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Spring is the perfect time to start fresh and make positive improvements in your life—you might implement a new workout program, purge some unneeded junk from your pantry and closets, or start pulling weeds in your yard. And of course, there’s the ever-popular spring cleaning! (We have to say, we’re partial to this idea!)

Typically, people picture “spring cleaning” and think of tackling those less urgent but oh-so-satisfying chores—like wiping baseboards, scrubbing windowpanes, and cleaning out the refrigerator. But the spring is also a perfect time to rethink how you clean. Enter: green cleaning.

Green cleaning is a way to reduce your negative impact on the environment via your cleaning products and practices. We also sometimes use this term to refer to using more natural methods of cleaning that are better for your health. In this blog, we’re sharing five ways to make your cleaning routine a little greener.

Get Crafty

Many commercial cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and your health. One of the best ways to eliminate these kinds of ingredients from your home is to make your own cleaning products! It might sound like an added chore or errand to run, but there are several cleaning solutions you can make with common household ingredients—like baking soda (a natural odor absorber), vinegar, lemon, and essential oils. One of our favorite natural cleaners is a combination of vinegar and baking soda—this classic “science experiment” is a great way to scrub stuck-on food off your pots and pans.

Purchase Smarter

That said, you may not have the time, the desire, or the ingredients to create your own cleaning solutions—and that’s okay! With green cleaning becoming more and more popular, there are plenty of “green cleaning” products you can purchase for your home. If the idea of overhauling your entire cleaning arsenal feels overwhelming, swap just one or two products at a time, or simply replace your old products with greener versions as you use them.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

As you start “greenifying” your cleaning supplies, remember these three words—reduce, reuse, recycle. Think of ways you can reduce waste while cleaning, reuse supplies, and recycle items. (You can also buy items—like paper towels—that are made from recycled materials!) Instead of dryer sheets, try wool dryer balls—they can cut back on drying time (which could save energy in your home) and help reduce static. Instead of using disposable mop heads, use microfiber ones that can be washed and reused. Do the same thing with dust rags and wipes for your countertops—swap the disposable versions for reusable cloths. To take it a step further, you can even make cleaning cloths out of your unwanted clothes or linens, so you don’t have to purchase new ones!

Scent Sensibly

If you love a fresh-smelling home but hate the idea of spraying chemicals into the air you breathe (who doesn’t?), try natural air fresheners instead. By boiling cinnamon, herbs, citrus peels, or other organic elements, you can create a delicious, inviting scent that’s safe for your body and the environment. You can also use essential oils in a diffuser. And if you miss the scent of fresh-smelling laundry (you know, because you swapped dryer sheets for reusable dryer balls), you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the dryer balls!

Let Nature In (But Not Too Much)

Spring (especially early spring in Oklahoma) is a great time to open your windows! This helps circulate stale air; plus, if you do still use a few harsh chemicals when cleaning, it can help remove the harmful fumes from your home.

We also recommend not wearing shoes in your home, especially if you have lots of carpet or small children (particularly ones who crawl or play on the floor). Think about what the bottom of your shoes encounter when you walk outside—there might be gum on the sidewalk, pet waste, fertilizer, dirt… none of which you want in your home. And if you have carpet, you can’t easily disinfect it. (This tip isn’t entirely for the purposes of “going green,” but it does reduce the possibility of tracking germs and chemicals into your home!)

If you want to implement green cleaning in your home or office space, we’d love to help! We offer green cleaning packages for residential and commercial spaces. You can learn more on our Green Cleaning page and click here to request an estimate.

“Green cleaning” is becoming increasingly popular. Today, there are more and more options available for eco-friendly products that consumers can feel good about. And while “going green” might seem like a fad, it’s a lifestyle change that can benefit your health, your budget, and the environment.

We know change can be hard, and if you’re not used to the idea of green cleaning or you’ve become accustomed to using other products, you might be hesitant to switch. If you’re on the fence about updating your cleaning regimen, here are three reasons to switch to green cleaning:

#1: You have young kids

As a parent, one of your highest priorities is keeping your child safe. And the fewer risks at home, the better. When it comes to cases of childhood poisoning, cleaning products are the second most common offender (after personal care products). And while you should keep all cleaning products (green or not) safely out of your little one’s reach, natural solutions (especially homemade varieties) could be a safer alternative. Plus, they’re less likely to irritate your child’s sensitive skin and eyes when used around the home. If you’re purchasing a product (and not making your own), read the ingredient list and check for allergens and toxins.

