Hiring cleaning help

vlagrl29 · January 2016

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

I really haven't. But I have a Bissell Pet shampooer/steamer that I use, and I use the handlheld part to spot treat as needed. The only pro I found was that they move all the furniture for you. But I like moving all the furniture and washing walls, baseboards, windows, etc while everything is out. We used Stanley Steamer because I left for London right after moving my stuff out of my apartment, so I wasn't going to have time to do it myself. It wasn't a bad job, just wished I would have saved myself the expense and done it myself instead. It didn't seem like their machines did any better than what mine does.

Interesting. I wouldn't have them move the furniture - just all the carpet around it. I was thinking about it because we will have this carpet another 2-3 years before getting hardwoods so I thought it might help it last longer.

als1982 · January 2016

jtmh2012 said:

als1982 said:

I will warn you that over time our Roomba has visibly scuffed our (white) base boards and dented the wooden legs of our couches and chairs. Granted, it's still worth it, but do be aware of that if you have nicer furniture.

Just thinking here.....while the Roomba might not look as nice. You could probably get some of that felt with the sticky backing and apply a ring to the outside of the Roomba?

This is genius!!

AprilZ81 · January 2016

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

I really haven't. But I have a Bissell Pet shampooer/steamer that I use, and I use the handlheld part to spot treat as needed. The only pro I found was that they move all the furniture for you. But I like moving all the furniture and washing walls, baseboards, windows, etc while everything is out. We used Stanley Steamer because I left for London right after moving my stuff out of my apartment, so I wasn't going to have time to do it myself. It wasn't a bad job, just wished I would have saved myself the expense and done it myself instead. It didn't seem like their machines did any better than what mine does.

Wait, you wash your walls on a regular basis?!?

I only wipe if I see a spot or if I'm removing wallpaper (which is hardly ever).

kmurphy2131 · January 2016

AprilZ81 said:

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

I really haven't. But I have a Bissell Pet shampooer/steamer that I use, and I use the handlheld part to spot treat as needed. The only pro I found was that they move all the furniture for you. But I like moving all the furniture and washing walls, baseboards, windows, etc while everything is out. We used Stanley Steamer because I left for London right after moving my stuff out of my apartment, so I wasn't going to have time to do it myself. It wasn't a bad job, just wished I would have saved myself the expense and done it myself instead. It didn't seem like their machines did any better than what mine does.

Wait, you wash your walls on a regular basis?!?

I only wipe if I see a spot or if I'm removing wallpaper (which is hardly ever).

I was just thinking that. I will probably feel differently when we own a home vs rent but I cannot imagine ever regularly washing my walls. This thread makes me feel like I need to step up my cleaning game haha

vlagrl29 · January 2016

kmurphy2131 said:

AprilZ81 said:

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

I really haven't. But I have a Bissell Pet shampooer/steamer that I use, and I use the handlheld part to spot treat as needed. The only pro I found was that they move all the furniture for you. But I like moving all the furniture and washing walls, baseboards, windows, etc while everything is out. We used Stanley Steamer because I left for London right after moving my stuff out of my apartment, so I wasn't going to have time to do it myself. It wasn't a bad job, just wished I would have saved myself the expense and done it myself instead. It didn't seem like their machines did any better than what mine does.

Wait, you wash your walls on a regular basis?!?

I only wipe if I see a spot or if I'm removing wallpaper (which is hardly ever).

I was just thinking that. I will probably feel differently when we own a home vs rent but I cannot imagine ever regularly washing my walls. This thread makes me feel like I need to step up my cleaning game haha

I spot clean my walls when I deep clean if I see marks, but I can't wash my walls - I find it always leaves rub marks on the paint.

short+sassy · January 2016

kmurphy2131 said:

AprilZ81 said:

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

I really haven't. But I have a Bissell Pet shampooer/steamer that I use, and I use the handlheld part to spot treat as needed. The only pro I found was that they move all the furniture for you. But I like moving all the furniture and washing walls, baseboards, windows, etc while everything is out. We used Stanley Steamer because I left for London right after moving my stuff out of my apartment, so I wasn't going to have time to do it myself. It wasn't a bad job, just wished I would have saved myself the expense and done it myself instead. It didn't seem like their machines did any better than what mine does.

Wait, you wash your walls on a regular basis?!?

I only wipe if I see a spot or if I'm removing wallpaper (which is hardly ever).

I was just thinking that. I will probably feel differently when we own a home vs rent but I cannot imagine ever regularly washing my walls. This thread makes me feel like I need to step up my cleaning game haha

I don't clean walls unless there is a reason, in my own house. But I do clean the walls between renters. You'd be surprised how dirty walls can get. Not necessarily something you'd notice just looking at them...but spray a little cleaner and use a clean paper towel...and it turns gray.

