As we head into Labor Day Weekend, which is the end of summer in many part of the United States, sadly this is not the case in Phoenix.  The humidity is on the rise again as we look forward to the monsoon storms kicking up again this weekend.  I thought this would be a good time for some inside updating and cleaning of our home.  The holidays aren't too far away and I wanted to start with updating our kitchen, which has been the same color of blue for about 10 years.  That has to be one of the hardest rooms to paint, as you still need it be functional.  Although, I would be perfectly happy to eat out until it's done!
The first part of the makeover started yesterday, so the kitchen is pretty messy to get around in already.  While doing the dishes this morning, the kitchen sink became clogged and backed up.  Ugh!!!  
There is not a good time for this ever...but today of all days!  I have very little patience when I get up and dress for a project, and cannot proceed quickly.   Ron (The "R" of R & S Commercial Cleaning Service) and I have different schedules as he obviously works nights and needs to get some sleep during the day.  (He also unclogs sinks and toilets on the job for our customers occasionally, so if you are in need of a janitor who gives great customer service!)
I am still on a very early morning schedule, so I (of course) have to try to solve this problem first.  As I remove the yucky, smelly water from the sink, I always wonder what to do with it?  Do I dump it down the toilet?  Um, this is part of a clog already!?

Plungers to the rescue  (hopefully)
Anyway, this leads me too an article I recently read about plungers.  Did you know that all plungers are not the same?
A flat surface such as a kitchen sink or shower use a flat cup plunger for the best results. They usually have a black rubber piece.  
They should all have a tight seal to work effectively.  A toilet plunger has a pullout piece that fits into the drain opening with a tighter seal.  And, apparently they are made of red rubber.
There is also a third option...An accordion plunger which has a more unique name, but is evidently harder to use and is made of plastic instead of rubber.  This could cause scratches to the surface of your toilet.
They all come with a huge difference in quality and price.  I'm just relieved that on the rare occasions I need a plunger immediately, that I can find them at my nearby grocery store.  I guess if you want to do the job right, you should head to a hardware store and check out their sensational collection of plungers.  Imagine how much more organized you will feel when your plungers are color coordinated to insure that you get the job done right.
We hope you have a happy, safe and clog-free Labor Day Weekend.

It's that time of year again, where many of us are transitioning from our care-free summer days to busy back-to-school schedules.  We are back to riding in our cars more and they are starting to get a little messy.  But, don't make being time-crunched an excuse for a dusty, hairy car interior.  These simple tips will help keep your car dust free.

End the dust buildup
If you drive a car with a dark interior you will probably be irritated by this more often.  My car has a black interior, which results in a remarkable dust buildup on the dash and  instrument panels.  Paper and cloth towels can leave behind little bits of fluff and debris. To help keep your car dust-free you can use dryer sheets.  I store a couple in the glove box (which leave a clean smell in the car, also)  They are tightly woven and can pick up dust that is attracted by static electricity.  Just give your dash a swipe every few weeks.  As an added bonus:  wiping the seats with a dryer wipe will remove pet hair in no time.  
Another trick for cleaning pet hair off the seats includes a spray bottle of water and a squeegee.  Spray the seat with cold water, use the squeegee to pull the hair forward towards the front of the seat.  It should stay clumped together and make it easier to pick up.
Now about all those half-used water bottles rolling around the back seat...

Most coffee lover's  who drink coffee every day are aware of the ugly brown stains left behind.  If you are like our family and have a coffee cup collection from everywhere you visit, you can just continually rotate your cups on a regular basis.  A win-win situation, keeps your cups clean and it's a awesome memory of your trip.
However,  If you have a favorite mug that you like to use all the time and you're getting tired of it looking stained and dirty,  here are some practical  tips that call for simple products:
The first easy method calls for pouring a little baking soda into your mug and adding enough water to create a paste.  (You can also use salt.)  A sponge or brush and a little scrubbing power create just the right amount of abrasion to remove mild stains. Repeat as necessary.
Another eco-friendly method that doesn't require harsh chemicals is good ole' vinegar.  Heat a cup up to medium heat and soak for around four hours or overnight.  Be sure to rinse it well.
​I have also read that you can use white tooth paste or denture tablets.  You drop the tablet in your mug filled with hot water and while it dissolves it is cleaning the stains out of the mug.
I hope you notice a remarkable improvement using these simple tips.  
​Have a marvelous Monday ~ Drink some coffee and pretend you know what you're doing

Toilet paper for instance! 
Did you ever stop and really think about how many different kinds of toilet paper there are?
Luxury:  for the most comfortable bathroom experience.
Economical:  or just plain cheap toilet paper is anything but that.  Some of it is so thin you can read through it.  Requiring much more to get the job done, so you run out much quicker.
Or the exclusive big box store kind that says we are not going to run out  of it this time!  Pretty good stuff for a good price. Usually a two-ply that is good for a high volume of use.
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How it hangs
Do you prefer to pull from the top or the bottom of the roll?

Did you know?
Only seven percent of Americans admit to stealing toilet paper from hotels.

Ouch!
These a a few things that were used before toilet paper was invented:  Hay, corn cobs, sponges, fruit peels, sea shells, sand, sticks and stones.  What a remarkable improvement over using these unconventional items!

Changing the toilet paper roll will not cause brain damage!  But, if you are still concerned, call us.

We hope your Friday is "rolling" right along... 