#2: You want to be healthy

Dealing with a skin rash? Asthma? Watery eyes? Your cleaning products could be partially to blame. Just like your kiddo’s, your body responds to chemicals in your environment. Certain ingredients in commercial cleaning products can trigger respiratory issues or cause skin or eye irritations. Some harsh chemicals can also burn when they come in contact with your skin. And the “cleaner” your cleaning products, the less you have to worry about the air you’re breathing, what chemicals might get on your hands, or what fumes might irritate your eyes.

#3: You care about the environment

Chemicals in commercial cleaners can contribute to air pollution, and manufacturing can also be harmful to the environment. (You can learn more about this on our Green Cleaning page.) If you want to protect our environment, your cleaning products are a great place to start! Consider using refillable glass spray bottles to help reduce plastic waste, and buy refills and other products with eco-friendly packaging and ingredients. Or, try making your own cleaning solutions–this alternative gives you quality-control, and it’s budget friendly.

Know Your Stuff

Typically, products that focus on natural ingredients are going to be safer for your health and the environment–but that’s not always the case. When it comes to product labels, words like “green” and “natural” can mean different things; they can also be a little misleading, so it helps to research product certifications and know what ingredients to avoid. An eco-friendly product doesn’t guarantee a healthy product, and vice versa.

Let Us Help You Get Started

We know overhauling your entire cleaning arsenal can be daunting, but it’s worth it! And you don’t have to change everything at once—try switching just a few of your cleaning products and change them gradually as you run out of your old ones. Or, let someone else do the hard work for you! At Kingdom Keepers, we offer a special green cleaning package for customers who want a more natural, environmentally friendly service. You can learn more on our Green Cleaning page or click here to request an estimate.

¹https://www.poison.org/poison-statistics-national-data-from-2018

Our work desks look a lot different than they did several years ago—not only do most of us use less paper, but many people have multi-function work-from-home stations that are integrated with our everyday lives. What was once a dining room is also a conference area; bedrooms now double as offices. And if you like to power through the lunch hour (or you snack a lot), you probably eat at your desk, too.

That’s why it’s more important than ever to keep your workspace clean and tidy. Not only do you need a sanitary place to eat and work, but working in a messy environment can make it difficult to focus. Clutter can also increase stress, and when your professional clutter leaks into your personal space, it can make your time off work less enjoyable.

So whether you work in a traditional office or at your kitchen table, a tidy environment is important for a successful workday. Here are some tips to prime your workspace for positive productivity:

Clean Sweep

To start, set aside some time to do a comprehensive deep clean. Go through your files, supplies, and personal items and get rid of anything you don’t need. (Remember to recycle any unwanted paper!) If you’re a manager or business owner, consider scheduling bi-annual cleaning days, where everyone in the office teams up to declutter, get rid of unnecessary items, and deep clean the workspace.

Categorize & Contain

Next, make sure everything has a purposeful place. Take stock of everything on your desk, in drawers, and around your workspace; then categorize it based on how often you use it. If you use your favorite red pen every day, keep it in a container on top of your desk. If you have a file you rarely reference, store it away in a drawer so it’s easy to find but out of the way. You can also use this time to consolidate wires and designate storage containers for small items like paper clips, pens, and sticky notes.

Once you’ve purged and organized, here are some other tips to maintain a clean space while you work:

Be Selective

Having items on your desk or walls that inspire you can boost creativity, but it’s important to remember that your desk (and office) isn’t a junk drawer. It might be tempting to use your desk as catch-all storage for random items you don’t have a place for (hello, Rubik’s cube), but if it doesn’t serve a purpose, have sentimental value, or inspire you, give it a new home.

Designate Spaces

That said, most people need a few practical personal items at their workspace, and it’s important to store them properly so they don’t create unnecessary clutter. Designate a drawer, basket, or other container for things like lip balm, snacks, glasses, and other items you use regularly.

