Month: June 2022

With air pollution getting worse each year, the need to improve your home’s air quality has never been greater. But how do you even go about it? And how much can you realistically expect from your efforts? Luckily, with the following advice, you’ll be well on your way to improving your home’s air quality and breathing easier in no time!

The Importance of Good Air Quality

Air quality has a direct effect on our bodies and minds. Most of us spend 8+ hours every day in our homes, so it’s important that we take measures to ensure we’re breathing clean air. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, poor air quality and exposure to air pollutants can cause “irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue”* in the short term. Poor air quality can also worsen asthma for those who suffer from it.  In the long term, polluted air quality in the home can cause “respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer”* which can even be fatal. For more information, visit ​​https://bit.ly/3s8O9Ee. 

Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants

There are many sources of indoor air pollutants, including household chemicals and products, tobacco smoke, and radon. If you have allergies or other respiratory issues, there are additional concerns about mold and dust mites.

In order to control these pollutants, you need a plan for controlling each one in your home. Proper ventilation is crucial when you want to keep outdoor pollutants out while still allowing fresh air into your home. Improving how well you ventilate will also help reduce moisture levels inside your home; keeping moisture low will help prevent mold growth that can exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Use a HEPA Air Filter

If you’re interested in improving your home’s air quality, it’s a good idea to install a HEPA air filter. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air, and these filters are designed to get rid of dirt and dust that may be in your home. According to the EPA, HEPA air filters “can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm)”**, making it the most effective air filter you can use to improve your home’s air quality. For more information, visit the EPA’s site: https://bit.ly/3JQHKUd. 

Keep the Home Smoke-Free

Smoking in your home can make you and your family vulnerable to a host of respiratory illnesses. If you’re serious about improving your home’s air quality, it might be time to consider kicking your smoking habit once and for all. And if you have young children, quitting smoking may be an even more important goal. In fact, studies show that smoke in a house containing children can increase their risk of developing allergies or asthma by as much as 35 percent! 

Invest in Plants

Besides being a source of beauty, home plants can also improve air quality in your home. According to Eco Watch’s article, ’20 Best Air-Purifying Plants’ (https://bit.ly/3scNWA0), there are many houseplants available at your local nursery or store that can improve your home’s air quality. 

Here are the top five plants on Eco Watch’s list for improving air quality: 

1. Peace Lily
2. Snake Plant
3. Golden Pothos
4. Bamboo Palm
5. Scarlet Star Bromeliad

Eliminate Chemical Cleaning Supplies & Air Fresheners

The chemicals in commercial cleaners can be detrimental to your health, especially if you are using harsh chemical cleaners in poorly ventilated areas. 

Instead, try natural DIY cleaning products with supplies you can find in a grocery store when possible. Popular natural cleaning ingredients include white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, borax, lemon juice, tea tree oil, and other essential oils. Natural cleaning products are not only good for your home’s air quality but are also free of harsh chemicals that can harm your health. 

For detailed recipes for DIY cleaning products, the site Madeleine Olivia’s blog is a great resource to get you started: https://bit.ly/3h94LFq

Instead of strong chemical-based air fresheners, you can use essential oils in a diffuser or vaporizer. Their pleasant fragrance will help keep your home smelling fresh without exposing you and your family to harmful chemicals.

Control Moisture

Excess moisture is a leading cause of poor indoor air quality. To lower humidity levels and improve your home’s air quality, invest in a dehumidifier. This tool can remove up to 48 pints of water from your home per day. On the other hand, the air in your home may be excessively dry. In this case, you can invest in a humidifier to put moisture back into the air.  

Before installing either of these devices, run an inexpensive hygrometer test on your home to see if there are problems with high or low humidity levels. (A hygrometer typically costs $15-$50.) After you have remedied any issues related to excess or low moisture, these tools will help keep conditions optimal for living and breathing. And that means better home air quality!

Keep Your Home Clean

Air quality can improve if you keep your home and its contents clean. Keeping your floors, walls, furniture, appliances and everything else that’s in your home spotless will not only help improve air quality but also lower your risk of developing allergies and infections. Regular cleaning is one of the easiest things you can do for yourself, as well as for everyone who lives in or visits your home. Not only does it improve air quality but it also makes a big difference to how you feel on a daily basis.

Call Plan: B Cleaning today to set up a cleaning service and improve your home’s air quality with a clean space at (317) 572-8515, or visit www.planbcleaning.com. Plan: B Cleaning serves the Fishers, Indiana area, including Hamilton County, Geist, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, and Fortville. 

These days, many homeowners are moving away from traditional mops and towards microfiber mops instead. What makes these mops so different? Are they really worth the extra expense? As it turns out, yes! There are many benefits to using a microfiber mop, especially if you’re interested in keeping your floors clean without needing harsh chemicals or too much elbow grease. Let’s go over the most popular benefits of microfiber mops below!

Why Choose a Microfiber Mop

A microfiber mop is an effective cleaning tool for many reasons. First, microfiber pads are lint-free and won’t leave behind any dust, dirt, or grime on your flooring. They also have dense threads that quickly pull up dirt and clean more thoroughly than other materials, as a traditional mop does. These attributes make them great for all types of hard flooring, including wood, tile, linoleum, stone, and laminate. 