We spend so many hours in the car that it's no wonder they get a little messy and smelly.   The humidity lately in Phoenix has seemed to bring out a few funky smells that aren't usually there.  I have been burning (literally) through my favorite air fresheners from Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works.  And, if you have kids that play sports, well that's a whole different ball game, or hockey or gymnastics and even figure skating can bring on a whole different stank.  I recently read that placing a few unused charcoal briquettes in a cup in the cup holder can help absorb those odors and result in a much better smelling car overnight.   This sounds easy enough, just be sure to check for any sensationally smelly socks that got left behind!
Speaking of cup holders, nobody leaves home without something to drink during these hot summer months.  The cups then sweat and leak causing a build up of grime that can get sticky and annoying, especially if it's getting on your clothes.  (Or the arm rest, that feels gross too!)  For cup holders that are hard to remove, you can spray an old sock with your favorite cleaner, slide it over a cup that fits in the holder and with a few twists back and forth, clean it right up.  What a great improvement with very little effort.  You could also put new coffee filters in the holder to absorb wetness and than toss it in the trash.  
Tell us if you have any low-cost simple steps to make riding in the car more pleasant.    Have a totally terrific Thursday!


(We do not work for or are affiliated with Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works.  But, we do shop there...a lot!)

A nightly challenge that we have had lately is all the dirt and debris that seems to settle everywhere causing windows and door ways to look messy and unkempt.  Narrow mindedness causes many people to down play the importance of having a clean workplace.  From the fingerprints on the entryway doors to the dust hanging from the a/c vents.  Dirty coffee stations and over-flowing trash containers tells your clients and employees that you simply don't care enough about them to maintain a nice work environment.  Going too long without a good cleaning also shows your employees that you don't care enough about their health.

Are you detail oriented?
We are!  Whether you want to know all the dirty little details about cleaning your office or you would rather leave it to someone else to take care of.  You have the power to make that improvement.  Promote your business by providing a sparkling clean environment, this will leave an amazing imprint on all of those who enter.  When your employees see the improvement they will be more creative and have more energy.  A clean and well maintained work space will make clients as well as your employees feel confident when they enter your building.  
We want to be part of your solution.  We can help you put together an affordable cleaning and maintenance schedule that can make a remarkable difference and give you an instant competitive edge.  The results will benefit everybody!

Today, August 10 is National Lazy Day.  A dream come true for lazy people who seriously need a break from responsibilities.  It's like a free pass to click through all your favorite programs on Netflix and drink coffee all day long.   Discover how nice it would be to sit back and just relax for a whole day.
Tomorrow you will need to be ready to jump back into life.  Today you can sit in bed and make a to-do list for everything you need to get done.  The list will help you stay on track so you don't get overwhelmed at all the things you need to do.  Fight the urge to get up to get stuff done, it will still be there tomorrow.  
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Start fresh
See the opportunity in each new day 
Have an awesome weekend

We were very excited earlier this week that we had a brand new business wanting to try out our services in their new workplace.  The only problem was that they are located out of state.   Unfortunately for them, we are located in Arizona and clean only in the Valley of the Sun.  Which includes Phoenix and the cities surrounding it such as Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler, Peoria, Surprise and all the cities in between.  Although they were located in the Southwest, it would be a challenge to commute there everyday.  We do wish them the very best in becoming an amazing and successful business, and maybe someday we will grow bigger and include their state as one we do business in.  
Being local allows us to address all the unique idiosyncrasies that go along with cleaning in Arizona.  Dust storms or ha-boobs that blow a wall of dirt over a 1000 feet into the sky and many miles wide.  No matter how tightly sealed your building is, a fine layer of dust will find it's way in and cover every little nook and cranny in your workplace.  We have made remarkable improvement on trying to tame the dust on your blinds and work surfaces.  
Depending on the area of town that you work in, we have run into spiders, scorpions and an occasional javalina and even mountain lions.  Luckily, we have only been in contact with a few snakes.  We are always on the lookout for these desert critters to be present.  Imagine walking into your office and finding a spider or scorpion sitting on your desk or chair. Safety and the well-being of our employees and clients is very important to us.
We want to be a valuable asset to the companies that hire us.  We are proactive in creating a healthy and positive attitude among our employees.  We allow our faith in people to shine brightly in our work as well as in our personal life.  We are conscious of how we present ourselves on a daily basis.  Yes, being a Arizona based business is a challenge,  we make it easy by talking to you and finding out what improvements you need to keep your place of business sparkling.  Tell us what we can do.

The power of a bad attitude makes people think twice about doing business with you.
My teenage daughter started back to high school this week and for the last two mornings we have stopped to pick up coffee.  Being that neither one of us is a morning person, it's by mutual agreement that we listen to music without having to talk. (We are currently into the Mama Mia soundtrack!)
Monday morning coffee was easy, and the person asked if we needed pup cups of whip cream for our dogs.  This instantly improved our morning, just by the fact that they remembered our precious pets, along with a special bonus for our dogs.    Their attitude was catching and inspired us to have a great Monday.
Today's coffee run was going smooth enough until we reached the order window and were asked "What are you having?"  This kind of made us smile as we assumed he was morning challenged also.    After reaching the window, we were handed our coffee without so much as a "Good morning" or "Thank you for coming".  Maybe they should promote their business as a smile free zone?
These two attitudes were as different as night and day.  One made us look for something to be positive about and the other left us without any feeling at all.  Lucky for them  that coffee is our favorite way to talk ourselves into doing stuff!

Attitude is everything
New day
New thoughts
New strengths
Enjoy your Tuesday