A kitchen appliance that gets often overlooked when cleaning is your fridge. This is something you should be paying attention to on a regular basis, or else you’ll regret it later when it gets to be a mess. And when it gets to be a mess, no one wants to try and clean it. Attack the problem before there is a problem! Here are some tips:
Supplies You’ll Need:
Gloves
Garbage Can
Recycling Container
Toothbrush or Small Scrubbing
Eraser Sponge
Cloths
Baking Soda
Take out all the food in your fridge
While you’re checking all the food in your fridge, throw out the expired food and leftovers that aren’t needed anymore. Remove all the food and keep it away from all of your cleaning supplies.
Clean out all the extra crumbs and food items in the fridge
After removing crumbs, use your eraser sponge to wipe down everything in the fridge. Take out the drawers and shelves and wipe them down separately. Use the sponge on the walls of the fridge and the outside of the fridge too.
Putting food back into the fridge
When putting the foods back in their place, wipe down the containers. Jelly can get sticky awfully quick and make it hard to clean up later.
Consider putting down shelf liners on the shelves and drawers. These peel off easily and will help keep everything cleaner for longer.
On a weekly basis, go through your fridge and get rid of foods you haven’t eaten that are going stale. Do this on garbage night so you don’t get stuck with funky smells.
Sponge Outlet
Sponge Outletprovides cleaning products for all of your needs. If you’re in need of natural cleaning products to help clean out your fridge efficiently and accurately, contact Sponge Outletat 877-776-6430 today to get more information on our cleaning products!
There are ways to clean your windows in your home without using chemicals and sprays. It’s important to not fill your indoor air with harmful chemicals. Let’s see how you can naturally clean them, so you don’t end up polluting your air.
Use a Microfiber Cloth
A lint-free damp microfiber cloth is chemical-free, easy to use, and very inexpensive. This reusable cloth only needs to be rinsed and wrung out to clean it. This makes it very simple to use and reuse without having to throw away the chemically drenched paper towels.
Using a microfiber cloth instead of paper towels is better for the environment and your wallet. Like a chamois cloth, a microfiber cloth cleans so well on its own, with the help of just a little water, no cleaners are necessary.
Microfiber cloths not only clean your windows, but they also dust and polish them, to help give them a brilliant shine, naturally.
Most microfiber and chamois cloths can be used for more than just cleaning your windows.
A chamois, which is pronounced sham-wa, is the perfect choice for dusty, but not dirty windows. Dampen the chamois with just a little water, and your window will wipe the dust off effortlessly, without any harsh chemical left from sprays or cleaners.
A chamois is a synthetic cloth best known for its use of drying cars, but many people do not realize that is also perfect for cleaning the windows in your house, office or car. After cleaning your windows with a chamois, soak the cloth for a few minutes in warm water and soap, then rinse it clean and hang it to dry in your home, away from sunlight. It is not machine-washable.
Where to look for these products?
Sponge Outletprovides cleaning products for all of your needs. If you’re in need of natural window cleaning products, contact Sponge Outletat 877-776-6430 today to get more information on our cleaning products!
Here’s how to deep clean your bathroom with the help of Instant Erase eraser sponges!
Fully Cleaning the Bathroom Shower
Take the shower head off the wall and place in a bag with white vinegar. Let that sit overnight, so that it soaks. Soaking it in vinegar will help to dissolve any mineral build-up and help unclog the shower head’s holes. Take down your shower curtains and wash them in your washer with a few towels. The towels will provide extra scrubbing power for the shower liner.
Finally, using an Instant Erase eraser sponge, clean all the areas of your shower including the corners and edges of the shower, the shower door and tiles. The melamine eraser sponge works great to clean tile grout. Since the sponges only use water and gentle scrubbing to clean, leave a sponge in the shower at all times for quick cleans in-between showers.
Use an Eraser Sponge on Bathroom Walls
Use the Eraser Sponge to remove all mildew spots from tiles and grout. If you come across very stubborn spots use a tooth brush with bleach to get it clean. The eraser sponge is a great product to use when you’re looking to get a spotless shower and bathroom.
