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Shine On: How to Clean Your Light Fixtures

The Maids Cape Cod • February 28, 2013

Light fixtures have a tendency to attract dust and small insects, not something anyone wants for their house, but they can also be a hassle to clean. Step stools, ladders, awkward shapes, dust falling everywhere—yikes!

Some of those things can't be avoided when it comes to cleaning your light fixtures, but by knowing the most effective way to clean each type of light fixture, you can make cleaning them a lot easier.

Chandeliers look intimidating, but if you know what to do, they aren't so scary after all. "The Accidental Housewife" recommends this easy method: hang an umbrella upside down from the chandelier and blow off dust with a blow dryer. Then take a small brush and get anything left behind. Finally, polish the light bulbs and crystals for a beautiful shine without too much work!

Lamps are pretty straightforward: dust the base with a cloth dampened with vinegar and water. If your lampshade is sturdy enough, you can dust it with the same cloth; otherwise, very gently hold your vacuum cleaner with the smallest attachment against it to pull away the dust.

Globes & Sconces can be made extremely simple if you have a dishwasher: just put them on the top rack. Leave some space to they don't bump into each other, then run the wash as you normally would. If no dishwasher is available, wash them by hand in warm, soapy water, just like doing dishes. Whichever method you use, give them time to dry before reattaching them.

Light Bulbs are easy, but it's important to make sure you let them cool first, since light bulbs can hold onto heat for several minutes after being turned off. Just wipe them down with a cloth to remove dust.

Ceiling Fans are often part of light fixtures, so they need to be addressed, too. The easiest way to tackle a ceiling fan is with a pillow case. Slide a pillow case onto a fan blade and slowly wipe down the blade on both sides. The dust will fall into the pillow case—no mess!

Decorating Tips for Any Home

By The Maids Cape Cod • March 22, 2017
Are you looking for a new look for spring? A little change in home décor can be a mood booster and a great way to kick off a season that's all about freshness and change. Finding little things to change here and there is a quick way to freshen your decorating without spending a lot of money, time, or energy!
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Ideas for Weeknight Relaxation

By The Maids Cape Cod • December 12, 2014
Relaxing can be really difficult, especially on week nights when you know that you have things to do the next day. Don't stress out about everything you have to do! Check out these ideas to learn how to have some fun and de-stress on those weeknights when you're at a loss for what to do. Have A Game Show Night Watching game shows can actually be surprisingly fun. It doesn't matter what show you watch, they're all game shows. You can watch classic dating game shows or go with Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune. Even watch a new show like Baggage. Watch on regular channels or on the Game Show Network for a fun way to kick back and relax, and maybe even learn something while testing your knowledge and game skills.
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Cleaning Shoe Marks from Ceramic Tile Floors

By The Maids Cape Cod • December 5, 2014
There are a lot of ways out there to triumph over those resistant shoe marks in tiled floors. Most of these floors are treated with finishes and lacquer such as polyurethane, which helps in protecting them and creates a shiny gleam. Abrasives and cleaners can dull these protective coatings, so make sure if you are cleaning show marks that you use the gentlest methods available that will remove the marks. If you own a ceramic tile floor, the following step by step guide will help you get rid of shoe marks that may mar your floor without destroying its elegance: STEP 1 Rub the shoe mark with a dry piece of cloth or a paper towel. Rub the cloth over the mark in back and forth motion. Run a clear pencil eraser gently over the shoe marks and then wipe off the residue with a damp cloth.

Tips for Storing Seasonal Clothing

By The Maids Cape Cod • November 28, 2014
The choices of clothing we wear depends on the season: wool for winter and tees for summer. These distinct seasons give us an excuse to change our wardrobe a couple of times a year, but the downside is that we require more storage for off-season clothes. Depending on a person’s creativity, budget and space, there are a number of tips for storing seasonal clothing. Let’s discuss some of the best tips: Vacuum Seal Vacuum sealed storage is very useful as it reduces size of clothing, towels, blankets etc. It stacks them evenly together. This option keeps clothes in an air-tight and water free environment, thus reducing the chances of clothes being damaged. There are a number of vacuum seals on the market to choose from or one can opt to make their own vacuum seals by watching DIY videos.
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Organizing Toddler Toys

By The Maids Cape Cod • November 21, 2014
The typical mom usually encounters problems related to organizing her toddler's toys. Maintaining an organized set of toys can be a daunting task, especially if your child is constantly playing with his or her toys. Try to relax because there are some practical ways how you can arrange your child's toys and maintain a well-organized room.
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Easy Methods for Tidying Up Your Concrete Floor

By The Maids Cape Cod • November 14, 2014
Concrete floors are durable but hard to clean. Employing normal cleaning methods to tidy up a concrete floor may just do a shoddy job. Cleaning a concrete floor may be easier than you can even imagine. Learn various ways below that can help you clean your concrete floor with ease. Clearing Dirt and Debris In fact, this is the first and a very important step that you should start whenever you want to clean your concrete floor. You can either vacuum or sweep it, and bear in mind that both wet and dry vacuum cleaners can be effectivefor your concrete floor. In case you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, a broom can accomplish the task.
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Keep Your Home Safe by Getting Rid of Yellow Jackets

By The Maids Cape Cod • November 7, 2014
Yellow jackets are a very common species of wasps that like building nests in homes, especially during summer. Just like other wasps, they are very aggressive and can sting if disturbed. However, you need to get rid of them in order to protect yourself from stings. Here are some crucial tips that you can use to get rid of them: Purchase yellow jacket killer There are synthetic wasp nest killer formulations that are specifically tailored for killing these pests in their nest. Research studies show that one nest can hold up to 3,000 individual wasps. However, these pesticides usually contain toxic chemicals, so make sure you adhere to the stipulated application instructions to avoid contaminating food and water in your home. Also, to promote environmental wellness, you can use an organic pesticide that is made from non-toxic plant oils and other biodegradable elements. A quick look at the ingredients and an online research on the same can help you determine if the solution is organic or synthetic.
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Ways To Keep Your Basement Smelling Fresh

By The Maids Cape Cod • October 24, 2014
Knowing how to get rid of unpleasant basement odor and keep it smelling fresh can save you a fortune. Read on and find out how you can eliminate basement odor and maintain a fresh-smelling basement. Top 3 Ways To Eliminate Basement Odor And Keep It Smelling Fresh Installing A Dehumidifier This can help a lot. A dehumidifier is a useful household appliance that is efficient in reducing the level of humidity in the air. A lot of homeowners install a dehumidifier in their basement due to health and comfort reasons. By placing a dehumidifier in your basement, it will control the level of humidity and moisture in the area.
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How to Prevent A Burglary in Your Home

By The Maids Cape Cod • October 17, 2014
The safety of your family and assets is a very important. Acquisition of assets requires resources and it will be improper to let the resources go down the drain due to preventable break-ins and theft. There are measures that you can take to cushion yourself from break-ins and damage to personal and family property. Below are a few ideas for keeping your home safe:
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Crucial Sanitation Strategies to Keep Your Premises Safe

By The Maids Cape Cod • October 10, 2014
Sanitation is crucial in homes as it helps to prevent various health complications, which are caused by pathogens that thrive in poorly sanitized premises. While The Maids of Cape Cod, in West Hyannis, Massachusetts, can help you with everyday home cleaning tasks, below are some important strategies that you can use to keep your home safe and devoid of viruses and bacteria:
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