Clean as You Go

If you’re one of those people who gets so focused that you often leave half-eaten sandwiches on your desk for several hours, then good for you—if you’re in the zone, stay there! But when you do come up for air (or a bathroom break), take a moment to assess your workspace and see if there’s anything you can clean up. Throw away trash, put away papers and supplies you’re done using, and make sure there are no crumbs or spills that need to be cleaned up. (Pro tip: Use a keyboard cover while you eat to prevent crumbs, grease, and liquid from slipping between the keys.) If you don’t already, keep a trash can under your desk—it’ll help you keep your space tidy without making multiple trips to throw away food wrappers or tissues (which is especially helpful during allergy season!).

Disinfect & Declutter Daily

At the end of each day, do a mini clean sweep. Throw away trash, organize files, and put away supplies; then clean your mouse, keyboard, and desktop with a disinfectant spray or wipe. Not only will it give you a fresh start in the morning, but it’ll help you unwind from the day’s work. By physically putting things back in their place, you reset your workspace and your mind. You might also discover a forgotten task on a sticky note or a message you need to communicate to a coworker, and this ensures anything urgent doesn’t go unnoticed until the next day.

A daily declutter is especially important if you work with private client information. Before you leave the office, make sure sensitive paperwork is stored away somewhere secure.

Want Some Help?

Whatever your job, keeping your work area clean and tidy can make your day more productive and enjoyable. If you need a hand keeping your space in tip-top shape, we can help! We offer services for commercial and residential cleaning, so whether you’re working from home or in an office, we’ll make sure your space is primed for success.

Having a clean home is incredibly important. Not only does it make you feel good (who doesn’t love coming home to a tidy and sparkling kitchen?), it can make you healthier! So if you thought an uncluttered living room or shining bathroom was only for your parties and extra-motivated weekends, think again. Here are some ways having a clean (or dirty) home can affect your health.

Allergens & Irritants

If you’ve lived in southwest Oklahoma for any amount of time, you’re probably no stranger to the irritating effects of allergies. While you can’t eradicate them completely, you can lessen the effects of indoor allergens by taking certain cleaning measures. If anyone in your home suffers from asthma, skin conditions, or seasonal allergies, here are some areas you should pay special attention to when cleaning:

Floors, Carpets, and Rugs
Pet dander, fungus, and other allergens easily build up on floors, particularly soft carpeted ones. To keep your home fresh and irritant-free, sweep, vacuum, and mop regularly, especially if you have pets. If you have rugs in your bathroom, don’t forget to toss them in the wash to prevent a buildup of mildew and fungi.

Sheets & Pillowcases
You should also wash bedding regularly, particularly if you or anyone in your family has oily or break-out prone skin. Dirt and oils can collect on sheets and pillowcases, and washing your bedding (at least once every two weeks) will help prevent these germs from spreading to your skin. For those with sensitive skin, use a mild, fragrance-free detergent.

Hard Surfaces
Dust and other allergens also collect on hard surfaces, so don’t forget to wipe down walls and, occasionally, your ceilings. Dusting smaller objects will also help eradicate dust and prevent a buildup of allergens.

Damp Areas
Substantial mold exposure can be harmful to a person’s respiratory health, particularly if you suffer from asthma. As such, it’s important to regularly clean areas of your home that are prone to mold, like showers and sinks. Disinfect your showers and sinks at least weekly, and make sure to watch for any mold buildup.

Viruses & Diseases

Of course, one of the most important reasons to keep a clean home is to prevent the spread of germs that cause illnesses (a task we know has been on many people’s minds lately!). Here are some ways to prevent the spread of disease-causing bacteria in your home:

Dust Regularly
Believe it or not, dust can contribute to the spread of certain viruses. As such, it’s important to dust your home about once a week in addition to your regular disinfecting routine.

Tackle the Kitchen
Rule #1 of Clean Cooking: Never prepare food in a dirty kitchen! Leaving dirty dishes unattended or counters uncleaned can create a dangerous breeding ground for bacteria like E. coli, which can cause extremely unpleasant illnesses. To stay ahead of germs, do some light cleaning before and after each meal. For example, if you’re preparing food on the counter, make sure the surface is disinfected beforehand. When you’re done, clear away dirty dishes and wipe down the counters again.

