Fall Back into the Swing of Things

Fall Back into the Swing of Things
THE MAIDS offers tips for keeping your home clean in a crunch

Before you know it, the trees will begin their autumn metamorphosis, reminding us that cooler and shorter days are lurking just around the corner. Fall conjures up images of football, back to school and pumpkin patches … but certainly not cleaning.

If this summer’s activities did not derail your housekeeping efforts, the coming months
are sure to cause some time constraints. In between raking leaves and enjoying a brisk fall walk, use these quick cleaning tips I offer as owner of The Maids, a residential cleaning service. Remember, even taking small actions can make a big impact when it’s time for major housecleaning.

Thirty seconds is longer than you think. In the amount of time it takes pour a cup of coffee and savor that first sip, you can easily maintain trouble spots or reduce pesky clutter:
• Prevent soap scum buildup in your shower with a few quick squirts of daily shower spray.
• Swipe the bathroom counter with a disinfectant wipe, clearing it of hairspray, toothpaste and soap scum.
• Shake out entryway rugs to rid them of excess dirt and minimize traipsing it throughout your home.

Did you know two minutes is the recommended amount of time you should take to brush your teeth? But did you also realize that in that short amount of time you can:
• Gather stray clutter into a laundry basket. Just be sure to put everything in its proper place at a later time.
• Sweep high-traffic areas, like the entryway or bathroom floor.
• Spritz the bathroom mirror with glass cleaner and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.

Are you lucky enough to have won a time windfall? Use your five minutes wisely:
• Start a load of laundry.
• Wash the bathroom floor. Clean-up is simple if you have already swept it during your two-minute hiatus.
• Wipe down kitchen countertops. You don’t want harmful germs finding their way into your food preparations.
• Sort through your pile of mail and toss the junk. Remember to shred and recycle!

Busy lifestyles necessitate taking small, time-efficient steps when it comes to maintaining an orderly and clean house. If you need an extra hand, call THE MAIDS and experience the healthiest, most thorough housecleaning in the industry. For a free, no-obligation estimate, call us at 207-772-6212 or visit our Web site at :http://www.maids.com/franchise/Portland,_ME/72.aspx

We Could all Learn A Lesson From This Dedicated Maid's Employee!

Damon Lewis began working for a Maids office in Waukegan, Ill., in 1999. The office he worked at was located not far from his home and the commute was quick and easy. Damon was hired as a team member, moved up to assistant team leader, advanced to team leader and then became the field manager. In 2000, Damon was nominated by his owner and selected Maid of the Year by The Maids International (TMI) corporate office. Then, in 2004, TMI purchased the Evanston office and also the Waukegan office. Since the Evanston operation was much larger, the franchise home office was in Evanston which is 30 miles from Waukegan and Damon didn’t have a car. Now what? Understandably, all of the other employees left The Maids except Damon. It was too far to walk, there was no bus, but there was a train he could take to Evanston. The only problem was he would need to get to the train stop each morning and would need to do the same on his return trip home. How could he make this happen? Then Damon thought about his roller blades and decided this would be his answer. I asked Damon how he made this work for him and this is what he told me. He gets out of bed at 4:00 a.m., gets ready, puts on his skates and leaves home at 4:45 a.m. in order to rollerblade 1 ½ hours (yes hours) to reach the train. He said the train commute to Evanston is 45 minutes to one hour depending on how many stops it makes. After he arrives at his train stop, he again puts on his rollerblades and skates the short 10 minutes to The Maids office. What a trip!
This isn’t the entire story! Damon is the team leader of the “Gold “team and at 8:30 each morning he gets in the car and drives his team to the first clean - and you’ll never guess where - Waukegan. It has just taken him two hours and 45 minutes to come from there. He said one good thing is that by driving he reaches his first clean in a little less than one hour. He then starts his day cleaning four to five homes. I asked what time he leaves The Maids office at the end of the day only to start this entire exhausting process in reverse. He said it’s usually around 5:30 p.m., but if he leaves the office after 6:00 p.m., his home commute would be two hours. After arriving back in Waukegan, he said it takes only one hour because it’s all downhill and he can rollerblade faster. I only had two more questions for Damon and I should have known he would again astound me with his answers. “What time do you go to bed?” I asked. He responded that it’s usually around midnight depending if he has to work or not. “What do you mean?” I inquired.
“I have two part-time jobs either driving a limo or I bartend,” he replied.
I was almost afraid to ask him my second question but I did anyway. “What do you do in your free time?” I dared ask. He just glared at me and said, “Are you kidding me?”Is this dedication or what?

