with a microfiber cloth.

Form Healthier Eating Habits

The journal of Psychological Science has proven that a clean environment can encourage you to make better and healthier food choices.

Clutter is a natural stressor for the brain, which makes you more likely to eat unhealthy foods as a form of coping.

  • If your home is well-kept and organized, you’re more likely to prepare healthier food options.

Increases Productivity

A home that is dirty or cluttered can affect the ability of the mind to function at a high level.

If your home has a major “to-do” list, you’re not going to be able to concentrate on any other tasks.

  • De-cluttering has a positive effect on your ability to remain focused and finish other tasks at hand.

Improves Relationships

Living in a cluttered and messy home can create an atmosphere where emotions run high and people are easily irritated.

Some families are constantly arguing over who should be cleaning what instead of using that time at home to bond and spend time together.

  • Set up a daily routine of what needs to get done and who should be doing it so you can relax when it’s over. Stock up on eraser sponges so you can keep up with daily cleaning chores as a family.

Promotes Weight Loss

Cleaning can serve as a comprehensive workout.

You are bending, stretching, lifting and constantly moving when you’re cleaning.

  • If you aren’t a huge fan of working out or exercising, give your home a good scrub and you’ll be amazed at how physically tired you are at the end of it.

Spongeoutlet has all of the cleaning supplies you’ll need to make 2017 your healthiest year yet.

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Cleaning Your New Home

house cleaning products pile. household chore concept on white background

If you have ever moved, you likely remember the stress of finding a house, the process of bidding on that house, the panic when you won that bid, and the chaos that ensued when you started to prepare for the move.

Moving into a home is a process and your first step should be to clean your new house.

Clean Where People Touch

The house you purchased was likely lived in by another family, in which case people often touched every surface of it.

Make sure you are disinfecting and wiping down everything and pay special attention to the items that might have been touched frequently by other people.

  • Make sure you clean the buttons on the appliances, the door handles, the light switches, and railings for example.

Get an anti-bacterial spray to make sure that these surfaces are free of germs and leftover grime from the family before you.

Clean Where You Normally Wouldn’t

An empty house is an opportunity to clean where you normally wouldn’t.

You should wipe down walls, clean out dirt and grime behind your appliances, disinfect the cupboards, and clean out the attic.

Although we all eventually mean to complete these projects, we rarely do once we are settled.

Clean those hard to reach places when nothing is in your way and your home is empty.

Focus on Your Floors

Floors that appear clean and fresh can make your home feel much more put together overall. Make sure you clean your floors thoroughly before putting your furniture inside.

Floors are also walked on constantly and are much dirtier than we want to believe, after all, they are being used constantly.

  • If you have a ceramic tile floor in your kitchen, you should consider using our Melamine Floor Pads in your home to get them looking brand new and ready to host.

Start From the Very Top

Microfiber Dusting Wand When you start cleaning your new home, you are going to be cleaning virtually every inch of it.

When you start cleaning, start with your ceiling fans and light fixtures and work your way down each room.

When you are cleaning ceilings and light fixtures, dirt and dust is going to fall down below you.

You don’t want to clean the floors first and have them soiled by the rest of your cleaning.

Start cleaning from the top of the room so you can get to the end and finish with cleaning the floors.

If you follow these suggestions, cleaning your new home should be simple. The sooner it is cleaned, the sooner you can get settled. For more cleaning advice, visit Spongeoutlet’s blog.

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Paying Tribute to Cleaning for a Reason

Lady Cleaning

During the holiday season and throughout the year, it is important to recognize people doing good things and give them credit for their selfless efforts.

This December, Spongeoutlet would like to acknowledge an organization that we are a supporter of: Cleaning For A Reason.

Cleaning For A Reason is a nonprofit organization in the United States and Canada.

This organization has one mission: “To give the gift of free house cleaning to women undergoing treatment for any type of cancer.”

Cleaning For A Reason cleans the homes of women that are battling with cancer for absolutely no cost.

The organization has recruited over 1,200 maid services that donate free housecleaning services to women being affected by cancer.

The point of the organization is to take away at least one burden from women that are facing so many.

President and Founder, Debbie Sardone, began Cleaning For A Reason many years ago when she had an interaction with a woman that she could not forget.

At the time, Debbie was the owner of Buckets and Bows Maid Service. She was on the phone with a prospective client who told Debbie that she could no longer afford hiring a maid service because of her cancer treatment. The women hung up the phone and Debbie knew in her heart that she had to help the women in this situation.

In 2005, Debbie shared her heart-wrenching story at a national cleaning conference and gained the interest and support she needed to develop Cleaning For A Reason.

The nonprofit organization has provided maid services throughout the years that are now valued at six million dollars.

2,300 women have had their homes cleaned through Cleaning For A Reason and the organization has continued to expand.

If you are inspired by this story, we encourage you to donate to Cleaning For A Reason.When you donate, your name will appear on the organization’s website and they will send a card to the patient or their family that a donation was received. The organization will never release the monetary amount of the donation.

