How to clean aluminum window frames

Having clean windows with the beautiful sun shining through will brighten up your day. But then you notice the aluminum frames and see just how gray and weathered they have become. It can make the sunshine turn a little gray.

Step 1; Start off by cleaning down the aluminum window frames by washing them with a mild detergent and water. A mixture of ½ a cup of sudsy ammonia to 1 litre of water. This works very well.

You can use already mixed solvent cleaners also. Never use abrasives as they can scratch the aluminum surface.

Step 2; Rinse off the solution thoroughly. Remove all traces of cleaner by rinsing the frames well with water.

Step 3; Dry the aluminum window frames thoroughly by using soft cloths or rags. Rub gently, but firmly in circular motions to remove any remaining dust as well as any soap residue.

Step 4; Paint the window frames if you wish to do so. Badly weathered frames that are beyond hope of cleaning can be brought back to life by cleaning with soap and water. After drying they can be painted with exterior metal paint in the color of your choice. You will have a totally new look with the paint.

Dave’s Tip: You can put a coat of lacquer on aluminum window frames to protect them from weathering.

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How to clean old brick walls

Though they add character to any home, brick walls become dusty and dirty over time. Clean your brick walls regularly to maintain their appearance whether you have old brick walls are inside or outside of your home.

Step1; To start dust off the brick using a soft brush or vacuum cleaner hose attachment this will remove loose dust and dirt from the brick walls on the inside of your home. For exterior brick walls rinse off with plain water from the garden hose.

Step 2; Fill up a bucket with 3 litre of warm water; add ½ a cup of clear dish washing liquid and ½ a cup of table salt to the water. Mix up the ingredients by stirring. Fill a separate bucket up with 3 litre of plain warm water (cold water from hose if you are cleaning exterior brick).

Step 3; Dip an old rag in the bucket of soapy water then ring out the rag well. Scrub the bricks with the rag. Rinse rag often while cleaning. Using an old brush, dip into the bucket of soapy water to clean the mortar between the bricks. Start cleaning at the top working your way down to the bottom.

Step 4; Dip the rag into the bucket of plain water to rinse brick walls. Rinse and wring out the rag often to avoid reapplying dirt and soap to the walls. Rinse exterior brick walls with water from the garden house, rinse starting from the top working your way to the bottom. Doing this on a regular basis will preserve the beauty of the brick.

Dave’s Tip: Don’t clean walls in direct sunlight if possible as any residue dries very quickly. 

House Cleaning Melbourne

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How to clean a granite bench

Granite bench tops in recent times have become more and more popular and are often the material of choice for those re-modelling their homes. It is a great finish to kitchens, however, it does require a lot of maintenance. Regular cleaning will keep it looking brand new. A plus to choosing granite as the material for your bench top is that its a hard stone and is therefore virtually unscratchable.

To clean a granite bench top follow these steps:

1. Firstly, always clean up spills immediately before the spill penetrates the surface.
2. Give the bench top a general clean using some warm soapy water and a sponge to pick up any residue. 
3. Rinse the sponge in water only and reclean the area to prevent a soapy finish. 
4. Dry the area with a clean towel.

To remove stains from the granite bench top:

1. First identify what kind of stain it is.
2. To remove coffee or tea stains use hydrogen peroxide and 2 or 3 drops of household ammonia.
3. To remove an oily stain such as milk, oil or grease make a paste of flour and hydrogen peroxide over the stain, cover with plastic wrap and then let sit for 8 hours. It will draw the stain to the surface. When you remove the plastic wrap, then scrape away the mixture with a flexible, plastic utensil to avoid scratching. Repeat if necessary
4. For an ink stain on granite, clean carefully using nail polish remover (acetone)

Dave's Tip:
Never use anything abrasive that will scratch such as scouring pads, scouring powder or steel wool. Never use vinegar, orange or lemon based cleaners. Acid based cleaners may damage the bench.

Melbourne Professional Cleaners

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How to clean a ceiling fan

It is hard to see when dust or dirt gathers on your ceiling fan as the view is much higher than eye level. A dirty and dusty ceiling fan can cause the motor to stop working, and make the fan shake and wobble. Also, the dirt and dust can fly all around the room when the fan is switched on, creating more mess around your home. As summer comes it is important to clean the fans before they are used regularly again.

