101-1841 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria, BC

250-598-6243

Proudly Serving Greater Victoria Since 1991

Avoiding Dust

80% of the dirt in your house is tracked inside. Placing the proper mats inside and outside of all entrances will help reduce the amount of cleaning necessary. Choose professional mats from a janitorial supply store for best results.

These aptly-named walk-off mats give dirt a chance to be “walked off” before it enters the home. Walk-off mats are generally made of nylon or olefin, with a rubber or vinyl back. To wash them, hose them down and scrub them with an all-purpose cleaner. You can also use upholstery shampoo or a wet/dry vacuum to clean them. Remember to hang-dry them.

You can also:

  • Seal concrete and mortar joints to avoid having them bleed onto surrounding surfaces.
  • Seal windows and doors tightly. Some utility companies will provide free inspection services to determine whether or not you have a draft problem.
  • Keep vacuums and their bags in good repair, to avoid having them blow back dust while you’re vacuuming.
  • Avoid the use of feather dusters, as they generally just spread the dirt around.

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Ceramic Tile Floors

Few things are as stunning as a properly-maintained ceramic tile floor. Keep yours looking beautiful with these three easy tips:

  • Sweep and mop your ceramic tile floor with a little soap and water to ensure that it stays clean and shiny, taking care to change the water if it gets cloudy. There is no need to wax your floor.
  • Avoid the use of scrub pads, as they might scratch the floor.
  • For best results, hand-wash and dry your floors, a small area at a time.

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Cleaning Grout

Grouting can be one of the most neglected areas of your bathroom. Follow these simple steps to keep it looking fresh.

  • Clean old grout with a wax stripper or heavy-duty cleaner and a grout brush. Use bleaching cleanser on trouble spots. Rinse well, then dry and apply a coat of masonry sealer so it doesn’t absorb dirt in future.
  • Clean mildewed grout using a grout brush with a 1:5 solution of chlorine bleach and water. Rinse the area well to remove all traces of bleach. Never use bleach with any ammonia-based product, and make sure the area is well-ventilated.

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Cleaning No-Wax Linoleum Floors

No-wax and linoleum floors offer some of the easiest cleaning options around. Follow these four steps to keep your floor looking brand-new.

  • Vacuum and sweep regularly to maintain your floor’s finish. Then, mop with plain water or a drop of liquid dish soap. For tough spots, use a white, nylon-backed scrub sponge.
  • Use a floor finish or wax to restore the shine, if your floor’s surface layer is looking dull or scratched. High-traffic areas may require more attention than the rest of your floor.
  • Choose a good commercial floor polish or a self-polishing, metal-interlock floor finish from a janitorial supply.
  • Keep doormats at all entrances to prevent dirt from entering your home.

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How to Clean Marble and Granite Floors

Typically marble and granite tends to be protected with a finishing agent to maintain a shine a lustre. If you wish to retain this shine, it is necessary to periodically buff the floor and once and a while replace the actual finishing agent.

Marble and Granite rocks are very porous and can suffer scratches without proper care. Cleaning the material with a neutral cleaner solution and polished dry will strengthen the surface to prevent scratches. If you notice a scratch or dull surface, simply apply a marble restorer which is available at any janitorial supply store.

What About Cultured Marble?

There are certain types a granite and cultured marble that tends to be stronger than traditional marble, but can lose their lustre after many years of wear.

To bring them back to life, clean with an all-purpose or disinfectant cleaner in a spray bottle and soft micro-fibre cloth. It is not recommended that you use any form of powdered cleansers as they can be abrasive and do more damage.
When working on the marble, ensure the surface is kept wet while wiping.

The next step is to apply a polishing compound to bring back the initial glow of the surface. Use a small amount of appliance, car or silicone wax sealer to restore the marble’s shine.

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Pet Hair Removal from Upholstery and Carpets

Remove pet hair from fabric or upholstery with a pet rake, velour brush, tape roller, or tape wrapped around your hand. Use gentle, uniform strokes to remove the hair. You could also use the rubber bottom on a clean running shoe or a slightly dampened sponge, as long as it won’t damage the upholstery. To remove pet hair from carpet, use a vacuum with a good beater brush or brush roll. Also consider using a "pet sponge" to remove stubborn hair. They are available at most pet supply stores.

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Pet Stain Removal from Carpets

At Merry Maids, We’re pet owners, too. Follow these handy tips to remedy your pet’s little accidents.

  • Blot up liquids by placing absorbent towels or rags over the affected area and stepping on them; applying light pressure at first. Change towels or rags until the mess is no longer absorbed.
  • For fresh stains, apply a bacteria/enzyme digester from a pet store. Be sure to follow the directions.
  • For urine stains, apply the digester, put plastic over it, and then step on the spot until the area is well saturated. Leave the plastic on to ensure that the solution does not dry out.
  • Older stains may be difficult or impossible to remove. For these trouble spots, consider neutralizing the area after the digester has been working for about four hours. Mix a solution of one cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Rinse the area with this solution and apply a fresh batch of bacteria/enzyme solution.
  • If the stain or smell persists, call a professional deodorizing specialist. A total remedy will likely involve cleaning the entire carpet by extracting it and replacing the under-padding, or the carpet itself.

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Process and Equipment make a Difference

Dust is a big contributor to indoor pollution, and Merry Maids takes its removal process very seriously.

We use microfibre cloths when cleaning, because we’re yet to find anything that works better. These cloths are great at capturing dust and dirt, last longer than traditional cotton cleaning cloths, and are easier to clean, too. Because they are reusable, fewer cloths end up in landfills. This helps us maintain a small carbon footprint.

Our vacuums meet the Gold Seal standard of the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label certification. * This certification ensures that, among other things, a vacuum must not release more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic metre of air.*
*Source: carpet-rug.org

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Soap Scum in Tubs and Showers

To prevent soap scum build-up, squeegee the shower walls and doors after every use, or wipe them with a towel. Apply a light coating of lemon oil to tile walls or frosted shower doors. For a porcelain tub, apply light coat of boat and car wax to the sides—and only the sides—of the tub.

To deal with existing build-up, use a degreasing agent and scrub thoroughly. Use an alkaline soap scum remover from a janitorial supply store, or dissolve a handful of dishwasher detergent in a bucket of warm water. Then, cover the affected area completely, and let the solution soak in for a minimum of 15 minutes. Scrub thoroughly with a stiff brush or sponge, and rinse.

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Locally owned and operated by the Tanner Family for over 25 years