Microfibers are especially good on these surfaces because they can scrub away scuff marks and prevent scratches by loosening grime instead of grinding it into your delicate flooring. Plus, they don’t need chemicals or harsh cleaners; just regular water with microfiber is effective in cleaning and picking up dirt and grime, as well as removing bacteria from the surface. You can rest assured you are effectively and efficiently cleaning your hard flooring when you use a microfiber mop head.

Advantages of Using a Microfiber Mop

A microfiber mop is a far superior choice to most traditional mops on today’s market. Why? It all comes down to how effectively they clean floors, and their capacity for deep cleaning quicker than other mopping alternatives. Here are five reasons why you should consider investing in one:

1. Traditional mops don’t use an absorbent microfiber pad, so most of your effort is wasted because grime gets left behind on your floor. A microfiber mop works differently because it uses a microfiber cloth that can pick up dust, dirt, grime—everything—and leaves nothing behind. This means you’ll spend less time mopping and more time with family or doing other activities!
2. Traditional mops make users responsible for wringing out water from their pad before moving onto another section of their home or office floor. With a microfiber mop like the Sh-mop, the microfiber soaks up the cleaning product to deposit on the floor’s surface. No wringing out necessary! 
3. Traditional mops are not machine washable and slowly build up grime and dirt, to the point where you must replace them. Because microfiber pads are machine washable and reusable, they last much longer than traditional mops and don’t harbor grime and bacteria from use to use. It’s as easy as removing the microfiber pad and throwing it in the washing machine to guarantee cleanliness for the next use!
4. Traditional mops need to use more cleaning products and water, but using a microfiber mop saves you money by allowing you to cut down on your cleaning product costs. The microfiber pad does most of the cleaning work, allowing you to use less water and less cleaning product. Additionally, you don’t have to deal with a large, lunky mop bucket that causes spills and messes.
5. Traditional mops are difficult to work with and take longer to mop with. A microfiber mop significantly cuts down on floor cleaning time! With how quickly it cleans your flooring, you’ll spend less time mopping each week and more time doing what you enjoy! 

How To Select The Best One

All microfiber mops are more effective than traditional mops, and you can find a wide variety of options of microfiber mops at most stores. One popular option is the Sh-Mop, which can be found on Amazon, along with extra microfiber pads if you want to have more than one microfiber pad for in-between washes!

At Plan: B Cleaning, we know the benefits of using a microfiber mop instead of a traditional mop. In all of our residential house cleanings, we use the Sh-Mop to clean all types of hard floors efficiently and effectively.  You can purchase your own Sh-Mop to keep your floors spotless in between your weekly and bi-weekly cleaning service!

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service To Do The Floor Cleaning For You!

If you want to take cleaning off of your to-do list and leave the mopping to the professionals, call Plan: B Cleaning to set up your weekly or bi-weekly cleaning service at (317) 572-8515 or visit www.planbcleaning.com to request a quote! 

Plan: B serves the Fishers, Indiana area, including Noblesville, Carmel, Fortville, Geist, and more!

Looking to decorate your home for Valentine’s Day on a budget? You don’t have to break the bank to add some beautiful touches to your home! There are quick, inexpensive ways to decorate your home as well as DIY projects that will romanticize your space for the holiday. Keep reading to learn how to decorate your home for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Flowers

Decorating your home with red and pink flowers immediately adds a bright, loving touch to your home for Valentine’s Day.  Place fresh or silk flower arrangements throughout your living room, dining room or anywhere else you want to put a splash of color and romance. For an elegant look, you can’t go wrong with roses; these timeless beauties come in several different colors that suit any style or décor choice. Incorporate roses into bouquets at each place setting as centerpieces or accent your table linens with them using floral picks.

Mood Lighting

Ambient lighting, like string lights and lanterns, can make even everyday rooms feel romantic. Pick up a few during sales in January or February (that’s right: Valentine’s Day decor often goes on sale after right Christmas), and place them around your house before V-Day arrives. 

There are also options for colored lighting that will fit in perfectly for the season! You can find a variety of pink, red, or purple lighting options. You can find Valentine’s Day colored light bulbs to switch out in your lamps, or dainty string lights in the shape of hearts to hang around the house.  And the biggest bonus of changing your lighting for the holidays is that you can use it year after year and repurpose it for other holidays and celebrations, too!

DIY Valentine’s Day Decor

You can easily use what you have around your home to create DIY Valentine’s Day decorations. Or, you pick up inexpensive supplies at the store to create DIY decor.

One easy decor piece is a paper heart garland! All it takes is some string of your choosing, and some hand-cut paper hearts. Choose pink or red construction paper to match the Valentine’s Day theme, and punch a hole in the top of each heart. String each paper heart onto the string, as many or as few as you’d like, and you have an easy, handmade garland to hang in your home!

There are so many ideas for DIY Valentine’s Day decorations on the internet, and here are our favorite sources: 

• https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2971/valentines-day-decorations/

• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/valentines-day-ideas/g2020/easy-valentines-day-craft-ideas/
• https://www.prudentpennypincher.com/100-best-valentines-day-decor-diy-ideas/

Scented Candles

Scented candles are an easy way to fill your home with Valentine’s Day spirit. There are always a wide variety of options for candles that are themed for the special holiday. You can find Valentine’s Day candles in reds, pinks, and purples and scented specifically for V-Day. Scents like rose, honeysuckle, sweet pea, and vanilla bean would be perfect to pair with Valentine’s Day decorations or even a romantic meal. Not only will they make your home smell great, but they will serve as a great decor piece!  

