Tuesday 27 June 2017

Common Winter Home Cleaning & Maintenance Issues


How to keep yourself and your family healthy through winter? 
Check out some health tips given by Auckland Regional Public Health Service & the Ministry of Social Development. They advise taking the influenza vaccination on time, washing your hands properly, taking healthy food, doing routine exercises, and reducing dampness in the house etc.

The website of the Health Service also says if you or your child is feeling unwell you can get free health advice from registered nurses by phoning Healthline on 0800 611 116. Read their full article with ten tips for staying well in winter.

Winter House Maintenance Issues 

Now let’s look at some maintenance tips for your house in winter.

Gutters and water leaks
Rain is usual in the winter. And if the gutters, downpipes and the drains are not clean, there can be blocks and water will leak into the house building structure. So, one must check the gutters before and during the winter to ensure free flow of water through the pipes and drains. 

Leaf guards on the gutters are to be checked and ensure that the cleaners you hire give quality service for them.

House insulation
As per the Building Code Clause H1, New Zealand houses should maintain proper insulation, ensuring the right level of thermal resistance (R-value) for their location. Adequate insulation is necessary for a healthier living condition and it also reduces your energy bills because the heat generated is effectively circulated inside the house.  

More insulation is needed for houses in colder climates. Recent studies in New Zealand clarified that there is a definite link between insulation and health. People living in well insulated houses reported visiting their GP less.

Ceiling and underfloor insulation will be compulsory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. New Zealand Govt’s tenancy, maintenance and inspections website states that the landlord must disclose whether there is insulation in the rental home, where it is, what type and what condition it is in, so tenants can make an informed decision. The tenancy laws also stipulate that a landlord who fails to comply with the insulation requirements as on 1st July 2019 will be liable for a penalty of up to $4,000.

Before the start of the winter and also during the winter period, you should inspect the insulation so as to make sure that it hasn't become inadequate due to water damage, dampness or compression from storage boxes.   

Dampness and moisture
Everybody knows the signs of dampness in the house like mould growth and visible water stains on the walls, ceilings etc. There will also be the presence of damp, stale or musty smells caused by mould spores in the buildings affected by damp problems.

Mould spores in the air can cause sickness, so the areas affected by mould, especially the wardrobes, cupboards and the backs of curtains, are to be thoroughly cleaned. If you are not sure about completely removing the presence of mould, better hire an expert home cleaning service in New Zealand to do it professionally. 

Check and ensure that the extractor fans in the kitchens and bathrooms are working in good condition. Change the filters of the ventilation system once every year.

Prevention is better than cure:

A scheduled winter cleaning programme from Select Clean before the beginning of inclement weather can greatly reduce dampness and moisture related issues.

A freshly cleaned home is a delight to look at as everybody feels great in a clean atmosphere. Get more time for you and your kids by hiring Select Clean and you can spend your free time on the things you love to do. Protect your home in winter by joining hands with the most reliable and consistent home cleaning service in New Zealand.

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Kiwis’ Cleaning Habits, Hamilton Property News, the Meth Threat, and More


Here are some interesting facts about New Zealanders’ general home cleaning habits and the overall attitude to housework. 

A recent survey, which quizzed more than 500 Kiwis on their household cleaning habits, said over 45% actively avoid the task of cleaning the toilet, while 22 percent would rather have dinner with their in-laws than cleaning the loo.

It’s found that the Kiwis mostly spend up to four hours in a week doing household chores, and it is women who actually do more house cleaning work than men.

Majority of the respondents also hinted that they judge friends on the state of their toilet, and admitted that they would rather hold on than use a toilet they thought was dirty, even at friends’ houses.

With the previous generations, women used to spend about 2.6 times longer on housework than men, but things have changed in the modern era, the survey had revealed. Women (3.9 hours cleaning) now spend just 0.5 hours longer on cleaning chores than men (3.4 hours).

New Zealanders are very much conscious about cleanliness. Almost everybody surveyed agreed that they do a quick whip-around clean before guests arrived.

