Bathroom Cleaning Products and Supplies
Before starting on sprucing up the bathrooms, do stock the cleaning caddy with the right bathroom cleaning products and supplies. Here is a list of items that may be needed during a bathroom cleanup.

•Step-ladder
•Dust mop (preferably with a long handle), broom, mop
•Cleaning cloths or rags, sponges and brushes
•Small bucket with handle
•Disposable gloves
•Cleaning sprays – choose from natural cleaners or commercial ones
•Trash can liners

Dusting and De-cluttering Bathrooms
Begin cleaning the bathroom by dusting the ceiling, the walls, the fans and the vents. If these areas are very dirty, use a home made cleaning solution or diluted commercial cleanser and wipe clean with a damp cloth. Clean pictures and other wall art by gently wiping the glass and the frame with a clean, damp cloth. Remove all clutter, dirty clothes and empty out the trashcan.

Remove shower and window curtains, towels and bathroom rugs. Replace with clean, fresh ones. Remove light fixtures and wipe clean. Wash windows inside and outside.

Cleaning Bathroom Tiles, Floor and Fixtures
Cleaning bathroom tiles, floor and fixtures such as the sink, tub, shower and cabinets requires more effort and time. Begin by emptying out the linen and medicine cabinets of all the unnecessary clutter, discard outdated products and make a list of items that need to be replaced. Scrub the sink, toilet and tub using a commercial or natural cleaning product and a sponge or scrubber. Do wear disposable gloves to protect the hands from germs as well as the chemicals in the cleaners.

First of all, cleaning a rented space, such as a flat, while trying to pack and move to a new location is time consuming. This is a huge amount of responsibility to take on. By having a cleaning service come in and clean one’s old accommodations while they pack and ready themselves for the next move makes the transition far less stressful. Moving is already a difficult situation, why should one make it more difficult by adding more tasks to the plate?

Next, when one first moves into a rented space, whether it is a flat or home, a refundable deposit is usually put down to secure the space. Once the tenant moves out, if all cleaning requirements are met, the deposit will be refunded in full. Tenancy cleaning is a sure fire way to ensure that the initial deposit will be returned to the tenant, leaving the cleaning to the professionals. In comparison, the cost of hiring tenancy cleaners is a small price to pay in order to ensure that one will receive their deposit.

There are a few tricks to choosing tenancy cleaners, however. Like with domestic cleaners, make sure to receive referrals and to check them, thoroughly. If someone is going to be spending time with one’s belongings, one needs to make sure that they are reliable. Also, remember to choose based upon the services that are provided. For example, if there is carpet in the apartment, will they clean it or are there any extra charges for such services? Lastly, and most obviously, remember to book these services well in advance. People move out of rentals every day and services such as these are high in demand. If one is aware that they will be moving out on a certain date, they should make sure to reserve the services so they can concentrate on the move rather than the cleaning.

When moving out of a rented space, hiring someone to perform tenancy cleaning is a well-worth it investment to make sure the transition goes smoothly. Just remember to do the research and that all needed services are going to be provided.

velour upholstered sofa

Velour is a fabric similar to velvet, with a thick soft nap which makes the fabric luxurious to the touch. Unlike velvet, however, velour is a knit, which changes the properties of the fabric rather dramatically. There are many uses for velour, ranging from upholstery to casual wear.

The velvety appearance of velour makes it an elegant, beautiful choice for upholstery. However, it requires care to keep it looking beautiful and luxurious. With dirt and dust the fabric loses its soft touch and becomes stiff and dull looking. Here are the steps to maintain your upholstery and enhance its features.