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Cleaning Your Home During Winter Months

Winter Cleaning

If you live in a section of the United States where winter weather is nasty and the days are often dark, you understand that committing to household chores in winter can be difficult.

We are all guilty of crawling under the covers in the winter months when we should be cleaning our home.

It is important to clean our home throughout the winter months.

Below are some suggestions on what areas of your home deserve special attention as the season settles in.

Clean the Kitchen

We make more homemade meals as temperatures decline which means our kitchen is typically dirtier in winter months.

If you haven’t looked up at your kitchen ceiling lately, you are in for a surprise when you do.

magic erasers used in office kitchens

Our kitchen ceiling and our kitchen walls are soiled daily by moisture, fumes, and smoke.

Using your favorite Spongeoutlet’s eraser sponge along with some warm water mixed with dish soap, you should scrub the ceiling gently using very little water so it does not drip.

If you notice any streak marks as you clean, stop immediately.

Dust Regularly

Dusting can be a tedious chore but it can make a big difference when it comes to the overall appearance of our home and can help improve our home’s air quality.

Homes get especially dusty in the winter months because the air inside is much warmer and drier than usual from heaters and fireplaces. Dusting your home on a regular basis will make ensure that dust levels never get out of hand. Make sure you also dust hard to reach places including ceiling fans, moldings, and light fixtures.

You can use a Spongeoutlet’s microfiber cloth to clean off dust from any surface.

  • The cloths will not scratch surfaces and they will hold onto the dust as you go.

Vacuum Furniture

We tend to disregard our furniture when we are cleaning our homes and often clean around it. However, many of us do snack when sitting on our sofa.

We need to be periodically cleaning our furniture. You should make sure to vacuum under the cushions and get out any crumbs or other surprises.

  • You should also be flipping the furniture upside down, easily done with two people, in order to get under the furniture where a lot of crumbs reside.

Winterize Entrances

For many states, the winter means that snow, water, and mud are being constantly tracked into your home.

Designate a “winter doorway” where you can put down a thick mat outside where people can wipe their feet before entering. You should also have a chair or bench available for sitting allowing guests to take their boots off right away.

  • Place a rubber mat alongside it where boots can sit to dry.

By practicing some of these cleaning habits, your house will be better maintained throughout the winter months, making less work for you when spring finally arrives.

Visit Spongeoutlet for reliable sponges and microfiber cloths to get your home in shape for winter.

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Stuff Loved Ones Stockings with Sponges this Holiday Season

If you’re struggling to think of the perfect holiday gift for your loved ones, struggle no more.

We are confident that nothing says “season’s greetings” like a gift bag full of sponges.

Eraser Sponges are Used on a Daily Basis

Everyone uses eraser sponges to clean dishes, microwaves, counter tops, and many other surfaces. People all have a constant need for sponge erasers because we use them daily.

From a tough scrubby sponge for hard to clean dishes to an eraser sponge to get our stovetop spotless, people use sponges multiple times a day. People have to purchase sponges to meet their needs. If sponges are gifted to them, they can leave buying them off of their “to-do list.”

  • Sponges are a practical gift that people will use. If you know someone that has just about everything, we bet they could still use a sponge. Problem solved.

Sponge Erasers Need to Be Replaced on Occasion

Many people do not replace their sponge eraser as frequently as they should. Eraser sponges get worn out and when they do, they don’t perform as well. Sponges eventually get dirt and although they can be sanitized, they should eventually be replaced.

  • Many people don’t replace their melamine sponges as often as they should.

They might recognize the need for a replacement but if they don’t have one at home and can’t get to the store, they likely keep using the old one.

If they are given magic eraser sponges as a gift, their replacements will be right at home and they can replace their old sponge for a new sponge as needed.

  • Although sponges do need to be replaced, they will still last longer than a box of ribbon candy would.

Magic Sponge Erasers are a Creative Gift

Most people don’t want another snowflake ornament, another tin of cutout cookies, or a bag of peppermint candies. The large majority of people would never go to a holiday gift exchange and expect to get sponges.

Have you ever arrived at a holiday party to realize that you bought the generic gift as three other people in the room did? If you arrive at a gift exchange with eraser cleaning sponges, you do not risk someone having the same gift as you.

  • You don’t have to worry about giving loved ones a gift that they have already gotten.
  • They won’t need to fight crowds at the store to exchange the gift you gave them because they won’t already have it.
  • You will really be doing them a favor, those crowds can be brutal.

Melamine Eraser Sponges Transport Easily

If you typically travel to your destination during the holiday season, you understand the struggle of packing the trunk of a car with breakable gifts. You likely drive for hours taking each turn with tremendous caution.

  • If you fly during the holiday season, you probably dread packing a suitcase full of gifts that won’t go over the airlines weight restrictions.

Sponges are lightweight and extremely easy to transport by car or plane. They cannot break while traveling if you hit a speed bump and they can easily be shoved into the crevices of a suitcase.

