Emily Adams

Keeping Your Home Warm During the Winters

Keeping Your Home Warm During the Winters

Winter is here, and with it comes cold weather and higher energy bills. Keeping your home warm during the winter can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. This blog post will discuss tips for keeping your home warm this winter without breaking the bank.

Keeping Your Home Warm During the Winters

Importance of Staying Warm in Winter

Staying warm during the winter is essential for your physical and mental health. Cold weather can be dangerous, increasing your risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and even heart attack. Keeping your home warm is also essential for keeping away pests like insects and rodents that may seek shelter in warmer areas during cold months. Additionally, staying warm will help to boost energy levels, improve moods and sleep patterns, reduce stress levels, and encourage a healthy immune system. Ensuring you stay warm during the winter is essential to maintaining good health throughout the season!

What can Warmth and Comfort Add to Your Home?

Having a warm and comfortable home during the winter can make you feel physically better and give you and your family a sense of security. When the temperature is just right, you can easily relax and enjoy quality time together. Warmth in the home also helps to create a cozy atmosphere, providing a calming environment that’s perfect for unwinding after a long day at work or school. Finally, warmth in your home can help reduce stress levels, promoting better mental health and overall well-being. Overall, warmth and comfort can make all the difference in your home environment. By following these tips and investing in some insulation or a programmable thermostat, you’ll be able to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long!

Health Benefits of Having Heat in Home

When your home is warm, it’s not just about comfort – many health benefits are associated with keeping it warm. A warm environment can help to reduce the risk of cold-related illnesses like hypothermia, frostbite, and even heart attack. Additionally, staying warm will boost energy levels and reduce stress levels, helping your body fight off illnesses more effectively. Keeping your home warm can also improve moods and sleep patterns by providing a comfortable environment for rest.

Heat can benefit the body, including improved circulation, muscle relaxation, and pain relief. Heat therapy is often used to help relieve muscle tension, improve mobility, and reduce stress. Inhaling hot air while sleeping can also help open up respiratory pathways and reduce lung inflammation. In addition, keeping your home warm can also help to reduce the risk of cold-related illnesses such as bronchitis and influenza.

 

Keeping Your Home Warm During the Winters

What are the Most Effective Ways to Keep Your House Warm?

Now that you understand the importance of staying warm during the winter, let’s look at some practical ways to keep your house warm. Now that you understand the importance of staying warm during the winter, let’s look at some practical ways to keep your home warm. Your home’s heat for the winter can come from either heating sources or insulation. Here are some of the ways you can use both to keep your home warm:

Seal Drafts Around Doors and Windows

Check around your doors and windows for any drafts that may be letting in cold air from the outside. If you find any, seal them up with weather stripping or caulk. This will help keep the warm air inside, reducing your energy bills significantly.

Install Insulated Curtains or Drapes

Installing insulated curtains or drapes over your windows can help reduce heat loss through the glass by up to 25%. Thermal-backed curtains come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so you can easily find one that fits your style and budget.

Make Use of Natural Light 

During the day, open your curtains and blinds to let the sunshine in when it’s sunny. This will help warm your house without using any energy, saving you money in the long run.

Keep Furniture Away from Vents

Make sure your furniture is moved away from heating vents so warm air can circulate freely throughout the room. If the furniture is blocking the vent, you won’t get as much heat as possible from it, resulting in higher energy bills.

Use a Programmable Thermostat with Degrees Settings

Installing a programmable thermostat can help reduce your energy bills by up to 10%. With a programmable thermostat where you can change the degrees settings, you can set it to turn down your heat when you’re not home or asleep and turn it back up when you’re ready.

These are just a few tips for keeping your home warm during the winter without breaking the bank. With these simple steps, you can save money and stay comfortable all season long!

Keeping Your Home Warm During the Winters

Keep Your House Warmer Without Using Electricity

There are a few options if you’re looking for ways to keep your house warm without using electricity.

1. Use a Fireplace: If you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace, you can heat your home without electricity. However, if you want to avoid using fire, other options, such as electric fireplaces and space heaters, are available that do not require fuel burning.