You will need:

• Soft brush
• Vacuum with brush attachment
• Bucket
• Water
• Mild liquid soap (Ex: Woolite Upholstery Soap or mild dish soap)
• Ammonia
• Muslin fabric
• Suede brush

Steps to clean the upholstery:

1. Begin by removing as much dirt as possible by brushing it away.
2. A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment can be used to remove loose dust and dirt particles.
3. Fill a bucket with warm water.
4. Add a small amount of soap and stir the water. Do not agitate the water to form suds, just mix in the soap gently. Add a few drops of household ammonia for extra cleaning power if needed.
5. Muslin fabric is a special type of material and is gentle to keep from damaging the soft fibers of the velour.
6. Dip the fabric piece into the soapy water and wring it out completely. Excess water will not yield good results, so wring it out until it is just slightly damp.
7. Rub the moistened cloth over the surface of the upholstery. Use a back and forth motion as you are cleaning.
8. Repeat as necessary until the surface is clean.
9. Change the cloth and water as necessary to keep working with clean materials.
10. Once the surface is clean allow it to dry completely.
11. Brush the surface with a suede brush to restore the soft texture.

Additional tips and advice

• Do not clean velour with high heat cleaners, such as steam cleaners. The heat can damage the material and cause discoloration.
• Velour is a sensitive fabric and is often best left to professionals. If your piece is very soiled or you just don’t want to risk damaging the surface, hire a professional who is experienced with velour.
• When choosing a liquid soap, avoid those with added color. A clear soap is the best option.

silk fabric

• Silk is a natural protein fiber. Do not use chlorine bleach to clean silk; chlorine will damage the silk fabric.
• Avoid drying silk in direct sunlight as sunlight for a prolonged period will damage the silk fabric.
• Substances containing alcohol will damage silk fabric. So let your perfume and hairspray dry before dressing.

Hand Washing Silk

• Hand washing silk is our recommended mode of cleaning silk. Almost all silk can be hand washed (and would not shrink if the silk fabric were pre-shrunk before sewing).
• If you have hard water, you may wish to first add a spoonful of borax to the washing water.
• Use lukewarm water and mild, non-alkaline soap or baby shampoo.
• While rinsing, you can add a few tablespoonfuls of distilled white vinegar to the rinse water to neutralize alkali traces and to dissolve soap residue Or, add a few drops of hair conditioner to the final rinse water for extra silky feel.
• Soaking silk for any more than a few minutes should be avoided.
• Do not use harsh detergents that contain bleaches or brighteners.
• Do not wring or twist; roll in towel to extract water.

Machine Washing Silk

• We recommend hand washing silk, even those garments labeled safe for machine washing.
• If, however, you do wish to machine wash silk, please use Delicate Cycle and mild detergent.
• Do not use detergents that contain enzymes and brighteners.
• Use the shortest spin cycle.
• In a top-loading machine, we strongly recommend using a mesh bag for extra protection (this step would not be necessary in a front-loading machine).
• Always separate your colors.

Silk Care: Drying Tips

• Hang silk garments to dry. The silk garment will hold its shape.
• As with any fine fabric, never use direct sunlight to dry silk clothing. Doing so can damage the silk fiber and fade the color. Wet silk may yellow in direct sunlight or on a radiator.
• Don’t use a wooden drying rack, as the dyes & finishes can leave stains.
• We do not recommend drying silk in a clothes dryer since it can damage silk in two ways: (1) excessive temperature and heat dulls the silk fabric and may also shrink it; (2) friction with the dryer drum might cause yarn breaks or white streaks.

Silk Care: Green Organic Dry Cleaning

• Perchloroethylene (commonly known in the trade as “perc”) is the most commonly used solvent in the dry cleaning business. It is highly toxic and carcinogenic. Any garments dry cleaned from such chemicals should be left in an outdoor airy environment for some time so the fumes fully leave the garment
• Better yet, we recommend that our customers look into green dry cleaners or organic dry cleaning services that use safer and non-toxic methods such as liquid CO2 or silicone based solvents
• Some Dry Clean Only fabrics (rayon, lace etc. etc.) are delicate and cannot withstand the agitation of a washing machine. Other Dry Clean Only fabrics (wool, for example) would shrink drastically if washed in water. Machine washable wool is now readily available.
• Occasionally, however, the Dry Clean Only label may mean that the manufacturer was cutting corners and did not bother to preshrink the fabric, or chose dyed fabrics that were not colorfast.
• The silk fabric used in our garments is guaranteed to be pre-shrunk. After hand painting, every garment goes through an elaborate process to ensure color fastness.

