Tag Archives: Cleaning

Refrigerator Coil Cleaning Frequency: A Guide to Optimal Maintenance

June 20, 2025   Shane

Introduction

Refrigerators are essential appliances in modern households, ensuring food stays fresh and safe. However, many homeowners overlook a critical maintenance task—cleaning the refrigerator coils. Dirty coils force the compressor to work harder, increasing energy consumption and potentially shortening the appliance’s lifespan. This article explains how often you should clean refrigerator coils and why it matters.

Why Cleaning Refrigerator Coils Is Important

Refrigerator coils (condenser coils) release heat from the refrigerant, allowing the fridge to maintain a cool interior. Over time, dust, pet hair, and debris accumulate on the coils, reducing efficiency. Consequences of neglected coils include:

  • Higher energy bills:

    • – The compressor runs longer to compensate.

  • Overheating:

    • – Excess strain can lead to premature failure.

  • Reduced cooling performance:

    • – Food may spoil faster.

    How Often Should You Clean Refrigerator Coils?

    The recommended cleaning frequency depends on several factors:

    1. Standard Recommendation

    Most manufacturers suggest cleaning refrigerator coils every 6 to 12 months. However, homes with pets or high dust levels may require every 3 to 6 months.

    2. Factors Affecting Cleaning Frequency

  • Pets:

    • – Pet hair clings to coils quickly.

  • High dust environments:

    • – Homes near construction sites or with poor air filtration need more frequent cleaning.

  • Refrigerator location:

    • – If the fridge is in a tight space or near the floor, coils collect dust faster.

    3. Self-Cleaning vs. Manual Cleaning

    Some modern refrigerators have self-cleaning coils, reducing maintenance needs. Check your owner’s manual—if your fridge lacks this feature, manual cleaning is necessary.

    How to Clean Refrigerator Coils

  • 1. Unplug the refrigerator:

    • for safety.

  • 2. Locate the coils:

    • – Typically at the back or beneath the unit (front grille models require panel removal).

  • 3. Use a coil brush or vacuum:

    • to remove dust gently.

  • 4. Wipe with a damp cloth:

    • if needed (avoid water near electrical components).

  • 5. Reassemble and plug in:

    • the fridge.

    Signs Your Coils Need Immediate Cleaning

    – The fridge runs constantly.
    – The motor feels excessively hot.
    – Cooling performance declines noticeably.

    Conclusion

    Regular refrigerator coil cleaning improves efficiency, lowers energy costs, and extends appliance life. For most households, every 6 months is ideal, but adjust based on environmental factors. A few minutes of maintenance can save hundreds in repair or replacement costs.

    By following these guidelines, you can ensure your refrigerator operates smoothly for years to come.

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    Would you like any modifications or additional details?

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    Monthly House Cleaning Schedule Template: Keep Your Home Spotless All Year Round

    June 14, 2025   Michelle

    Maintaining a clean and organized home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a structured monthly house cleaning schedule, you can break down tasks into manageable steps, ensuring every corner of your home stays fresh and tidy.

    This template provides a balanced approach to cleaning, covering daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Adjust it based on your household’s needs and lifestyle.

    —

    Weekly Cleaning Tasks

    *(Repeat these tasks every week to maintain cleanliness.)*

  • Dusting::

    • Wipe down surfaces, shelves, and electronics.

  • Vacuuming/Mopping::

    • Clean floors in high-traffic areas.

  • Bathroom Cleaning::

    • Scrub sinks, toilets, showers, and mirrors.

  • Kitchen Deep Clean::

    • Disinfect countertops, clean the stovetop, and wipe appliances.

  • Laundry::

    • Wash and fold clothes, towels, and linens.

  • Trash Removal::

    • Empty all bins and replace liners.

    —

    Monthly Deep Cleaning Tasks

    *(Tackle these once a month for a thorough clean.)*

    Living Areas & Bedrooms

    – Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures.
    – Wash windows and window sills.
    – Vacuum upholstery and under furniture.
    – Rotate and flip mattresses (if needed).

    Kitchen

    – Clean the refrigerator (inside and out).
    – Degrease range hood and oven.
    – Organize pantry and discard expired items.
    – Sanitize trash cans.

    Bathrooms

    – Deep clean grout and showerheads.
    – Wash shower curtains or glass doors.
    – Disinfect toothbrush holders and soap dispensers.

    Other Areas

    – Wipe down baseboards and door handles.
    – Clean air vents and replace filters (if applicable).
    – Declutter and organize storage spaces.

    —

    Seasonal Add-Ons

    *(Extra tasks to incorporate quarterly or seasonally.)*

  • Spring::

    • Clean carpets, wash curtains, and declutter closets.