2. Keep Your Home Well Insulated: Ensuring your home is well insulated will help keep the heat inside longer. Ensure your walls, floors and ceilings are sealed adequately with insulation so warm air doesn’t escape through cracks or gaps.

3. Place Rugs on Hard Floors: Covering hardwood or tile floors with rugs can help keep your feet warm and prevent heat from escaping through the flooring.

4. Wear Layers of Clothing: Wearing layers of clothing helps to trap body heat, so you don’t feel as cold. Additionally, wear wool or other insulating materials for maximum warmth.

5. Hang Thick Curtains Over Windows: Installing thick curtains over windows will help keep the cold and warm air out.

6. Make Use of Natural Light: Open up your blinds or curtains during the day to let sunlight in, significantly reducing the energy used to heat your home naturally while keeping it cozy inside!

7. Unblock Vents: Ensure your furniture isn’t blocking any vents so the warm air can circulate freely throughout the room.

8. Seal Drafts Around Doors and Windows: Just like with electricity, if you seal up any drafts around doors and windows, you will prevent cold air from coming in and keep your house warm in winter.

Heating Tips for Staying Warm in Winter

In addition to keeping your home warm, there are several tips for staying warm during winter. Here are some of the most important:

1. Layer Up: Wear multiple layers of clothing to keep yourself warm and insulated from the cold air outside. Even if it’s not snowing, temperatures during winter can still drop significantly at night, and you don’t want to be caught off guard!

2. Cover Your Head, Neck, Hands, and Feet: Make sure you cover all exposed skin with hats, scarves, gloves, and boots whenever you go outside in cold weather. This will help prevent hypothermia or frostbite from developing due to exposure to extreme temperatures.

3. Eat Well and Keep Hydrated: Eating healthy and staying hydrated will help you stay warm during cold weather. Foods high in fat, protein, and carbs will give you the energy needed to maintain your body temperature.

4. Stay Active: Staying active during cold days is a great way to generate heat and keep yourself warm! Taking a brisk walk or doing some light exercise can help to boost your body temperature.

5. Take Warm Baths or Showers: Taking hot baths or showers can be very beneficial in helping you stay warm throughout winter. Try taking one before bed, so your body stays nice and cozy while you sleep!

Keeping Your Home Warm During the Winters

What to Avoid When Staying Warm at Home

1. Don’t Overcompensate: It’s easy to turn up your thermostat to an uncomfortable level when trying to stay warm, but this can waste energy and cost you more in the long run. Instead, try layering clothing and using a space heater to create a comfortable temperature without overdoing it.

2. Avoid Blocking Vents: Keeping furniture, or other objects close to vents can reduce the efficiency of heating systems and prevent air from flowing throughout the room freely. Ensure at least one foot of clearance between vents and furniture so air can circulate properly.

3. Don’t Leave Windows Open: While natural light can help warm your home, leaving windows open in cold weather can cause drastic temperature drops and increase energy bills. When it’s chilly outside, make sure to keep your windows closed!

4. Don’t Skip Maintenance: Make regular maintenance on your furnace to ensure it runs efficiently and saves energy. This can help reduce energy bills and ensure you stay warm throughout the winter months!

These are just a few tips for staying warm during the winter without breaking the bank. With these simple steps, you can save money and stay comfortable all season long. So remember to layer up, cover exposed skin, eat well, keep hydrated, take hot baths/showers and do some light exercise to keep yourself warm this winter! Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Good luck!

 

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How to Clean When You Have Pets

Housekeeping is challenging on its own. Dusting, vacuuming, cleaning, and daily chores are time-consuming. However, keeping your home neat and tidy is even more demanding if you are a pet owner. Those adorable and loving muzzles can give you a hard time keeping your house clean.

Still, that doesn’t mean that you have no choice other than to live in a smelly, messy home. Several things can help you with cleaning when you have pets, including preventing the dirt from accumulating and regular maintenance. Or, if that’s too time-consuming, you can always hire a professional Puyallup, WA house and apartment cleaning services to give you a hand. 

How do you keep your house clean with large dogs and cats?

Owning a large pet usually means a bigger mess around the house. If nothing, there’s more fur to shed and bigger stains on the floor or carpet, courtesy of those humongous paws. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy a clean and tidy home, even if you are a big big canine or feline fan.

Prevent the mess from forming in the first place

Keeping your pets clean means you’re keeping the mess in your home to a minimum. Therefore, regular bathing is a must or, if that is not an option, at least wash their paws every time you return from a daily walk in Clarks Creek Dog Park.

Next, brushing. Again, it is an absolute must, especially if your puppy or kitten has fluffy, thick coats, such as St. Bernards or Maine Coon. Regular brushing will remove all the fur that would otherwise land on the floors. And everywhere else, for that matter.

Lastly, it’s imperative to contain food and water-related messes. Keep their sustenance bowls on a tray, mat, throw rug, or some other surface that you can easily grab and fling into a washing machine.

How do you keep your house clean with dogs and cats?

Easy solutions for odors and fur

Pets love couch surfing. And armchair surfing. And sofa surfing. And… Well, you get the point. No matter how well-trained they are, you can be sure they are keeping your favorite spot warm while you’re at work.

Unfortunately, that also means your furniture will start smelling funny and be covered in fur. The solution here is a bit of white vinegar mixed with baking soda, and a common rubber glove.

Vinegar/soda mix does wonders for smells. Simply sprinkle it on the surface and leave it. Easy as that. Rubber gloves, on the other hand (pun totally intended), are excellent for getting pet hair out of upholstery. Simply wet it a bit (don’t soak it) and gently brush the fur away. Again, easy.

Of course, you can always place some coverings on their (or, rather, your) favorite spots and simply replace them every week or so. That works, too.

Pet-friendly housekeeping

When the time for scrubbing comes, it’s essential to have the right tools and supplies that won’t harm your furballs. Some substances, like bleach and ammonia, are hazardous for animals. They are often an ingredient in common cleaning products, even those labeled “natural”. Therefore, always check the labels to ensure you’re getting pet-friendly supplies.

Also, it’s best to try and isolate the room or leave your pet at daycare while cleaning. Even pet-friendly products can be dangerous if eaten, so it’s best to let everything dry before you let your animal companion roam free.

Consider deep-cleaning more often

Pet fur and dirt can get everywhere. And we do mean everywhere. Fridge, closets, cupboards, nothing is safe. The solution to this problem is regular deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is much more thorough than the regular one, and professionals can get into every nook and cranny, no matter how hard they are to reach.

In general, experts recommend deep cleaning your home at least once a month. However, when big pets are involved, you should definitely consider doing it more often. Twice a month will do the trick, but if you have a shaggy rug for a pet, you may even consider a weekly arrangement.

Which Puyallup, WA house and apartment cleaning services can do wonders for households with a big pet?

Turning to NW Maids is the best choice if you want to rid your home of pet hair, odors, and dirt. For years we’ve been helping Puyallup residents find the perfect cleaning companies for their needs. We collaborate only with experienced, professional, and vetted cleaners so you can be 100% sure they’ll do a wonderful job. Give us a call today and let us help you make your home a better place for you and your adorable furballs.

8+ Must-Have Housekeeping Tools & Products

Now and then, you need to run from the crazy world and enjoy the peaceful moment by yourself, and there’s no better place for that than your own neat and tidy home. But how do you keep your little peace of paradise spotless?

Easy, by using some common housekeeping tools and supplies and enlisting the help of house and apartment cleaning services in Puyallup, WA, on a regular basis. So, let’s see what you’ll need.

What cleaning products do you actually need?

Housekeeping products are the bread and butter of home maintenance. They ensure your housekeeping tools’ maximum effectiveness and, therefore, the ability to reap all the benefits of a neat and tidy home.

All-purpose cleaners

All-purpose cleaners can work on just about anything. They come in all kinds of shapes, so you can clean floors, windows, and even walls. To top all that off, modern solutions have an excellent Ph-value, so they won’t mess up your skin.