New Homes Planned in Hamilton East
Meanwhile, a recent news report said Housing New Zealand and Waikato-Tainui are working in partnership to deliver new homes in Hamilton East, redeveloping the Jebson Place site.  The building site also covers the area bordered by Old Farm Road, Cassidy Street and Dey Street.

"A lot of careful thought has been put into the design to ensure the new homes planned are attractive and a good fit with the neighbourhood. The partnership will also provide the right types of social housing properties needed in Hamilton and increase the city’s overall housing supply,” says Housing New Zealand’s General Manager Asset Development Patrick Dougherty.

Mr Dougherty further said that all the homes would be attractive, easy to maintain, fully carpeted and insulated, and filled with light. The homes would be located on landscaped sections with private outdoor living spaces.

While, Waikato-Tainui CEO Donna Flavell opined: "There will be a mix of properties – some affordable and some for the open market. It was always our intention to see the redevelopment create a vibrant and diverse community."

Meth Contamination Threat
Now, regarding the meth threat, environmental chemist Dr. Nick Kim, a Massey University scientist, advised people not to panic if their house tests positive for methamphetamine, as it is unlikely to do them any harm. A news report on 17 June by Radio NZ quoted Dr. Kim as saying that methamphetamine residue was a very low health risk and people were misinterpreting Ministry of Health guidelines on cleaning up houses where the drug, known as P, had been used.

However, if you don’t want to take risks, and have concerns about the meth contamination threat, you need to call a quality home cleaning service in your locality. Ensure that the cleaner uses standard practice to remove all traces of meth residue from the floors and walls of your house.


For effectively cleaning up residential properties situated in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington & Christchurch, you may call Select Clean verified cleaners on 0800 000 907. Your home cleaning task is carried out by local, dedicated owner operators of Select Clean who bring all the cleaning materials, tools and equipment they need to complete the job.

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Professional Home Cleaning Reduces the Health Risk of Mould


A briefing paper for the Canterbury District Health Board, said: “The housing environment (in New Zealand) is a key setting with impacts on human health. Housing factors which contribute significantly to health outcomes include temperature, humidity and ventilation, overcrowding, affordability and fuel poverty.” 

The paper further said that direct effects of cold homes on health included excess mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory disease amongst the elderly, increased respiratory problems in children, increased illnesses such as colds and flu, mental health problems and the exacerbation of conditions such as arthritis. 

Humidity level in your house is thus a decisive factor on human health. High humidity reduces indoor temperatures during winter, paving way for cold home conditions which adversely affect your health. The saturation of moisture content causes dampness, which leads to the over growth of mould and dust mites in your homes.

How to get rid of mould
Mould will grow in often neglected places such as wardrobes, under carpets, behind curtains and furniture in humid conditions. A quality home cleaning service will check these problematic areas and remove all traces of mould and mildew during the cleaning process. However, when you clean your home yourself, it is highly likely that you may overlook such matters.

Here’s a DIY method to kill visible mould: Apply methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) to the affected area, and let it remain there for half an hour. Repeat this process once more and see that signs of the mould have disappeared.  Finally, wipe the area with a clean cloth to completely remove mould spores. Throw away the cloth after use to prevent any leftover mould spores growing back.

Lemons and green home cleaning
Lemons can be used as a good natural cleaning substance, which will also leave your house smelling fresh. The citric acid in lemon makes it a strong disinfectant. It has also low pH and antibacterial properties. Harsh and toxic chemicals in many cleaning products will have negative effects on your health, so it’s good to resort to natural cleaners.

Stove cleaning: Stove gets dirty if you don’t clean it regularly. Take a lemon piece and rub it over the stove surface; then sprinkle some baking soda and using a soft sponge, begin to scrub. When hard stains are loosened, wipe the surface with a cotton cloth to get perfect clean.

Microwave cleaning: Take half cup of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Mix it with the juice of half of a lemon.  Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 3 minutes or until it boils. Now, let the boiled lemon water stay in the microwave for five to 10 minutes to kill all the bacteria and remove bad smell. The vapours will help to loosen up stubborn stains and any food particles stuck in the oven. Now open the microwave door and clean it with a damp cloth.

