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Difference between General Cleaning and Deep Cleaning

Difference between General Cleaning and Deep Cleaning

The difference between general cleaning and deep cleaning will determine the degree of cleaning you will need or will get from a professional cleaner. A lot of people use both terms loosely, causing confusion, though both will turn your place upside down figuratively, in reality there is a huge difference between them. After checking the mess at your place, you would soon know which of these two you will need done.

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General Cleaning VS Deep Cleaning

General Cleaning

This is what people do on a regular basis, be it daily or weekly, to maintain a level of cleanliness. Simply put, this is tidying up the whole place (not just a specific or selective areas). General doesn’t mean by its rank, but by scope, as in, “general area”. This is done to remove or reduce the amount of dust, dirt and movable debris. The overall cleaning uses a mixture of multi-purpose cleaner and water. Categorically, this type of cleaning must include the following:

Cleaning includes:

  • Wiping surfaces on immediate visual level (ceiling, counter tops, cabinet and refrigerator exteriors, etc)
  • Sweeping or vacuuming floors and mopping it
  • Soap wash of bathroom and kitchen tiles
  • Making the bed
  • tidying up / putting things in order within the rooms
  • Wiping windows, mirrors and glass

Equipment and materials used:

  • Broom and dust pan or vacuum
  • Mop
  • Wash clothes (basahan)
  • All purpose cleaner
  • Water

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Deep Cleaning

This is a more intensive way of cleaning and usually done once a month or every 3 months. Deep cleaning is done because there are some dirt and stains that have accumulated to a certain degree that a routine general cleaning cannot suffice. It also involves cleaning spaces that are not regularly reached, and reducing the number of bacteria and grime back to healthier levels. Specialty cleaning products are also used to ensure to get the work done fast and correctly, without damaging the surface. Time used in deep cleaning takes longer than your usual general cleaning. Categorically, this type of cleaning must include the following:

Cleaning includes:

  • Wiping surfaces on immediate visual level (ceiling, counter tops, cabinet and refrigerator exteriors, etc.)
  • Moving and wiping unexposed surfaces (back of TV, back of refrigerator, sink cabinets, etc.)
  • vacuuming and mopping floors
  • Cleaning bathroom and kitchen tiles with bathroom cleaners
  • Degreasing stove tops and tiles surrounding the cooking area
  • Scaling hard water stains and grime removing toilet bowls, faucets, shower heads
  • Making the bed
  • tidying up / putting things in order within the rooms
  • Wiping windows, mirrors and glass using glass cleaner
  • Disinfecting surfaces by wiping/mopping with disinfectant

 

Equipment and materials used:

  • vacuum
  • Mop
  • Wash clothes (basahan)
  • All purpose cleaner
  • Disinfectant
  • Toilet Bowl Cleaner
  • Degreaser
  • Glass Cleaner
  • Water

The real difference between General Cleaning and Deep Cleaning

General cleaning and Deep Cleaning cannot be interchanged at all as it involves different number of man power, different time required to finish each and the materials needed, but both are needed in home and office spaces. As a professional cleaning service company, we recommend that you do area cleaning daily (common areas), scheduled day cleaning of some areas (bathroom and kitchen cleaning twice a week), general cleaning once a week, and deep cleaning monthly. This is more cost efficient, while keeping your space clean.

You don’t have to do the cleaning yourself, professional cleaning service companies like CMDA Cleaning Services can always be there to help you clean up your space, no matter what requirement you need. Aside from the time you save, you don’t have to invest in equipment such as vacuum cleaners, and specialized cleaning materials such as toilet bowl cleaners and degreasers.

Do you want to learn more on how CMDA Cleaning Services can help you, your family, or your office fight against COVID-19? Send us an email at inquiry@cmdacleaning.com, or call/text us on any number mentioned above.

Let’s all be well and healthy, wear a face mask, wash our hands frequently, maintain a 1-2 meter physical distance to non-family members, and stay at home if we can. Stay covid-free!

CMDA Cleaning Services – A trusted name in Cleaning and Disinfection Services

As a company certified in Cleaning & Infection Control in General Facilities from the Cleaning Masterclass in UK, our clients trust and prefer our services in all their cleaning, disinfection and housekeeping needs. We deliver beyond the basic cleaning, disinfection and housekeeping services you require and expect. If you have any sanitation questions and request, we would love to hear from you! Contact us today and let us help you create a cleaner and safer future, together.