  • Summer::

    • Power-wash outdoor spaces and clean patio furniture.

  • Fall::

    • Deep-clean gutters and prep heating systems.

  • Winter::

    • Disinfect high-touch areas to prevent illness.

    —

    Tips for Sticking to Your Schedule

    ✅ Set reminders (use apps or a planner).
    ✅ Delegate tasks among family members.
    ✅ Break tasks into 15–30-minute chunks to avoid burnout.
    ✅ Reward yourself after completing deep-cleaning sessions.

    —

    Final Thoughts

    A monthly house cleaning schedule helps maintain a hygienic, stress-free home without last-minute scrambling. Customize this template to fit your routine, and enjoy a consistently clean living space!

    Would you like a printable version of this schedule? Let us know in the comments!

    —
    *Happy cleaning!* 🧹✨

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    Dangers Of Chlorine In Showers, Pool, And Cleaning Products-The Facts Revealed

    August 11, 2024   Matt

    Dangers Of Chlorine In Showers, Pool, And Cleaning Products-The Facts Revealed

    Today’s world is filled with problems and worries. A
    lot of people are already health conscious but somehow
    they are still overlooking some things. Are you
    already aware that tap water and cleaning products
    contain a certain element that can be very dangerous
    to an individual’s health? That element is chlorine.
    If you want to find out more about the possible
    dangers of chlorine in showers, pools, and cleaning
    products, read on and get the important facts.

    • Skin Irritant – you can easily tell when there’s
    chemical in the water, whether you’re taking a shower
    or when you’re swimming in the pool. You will suddenly
    feel the stinging and you have a blurry vision. And of
    course, how can you ignore the smell? Water with
    chlorine is not that good, especially to people.
    Studies have proven that chlorinated water can cause
    skin irritations, specifically eczema.

    Aside from eczema, individuals with seborrhea,
    psoriasis, and acne can experience worsening of their
    conditions. Chlorinated water destroys the vitamin E
    and polyunsaturated fatty acids found in the body. It
    generates toxins which create free radicals. There is
    a remedy to these skim irritations. Doctors usually
    recommend patients to take supplements which contain
    vitamin E, flaxseed oil, and fatty acids.

    • When chlorine combines with other water compounds,
    trihalomethanes is produced. These are carcinogens
    which don’t degrade and so the body’s fatty tissues
    store them. This may not sound alarming but what if
    the carcinogens were stored in the fatty tissues of
    your breast? The chemicals are also called as
    organochlorides. These can also be stored in semen and
    blood which can cause DNA mutations that suppress the
    function of the immune system. Hence, cell growth can
    be interfered.

    • There are still other health concerns that you need
    to look into. Children who are always exposed to
    chlorine in pools will experience aggravated asthma.
    As mentioned earlier, carcinogens can be stored in the
    body and so you will be more prone to cancer. Breast
    and bladder cancer are just some of the possible
    illnesses that you can get. Some individuals were also
    noted to get malignant melanoma.

    At present, studies are being conducted to establish
    the connection of chlorinated water and certain
    household products to congenital cardiac
    abnormalities.

    • Competitive swimmers are able to absorb a large
    amount of chlorine which go directly to the
    bloodstream, even on their training sessions.

    • Children are able to inhale more toxins as compared
    to adults. If you don’t want your kids to suffer from
    the dangers of chlorine, make sure that you use water
    filters.

    • Try to check the chlorine content of pools. If there
    is a very high content of chlorine, the dental enamel
    can be eroded because of the high acid levels.

    • Toxin is greatly absorbed though your skin as
    compared to breathing. So whenever you take a bath or
    swim in the pool, or when you’re cleaning the house
    using household cleaners, your body can absorb
    chlorine.

    Ensure that your pool is not over chlorinated and try
    to limit your bath time. While you’re shopping for
    chlorine alternatives for household cleansers, pool or
    shower filters, make sure that you get the best
    quality products. That way, you can protect yourself
    and your loved ones from the dangers of chlorine in
    showers, pools, and cleaning products. It helps to
    know some facts so that you will know what to do,
    right?

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    The Latest Vacuum Cleaning Equipment Is NOT Your Mothers Old Machine!

    July 12, 2024   Matt

    The Latest Vacuum Cleaning Equipment Is NOT Your Mothers Old Machine!

    There was a time not to long ago when a vacuum cleaner was basically the same machine no matter where or how it was purchased. In previous times, the decision on what vacuum cleaner to purchase was based more on the “extras” the salesman offered but more often than not, it was the financing arrangements that were available.

