Sunday, May 29, 2022

Let's talk about Tile & Grout Cleaning

Zenfully Written By: Yolanda Vasquez, Life Coach, & Co-Owner of Zenful Cleaning Solutions of South Florida


At the end of the day, some household areas are simply more likely to receive regular attention when it comes to your cleaning regimen. From your kitchen counters to your coffee table or other spaces of frequent family activity, the surfaces that you most often see and come into contact with are the ones that will get hit with the sanitizer first.

But what about the small details? When was the last time you looked down at your tile and grout?





Why Does Grout Get So Dirty?

Grout can easily become dirty due to its porous texture. That is, grout is most often made of a blend of cement, sand, pigments, and/or other additives, making the composition relatively grainy and prone to staining or cracks if not properly overlaid with a sealant.

Additionally, grout is initially mixed and applied as a liquid adhesive between tiles, left to gradually dry and harden once the installation is completed. However, during this process, small ridges or pockets may form in the grout, becoming likely spaces for dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants to fall into.


What Lingers In Grout?

How dirty your grout becomes over time — as well as what type of pollution is likely to occur — is largely dependent on your day-to-day activities and cleaning habits. For example, tile grout in or around your shower is the most likely to grow mold or mildew. This is because your bathroom will often undergo periods of heavy moisture and humidity and, if your grout is cracked or improperly sealed, the small crevices become the ideal environment for mold spores to proliferate within.

Otherwise, general debris will fall into the rough grout surfaces as you go about your day, particularly in areas of your home that see a high volume of foot traffic. For instance, the grout near your front door may grow darker as dirt and pollen are tracked in from your family’s shoes, or the grout in your kitchen may grow other forms of mold and bacteria from food particles that fall and become trapped.


How Do I Clean My Grout?

“It is better to clean grout with an alkaline cleaner (Spic and Span, Mr. Clean, etc.) than an acid-based cleaner,” according to the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). “There are also specialty cleaners available at most tile retailers that are designed for tile and grout.”

That being said, excessively dingy, dirty, or stained grout may require a professional touch to restore and clean fully. Additionally, if you simply do not know how to clean your tile grout without accidentally damaging it, you can always call Zenful Cleaning Services of South Florida to complete the job with skill, precision, and safety!

Whether you’re seeking locally-trusted professionals to attend to the grout in your home or commercial business, our team will be there to assist you according to the highest of industry standards. If you have further questions or are ready to schedule your tile and grout cleaning, contact our team today by calling (239) 365-6262.


Need a Deep Cleaning? Call us today for a quote!





We hope you found this bit of information helpful, inspiring, 

and motivating! Clean Away! 

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Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Luxury Garage Doors & Entrances- Contact Vera Designs

Zenfully Written By: Yolanda Vasquez, Life Coach, & Co-Owner of Zenful Cleaning Solutions of South Florida


  Luxury Garage Doors & Entrances


Tired of those plain white garage doors? Let's spice it up! We paint and custom design your garage and entrance doors. Call for a free quote. 786.768.1282 


"We make them look like real wood!" 


Facebook Page- Vera Designs- Custom Wood Finish on Garage Doors and Door Entrances


Check out Gallery- Instagram @VeraDesigns09


¿Cansado de esas puertas de garaje blancas? ¡Vamos a condimentarlo! Pintamos y diseñamos sus puertas de garaje y entrada. 


Llama a Vera para una cotización gratuita. 786.768.1282 "


¡Los hacemos parecer madera real!"


Echale un vistazo a la Galería- Instagram @VeraDesigns09


Use Pine-Sol in the bottom of your toilet brush container. Keep your bathroom and toilet brush smelling lemony fresh by using a few splashes of Pine-Sol in the bottom of the brush container.

Not only will it help to deodorize your bathroom, it will also help as a convenient disinfecting cleaner for your toilet brush.







We hope you found this bit of information helpful, inspiring, 

and motivating! Clean Away! 

 

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Give your MOM the gift of clean this Mother's Day!

Zenfully Written By: Yolanda Vasquez, Life Coach, & Co-Owner of Zenful Cleaning Solutions of South Florida


Give your MOM the gift of clean this Mother's Day! 

Being a mom is perhaps the most all-inclusive and demanding job in the history of “man” kind. It’s impossible to capture what running a family with school-age children entails these days, but here’s a very, very, very short list of Mom’s job.

-Life management: schooling, homework, tutoring, forms, academic, athletic and social schedules, playdates, activities, camps, birthdays, health care, appointments, child and family travel, holidays, vacations, weekend planning, scheduling, grocery shopping (remembering everyone’s faves) cooking, cleaning, laundry, house repair, date night planning (if still applicable). With that said why not give her the gift of clean?


This is unquestionably something that any mom with kids or a working mom will love. It has numerous advantages, and you may just become her most favorite person. Furthermore, this is something that will not get used up after the special day has passed; instead, you can plan for regular home cleanings so she can still relax and enjoy life. Here are some advantages of getting a house cleaning service as your Mother’s Day gift:

Your mother is likely a bit older and cannot really clean her house as thoroughly as she used to. In fact, getting a clean house may be an issue if she has joint problems and cannot work for too long. It also takes a lot of time and coordination to finish cleaning all the necessary things that have to be cleaned. These are some of the things you can save her from worrying about and give her some free time all year long. She needs her free time to unwind and take care of her health, not cleaning the house.

Most mothers still do their house cleaning chores even when they are not feeling well. There are always things around your home that require cleaning. A good Mother’s Day every day gift would, therefore, be to reduce the workload that your mother has to deal with by offering free weekends when the professional cleaners can come during the week and clean the house. Let the expert cleaners worry about how they will keep a clean house and not your mother. Instead, give your mom some free time so that she can spend with the kids and create quality family time.

There is something richly rewarding about ensuring you mom is happy and safe, especially on Mother’s Day. If you give her a clean house and free time all year long, she will completely be grateful for her improved life. Get your mother a cleaning service today and see just how much she will brighten up with joy.

Use Pine-Sol in the bottom of your toilet brush container. Keep your bathroom and toilet brush smelling lemony fresh by using a few splashes of Pine-Sol in the bottom of the brush container.

Not only will it help to deodorize your bathroom, it will also help as a convenient disinfecting cleaner for your toilet brush.







We hope you found this bit of information helpful, inspiring, 

and motivating! Clean Away! 

 

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Happy 5 de Mayo! Are you hosting a Cinco de Mayo Party?

Zenfully Written By: Yolanda Vasquez, Life Coach, & President of Zenful Cleaning Solutions of South Florida

What is 5 de Mayo? 

The first step in throwing an authentic Cinco de Mayo fiesta is to actually know what it is! So, first and foremost, let's get one thing straight: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day (Mexican Independence Day is actually on September 16). Cinco de Mayo exists to commemorate Mexico's victory at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862 — hence the name of the celebration, Cinco (5th) de (of) Mayo (May)! Despite being a Mexican celebration, it seems to be celebrated even more in the United States, where you can find some pretty amazing parties annually, all across the country. 


Hosting a Cinco de Mayo Gathering?

For those of you who are celebrating 5 de Mayo we wish you a warm and welcoming evening full of fun and excitement with your friends and family!!



Need someone to help with the "After Party Cleaning"?

Regardless of whether your party was at your home or an event venue, you can expect the clean-up process to take a great deal of time and energy.

That’s where we come in. Zenful Cleaning Services of South Florida offers professional after party cleaning services which allow you to sleep in, relax, and enjoy the morning after your 5 de Mayo party. We enjoy handling all of the dirty work for you. Therefore.... CHOP THE GUAC, and line up the SHOTS!



5 de Mayo After Party Cleaning Tip!

Here's a tip which I put to use, especially after all that cooking on 5 de Mayo!

Here is my home’s cleaning routine, step-by-step, and how affresh® Cooktop Cleaning Wipes helps keep my cooktop shiny and sparkling like new. 

