"Hi, I am Mrs Duster Dolly. I have been working in the cleaning industry for over 15 years. During this time I have discovered the best way to clean most surfaces and the best products to use. Should you have a question about cleaning I would be happy to help. Just complete the question box below.
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Cleaning advice
HEATERS
In these days of reverse cycling air-conditioning, room heaters are not as prevalent in houses as they were five to ten years ago. But as winter and the cooler weather gets closer there are still rooms where the electric heater is necessary. Because they have not been used for several months the heaters will be coated in dust, and this dust should be removed before turning on the electricity.
There are three popular types of electric heaters, radiators with elements that glow inside a cage with a reflective background, oil heaters which radiate heat as the oil becomes hotter inside the columns and small fan heaters which blow air across a small element out into the room.
In all cases when cleaning electrical heaters make sure the power is not connected. If it is and you should accidentally hit the ‘on’ button on the fire you could end up either receiving an electric shock or a nasty burn.
The radiator is the more complicated heater to clean. It requires the grill to be removed from the chassis so you can get inside the cage. Usually the bars can be lifted up by pulling out the supports from two small holes set at the bottom of the chassis. Once the grill is loose pull it outwards. With a damp cloth wipe over the glass elements inside, these are fragile so be gentle. The reflective back screen will also need to be wiped. Don’t have the cloth too wet. Once the elements and the reflector have been dried return the grill to its locked position and the heater is ready to use.
The column oil heater collects dust between the columns. Take a damp cloth and push it between each column near the bottom of the heater and drag the cloth back and forth across the support. When the bottom supports are cleaned wipe over the top. This is all that is required to remove the dust and keep a column heater clean.
The fan heater is better cleaned outside the house. Behind the fan you will notice a grill. You might be surprised to see a collection of dust across the holes. With a small paint brush remove and dust away the collected dust balls. The grill in front of the fan will also be dusty the small painted brush is great for getting in between the slats. Electric fan heaters are put together in such away that you cannot get inside the heater, so any dust that is on the fan or the element will have to be blown away. Turn on the heater with the temperature on cold and dust that has collected will be blown out. The fan heater is now ready for use.
Heaters if allowed to stay dusty emit a singeing smell when turned on. The dust also reduces the amount of heat being emitted, especially with the radiator and fan heater. So when you bring the heater out of the cupboard give it a clean and get the house cosy and warm again.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
SHOWER SCREENS
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Having a sparkling clean shower screen is the bane of every house owner. Soap scum and hair conditioner all stick on the glass and if left too long can become a nightmare to clean.
There are many people who clean their showers while they are standing in the recess after turning off the water. I knew a lady who faithfully after every shower wiped all the water off the tiles and the screen with a chamois. When she came to sell the house 20 years later the shower looked as good as new.
It isn’t the soap residue that is the only problem with showers. Many shower screens suffer from what some people call glass cancer. Actually it is calcium in the water that has etched into the glass and leaves a film that looks a little like fish scales. When the glass is wet it disappears and when dry returns. According to a glazier with whom I discussed the problem it happens because the glass is damaged by too much bleach making the glass more porous allowing the calcium in the water to etch the screen. Personally I believe that it could be to do with the quality of the glass as I have seen screens where one panel has the problem and the one next to it doesn’t.
But how to get the screens clean is the problem? We at The Duster Dollies use a bleach and detergent gel which when used with water and scrubbed on to the screens and tiles inside the shower recess removes all residue. The product is left until it goes slimy then is rubbed off with a soft “wonder” cloth. The shower is finished off by cleaning the glass screen on the outside with glass cleanser and crumpled newspaper. You would be surprised at the how great the screen looks after being cleaned this way.
Regular cleaning of a shower recess is the only way to keep down the mould and scum, so make a habit of giving it a good scrub at least once a month.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
CONDENSATION
By Mrs Duster Dolly
When the weather is cold outside condensation becomes a problem; not only in the bathrooms when the steam hits the cold tiles and glass, but also in the rest of the house.
