Choose a Columbia Housecleaner that is Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

It seems like common sense. . .

You want a service professional in your home who is:

1. legally licensed to conduct business;

2. bonded against employee theft;

3. insured.

Being Licensed in the mid-Missouri area is a matter of having a business license to perform services in the city limits. Chrystal Clean has a business license from the City of Columbia. We also registered with the Missouri Secretary of State as a Limited Liability Company, and pay our employees through a payroll company (so all taxes are properly paid).

Being Bonded means that if a maid steals something from you, the bond will pay you the cost to replace the item. The bond protects you, the client, not the cleaning company. All Chrystal Clean employees are bonded.

Being Insured may be the most important requirement to the client. Commercial liability insurance means peace of mind. If the cleaning company causes damage to your home, insurance will pay to have it repaired. Also, if a worker is injured at your home, you will not have to pay through your homeowner's policy.

Many house cleaners, especially individuals and small companies, do not carry liability insurance due to its high cost. It's easy to get proof of insurance — simply ask for a copy of the Certificate of Liability Insurance. Every reputable cleaning company will be happy to provide proof of insurance.

Chrystal Clean, LLC is insured through Columbia Insurance, and will provide a copy of the Certificate of Insurance upon request.

Repairing Wood Scratches

Wood furniture and flooring are great, but a scratch can cause a great deal of distress. Fortunately, most wood scratches can be repaired quickly and inexpensively using common household items.

Go Nuts!
Small scratches will disappear by using the meat of a walnut, pecan, or Brazil nut. Just rub it along the scratch to get the meat into the scratch. The oil in the nut meat will darken the raw scratch. Wait a few minutes, then polish the scratch.

Color that Scratch Gone!
Raid your child's Crayon box and find a color that closely matches your wood. Use a hair dryer to gently heat and soften the Crayon. Rub the Crayon in the direction of the scratch to fill it in. Buff the scratch area to blend with the wood, allow it to dry, then polish.


Deeper, more serious scratches should be treated by a professional, but smaller, simpler can be handled by you!

Please Don't Feed the Dust Bunnies

Home is where the heart is. That is true, but home can also be home to dirt, dust, germs, and general ickiness. Do you know how clean (or dirty) your house really is?

There are five neglected areas that once cleaned will dramatically improve the cleanliness of your home.

Change Your Air Filter
Changing your heating and cooling air filter quarterly will increase the air quality of your home. Mechanical air filters traps particles including allergens like pollen, pet dander and dust mites. They also capture irritant particles like tobacco smoke. Changing your air filter regularly can also lower your heating and cooling bill.

Change Your Sheets
Millions of organisms live in your sheets and mattress. Washing your sheets regularly and steam cleaning your mattress and pillows annually will help you sleep without the bed-bugs biting! Chrystal Clean changes linens as part of its regular cleaning service.

Dust Way Up High, And Way Down Low
Dust settles on ledges like picture frames, curtain rods, and door frames. Cobwebs like to magically appear in ceiling corners of even the cleanest homes. These areas are often overlooked during regular cleanings. Under beds, in corners, behind and under furniture, and along baseboards are also areas that will collect dust. Micro fiber cloths trap dust and prevent it from flying into the air like cotton cloths do.

Vacuum Your Air Vents

Air vents are another commonly overlooked area. Vacuuming the vents regularly will remove dust and particles. If someone in your house is handy with a screwdriver, the vent can be easily removed and vacuumed out to improve air quality.

Clean Your Drapes

The weather during the spring and fall in mid-Missouri can be glorious, but opening your windows means inviting dust and particles inside. Your drapes are your first line of defense to these unwelcome guests, so regular cleaning is an important step in the eviction process. Sweep off heavy drapes and curtains each time you vacuum. Simply place a brush attachment on the end of the accessory hose and sweep in an up and down motion across the fabric. You can also remove the dust from washable drapes and curtains quickly by tossing them in the clothes dryer. Use a damp rag and a fabric dryer sheet, and tumble dry on low for fifteen minutes. You can also remove your drapes and have them cleaned at your local dry cleaner.