What is Cleaning

What is Cleaning

As elementary and as simple as it may sound, “cleaning” something may not be so simple at all, and a skill that most humans have not been an expert with. Cleaning and organizing stuff has been evident throughout history, even as early as first humans to walk on Earth, there have been recorded facts that they too have been busy with household chores already.

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According to WikipediaCleaning is the process of removing or separating unwanted substances, such as dirt, infectious agents, and other impurities, from an object or environment. Cleaning occurs in many different contexts and different forms like house cleaning or cleaning a fish in food preparation, and uses many different methods. Several occupations are devoted to cleaning, like CMDA Cleaning Services.

In its essence, cleaning is the methodical process of placing things in their right place according to value and purpose. There is a saying that goes “A Place For Everything, and Everything in Its’ Place“.

 

cleaning

/ˈklēniNG/

noun – the action of making something clean, especially the inside of a house.

Dictionary

CLEANING HISTORY

If you have watched a lot of History and Discovery Channel, or have read their magazines, you may have already watched an episode or article about human history or pre-historic depictions of the early humans. You might have observed that the early humans have already been cleaning things up. It is definitely way different from what we do at the present, but the essence there is – you clean up a space so that no one gets sick, you clean up something you caught so that you can eat it without eventually dying. These were all done by hand and perhaps a knife by someone skilled with it, but no other tools. Cleaning was not to make things look pleasant, it was done so that no one gets ill from the bacteria found in trash and left over food. Cleaning was part of human culture for survival.

Fast forward a few thousand years later, humans have mastered the first and the most critical tool available for cleaning – water. We found that even a juvenile human can clean something using water found in flowing rivers and lakes. Transporting water or digging wells near settlements made home cleaning easier. primitive forms of brooms only became evident during the rise of the Mesopotamian civilization, and soap was invented around 2800 BC. Cleaning became not just a measure for survival, but also for aesthetics – an object, surface or space that looks pleasing to the eye. With the invention of fabric, humans have created another tool to help clean up – the washcloth (basahan).

A few millenia after, cleaning has been incorporated in the society. It has even become a part of a person’s level in the society, being able to hire someone to do the cleaning for you or not. From the biblical times (the advent of cleaning services) up to the industrial revolution, the nobility, royalty or wealthy are those who are able to employ “servants” to clean their homes, and the less-wealthy clean their own. Tools have evolved as well by the invention of pail, brush and mop.

What is Cleaning
What is Cleaning

CLEANING IN THE MODERN TIMES

During the 18 and 19th Century, the discovery of micro-organisms has given us more clarity on why we need to clean – reduce the number of possible illnesses brought by bacteria. Soap with strong chemicals were invented to kill more organisms and we have learned that heating up or adding pressure to an item would totally kill such organisms.

Today, we have more tools and options that can help us, compared to our ancestors. Aside from the broom, pail, washcloth and mop, we now have vacuum cleaners, wall and ceiling swiffers, rotary mops, and robot cleaners. In case you missed it, we have shared the 5 Best and must have tools and equipement for cleaning at home and the Best Cleaning Tools in 2020 and 2021. There are also cleaning soaps that have anti-microbial properties as well that can help in reducing the germs on surfaces.

With the availability of modern tools, almost everyone of us humans have been into cleaning our own homes one way or another. It is just sad that there are still some places on Earth where there are people with no access to clean water for drinking, much more for cleaning.

Cleaning services has evolved from exclusive to royalty and nobility, to Demand Setting – a busy family who needs someone to keep their house clean (housekeeping), a business who need specific cleaning arrangements at specific space and time (janitorial service), or an individual who needs to have a particular object or space cleaned (specialty cleaning). The last two has been the driving force of professional cleaning service companies like CMDA Cleaning Services.

Despite the availability of robot cleaners, cleaning in the modern times still need the human touch as these robot cleaners are basically focused on the floor. Until the invention of a robot like “Rosie” (from the animated series – The Jetsons) or a device equiped with AI, hands and wheels, cleaning service companies will be the best source of professional cleaning.

What is Cleaning
What is Cleaning

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CONCEPTS OF MODERN CLEANING

Primarily, when it comes to “cleaning” now a days, one needs to improve the aesthetic look for a specific space. You want something to look good if you want it cleaned, get rid of dust here and there, mop the floor to make it shine a little bit, wipe the walls to get rid of stains, and that’s about it – basic cleaning.

