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.
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.
During the winter months, it can be hard to keep your car looking clean. The roads are often covered in salt on a daily basis and paying for a car wash seems pointless.
Although we understand the struggle, it’s really important to regularly wash that four-wheeled vehicle. Spring is here (hopefully to stay) which should make it easier to get out and clean your car yourself, saving you money down the line!
A buildup of dirt and grime on a car can result in chipped paint and rusted metal on the exterior of your car and believe it or not, the inside of your car can suffer too from not getting cleaned on a regular basis.
SpongeOutlet has some tips on how you can clean and preserve the exterior and interior of your car with our products, such as our eraser sponge and microfiber towel.
If you’re planning on doing a little bit of “spring cleaning” within your car, which you certainly should, keep these tips handy! If you follow our instructions, both your interior and exterior will shine for months to come.
Using Eraser Sponge on your Cars Interior
You might think that our eraser sponges are meant to be used only in the home but they can serve a great purpose when it comes to cleaning your car as well.
Start with taking a wet sponge to your car’s center console and dashboard.
Both of these areas not only collect a lot of dust but host fingerprints and coffee spills which build up on the surface over time, making them appear both dull and dirty. Using gentle motions move the eraser sponge in a circular motion to remove any buildup.
The steering wheel is another space that you’ll want to pay close attention to when doing a thorough cleaning of your car.
If you are in your car, chances are your hands are on the steering wheel which makes it one of the places that gets, quite frankly, filthy. You can use our eraser sponge to remove gunk and grime from your steering wheel, leaving it as good as new.
If you have a leather or vinyl interior, an eraser sponge can be great for removing food stains or even colored pencil stains if your children got carried away crafting in the backseat during a long road trip.
Click here for some more tips on using your eraser sponge to get the interior of your car cleaned up.
Eraser Sponge for Your Cars Exterior
The eraser sponge can also be used on some parts of your car’s exterior to remove tough stains.
For instance, our hubcaps or rims are often one of the first things on our car to get soiled. If your hubcaps are looking dull, wet an eraser sponge and start scrubbing to make your whole wheel look brand new.
Watch the video below to check out our technique when it comes to scrubbing your hubcaps clean:
It is important to avoid using our eraser sponge on any painted portion of your car because it may cause the paint to chip or fade. However, areas with stubborn stains such as door handles, roof racks, grills, and even glass can benefit from a bit of eraser sponge action!
Wipe with a Microfiber Cloth on the Interior
On a daily basis, your car’s interior collects dust just like your home does. Consider keeping one of our microfiber cloths in your glove compartment to give your car a quick wipe down before you park it for the night. You’ll be surprised to find out how much dust actually builds up inside your car!
If it’s time to give the exterior of your car a good washing, you can use our microfiber cloths to clean your car as well.
Simply fill a bucket of warm water with an appropriate soap, dip in our microfiber cloth, and start wiping!
You can also use our microfiber cloths to dry your car once you’re finished rinsing away any soap residue.
Once you’ve cleaned your car, you should also consider giving it a fresh wax. Other towels made from cotton can leave particles behind resulting in streaks after waxing but our microfiber cloths won’t. The smooth fabric of our microfiber cloth will leave your car looking shiny and clean with no lint left behind.
While you’re cleaning, Auto Trader says you should also check your tire pressure and your wiper blades. Don’t forget to check the oil, too.
Cleaning your car can be a pain, but it’s important to do regularly: don’t overlook the interior after you wash the exterior! The products we offer here at SpongeOutlet can help make the process easier to deal with.
It’s officially spring cleaning season, and if you’ve been meaning to get to your basement for a couple of spring seasons now, this year is the year to finally tackle it! We know that it can be hard to fit in de-cluttering and deep-cleaning your home with your busy schedule, but it’s important to make the time for these tasks as often as possible. Dust build up can irritate asthma and negatively affect the air quality of your home; plus, hoarding too much junk isn’t good for anyone.
But, there’s no doubt about it—cleaning up your basement is a huge job. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry: Sponge Outlet has created a basement cleaning guide for you.
Follow these steps, and you’ll have an organized, clean basement in just a couple of days.
De-Clutter and De-Junk Your Basement
The most logical place to start cleaning a basement is by getting rid of your junk. It’s also probably the most difficult item on the list, so getting it out of the way first will make the rest of the process much easier to handle.
You might want to recruit a few friends or family members to help you with this step since de-cluttering your basement is no joke.
Most people use their basement as a storage space, and if you’ve lived in your home for a while, chances are there are tons of random items piled up down there. Take your time and sort through all of your belongings. Open every box and bin, and make sure you take a good inventory of what you have.
Then, start sorting things into piles: if you’re not sure where to start, use categories like these—summer sporting goods, winter sporting goods, off-season clothing, important paperwork, miscellaneous items, and more. Depending on what’s in your basement, your piles will differ.