DIY Valentine’s Day Wall Art

If you’re looking for something fun and festive to do with your kids on Valentine’s Day but don’t want to break your bank account, why not get crafty? You can make decorations from scratch using things you probably already have around your house. One of our favorite DIY decorations is wall art. The design possibilities are endless—and if you need inspiration, Pinterest is filled with Valentine’s Day art examples.

All you need is a few shades of acrylic paint- red, pink, purple, and white- and paper or canvas to get started! Painting can be a relaxing and therapeutic craft for yourself to do, or it can be a fun way to get your kids involved in decorating.

Red & Pink Pillows and Throws

The easiest way to decorate your home for Valentine’s Day is with fun red and pink pillows, throws, and blankets. This time of year, many stores have decorative throw pillows in red, pink, and white that are on sale and inexpensive. These decorative cushions can pull together an entire look in just one room, or they can be used sparingly as accent pieces. 

And the best part is that you can use these pieces every year to decorate for Valentine’s Day! You can also repurpose some of the pieces for other holidays, like using the red pillows and blankets for Christmas, or the pink pieces for a girl’s birthday!

Inexpensive Stores for Decor

The first step in decorating your home for Valentine’s Day is figuring out what you want. While you’re at it, take inventory of your space and think about how much space you have to work with. Then it’s time to find stores that have inexpensive decorations for the holiday. Five places where you can find great decor on a budget are Target, Walmart, Amazon, Hobby Lobby, and Dollar Tree. 

Start by looking at the cheapest spots for decor and then move on to the higher-end stores if you still can’t find the pieces you like. Dollar Tree always has a huge selection of seasonal and holiday decorations, and you can make amazing DIY pieces with supplies found at Dollar Tree. Stores like Hobby Lobby always have coupons for pieces that you can’t live without, and Walmart and Target always have holiday decorations for cheap. If your budget is extra tight, check out the local thrift stores first to see what they have to offer!

You can also support your local small businesses by shopping at them for Valentine’s Day gifts and decorations!

Call a Cleaning Service for Your Valentine

If you want your home to look beautiful, but you don’t have time or energy to devote to cleaning and decorating, consider hiring a cleaning service. Hiring a professional cleaning service is a great gift to give your Valentine, after all, a clean home is a happy home for you and your loved one! We’ve been the Valentine’s gift that many moms prefer over chocolates throughout the years. If you think your spouse would enjoy the gift of getting time back, consider giving them a professional cleaning gift card from Plan: B Cleaning!

Call Plan: B Cleaning today to set up a cleaning service and get Valentine’s Day ready at (317) 572-8515, or visit planbcleaning.com to learn more about our services. Plan: B Cleaning serves the Fishers, Indiana area, including Hamilton County, Geist, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, and Fortville.

How do you describe your home’s ambiance? Do you want it to feel welcoming and warm, or crisp and inviting? Your home’s ambiance can set the tone for visitors and family members, so it’s important to pay attention to how certain furniture, furnishings, and decorations can impact the overall look and feel of your home. Here are five simple ways to improve your home’s ambiance.

1) Add Decor

One of the simplest ways to improve your home’s ambiance is by adding a few pieces of decor. Pick out two or three things you like and put them on display in a prominent area. You don’t need hundreds of dollars worth of decorations. All it takes is one beautiful painting, a vase of flowers, or even some candles and knickknacks. Decorating doesn’t have to be hard – and it can really make a difference in how you feel when spending time at home.

It’s easy to find inexpensive decorations at your local thrift store or flea market. There’s no shame in buying preloved items; they’re a great way to decorate on a budget. When picking out decor, look for things that you like and things that make you feel good when you look at them. You can really curate the look of your home with the decorations you choose to match your personal preferences and style. 

2) Add Plants

If you want to make your home feel warmer and more inviting, adding plants is a great way to go. Whether it’s a vibrant plant on your coffee table or some trailing vines in your living room, you can’t go wrong with incorporating plants into your interior design scheme. It will instantly liven up any room and add a fresh new feel. There are lots of different kinds of plants out there that could complement your current home decor; just find one that complements your home.

Taking care of houseplants has never been easier with all of the online resources that are available specific to the plants you choose. You can find houseplants at your local plant nursery or at most stores like Walmart, Home Depot, and Target. 

3) Use Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers add a pop of color and can have a positive effect on your mood, particularly when you notice them every day. They’re an inexpensive way to instantly improve your home ambiance; just make sure you change them out on occasion so they don’t wilt! (Or get silk flowers!)

Fresh flowers are a great addition when you are having guests over or just if you want to energize and beautify your home for yourself. You can change out the flowers you use to decorate to follow the seasons, with bright yellows and pinks for spring and deep purples and reds for fall.

4) Buy a Fragrance Diffuser or Candles

Studies have shown that scented candles can significantly improve your home’s ambiance by making it feel cozier and inviting. There are various reasons for that, but one of them is because when we smell something that reminds us of something else—in other words, a smell that conjures up a memory or association—we start paying more attention to our surroundings. 

