3 Most Common House / Office Maintenance Issues and How to Fix Them
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Cleaning is not a one time thing. It’s a recurring task. This is why cleaning is synonymous to maintenance. Fixtures, furniture and features of your home or office can sometimes not work properly if not well maintained. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them. Clogs Toilets Toilets are constantly used and […]
Cleaning is not a one time thing. It’s a recurring task. This is why cleaning is synonymous to maintenance. Fixtures, furniture and features of your home or office can sometimes not work properly if not well maintained. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them.
Clogs
Toilets
Toilets are constantly used and needed. Especially if you only have a limited number of toilets at your disposal (pun intended). You’d want to take care of it immediately once it gets clogged.
Here are the steps to remove toilet clogs:
- Stop the water flow first. Close the flapper (circular drain stopper held by a chain) to prevent the toilet from overflowing.
- To aid with plunging, pour hot water mixed with dish-washing detergent first on the toilet.
- Warm your plunger before using. This makes the rubber flexible and easier to use.
- Aim the plunger on the toilet hole. Make sure that the plunger forms a tight seal.
- Push the plunger first, then pull it. Do it repeatedly while maintaining a tight seal. This will move the obstruction.
- If the plunger doesn’t work, you might want to use an auger/plumbing snake. Insert the flexible end on the hole, then push until you feel the resistance. Move the handle to break the obstruction up, then pull to remove any debris left.
The best way to deal with a clogged toilet is to PREVENT it from clogging in the first place.
- Clean the toilet regularly.
- Don’t let people flush toilet paper and other foreign objects.
We recommend weekly toilet cleaning, daily for heavily-trafficked restrooms.
Trust us. You wouldn’t want to deal with it when it’s already clogged.
Sinks
Sinks are way easier to deal with, but they are the ones to easily get clogged. There are multiple little things that can accumulate and can cause clogs.
Again, prevention is better. Here’s how you deal with clogged sinks.
- Prepare a drain clearing mixture first. Boil 4 cups of water. Add 1 cup of baking soda.
- Pour it into the sink drain and pour 1 cup of white vinegar.
- Leave for 5-10 minutes.
- If the mixture didn’t work, use the plunger.
- If still stuck, place a bucket below the sink’s pipes.
- Remove and clean the P-trap (the U-Shape pipe). Usually, clogs accumulate there.
- To make sure that the other pipes don’t have clogs, use the auger to break down obstructions.
Stains
Different kinds of stains require different kinds of solutions. It will also depend on the fabric that you use.
Fruit Juice on Linen
NEVER use liquid detergent for fruit juice stains. Use white vinegar to blot the stain out and rinse with cold water.
Candle Wax on Carpets
Scrape off hardened wax using a butter knife. Then, dampen a white cotton towel. Place it over the stain and iron it on high for 10 seconds.
Ink on Cloth
This is the easiest to remove. Just use isopropyl alcohol or a mixture of vinegar and laundry detergent.
Squeaks
This is common for hinged fixtures such as doors or windows. Use any kind of oil, cooking oil, motor oil or white grease to lubricate the hinges. This is also applicable to sliding doors/windows.
Bonus: Streaky window
Use a cleaning solution and a newspaper to wipe your windows. Start with a circular pattern on your first pass, then on the next passes use horizontal and vertical wipes.
If you don’t have time to do this or just want these to be handled consistently, contact us for a commercial cleaning quote today!
