December 2021 -

Dec 30

5 Laundry Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Posted by oasis | Household Tips | No Comments

Doing laundry can seem like rocket science. There are so many rules to follow and details to remember for every type of clothing item. And that’s without mentioning all the controls on your washing machine. They’ve had us all stumped at one time or another.

That’s why people often rely on Santa Fe’s reputable house cleaning service to tackle their laundry. The fastest and the most reliable way to clean clothes can be only a call away.

However, not everybody wants to hire cleaners to do their laundry. That’s why we’ve prepared a list of 5 most common laundry mistakes and how you can prevent them. Learning this will ensure you always get fresh and clean clothes, so keep reading!

What are some common laundry mishaps and how can you avoid them?

You can make laundry mistakes while washing, drying, or ironing your clothes. However, among these, the most common are:

1. Leaving your wet clothes in the machine

Moisture is not a good thing, as most bacteria thrive in wet and warm places. If you leave your freshly washed clothes in the machine for a few hours, they tend to develop an unpleasant smell. To prevent this, simply take your clothes out as soon as the machine stops, and hang them to dry immediately.

2. Mixing colors and temperatures

There is a simple rule that every type of underwear should be washed on high, and darker clothing on low temperatures. Hot water effectively kills the bacteria on your undergarments, while cold water prevents the colors from fading. Also, colored clothing items require a detergent that retains color and prevents it from leaking onto other items.

The best way to prevent the mistake of getting your clothes colored is to carefully read the label on every piece before you put it in the laundry basket. That way you can sort your clothes and know exactly what can be washed in which way.

3. Not cleaning your washing machine and dryer

Aside from getting smelly clothes with stains, neglecting your appliances can be very dangerous. The lint tray collects flammable material, so it’s crucial that you clean it after every cycle. Every once in a while, run the highest temperature cycle on your washing machine with no clothes, pouring a cup of baking soda or bleach to thoroughly disinfect it.

4. Not spacing your clothes on a drying rack

When hanging your washed clothes, either on a clothesline or a drying rack, instead of making sure that every item fits on the line, it’s more efficient to spread the clothes nice and smooth. This makes the ironing process easier, and often completely unnecessary. When you know you won’t have enough space for all the clothes, don’t overload the machine.

5. Not checking the pockets before loading the machine

One of the most frustrating mistakes is opening your machine after a cycle only to find a soaked $100 bill or your wired headphones. Aside from being a bummer, it also presents a danger to the appliance, since the smaller items can fall into the engine and destroy the machine. Always remember to check your pockets before washing your clothing.

Do you live in Santa Fe Springs and need help with your laundry? Hire the most reliable house cleaning service!

We know how tiring it can be to remember all of the laundry rules and fear you’ve made a mistake. That’s why you can always count on Oasis Natural Cleaning to help you! The cleaners we work with are experienced in every type of housework and know the most effective way to do anything, including laundry.

Instead of thinking about washing clothes, hire someone to do it for you and take a relaxing day off near Puente Hills with your loved ones. We’re just a phone call away. Contact us today and we’ll send someone right over!

Dec 30

3 Tips to Make Your Clothes Smell Fresh

Posted by oasis | Household Tips | No Comments

We’ve all been there, taking wet clothes out of the washing machine just to find them smelling moldy and gross. No matter what you do, the smell doesn’t go away. This is frustrating, which is why most people rely on house cleaning services in Santa Fe Springs, CA, to deal with their bad-smelling laundry. This way they get their laundry smelling fresh and pleasant at all times.

However, if you want to go it alone, we’ve got you covered. To better understand the process of getting fresh laundry, we’ve prepared a list of tips and tricks to help you. Read on!

Why don’t my clothes smell nice after washing?

Before you can make your clothes retain their freshness and always have a pleasant smell, it’s important to know what causes the revolting moldy smell. One of the main reasons is the state of your washing machine. The biggest laundry mistake is not cleaning your appliance often enough.

If it’s been a while since you deep cleaned it, that should be the first thing to do to get rid of the smell. Running the highest temperature cycle on an empty machine with a cup of baking soda should be sufficient. Before turning it on, make sure to clean out the filter near the bottom of the machine, as there may be dirt and mold, and maybe a missing sock or two.

Some other reasons why you get smelly clothes after washing are:

Leaving wet clothes in the machine for too long
Using the wrong type and improper amount of detergent
Faulty water supply, identified by a sulfur smell
Washing your clothes on a lower temperature cycle

How do I make my laundry smell fresh?

Now that you know what can cause it, it’s time to learn how to prevent bad-smelling laundry:

1. Dry your clothes right away

The first step to getting your clothes to smell fresh is to not let any moisture linger on them for longer than necessary. This means hanging your clothes as soon as the machine finishes the cycle, or putting them into the dryer right away. On a warm and sunny day, you can place your clothes-drying rack outside and they’ll be dry in only a few hours!

2. Switch up your detergent and fabric softener

Not every laundry product is suitable for all clothing. If you think your detergent or fabric softener is not good enough for your clothes, try a different brand. You can pick one from the list of EPA-approved cleaning products. The main thing to remember is always to use the right amount, as using too much or too little can make your clothes smell unpleasant.

3. Air out your wardrobe every few months

Although the washing part is important, the place where you store your garments is crucial, since they live there until you wear them. In summer, when it’s warm, take all your clothes out of the wardrobe and leave it empty until the evening, with the doors wide open. This kills any bacteria that might be multiplying inside and gets rid of the stale odor.