    Like now, most families could ill afford the additional expense of replacing home appliances, what few that were available. The vacuum cleaner however was one piece of equipment that was considered almost a necessity once it was used, especially with the advent of wall to wall carpet.

    Many homes pre-1960 didn’t have wall to wall carpet but instead relied on area rugs for floor coverings. These large rugs could be taken out to the backyard, hung over a fence or clothesline and beaten with a carpet beater to remove ground in soil.

    Vacuum cleaners removed the need to take rugs out of the house for cleaning. Today however, there are several carpet cleaning technologies available. Two of the most popular types of vacuum cleaner technologies include HEPA filtration and bagless.

    Both technologies have the champions and like everything else have their positives and negatives. The positive with HEPA filtration is that small particulate dirt is better captured. This allows for a cleaner exhaust and theoretically, a cleaner indoor environment. The negative with HEPA type filters is that because they capture the finer dirt particles, they tend to need more frequent bag or filter replacement. Another potential issue is that as the HEPA filter captures more dirt, it also tends to lose some suction power as the filters fill.

    Bagless vacuum cleaners are exactly what the name suggests. Bagless vacuum equipment typically features a cup or hard plastic container that captures the dirt during use. This makes emptying a lot easier and the amount of consumables like vacuum bags and filters is a lot less.

    Consider not only the technology but the ease of use, general quality of the equipment, weight if you’re going to carry it up and down stairs, etc. Onboard tools are nice but why carry around all that extra weight when not needed. Every vacuum technology has their share of people who love and people who hate it. The key is to find the vacuum cleaner you like.

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    12 Things To Know About Carpet Cleaning

    January 04, 2024   Matt

    12 Things To Know About Carpet Cleaning

    Carpets, there in all of our homes. Of course it’s a given that at some point you will be doing some carpet cleaning. Here are 12 things to know about carpet cleaning that will make your life easier.
    1. Toxic
    Most of the products on the market for carpet cleaning are safe and will have a minimal impact on the environment. However some of the carpet cleaning products do contain toxic chemicals which can be hazardous to the person using them as well as other people in the house or pets. So be sure to read the labels carefully before using. Always try to choose a product with the least amount of chemicals and in the mildest you can find that will work.
    2. Clean Often
    It’s always best to clean your carpets on a regular basis. If you do not clean your carpets on a regular basis you will need to use a stronger chemical product because the dirt will have ground itself deeper into the carpet and it becomes more difficult to lift. Cleaning your carpets on a regular basis is easier on the environment, your health, and it will help extend the life of the carpet.
    3. Use Caution
    Read labels very carefully. Not only on the product but on any documentation provided with the carpet. Should you use the wrong product or a product with stronger chemical than your carpet can handle you could damage the carpet.
    4. Hire The Pros
    If you are not comfortable with cleaning your carpets yourself or you can’t be bothered to rent a carpet cleaning machine, drag it home, and get to work, then hire the pros! There are many professionals that will clean your carpets for a very reasonable fee and give you a guarantee on the work they do.
    5. Installation
    If you are laying new carpets chances are the reason you are doing this is because you want them to look appealing and accent the room while at the same time providing functionality. If you install the carpet poorly or install the wrong type of carpet for the area you will have a higher maintenance cost and the carpets will need to be cleaned more frequently. So make sure you choose the correct carpets. Regular vacuuming and spot removal will also lower your cleaning maintenance costs.
    6. The Right Underlay
    The underlay is more important than you might think and is directly related to carpet cleaning. You need to match the underlay to the type of carpet you will be installing. Carpet should not be placed in areas were water, chemicals or hard to clean products could be spilled on the carpet. Kitchens, copy rooms, lockers, and entrances to buildings are not a good location to place carpets because your carpet cleaning costs will be high. Poor grade underlay will affect how the stain soaks into the carpet and how difficult stain removal becomes.
    7. Stop The Worst
    The worst soiling on your carpets comes from outside. So if you stop outside soil from coming in contact with your carpet you will reduce the amount of chemical cleaners you will have to use. Place a large walking mat at all outside entrances Every few days you should vacuum the mats this will prevent soil from entering the carpeted areas of your home. Have visitors remove their shoes so that they aren’t dragging that loose dirt across the carpets.
    8. Vacuum Often
    Believe it or not daily vacuuming with a good vacuum cleaner that has good suction and a power head with a brush type power bar will help to eliminate soil build up and reduce the amount of times you will need carpet cleaning performed. That’s because the dirt gets picked up before it has a chance to get ground in and soil the carpet.
    9. No Drinks
    Limit the places you allow the kids to have drinks and messy foods. If you have young children make them stay seated while drinking. If you are really concerned about reducing staining then don’t let any family member’s family drink or carry soft drinks, coffee or other food items across the carpet.
    10. Act Fast
    If you can react to the spill immediately and any spots you see with a good spot remover you will help prevent stain from becoming permanent and it will save you having to use a carpet cleaner. Be careful what you use to remove stains because if you use the wrong chemicals you could smear the stain and spread it further and deeper into the carpet. Always first try clear cold water and blotting with a cloth to remove the stain and only move on to a stronger product only as a last resort.
    11. Toxic Chemicals
    You should know that carpet spot removal cleaning products contain some of the most dangerous chemicals found in any cleaning products. If you us these products be sure to wear gloves and use the cleaner according to the manufactures directions. Avoid all type 4 spot removers because they contain Tetrachlorethylene which is very toxic to people and pets.
    12. Steam Cleaners
    Steam or rotary cleaners for carpets use a fairly mild products so they are an excellent choice. But you can still misuse them so follow the directions carefully. If you use this type of cleaner you will have to be careful that you do not saturate the carpet with hot water because if you do it will take longer to dry and may result in damage to the carpet.
    Some of the cleaners supplied with the machines you rent from the local store are highly toxic so be sure the room or rooms you are working in have a good supply of fresh air. Be sure to keep kids and pets off the newly cleaned carpets until it is dry because there is always a residue left on the carpets that can be harmful to kids or pets. Always let the carpets dry completely and then vacuum right after it is dry to remove any residual contaminants.
    These 12 things to know about carpet cleaning that will make your life easier much easier and keep you on top of the carpet cleaning game.

