How to Enjoy Entertaining in Your Home

Do you want to do more entertaining in your home, but procrastinate with the mere thought of getting your home guest-ready?

Do you find you spend more time catering to your guests than enjoying them?

In our ongoing effort to help bring more quality time in to your life, here are few helpful tips:

• There is no need for guests to wander through every room of your house. Focus your cleaning time and energy on the rooms you want your guests to spend time in and close the doors to the rest. 

• Get your surface clean on. Put clutter away, dust, vacuum, mop, and fluff cushions.

• Make room for trays of food and drinks by putting away some of the room/table decor normally on display.

• Put effort in to the guest bathroom. Clean the toilet, sink, and floor. Make sure you have everything that they may need. A nice touch is to fill a basket with extra soaps, disposable hand towels (less germ-spreading) and air freshener.

• Candles can catch the eye and help focus your guest's attention to the areas that you want them to see. Candles also bring a welcoming, warm and pleasant-smelling environment.

• Plan foods that can be prepared in advance and just need to be heated or pulled from the fridge. 

• Set up a "bar" area where you will be sitting so that you, (or you can designate someone else), can keep guests drinks fresh without missing the conversation.

• Don't forget the one thing you absolutely want your guests to focus on ..... YOU! Leave time to rest and dress, then put on a smile and ENJOY!

Cleaned to Perfection loves to get our client's homes party-ready!

Book Now or give us a call to find out more! 631•941•4607

National Safety Month

       June has begun and Cleaned To Perfection is welcoming the summer month with open arms.  Along with the official start of summer, it is also National Safety Month, and we've compiled a list to keep you and your family safe not only while you clean, but also throughout the summer months. While this list does give many helpful hints, it is just a starting point, be sure to add a comment down below with some of your own helpful safety hints you use within your family!


CLEANING 

• Keep all products in their original containers
• Never sniff, touch, or taste to determine the product
• Keep all the products locked up, and out of reach of children
• Reach your labels, and never mix chemicals, they can release a harmful gas
• Open windows and turn on fans while cleaning and for an hour or two afterwards
• Wear protective clothing - long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes, and gloves - it spraying pesticides 
• Even "all-natural" or "environmentally friendly " labeled products can be serious if ingested 
• Make sure mop buckets are carefully guarded; even a very small bucket of water or fluids can be hazardous, causing drownings or serious health issues if ingested. 
• The slippery surface of a freshly mopped floor is dangerous as well. It may cause a slip leading to a dangerous fall
• Never turn your back on a ladder
• If possible, use cleaning tools with telescoping handles 
• It is recommended to changed the batteries of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year (helpful idea is to change them with the clock)

OUTSIDE 

• Teach your children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is off
• Children under 6 should be kept inside when the lawn is be mowed 
• Frequent playgrounds that have shock absorbent surfaces
• Teach children to use equipment properly 
• Enforcing no pushing, shoving, rough housing 
• Use appropriate and well fitted equipment in sports (helmets, goggles, etc) 
• Don't leave unattended kids near open flames (grills, campfires, fire-pits, bonfires, etc)
• Always have a bucket of way and fire extinguisher on hand
• Only let professionals handle fireworks 

POOL CLEANING 

• Keep water in constant moving; it prevents bacteria from forming 
• Check the pools filter and backwash frequently
• Brush and vacuum at least once a week
• Test your pools water, the pH balance and sanitizer levels needs to be checked 
• Have a water treatment going 
• If going on vacation:  brush and vacuum, test the levels, set the timer/ask a good friend to make sure pump runs eight hours a day 

POOL SAFETY 

• ALWAYS MANDATE A LIFEGUARD ON HAND
• Be CPR certified 
• Keep the water clean
• Have the children take swimming lessons
• Know the weather, realize if there is a storm coming in
• Wear your life jackets, remember toys are not a replacement for life jackets
• Always aha a phone on hand for emergencies 
• Don't clutter pool and the surrounding area 
• Have a 4foot or taller fence surrounding pool area 

To keep everyone properly protected from the sun use the proper SPF Sunblock for your skin type, wear a hat, and keep in proper shade.  