There was a time where disinfection was not part of the consideration when doing a home or office cleaning. Heavily relying on the quality of the chemicals used for cleaning and with the advancement of modern medicine, a lot of us has forgotten why our ancestors cleaned in the first place – prevent illness and survive. This is driven basically on human nature’s perception of beauty, and most of all, cost. A stigma that cleaning is done properly by cheap laborers who are not lucky in life or failed to finish school.

Now that the Novel Coronavirus has reached pandemic levels, we humans have gotten into cleaning with disinfection – greatly reducing the micro-organisms present on surfaces, whether bacteria or virus, which is technically the original reason why we clean.

Overall the principles of a good cleaning in the modern times, be it at home or office, are:

  1. Safety – no obstructions that can cause accidents or illnesses;
  2. Efficiency – everything in place and easily accessible when needed;
  3. Productivity – space or object promotes a productive home life or office work, based on the five senses;
What is Cleaning

WHY MOST OF US ARE NOT EXPERT CLEANERS

Despite our history with cleaning, most of us are not good at cleaning, and some even fail horribly. There are thousands of reasons why we should clean, but there are a hundred reasons why we fail, and they are mainly due to:

  1. Cleaning is subjective – what is clean for some, can be still dirty for others;
  2. No universal standard in cleanliness – what is clean at home, may not be that clean at work or at the hospital or even other places. The level of cleanliness at the hospital is not mandatory at home or other spaces;
  3. Cleaning principles unexplained – we were taught in school that we should sweep and mop the floor, keep a clean place, but never explained why we should;
  4. Family background – there are people who are born with either, the parents are not setting good examples in terms of cleanliness, or, already with housekeepers that, when left to themselves, does not know how to effectively clean their space;
  5. Restricting time and budget over purpose – seeing cleaning as non-essential and non-income generating task and providing less time and budget for cleaning;
What is Cleaning
What is Cleaning

We hope we have given you a thorough information regarding what is cleaning, and we hope you would have a new mindset on what is cleaning, why we need to clean. We actually don’t have to do it ourselves if we are “busy” or tending to “other more important matters”, you could always outsource your cleaning requirements from a professional cleaning service like CMDA Cleaning Services. What matters is, there are steps taken to ensure that you and the people around you are safe.

Do you want to learn more on how CMDA Cleaning Services can help you, your family, or your office fight against COVID-19? Send us an email at inquiry@cmdacleaning.com, or call/text us on any number mentioned above.

Let’s all be well and healthy, wear a face mask, wash our hands frequently, maintain a 1-2 meter physical distance to non-family members, and stay at home if we can. Stay covid-free!

Brand names of Chemicals for Cleaning

Brand names of Chemicals for Cleaning

This pandemic has gotten us cleaning our homes and space more than the usual, and with the challenge of going to the grocery to find the right chemical for cleaning, we might have researched for “Brand names of Chemicals for Cleaning”. Most searches might lead you to items found outside the Philippines, so we have compiled here for you the typical brand names you will find in your local grocery store.

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Commercial Brand names of Chemicals for Cleaning in the Philippines

All Purpose Cleaners

These are chemicals for cleaning, removing dirt and some grime, and just lessening the amount of bacteria or other organisms, but may or may not be in the acceptable levels that will not cause diseases. Some have a low concentration of disinfectant, which is good. They can be used generally anywhere at home and at the office. They come in powdered, solid bar and liquid forms, and can be found in the your nearby sari-sari store, Lazada and supermarket. Their commercial brand names are:

  • ZIM CLEANSER
  • DOMEX – MULTI PURPOSE CLEANER
  • MR CLEAN – ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
  • MR MUSCLE – MULTI PURPOSE CLEANER
  • AJAX
  • CIF
  • LYSOL ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
  • PINE SOL
  • GREENEX
  • MESSY BESSY

Domex multi purpose cleaner sold in Lazada

Disinfectants

These are chemicals used to greatly remove the amount of disease causing germs in the air or surfaces. Most of these products are generaly for disinfecting only and may not be effective as a cleaning chemical, but some are combined with multi-purpose cleaners to help in that part. They are used on sanitizing the air, room, counter tops and floor. They come in aerosol spray, powdered, and liquid forms, and can also be found in the your nearby sari-sari store, Lazada and supermarket. Their commercial brand names are:

  • CHLORINE POWDER
  • CLOROX (BLEACH)
  • DOMEX – DISINFECTANT
  • MR MUSCLE – DISINFECTANT
  • LYSOL – SPRAY and DISINFECTANT LIQUID

Lysol Disinfectant spray sold in Lazada

Dishwashing Liquid

These are chemicals used to clean dishes and utensils for eating. They are combination of surfactants (chemical that separates things) and alkaline salts (another chemical that prevents things from sticking back together) and may or may not include anti-bacterial or disinfectant properties. They come in paste and liquid forms, and can also be found in the your nearby sari-sari store, Lazada and supermarket. Their commercial brand names are:

  • JOY
  • SUNSHINE
  • CHAMPION
  • SMART
  • AXION
Joy Dishwashing Liquid sold in Shoppee

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Commercial Brand names of Specialized Chemicals for Cleaning in the Philippines

Bathroom Tile Cleaners

These are specialized chemicals used to clean bathroom tiles, removing stains and grimes. They contain a mixture of all purpose cleaners and strong acids to get the tile cleaning done. If you want to know how to use them more extensively, you can read our tips on cleaning bathroom tiles. They come in liquid form only, and can only be found in the grocery, Lazada and supermarket. Their commercial brand names are:

  • DOMEX – BATHROOM CLEANER
  • MR MUSCLE – BATHROOM & TOILET CLEANER
  • LYSOL – TOILET BOWL CLEANER COMPLETE CLEAN POWER
  • TOILET DUCK – DUCK POWER

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

These are specialized chemicals used to clean toilet bowls, removing stains and grimes. They contain a mixture of all purpose cleaners as well, and stronger acids to remove hard water stains. If you want to know how to use toilet bowl cleaners more extensively, you can read our best toilet bowl cleaners to use. They come in liquid form only, and can only be found in the grocery, Lazada and supermarket. Their commercial brand names are:

  • DOMEX – TOILET BOWL CLEANER
  • MR MUSCLE – BATHROOM & TOILET CLEANER
  • LYSOL – TOILET BOWL CLEANER COMPLETE CLEAN POWER
  • TOILET DUCK – DUCK POWER

Toilet Duck – Duck Power bottle (Right) and Mr. Muscle Triple Action Bathroom Cleaner (Left)

Do you want to learn more on how CMDA Cleaning Services can help you, your family, or your office fight against COVID-19? Send us an email at inquiry@cmdacleaning.com, or call/text us on any number mentioned above.

Let’s all be well and healthy, wear a face mask, wash our hands frequently, maintain a 1-2 meter physical distance to non-family members, and stay at home if we can. Stay covid-free!

Meet your Cleaning Expert (Jim)

Meet your Cleaning Expert (Jim)

Get to know more about the people behind the scenes as we clean and disinfect your homes. For almost a decade, CMDA Cleaning Services has hired and helped people who are coachable, trust-worthy, hard working and dependable, despite their challenges in life and in education. As long as they are willing to be trained and perform well, it doesn’t matter what they look like or what their gender preference is. Jim has been a member of the CMDA family for just more than a year but she has excelled in her work an now working on her promotion as Housekeeping Manager. 

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How long have you been with CMDA?

1 year and 3 months. I started as a custodian last July 2019, and lasted for 5 months, and then on January 2020, I started training as an Admin Assistant (Nag start ako as custodian/cleaner noong July 4, 2019 and nag last for 5 months and nung January 2020 nag start ng training as Admin Assistant).

 

How did CMDA Cleaning Services help you in your personal life?

Since I got hired here in CMDA, it helped me in paying my bills (helped financially), and naturally I could share in paying the bills with my husband, enhanced my knowledge being an employee and as a person, and I learned how to deal with people because there are people who teach me how to be strong, separate work from personal relationships. Example is “thinking” work during work, personal relationships is done after work. (Since nag apply ako sa CMDA nakatulong ito sa mga bills (Gumaan financially),natural kahit papaano nakaka share nako sa husband ko, naenhance ang kaalaman bilang empleyado at bilang tao at natututo ako makisama at makisalamuha sa mga tao dahil may mag tuturo sayo paano ka maging matibay,ihiwalay yung trabho sa pakikipagkaibigan.sample Trabaho trabho,kaibigan after work na un.).

As an employee, what makes you unique in CMDA?

As an employee of CMDA, it teaches you to become mature, teaches you how to be knowledgeable and how to improve your life, they will see your potential and talent (not just on the position that you applied in). Because in other employers, you will only be in that position you applied for. (Bilang Empleyado ng CMDA, tinuturuan ka (ng CMDA) maging mature, tinuturuan ka maging marunong at kung papano tumaas or umasenso, nakikita nila ang iba mo pang potential o galing (Hindi lang kung ano ang inapplyan na position) . Dahil sa ibang employer hanggang doon na lang ikaw kung ano yung pinasok mo.)

 

What are your dreams as a CMDA Employee?

I dream that all employees know the difference between our personal and professional life. We need balance, and if you have a friend who is also working with you, you also need to balance how we talk to them (as an officemate). Another thing why I dream about this is because work becomes lovely if you have peace of mind, it’s work when it’s work, and separate it from all the personal baggage we bring everyday. (Ang pangarap ko ay malaman ng mga empleyado kung ano ang pagkakaiba ng personal sa professional na buhay natin. Kailangan natin kase ng balance, at kung may kaibigan ka na katrabaho mo need natin mabalance ang ating mga totoong sinasabi natin sa kanila (Bilang kopisina at katrabaho). Isa rin na kaya ko ito pangarap ay dahil masarap magtrabaho kapag may peace of mind, kung trabaho, trabaho lang at ihihiwalay dapat ito sa mga personal na dinadala natin sa araw-araw.)

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What are the challenges that you are experiencing right now? and how can CMDA Cleaning Services help you?

Now that I am transitioning from being a custodian/admin staff to a trainee of housekeeping managerial position, the challenges that I experience now are the feeling that someone is pulling you down and does not see your worth as an employee. But I can go through with it, why? Because there are people who help me and easy to approach and someone I can speak my mind to (From Ms Ivy – Service Sales Manager, Sir Troy – General Manger, up to mam Renz – President).  (Ngayon dahil na sa pag transition ng Custodian/Admin Staff to a Trainee of Housekeeping Managerial position, ang pagsubok na nararanasan ko ngayon ay ang pakiramdam na may nag dodown sayo at hindi nakikita ang worth mo bilang tao at empleyado. Pero nakakayanan ko naman bakit? kase may mga taong tumutulong saakin at madaling lapitan o pwede masabi kung ano yung nasa loob ko (Mula kay Ma’am Ivy, Sir Troy hanggang kay Ma’am Renz)).

 

What is the difference between being an Admin Assistant and being a Custodian?

As a cleaner/custodian, being clean will come out natural to you, there is an SOP and there are trainings being done. As an Admin Assistant, sometimes it’s difficult but there are people diligent to teach you.  (Bilang cleaners ang pagiging malinis ay natural lang na lumalabas sa iyo, may SOP at may Training na ginagawa. As an Admin Assistant trainee, minsan nahihirapan pero matiyaga naman mag turo ang mga nkakataas na sina Sir Troy, Ma’am Renz at Ms. Ivy.)

Were you looking for a particular position before you applied for a job in CMDA?

I wasn’t looking for a particular position, I just wanted to have a work and when I entered CMDA, I learned a lot and I became stronger. Before I got in at CMDA, I was working in a school as a teacher aid, so it was totally different, because before as a pre-school teacher aid there was less pressure because you were gentle in treating your students and colleagues. In CMDA, there is pressure but it helped me become stronger in life, that is what I saw here in CMDA.  (Wala akong hinahanap na position, Gusto ko lang magkawork and nang makapasok ako ng CMDA mas marami akong natutunan at mas tumatag ako.Before ako mag CMDA kase, sa school ako nag work and as a teacher aid ,so magkaibang magkaiba talaga, because dati as a Pre-School Teacher aid less pressure because mas malambing ang pakikitungo because mga bata ang kasama mo. Sa CMDA Naman is mas may pressure pero mas nakatulong sila sakin na mas maging matatag in life.yan ang nakita ko dito CMDA).

 

Do you think the pressure you are experiencing in CMDA is helping you learn more and be stronger in life?