Because the temperature is cold outside, any moist air inside turns to condensation on the windows and makes surfaces damp. Condensation on windows runs down the glass and makes pools of water on the sill. If the sills are made of wood the water can slowly rot the wood.
Condensation is very noticeable in a kitchen whilst cooking on the stove, especially with gas. Gas when burning releases water vapour into the air, which when it comes in contact with the cold air causes the condensation. Although it might seem a waste of energy to open a window or door it is wise to do so because the adjusted temperature stops the condensation build up.
Bedrooms are another area where there should be some ventilation. When you breathe you expel water vapour, especially when you are in a deep sleep at night. The water vapour from your mouth settles on the bedside tables next to the bed. Obviously when the surface gets damp the dust easily settles and builds up this is why bedside tables are always dusty.
To help keep down the condensation the temperature inside the house needs to be reasonably close to the outside temperature. Now if it is really cold outside this is impossible, but over compensating for the cold weather by making the inside like a sauna is not the answer. It is also a waste of energy because the heating system has to work harder against the cold.
On most reverse cycle air conditioners and central heaters there is a temperature gauge. The best temperature is around 22°. You won’t be able to walk around the house in T-shirt and shorts, but it is the best temperature for the winter clothes that would be wearing anyway. If your house is heated with gas to overcome the build up of water vapour the burner should be vented. If not you will need to regularly remove the condensation and pools of water around windows and doors.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
BICARB & VINEGAR Vs MODERN CLEANSERS
By Mrs Duster Dolly
One hundred years ago life was much simpler; or some people would have you believe. They were right in the fact that there was more time to do things, so one could take a week to thoroughly clean a house. In fact many magazines in the 1950s ran articles telling the reader how to put aside a whole day for each room in the house for cleaning. But even in the 1950s those articles were out of date. More women were working and they didn’t have the time to spend a day per room to clean their home.
During the 1950s time saving cleansers were introduced. Up until then people made their own cleansers. Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda was a favourite, but neither product is a cleanser. Combining the two neutralise fats which helped to lift grease and dirt in bathrooms and kitchens. Although the dirt was loosened it was the hard rubbing over the affected area that got it clean.
Cleaning a house in those days took time, and people didn’t want to spend time cleaning. Strong cleansers using abrasives and dissolving chemicals appeared in the shops, and when TV was introduced in Australia in 1956 the new ‘wonder’ cleansers were constantly advertised. These products worked, were quicker than the old fashioned methods and were purchased with relish. It wasn’t until years later as more efficient cleaning products were manufactured that it was realised how harsh and abrasive those original cleansers were.
In this new century where everyone is becoming concerned about the environment, many people are advocating the old fashioned cleaning methods used by our Grand-parents. As I said at the beginning of this article, they do work, but it is the effort of the cleaner not the cleanser that does the job. I appreciate the concern for the environment, but if one wants speed combined with efficiency then the old fashioned methods are not the answer.
I am still looking for the environmentally friendly product that will clean efficiently and quickly. In the mean time to gain the required results make sure you purchase the least damaging products. Read the labels and see what they contain. Buy the neutral products with a pH between 7 and 9. That way you will be doing your bit for the environment and keeping your house clean.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
CLEANING MARBLE
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Once the chosen surface for the wealthy, marble is now used as a fashion statement in houses. Many homes have marble for the tops for their vanity units and tiles on the walls in bathrooms; floors in family rooms and kitchens and even dining tables. Marble is not only porous but can easily crack if a heavy object is dropped on it.
When freshly laid marble looks wonderful. The shine and pristine colour gives a very rich feeling to the room, but unless the marble is sealed it doesn’t stay that way. I have seen the results of toothpaste on an unsealed marble vanity which has a small hole where the toothpaste has eaten into the porous surface.