Of course, my last tenants that I griped about in another post, were in their own universe all together. Very noticeable dirt streaks on the walls everywhere. Crayon art. But the best...bright pink lipstick all over the hallway and bathroom wall. I think that irked me the most because it probably happened awhile ago, yet it literally took less than five minutes to just wipe it up. How are people just that lazy? Or, even better, make the daughter wipe up her own mess. She was 8. She was old enough.

jessica490 · January 2016

My mom always washes her walls twice a year and they can get dirty. At the condo we didn't really wash them but now that we have a house I will wash them at least once/year along with windows and radiators.

julieanne912 · January 2016

I wash mine in certain areas because of the dogs... they get dirty under the window sills cause our younger one likes to stand up and look out the windows... and somehow that makes the wall under the sill (and the sill of course) dirty. They also get dirty by their food bowls.

We got eggshell paint on purpose in this house to make wiping them down easier. Builder grade flat paint is impossible to clean.

But yeah, it's not part of my normal cleaning routine, just something I do when I notice it.

jtmh2012 · January 2016

Wow. We washed the walls at the last house only because we were painting them. This house has builder grade flat, so it you try to wash marks or anything it comes off.

brij2006 · January 2016

It really depends on your type of paint. Flat or eggshell you can't wipe.

We painted our entire house with semi-gloss paint so that I can wipe the walls. I usually wipe down the bathroom at least once every 6 months, if not sooner. For some reason it gets a film of dust and pet dander on them.

Our bedroom and kitchen are bad as well, and I wipe those every 6 months. The living room gets it once a year.

I do the same with blinds and curtains as well. Those are taken down and washed fully once every 6 months.

We have a dog, a cat, a kid, have lived in a remodel for the past 6 years, and I love having the windows open as much as possible. So the amount of overall filth that comes into our house, grosses me out.

Xstatic3333 · January 2016

brij2006 said:
It really depends on your type of paint. Flat or eggshell you can't wipe.
We painted our entire house with semi-gloss paint so that I can wipe the walls. I usually wipe down the bathroom at least once every 6 months, if not sooner. For some reason it gets a film of dust and pet dander on them.
Our bedroom and kitchen are bad as well, and I wipe those every 6 months. The living room gets it once a year.
I do the same with blinds and curtains as well. Those are taken down and washed fully once every 6 months.

We have a dog, a cat, a kid, have lived in a remodel for the past 6 years, and I love having the windows open as much as possible. So the amount of overall filth that comes into our house, grosses me out.

In our rental I had to wash the bathroom wall every few months because it would get a film like that. Our house now has a better fan, and I don't notice it anymore.

Any tips for washing blinds? I'm finding everything I try just seems to push the dirt around.

brij2006 · January 2016

Xstatic3333 said:

It really depends on your type of paint. Flat or eggshell you can't wipe.
We painted our entire house with semi-gloss paint so that I can wipe the walls. I usually wipe down the bathroom at least once every 6 months, if not sooner. For some reason it gets a film of dust and pet dander on them.
Our bedroom and kitchen are bad as well, and I wipe those every 6 months. The living room gets it once a year.
I do the same with blinds and curtains as well. Those are taken down and washed fully once every 6 months.

We have a dog, a cat, a kid, have lived in a remodel for the past 6 years, and I love having the windows open as much as possible. So the amount of overall filth that comes into our house, grosses me out.
In our rental I had to wash the bathroom wall every few months because it would get a film like that. Our house now has a better fan, and I don't notice it anymore. Any tips for washing blinds? I'm finding everything I try just seems to push the dirt around.

I've actually found the best method is to get into the shower with them. lol. I have them hanging, but turned so they're closed. Then hold them up to the shower head and let the water run across them. It seems to cause the dirt to run down off of them. I will usually take a washcloth and wipe them with pinesol to help any stuck on dirt as well.

Then I hang them over the tub or the shower rod/door and let them dry.

Xstatic3333 · January 2016

brij2006 said:

Xstatic3333 said:

brij2006 said:
It really depends on your type of paint. Flat or eggshell you can't wipe.
We painted our entire house with semi-gloss paint so that I can wipe the walls. I usually wipe down the bathroom at least once every 6 months, if not sooner. For some reason it gets a film of dust and pet dander on them.
Our bedroom and kitchen are bad as well, and I wipe those every 6 months. The living room gets it once a year.
I do the same with blinds and curtains as well. Those are taken down and washed fully once every 6 months.