Once you have everything allocated to a pile, think about how you want to re-organize your basement. It’s important to put everything back in a very organized manner—otherwise, the deep clean will be for naught! You might want to take a quick trip to the hardware store or home goods store to pick up some fresh containers and a few label makers. Start putting things away in a way that makes sense to you, and make sure you clearly label all your boxes.
As you go, toss items that are broken and beyond repair, and make a donate pile of things you no longer need. If you haven’t used the item in the past two years, you’ll probably never need it again. If you can afford to part with it, do it! Local charities will be happy to sort through your belongings and make sure it all goes to a home that could use it.
Dust & Vacuum Your Basement
Before you start re-stacking the shelves, grab the vacuum cleaner and clean out the hard-to-reach crevices behind your shelving. If you can move furniture, do so and do a thorough vacuum of the carpet. You can’t do such a deep clean every year, but it’s important to do so occasionally.
For those of you with concrete surfaces in your basement, use warm water and detergent with a nylon brush to clean the floors. When you’re finished, use a soft mop to rinse the floors with warm water.
Get Rid of the Musty Smell in Your Basement
If your basement tends to have a musty smell, it probably needs some fresh air, a few fans, and a de-humidifier. Talk to your local hardware store about the best way to get some air flowing in your basement.
A few days of fresh air and a new set of fans, combined with a strategically placed de-humidifier, will have your basement smelling fresh in no time.
If you notice mold as you deep-clean your basement, call in the professionals. Chances are that it’s just a harmless household mold, but it could still be dangerous to you and your family. Keep your respiratory systems safe and have an expert mold removal team stop by your basement.
Prep Your Cleaning Toolbox for Your Basement
As you clean, it’s important to have a few key tools handy at all times. Start with a regular sponge to clean up messes, as well as an eraser sponge to tackle tough grease or stains. You’ll also need white vinegar, a soft cloth, dish-washing liquid, a bucket, ammonia for tough messes, a dustpan and broom, vacuum cleaner, baking soda, and kitty litter to mop up any moisture.
Don’t forget to order everything you need for the basement job right here at Sponge Outlet.
If you’ve got a couple of kiddos running around your house, chances are it’s a bit harder for you than it is for your friends without kids to keep the house looking spic and span at all times. Luckily, if your kids are old enough to locate their toy bin, you can usually have them help out with chores. But, the benefits won’t just be a tidier house.
Kids who grew up doing chores around the house are more confident, self-assured, and responsible later in life. So, asking your kids to do a set list of chores each week or each day, like making their beds and cleaning their rooms, or helping to take out the garbage, can actually contribute to making them more successful adults.
Teach a Work Ethic
Chores are the easiest way to instill a work ethic in your kids at a young age. If you decide to give your children an allowance when they’re old enough, without making them work a bit for the money—even if it’s just a few bucks—you’re missing an opportunity to teach them a lesson about the value of their time and money, and how to have a good work ethic.
Earning their allowance rather than simply being given their allowance will make your kids more aware of the idea of working for their money. They may spend it less haphazardly if they were working to earn a certain amount to save up for a toy. If money is just handed over at the end of the week, your kids might start to take the presence of money for granted.
Start with a chore wheel or a list of tasks that your kids need to do each week; if, at the end of the week, they successfully completed each task, dole out that allowance money. If they forgot to take out the trash, but still kept their playroom clean, doc a few bucks from their pay and explain that completing the chore list and contributing is what gets them that Friday payday.
Build Confidence
According to VeryWell.com, having your kids do chores around the house will leave them feeling accomplished, because they contributed to the household. That sense of accomplishment is an important factor in raising a child, especially when the pressures of school and social lives can be tough to handle, even from a young age. Allowing your kids to take part in the household chores gives them something to make them part of the team, leaving them more self-assured and confident in other situations.
So much in our childhoods is outside of our control, and that’s a tough concept for many kids to grasp; but when they are in control of their own toys and are invested in certain chores around the house, they’ll feel grounded, useful, and self-assured.
Grow Resourcefulness
Doing chores around the house isn’t about making things perfect; it’s about getting the job done. Participation in household chores will teach your kids to be resourceful, and how to manage time.
For example, if your child needs to clean the playroom one afternoon, but doesn’t want to miss their TV show, encourage your child to clean up during commercial breaks or before the show comes on. Having a goal-oriented task can force your child to problem solve, be resourceful, and manage their time.
Prepare for Adulthood
It might seem like a silly concept: your 7-year-old doesn’t have to worry about being a grown-up just yet, right? But in fact, ThirtyHandMadeDays.com says chores will help your kids by preparing them for adulthood—simply by showing them how to do household chores.