Beware of the 7 Dirtiest (and Most Germ-Infested) Spots in Your Home

( But not if you have The Maids)

1. Kitchen sinks and faucets
Half of the faucets in homes are covered in bacteria. That’s why we detail clean faucets. We not only clean them to remove grime and germs, but we buff them to a shiny sparkle, once they are germ-free!
2. Bathroom tubs and showers
A bathtub might contain 100 times more bacteria than a trashcan, and the shower is the third most germ-laden area in a home, right behind your kitchen sponge and sink. Bathroom germs are no match for The Maids. We disinfect your tub, shower and toilet every visit, pre-treat soap scum and buildup with our bathroom cleaner, then use old-fashioned elbow grease to clean surfaces to a dazzling shine.
3. Pet areas
We all know pets do not practice good hygiene; plus, most people infrequently wash pet dishes and areas. The Maids keep pet problems at bay. We have a special vacuum attachment that pet hair clings to, plus our commercial-grade vacuum has HEPA filtration, which removes pet dander and other pet allergens from your carpets. We also clean baseboards and under beds – areas that can get overlooked, but are natural areas for pet hair (and germs) to accumulate.
4. Microwave touch screens
It’s a common practice to put raw meat into the microwave and program the timer. But you may not realize you are leaving behind E. coli or salmonella on the touch screen. Not a problem. During every visit from The Maids, we clean your microwave inside and out – removing illness-causing bacteria.
5. TV remotes
When was your TV remote last cleaned? Well, possibly during your last visit from The Maids. A remote control is usually covered with germs – so it gets special attention from our teams, each and every visit.
6. Light switches
One in five people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom. Therefore, bathroom light switches can contain as many germs as a trashcan. The Maids make sure to clean light switches throughout your home, on every visit.
7. Baby changing tables
When someone is changing a dirty diaper, anything on or around the area can become contaminated with bacteria. That’s why we treat a baby’s room with special care. We clean the diaper area with disinfectant, and use microfiber cloths to dust, because even though our products are environmentally preferable, we know children chew on surfaces, therefore we use our cleaning products judiciously.

Dear Blog Readers,
The Maids are walking in this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer to create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays and we hope you'll support us with a donation. We've made this special video to tell you more. Why is the video special? Because it features YOU. Check it out!

By walking and raising money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, we really can save lives from breast cancer. Watch this fun video, then click the Donate button to support us with a donation of any amount! If you can donate a little my way, together we can go a long way in the fight against breast cancer.

The Maids is Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Why Are The Maids Walking?

Today, there is more hope than ever for people facing breast cancer. However, there is much work to be done. Every day, the American Cancer Society is helping people stay well by taking steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer or find it early, when it is most treatable; helping people get well with information, day-to-day help, and emotional support to guide them through every step of a breast cancer experience; by finding cures and promising new treatments through funding and conducting research; and by fighting back by working with lawmakers to help all women get access to screenings and care. The Maids believe that one day, breast cancer will never steal another year from anyone’s life – and we will live in a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays. That’s why The Maids is walking in the American Cancer Society Making Strides against Breast Cancer event on October 17, 2010. Not only is this our opportunity to join our community to fight back against breast cancer, it is a way to inspire hope by raising funds and awareness to help those facing the disease and save more lives.And you can be a part of it, too! The Maids have signed up to walk we hope you will join The Maids in our effort by signing up to join our team or making a donation in support of our participation. Together, we can save lives from breast cancer! Any donations would be extremely appreciated. Donations in check form should be made out to The American Cancer Society and given to your team cleaning supervisor. The Maids thanks you for your support.

To make an online donation, please click HERE.

Plan The Perfect Summer Soiree


Summer is the perfect time to journey outdoors and mingle with family and friends. However, the stress of hosting summer get-togethers can sometimes be discouraging. This year, avoid a meltdown and make your next barbecue or block party a breeze by keeping in mind the following party preparation tips:

Some barbecue fanatics spend days marinating their brisket before a barbecue. Who has time to make a potato salad on top of that? Provide the main course, and ask each guest to bring their favorite side dish with them. You'll get a great variety of dishes, and even your pickier guests will be guaranteed to find one item they will love.

Keep your outdoor decor simple and unfussy. Tea light candles provide instant glamour to any evening party, and are extremely versatile design elements. Some varieties float and can be placed in the pool, while others are perfect for luminaria. To make your own, fill simple white or brown paper bags with enough sand to keep them from overturning in the wind and place one tea candle inside. These can be lovely when used to line a deck or walkway. And for those who are concerned about keeping pesky bugs at bay: Look for candles that include citronella oil, an effective ingredient that naturally repels insects.

Set up a few outdoor games to keep your guests entertained. Games like "Capture the Flag," bean bag toss and Frisbee require very little setup, and get guests to interact with people outside of their own group or family. Kits can be ordered online, or built from materials you have around the house.

No one likes to rush around looking for matching bowls and lids when it's time for guests to take leftovers home. Inexpensive wax-lined paper cartons (bought at craft stores) allow guests to transport food home without the hassle of returning your expensive food storage containers afterward -- something everyone will appreciate. If you have extra time before the party starts, these containers can also be customized by adding each guest's name and the date of your party. Courtesy of ARAcontent

Finally, A Legitimate Reason To Fire Your Cleaning Lady

There is finally a legitimate reason to fire your cleaning lady! Out with the maid,in with The Maids. It's time to clean house. At a 96% referral rate, it's time to go with the cleaning service everyone's talking about. Well, practically everyone.

Here's why: The Maids clean light switches ,phone receivers , even toilet seat hinges. 1/3 of adults do not wash their hands after using the bathroom. No problem, The Maids clean doorknobs. Each cleaning team consists of four professionally bonded and insured, obsessive-complusive clean freaks. Teams use back pack vacs with Hepa filtration to suck up dirt,dust,allergens, pet dander and any shred of doubt.

We hope you like hand-washed floors.

Satisfied yet? We'll happily come back and clean any area you're unhappy with. That's our 24-hour,100%,satisfaction guarantee!