Silk Care: Ironing Silk

• If necessary, press the silk garment inside out while damp using cool iron setting (“Silk” setting on the iron).
• Do not wet locally as this may cause rings.
• Too much heat can dull, pucker, or burn silk fabric.
• Most wrinkles in silk can be removed by hanging the garment in the bathroom during a shower. Let humidity do the ironing for you!

Cleaning Silk: Wrinkle Removal Tips

• Minor silk wrinkles should disappear if the garment is hung overnight.
• Stubborn wrinkles can be removed with a cool iron set on “silk”.
• Better yet, hang your silk garment in the bathroom during a shower. Humidity will remove the wrinkles for you.

Cleaning Silk: Silk Stain Removal

• Please consult with your dry cleaner, it helps to be able to identify the stain and the sooner it is treated the better. Old stains will rarely come out.
• As with all fine fabrics, NEVER use chlorine bleach on silk, as it will erode the fiber (not to mention the fabric discoloration).
• If all else fails consider over dyeing your favorite garment.

Cosmopolit Cleaning has extensive experience in the cleaning, repair and restoration of fine silk rugs, wallpapers and upholstered furniture. Let us set up an appointment for a free consultation to determine your silk needs. We are available to meet at your site and your convenience. Call Cosmopolit Cleaning today on 0208 248 2876.

When used chewing gum lands in or on carpet, clothes or hair it causes a sticky problem. Once the chewing gum has hardened the problem worsens. As an avid gum chewer in my teens and having been through a chewing

 gum “incident” with my oldest son I have learned ways to remove chewing gum from carpet, clothes and hair.

To remove chewing gum from carpet, clothes and hair try the freezing method first. Before freezing the chewing gum, scrape as much of it off as possible with a nonserrated knife. Next put a couple of ice cubes into a self-sealing plastic sandwich bag. Rub the bag of ice over the chewing gum until it freezes. Once the chewing gum is frozen, remove it by scraping it away. Keep repeating the freezing method until the chewing gum is removed. If the freezing method produce less than desirable results, try the other methods below to remove chewing gum.

To remove chewing gum from carpet heat is a big help. Heat the spot of stuck on chewing gum with a blow-dryer for a minute or two. Once the chewing gum has softened remove it by hand by covering your hand with a plastic sandwich bag and lifting the chewing gum from the carpet. Repeat the blow-dryer heating method to remove chewing gum until as much gum is removed as possible.

To remove chewing gum from carpet if any remains after the heating method, use a product such as a deep heating muscle rub. Again, use a plastic sandwich bag to lift more of the chewing gum from the carpet. If the gum has stained the carpet use a carpet spot remover to make it disappear.

How to get rid of Baby Food Stains:

• In cases where you have access to the detergent, use some of this directly on the stain itself. Keep it on for some time. Allow the detergent to set firmly into the stain. Rub the area for some time and rinse the cloth.
• If you think this is one of those stubborn baby food stains, then firstly, you need to scrape off as much as possible. Do this before you dip it into the water.
• Hot water can sometimes be avoidable to remove baby food stains. This can aggravate the situation by setting the stain permanently into the grooves of the fabric.
• Your husband’s shaving cream can be of some use apart from the actual purpose. To remove baby food stains, use little foaming shaving cream directly on the stain. Let this get absorbed for at least 30 minutes. After this, simply rub the area and rinse the garment. Once the stain goes, you can wash it the normal way. If the stain shows no signs of reducing in its visibility, you will need to repeat the process again.
• If possible, try to dip the baby’s garments into a tub of cold water. If you have the washing machine at your disposal, put this straight for the normal wash cycle, without the use of any particular kind of detergent. This can help to wash off baby food stains if you manage to wash the stains before it dries on the cloth.
• Tackle the stain problem immediately. Use a paper towel to collect the excess liquid stains. Use a spatula to scrape the rest. Ensure you brush off the excess stain as much as possible. Wash this portion with cold water.
• Always remember to avoid scrubbing the area unless the garment is made of a very durable fabric. Excessive rubbing can damage the garment and cause the stain to spread further. Rub gently under running water to remove dried food stains.
• Develop a habit for using a bib for the baby. This can really help you as it protects your baby’s clothing. It is better you try ways to prevent the clothes from being stained rather than spending endless hours cleaning these at home! Using a bib for the baby can help to prevent many baby food stains.
• If your baby has managed to spill the baby food on your wood table, then here’s what you need to do. Use a damp sponge to wipe of the excess matter. Also follow this with a swipe of a cloth that is dipped in wood cleansing solution. Use some wax once you are through with this.
• Sometimes your baby may tend to spill the food on silver items. In such cases, wash the silver in hot, soapy water. Use a soft cloth to wipe it completely clean.