There is a vast variety of candle scents and types that you can choose based on your personal preferences or for the season. You can also choose a candle based on the feeling you want in your home, like lavender for relaxation or eucalyptus for energy. There are also options like soy candles, beeswax candles, and palm wax candles if you want to choose something different and healthier than the traditional paraffin wax candle.

If you don’t think you would use candles often enough to justify purchasing them, consider a more sustainable option: home fragrance diffusers. A home fragrance diffuser is an electric device that uses technology to diffuse essential oils into your air. This can create a pleasant smell wherever you place it, and they are more sustainable options than candles.

5) Switch Out Lighting

Changing out light bulbs is one of those cheap, easy things that can make a huge difference in your home’s ambiance. And it just takes a few minutes, so it’s a quick way to elevate your home’s ambiance and change the scenery.  Simply choose some new light bulbs—preferably LED—and replace them with incandescent ones. You might be surprised by how much brighter and more welcoming your home feels afterward!

There are also colored light bulbs if you want to create a unique look in your home, from oranges to purples to green. Experimenting with colored light bulbs can be great for themed parties you have in your home or just to change up the look of your home!

You can also choose to utilize lamps to create a cozier feeling in your home with soft lighting. If you don’t have lamps, you can easily find unique and beautiful lamps at your local thrift store. The best part is these lamps can be repurposed so they are just as good as new! Look for large floor lamps or table lamps that give off enough light to illuminate a room. Make sure it fits well in your home and doesn’t look out of place. After all, it’s all about creating ambiance!

Hire an Exceptional Cleaning Service

The best way to improve your home’s ambiance is by making sure it’s clean and picked up. Dirt, grime, and clutter will prevent your home from feeling good and inviting. And, if you aren’t able to clean thoroughly on a regular basis, hire an exceptional cleaning service that can help you maintain a great home ambiance. They’ll keep things neat and orderly while providing excellent service—and you’ll be able to spend less time cleaning so you can focus on other things!

Call Plan: B Cleaning today to set up a cleaning service and begin to boost your home’s ambiance at (317) 572-8515, or visit planbcleaning.com. Plan: B Cleaning serves the Fishers, Indiana area, including Hamilton County, Geist, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, and Fortville. 

Plan: B Cleaning was featured on Fox 59’s news segment, Indy Now! If you missed it, check out the video here: https://fox59.com/indy-now/plan-b-cleaning-has-helpful-tips-on-cleaning-and-disinfecting-during-winter/. 

Plan: B Cleaning has been serving the Fishers, Indiana area since January of 2013, and we’re excited to be featured by one of Indy’s local news stations! The hosts of the segment, Jillian Deam Thomas and Ryan Ahlwardt, had lots of questions about our work as professional cleaners, including important cleaning and disinfecting tips to keep your family safe during the winter. 

Cleaning & Disinfecting in the Winter

Ben Lovett, president of Plan: B Cleaning, discusses why it’s so important during the winter to clean and disinfect, “In the winter, we’re trapped inside a lot. Especially kids, they’ve been playing a lot inside, so it’s a great time to keep your house clean and disinfected and safe, so that you don’t pass around germs.”

Touchpoints

Touchpoints are one of the most important spots to keep disinfected. Ben continues, “Things that you touch often, we call them ‘Touch Points’, keep them clean.” Some of the most touched items that should be cleaned often to keep your family safe include soap dispensers, doorknobs and handles, light switches, and the remote control to the TV.  Disinfecting these key spots will keep germs at bay throughout your home!

Cleaning & Disinfecting Effectively

Ben continues to discuss important tools and tips used for cleaning and disinfecting your home, “First of all, a good microfiber [cloth] will remove 98% of germs and 93% of viruses, just with water.”

“When you’re looking to disinfect, make sure you actually clean things first. So what that means is to remove the dirt and grime. If you just spray disinfect on stuff, it’s not really going to work the way you think it’s going to work. You’re not going to get the goal you want, which is to remove viruses and bacteria. So, you want to clean things off first before disinfecting.”

Disinfectant’s Dwell Time

Ben demonstrates effective cleaning with a neutral-base disinfectant and a microfiber cloth to first start by cleaning the dirty surface. The next step is disinfecting, which Ben guides, “The next thing I want to remember is that all disinfectants have what is called a ‘dwell time’. They need to sit on the surface in order to kill things.”

Show host, Jillian, then asks “How long is the dwell time?” and Ben follows by informing her that dwell time for disinfectant sprays vary by product, so reading the label is key. It’s also important to read the label on your cleaning products so you know what surfaces are safe to use the product on.

Electrostatic Disinfecting Sprayer

The co-host, Ryan Ahlwardt, also got the opportunity to try on the electrostatic disinfectant spraying machine! Ryan tries on and tests out the sprayer, or the ‘Ghostbuster-looking contraption’, as host Jillian describes it.

Plan: B Cleaning owner, Debbie Lovett, informs viewers more about the electrostatic disinfectant sprayer. “It charges the disinfectant with a positive charge, so then when it lands on a surface that you’re spraying, it is naturally attracted to the dirt and germs.”

Plan: Blessing Initiative

Also featured on the show’s segment is Plan: B Cleaning’s ‘Plan: Blessing’ initiative. Debbie shares details about the initiative to the show hosts, “So in the new year, we want to be more than just growing larger as a company, but growing more in heart and donating cleanings.”

