Have you heard these expressions?

Slow and steady wins the race.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

The sentiment in all these phrases is basically this: when facing a large feat, success comes by breaking it down into small, manageable pieces. When it comes to preparing for company for the holidays, it is best to break it up. This guide was designed to help you in preparing for holiday company.

Plan and Prioritize

Start by making a list of what needs to be done. Try to keep things in perspective and avoid stressing about the small stuff. For example, fresh bedding and a clean bathroom will be more important to a guest than dust on the high shelves of the foyer.

Once you are clear about what needs to be done, consider who can help. Break up the tasks into smaller pieces over several days. Consider hiring a professional residential cleaning company to take care of the basic cleaning tasks so you can focus on the more specific ones.

Sort Decorations

Take an assessment of the decorations you have that you want to use. Dispose of or recycle anything you won’t use or that is damaged. Reward yourself with some retail therapy after your cleaning tasks are done to pick up more decorations if you decide.

Take a Cue from Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb suggests these minimum essentials for guests:

Toilet paper. Keep TP stocked and make it clear where additional rolls can be found. It’s also not a bad idea to place a plunger in the bathroom near the toilet if you haven’t already.

Soap. Provide hand soap as well as body soap for guests to use while they stay.

Towels. A fresh handtowel at the sink is a must. Provide a clean towel for each overnight guest, and it’s helpful to have empty hooks to hang wet towels.

Pillows and linens. Wash the linens for the guest bed(s) that will be used. Every guest should have at least one pillow. Consider making extra blankets available in case they are needed in the middle of the night.

Start Cleaning and Clearing Space

Create a welcoming entry. Make space in the coat closet for guests’ coats and boots if needed. Provide rugs and shoe trays for extra traffic. Let your decorations create a nice welcome in the entrance.

Deep-clean the kitchen. When hosting guests, a clean kitchen, especially if you are preparing food, is critical. Your cleaning company can handle the bulk of this, but consider cleaning the fridge and freezer to make room for all the food. Sanitize the shelves in the refrigerator and throughout the kitchen.

Deep-clean the bathrooms. Clear space for guest toiletries and store anything you don’t want them getting into, such as medications and cleaning products. Clean and disinfect any surfaces they may use. If you hire a professional cleaning company, they will handle this part for you, including cleaning the tub, shower, toilet, and floors.

Declutter guest bedroom. Clear space for guests to put luggage, clothes, and essentials. Clear access to outlets that guests can use for charging devices.

Dust and tidy. Dust areas where guests might see and generally tidy as you go, noticing what might be out of place or cause a hazard, such as loose cords someone could trip on.

Take out the trash. Declutter, hide, or throw away clutter like mail, magazines, or other unorganized or unsightly piles of things (we all do it; there’s no shame!).

Clean the floors. You don’t want to clean the floors too soon before guests arrive, so consider it one of the last tasks to prevent them from getting dirty again.

Cleaning Pro Tip

Use a professional house cleaning service in Arlington, Virginia to cover your bases before guests arrive. Have them return after guests have gone to help you relax into your holidays. Stress over cleaning is not a gift!

If you need help with preparing for holiday company, or if regular, ongoing cleaning tasks don’t bring you joy, consider letting them go into the professional and competent hands of A Cleaning Service. We’re an award-winning cleaning company serving the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas. Contact us today for a quote and spend your holiday time on the relationships that matter most to you. 

According to the AACAP (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry), children ages three and up can build greater self-esteem, learn responsibility, and experience more success in life if given chores.

As a parent, these are all great attributes we’d like to see in our children, and let’s face it, sharing the load also helps our sanity. Guiding them in helping with house cleaning helps them understand why we clean. In addition to learning life skills and being a supportive part of a family unit, doing chores helps with:

Time Management, Prioritization, & Balance

Chores help children understand that there is a time for play and a time for work. They also get introduced to time management and prioritization by learning they need to do X before Y. For example, putting away toys before watching TV or doing dishes before homework.

Learning to follow a list or schedule teaches the valuable life skill of time management. It will also help you as a parent when items need to happen in order to get somewhere, such as going to school on time.

Organization & Sorting Skills

Organization and structure are something that kids will have reinforced at daycare and school. Their belongings will have a place, and they will have their own space to maintain in order to be successful.

Of course, kids will always vary on how naturally organized they will be, but teaching the skill early will contribute to success.

Independence

When responsible for tasks, kids will build upon their self-esteem by proving they can do it, even if it takes some practice. They learn to have autonomy for their responsibilities, and this builds independence.

Age-Specific Chore Suggestions

You know your child’s abilities better than anyone, so take all of these suggestions with that in mind. Use the tips below to help encourage their success in completing chores.

Chores for Kids Under Age 3

At this age, they will need a lot of guidance, patience, and supervision, but you are setting a foundation and expectation of what it means to share household responsibilities.