These are just a few helpful hints for your family, as always we love to hear any that you have to offer!  Any emergency immediately seek medical assistant or call 911. 

Mother's Day Gift Special

Cleaned to Perfection loves our clients, and loves moms. We wanted to give back to you for being such wonderful, dedicated clients so we have come up with a Mothers Day special.  We have teamed up with Nirvana Yoga to bring to you a deal like nothing you have seen before.

When you buy a Cleaned to Perfection gift certificate, you will receive a FREE, certified, 45 minute yoga lesson. This is a never before done opportunity. Moms can relax with a clean, sparkling home, and then enjoy an in home yoga lesson.

The green, natural way of life has always been something we strive for at CTP, we feel that offering this free gift of a yoga class goes hand in hand with our philosophy.  We have created a Pinterest board with some helpful yoga tools including beginner flows, instructor hints, products guides, meditation guides, myth busters, and much more. We urge to to take a look at the board and follow us on Pinterest as well.

 Happy Mother's Day and come on down and give your mom the gift of clean, and receive your free yoga class!

We're Taking the Cleaning out of Your Spring!

LET US TAKE THE CLEANING OUT OF YOUR SPRING!

      With the first chirp of the birds outside your window, you open your eyes to a new season.  Spring has finally sprung!  

      The jump-off to spring also means that it's time for spring cleaning.

Cleaned to Perfection is proud to offer a complete set of "extras" 

that meet your spring cleaning needs.

      

      We want you to wake up on the weekend knowing that your home is cleaned from top to bottom, and more importantly, that your family is breathing fresh, clean air. The extras that we've added have all come from our client's requests in the past.

Give us a call with your spring cleaning requests 631•941•4607
You can find our "extra" recommendations here! 
Let spring begin !

Cleaned To Perfection Cleans For A Cause

Are home cleaning services a luxury? While many people believe they are, here at Cleaned To Perfection we do not. The days of mom staying at home cooking and cleaning while dad works a 40 hour week are long gone. It is much more typical for each parent to work one or two jobs. Children's schedules are busier than ever with after school activities and weekend events. With so little opportunity to spend time together, or even to spend a moment alone, do you want to sacrifice any of it to spend time cleaning your home? 

Cleaned To Perfection can provide you and your family with a clean home allowing you to fill the time with quality moments, all for a reasonable cost. So, the hectic pace of our daily lives is one reason why we feel home cleaning services are not a luxury, but there are others. Cancer, for one, affects all areas of a persons life including the environment they live in. A person should be able to expend their energy on fighting the cancer rather than cleaning their home. This is why Cleaned To Perfection is proud to partner with Cleaning For A Reason.

Cleaning For A Reason provides the gift of a clean home while a person undergoes treatment for any type of cancer. The patients home is given a general cleaning once per month for four consecutive months at no charge. As a small local business, we are greatly committed to our community and are honored to be given the chance to offer some comfort to our neighbors in need. 

If you know anyone who is fighting cancer and could use our help to keep their home clean, please share our information with them. You can help too by making a donation to Cleaning For A Cause. For more information, please call us at 631-941-4607.

Keep the Beach Out of Your Home!

Does it seem like it is more difficult to keep you home neat and tidy during the summer months? Do you find your home filled with neighborhood kids leaving their mess behind? If so, you may think that an outing to the beach will keep the mess out of your home, but sadly you will find that the mess typically travels home and enters the house right along with you.

At Cleaned To Perfection we pride ourselves on making life easier for our clients. While we may not  be able to follow behind all the mess makers in your life to clean up as they move through your home, we like to offer tips to help keep things as neat and clean as possible for your comfort between your cleanings. So here are some tips to keep the beach out of your home!