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    House Cleaning – The Professional Business

    November 10, 2023   Matt

    House Cleaning – The Professional Business

    Most people get into house cleaning to earn some extra money. You may have family, friends and neighbors as your regular clients. Are you ready and motivated to take your part-time business to the next level?
    Growing any business takes time and patience. And if you have a loyal client base now, set aside a portion of your gross revenue for advertising, custom business forms and your own products and equipment.
    Expanding your business also takes planning. How can you start getting new clients without a large advertising budget? A small one-time investment in custom business forms is the first step.
    So what’s wrong with not using business forms? Absolutely nothing if you’re satisfied with your client base right now and not interested in making more money.
    But I hear from a lot of professional house cleaners that are struggling in their business. They wonder why they don’t get more of the jobs they bid on. They ask why people won’t pay their rate and instead want to negotiate the price down.
    If you’re not presenting yourself as a professional business, your prospects assume you just need to make some extra money; you don’t have their respect and they think you’ll be happy to take whatever they offer to pay.
    Now think about this for a minute. Who would you be more likely to hire: the plumber that shows up to estimate your job with a clipboard and custom business forms or the plumber that shows up with a flyer? Be honest with yourself; you are going to trust this plumber inside your home around your personal possessions. What if this person were to break or damage something? Do you think about this issue with the plumber with the clipboard and custom business forms, or is it more of a concern with the plumber with just the flyer?
    Your prospects are judging you and forming an opinion from the moment you answer their call. And you know what they say about first impressions? It’s absolutely true in running a business. Not only are they judging you before they hire you, but they judge you again when you arrive on the scheduled service date.
    – Use the Service Agreement to define your terms of doing business and to document the service for each client. This forms performs dual purpose as it is also your estimating form that you use during your in-home or telephone bidding. You will discuss the content with your prospect and then have them sign it, not as a contract, but to provide you and them with an understanding of your terms and the service start date.
    – The Customer Checklist records your estimate for your new client and has all the cleaning tasks listed that you perform. This form alone can get you the job immediately or even later after your prospect has tried other services.
    – The Work Order is created from the important notes you recorded on the Service Agreement during the walk through or telephone interview. It specifies the client, the address and phone number, information pertaining to pets in the home, client specific requests and directives, including important notes you documented about the home.
    – The Service Checklist is used by you or your team on the scheduled service date. It is a reminder of the regular service tasks that are to be performed and is used to maintain quality. One of the biggest complaints from clients is that quality deteriorates over time. If you’re not using a Service Checklist, you’re not instilling trust in your clients, especially new clients. They will auto- matically check your work on every appointment to make sure you didn’t miss anything. And if you did, you’ll hear about it – quick!
    When you start to use business forms for your existing clients, they will probably ask you why the sudden change. This provides you with a chance to tell them that you’re expanding your business and would appreciate referrals. This leaves them impressed and knowing that you are serious about running a professional business and will be more likely to make referrals.
    Custom business forms speak loudly to your prospects and in the long run land you more jobs, referrals and larger profits!

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