Scrub the Toilet
Put a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few minutes then scrub with a toilet brush. If there are any spots on the rim or edge, use a piece of an eraser sponge to remove them. Use the eraser sponge to scrub the toilet seat and the outside of the toilet. Dispose of the sponge when finished.
Now, you need to clean the toilet brush. Using the toilet seat to hold the brush between the bowl and the seat, pour a mixture of bleach and water over it. Let it air dry. Then, clean out the brush holder by letting it soak in soapy water.
Clean spots and grime on the sink
Use white vinegar to pour down the drain and flush with hot water. Flushing the drain with vinegar and water will help remove any clogs or buildup in your drain plus it will destroy smells. Use a new eraser sponge to clean the faucet and vanity top.
Here’s a hack from ApartmentTherapy.com, use a chop stick to get underneath faucets, around handles and into corners, in order to remove dirt and grime from hard-to-reach areas of your bathroom. Alternately, you can also use dental floss to pull out all of the grime from tiny cracks under the faucet handles. If you need more scrubbing power, try using a thin and flexible melamine eraser sheet.
With the use of the right products, your bathroom will be sparkling clean in no time. Sponge Outletsells top cleaning brands for less, helping you get the job done at a fraction of the cost.
Your dishwasher is one of the hardest working appliances in your kitchen, considering it cleans the grime and food off your dishware. It makes sure your dishes, glasses, silverware, and cooking accessories are sparkly clean. Keeping it clean and well-maintained will help get dishes as clean as possible and also extend the life of the appliance.
Clean the Gasket Seal Around the Dishwasher Tub
The plastic or rubber-like seal around a dishwasher tub helps to secure it and prevent any water leakage. Over time, the seal can become dirty and possibly smell. Use an eraser sponge to remove any dirt, grime or food particles from the seal. Check the racks and the silverware basket to make sure they are clean as well. Over time, dirt can build-up and food particles can become trapped, especially inside the basket. Some silverware baskets are removable and can be cleaned in the sink. An eraser sponge can also help remove dirt and grime from racks and the basket.
Remove and Clean the Dishwasher Filter
Check the bottom of the rack or consult your owner’s manual to see if there is a removable filter that should be cleaned. Many newer-models of dishwasher have a filter that can be removed and washed out in the sink. The filter traps food and other foreign objects from being sucked into the dishwasher pump and damaging or clogging it. To clean any filters, pull out the bottom rack and check for a removable filter. You may also have protective caging at the bottom of your dishwasher that is removable as well. Unsnap it and rinse it off in the sink with a sponge. Snap the caging or replace the filter back into place once it is clean.
Run a Cleaning Cycle
Many modern dishwashers have a cleaning cycle that can be run to clean the inside of the dishwasher. Use a commercial dishwasher cleaner, or else place a cup of plain white vinegar in the top rack of the dishwasher and run a normal cycle. Some blogs suggest using bleach to clean your dishwasher, however if the inside of your dishwasher is stainless steel this can lead to corrosion and damage. As ever, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to extend the life of your dishwasher and minimize maintenance.
Having a pet as a member of your family is truly a great experience, but there comes a price with it like everything else. Cleaning up after your pet can be annoying because it’s usually a common occurrence. Whether it’s cleaning up their eating area or cleaning up an accident they had in the house, an eraser sponge is the way to go.
Why the Eraser Sponge?
As parents of animals, we don’t always have the time to grab a bucket, fill it with water, and wet a mop, to wipe up floors; or time to get down on our knees with a bucket full of water and a sponge to clean up scuffed cabinet doors. The eraser sponge makes it easy to clean up spills, scuffs, and dirty paw prints in a snap. Also, it is simple to use for cleanup, so you can show your kids how to clean with it. The eraser sponges from Sponge Outlet are strong enough to use on almost any grit, grime or dirt without compromising your counter-tops, walls, floors or other surfaces.