“You can go to our website and nominate someone you believe is in need of being blessed with a cleaning, and we will vote as a company and try to bless people each month.”

To nominate someone in your life who could use a blessing, go to https://planbcleaning.com/plan-blessing.

Hire an Exceptional Cleaning Service

If you’re interested in hiring a cleaning company to clean and disinfect your home, hire the professionals at Plan: B Cleaning. We are knowledgeable and skilled in cleaning and disinfecting your space to keep you and your family healthy throughout the winter months!

Plan: B Cleaning serves the Fishers, Indiana area, including Hamilton County, Geist, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, and Fortville. Call us today at (317) 572-8515 or visit planbcleaning.com.

Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary, the place where you can find comfort and peace away from the rest of the world, but even then it may be hard to relax in your own house if it’s cluttered and disorganized. It doesn’t have to be that way, though; you can learn how to get organized so you can find everything you need in your home easily and have an overall better experience with it. Here are some easy ways to declutter your home.

Why Organization is Important

Keeping your home clean and organized can make you happier, healthier, and more productive. The less time you spend cleaning up or organizing things that don’t matter, the more time you have for fun activities. Plus, when everything is in its place, it’s easier to keep everything looking neat and tidy.  

And even if you’re not a neat freak, being disorganized just isn’t good. It wastes time, wastes money, and reduces productivity—not to mention how messy homes are stress-inducing! With a few tips for decluttering, some tricks for organization, and some tactics for making sure you keep everything as organized as possible (or at least cleaner than before), we can put an end to clutter and chaos once and for all!

Start With the Visible Areas

The first step in organizing any room is simple: evaluate your current state. Take a look around and see what you have, where it’s located, and how much of it is taking up space. Once you can visualize all that stuff, it’s easier to start asking yourself questions about how you want to use your space and how much clutter each item adds to your surroundings.

Start by organizing and putting away things that are sitting out visibly in your home. Any items that are sitting out and cluttering up your space and easy and quick to pick up and store away to create a visually pleasing space. Start with these items first, then move on to larger spaces like your closets or kitchen cabinets. You can’t assess how much clutter you have until you can see it all—so start from there.

Organize Your Office

As you clean out your home, begin by organizing your office. Whether you have a small space in your home or a separate room dedicated to work, you’ll want to start with these tips on decluttering and organizing your work area. It’s important to have an organized office that will inspire productivity and keep distractions at bay. 

File away necessary papers and recycle documents that you no longer need.  Have only one place for each of your most frequently used items; if you have multiple storage spaces for pens, for example, find a central location where they will all be within easy reach. The less time spent looking for what you need, the more time can be dedicated to actually doing your work. 

Organize Digital Clutter 

With physical organization figured out, it’s time to tackle digital clutter. First, we highly recommend backing up your computer files just in case something gets lost or damaged in storage. If possible, switch over to an online file-storage system that you can access from any computer with an Internet connection (such as Dropbox). 

Then scan through your email inbox and delete any emails without value so that you’re not wasting time trying to sort through outdated or unnecessary correspondence later on. Last but not least, organize your desktop by creating folders for frequently used applications, documents, and shortcuts; if you haven’t cleaned up your browser bookmarks recently, now’s a good time to do so.

Next, you can organize your smartphone. It’s easy to get decluttered with apps, notes, and photos. Start by transferring your photos to a photo management application so you can remove them from your device and save storage space. A great photo management application is Google Photos to manage your photos easily. Next, go through your apps and delete the application that you have never used or are just taking up space.

Organize Your Kitchen

Organizing your kitchen is all about making sure you have items that you actually use on a regular basis, which will help ensure that your kitchen stays clutter-free.  If you’ve built up a large collection of cups or plates, it may be time to donate some to the thrift store and only keep what you need and use.

It’s also important to go through your refrigerator and freezer and discard any expired food that is taking up space. Utilize reusable storage containers for your food that makes stacking easier. By organizing your fridge, everything will be easier to access when it comes time to make meals. Also, you won’t find yourself buying extras when you know exactly what you have.

The pantry can get cluttered easily, but it’s important to make sure you have easy access to everything in it. You can utilize storage bins and containers in the pantry to organize by type, or designate each shelf for a different type of food item, like pasta, canned foods, chips, etc. Also, discard any expired foods or items that have gone stale.

Organize Your Closet

Organizing your closet can seem like a daunting task. Rather than focus on everything you need to put away, we recommend starting small with one section of your closet, so that it feels more manageable. Start by going through every item in that one area and asking yourself if you’ve worn it in over six months. If not, find a new home for it or donate it.  No matter what you do, don’t stuff it back into your overcrowded closet. As with any organizing project, start slow and tackle one area at a time! After all: Slow and steady wins the race! 

Once you have figured out what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of, you can organize your closet by type. One section can be shirts, tank tops, or coats. This makes it easier to find what you want to wear for the day and saves you time. 

If you want to organize even further,  you can organize each of these sections by color to create a visually appealing closet.

Organize Your Bathroom

Walk into most bathrooms and there’s one thing that stands out—the chaos. It’s not uncommon for a bathroom to contain over 30 cosmetics and personal care products, toothbrushes, razors, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, soap, makeup, and more. The best way to organize your bathroom is by categorizing all of these items as well as any others you may use in your daily life. This will save time, effort, and energy when you get ready in the mornings.