Residential cleaning
Till recently, the demand for house and apartment-cleaning services was most popular with people of higher than average wealth looking for a little more free time – especially in two-income households. Market research conducted a few years before said that married couples with college degrees, 45 years old or older, always depend on reputed home cleaning service in New Zealand.

However, the latest trend shows that people of all walks of life are inclined to avoid the cleaning chores in their daily routine because everybody can now afford reliable house cleaning services in New Zealand.


Select Home Cleaning provides professional home cleaning service in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch - dependable and affordable award winning home cleaning by fully trained owner operators. Call a home cleaner now on 0800 000 907 for a cleaning job or for a free quote on house cleaning.

Tuesday 6 June 2017

Useful Housekeeping Tips for Busy Moms and Dads


Keep your bathroom & toilet germ free
Following some clever and easy cleaning techniques can restrict the spread of germs and avoid mould and mildew growing in the bathroom area.

Always close the toilet lid before flushing in order to prevent germs spreading onto other surfaces. It’s highly likely that your toothbrush and other personal items may get contaminated when germs are likely to splash onto them if toilet is flushed with open lid.    

While cleaning the toilet, also give particular attention to the toilet handle, toilet seat, taps, and door handles, which have large colonies of harmful bacteria and can easily spread the germs as these surfaces are frequently touched. If you have kept your showerheads out of use for some time and want to use it now, remember there can be large accumulation of germs there. Flush all the germs out by running the shower on full power with hot water.

Prevention of the growth of mould and mildew: bathroom surfaces are to be kept dry and the room well-ventilated. Any water leaks are to be immediately attended to.

Not carpets, but hard flooring like wood or stone is advised for bathrooms because of easiness to clean. Carpets also have a tendency to collect debris and encourage mould growth when wet.

Use of eucalyptus oil in home cleaning
Eucalyptus oil is an ideal natural freshener and also a cleaning agent (due to disinfectant and antiseptic properties) for your kitchen, bathroom and toilet. It can also be used for cleaning hard surface floors. The Eucalyptus oil helps to easily remove grease and stains from bathroom and toilet. As such it’s environment friendly too.

The oil can also be effectively used for mildewed wardrobes, stinking shoes, and smoky rooms (for clearing stale smoke fumes).

How to manage home cleaning with kids
It’s advisable to give a weekly cleaning chart to kids and thus their cleaning chores can be scheduled. It will make them more responsible kids and help to develop self confidence and habit of cleanliness in their young minds. For this you’ll have to decide which jobs children can do, and allot one or two jobs to each kid. Before proceeding you need to teach them how to do it for the first time.

Always praise the kids for their little contribution in helping you to clean the home. This will encourage them and slowly they’ll start doing the chores perfectly.

Necessity of hiring a home cleaning service
Everyone knows it’s very difficult to find some free time in today’s busy world. The time constraint of everyday life mostly affects home cleaning and maintenance. Hiring a house cleaning service is the best option to maintain cleanliness and home organisation.

A professional home cleaner is trained to do his/her job and uses the best equipment and products so the quality of work will always be better than what a homeowner does. Once you pick up a habit of hiring a home cleaner, there is no need to worry about hygiene and health issues. However if you don’t call cleaners, there are chances that your bathrooms may be left dirty and microwave soiled and germ affected for several days. 

Hiring a home cleaner means you’ll have sufficient free time to look after your kids and enjoy the life, unwinding the pressures of office job.

The first thing you want to do after coming home may be to kick back and relax, but the reality is that you’ll have to address a messy house. Attending to dirty dishes in the sink and smelly laundry everywhere will drain all your energy.

Get the peace of mind and relaxation you truly deserve in life by appointing a home cleaner in New Zealand to do general or schedule cleaning and other specialised tasks such as bathroom cleaning, oven cleaning, refrigerator cleaning etc.