Giving a small child a mop and bucket of water can create even more of a mess than the one you were attempting to clean.
Keep the eraser sponges handy, and have your kids watch you clean up scuffs and marks left by your pets; then engage them in the activity with you.
After using this technique, your kids will be able to always clean up after your pet makes some kind of a mess. An eraser sponge is your all-purpose cleaning tool for households with pets. You won’t need to switch up from a sponge to a mop.
You can clean all your pet’s messes with the eraser sponge; making the clean-up process easier and quicker. Now you can get back to the other tasks on your to-do-lists.
If you’re looking for an easier way to clean up after your pet’s mess, contact Sponge Outlet at 877-776-6430to find out more on our eraser sponges and how they can help with pet messes.
Cleaning out your microwave is never a fun job to do, but sometimes we forget to put that paper towel over the food we are re-heating and the result is some splatter on the walls of the microwave. We even sometimes put off cleaning it up because we say we’ll clean it the next day. But in reality, this usually gets put off for a week or two, and it becomes the dirtiest place in the kitchen. No one wants to heat up food in the microwave if it’s dirty.
A Dirty Microwave Can Cause Health Issues
We should be cleaning our microwave after each time we use it but most of us don’t. Sponge Outlet’seraser sponges are the perfect tool to use to clean out a dirty microwave. Using our eraser sponge, scrub out any food splatters from walls, rotating tray, and door. This will help get all of the tough spots cleared out first. Some food may be hard to remove but the eraser sponge can handle tough grit, grime, and dirt.
After, Steam Clean the Microwave
Using a microwave-safe bowl, vinegar, water, and a sponge, you can get your microwave looking brand new. Pour an equal amount of water and vinegar into a bowl, usually half a cup of each works well.
Put a toothpick into the solution before you start. You’ll notice that bubbles form on the toothpick allowing it to boil without exploding.
Leave the bowl in your microwave for about 5 to 10 minutes depending on how dirty it is. When the minutes are over, let the microwave stand with the door closed for several minutes allowing steam to penetrate the microwave.
Be sure to have oven mitts on hand in order to take the bowl out which will be extremely hot.
After you remove the bowl, stick the eraser sponge into the bowl when the solution is still hot and scrub the rest of your microwave.
Make sure you wipe down corners, windows, walls, and the outside of the microwave as well.
Our eraser sponges are also disposable so once it cools down, it can be thrown out. Visit Sponge Outlet or call 877-776-6430 to find out about more of our cleaning products!
Dust is relentless and causes every homeowner to get annoyed every single time it comes back around. If you let it go for too long, you will get even more stressed out. It’s just another thing you have to think about when it comes to cleaning your home. This will make the home look unkempt and can be unhealthy for those with allergy issues, so it’s very important to take care of the issue right away and on a regular basis. We want you to give you some tips on managing the dust in your home.
Dusting Tools
Choosing the right dusting tool is a key factor to making dusting your home easier. Microfiber dusting wands are the best option to gather all those hidden particles, and they are also quite affordable to purchase in bulk.
With microfiber dusting cloths, you won’t need harsh chemicals or sprays
If you have kids or pets, you may want to avoid using harsh dusting sprays and chemicals. With a microfiber cleaning cloth, you are able to dust your entire home without the use of any of these products. This is another way the microfiber dusting wand saves you money and helps you to create a healthier home environment for your family.
Clean the Floors
It is smart to save the floors for last. After dusting all the high areas in the home; work your way down to the floor, so that the dust fallen from the furniture will fall onto the floors before you clean them. If you have tile floors, it is best to vacuum and mop.
If you’re looking to get good cleaning products for your home, contact Sponge Outlet at 877-776-6430, and we can provide you with a plethora of different cleaning products for whatever your needs are.
Summer is finally approaching after your boat spent all winter in storage waiting for sun and warm weather to appear. It’s time to get your boat back on the water, and there are some things that need to be done before you take it out for the start of the season.