There are a couple of ways to seal marble and make it water-proof; you can spray it with furniture polish that contains silicone, or purchase a spray-on sealant that can be purchased from any quality tile shop. The spray-on sealant will last for around three months when you should respray the surface, whereas if you use the silicone based furniture polish you will need to spray over the surface after every clean.
If the marble is left in its natural state it can be cleaned, but only with a dry cloth or a well rung out damp cloth. Spillages should be removed immediately if not there will be a water stain in that spot. Some products such as vinegar and lemon juice, promoted as being a good way to remove those stains, can actually etch into the surface and make the stain worse.
When used in a shower, marble if not sealed, will need to be regularly cleaned to remove the soap build up. Quality tile shops carry special products that can be used to clean the area but it is wise to get the shop assistant to give you suggestion of use and read the directions on the bottle.
To keep your marble looking the best, I suggest you have it sealed. That way there is no concern when the bottle of red wine falls and breaks on the marble floor.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
COMPUTERS & DUST
By Mrs Duster Dolly
There are very few homes that don’t have a computer. They sit on desks and are great dust collectors. Because they are run with electricity they generate a lot of static electricity which attracts the dust. But unlike the typewriter of yesteryears, computers don’t come with a cover to protect the key board and the monitor, so a regular dust is necessary. Some companies employ people to this work but the home PC should be cleaned just as regularly.
Because of electricity computers cannot be cleaned with damp cloths, neither can the equipment be sprayed with any form of liquid. But using a dry cloth over everything still doesn’t remove the dust. So what is the best way to get the key board clean and the finger prints off the monitor screen?
Before you start cleaning any part of the computer turn it off. That way if button or a key gets pressed it won’t affect the workings. With the key board firstly turn it upside down and shaking it, there are gaps between the keys and dust falls down in between onto the electronics. Hopefully the shaking will dislodge the dust and it will fall out. To remove the dust from the keyboard itself hold the board up on its side and with a small paint brush dust in between all the keys.
If you have a plasma monitor cloths can’t be used on the screen. Try brushing lightly with the dry paint brush. For the glass screen monitor, spray some glass cleanser on a piece of scrunched up newspaper and wipe it over the screen. Give the screen a side on glance to see if all the marks have been removed. The rest of the monitor should be wiped over with a dry cloth.
The computer it self needs to be wiped over, especially the top where you can use a cloth, but all the little indentations and crevices need to be brushed out with the paint brush. Be careful not to flick the brush as it only puts the dust into the air and doesn’t let it drop down onto the floor where it can be easily vacuumed away.
Remember your computer should be cleaned at least fortnightly. By then you will be able to see the dust.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
WOODEN FLOORS
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Wooden floors have been around since houses were built with foundations. Bringing the flooring off the ground required a steady flat surface and wooden slats became the perfect choice. Unfortunately over time wood shrinks so after many years gaps appeared between the floor boards allowing draughts to blow up from under the floor. This of course meant the introduction of rugs and later carpets.
To have a house with carpet wall to wall was a luxury but not part of society until machinery was introduced which could manufacture carpeting in bulk. The wealthy had carpets, and in some large houses and palaces those carpets were extremely large, but they never covered the whole floor until the middle of the twentieth century.
When nylon carpet was invented more and more people could afford to have their home carpeted throughout. The draughts that use to rise through the gaps between the wooden slats were eliminated and it was easier to control the dust. With wooden floors when the wind blew the dust would blow across the floor and swirl up into the air, with carpet the dust got caught in the pile and stayed put until vacuumed away.
When the wall to wall carpets started to wear, young people who had not been used to wooden floors pulled up the carpet and saw the beauty of the wood. Polyurethane which is made from plastic and as a liquid becomes a varnish, when painted over the wooden floors helped seal the gaps between the wood and made the floor lush and shiny.