• Dressing themselves
• Putting away toys in one area (keep it simple)
• Helping put away groceries
• Helping to make beds
• Putting dirty clothes in the basket
• Dusting

Chores for Kids Ages 4 – 8

This age group still needs supervision and instruction, especially the first few times they learn a new chore. Explain expectations and consider offering rewards like allowance, screen time, or special activities.

• Helping to feed pets
• Helping to set and clear the table for meals
• Wiping down table and counters
• Helping with sorting laundry and folding and putting it away
• Making their bed and tidying their room
• Bringing in groceries and helping put them away
• Writing thank you notes
• Sweeping and vacuuming
• Dusting
• Emptying small indoor trash cans

Chores for Kids Ages 9 -12

Tween kids are learning independence and can be left alone, depending on their maturity. This means they are starting to prove their ability to be responsible for their actions and time.

• Unloading and loading the dishwasher
• Helping with meal prep
• Doing light yard work
• Doing their homework, with or without supervision
• Using the washer and dryer
• Cleaning mirrors and windows

Chores for Kids Ages 13 – 18

On the higher side of this age group, teens should learn how to maintain their personal space, including vehicle care (if they drive), purchasing clothes and groceries, and budgeting their money.

• Taking out the trash 
• Packing their lunch and preparing easy meals
• Changing their bedding
• Cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms
• Washing the car(s)
• Deep cleaning projects like cleaning out the fridge or cupboards
• Babysitting

Tips for Helping Your Kids Learn Chores

Be specific in what you want done and how. This doesn’t mean to be critical; it means to set clear outcomes so they know they have achieved what is expected. For example, let them know how much detergent or cleaner to use or to move the toaster and wipe under it rather than just around it.

Create a habit by setting schedules for when things should be completed. For example, asking that trash be taken out by Wednesday at 7 a.m. (because that’s trash day). Being consistent with a routine helps things move along with less friction.

Focus on age-appropriate tasks that are doable. Younger kids will need shorter tasks than older kids, but they will always want them to be fun. Turn chores into games or contests or offer rewards for completion. Choose your battles and offer lots of praise when teaching new behaviors.

Contact A Cleaning Service for Cleaning with Care

Struggling to get through all the household chores? Let A Cleaning Service give you a hand. Not only will we help share the burden, but it will free up the time you desire to spend on relationships that matter, those with your kids, family, and friends. 

With over 30 years in the cleaning business, our customers have come to rely on our skill and expertise to make their lives easier. A Cleaning Service helps with the weekly chores that can get lost in the busyness of life. 

Homeowners in the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas have come to rely on our award-winning cleaning company. Learn more about us to see why we’ve earned their trust and confidence. Contact us today for a quote or more information on how our cleaning service can help you. 

Has it felt like a long summer or a short one? As kids return to school and mornings get cooler, it may seem like both a relief and a sadness as the days become shorter and more structured. The change in seasons doesn’t just happen outdoors, however. It occurs inside, too, as responsibilities and wardrobes adjust.

When it’s time to prep your house or office for the upcoming fall months, it can be a time to reset, rebalance, and restructure. Here are some tips to help you.

3 Tips to Prep Your House for the Upcoming Fall Months

Create a new chore chart.

With kids returning to school, it is time to bring back a routine supportive of shorter, structured weekdays that will assist in keeping your residential space clean. Take this time to update (or create) a new chore chart with quick, daily tasks kids can do to stay on top of organization. In the summer, longer projects may make more sense, but in the fall, this often doesn’t work (except maybe on the weekends). 

Ten-minute tasks that are part of a routine will keep everyone proactive and allow for more fun-time, instead of chore-time, on weekends. When kids walk in the door from school, have them hang up jackets and put shoes in one place. Have them do one task before starting homework and one more right after dinner or before bed.

Create a to-do list.

Just as the kids have their short chores, also make a list of the items you want to accomplish. Put them into groups of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Create an extra list of special projects that need to be done, such as making a home repair or organizing a storage area.

Our minds often default into overwhelm when we aren’t exactly clear about what we can do when we are “bored.” A go-to list will help bridge this gap on days when you have the energy to do one more thing. This can help you avoid the “one more episode” binge-watching habit and do something productive and supportive instead. 

Swap Out Seasonal Items.

Every season there is an opportunity to organize. Take inventory of what you have and don’t need anymore. Then, donate, sell, or throw it away if you won’t use it. Items that you will use again, clean and store. Remove from storage any items that would be needed for fall, such as heavier bedding, throw blankets, baking supplies, and festive fall decor items.

One of the best parts of swapping out seasonal items is replacing them for the new year. If you’ve thrown things away, why not treat yourself to a new door wreath or fall-scented candles? This can help make cleaning and organizing more joyful.