Do a Maintenance Check
Before gathering the family and jumping in the boat for a fun-filled day on the water, you should conduct a simple checkup on your boat to ensure everything is working properly and the supplies are stocked. Here is a checklist:
Check the fuel and hoses for leaks or cracks
Check the cables and belts
Inspect electrical connections
Check the engine oil and coolant fluid
Stock with life jackets and first aid kit
These simple tasks can help you have a very enjoyable summer season on your boat. If you put these things off, your summer may be stressful and costly.
Make Sure to Clean
After inspecting the boat and making sure everything is in order, it’s time to clean the boat’s interior and exterior. To help remove musty odors and to preserve the value of your boat, you should really take the time and clean it. Grab your kids or grand kids and have them help you! It can be an easy and simple process if you use these products from Sponge Outlet.
The Super S Detail Sponge is perfect for big jobs such as cleaning your boat. Simply wet the sponge, squeeze out any excess water and gently rub the dirt, stain, scuff or even mold mark on your boat. Rinse, squeeze and store the sponge so you can reuse it many times.
Use our Large Shammy Cloth to clean up spills fast. The Shammy is both a sponge and a towel and can wash, dry and polish your boat without leaving any scratches. You’ll be able to throw this in the washing machine after and use this next year as well.
If you are planning on cleaning your boat before putting it in the water this summer, take a look at Sponge Outlet’s auto and boat cleaning products and get started today! Call us at 877-776-6430!
Mold is the last thing you want to find inside of your home. Mold can grow in plenty of conditions, so if your home is the right blend of warm and moist, you may be at-risk.
But not to worry. If you have mold, you can get rid of it by taking a few key preventative steps and removing it completely from the areas inside your home that are affected.
Read on to learn about ways to remove mold from walls so you can avoid replacing the interior of your home!
Step 1: Identify the mold
The first thing you’ll need to do when you suspect that there’s mold in your home is identify what kind of mold you’re dealing with. Some molds can be very detrimental to your health, while others are not so harmful, so it’s important to take the proper precautions.
Mold can grow anywhere, but you’ll most often find a version of it called mildew in your shower tile grout lines, other areas in damp bathrooms, and walls that had recently been wet due to a leak. To see if you’re dealing with mildew, test a small area by placing a few drops of bleach. If the bleach lightens up the dark spots, then you’re dealing with mildew. If it stays black, you probably have something else—like dirt!
Other molds, or mold in a high concentration, will give off a musty odor. If you can smell something funky, but can’t see what you’re dealing with, it might be a good idea to bring in a professional. Mold can be tricky to remove, even in the best of circumstances, and if you can’t see the mold, it’s probably burrowed in your walls.
Black mold is also something that you shouldn’t attempt to remove—let the professionals deal with it.
Step 2: Remove the mold
Once you’ve identified that you have an area of your home that needs to be cleaned and rid of mold, you’ll need to gather your supplies. Remove any furniture from the area that needs to be treated, and put on a pair of rubber gloves, goggles and a mask to protect yourself. You’ll also want to wear old clothing that you won’t mind bleaching or tossing when the task is done.
Home Guides says to mix 3 parts warm water to 1 part detergent in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the moldy areas of the wall, and scrub with a towel. Keep in mind that wire brushes may damage your drywall. Once all areas have been washed, use a clean spray bottle to apply water and wipe the area dry.
Next, mix a solution of 1 part bleach to 2 parts water. Spray the mixture on the affected areas, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, rinse with the water-only spray bottle. Dry with a clean cloth or rag, and discard of any used towels or rags in a tightly sealed garbage bag.
If these steps don’t work, or you prefer to not use bleach in your home, you can try to remove the mold with a vinegar mixture.
Spray the mold with vinegar and let it sit for 1-2 hours. Afterwards, mix baking soda and water to form a paste, and use this paste to scrub the affected areas of your wall. Rinse with clean water when you’re finished.
Step 3: Repaint the mold areas
Unfortunately, removing mold can be a bit of a messy business, so chances are you’ll need to re-paint your walls once the mold has been taken care of. The bleach and the scrubbing won’t be kind to your paint job, so plan for a re-paint. If your walls are still dark and stained from the mold, ask your local hardware store about a primer that will cover up those stains.