As your kids get older and take on more responsibility, they’ll learn the skills they need for running their own successful household as adults. For example, you may dust before vacuuming so that any errant dust gets picked up, and use bleach products in the bathroom. Your kids will notice these things, and carry them into their own homes when they move out someday. Plus, asking your children for help with the laundry will make learning how to do their own when they’re off to college that much easier.
Start Now
PBS says the key to instilling all of these things in our children so that they can have a successful life is to start while they are young; while toddlers may not be able to grab the vacuum cleaner out of the closet and go to town on the living room, encouraging them to keep their space neat and tidy, and contributing to other chores, like clearing plates and cups after a meal, will get them on the right track. As soon as your kids are old enough to start to understand a rewards system, use stickers or an allowance to help keep them goal-oriented on completing their weekly tasks.
When your kids are in their teenage years, they can contribute a lot more, like by being responsible for bringing in the mail, taking out the trash, and even doing their own laundry.
No household cleaning kit is complete without a great eraser sponge; no matter how old your kids are, your home’s walls are bound to be covered in either crayons and markers or smudges of some kind! Click here to learn about the eraser sponges we offer here at Sponge Outlet, and call us today at 877-776-6430 to learn more about our products.
Since we have been on the cleaning kick lately, we thought we would address cleaning up after your pet, especially with winter quickly approaching. We all love our pets and we want them to have fun, but sometimes that means having a mess to clean up on a daily basis.
Our pets daily activities often cause scuffs on the floors and marks on the walls, cabinets and doors. Dogs and cats also tend to make a mess around their food and water bowls and there are occasional accidents when we have been at work too long, or a misstep with the litter box that can leave a mess on the floor.
The eraser sponge is the perfect cleaning tool for homes with pets.
Instead of filling a bucket with water and soap and wetting a mop to wipe up the floors, an eraser sponge makes it easy to clean up spills, scuffs and dirty paw prints in a snap. An eraser sponge is simple enough for your children to use as well if you need the extra help! It’s much simpler and cheaper to teach your little ones how to help you tidy up after pets by using the eraser sponge.
Keep your eraser sponges handy and have your children watch you clean up the scuffs and marks left by your pets and encourage them to join you. After going through the simple process a few times, your kids will automatically reach for the eraser sponge when your dog comes in from outside with muddy paws.
An eraser sponge is your all-purpose cleaning tool for homes with pets. You will no longer need to struggle with the mess of a mop. Make the clean-up process easier and quicker so you can spend more time with your pets and children! For more essential cleaning supplies, visit Spongeoutlet today!
In our previous blog post, we talked about steps to take so your walls look spotless. Now, we are going to talk about choosing the right paint and finish for your walls to help them look even better. Whether you have recently moved into a new home or are looking to update your current abode, a fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to re-envision your homes appearance.
A new paint color can do wonders for updating the feel of your home, but for families with young children and pets, keeping your walls clean can seem like an impossible task. So you know you should paint your walls, but with so many colors and finishes to choose from, how do you know what will hold up the best to daily wear?
Focus on light colors
Many people make the mistake of choosing neutral wall colors just because they are good at hiding dirty handprints, but there are plenty of other options you can look at. Try to stick to pale hues and midtones. Colors like dark reds, blues and purples will actually show wear much more quickly than their lighter counterparts, burnishing in spots where your pets and children rub against them.
Choose the right finish
After choosing the right color, you’ll have to choose a paint finish which can also be overwhelming. If you don’t like the look of the shiny appearance of semi-gloss and hi-gloss enamel paint, try an eggshell finish. This is a durable and less reflective finish that is easy to clean. Eggshell will hold up well against dirt and grime your children may coat it with throughout the years.
Don’t forget to clean with your eraser sponge
Although we hope that your newly painted walls stay clean and fresh looking for a long time, accidents do happen. Whether it’s play dough stains, marker or beverage stains that ended up on the walls, the eraser sponge is tough enough to get the job done but gentle enough not to damage your paint’s finish! Visit Spongeoutlet or call 877-776-6430 to place your order today!
You just opened your dishwasher and all of your pots, pans, cups and plates are sparkling clean except the plastic container you put your leftover spaghetti sauce in the night before. It’s still coated in the same greasy red and orange oil it had when you first put it in the dishwasher. Or perhaps you have scrubbed and soaked the plastic container with soap and hot water but the greasy texture won’t seem to budge.
If the dishwashing detergents can’t cut through the grease along with the hot water and soap, then what can?
Thankfully it turns out that all you need is an eraser sponge from Spongeoutlet! These little miracle pieces of melamine foam can take out greasy, oily red pasta sauce stains. Your plastics will look brand new after giving your eraser sponge a whirl. Gently rub the stains with a damp eraser sponge, wash the item with soapy water and rinse clean.