• Removing all the sand from your family members is one of the biggest challenges you face. Accept that they will in fact bring sand home with them, but there are steps you can take to limit the amount. Of course, if a shower is available at the beach, have each person rinse as best they can. Shake out hair and put long hair up in a ponytail or bun. 
• Before entering the car, use the baby powder trick. Sprinkle baby powder on your body and watch the sand fall off like magic! Have everyone sit the car and stick their feet out so they can remove the sand and not have to step on the sandy ground again.
• Mesh bags are a fabulous tool! Hopefully, your family will wear waterproof shoes to the beach like flip flops. Place them in a mesh bag and rinse them off at a water spigot. Sand will be removed while the water is able to drip right out. This works great with sand toys as well!
• Give each person a fresh towel to sit on in the car. Once home, have them place the towel on the floor of the shower, then stand on the towel while they remove their sandy suit. The towel will collect the sand that inevitably collects in the suit. Carefully wrap the suit in the towel, bring outside, and shake the sand free from the towel and the suit.
• Place all dirty beach towels in a plastic bag or a washable bag before placing in the car. 
• Place a sheet in the trunk of the car to catch all of the sand from chairs, coolers, etc.
• Make sure everyone knows the rules! Have a spot where all items returning from the beach are placed to minimize the mess. Have a spot where people returning from the beach can wait until their turn to shower. 

The best way to keep things neat and clean is to plan and organize. You know your family best. Think about their habits and do what you can to limit their messy impact on your clean home (without sucking all of the fun out of the day of course)! Remember, mess happens. Enjoying life typically means there will be something to clean up. So go ahead and enjoy life. Your Cleaned To Perfection team will be along soon!

Welcome to the Perfect Clean Rotation System!

Spring Cleaning comes just once a year, but Cleaned To Perfection is here for you all year long! Our “Perfect Clean Rotation System” is designed to ensure that all areas of your home receive extra attention.

Our regular cleanings leave your home sparkling and fresh. The added touches of the Perfect Clean Rotation System focus on those fine details within each room that really makes it pop and shine!

Here’s how we do it: In addition to your regular clean, each month we will rotate through different areas of your home giving each of them their own extra special attention. Not all areas of your home require extra attention during each clean. For example, high dusting is not always done. Since we do not live in the upper parts of the rooms, the dirt settles down low on our living area. The Perfect Clean Rotation System will ensure that high dusting is done on a regular basis. Some areas of your home require just light, dry dusting during the regular clean, but will be cleaned with a damp wipe during it’s turn of the Perfect Clean Rotation System. Do you have a collection in your home, such as frames or figurines? These will also get extra attention during their turn in the rotation!

Have questions? Ask your cleaning team or give our office a call!

YOU Can Enjoy Your Pool Too!

Summertime! Long, hot days lounging by the pool.  Listening to music and sipping cool drinks. Wait a moment. That doesn't sound like your days? Oh, that's right. While others swim and relax, you are the one fetching drinks, towels, sunscreen, pool toys, etc. Well, Cleaned To Perfection has some suggestions to help you enjoy the pool too!


Keep things simple. Think about the time spent at the pool and the things most often needed. Is there anyway to keep these items handy and accessible to everyone? For example, towels are used in abundance. Keep a bin near your dryer. As the the towels come out of the wash, place them in the bin rather than putting away in the linen closet. Rotate with a bin kept poolside for wet towels.

Keep a covered bin with cups, plates, and napkins handy. Bottled water and single serving packets of lemonade, punch, and iced tea mix allow for drinks to be made fresh and on the spot. If you wish, just bring a bucket of ice out so they can be served chilled. Add some bags of chips, pretzels, ect. to the bin as well. Once snacks and towels become self served, there is so much less for you to do!

Place hooks around the pool area people can easily hang their wet towels, coverups, t-shirts and more. You can even designate one or two hooks per family member so that everyone should know where their stuff is without having to ask you!

Make a first aid kit to keep poolside too. It can contain sunscreen, band aids, tissues, hand sanitizer.