To clean your ceiling fan:

1. To the fan off and wait until the blades have stopped rotating.
2. Place a ladder under the fan where it will be comfortable to reach
3. Using an all-purpose cleaner such as spray & wipe, spray it onto the some clean paper towel.
   Do not ever spray it directly onto the fan, as this may damage the motor.
4. Place the paper towel at the start of one of the blades, near the centre of the fan. Drag the cloth backwards towards the end of the blade. Be careful and use your other hand to hold the blade as they may move while you do this. 
5. Repeat the above process for each blade. As plenty of dust may have accumulated it may be necessary to use a new piece of paper toweling for each blade.
6. When finished with the blades, don't forget to clean the center of the fan and the motor in the same process.

Dave's Tip:
Place a drop-cloth underneath the fan if it has not been regularly cleaned as large pieces of dust and dirt may have gathered and may fall on the floor during the clean. 

Regular Domestic Cleaners

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How to clean silver

Although silver is a beautiful and popular metal it is also very fragile and can quickly develop tarnish, stains and scratches. Many people are anxious to clean their silver because most silver pieces are special and they do not want to risk damage. The best tip to cleaning silver is to clean it often. This way, when tarnishing begins, all that you need to do is wash the silver under warm (not hot) water with a phosphate-free detergent.

When tarnish develops, simple hand washing will not remove it.

To clean silver follow these easy steps:

1. Moisten a silver-polishing cloth or a sponge and use a silver-polishing specific solution provided with the silver or some other household product such as 'Silvo'.
2. Rub the silver in a straight motion, back and forth. Do not clean using a circular motion. Avoid scrubbing.
3. Rinse the silver under running water.
4. Dry the silver with a soft, clean cloth.

Dave's Tip:
Wash silver separately. If you wash silver items with other dishes the silver items will sink and other utensils can scratch the silver. Also, when in contact with stainless steel, silver can be damaged.

Melbourne Cleaners

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How to clean your bathtub

Cleaning your bath is simple if you clean it on a regular basis. If you treat it once a week, it can save you hours of scrubbing time. If you have children, or use the bath regularly yourself, the build up of dirt and soap scum is more prominent and requires more attention. If you do not use the bathtub much, cleaning is still important as dust and other marks can build up.

Before beginning your clean make sure you find out what kind of bathtub you have, this is important when selecting your cleaning product. If you have an enamel tub you will need an abrasive or heavy duty cleaner, if you have a fiberglass bathtub make sure you use fiberglass specific cleaners or else you may damage it. An acrylic bathtub requires a non-abrasive bathroom cleaner.

To clean your bathtub follow these steps:

1. After identifying which cleaning product to use, spray this all over the bathtub. 
2. Leave to soak for ten minutes to allow the chemicals to begin breaking down the scum.
3. Lightly scrub the tub with a soft-bristle brush, do not press too hard, otherwise you may scratch the tub.
4. Pay special attention to the corners of the bath and areas around the tap as they tend to build up a lot of grime.
5. Rinse the cleaner off using the bath water or a bucket, placing water all over the bath from the top to the bottom.
6. Dry the bath with a clean towel. This is important, as the water you use to rinse the cleaner may leave dirt behind if it is not dried properly.

Dave's Tip:
Many new bathrooms are subject to mould under the edge of the silicon, this cannot be cleaned off easily and needs to be treated with an anti mould cleaner regularly. Drying the joints/ corners after use is a good way to maintain the silicon

Residential Cleaners Melbourne

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How to clean and shine your hardwood floor

Hardwood floors require plenty of attention to keep their appearance looking clean, well-maintained and shiny. It is important to choose the right cleaning product as many can damage the floors by stripping back the linoleum. One of the most popular methods to cleaning hardwood floors is by using a simple mixture of white vinegar and water.

To clean your hardwood floor:

1. Remove rugs and upholstery from the room.
2. Sweep the floor to remove as much dust and dirt from the surface before mopping.
3. Fill a bucket of warm water and mix half a cup of white vinegar. Vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant and the vinegar smell will evaporate when it dries.
4. Soak your mop in the vinegar and water solution. If possible, use a mop which rings out most of the water. The mop should be damp, not soaking wet. Excess water should not be left to dry on hardwood floors.
5. Begin mopping in the corner of the room and work your way back through to the entrance to avoid walking on the area you have just cleaned.
6. Change the vinegar and water solution as needed when the water gets dirty.
7. Damp floors can be left to air dry.

Dave's Tip
A good way to clean a dirty mop is to wash it in the washing machine.

Commercial Cleaning Melbourne

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