Cleaning may seem like a chore most of the time, but I can personally say that I have had quite a few ineresting experiences while cleaning houses. I’ve seen a lot of things, both funny and not so funny. But it’s how you handle the situation that makes it a good or bad experience. I can vividly remember a day in which a former co worker and myself were cleaning a house close to the office. We pulled up and everything seemed normal. We got out of the car and began to unload our supplies, when I notcied something small and black out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head and there stood a very angry looking dog. He was tied up, but still could get ver close to the door that we were supposed to walk through to get into the house.

                I know that you’re not supposed to let an animal smell your fear, but when its teeth are a few feet away from you, I would figure most of us would be a little timid to try to pass the dog. I looked at my co worker and asked her what we should do. She called the boss man, who told us if you can get past the dog, go in and clean. Great. This could go horribly. Well, we made our way into the house about fifteen minutes after arriving at the house. To our surprise, the house was decently clean already. We didn’t clean a few rooms in the house, so all we had to do was the kitchen, one full bathroom, two bedrooms, a living and dining room. It never took us longer than about an hour and a half to clean the clients house. So the first time we cleaned the house, I cleaned the kitchen. I could hear the dog barking outside. About ten minutes after we had started clenaing, the dog got really quiet. I assumed he had layed down, and was hopefully trying to sleep. I usually was listening to music while I was cleaning, if the client wasn’t home. I thought that I had heard my co worker tying to talk to me so I took out my headphones and called for her. She didn’t respond so I figured it was the music I had heard. I was about to put my headphones in when I heard a heavy breathing that sounded like it was right behind me. I turned around and there stands the dog. He had broken free of the restraint and came in through the doggy door.

As you can imagine by this time I’m panicking. I scream for m co worker and she comes running up from the back of the house. It was at that moment I thought I was about to get attacked by this very scary looking dog. Luckily the home owner came in and called the dog over, who happily trotted over to her. I was still frozen in place for about thirty seconds after the whole incident had ended. “The house looks great girls. I hope he didn’t scare you too bad” the homeowner said. The only thought that was going through my head was “Why in the world did you not move your dog somewhere else before we got here?” The client was happy with the result, so it was a good time all in all. That dog scared the bonkers out of me though. I can remember a different time cleaning the same house, and the dog actually bit my co worker. That was a great time. She’s bleeding and freaking out, I’m on the phone with my boss, and the dog is just laying down staring at us like we had lost our minds. We never cleaned that house again.

That’s just one wild incident I can remember in particular. I have had dozens of good times, bad times, inbetween times, and  just so beyond messed up times that I would write for weeks about the things I’ve seen. From that experience, I learned that you should never expect people to do things that would make sense, like secure your dog somewhere that he will not break free and attempt to eat the house cleaners, lol. But we do what we can with the given situtation and hope that everthing works out ok.  

I know there are a lot of people that wonder on a daily basis how to keep their homes free of pet hair. Well, luckily guys, I have the answer. Unless your pet is an outdoor pet, and it never comes into the house, it is impossible to keep your house rid and free of pet hair. That’s right, impossible. I said it. There is no magical unknown trick that keeps your home free of flying animal fur. There are a few things that can help cut down on the amount of pet hair and dander that your home would usually acquire.

The first of which is to if at all possible, keep your animals outside. They were made for the outdoors. They like it. They can run around and get exercise, interact with other animals they might see. Now I’m not saying if its  110 degrees outside with a high heat index, or there’s a blizzard occuring, then I would probably keep my pets inside. But if its nice outside and not pouring down rain, let them go outside.

Hire a cleaning company. One of the advantages to hiring a maid service is that we can help cut the amount of pet hair in your home in half, if not more. Did you know that there is a special way to get pet hair off of your fabric furniture? I do. I did it while I was cleaning houses. I do not have any pets so luckily I never had to do this in my own home. There is a stone that you can buy called a pet hair stone. It’s available at any pet store and possibly Walmart. I think, not quite sure but it should be. Its Walmart. We get all underneath your furniture, in those corners you may have forgotten about,  around the table and chair legs where for some reason a lot of pet hair seems to accumulate.

Brush your pets. Brushing your dog(s) twice a week and your cat(s) once a day will help dramatically reduce the amount of pet hair in your home and on your furniture. I have heard of the furminator, a special type of brush for pets but not being a pet owner, I have not tried it so I cannot offer an opinion on it. 