Step 4: Prevent mold
Antimicrobial sprays can be used to prevent mold in your home. Or, you can pick up an anti-mildew paint from your hardware store.
In areas that are often subject to heat and humidity, consider installing a de-humidifier to pull excess moisture from the air and prevent mold growth. Keep everything as well-ventilated as possible.
Pick up your mold-removal supplies for your home right here at Sponge Outlet. Our microfiber cloths are great for wiping down walls and other affected areas, and our eraser sponges are great for treating tough stains caused my mildew. For more tips and tricks to keep your home clean, head to our blog! Need help placing an order? Call us at 877-776-6430.
We’ve all been a bit too busy, or tired, or interested in other things to worry about keeping the house clean. When you’re strapped for time, but you still appreciate a sparkling home, bringing in a professional cleaning company is a great way to maintain your sanity and clean the house.
But, you shouldn’t just choose the first cleaning company that you come across online. After all, the people you hire will be spending a lot of time inside your home, and you want to be sure you can trust them. Plus, you want to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
Read on for a few key questions to ask before hiring a cleaning company.
Do you have insurance?
The most important question to ask is whether the cleaning company is bonded and insured. They should carry liability insurance and bond, and have policies to follow for what to do if one of your items is broken or goes missing during a cleaning, according to Angie’s List.
You should also make sure that any potential company that you hire has workers’ compensation insurance and ask to see proof. If a worker is injured in your home, or even while driving on their way to your home, if your cleaning company isn’t properly insured, it could end up costing you.
Keep in mind that your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t typically cover short or long-term disability or workman’s comp from injuries sustained by workers in your home.
If the cleaning company balks at the question, move on. If they are happy to provide the paperwork, and don’t seem surprised that you asked, chances are they’re a reputable company and they have their insurance in order—but definitely look at the paperwork yourself.
How do you determine prices?
Chances are, this will vary from company to company. It’s important to understand how your cleaning company will set rates for your home before you sign on the dotted line. Ask for an estimate for how long it’ll take to have your home cleaned.
If you want to make sure to control costs, ask about capping the number of hours workers can be at your home. And, most companies will charge an hourly rate for the initial visit, and then a flat rate based on that visit after that.
Do you use your own cleaning supplies, or do you want me to supply them?
Another hot button issue when it comes to cleaning services is who provides the products. If you have very specific products that you want your cleaning company to use, then they should be able to make that allowance. But, it’s always nice when the cleaning company provides the products themselves. That way, the workers will be properly trained on how to use the products, and you won’t see any damage to your furniture if, for example, someone used the wrong cleaning agent.
Some cleaning companies may offer a few options in terms of which products you’d like them to use. If it’s important for you and your family, ask about non-toxic options.
How do you screen your staff?
Like we said in the intro, the staff at the cleaning company will be trusted with keys to your home, so you want to make sure the people who are working for the cleaning company are screened. Most companies will provide background checks if you ask, and some companies will also do drug screenings of their employees.
What services are included?
Some cleaning services include laundry, while others don’t – you may prefer to ask for deep cleans of windows, baseboards, and bathrooms from your cleaning service, and leave the daily tasks like dishes for yourself. Or, you can request that everything is cleaned. It all depends on your preference, and what the cleaning company offers.
What should I do with my pet?
Ask about what your cleaner is most comfortable with when it comes to your pet. If you won’t be home during the cleanings, introduce your dogs to your cleaner before they clean for the first time, that way your pup won’t be alarmed when your new cleaner lets himself in.
If your cleaner would prefer to clean the home without the dog around, make sure the pup is crated or staying with a friend during the clean.
Can I see references?
The last thing we recommend you asking is for references: most cleaning companies will have these handy and be happy to send them to you. Customer satisfaction is a great indication of a good service, so if the reviews look really good and honest, chances are you can trust the company.
Step 2: Remove the mold
Can I see references?