Declutter the countertop by putting away all of the unnecessary items under the sink in categorized containers or bins or in the cabinet if you have one. You can organize toiletries by type in different storage bins such as hair products, makeup, skincare, and oral care.

Organize Your Storage Closets

A good way to organize your home is through storage closets. By purging and organizing these closet spaces, you’ll maximize your space and make it easier to find what you need when you need it.  When done correctly, all items should have a place and not be thrown haphazardly into cabinets or drawers where they won’t be found again.

Put away items that aren’t being used for some time—like holiday decorations or seasonal clothing—to give more room for essentials. Ask yourself if an item can be better utilized somewhere else such as in the garage, shed, basement, etc. Consider donating unwanted decorations and other household items to charity that others could benefit from but are new enough that many individuals would appreciate them. 

It’s also a great idea to organize the cleaning appliances stored in closets like brooms, mops, and vacuums.  When items are not in use, they should be stored neatly so that you can easily access them when you’re ready to clean. Consider using hanging storage solutions to hang brooms and mops to save space!

Hire a Cleaning Service

Decluttering and organizing your home can be a daunting task, hiring a cleaning company to clean your home can be a great way to motivate and support you as you work to get organized. By teaming up you get a feeling that change is happening and you won’t feel like it’s an uphill battle. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in please call Plan: B Cleaning today to schedule your service at (317) 572-8515 or visit planbcleaning.com. 

Plan: B Cleaning services the Fishers, Indiana area, including Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Northern Indianapolis, and Hamilton County.

The bathroom is without a doubt, one of the dirtiest rooms in your house. Bathrooms are full of germs and bacteria that can make you sick if you don’t take care to clean your bathroom properly on a regular basis. You may be wondering how to clean the bathroom effectively? Here are some tips and products that will help keep your bathroom fresh and germ-free.

The first step in really getting your bathroom disinfected is to clean. While that can seem a little redundant, cleaning is actually different than disinfecting. Vanities, showers, and toilets (especially those that your kids use) can have a lot of buildup from use. A good disinfectant can’t do its job correctly with all the dirt and grime on the surface. We recommend you use high-quality microfiber to remove dirt and grime on these areas before using a disinfectant. Start by spraying surfaces with a general-purpose cleaner and allow areas with the build-up to set for a couple of minutes before trying to remove the dirt or other substances. Please remember to use a mild cleaner that is safe on the surfaces you’re cleaning. When in doubt check the label. After the build-up has had a chance to soften, wipe it away with a microfiber towel. Change your towel when it becomes too soiled or uses a different side. If needed use a damp sponge, toothbrush, or scraper to remove stuck-on build-up or build-up in those hard-to-reach areas.

Now that all soiled areas are clean it’s time to disinfect! Another great way A good homemade remedy to disinfect the bathroom is by using a vinegar solution.  You can use white vinegar undiluted or you can make an easy paste with baking soda to get hard stains or soap buildup from the shower removed.** For lighter cleaning, use a solution of 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water and use it to clean all surfaces in your bathroom, including the toilet, sink, and shower. Vinegar is also a great product for removing lime buildup on faucets and other bathroom fixtures. Please remember that vinegar is acidic so you would want to avoid using it on granite, marble, or other surfaces that require a pH-neutral cleaner.

There are also many commercially available cleaning products that can be used to clean your bathroom. Lysol, Clorox, and Mr. Clean all have products that are specifically designed for bathroom cleaning. Be sure to read the labels carefully and follow the instructions for use for your and your family’s safety. Gloves and a well-ventilated space are always important for your safety when using cleaning products with cleaning agents.

Another important step when trying to disinfect your bathroom is to make sure you use the proper dwell time. Each disinfecting product has a specified amount of time it needs to sit on a surface in order to kill germs or inactivate viruses. Simply spraying a surface and wiping it off immediately will not give you the result you’re looking for. While vinegar is an inexpensive and easy-to-find cleaner its dwell time is longer than most commercial cleaning products. Several readily available cleaning products that can disinfect have dwell times closer to a minute for a range of germs. It’s always important to consult your product’s label.

Depending on which cleaning product you choose, it’s a good idea to rinse the bathroom surfaces well with clear water after cleaning. This will help remove any residue from the product and keep your bathroom looking and smelling fresh.

Remember to keep your tools disinfected, too, so you can use them time and time again. Rinse any cleaning brushes thoroughly to remove the remaining cleansing products from the bristles. And don’t forget, the toilet bowl brush needs to be disinfected too! When you’re done using it to clean your toilet, spray it with a disinfecting spray or use the vinegar solution as mentioned to remove any lingering germs on the toilet brush. Allow the brush to dry completely so the toilet brush holder doesn’t harbor any bacteria.

If you want to leave the disinfecting and cleaning to the professionals, Plan: B Cleaning is here for you! Call or text today at (317) 572-8515 to schedule a cleaning service for your home or visit planbcleaning.com to learn more about the services we offer.