In case of emergency, they can also stand up to blustery blizzards.

Visit Spongeoutlet to get your holiday shopping done today. (Ribbons and wrapping paper not included)

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Cleaning Your Boat for Winter Storage

Store Boat for Winter

Our surrounding bodies of water will soon be bodies of ice.

Boat owners are starting to prepare their boats for winter storage and we have some hints to offer on how to do this properly.

It is vital that your boat is stored appropriately in order to keep it secure and well-maintained. Boats are expensive investments and they must be cleaned properly before they are stored for the winter.

Boats are exposed to all different kinds of elements. Salt, seaweed, algae, and barnacles are just a few things most boats come into contact on a regular basis.

All of these different elements soil the boat, even in the places that you can’t see.

In order to preserve your boat in the winter, all of these elements need to be cleaned completely off of your boat.

Thoroughly Rinse the Boat to Start Cleaning

Make sure that you spray down your entire boat with water first. A power washer can sometimes work better than a standard hose because it provides more pressure to clear out nooks and crannies. Make sure are rinsing all aspects of the boat including the topside, bottom, and deck.

  • You should also make a point to clean all of the hardware and trim.
  • You should also be purchasing proper boat cleaner and bilge in order to get further treat the boat.
  • Open any seacocks to drain remaining water out.

Use Proper Boat Cleaner

If your boat has a decent amount of salt residue, let the water sit and dissolve the salt a bit. After it dissolves, rinse it with water again.

  • Rinse the boat from the top down to ensure you are rinsing the salt off of the boat instead of just around the boat.
  • Be sure to purchase proper boat cleaner in order to treat the boat properly.

Scrub The Boat Body with Eraser Sponges

In order to clean the boat, you’ll need a tough companion to get the job donEraser Sponge Uses e.

Sponge Outlet’s eraser sponges can easily pick-up dirt and grime from every section of your boat.

  • Before you start scrubbing, we recommend resting the eraser sponge on an inconspicuous section of the boat.
  • We recommend doing this as a precaution so you are certain that the strength of the sponge will not harm the boat.

Consider Waxing the Boat

After you have your boat completely washed, you should really consider waxing the boat as well.

  • Waxing your boat will seal and protect your clean boat from any winter weather that it might face.
  • Wax can protect your boat from temperature changes and preserve shine.

Before you store your boat, make sure the boat is completely dry to avoid mold and mildew from settling in. If possible, open any seacocks to drain remaining water out of the boat.

Cleaning and waxing your boat before storing for winter months will prevent dirt and corrosion from getting comfortable.

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Tis the Season for More Dishes

Thanksgiving Meal

As the holiday season approaches, many of us picture the notorious dishes that pile up at family gatherings.

We often start cooking more frequently in fall and winter months.

We are also typically hosting larger groups of people than normal.

Some of our dishes cannot safely be put into a dish washer, but if you know how to properly wash those dishes, they won’t be as intimidating sitting in the sink.

Wear Protective Gloves

Hot water can take a toll on our hands, especially in winter months when our skin is already prone to dryness. Dish water can often leave our hands brittle and irritated.

Dish washing gloves are usually thick which means they can also protect your hands from loose knives in the sink. The gloves, typically made of rubber, will also help you hold onto slippery dishes when you’re struggling to hang onto Grandma’s valuable china.

Turn Up the Temperature

Hot water can make a huge difference when it comes to washing dishes. It can be hard to dip your hands into hot water, but that’s what the gloves are for!

  • Fill your sink with several drops of dishwashing liquid and fill the tub with the hottest water you can tolerate.
  • The hotter water you can use, the less likely you will be to have spots and streaks on your dishes.

Hot water will make cleaner dishes. Hot water can also help to break down food and grease on dishes, making it easier to scrub them clean.

Choose the Right Sponge

You need a sponge that is reliable, strong, and tough when you are trying to conqExtraStrengthEraseruer a lot of dishes at once.

Our Extra Strength Eraser sponges are fifty percent stronger than our standard sponges. We suggest using these on dishes that are heavily soiled.

For instance, burnt baking sheets are an ideal job for our extra strength eraser sponge.

We also sell Microfiber drying towels which offers an impeccable polished clean when drying dishes. The clothes will never scratch a dish or leave lingering fibers.

Rinse Dishes Clean ASAP

If you are hand washing a lot of dishes throughout the day, you will likely reach a point where you’d prefer to just visit with your company and that’s ok to do.

The dessert dishes can wait. If you serve an apple pie, most dishes will be sticky and have some sort of food residue on them.

  • If this happens and you don’t feel up to washing them right away, just make sure you rinse them with hot water and soak them with a few drops of dish soap to make them an easier clean tomorrow.

The holiday season should be a time of great joy. Don’t rain on your Macy’s Day Parade by obsessing over the amount of dishes that are accruing.

Sponge Outlet has products that can cut the time it will take you to wash those dreadful dishes, giving you more time to enjoy the celebrations around you.

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