Each dual-sided wipe features a scrubber side to remove everyday residues and a smooth side to clean my cooktop with a streak-free finish*

I get to enjoy a clean, polished shine, every time. It’s so easy to use, it will take the thinking and tired feeling you get to clean up after a party, giving you the satisfaction of a job well done!

Wherever there is a specific cleaning job to do, you can count on affresh® cleaners to provide the right tool for the job. Excited about it? You can purchase it  HERE .

Here it is:

Step 1

Make sure all the food crumbs and grease are wiped and removed with a damp paper towel

Step 2

Use affresh® Cooktop Cleaning Wipes as directed

Step 3

Enjoy a beautiful sparkling clean stove top




We hope you found this bit of information helpful, inspiring, 

and motivating! Clean Away! 

 

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Celebrate Earth Day With Mindful Green Cleaning

Zenfully Written By: Yolanda Vasquez, Life Coach, & President of Zenful Cleaning Solutions of South Florida


This year, Earth Day will be officially celebrated around the world on April 22nd in more than 193 countries with teach-ins on environmental and climate literacy, marches, and other activities that demonstrate support for environmental protection.


. We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips to make your Earth Day celebration just a little smoother.

Homemade Natural Cleaning Products


Non-toxic household cleaning supplies can be made with items likely to be found in your home.

  • All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: Stir 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda into 1/2 gallon of water and transfer to a spray bottle. This all-purpose spray can be used on most surfaces, with the notable exceptions being marble or granite, which should be cleaned using specialty products or scrubbed with hot water and a mild dish soap, if needed.

    Bathroom Cleaner: The all-purpose cleaning spray, above, can be used to clean a bathroom. For tougher cleaning jobs such as build-up from mold or mildew, spray the surface with a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 2 parts water and let stand for an hour before rinsing.

    Deodorizer: Remove odors from items like storage containers or cooking utensils by soaking them in warm water mixed with baking soda. To deodorize a room, place a bowl of vinegar in the center of the room until the odor dissipates.

    Drain Cleaner: Dissolve 1/2 cup salt in about 4 liters of hot water, then pour down the pipes. For tougher clogs, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. Let stand for a few minutes, then flush the pipes with hot water. (Boiling water should only be used in metal pipes.)

    Floor Cleaner: Most floor surfaces can be cleaned by damp-mopping, which is where the mop is barely wet. Because floor surfaces vary, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to in-depth cleaning. Here are homemade solutions for a few common floor surfaces:

    Furniture Polish: Combine equal parts olive oil and lemon juice and apply to a cleaning cloth sparingly. Use the cloth to wipe down furniture in broad strokes.

    Laminate and Resilient Floors: Use a solution of 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water to damp-mop the floor.

    Surface-Finished Wood Floors and Ceramic Tile Floors: Use 1/4 cup dishwashing detergent in a bucket of water to damp-mop the floors. Scuffs and stains can be scrubbed out with a paste made from baking soda.

    Note: For all surfaces in your home, check manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning before proceeding with any homespun solution.




Need a Deep Cleaning? Call us today for a quote!





We hope you found this bit of information helpful, inspiring, 

and motivating! Clean Away! 

 

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Cleaning the Dust Bunnies to Prepare for the Easter Bunny

Zenfully Written By:  Mindful Melinda Mason at Zenful Cleaning Services of South Florida


               

Cleaning the Dust Bunnies to

Prepare for the Easter Bunny



Say Goodbye to Pesky Dust Bunnies


Bunnies are suitable for this time of year – but not dust bunnies? Dust bunnies are never fitting for any season or holiday. Our experienced cleaning team will get rid of these unwanted bunnies and leave your home dust-free, your floors glistening, and your furniture and appliances pristine. Not only will you and your guests appreciate a spotless home, but so will the Easter Bunny!





Enjoy Easter without Stress


Easter is upon us, and with Easter comes fun family traditions like Easter brunch, egg-dyeing, Easter egg hunts, picnics, Easter baskets, and more.