Sources:

*https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-to-clean-with-bleach-in-a-bathroom/

**https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/cleaning-with-vinegar/

The Christmas season is almost over, and many of us are looking forward to the holidays being over with. It’s time to start getting ready for New Year’s Eve celebrations!  But before we can get too excited about that, there is still the matter of cleaning up our Christmas trees. 

If you’re like most people after the holidays, this may not be your favorite thing in the world to do – but it doesn’t have to be so bad after all! We have some ingenious ways for you to clean up your tree so you don’t have to. 

Read on below for our guide on how to clean up those pesky needles…

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Before You Begin, Follow These Steps First

Place newspapers

Lots of newspapers. Just cover your floor with newspaper and then pull the tree off of it – all the needles will fall to where you want them.

Put The Tree In A Trash Bag And Tie It Up 

This is a good way to avoid making a mess – just put the tree in a trash bag, tie it up and dispose of it. Make sure to do this in an area that is well-ventilated so you don’t get too lightheaded! 

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To Get Started Cleaning, Start With These Steps

Use a Dustpan and Broom

This is the most basic way to clean up your tree needles, and it’s also one of the quickest. Make sure you have a dustpan with a good grip (to avoid those pesky needles) and a sturdy broom. Sweep all of the needles into the dustpan, then dump them into a trash bag. 

It might take longer to get the dustpan and broom than it does to sweep up your needles!

Use A Vacuum Cleaner – But Not The Way You Think

We all know how much of a pain it can be when our vacuum clogs with sticky pine needles so I would recommend against using it. However, if you have a ‘bare floor’ attachment on your vacuum cleaner – this can be an excellent way to get the needles up quickly and efficiently!

Try A Dustbuster If You Don’t Have A Vacuum Cleaner 

One of my favorite inventions is actually something that I never thought would work well for this job – the Dustbuster! It’s small, lightweight, and easy to maneuver. And it gets the needles up without any trouble at all.

A Shop Vacuum Cleaner (If You Have One) 

This is a great option if you have a lot of space to work with. The shop vacuum cleaner can be a little bit more cumbersome to move around, but it definitely gets the job done.  

With The Bare Floor Attachment

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to clean up your tree needles, this is it! Just attach the ‘bare floor’ attachment to your shop vacuum cleaner and go to town. 

A Garbage Bag And Broom 

This is a great way to avoid getting your hands dirty. All you need is a garbage bag and a broom! Just sweep all of the needles into the garbage bag, then tie it up and dispose of it. 

Leaf Blower 

If you want to get the job done quickly and easily, this is your best option. Just be careful not to blow the needles all over the place! 

First, use the leaf blower to suck all of the needles up, then use it to blow them away from your house.

Lint Roller 

This is a great option if you’re just looking to get the surface needles. The lint roller will pick up all of the little bits and pieces without any trouble at all.

First, shake the tree to get as many needles off as possible. 

Then, use the lint roller on all of the surfaces – top, sides, and bottom.

Sticky Tape 

If you want to avoid getting your hands dirty, this is definitely an inventive option. Just wrap some sticky tape around your hand (sticky side out) and use it to pick up all of the needles.

 Try to get as much up at once as you can then dump it into a trash bag.

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After Cleaning, Make Sure to Dispose of the Needles

Once your tree is clean, you want to make sure that the needles are disposed of properly

There are two ways to do this – you can either compost them or mulch them. 

Compost

If you choose to use the needles in your compost pile, make sure that they are well-mixed with the other compostable materials. Dampen them first – this will help the needles to break down much more quickly. 

Sift through the compost every few weeks to make sure that the needles haven’t taken over. Larger needles should be cut up first so that they break down more easily. You can try using a shredder to make the process go a little bit faster.

Mulch 

If you choose to mulch them, make sure to put them in a bag and dispose of them properly. Soggy needles can create a lot of problems, so make sure they are completely dry before mulching.

If you live in an area with cold winters, mulching your needles will be a great way to prevent winter fires. A great option is to mulch them with leaves, which will help keep your needles well-protected and dry.

Be Careful Before Discarding Them

Don’t put needles in the trash – they’re considered hazardous waste and can damage your garbage disposal.

If you live in an apartment, talk to your landlord before throwing the needles out as they can cause a lot of damage if they end up in the wrong place.

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Hire A Maid Service and Enjoy Your Free Time

When it comes to your home, you want only the best cleaning service. And with Plan: B Cleaning’s immense experience in maid services and commitment towards excellence-you can rest assured that we will provide quality cleaning in your home! 

We’re proud members of both ISSA and ARCSI; which means our team cleaners are professionals who know what they’re doing. We are also GBAC Certified so you know our cleaners are well-trained and professional. 

Call (317) 572-8515 or visit https://planbcleaning.com/ for more info and let the team at Plan: B Cleaning take care of your home and give you more time to relax after the holidays. 

If you’re like most people, your holiday cleaning list is already long. But if you don’t want to spend all day scrubbing stains from clothes and other household items, then we have some tips that will help!

To help you out, we’ll share nine ways to get rid of stains before the holiday rush arrives.  

Tip #01: White Vinegar 

White vinegar is a great way to get rid of stains on clothes, carpets, and other household items. It’s also a natural disinfectant, so it can help cleanse surfaces and kill bacteria. 