Well, babies will be babies and stains are bound to happen. So, all you need to do is watch out those moments and be alert at all times!

Natural Cleaners

Natural Odor Killers

Prevention Ideas

The First Response

When red wine is spilled onto your carpet or clothes, white wine can be your true companion. White wine will neutralize red wine and will make it easier to lift the color off of your carpet or clothing. Simply pour white wine over the stained area and very gently blot the liquid up with a thick towel (be very careful not to rub as this will force the stain into the carpet or clothing fibers). Once you have the majority of the spill blotted up, take your favorite carpet shampoo or clothing stain remover, whichever the case may be, and clean as you would if the wine stain were a bit of dirt on the carpet or clothing.

A Host of Tried and True Stain Removers

A few other red wine stain removers include: club soda, salt, Scotchgard’s Oxy Carpet Cleaner and a must-have product called “Wine Away.”

Club Soda

Club soda can be poured on the stain and the carbonation will help to lift the stain from the carpet fibers while the salt acts as a buffer to keep the stain from setting.

Oxy Carpet Cleaner

Scotchgard’s Oxy Carpet Cleaner works well to lift stains and provide a stain protector to the area of the carpet it was used to clean.

Salt – who knew?

Salt can be poured on the spill to keep the wine from setting until you figure out which method of clean up you would like to go with.

Wine Away – Stain Remover

Wine Away has been tested and recommended by the Good Housekeeping Institute and is even endorsed by Gourmet magazine. It is truly a wine world wonder that every red wine lover should have stowed in their cleaning cabinet.

Finally, whatever you do, don’t let the spill sit for long before taking action, the longer it sits the more difficult it will be to lift the stain from your carpet or clothing.

Red Wine Stains with Red Wine Away

Wine Away red wine stain remover has been revered by media critics worldwide for the past 12 years.

Critics from Food & Wine, Gourmet, Cooking Light, Washington Post, InStyle, Good Housekeeping and the Queen of Clean tout its “amazing” stain removal ability…and we think that says more than telling you it works!

Wine Away removes most red wine stains from carpet and fabrics without the use of bleach or phosphates. It has a fresh citrus scent and is safe to use around children and pets.

1. Blot the area with a clean, white cloth to absorb all the liquid you can. Blot from the outside of the stain in to avoid spreading the stain.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon clear, mild liquid dish washing detergent with 1 cup lukewarm water.
3. Sponge the area with the detergent solution. Blot again with a clean, white cloth.
4. Mix 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup lukewarm water.
5. Sponge the area with the vinegar solution. Blot with a clean, white cloth.
6. Sponge the area with clean water. Blot with a clean, white cloth.

You should first address the cleaning of the stain or spill, then work on removing it, followed by addressing the odor and the last step is to allow the mattress to dry completely. Using about a quarter cup of mild, natural detergent powder and just a scant cup of warm water you can mix this into a solution to clean almost every mattress stain.

Simply dampen a clean, white cloth with this mixture and wring out your cloth completely. First use this damp cloth to blot the stain. Next you will rub the cloth in a clockwise circle beginning at the interior of the stain and expanding outward. Use a clean and slightly damp sponge to rinse over the area and then blot it with a towel to get it as dry as possible. Allow the area to dry for up to 8-24 hours before reapplying bedding covers.

You can also use many natural, organic cleaners on most mattresses. Baking soda or fabric sheets are great to use to neutralize odors on a mattress. Mattress pads are wonderful to use all the time on your mattress to keep it clean. These should be changed and washed every week. Using these mattress cleaning ideas will help you keep them in great shape.