Whether you will spend your Easter season planting daffodils, serving up mimosas, painting eggs, or enjoying yummy Easter candy, Zenful Cleaning wants to wish you and your family a “hoppy” Easter and a happy Spring!

Speaking of, have you gotten to your spring cleaning yet? If not, there’s no time like the present to begin spring cleaning before the Easter Bunny (and perhaps your friends and family) arrive.

Below you'll find some tips on how to get rid of dust bunnies as you prepare to welcome in the Easter bunny:

 Zenful Cleaning Services of South Florida Presents:

Easy Spring-Cleaning Tips:

  • Prioritize by room to make it easier and less intimidating.
  • Don’t neglect your appliances: clean out the fridge, oven, dishwasher, etc.
  • Disinfect your garbage disposal.
  • Try lemon oil on doorknobs.
  • Dust, dust, dust!
  • Get rid of clogs – use Drain-O or Liquid Plumber in your drains.
  • Use the proper brooms for sweeping indoors, choose one with finer bristles; outdoors, go for stronger, stiffer bristles!
  • Clean out your closets and drawers. Donate some, sell some, trash some.
  • Declutter your home office by getting in organization mode.
  • Multitask: catch up on phone calls while you clean, or dance around as you vacuum, making it a workout.
  • Time your chores. You’ll realize that most household chores take less time than you imagine, making them seem more tolerable once broken down realistically.

Another easy tip is just this simple: Hire a professional! Even if you don’t have a regular housekeeper, have someone come and put you up to speed on your chores. 

Need a Deep Cleaning? Call us today for a quote!





We hope you found this bit of information helpful, inspiring, 

and motivating! Clean Away! 

 

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Do you dislike Laundry Duty? You are not alone.

By: Yolanda Vasquez, Empath, Pet Lover, Intuitive Guide, Life Coach, & President of Zenful Cleaning Solutions of South Florida




Do you dislike Laundry Duty? You are not alone.

Here are 10 Life-Changing Tips When You Are Overwhelmed With Laundry

I know it might seem slightly over-dramatic to imply that I have “life-changing” laundry tips to share, but I honestly think it’s possible based on the number of conversations I’ve had (in-person and over the phone) with people who hate doing the laundry with every fiber of their being. People feel so overwhelmed with this task, and there is so much procrastination and dread associated with this necessary household chore. It often makes me wonder if I’m doing something wrong because I DON’T have these same feelings!  


If doing laundry is one of your least favorite chores, today’s life-changing laundry tips are for YOU! 

Or if you just want us to take the lead you know where to reach us.


My 10 Life-Changing Laundry Tips

ZENFUL CLEANING SERVICES 

CHECK OUT OUR TIKTOK- CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

1. Buy & Wash Less Clothing!

The more clothing you have, the more clothing you will need to wash, dry, fold, hang, put away, and store. 

If you have less clothing, you will have less chance of the laundry piling up because you’ll need to wash in order to have enough clean clothes. This is one of the reasons I truly only have 10 pairs of socks and underwear's! ;)

This might seem like an overly simple or maybe even impractical solution to your laundry woes, but I know from experience that it works!  

 

2. Purge High-Maintenance Clothing

I realize some jobs require more high-maintenance clothing… but, if at all possible, stick to low-maintenance clothing that doesn’t require special washing cycles, lots of ironing, or (worse) dry cleaning!

Obviously, with no special instructions, you can more quickly and easily plow through your piles of laundry. With more forgiving fabrics, your clothing will stay looking nicer with less work.  

3. Establish a Laundry Routine

Laundry is one of those things that quite literally is NEVER completely finished. Because of this, it’s easy to get sucked into “continual laundry mode” as I call it —always and forever starting another load of laundry (even if it’s not a full load). My advice would be to pick 2 or 3 times each week when you will do laundry, and then forbid yourself from thinking about laundry any other times throughout the week (outside of an emergency). 

It’s there, it’s dirty, you’ll get to it on your laundry day! 

For me, it works well to do laundry on Tuesday mornings and Friday evenings. 