Certain products react on polyurethane, one is milk fat. When a toddler drops their bottle of milk on the floor, the spot of milk if not wiped off will leave a mark. Wipe it off as soon as it happens with a dab of white vinegar on a cloth. The vinegar helps to keep the polyurethane hard. Similarly it is better to mop a wooden floor with a small amount of hot water containing either vinegar or methylated spirits. The vinegar or methylated spirits will help preserve the coating.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
HEALTH & HYGIENE
by Mrs Duster Dolly
During my career in the domestic cleaning industry I have been into hundreds of homes. Out of all those homes I would say there has only been two that I could state were unhygienic. The rest may have been untidy and sometimes dirty, but not unhygienic. A home might be cluttered and covered with dust, but that doesn’t make it a health hazard. We clean a home so it won’t reach the unhygienic stage.
Regular cleaning helps keep down the dust. Wind and occupants bring dust and grime into a home. That dust and grime finally settles on the furniture and floors. After a couple of weeks it is noticeable, especially on shiny surfaces. If the floors aren’t vacuumed and the dust removed from the furniture it builds up. It might cause hay-fever or asthma but that dust is not a hygiene worry.
Similarly bathrooms and kitchens need a regular clean to removes spills and body cleansing products. When we clean those areas, the unhygienic matter has been washed away or placed in a bin which is regularly emptied. All that is removed when cleaning a bathroom or kitchen is the residue of cleansers left behind.
Several years ago there were constant adverts on the TV telling everyone that special disinfectant cleansers were needed to clean the kitchen and the bathroom. It was dangerous for children to be subjected to the dirt in the house, because that dirt contained germs. A report released a couple of years later showed that more and more children were becoming allergic to everyday germs and the practice of over cleaning with disinfectants was blamed. In fact the report went on to state that it was good for children to contact germs; it helped them build up their immunity.
Nobody likes a dirty home. But that doesn’t mean because it isn’t clean we are living amongst filth, which is unhygienic. In fact most houses I go into could be a lot cleaner but that is why I am in the cleaning industry. There is an art to making the house look cleaner. Make sure it is tidy. If there is no clutter anywhere the house can still be dusty but people won’t notice it, because the tidy house gives the allusion of being clean. Try it you’ll be surprised at how it works.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
DUSTERS-ON-A-POLE
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Many times when I go into people’s houses to quote for their cleaning needs I mention that we use a duster-on-a-pole to dust. Some people just accept that concept, some are horrified. “Terrible things,” they say. “They just flick the dust into the air.”
In some cases I would agree. Having seen the way some people use a duster-on-a-pole they are right, the dust is flicked into the air, but if used correctly the humble duster-on-a-pole can help cut down cleaning time. The art is to use the duster-on-a-pole as if it were a cloth in your hand.
You surely must have purchased sandwiches from a sandwich shop and seen them use a plastic spatula to spread the butter over the bread. By using the bigger article they are able to cover a larger area in a shorter period of time.
When you use the duster-on-a-pole as if it were a cloth in your hand you cover a larger area as it is wiped across the furniture.
There is also another great thing about the duster-on-a-pole. Because it is thin and has a tiny core, the duster itself can be pushed into narrow and hard to reach areas to remove dust.
Inside Hi Fi cabinets, where the DVD and CD players sit on shelves, it is impossible to get a hand into the gap down the side and underneath the equipment. By pushing the duster-on-a-pole into the confined space the dust is easily removed and leaves the shelf looking clean and shiny.
Dusters-on-a-pole are also great for cleaning shutters. Because they are fluffy, when wiped between the slats the dust is removed from both sides; above and below, all at the same time.
Most people when I tell them what can be achieved with the duster-on-a-pole quickly change their mind.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
DUST MITES
By Mrs Duster Dolly
It must be at least ten years since a little old man told me that it was his belief that more children suffered from asthma because of the introduction of cold water washing.