We have a dog, a cat, a kid, have lived in a remodel for the past 6 years, and I love having the windows open as much as possible. So the amount of overall filth that comes into our house, grosses me out.
In our rental I had to wash the bathroom wall every few months because it would get a film like that. Our house now has a better fan, and I don't notice it anymore.

Any tips for washing blinds? I'm finding everything I try just seems to push the dirt around.

I've actually found the best method is to get into the shower with them. lol. I have them hanging, but turned so they're closed. Then hold them up to the shower head and let the water run across them. It seems to cause the dirt to run down off of them. I will usually take a washcloth and wipe them with pinesol to help any stuck on dirt as well.

Then I hang them over the tub or the shower rod/door and let them dry.

Awesome idea! Thanks! I know how I'm spending the Monday holiday...

vlagrl29 · January 2016

I will wipe down the walls in our bathroom because I get hair spray/ hair product spray residue on them - I fit that in with my deep clean schedule. We do on occasion get scratches on our walls and I have DH just spot treat it by putting a little bit of the leftover paint on it to hide it better. Sometimes you can't get everything out.

BlueBirdMB · January 2016

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

My parents have some carpet and have done both. It looks the same honestly.

abrewer5 · January 2016

Wow I'm starting to feel like my house is filthy after reading this thread LOL. I've never washed my walls (or curtains admittedly), but now I'm thinking I might need to do. Thanks for all the cleaning tips!

LillibetteV · January 2016

abrewer5 said:

Wow I'm starting to feel like my house is filthy after reading this thread LOL. I've never washed my walls (or curtains admittedly), but now I'm thinking I might need to do. Thanks for all the cleaning tips!

I take a swiffer to the walls a few times a year - it gets a lot of dust off and is really fast compared to washing.

brij2006 · January 2016

LillibetteV said:

abrewer5 said:

Wow I'm starting to feel like my house is filthy after reading this thread LOL. I've never washed my walls (or curtains admittedly), but now I'm thinking I might need to do. Thanks for all the cleaning tips!

I take a swiffer to the walls a few times a year - it gets a lot of dust off and is really fast compared to washing.

Yup. Trying this.

vlagrl29 · January 2016

BlueBirdMB said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

My parents have some carpet and have done both. It looks the same honestly.

well that's unfortunately. I was hoping that you could tell a difference.

formerlyGDaisy09 · January 2016

kmurphy2131 said:

AprilZ81 said:

brij2006 said:

vlagrl29 said:

Since we are talking about cleaning here I have a question. I'm thinking of hiring a professional company come this spring/summer to clean our carpets. I currently steam vac them twice a year and 1 time a month from the highly trafficked areas. Is it worth it to hire a professional? Can you tell a big difference between what they do and what you do with your steam vac? I'm guessing its about $300.

I really haven't. But I have a Bissell Pet shampooer/steamer that I use, and I use the handlheld part to spot treat as needed. The only pro I found was that they move all the furniture for you. But I like moving all the furniture and washing walls, baseboards, windows, etc while everything is out. We used Stanley Steamer because I left for London right after moving my stuff out of my apartment, so I wasn't going to have time to do it myself. It wasn't a bad job, just wished I would have saved myself the expense and done it myself instead. It didn't seem like their machines did any better than what mine does.

Wait, you wash your walls on a regular basis?!?

I only wipe if I see a spot or if I'm removing wallpaper (which is hardly ever).

I was just thinking that. I will probably feel differently when we own a home vs rent but I cannot imagine ever regularly washing my walls. This thread makes me feel like I need to step up my cleaning game haha

I'm pretty anal-rententive about cleaning and the only time i've washed my walls was when I was getting ready to paint.

JoanE2012 · January 2016

I've NEVER washed my walls. I've never even heard of this as part of routine cleaning, only in extreme instances before paining (ie TSP solution). My bathrooms and kitchen are eggshell, so if something gets on it, I'll spray a little fantastic on the spot and wipe it down - but I don't touch the flat paint walls.

vlagrl29 · January 2016

JoanE2012 said:
I've NEVER washed my walls. I've never even heard of this as part of routine cleaning, only in extreme instances before paining (ie TSP solution). My bathrooms and kitchen are eggshell, so if something gets on it, I'll spray a little fantastic on the spot and wipe it down - but I don't touch the flat paint walls.

This is me too. Never heard of washing walls. I sure will never wash my flat paint.

jtmh2012 · January 2016

vlagrl29 said:

This is me too. Never heard of washing walls. I sure will never wash my flat paint.

Wouldn't recommend it until you're wanting to repaint the wall.

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