The idea is to think ahead and keep as much poolside as possible. Not only will you cut down on the number of times you need to get up and retrieve something, but you will also limit the number of times wet people track throughout your home!

We hope this gives you some good ideas and you can finally relax and enjoy your pool!

Work - Life (UN)Balance

Rat Race. Whirlwind. Chaos. All good descriptors of most Americans daily lives. The days of single income families are gone. You know, like in Happy Days? Smiling Dad leaves for work in the morning for a short commute to his 9 -5 job. Smiling mom stays at home and cares for the children and cleans the house. The smiling family reunites at a reasonable hour to enjoy a meal together followed by hours of quality time before they head off to bed. 

Wow! Does this sound like any family you know these days? More likely it is two harried parents rushing out of the door even before the kids have had breakfast and left for school. Long commutes and long hours have the harried parents returning home at different times each one hoping the other has already arrived and started dinner. If lucky, there will be enough time for homework checks, showers, and tuck ins. 

Where did the quality of our lives go?  According to the updated Better Life Index from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the U.S. ranks 9th from the bottom among developed countries when it comes to work - life balance! There just aren't enough hours in the day for us to balance all of our demands. 

This is why, at Cleaned To Perfection, we talk about freeing up your quality time. We know how important it is to find time for yourself, your relationships, and so much more outside of work and chores. Our job is to free up your time so you can enjoy quality time in your clean home. Schedule an appointment to learn about all of our services and devise a plan to keep your work - life in balance!

#residential cleaning, #commercial cleaning

Showcase A Special Spot In Your Home

We are fortunate to go into many beautiful homes each week and we enjoy the unique character each home has. Cleaned To Perfection would like to showcase the special space in our client's homes.

If you would like to share a photo of your home, we would be honored to upload it to our social pages. Tell us why the space is special to you or why it is unique. It can be a room, a wall, an accessory .... anything that is special to you and you would like to share. Email the photo and information to info@wecleantoperfection.com.   

Here is a submission from a long time client. This wall is special to her for many reasons. It has showcased her children's art work for many years, the chalkboard has been used for fun games, but also to announce all celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. The wall itself was a gift designed and created in secret by a close friend. Unaware that her friend was doing this, she arrived home one day and found that the ugly wall she hated and been replaced by this beautiful one. Our Cleaned To Perfection staff enjoy looking at the wall each week to see what has been added! 

We would love to hear your special story and share it with our Cleaned To Perfection family. We look forward to your submissions!

 

Why Can't Dirt Stay Outside?

Yay! The sun is shining, the air has warmed up and we can finally enjoy the outdoors! Boo! The dirt from outdoors is now all over our clean house! Do we give up and stay inside? No! Here are some tips to enjoy the outdoors and a clean home too!

• Many homes have a welcome mat outside of their front door. Nice. It lets friends and family know that they are welcomed into your home and hopefully they will take a moment to swipe the dirt off of their shoes before they enter. Good start, but why not double up? Place a nice mat or rug in front of the door on the inside as well and double the chance for dirt to be contained. Don't stop at the front door either. Place mats by all doors that lead outside. Don't forget the door from the house to the garage. The garage may not be outside, but it's floor is certainly not as clean you want your home to be!

• Ensure that grass clippings are removed from the lawn after each mow.

• Planning on gardening or doing an outdoor project? Line the path from the door to the bathroom and kitchen with a sheet or something similar. Not a pretty option for every day use, but for a day when you may be dirty and in and out of the house it can make clean up a breeze!

• This one is a bit controversial. Have people remove their shoes upon entering the house. Maybe not when entertaining, but perhaps your family members can do so on a regular day.

• Instruct children to use one particular bathroom when they play outside. This limits the dirt from being tracked throughout the house.

• Blow or sweep driveways, patios, decks, and walkways frequently to limit the amount of dirt and debris that can be picked up and tracked inside.

Share your tips with Cleaned To Perfection! We love hearing what works for others!

Creative Storage Ideas for Garden Tools!