Washing in cold water was a great boon when introduced. Up until then the soap powder didn’t work unless the water was hot. All washing machines ran on hot water and took it directly from the hot water tap. If your home didn’t have running hot water the machine heated the water before performing the washing cycle. It doesn’t seem possible now, but washing in cold water only became available around thirty years ago.
Dust mites are a well known cause of asthma so killing off the dust mites helps to keep down the problems of asthma. But hot water washing is the only way to kill the dust mite and as most dust mites live in our beds, all bed linen and night clothes should be washed in hot water.
Mattresses hold 80% of all dust mites in a home so should be regularly vacuumed. If vacuumed each time they are turned, which according to the manufacturers should be every three months, the infestations will be reduced. Not only will the vacuuming remove most of the dust mites it will remove the mite dust as well. Make sure you put a clean paper collection bag in the vacuum and throw it away as soon as you have finished going over the beds.
Each time you change the bed linen and night clothes wash them in hot water at a temperature of 60°. It requires such a high heat to kill the mite. Washing them in cold water removes the mite dust but the mites themselves will survive.
You will never eradicate the dust mite it is a useful part of nature. It lives on the dead cells that fall off our skin, but the dust they create can be a nuisance especially for those who suffer from allergies. So try the hot water treatment and keep the dust mite down to a responsible level.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Remember when you were a kid and you combed your hair then picked up scraps of paper on the comb? That was achieved by the static electricity generated on the comb from your hair. The static electricity attracted the paper.
Hi Fi systems, Computers, DVDs and TV screens are electronic equipment that produces static electricity. And like the paper was attracted to the comb, dust is attracted to Electronic Equipment.
Most Hi Fi and home entertainment systems are black so attracted dust is more noticeable than it would be if it was on a lighter colour. The other problem is that most Hi Fi and home entertainment systems sit inside cupboards or on shelves with very little space around the units, making it hard to keep clean.
The best way to remove dust around electronic equipment is with a duster-on-a-pole. These can come in various forms, made out of wool or feathers, and even a nylon fibre which when rubbed over articles generates its own static electricity and takes the dust with it. I have found these electrostatic dusters to be the best, especially with electronic equipment, but some of the other dusters-on-a-pole are better for other areas in a home.
The best part of the duster-on-a-pole is that it will reach into very narrow areas where you will never be able to get your hand. By pushing the duster into the narrow gaps in and around the equipment you can easily remove the dust.
The other areas which are great for dusters-on-a-pole are the key boards of computers and the number pad for the telephone. The gaps are so tiny between keys and numbers that the only way to reach in and remove the dust is with an electrostatic duster.
The trick with using a duster-on-a-pole is not to swish or flick it around, just use it as if it were a cloth in your hand. This way the dust stays on the duster not in the air.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
CLEANSERS THAT DO THE JOB
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Walk down a Cleaning aisle in any supermarket and you will be amazed at the various and varied cleansers on the shelves. Which are the best ones to buy and what works?
If you have the time and the money you should try each product in turn and see which does the best job, but it would mean your cupboard under the sink in the kitchen would soon be filled up with unwanted cleansers. I recommend that each household should have the least number of cleansers possible. Every home should have a spray and wipe over product, a cream cleanser, glass cleanser, furniture polish, a liquid bleach gel for the inside of the showers, and a floor cleanser. Disinfectant, bleach and sugar soap are useful but won’t be used as often as the other six products. Should you have polished floors you will need to add vinegar or methylated spirits to the six basic products for the mopping of those floors.
Spray and wipe over solutions should be chosen by the preferred fragrance. The vinegar or methylated spirits is mixed with a small amount of hot water and used to mop the polished floors. A liquid bleach gel is a solution of bleach and detergent. Lathered up with water, spread over the tiles and glass inside a shower and left until the product becomes slimy, once rubbed off produces a sparkling clean shower. Because it is rubbed off with a cloth, no product goes down the drain, which is good for the environment.