Regularly cleaning these five problem areas will help manage the dust and dirt, and will also improve the air quality in your home. You can also get a head start on your cleaning with a top-to-bottom deep clean from Chrystal Clean. Give us a call to schedule your appointment, 573-397-1968.

Cleaning Up Halloween Tricks

If you walk out on November 1, and discover that you've been "tricked" by some Halloween pranksters, don't worry. Following these simple steps will make cleaning your Columbia, Missouri home a snap.

Eggs
Ew! If your house has been egged, power washing is the best way to get eggs off siding and windows. If you don’t have a power washer, use household vinegar to break down the egg's proteins. Then rinse. Clean up the egg stains as quickly as possible — newer stains are easier to remove than older ones.

TP
If your house gets TP’d on Halloween, use a tree trimmer to remove toilet paper stuck on high branches. To remove spit wads, soak 'em in soap water and gently scrub them off. You may also be able to wash them off with a garden hose.

Shaving Cream
Shaving cream is easy to remove with soap and water. Sprinkle some laundry detergent on the sidewalk or siding and spray it off.

Silly String
Dawn dish soap will clean petroleum-based messes like silly string. Dawn is also gentle to the environment.

Housecleaning Tip of the Day

Always keep several get well cards on the mantel….. So if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you’ve been sick and unable to clean!

If that doesn't fool 'em, give your friends at Chrystal Clean a call! 397-1968

Do Not Turn Up Your Nose At Vinegar!

Many residential cleaning services use white vinegar as a "go to" cleaning product. "Sure,'cause it's cheap!" you say. Let me give you five reasons why vinegar is a superior cleaning product:

Vinegar Disinfects
White vinegar kills mold, germs, and most bacteria due to its high level of acidity. In fact, plain old 5 percent white vinegar straight from the supermarket will kill 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses).

Its Safe And Does Not Harm The Environment
White vinegar is the original "green cleaner." While vinegar cleans and disinfects, it is safe for children and small pets. Heck, we use it to prepare food all the time! Vinegar contains no dangerous fumes or and will not cause a harmful chemical reaction, as with other cleaning products.

It Cleans!
White vinegar is a wonder cleaner! Vinegar is very effective at breaking down food particles in the kitchen, and cleans mildew and soap scum in the bathroom.

Vinegar Can Keep Bugs Away
Ants and cockroaches hate the smell of vinegar.

Its Cheap!
But you already knew that. A general purpose white vinegar cleaner is prepared by diluting it with water, 1:1. Water is pretty cheap also.

While white vinegar is terrific as a general purpose cleaner, there are certain areas that should never be cleaned with vinegar:

Hardwood Floors - Vinegar is acidic and will dull and damage the finish on hardwood floors. Opt instead for a hardwood floor cleaner that will enhance and protect the shine and surface of your floor.
No Wax Floors - Vinegar's acidity will take away the shine and sheen here as well.
Carpet Odors - Often vinegar is suggested to be used on pet stains on carpet, but it doesn't work as well as an enzymatic carpet cleaner. Vinegar might mask the odor, but it won't eliminate the reason for the odor.
Unsealed Grout - Grout that hasn't been sealed, or needs to be resealed should not have vinegar used on it. Over time, vinegar can deteriorate the condition of your grout.
Stone Surfaces - Stone surfaces can be etched and damaged by vinegar. For best results check with your stone supplier for guidance on vinegar and the best cleaners. Often, all that is needed is water and a soft cloth to keep your stone looking great.

Marble - the acidic quality of vinegar (as well as many other cleaning products, like bathroom cleaners or those with lemon) will etch and dull the surface of your marble.

We Clean Windows!

Yes, we clean windows. But we are not nearly as enthusiastic about it as this guy: