Spring-clean like a pro

Spring-clean like a pro

Executive housekeepers share advice on making rooms spotless in a jiffy.
Updated:
2009-10-01 21:19
Published:
2009-04-01 00:00
By 
Dee Van Dyk

Banish chocolate and blood stains

It's spring and for many of us, that means an annual spring-cleaning. But after a long, cold winter, who wants to be stuck inside doing housework?

No one knows how to spring clean like the people who welcome visitors 365 days a year: executive housekeepers at hotels across North America. Below, find a spring bouquet of quick and simple cleaning tips from the pros in the know.

Before you begin
Mary Ann Rodino, a 16-year veteran executive housekeeper at The Spa at Norwich Inn in Connecticut, recommends starting with organization. Check out each room for what needs to be done and make note of the supplies you'll need to get the job done.

1. Ciao to chocolate stains
No one knows chocolate better than Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania, home of all things chocolate. At Hotel Hershey the customary nighttime send-off for drowsy guests is a chocolate Hershey's Kiss on the pillow. Sean Nies, executive housekeeper at the hotel, says chocolate is a combination stain -- with both greasy and nongreasy components. "Use cool water and detergent first, to treat the nongreasy portion," recommends Nies. "Rinse thoroughly and let dry, and then sponge the greasy stain with cleaning liquid."

2. Banish bathtub soap scum
Got soap scum? "Bug sponges, sponges with fine plastic netting over them, are good to clean acrylic bath surroundings," says Josephine Bousfield, executive housekeeper for Best Western Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre in London, Ont. "They remove soap scum and residue without scratching. You can find bug sponges in the automotive section of hardware stores."

3. Blood begone!
Scrapes and cuts are an everyday part of family life. When you need to treat a difficult blood stain, executive housekeeper Paulette Sable at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans recommends hydrogen peroxide.

Josephine Bousfield suggests a liquid soap, like Sunlight detergent. "Add a spot of detergent to the blood stain, run cold water over it and rub the sheet or clothing together. The dark stain should come out after a normal wash."

Or, says Ewa Borkowska, executive housekeeper at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, use shaving cream to remove blood from throw pillows, rugs and upholstery.

4. Light's out on lampshade stains
To get rid of stains on lampshades, Best Western's Josephine Bousfield applies a dab of water to the stain, and then rubs with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Click to continue...

Page 1 of 2
Advertisement
Send to a friend

E-mail it

Spring-clean like a pro

* marked fields are required.

Your Comments

Post a Comment
  • arg gallagher wrote:

    Apr 10, 2007

    2009-09-22 10:49 AM

    Pease, this was a waste of time to read, a few lines about Spring Cleaning doesn't make a whole house clean!
  • Carolyn wrote:

    May 05, 2006

    2009-09-22 10:49 AM

    Erase pen marks on fabrics use rubbing alcohol, liberally, then wash.
Add Comment

All fields are mandatory.

Advertisement

Sign up for Insider Access,
Our Free E-Newsletter

Contests, recipes, member-only perks and more! Get Homemakers.com's monthly newsletter.

Newsletter

get your
Download of the Month

Personal health notes

Use our printer-friendly sheets to keep a record of your health and wellness issues.

Download now!

how to
Follow Homemakers Online

Contests

more contests

Partners

Weblocal.ca Find. Rate. Share.

Find Local Businesses

Find Local Businesses

Advertisement Advertisement

Transcontinental Media contact information

Médias Transcontinental
Street Address
1100 Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest
Extended Address
24th floor
Locality
Montréal
Region
QC
Country
CA
Postal Code
H3B 4X9
Latitude
45°29' 55" N
Longitude
73°34' 13" W
Work
+1 514 392 9000
Fax
+1 514 392 1489