We can split All-purpose cleaners into:

  • Liquid: Good for mopping floors;
  • Spray: Excellent for glass surfaces;
  • Disinfectant Wipes: Great for in-between cleaning.

Baking soda

This isn’t a joke! Baking soda is a must-have cleaning product. It provides a power boost for a sponge, making it far more effective when scrubbing surfaces. Baking soda can absorb and even eliminate bad odors altogether, which can be especially effective when cleaning after large pets. In the hands of a professional, it is a cleaning product that can make your living space shine.

(White) Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant making it a great alternative to chemical-based ones. Its mild acidic properties can help clean and sanitize any surface. Also, vinegar can remove grime, grease, and odor from countertops. On top of all this, it’s cheap and eco-friendly, so there’s no excuse not to have at least a bottle at any time.

Essential housekeeping tools

Now that you know what products you need, it is time to put them to good use. Enter the housekeeping tools and accessories.

What cleaning products do you actually need?

Protection first

What good is a clean house if your health is at risk? Therefore, before you start cleaning, make sure you’re well-protected. At the very least, you should have:

  • Rubber gloves can protect your hands from harsh cleaning chemicals;
  • A face mask is absolutely essential against toxic vapors and germs;
  • Eyewear can protect your eyes from chemicals that are certain to splash while you’re cleaning.

Microfiber cloth

Microfiber cloth is a great all-around home maintenance tool. It can be used wet or dry for dust or spills. After usage, you can simply wash and reuse them many times. Also, Microfiber cloth doesn’t scratch or leave streaks behind, making them great for wood or glass surfaces.

Sponge

Such a humble accessory, yet essential for every housekeeping task. They come in a variety of forms suitable for every surface and area of your home. Be sure to use separate sponges in different places to prevent the transfer of germs from one place to another. 

Toothbrush

Have you ever had that tiny place in your house that needs precise cleaning, but you don’t have the tool for it? The answer is – your old toothbrush. Simply disinfect it in hot water, and you’re good to go!

Bucket and a mop

You didn’t think we’d forget about these, right? A bucket and quality mop are a must-have for wooden and granite floor surfaces. They’re a great first line of defense against spills and dirt alike and are cheap to boot.

Which house and apartment cleaning services in Puyallup, WA is my best choice?

When you want your home to shine, you want some of the finest cleaners from Bradley Lake to Puyallup River and everywhere in between. And to find those, NW Maids is your one-stop shop. Whether you need a regular cleaning or thorough deep cleaning, we can help you find a reputable and reliable cleaning company to fit your needs and budget. Give us a call today, and let us connect you with the perfect team for you.

5 Useful House Cleaning Tips You Should Know

If you’ve ever scheduled professional house cleaning in Downtown Portland, you definitely noticed how fast and efficient the experts are. It only takes them a few short hours to achieve the level of cleanliness that would take you days.

It certainly made you wonder how professional maids manage to clean your house so well and so fast. While it is a lot thanks to training and experience, it’s even more about finesse. Over time, pro cleaners pick up on some tips and tricks that make the work faster and easier, while retaining high quality. And, now, we’ll share some with you.

How do you clean your house like a professional?

Professional housekeeping is all about speed and efficiency without sacrificing an ounce of quality. Therefore, it stands to reason that you should aim for the same goal. The first step toward it is to steal some knowledge.

#1 Stealing the knowledge

Now, we’re not saying that stealing is ok. But, in this case, it is. It’s a great idea to stick around when your professional maids come, at least the first time. Just by standing on the sidelines and observing, you’ll be able to pick up on some pretty neat cleaning techniques that you didn’t know about.

Of course, make sure you don’t get in their way and obstruct their work. If you do that, they won’t mind one bit and everybody will be happier about it.