3 Tips to Prep Your Office for the Upcoming Fall Months

Declutter.

Take some time to walk through your office to determine if that stack of papers or retired electronic equipment can find a new home. This could mean recycling, donating, or disposing of it.

Offices can fall into the trap of piling rather than filing, and it’s often because people just don’t know what to do with things they are no longer interacting with. Tidy up and then consider making a process for preventing the clutter in the first place.

Purchase.

Another reason for clutter is that people may need more organizational tools to stay organized. Consider purchasing filing cabinets, shelving units, bookshelves, and other organizational items to help reduce clutter.

Are their areas that always seem dirty? Consider purchasing a spray bottle and paper towel dispenser and putting them in that area. Remember to place a trash can there too. Try creating a policy, such as cleaning the fridge out on the 5th of every month, to stay on top of messes or larger cleaning tasks.

Prepare.

Weather can change quickly in the fall, so be prepared and proactive. Consider area rugs for entryways and a broom and dustpan for when leaves blow in. Post signs that might alert visitors to hazards such as wet, slippery floors. Put up a coat rack for umbrellas and wet jackets to limit them from dripping through the office.

Think about other ways you may prepare for the fall months to help improve safety, cleanliness, and organization. If you have a suggestion or tip that has worked really well for you, please leave us a comment – we’d love to hear about it!

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service Near You

Staying on top of day-to-day cleaning may require some extra hands. Let A Cleaning Service help. If you have a home or business in the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland areas, our award-winning cleaning company seeks to earn your trust and confidence. With over 30 years in the cleaning business, our customers have come to rely on our skill and expertise to make their life easier.

Our mission is to help with cleaning tasks so you can focus on the relationships that matter to you. Contact us today for a quote or more information on how our range of services can support your cleaning and organization efforts. 

Keep your house clean with outdoor pets! It may seem impossible, but it can happen with a bit of proactive planning. Here are four tips for keeping your home clean when you have outdoor pets:

Keep Cleaning Supplies Handy

When you have pets that bring in the outdoors with them, staying on top of small messes is the key. Keep cleaning supplies handy for quick touch-ups, including a cleaner designed specifically for pet messes.

Consider your most common pet messes and keep a tote by the door with rags, paper towels, disinfectant, and maybe a handheld vacuum. This tote can help you capture messes right when they happen, preventing them from getting bigger, like tracking through the house or creating a stain. If your cat likes to bring you “special treats,” consider small can liners or bags to dispose of rodents quickly.

Use Dirt-Grabbing Rugs

Rugs designed for dirt and moisture can be used in the entryway to wipe those four feet before they enter the house. Thin, washable rugs can be used in high-traffic areas as well. These can be thrown into the wash and help save you time on sweeping and mopping. You can find both of these in a local hardware store.

Some pet parents also keep wipes or towels near the front door to wipe paws, especially if muddy or wet. This might require some patience and training because some pets don’t like to have their paws touched. Consider a trainer if coming inside is difficult for you and your pet to manage.

Limit Pet Access

Another way to keep your house clean when you have outdoor pets is by limiting the spaces they are allowed in or on. This can include specially designated outdoor spaces. For a dog, it can be a concrete dog run or lush grass instead of dirt and mud. For a cat, it could be an enclosed “catio” that allows them to sit in the sun without running the dirty streets. 

This can also mean not allowing pets on furniture, keeping them from entering certain rooms, or kenneling or crating them when you are away.

Keep a Grooming and Cleaning Routine

Regular grooming of your pet can keep sharp nails from scratching floors or extra shedding and dander to a minimum. Likewise, regular sweeping or vacuuming of pet areas will keep dirt and hair from building up or being tracked further into your home.

Get a sticky roller to pick up any pet hair on your clothes as you leave for work or social events where you want to present a fur-less appearance.

A Cleaning Service in Washington DC

A Cleaning Service serves homeowners in the Greater DC and surrounding areas to focus on the relationships that matter by providing award-winning housekeeping services. Their skill and expertise provide much-needed help with the weekly chores that can get lost in the busyness of life. With over 30 years in the cleaning business, their customers rely on their consistently excellent service and effectiveness.

If you need professional home cleaning or business cleaning services in the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland areas, our award-winning cleaning company seeks to earn your trust and confidence. Contact us today for a quote or more information on how our cleaning service can help you tackle more than just keeping your home clean with outdoor pets.

Students are out of school, and the weather is pleasant. This combination often means summer vacation! 

There is a lot to plan, and it may seem like preparing your home before you leave for vacation is the last thing you want to think about, but most people don’t like to come home to disarray. In fact, coming home from vacation may feel like you need another, so here’s how to set yourself up for a welcoming return.

Tips to Prepare Your Home Before You Leave on Vacation

Consider what services you need

Depending on the anticipated weather and the length of time you are away, you may need lawn care, cleaning service, someone to take the trash and recycling out to the curb, pick up mail, and more. 