4. Sort Smarter

For example: 

  • Wash all the “upstairs laundry” at one time — and then bring it all upstairs to fold and put away
  • Wash all the “main floor laundry” at one time — and fold and put it away
  • I wash all the kitchen and bathroom linens at one time — using a little bleach since they are all white

This smarter method of sorting our laundry greatly expedites the time it takes for me to fold and put the laundry away. For some reason, this seems to be the most stressful and time-consuming part for so many people I talk to.

5. Create Designated Areas for Dirty Clothing

If you’re the parent who bemoans the fact that dirty laundry is scattered throughout the bathrooms and bedrooms, stop and first consider if there is actually a designated spot for the dirty laundry in your home. 

This does NOT need to be a fancy hamper; you do NOT need space in every room of your house. You DO need a space that is convenient for the other people in your home — otherwise, they won’t use it! 

Have 3 areas for dirty items in our house:

For example:  

  1. a wicker hamper in our bedroom.
  2. a cloth hamper with a removable bag in the kid’s bathroom upstairs (they change out of their clothing right before baths, so this works well)
  3. a small plastic clothes basket in the laundry room (for kitchen and bath hand towels and washcloths)

I understand that having a place for the dirty items does NOT guarantee dirty items will magically end up in that space — but it’s a start!


6. Eliminate Lone Socks with a Mesh Bag

I’ve shared this tip before — but it saves me SO much time doing laundry that I need to mention it again…

I keep a mesh bag pinned to the kid’s laundry basket (see photo above). They put their socks in here for easy sorting and it assures none of our socks get lost, or worse, “stuck” in the washing machine. 

mesh garment bags filled with socks

7. Put Clean Laundry Away Immediately

Again, this sounds overly simple, but the majority of people I talk with admit to leaving the laundry sit in the basket 

I once spoke for a women’s group on the topic of laundry — a full hour dedicated to the never-ending task. So many of the women were completely floored that I actually washed, dried, folded, hung, AND put away my laundry in the same time period. 

I promise, I do not have superpowers, and I don’t have a magical washer and dryer. I just stick with it until the job is fully finished because it feels easier and less overwhelming for me that way.

I can fold one load of laundry in 5-7 minutes and have it all put away within another few minutes. However, if I wait until the end of the day and have 4-8 loads waiting to be folded, THAT feels super overwhelming… not to mention how wrinkly and smashed the clothes will be after sitting in a pile all day.

8. Don’t Fold 🙂

This seems to save time AND keep our closets looking nicer. Plus, it’s easier for the kids to hang than to fold — so they can do some of it themselves! 

Also, don’t fold things like PJ’s, underwear, leggings, tights, etc. etc. Just dump them in bins or drawers and move on. 

closet with clothes hung on bar

9. Use Laundry Balls In Place of Detergent and Fabric Softener

I’ve been using wool dryer balls for YEARS and YEARS in lieu of traditional fabric softener (I’ve used the same exact balls the entire time). 

I also started using these laundry balls in place of laundry detergent almost 2 years ago.

I’m certain I have saved hundreds of dollars, reduced our chemical use, and never have to worry about running out of fabric softeners on laundry day! 

Plus, Fabric Softener at times stains our clothes, and what really helps the clothing smell nice are the dryer sheets. *Just my two cents* 

washing machine balls

        10. Ask for help and make it fun.

Laundry is definitely a job children (and spouses) can easily help with — or even take over completely! 

When my boys were young I would have them match up socks, and who the one who matched the most would win a prize. :)

It honestly is a huge help for me to have the others in our house pitching in with the laundry efforts. If you play your cards right, you might be able to completely hand off the laundry responsibilities in no time. :) 

little girl folding laundryLike I mentioned above, I know my use of the words “life-changing” are slightly dramatic. However, I know so many people who are completely stressed out by their laundry situation that I believe their lives would be completely changed if they adopted many of my tips above 

It won’t happen overnight, but I’m confident this never-ending chore will feel significantly less overwhelming by implementing these 
10 life-changing laundry tips!