Don’t Forget the Bathroom
It’s gross, but true—bathrooms are another common breeding ground for E. coli, and as such, you want to disinfect them regularly. If your toilet is close to the counter, shut the lid before flushing to avoid any germ splashing, and wipe down counters, faucets, and toilets regularly.

Mental & Emotional Health

Having a clean home affects more than your physical health; it impacts your mental health, too! Cluttered environments can make you feel stressed and unsettled and can even contribute to feelings of depression. Conversely, creating order in your home can improve self-esteem and make it easier to focus (which is incredibly important for everyone now working from home). Here are some ways to make sure your home contributes to positive mental health:

Create a Routine
Cleaning everything at once can feel overwhelming; as such, it helps to create a routine that allows you to clean your home in steps. For example, you could start a load of laundry every day when you get home from work, or make dish washing an after-dinner family affair. The important thing is to have a system so tasks don’t build up and become unmanageable.

Find a Place (for Everything)
“Clean as you go” is one of our favorite pieces of advice. That said, you can’t do it if you don’t have a designated spot for, say, the remote or your magazines. Take some time to find a place for every item in your home and commit to putting things back when you’re done using them, or at the end of each day.

Give Yourself Credit
We love that we can make our clients’ lives easier by cleaning their homes, but there’s also a sense of pride that comes with cleaning your own home. Even if you don’t have time to get your house in tip-top shape as often as you’d like, remember to give yourself credit for the work you do. Recognizing that the counters are gleaming because you made them that way will give you an extra dose of satisfaction!

Ready to get cleaning? (We know we are!) To learn about how we can help you create a healthier home, visit our residential cleaning services page or request a quote here.

Whether you’re preparing for a PCS move or selling your house while building your dream home, one important part of the process is cleaning your house before you move out. And since moving is one of the most stressful things an adult can do, we thought we’d make the process a little easier by giving you our ultimate Move-Out Cleaning Checklist.

If your moving day is fast approaching and you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. Just pick a task from phase one below and get going! If you need help, remember—we’re just a phone call away.

Phase I: Deep Cleaning

While it’s tempting to start with the easy tasks, we recommend tackling the more difficult projects first. Several of the items below can be done several weeks before your move, which will make your final days in the home much less stressful. You can wipe down your walls (if needed) a month in advance, and you can clean your oven a few weeks ahead of time, so long as you don’t use it (at least for messy foods) afterward. For sinks, tubs, and showers, you can scrub them a week or so prior, then do a final wipe-down right before moving day.

Here’s a checklist for phase one of your move-out cleaning:

• Wipe walls and baseboards (as necessary)
• Clean the oven
• Wipe out microwave^*
• Dust blinds (depending on how dirty your blinds are, you might need to wipe them with a damp rag followed by a dry dusting cloth)
• Scrub toilet bowls
• Scrub showers, tubs, and bathroom grout
• Clean out and wipe down fridge
• Clean sinks (kitchen and bathroom)
• Clean windows (glass and latches)

^*Make this task easier by microwaving a bowl of water for two to three minutes—the steam will loosen stuck-on foods and make it much easier to wipe clean!

Phase II: Surface Cleaning

Once the “down and dirty” cleaning is done and you’re closer to your final moving day, start “surface cleaning”—this involves many of the tasks you do on a regular basis, as well as some final areas you may not clean as often, but that shouldn’t require much effort (like the top of your fridge). You’ll want to clean higher places (like ceiling fans) first, since dust and dirt might fall on the counters and floors

Here’s a checklist for phase two:

• Dust (or wipe):
  • Ceiling fan blades
  • Light fixtures
  • Tops of doors
  • Top of the fridge
  • Wall corners (for cobwebs)
  • Built-in shelves (be sure to check closets as well as living spaces)
  • Windowsills
  • Mantles
  • Banisters
• Wipe or disinfect:
  • Countertops (kitchen and bathroom—be sure to get the far edges and corners!)
  • Inside of cabinets and drawers (kitchen and bathroom)
  • Cabinet handles (kitchen and bathroom)
  • Sink fixtures
  • Toilet handles and seats
  • High-traffic door handles

Phase III: Final Touches

It’s best to clean as much as possible in advance, but some tasks will have to wait until just before you leave. If you’re doing a PCS move, you might have a couple days after the movers pack up when you’re living in a mostly empty house, waiting to travel across the country—or maybe you bought a house and your closing date is just a few days before your buyers’. Either way, if you’re living in your home shortly before you hand over the keys, these final tasks will need to wait until then to be completed.