Tired of doing laundry and other housework? Hire one of the best house cleaning services in Santa Fe Springs, CA!

The best way to get fresh and clean clothes is hiring someone to do it for you. And if you want a professional and affordable service, then Oasis Natural Cleaning is the right choice for you! We work with certified cleaners that are at your disposal for any type of housework. You can choose whether it’s a one-time visit or a recurring service.

There’s no reason to waste your time and energy on tedious chores when you can spend it with your loved ones near the San Gabriel Valley. Just give us a call and we’ll send someone straight to your doorstep! Contact us today!

Dec 20

What to do if Contractors Have Left a Mess Post-Construction

Posted by oasis | Uncategorized | No Comments

Although it may seem a fair assumption that construction professionals would leave a property in a livable condition when they have completed a project, contractors can in fact vary wildly in what they believe their responsibilities are as far as cleaning up after themselves is concerned.

This can leave you in a very messy situation should a contractor shirk responsibility for cleaning up after their project is (in their heads, at least) complete.

So what can you, as a homeowner, do if construction contractors leave behind a mess in your home?

1. Check the entirety of the renovation work to ensure that other corners have not been cut

It’s worth casting a fine toothed comb over the work of a construction professional who refuses to clean up properly after themselves for a couple of reasons. These are:

Cleaning up a site is an essential part of checking your work. A contractor who does not clean up after themselves is akin to a writer who does not proofread what they have written.
Failure to clean up properly suggests that a contractor is rushing their project. What other parts of the project might they be rushing?

Before you air your reservations about the way that a contractor has failed to clean up after themselves, look closely at the work that they have done. Where possible, put their work through a “stress test” (actually use what they have created in the way that it will be used in the future).

If the work being completed is not satisfactory, then the easiest time to get it rectified is while you are still engaged with a contractor. You should therefore take this opportunity to flag up any other deficiencies of the work done along with the lack of cleaning up afterwards.

2. Consult your contract to see who is responsible for cleaning up debris

There are no laws in the State of California that categorically assign responsibility to a contractor for post-construction cleanup.

Government guidelines therefore state that a construction contract should always state who is responsible for clearing away debris when a project is completed.

Your first plan of action if you are not happy with the state that construction workers have left your home in should be to consult the contract that you and the contractor should have drawn up before the work began.

It is almost unheard of that a construction contract will explicitly state that the client is responsible for cleaning up a site. This means that a contract will either:

Assign the responsibility of post-construction cleanup to the contractor
Fail to address this issue at all.

If the former is the case then you are within your right to either withhold payment until the site is cleaned up, or take legal action against the contractor if they have been paid in advance. So long as you have sufficient evidence that the contractor neglected to clean your home post-construction (take photos of this), the law should be on your side.

If it is not clear in the contract who is responsible for post-construction cleanup, then you should bear in mind that you are not legally “in the right” if you choose to withhold payment. A safer solution would therefore be to threaten the contractor with a negative online review if they refuse to clean up the site.

This will not only likely convince the contractor to clean up your home, but if they refuse to do so then it will help stop this issue from arising with future homeowners.

Online reviews, particularly Google reviews, are becoming a huge factor in people’s buying decisions around residential renovations, so threatening a contractor with a negative review should be enough to see them clean up the mess that they have created and make their contracts more clear going forward.

3. Ascertain if the debris left behind is harmful, and if so then file an official complaint against the contractor

Even if a construction contract does not explicitly state that the contractor is responsible for cleaning up a site when their project is finished, they should still be held responsible for ensuring that your home is at least safe for habitation when their work is completed.

You should be particularly wary if your renovation project has involved the breaking down of concrete, brick or drywall. Any project that involves knocking down walls will definitely fall into this category. These three materials break down into dust that creates respirable crystalline silica. This can be harmful when breathed in. Although even a larger home renovation project will not create enough crystalline silica to do you serious long-term damage, it can still irritate your lungs in the short-term.

If this type of work has been undertaken, and the contractor has not thoroughly dusted the area (and the adjacent area) that the work has taken place, then you are well within your rights to make an official complaint about them for unsafe working practices.

Similarly, if the contractor has failed to clean any small, sharp objects such as nails, drills or broken glass, from their site then you also should file an official complaint about them for unsafe working practices.

4. If you do end up having to do clean up yourself, then get the right tools and PPE for the job

If you do find yourself having to do post-construction clean-up yourself, then you are going to struggle without the right tools and PPE for the job.

Since the dust and debris left after this type of work tends to be heavier, more stubborn, and (potentially) sharper than with typical cleaning you’ll need the right cleaning supplies to do the job safely and properly.

You can find a detailed breakdown of the types of supplies you will need for post-construction cleaning here, but at the very least you will need:

A HEPA-equipped vacuum cleaner
A dust mask
Several durable microfibre cloths
Paint thinner if there are any oil-based paint spills

A good vacuum cleaner is absolutely essential here. Using a knackered one will lead to a world of frustration (and a dusty house).

Bring in professionals if you lack the equipment

Getting a vacuum cleaner that is up to the job of a post-renovation cleanup does not make sense if this is just a one off (unfortunate) situation.

It therefore might be better to reach out for a quote on a post-renovation clean rather than tackle the project yourself.

This article was written by Volodymyr Barabakh.

Volodymyr is the Owner and Project Director of homebuilding company Fortress Home.

For more information, please visit: https://fortresshome.com/