According to the weather man, Spring has finally sprung! Take a deep breath of the warm spring air and get ready to tackle some yard work! Now, some people love the feel of dirt on their hands and the smell of the grass while others dread any type of yard or garden work. Everyone can agree though, that outdoor work is less frustrating when you can find the tools and supplies you need!

We say it all the time, Cleaned To Perfection is here to help you find more quality time in your day! From cleaning your home for you to offering organization tips, we help you get rid of clutter and stress and find some free time. So here are some unique storage ideas for your garage/tool shed:

• Tired of tangled hoses? Don't know what to do with sprinklers? Bolt a bucket to the wall! Wrap the hose around the outside and store the sprinkler inside.

• Does your ball of twine ever unravel and trail around the shed? Nail a funnel to the wall and reign it in! Place the twine into the funnel and pass the twine through the spout!

• Do you have an old bicycle basket laying around? Go green and re-purpose it! Hang it on hooks and keep all of your gardening tools in one handy place. Gloves, twine, spade, and more conveniently fit inside. Best of all, the basket is portable so it is easy to bring your supplies with you!

• Be magnetic! So many tools have metal areas on them. Attach magnetic bars to the walls and quickly have a place to hang hand tools, paint brushes and more!

Before throwing items away, take a second look and think if you can find a unique use for it. Save money and save the planet! Be creative with storage and organizational products. Thinking outside of the box can create fun and simple storage ideas.

Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safer?

Reduce, Re-reuse, Recycle! Save Our Planet! Go Green!

Yes, we hear it everyday. We are bombarded by pleas for our help in protecting our planet and with suggestions on just how we are supposed to do this. No more plastic water bottle! Instead, use refillable bottles. Save the trees by buying recycled paper! Ok, protecting the planet is good. Making a little bit of extra effort for the cause is fine, but does any of this affect us personally?

The answer is yes! Many of the products we use in our daily life not only harm the environment, but can be harmful to us, and our pets, as well. Since we are Cleaned To Perfection, we are going to talk about cleaning products.

Now, many people will say that "regular" cleaning products must be safe since they are allowed to be sold. According to Live Science, part of the problem is that the products are over used. A cleaning product may be relatively safe if used by itself in small amounts. However, most people go cleaner happy and use a specialized cleaner for everything. The repeated exposure to the chemicals in all of these products add up and can be quite harmful.

Then, of course, there is the matter of the effect the chemicals have on the planet. The trouble comes when the chemicals are washed down the drain.  Live Science reports "Volatile organic compounds, used to enhance the performance of a product, can impair neurological functions, while other chemicals can act as respiratory irritants, carcinogens or reproductive toxins, depending upon the extent of exposure, according to the National Environmental Trust and other environmental groups."

Green Cleaners should not contain these harmful products and are becoming easier to find in mainstream stores. Cleaned To Perfection uses only top quality cleaners to ensure our clients, and the planet, are not exposed to harmful chemicals. Call our office to learn how you can purchase cleaning products by Better Life directly from us!

Is It Laundry Day Already?

Laundry. The chore that is never done. That feeling of accomplishment you get when you see the empty laundry basket and know that all items have been washed, dried, folded, and put away lasts only as long as it takes to throw the next piece of dirty clothing in it, which is usually about 10 seconds later. And let's face it, we rarely have everything washed, dried, folded, and put away. 

Laundry is one chore we hear people complain about on a regular basis so in our quest to help you find more quality time in your life, and clean better and smarter along the way, we have some laundry tips to share:

• Preparation takes time so enlist your family for help. Provide each family member with their own laundry basket and make it their responsibility to have their clothes wash ready.

• What is wash ready? Zippers zipped, snaps closed, velcro secured, pockets emptied, socks unfurled, cuffs unrolled, and delicates turned inside out.

• Oh no, a stain! It's best if you catch the stain early and treat it before it sets. Scoop up solids with a dull edge and blot liquids with a clean white cloth from the outside. Treat stains before washing. Carefully examine the clothing after the wash cycle to be sure the stain is fully removed before placing in the dryer.