There are countless uses for the eraser sponges, but if you have been contemplating whether or not you should toss your stained plastic containers, think again and give this handy trick a shot. Spongeoutlet is the leader of top-quality eraser sponges and other bulk cleaning supplies in North America. We offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders shipped within the continental U.S. We also ship to Canada. Order online today!
Let’s face it. Life is full of little messes and you need the proper tools for cleaning them up. But with so many cleaning products to choose from, how do you know which will work best for your particular situation?
We’ve highlighted a few of our best-selling products below to help you narrow it down.
Microfiber Cloths- Gentle and Versatile
Made from synthetic materials, microfiber cloths can be used for many different applications including cleaning smooth and delicate surfaces. They are tough enough to soak up dirt and oil yet they are soft enough that they can be used forcefully without creating scratches.
When you aren’t using them for dirty messes, microfiber cloths are great for dusting because they naturally attract dust with their electrostatic properties. They can also do great things for stainless steel surfaces, windows, antiques, and other sensitive surfaces. They are also great for polishing mirrored or reflective surface and can really make them shine.
To remove and capture dust, try slightly dampening them with water before dusting to make sure that dust is collected by the cloth and not just disturbed on the surface or moved into the air.
According to experts, microfiber towels should not be washed with other items of your laundry in order to avoid cross-contamination with dirt, dust and leftover cleaning agents. Also, these cloths are highly sensitive and easily attract lint and stick to other cotton fabric items. Washing the towels only with other microfiber towels should prevent them from gathering lint and sticking to other laundry items. Do not use bleach, fabric softeners, detergents with added fabric softeners, or highly-fragrant detergents to clean your microfiber towels because it will cause the cloths to be less effective at cleaning. Air dry or tumble dry on a low or no-heat setting to prevent the looped fabric from becoming damaged from heat. Do not use dryer sheets when drying your microfiber towels as the sheets can coat the fabric with fabric softener and make the towels less effective at cleaning.
Eraser Sponges – A Cleaning Product with So Many Uses
If you think that all sponges are the same, then you have never used the miraculous eraser sponge. This water-activated tool works on a variety of surfaces and can clean just about every form of filth. With just a bit of water, it can clean walls, floors, and other surfaces. Crayons, pencil marks, dirt, grime, and scuff marks are no match for the eraser sponge; it’s like magic!
The Instant Erase sponge is also available in an extra strength melamine eraser sponge which makes quick work of the harshest grease, grime and baked-on stains. The extra strength eraser sponge is compressed to give it lasting cleaning. It also has a textured surface to help it clean grout lines on tile or remove tough stains.
To clean an eraser sponge, just rinse the sponge under water to remove dirt. Sometimes you have small and very dirty jobs, like removing mud from the soles of a sneaker. For small dirty jobs like this, you can cut the sponge into a smaller piece, do your cleaning and then dispose of the dirty sponge afterwards. This also helps stretch your supply of sponges and the new shape might help it reach into corners and small areas.
Scrubby Sponges For Tough Jobs
Our scrubby sponges can do wonders for everyday general cleaning, from simple to tough. This sponge works great with typical spills including those on bathroom surfaces, countertops, and more. The coarse, hard scrub surface can also help clean tough dishes or grease soiled kitchen surfaces.
Some of our scrubby sponges have both a cellulose side and abrasive side so they can handle just about any cleaning needs.
After many cleanings, sponges can sometimes smell. To prevent this, make sure you rinse them after use and allow them to dry out. You can also toss your sponge into the top rack of your dishwasher for easy cleaning .
Cleaning Product Tips
Before using any cleaning product, it’s always wise to test the product on an inconspicuous spot on the surface you plan to clean. Do this first before using the cleaning product on the entire surface. Look for scratches or dulling of the surface before you continue to clean.
You do not always need to deeply clean your cleaning tools between uses, but a quick rinse and thorough dry will help extend their lifespan and keep them working effectively. For example, you do not always need to wash your microfiber towels in the washer after each use. In between washings shake out your microfiber towel over or inside a trash bag to catch any loose dirt or dust and rinse under water to remove any remaining dirt. Allow the towels to air dry and they are good for another round of cleaning.
If you store your cleaning supplies together, colors can sometimes help you remember which towels are used on what surfaces. You would not want to use the same sponge to clean your kitchen that you use to clean your bathroom, for example. By color-coding your cleaning supplies, this help prevent any cross contamination.
Spongeoutlet is the leading online distributor of bulk melamine eraser sponges, microfiber towels, dusters, mops, and other essential cleaning supplies.
Can I see references?
Most people use their basement as a storage space, and if you’ve lived in your home for a while, chances are there are tons of random items piled up down there. Take your time and sort through all of your belongings. Open every box and bin, and make sure you take a good inventory of what you have.
Get Rid of the Musty Smell in Your Basement
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