To use white vinegar as a stain remover:

• Dab a small amount of white vinegar onto the stained area using a clean cloth or sponge. 
• Let the vinegar dry completely. You can speed up the drying process by using a fan on low setting, if desired.
• Repeat if necessary. If the stain persists, try using a stronger vinegar solution (check our other tips below).

Tip #02: Baking Soda 

Baking soda is another natural product that can help get rid of stains, including those on carpets and clothes. 

To remove a stain using baking soda: 

• Sprinkle some onto the stain. 
• Let it sit for about an hour (or overnight) 
• Brush it away.  

Tip #03: Lemon Juice 

Lemon juice is a great stain remover for both clothes and surfaces. It’s also a natural bleach, so it can help whiten fabrics that have been stained. 

To use lemon juice to remove stains:

• Blot the area with a dry cloth to remove any excess liquid.
• Apply lemon juice to a cotton ball and dab the stain.
• Let the lemon juice sit on the stain for five minutes before rinsing with water.
• Repeat as necessary.

Tip #04: Dish Soap 

Dish soap is a great way to remove grease and oil stains from clothes. 

To use dish soap as a stain remover:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with one cup of water. 
• Apply the mixture to the stain and dab with a clean, wet cloth until the stain is removed.
• Don’t let it soak in, because if it sets in the stain, even I won’t be able to get it out. 
• Rinse thoroughly afterward. 
• (Note: Dish soap is a degreasing agent and may fade some fabrics over time. Test the mixture on an inconspicuous area of the fabric before using.)

Tip #05: Toothpaste 

Toothpaste is a great way to remove stains from surfaces, including mirrors and stainless steel. It’s also effective at removing grease and oil stains from clothes. 

To use toothpaste as a stain remover:

• If the toothpaste is white, apply it directly to the stain and then let sit for at least 5 minutes. 
• If it’s colored, place it in a container, add the stain(s) to the container and then let sit for at least 5 minutes. 
• After this time has passed, scrub the toothpaste into the stain with a toothbrush and then rinse.
• Alternatively, you can mix together water and toothpaste in a 1:1 ratio and apply it to the stain. 
• Let sit for at least 5 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Tip #06: Salt 

Salt is a natural cleaning agent that can be used to remove blood stains, grease stains, grass stains and clay. It’s also the best way to remove pet odors from upholstery.

To remove a stain using salt:

• Dampen the stain with water.
• Apply a generous layer of salt over the stain. Let it sit for one hour, then vacuum it up.
• If the stain is still visible, repeat the process.

Tip #07: Hydrogen Peroxide  

Hydrogen peroxide is a great way to remove stains from clothes. It’s also effective at removing rust, which can be common during the holiday season when many decorations are made of metal or iron.  

To use hydrogen peroxide: 

• Pour hydrogen peroxide into a small container. 
• Dip a cotton ball into the hydrogen peroxide, and then dab it on the blemish.
• Allow the hydrogen peroxide to dry on the blemish.
• Repeat this process two or three times a day until the blemish is gone.

Tip #08: Rubbing Alcohol 

Rubbing alcohol works well for both carpets and surfaces because it kills bacteria that cause stains. Also, rubbing alcohol breaks down oil and helps remove stains caused by grease, cosmetics, and other spills. It is also effective at removing ink stains.

To remove a stain using rubbing alcohol:   

• Dip a cotton ball into the rubbing alcohol 
• Rub the cotton ball on the stain until it’s completely gone. 
•  If the stain doesn’t come out immediately, let the cotton ball rest on it for a few minutes and then try again. 

Hopefully, these tips do the trick and have you ready for a stain-free holiday season! 

Why Should You Hire Professional Cleaners This Holiday Season?

We all know cleaning before the holidays can be tiring. Why not hire a professional cleaning service to help you prepare for the holiday season? 

Here are some great reasons why you should consider asking Plan: B Cleaning to help you this year:

• Your Time is Money: The amount of time you spend cleaning takes away from all of the holiday fun. We can help you clean and give you your free time back for the holidays. 
• We Offer Different Cleaning Services: Visit our website and discover the variety of cleaning services we can offer you at https://planbcleaning.com/
• You Can Trust Us to Clean Your Home: We are GBAC (Global Biorisk Advisory Council) certified! Our cleaning technicians undergo an in-depth training course through GBAC to become professional cleaning technicians ready to properly clean your home. 

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We know how important it is for your home to be clean for Christmas. Trust our team of cleaning professionals to beautify your home. Call us at (317) 572-8515 or email info.fishers@planbcleaning.com to learn more about our cleaning services. 

Christmas is a time for giving! Christmas is a great time to let someone know that you care about them by gifting them with a cleaning service. This Christmas, give your family, friends, and loved ones the gift of clean from Plan: B Cleaning!

Plan: B Cleaning is a professional cleaning service that will come to your home and clean it from top to bottom. Our team of professionals are experts at cleaning homes, and we will leave your space sparkling clean!

This Christmas, we are running a gift card promotion! Buy $500 in gift cards, get $50 future cleaning spend; Buy $1000, get $100 future cleaning spend; Buy $2000, get $200 future cleaning spend; Buy $3000+, get $500 future cleaning spend!

Our gift cards are always in stock and you won’t have to worry about shipping delays or long delivery times like with traditional gifts.

Call us today to get your Plan: B Cleaning gift cards for family and friends at (317) 572-8515 or visit www.planbcleaning.com.