What are your cleaning habits?
Hand over household chores and keep living your life. Really, you’ll thank them for it!
Just a quick brain teaser - do you remember when you last switched out your dishwashing sponge for a clean one? Now that you think about it, was it last week or maybe just a little longer ago? Time goes by so fast and remembering which chores need to be done at what moment can be an entire chore by itself.
It does feel more important to keep on track when you realise how much bacteria can get into your home when you don’t pay attention to some things. The best thing to do is to make a list with all the chores you should do weekly or bi-weekly. Use it yourself or pass it on to your cleaner!
Cleaning tips from Helpling cleaners
The cleaners working through Helpling would like to share some knowledge about what is important and how you’ll have the least amount of bacteria and germs at home, which is pretty important nowadays.
Vacuum and spray your mattress every few months
Washing the sheet regularly is not good enough. Sprucing up your mattress every few months helps counteract the sweat and grime that builds up from seven or eight hours of nightly use.
First, sprinkle a little baking soda on the fabric, wait 15 minutes, and then vacuum. In those 15 minutes, you can easily put your sheets in the washing machine to clean them as well.
Wash your sheets every week or two
Regularly washing your sheet is essential to get rid of built-up germs, sweat, and body oils. The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks. Wash it on the hottest setting your sheets can be washed to optimise the cleaning.
If you absolutely hate changing your sheets you can always book a cleaner via Helpling to do it for you!
Don't use a loofah or replace it frequently
Your shower loofah will absorb a lot of bacteria when you use it too many times. Moist and dead skin cells that get stuck in the material become the perfect breeding ground for organisms that can cause skin infections.
Loofahs should not be used for longer than four weeks. You actually need to rinse them in a diluted bleach solution at least once per week. If you’re not that attached to your loofah, you might want to stop using them altogether. You're better off using washcloths, as they're easier to clean and less welcoming for bacteria.
Wash your shower curtain whenever you see mildew
You don’t have to throw your shower curtain away once it is dirty, you can easily wash plastic or vinyl in the washing machine on the hottest setting with a little detergent. Add a few bath towels for some extra cleaning agitation, and after, hang the shower curtain to dry.
Prevent future problems by giving your curtain a chance to dry out every time! Turn on the exhaust fan while showering, open the door or window afterwards, and keep your curtain spread out open instead of pushed to the side.
Clean your sponges weekly and replace every two to three weeks
This is definitely one of those things you want to write down somewhere, so you know when to replace your sponges.
The best way to clean a sponge is to soak it in a gallon of water mixed with 3/4 cups bleach for five minutes, but even that won't make your sponge last forever. Tossing them regularly will help keep your countertops cleaner and prevent foodborne illness. Or let your cleaner via Helpling take care of this task when they come over.
Wash removable parts of your coffee machine after every use and decalcify every month
Coffee machines can get mouldy and riddled with bacteria very quickly, so washing the dishwasher-safe parts daily is absolutely key if you don't want a dash of germs with your breakfast blend.
Regularly running a vinegar solution through the machine also prevents the build-up of hard water minerals. Otherwise, you might notice your brew taking longer to drip.
Get a €10 discount on Helpling
In case you feel the need for help when it comes to household chores on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, you can always count on the cleaners working through Helpling. You can easily book a cleaner based on your personal preferences. Get a €10 discount* on the first clean of a recurring booking with the code: Iamexpat10
Download the Helpling app
Download the Helpling app in the Google or Apple store! Or you can log in on the Helpling website.
Via the app and the website, you are provided with an overview of all your appointments. If you want to add, reschedule, or cancel a booking, you can easily arrange this yourself. You can also contact your cleaner through the app via the chat function.
Hand over household chores and keep living your life!
*Terms and conditions:
- Only valid on the first clean of a recurring booking
- Only valid for new customers
- Cannot be used in combination with other discounts
- Full terms and conditions can be found on the website
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