#2 Don’t rush

Housekeeping is like any other undertaking. You can’t expect to do a good job if you are unorganized. To help you with that, we have a twofer tip:

  • Declutter first, then clean. When tidying up your home, the name of the game is efficiency. You want to be able to maneuver through the areas you’re cleaning as swiftly as possible. Therefore, remove all unnecessary clutter that can impede this goal.
  • Have a plan of attack. Being chaotic is a great way to do too little work in too much time. Which is the exact opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish. To avoid this major housekeeping mistake, take some time to make a plan.

Doing these two things alone will vastly speed up the cleaning process, making it smoother and less tedious.

#3 Start prepared

Tying into the previous point, here’s something to speed up the work even more. Always have all the necessary cleaning supplies and tools in one easy-to-reach spot. Once you start cleaning, the last thing you need to do is run around the house, wondering where you left that pet-friendly disinfectant or those brand-new microfiber cloths.

#4 Give it a rest

And, no, we don’t mean to give up on home maintenance, although that is a viable option if you know you need a professional service. What we mean is don’t spray, scrub, and walk away when using products. Especially not if you’re using them in tacky areas.

The vast majority of supplies need some time to take effect. Therefore, it is important to apply it, then let it rest for a few minutes before scrubbing. Doing this will soften even the hard-core dirt (to an extent), making it easier and faster to clean.

#5 Start high, end low

While professionals follow a specific procedure, this postulate is at its very core. Going from top to bottom ensures that all the dust and dirt that falls down gets cleaned in the next pass. Therefore, you’ll get all of it in one go, without the need to go back for a re-do.house cleaning Downtown Portland

Is there an easy way to find reliable house cleaning in Downtown Portland?

There sure is! In fact, doing so has never been easier. All it takes is one phone call to NW Maids to find some of the most skilled and dependable cleaners from the Willamette River to the Columbia River and anywhere in between.

For years, we’ve been helping Downtown Portland residents keep their homes shining by helping them assemble their ideal housekeeping team. Give us a call and we’ll do the same for you today!

4 Common Housekeeping Mistakes You Should Avoid

Home maintenance is an unavoidable part of our lives. We all do it regularly (well, pretty regularly) but, even then, we don’t give it too much thought. And that easygoing attitude often results in housekeeping mistakes that, in turn, lead to subpar results. Not only that, but some of those errors can leave your home dirtier than it was.

Therefore, the natural question is: “How can I avoid the most common mistakes when cleaning?” Aside from hiring house cleaners in Downtown Portland, which is the only surefire way, just knowing what you can go wrong about is enough to aid your cleaning efforts.

What cleaning mistakes should I avoid?

Ideally, all of them. But we know that’s a bit unrealistic. After all, making mistakes is an integral part of the learning process. Still, avoiding them is much better. Here’s what not to do if you want to clean your house like a real pro.

#1 Not using protection

If you’ve ever stayed at home when your maids arrive, you may have noticed that they always come fully equipped with protective gear. There’s a good reason for that. You can never be too safe when it comes to protecting your health while tidying up your home

Make sure you have good rubber gloves and a face mask, and you’re good. Throw in some eye protection against those pesky splashes, and you’re golden!

#2 Using the same cleaning tools for everything

The point of home maintenance is to dispose of dirt, germs, bacteria, and other unhealthy intruders in your home. However, using the same tools to do so absolutely defeats that purpose. By doing this, you’re only spreading dirt around (although it doesn’t seem so).

To avoid this mistake, have a dedicated set of tools for different areas of your home. Yes, it will cost you a bit extra at the start, but all of those accessories will last longer. So, it is a great long-term investment. Oh, and your home will be much cleaner, too, so no downsides here.

#3 Cleaning from the ground up

If there was a top list of the most common home maintenance mistakes, this would be #1. Starting from the ground and working your way up only means that dust and dirt from higher levels wind up on the ground again. Then, what you’re left with is either a poorly cleaned home or wasted time, since you have to clean some more. All you have to do to remedy this mistake is start high, end low, and there you go!

#4 Not hiring professional cleaners on a regular basis

Despite popular opinion, hiring experts isn’t a luxury. In today’s busy world, it has become a bare necessity. Busy schedules, paired with fast-paced lifestyles often leave us with little to no time for ourselves.