Create a list of the services you need and get those in place before packing your bags so you know they are off your list and mind.

In case of an emergency

If you need a pet or house sitter, start by making a document for them with any actions they should take in case of an emergency at home. This could be phone numbers for your vet, your plumber, a locksmith, or another reliable, local contact in case your sitter has an emergency. 

The great thing is that this could be saved for any time you are away and can be a great reference for future emergencies- create it now and next time, you can just update and go!

Note where the water shut off is, what to do in case of power loss, key replacement in a lock-out, etc. Consider putting together an emergency kit that includes cleaning supplies (for pet accidents), a wet vac, candles and matches, a fire extinguisher, or other supplies that someone may need to access quickly in your absence.

Do the laundry

You are very likely to return home from vacation with a bunch of laundry, so do any existing laundry before you go. Change the bed sheets, so you have clean sheets to return to. Changing linens is also a task that a cleaning company will handle for you, so if you have a particularly early departure (or hectic one) and can’t change your sheets, leave the linens out to be swapped.

Take out the trash

Coming home to a stinking trash can is awful. Empty the trash cans before you leave. Again, you have a lot on your mind, and this is a task a professional cleaning company will handle. Schedule the cleaners to come the day you leave or the day after so they can remove trash and have your house smelling great for your arrival home.

Clear your walkways

You’re likely leaving and returning with full arms, so be sure to make a clear pathway for luggage and extra items you’ll be dragging along with you. Let’s not start or end a vacation with a tripping injury because of hazards in the way.

Pack with fun in mind

The less you need to worry about “back at home,” the easier it will be to relax on your vacation. The point is to spend time with the people you love, not stress over being away. As you begin to pack, remember your everyday items like toiletries and electronics (with their power cords), but also lay out full outfits for each day you are gone. Throw in one or two extra outfits for good measure.

It’s been said that planning a vacation can be as good for your soul as the vacation itself. Let your mind wander into what your vacation days will look like and what activities you will be participating in. This will help you pack better and allow your mind to go into vacation mode. Focus on what matters – the quality time with your favorite people. Life is short, so make it valuable!

Remember What (or Rather, Who) is Most Important

If cleaning tasks keep you from spending quality time with those you love, consider A Cleaning Service. Get help with the weekly chores, deep cleans, or special cleaning projects that could use an extra hand.

We serve the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas with over 30 years in the cleaning business. Our customers rely on our skills and expertise to make their lives easier. Our award-winning cleaning company seeks to earn your trust and confidence.

Contact us today for a quote or more information on how our expertise can help you. 

As a professional cleaning company, we have built our business by helping people who don’t have the time, energy, or interest in cleaning and organizing. For that, we are thankful. Everyone has different skills and priorities, and the most successful people (at least those in business) have learned to delegate those things they are not good at.

While we are here to offer support with these three summer cleaning and organizing tips, if you find you’d rather delegate it, we are happy to help you with that as well; of course, you must be in the Washington DC or surrounding areas! If not, let’s get you started with these three valuable tips to clean and organize for the summer.

Clean up with a summer cleaning swap out.

Summertime is often characterized by outdoor activities. If you haven’t already, rotate your summer supplies in and cold weather items out. This could be swapping out coats, boots, and winter wardrobes for swimsuits, flip-flops, and tank tops. It could be storing away heavy down comforters and flannel linens for cooling blankets and crisp cotton sheets. It could be storing snow tubes and bringing out the pool noodles. Whatever the swap-out looks like for you, now is the time.

Organize with a visual place for everything.

But, with the swap out, take time to access what might need better organization. Do you need to clean shoe racks? Organize the linen closet? Get space-saving shelving installed? Often, lack of organization comes down to having a place for things to go and an easy way for them to get there. 

Most-used items should be easiest to grab and go (and easiest to put back in place). Consider visual placement, such as labeled cubbies or shelves, spaces big enough for a specific item (and only that item), or outlines that represent the object that belongs there.

Create a flexible routine.

Summer has its own routine – sleeping in, staying up late, playing hard, and having long, lazy days. Even with kids out of school, it’s important to keep a summer cleaning routine, however flexible. This may mean posting a chores schedule, taking time at the end of every day to pick up one item (like clothes), or tidying one room (like the kitchen) so nothing grows out of control. If it’s too overwhelming, there is no shame in asking for help (remember the skill of delegation!).

Kids who are going to childcare still need a routine to help them stay balanced, so don’t just throw structure out the window because school is out. And most importantly, remember to prioritize relationships because those are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that we can often take for granted.

About A Cleaning Service

Put your trust in A Cleaning Service, an award-winning cleaning company serving the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas. Contact us today for a quote or more information about how it looks to work with a cleaning service.