To choose a cream cleanser, try rubbing some of the product between the forefinger and thumb, remembering to shake the bottle first. What you are checking for is a creamy feel with a light gritty texture. Too much grit and it will damage the articles you clean, not enough and it will have no affect. If you feel the product is drying the skin on your finger it probably isn’t creamy enough and will leave a white powder on the surfaces.
Many furniture polishes come in the aerosol form making them easier to use. The better polishes are silicone free; this means the product can be absorbed into the wood. If you can find a polish which contains bees wax you will be rewarded with a lovely warm fragrance.
Happy shopping.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
By Mrs Duster Dolly
PORCELAIN CLEANING
Many articles and ornaments in the home are delicate and require special treatment to clean, especially porcelain and china. Porcelain is the very best of china perfected by the Chinese during the Ming Dynasty (1868-1644) and has a translucent look. It is made from a mixture of china stone and kaolin. The best china and porcelain is glazed with lime and fired at the same time making the surface hard enough not to be scratched by metal.
Porcelain and fine china might be scratch resistant but are not resistant to harsh detergents. These articles should never be placed in a dish washing machine. When you do wash them place the articles in lukewarm water with a gentle detergent, and dry them with a soft tea towel.
Lots of ornaments made out of fine china have intricate details which hold and catch dust. Just washing them doesn’t always remove the dirt from the small crevices. You will need a fine tipped artist’s brush to reach in and flick out the settled dust particles. Place the ornaments on a clean tea towel on the kitchen bench then once you have removed the caught dust you can place them straight into the dish washing liquid and agitate them in the water to help get the water into all the small areas. When drying articles with a lot of crevices it is best to place them on a dry tea towel head down so all the water can drip out. You can also dry them with a low heat hair dryer, but make sure you are using the lowest possible heat. All ornaments with small crevices if brushed regularly with the artist’s brush will not need to be washed too often.
Much of the very good crockery is made from bone china, similar to porcelain but not quite as fine. Made in England they didn’t manage to perfect the system as well as the Chinese. But like all china it gathers dust, even if it is just sitting in the cupboard. China keeps better if it is used regularly, so why not hold those afternoon teas as a special occasion and use the best crockery; it is better shown off than just sitting hidden in the cupboard. If you don’t use your china crockery on a regular basis, make sure it is washed once a year. The dust which is gritty can affect the glaze, so washing it in the lukewarm soapy water will help preserve the glaze.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly
BATHROOM VENTILATION
By Mrs Duster Dolly
Since starting my business in 1993 I have been into many homes. I have noticed over the past several years that more and more new units are being built without adequate ventilation, especially where they are placed on an inside wall with no windows. This of course means that the humidity and condensation in the bathroom, caused by the steam generated during showers and baths takes many hours to dissipate.
Some bathrooms have extractor fans which are connected to the light switch, but as the fan switches off when the person turns out the light the condensation still remains on the walls and encourages mould. The art with an extractor fan in the bathroom is to make sure the fan is left on for at least a half an hour after the shower so all the humidity in the air can be removed. Similarly heater lights which not only warm up the room do remove the dampness in the air. Leave those on also for around half an hour and this will help the air to dry out.
The best treatment for any shower, especially those in bathrooms without natural ventilation, is to encourage everyone who uses the shower to wipe down the glass and the tiles with a chamois (pronounced shamee) after every use. Now I realise this is a big ask, especially in a house with teenagers, but habits started at an early age, die hard, and once they have got used to the idea, they will be for ever thankful as they grow older.
What does the chamois do? As the original chamois was the skin of chamois animal it was a soft leather that absorbed water droplets. Chamois is now made from a form of vinyl, but still absorbs the water droplets, by wiping it over the tiles and shower screen it dries out those areas and removes the dampness from the grouting, where the mould grows. I have been into a house where the owner and her husband had faithfully wiped over the inside of their shower after every use, and still after 15 years there was not a sign of mould; great promotion for the constant use of a chamois.
For more help ask Mrs Duster Dolly |