Knowing how to clean hardwood floors properly is very important. Gravel and dirt is the bane of hardwood floors. But how do you properly care for hardwood floors? Well, I'll tell you :)

1. Avoid using regular household cleaning and dusting products. These products will cause permanent damage. Use only products specifically made for hardwood. 
2. Never use water to mop the floor. Water will definitely cause permanent damage. You can use a damp cloth to wipe up spills but never pour water directly on the floor to 'mop' the floor. 
3. DO NOT USE AMMONIA
4. Never use wax on a floor with urethane or other glossy finish.
5. Don't drag furniture when moving it- use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges. 
6. Vacuum. This is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the cracks. Use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a vacuum beater bar which can damage the wood. 
7. Use sheers or blinds to protect the floor from direct sun rays. 
8. Always remove shoes at the front door. 
9. Keep nails and claws trimmed on pets. 
10. Use cotton area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and sites of frequent spills. ( rubber and vinyl mats and rugs trap water underneath them) 
11. Clean up spills immediately with a paper towel or dry cloth. A damp cloth may be used for sticky spills, but dry the spot immediately afterwards. 

Microfiber Cleaning:
-Use a damp flat mop with a microfiber head to sweep up hair and dirt. 
-Wring the mop head out enough for the head to be barely damp. You do not want a lot of water in the mop head. 
-Spray a clean microfiber mop head with a floor cleaner specifically for wood floors
-Wash the floor, but don't let the mop head get too dirty. Rinse out the mop head or change it when it gets too dirty. Respray the mop head every time you rinse it out,  

Every household needs a good vacuum cleaner. Apart from making the task of cleaning much simpler, the modern vacuum cleaner comes with filters that are capable of capturing even the smallest dust particles. Buying the best vacuum cleaner depends both on your budget and your preferences.

Benefits of Vacuum Cleaning
Vacuum cleaning removes dust, dirt, particles and pet hair from the surfaces of your home. The process is much simpler than having to clean without the machine. Additionally, the new generation of robot vacuum cleaners eliminates the need for human involvement in the process altogether.

Some vacuum cleaners come with the ability to shampoo and wash carpets. You have many features and possibilities to choose among. Vacuum cleaners that use steam will disinfect surfaces, which results in even more reliable cleaning.

People who suffer from allergies can get a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter – an air filter that consists of randomly arranged fibers. According to manufacturers, the HEPA filter is capable of capturing 99.9 percent of the particles that are at least 0.3 micrometers in size. Such a vacuum cleaner will remove pollen and dust from surfaces at home, which will decrease the risk of allergic reactions.

Finally, a vacuum cleaner is affordable. There are very few supplies that you will have to purchase after getting your vacuum cleaner. Making the initial investment will be sufficient to enjoy a clean home for many years.

Choosing the Best Vacuum Cleaner
To be happy with the cleaning results, you will need to choose the right kind of vacuum cleaner. The market is diversified and there are many options to compare.

First, you need to think about the type of vacuum cleaner you want to get. A canister vacuum cleaner consists of a long wand that is attached to a canister via a flexible hose. The best canister vacuum cleaner is easy to move around and many people find it better than an upright vacuum cleaner.

The upright vacuum cleaner stands in upright position and is more suitable if you have numerous heavy carpets. In this instance, it will be easier to maneuver than the best canister vacuum cleaner.

Next, you should think about whether to get a bagless vacuum cleaner or a model with a bag where all the collected dirt is stored. The bagless vacuum cleaner will free you from having to buy bags, while the second option is less messy – you simply take out the bag and throw it away.

Some of the additional features to consider before buying a vacuum cleaner include the availability of HEPA filters, a charcoal filter that absorbs bad smell, variety of attachments for different surfaces and cordless models.

Tips for Keeping Your House Spotless
Use the vacuum cleaner solely indoors. Most commercial models are unsuitable for outdoor usage. In your home, you can use the vacuum cleaner to remove dirt from stairs, wooden surfaces, carpets, tiles and stone. You can also use the vacuum cleaner on your furniture but you have to choose the right attachment.

Vacuuming a wet surface is a bad idea. Moisture can damage the motor, so you need to dry the floor before getting started with vacuum cleaning.

Remove all small items and toys from your carpet and hardwood floors before you start cleaning. A powerful vacuum cleaner can easily suck small items inside. Apart from the fact you could be losing those, they could also get stuck in the hose. Never use the vacuum cleaner for the removal of flammable or toxic materials from the surfaces in your home.

Finally, clean the bag or container as soon  as you get indication that it is full. Continuing to use the vacuum cleaner can lead to permanent damage.