• Which cycle? We love technology with lots of settings and gadgets because we feel it must be capable of doing an amazing job, but if we don't know the proper way to use the settings and gadgets, they're useless. The regular cycle on the washing machine is best for sturdy and dirty clothes. The permanent press cycle is fine for the average load and the delicate cycle should be used for lacy and loosely woven fabrics. Use hot water for whites, warm water for the average load and cold water for bright colors.

• Fresh, fluffy towels! Wash towels every three to four days and do not use fabric softener which can actually cause the fabric to stiffen. Wash white towels in non-chlorine bleach on the hottest setting.

• Dryer settings are simple. Most machines have automatic settings that let you choose how dry you want the clothes instead of setting the machine for a specific time. The permanent press setting has a cool down cycle at the end to reduce wrinkling.

Organize the laundry area and create a routine with other family members. Again, give each person as much responsibility as they are capable of.  From all of us at Cleaned To Perfection, happy washing!

Introducing Better Life Cleaning Products

Cleaned to Perfection is always working hard to make your life Cleaner, Greener and healthier. We are now pleased to announce that we have partnered with one of the safest green cleaning companies Better Life.  Better Life uses only the safest cleaning solutions that are plant derived, non toxic, and independently verified as safe and effective by Whole Foods' Eco Scale. We have eliminated all paper waste in our cleaning process, and have reduced our environmental impact wherever possible. We have the best and most durable tools that withstand years of use, that way less of our tools end up in the waste stream. Lastly we use HEPA, microfiltration vacuums in our green home cleaning processes. These vacuums are proven to reduce indoor allergens and other airborne pollutants.

Happy Holidays!

How to Clean Oil Splatter and Candle Wax

What a joy it is to celebrate a holiday for eight nights! Hannukah puts smiles on faces of the young and old as they share in gift giving, candle lighting, and latke eating. Unfortunately, the smiles can falter when the time comes to clean the latke oil from the stove and the candle wax from the menorah. Don't lose your smile! Here are some easy cleaning tips to help you keep your happy Hannukah spirit going!

• Homemade latkes are a delicious holiday treat, but can can create quite a mess while cooking on your stove. First, reduce the amount of oil to splatter by placing a splatter guard over the pan while the latkes are cooking. If oil does splatter, clean it as soon as possible. The faster you get to it, the easier it will be. A little dish detergent and warm water is often good enough to remove fresh oil spills, but for tough dried on spots, try using a baking soda/water paste. The trick is to let the paste sit for a little while and give it time to work. Then use a non-abrasive scrubber and elbow grease. 

•  Flames flickering on candles in a menorah is a beautiful sight especially on a cold December evening, but wax drips onto the menorah itself and the table it set upon. Protect your table by placing a sheet a wax paper under the menorah to catch the wax. Cleaning the wax drips and the candle holders on the menorah can be time consuming and frustrating. Spray a light coating of cooking spray on the menorah before placing the candles in it and the wax should come off easily. If that fails, or if you didn't use cooking spray, try freezing the menorah. Once the wax is frozen, it should pop right off!

Happy Hannukah from all of us at Cleaned to Perfection!

Ready Your Home for Company in Just a Few Minutes!

Oh, tis the season to be busy and tis the season for frequent house guests! With all of the extra shopping, cooking, baking, charity work, etc. that you do this time of year, a clean and organized home can fall to the bottom of your to-do list. Don't fret! Cleaned To Perfection has some simple tips to help make your home company ready in just a few minutes!

Your time is precious and should be used for the most special moments in your life like sipping hot cocoa in front of the fire with your family, not with your arm in a dirty toilet trying to remove the ring around the bowl. Hiring a cleaning service is not just a luxurious privilege. Many families have two working parents and people work crazy long hours. It becomes difficult to to find quality family time and/or quality "me" time. Consider using a cleaning service, such as Cleaned To Perfection of course, to free up quality time in your life. Even if it is just a once month good cleaning, it will make the other 3 weeks of the month a bit easier and faster to do.