A maid service can help you get your time, energy, and, most importantly, nerves back. Hiring pros on a weekly or bi-weekly basis can take the immense weight off your shoulders and leave you free to enjoy that day-long excursion to the Columbia River you’ve been dreaming of for so long.house cleaners Downtown Portland

Where to find the top house cleaners in Downtown Portland?

If you’ve noticed that the time to hire a maid service has come, you’d certainly want someone you can rely upon to give your home a thorough makeover. And when in Downtown Portland, the easiest way to find dependable cleaners is with NW Maids.

We collaborate with some of the best housekeeping companies in Portland and beyond. With years of experience, a detail-oriented mindset, and a variety of customizable services to choose from, we are your best choice for keeping your home sparkling clean. Give us a call and find your perfect housekeeping team today!

5 Reasons to Hire Professional Apartment Cleaners

Do you want to feel refreshed and ready to take on the day, yet too many hours of drudgery lie ahead of you? No worries, you’re not alone. Although homeowners are often hesitant to hire local house cleaners because they believe their apartments in Ballard, Seattle, are not large enough, in reality, hiring a professional has nothing to do with your home’s size. It’s all about how you organize your space and what supplies you use. 

So, if you’d like to come home to a perfectly clean apartment more often, be sure to outsource this task to the experts and let them handle all your dreaded household chores for you. Let’s see why!

apartment cleaning seattle wa

What are the benefits of cleaning your apartment?

There are many reasons why you should keep your apartment properly sanitized. Although mopping, vacuuming and scrubbing can be time-consuming and stressful if not done correctly, housekeeping isn’t just about maintaining appearances. On the contrary, it can have a profound effect on your organization and your well-being in general.

apartment cleaning seattle wa

1. Better organization

Staying organized is easier when you have your apartment tackled by professionals. By assigning them specific tasks, nothing will be missed and the job will be done more efficiently. Also, as a result, each area will get equal attention. 

Qualified experts have experience with different surfaces, appliances, and furniture, which means they know precisely how to handle each item without causing any damage.

2. Furniture protection

Professionals have received training on the safe use of their specialized equipment and know how to protect all kinds of upholstery when maintaining an apartment or house, thereby preventing valuables and furniture pieces from being damaged. 

3. Greater comfort

Spruced up apartments make you feel relaxed and comfortable. It’s well known that sleep, anxiety level, and focus are all affected by our surroundings. Our thoughts, behaviors, and relationships are affected by it. Consider how much better you’ll feel when you have a neat, organized home, how much more productive you’ll be, and how much less stressed you will feel. 

4. Healthier home

Cleaning specialists use products specifically designed to kill bacteria, germs, and dust mites, which means you’re better off leaving these tasks to the pros than doing them yourself. They ensure every inch of your house or apartment is treated safely, so no one is exposed to potentially harmful substances during the process.

5. Proper products

Cleaning your apartment requires more than just water and bleach to do it right. Experts have all of the tools and supplies they need to ensure every area within your space is thoroughly sanitized and disinfected, with safety in mind.

apartment cleaning seattle wa

What’s the hourly price for professional apartment cleaning?

The price of your apartment maintenance will vary depending on a few factors, such as its square footage, current condition, and any additional requests. However, most cleaning companies will offer flat rate quotes before sending over a team to do the job. 

While most pros focus mainly on the kitchen and bathrooms, it’s not uncommon for them to scrub baseboards or do other smaller tasks once they complete their main duties. Even though most homeowners would agree the cleaning service is worth the cost, make sure the company you hire is reputable. This means you need a provider that knows how to work around your schedule and accommodate any special requests you may have.

apartment cleaning seattle wa

Where can I find experienced house cleaners in Ballard, Seattle?

If you struggle with keeping up with your household chores, NW Maids got you covered! Our team of professional cleaners can help you keep your apartment spotless, whether you live near Pike Place Market or elsewhere in the area. Our services are eco-friendly and provide clients with peace of mind knowing their homes are being taken care of with the utmost attention. Get in touch with us today and book the service you desire!

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