Here are the final steps to wrap up your move-out cleaning:

• Wipe showers, toilets, and sinks
• Wipe counters to remove crumbs and debris
• Remove trash
• Vacuum and/or sweep
• Mop^*

^*If you don’t want to wait until the last minute to mop, you can do this a few days in advance—just make sure there’s no visible dirt or footprints from pets or people carrying boxes.

Don’t Stress

At the end of the day, move-out cleaning is about showing respect for the next homeowners or your rental property owner. Your previous living space should look presentable and tidy, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. So don’t stress if you don’t dust every baseboard and shelf—just make sure you don’t leave behind a grease-covered oven or visibly dirty bathrooms.

If you’re short on time or need a few extra hands, let us help you! We’ll make sure your house is sparkling clean and ready for the new homeowners, so you can focus on packing up and settling into your new space.

With the flexibility of remote work, low mortgage interest rates, and the consequently crazy housing market, lots of families are on the move these days. But as exciting as moving can be, the logistics involved are anything but. When you finally pack everything into boxes and look around at your empty house, you might ask yourself, “Do I really need to clean, too?”

The answer is yes.

It might seem like a waste of time to clean a house you’re no longer living in, but there are several reasons you should clean before you move out:

Reasons to Clean Before You Move

• Be a Courteous Seller: Most people spruce up their home to sell it, and it can be tempting to lower your sparkling standards once the papers are signed. (That’s partially why some real estate contracts require a house be cleaned before the sellers move out—although just how clean varies.) So if you’re selling your home, you need to meet the agreements of your contract, but more importantly, remember that your buyers are people, too—ones who are probably every bit as stressed as you are—and they deserve to move into a clean house, just like you do.
• Get Your Money Back: If you’re moving out of a rental property, cleaning the house gives you a much better chance of getting back your deposit (if any part of the deposit is refundable). It might take a little extra energy and elbow grease to clean after you pack, but sometimes the money is worth it during a move!
• Find Your Lost Things: Sometimes that final drawer clean-out or closet-shelf-dusting is the only chance you’ll have of finding your long-lost bracelet or journal. If you lost something years ago in your home, keep your fingers crossed and you might find it during your final cleaning session—you never know!

That said, we know cleaning an empty house can be overwhelming, so we created a three-phased cleaning checklist to make your home move-out ready. If you’re still in the early phases of packing, try this organization tip to kickstart your cleaning process:

Sort & Purge

When you empty your closet, spend some time removing the clothes you no longer wear—that way, you don’t waste time or space packing them (because on moving day, every box counts!). The same goes for other areas of your home—kids’ rooms, bookshelves, linen closets—the months and weeks before you move are the perfect time to take stock of your belongings and determine what’s really worth keeping.

As you sort, make piles or designate containers for these categories: Pack/Keep, Donate, and Trash. (You can add a pile for “Sell,” too, but only if you have time to sell the items before you move!) As you pack your bathroom, kitchen, and closets, make sure you leave out your cleaning supplies so you can use them in the final days before your move. We recommend designating a box for paper towels, dusting rags, trash bags, and other supplies you’ll need to accomplish your move-out cleaning.

Once you’re done sorting, take everything but your “Keep” items to a donation center, recycling center, or dumpster.

Start Early

If your move is still several weeks away, now is the perfect time to start cleaning—by tackling larger projects in advance, you can spend less time scrubbing and scouring in the final hectic days before your move. Check out our blog with our complete Move-Out Cleaning Checklist to get started.

If you want to make your move-out cleaning even easier, let us help you! You can give us a call or click here to request a quote.

Happy moving!