Ok, that's the down and dirty clean, but even with good weekly cleaning the home still needs some TLC during the week. Here are some tips to help keep your home neat and ready for guests to pop in:

• Keep a laundry basket handy and once per day travel throughout the rooms of your home picking up items that do not belong and bringing them back to their spot. If guests call and ask if they can stop by in a few, grab that laundry basket and pick up misplaced items.
• Wipe down the guest bathroom every other day so that it is always company ready.
• Put a pan on the stove with water and cinnamon sticks to simmer. The house will smell welcoming and delicious!
• Bright lights can make a room look more welcoming, so don't be shy!

Remember, the holidays are meant for you to enjoy as well! 

Preparing for Thanksgiving

With all of the crazy weather we have been having lately, it's hard to know just what season we are in. Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is next week!  Are you ready? 

We have noticed the lines in the supermarket have been a little longer, carts a bit fuller, and let's face it, customers a bit more harried. So we decided to take a look at the master of holiday entertaining and see how Martha Stewart organizes beginning with the day before Thanksgiving.

1 Day Before Thanksgiving

• Defrost pie dough; assemble and bake pies.
• Make the giblet stock for the gravy.
• Make the vegetables and side dishes that require baking. Reheat tomorrow or assemble today and cook tomorrow.
• Peel potatoes and refrigerate in a pot of cold water.
• Prepare the stiffing, but leave out the raw eggs until you stiff the bird.
• Set the table tonight or first thing in the morning.

 Thanksgiving Day

• 9:30 a.m.  Remove the turkey from the refrigerator, and allow it to sit for 1 hour at room temperature.
• 11:15 a.m.  Preheat the oven, and stuff the turkey.
• 11:30 a.m. Put the turkey in the oven, basting it every half hour.
• Noon  Chill the white wine
• 1:00 p.m.  Make the mashed potatoes. Reheat closer to dinner time.
• 3:00 p.m.  Whip the cream or the pie and prepare (but do not brew) the coffee.
• 4:00 p.m.  Check the temperature of the turkey and if it is done, remove it from the oven. If not done, check every 15 minutes until it is.
• 4:15 p.m. While turkey sits for 30 minutes prior to carving, make the gravy and any last minute vegetables. Remove stuffing from the bird and transfer to a baking pan. Bake stuffing until it reaches 165 degrees.
• 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Call everyone to the table. Start the coffee maker just before sitting down.

  The moral of this planner seems to be "do as much before Thanksgiving Day as possible." Your day may look different than Martha's, but by adding a few extra tasks to your already busy days leading up to the holiday you can have more time to relax and enjoy the day. 

Remember, you don't have to do it all alone. Everyone will enjoy the fruits of your labor, so ask for everyone to pitch in a bit. Make a list of tasks for each family member that you feel comfortable having them do. Look for areas where you can outsource as well. For example, if you cook the whole meal from scratch, maybe you wouldn't mind buying desserts from a bakery. Of course, our favorite outsourcing is hiring Cleaned To Perfection to make your home sparkle for you and your guests!

Pace yourself and remember to take time to enjoy the holidays.  From our families to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Indoor Fall Preparations

We received such a positive response to our previous blog, "Fall Home Preparations", that we thought we would share some more tips with you. This batch of tips focuses on fall preparations for inside your home.

• Dust ceilings, walls, and baseboards.
• Change window treatments to heavier, warmer textures.
• Launder winter bedding.
• Flip mattresses.
• Remove winter clothes from storage.
• Clean out and organize closets.
• Clean oven.
• Clean refrigerator, and don't forget to vacuum underneath!
• Organize gloves, scarves, snow boots etc.

Our lists can go on and on, but that can be overwhelming. Pick a few tasks to begin with and once they are crossed off your list, choose a few more. Cleaned To Perfection can help with the extra seasonal cleaning to lighten your load. Call us to learn what we can do for you!