Honestly, yes, because I am not really that strong, but I am getting there, and it was only now that I felt this kind of pressure in my 41 years of existence becuase CMDA saw that I can get past through my weaknesses, especially with handling people.  (Honestly, yes. Because hindi naman ako ganon KATIBAY/KATATAG… “but i’m getting there” and ngayon ko lang lang naramdaman yung ganitong pressure in my 41 years of existance dahil nakita ng CMDA na kaya ko pang lagpasan ang aking mga kahinaan o makakayahan lalo na sa pag handle ng tao.)

 

Would you recommend others to work in CMDA?

Yes, I recommend working in CMDA, because they can reach the potential beyond what they already know. (Yes! marerekomenda ko ang pagtrabaho sa CMDA dahil magkakaroon sila ng ng potential na tumaas pa sa higit sa kaalaman nila.)

Do you want to learn more on how CMDA Cleaning Services can help you, your family, or your office fight against COVID-19? Send us an email at inquiry@cmdacleaning.com, or call/text us on any number mentioned above.

Let’s all be well and healthy, wear a face mask, wash our hands frequently, maintain a 1-2 meter physical distance to non-family members, and stay at home if we can. Stay covid-free!

5 Best K-Pop Songs to Listen to While Cleaning

5 Best K-Pop Songs to Listen to While Cleaning

Get in the groove cleaning your place with these 5 K-Pop songs that will surely get you moving, cleaning and disinfecting your place stress-free.

Doing a home cleaning chore doesn’t have to be a drag, cleaning while listening to great music will help you turn a chore into a dance party!

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1. NCT U 엔시티 유 ‘Make A Wish (Birthday Song)’

Top of our list is NCT’s “Make A Wish”. Start off slow as you sweep the ceiling and overhead cabinets for cobwebs. Sweep through the beat and next thing you know, you got the room covered. Always start on top and always be gentle so as not to strain your body while cleaning. Enjoy the beat and go ahead if you feel like dancing a little.

2. Red Velvet 레드벨벳 ‘Bad Boy’ 

Next on our list is Red Velvet’s “Bad Boy”. Let’s continue with the slow rhythm while sweeping or vacuuming the floor. Going slow with sweeping or vacuuming would mean making sure you are getting all those dust and “bad boys” down (pun intended).

3. NCT DREAM 엔시티 드림 ‘We Go Up’

Let’s get things moving faster with the next song, NCT’s “We Go Up”. This song will get you amped up and get you scrubbing walls and wiping counter tops like a DJ. After giving attention to your floor, time to go up back to table surfaces and kitchen sink.

4. TWICE “MORE & MORE”

Keep the energy flowing with our fourth song, TWICE’s “More & More”. Get some extra boost while you make the bed, fold those clothes and sheets, and getting your table organized. This song will get you cleaning “more & more”.

5. BTS (방탄소년단) ‘Dynamite’

Cool down and appreciate your work while listening to the last song on our list from BTS, “Dynamite”. After doing a hard work cleaning your place, after exploding your energy like “dynamite” to get things in order, you deserve doing a victory dance with this song.

Do you want to learn more on how CMDA Cleaning Services can help you, your family, or your office fight against COVID-19? Send us an email at inquiry@cmdacleaning.com, or call/text us on any number mentioned above.

Let’s all be well and healthy, wear a face mask, wash our hands frequently, maintain a 1-2 meter physical distance to non-family members, and stay at home if we can. Stay covid-free!

How To: Clean Up Your Home After Flood

How To: Clean Up Your Home After Flood

Cleaning up your own home is quite a challenge already, much more if you need it cleaned after it got flooded. A flooded home is a disaster in itself, but something you can manage with the right people and equipment.

Every year, the Philippines encounter 20 to 30 storms and typhoon, not including the days with heavy monsoon rains. Despite the speed of home development and road improvements, there are still homes that experience being flooded yearly. Here are some steps that can help you clean up your place after it gets flooded.

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START WITH SAFETY IN MIND

There are a lot of safety issues when your place starts to get flooded. You have to keep in mind the safety of your family, pets and other property. Typically some Filipinos start moving appliances to their second floor area (if they have) or start raising the base of their furnitures and appliances so that flood waters will not destroy them. Apart from these, make sure to remember these:

  • Switch off your circuit breaker to avoid electrocution and damage to your electronics
  • Wear boots to avoid wading in flood water during flood and during cleaning
  • Wear rubber gloves to prevent your hands from touching dirty flood water during the flood and during cleaning
  • Wear a mask to avoid inhaling bacteria and aerosol found in flood waters
  • Keep children and pets away from flood and debris left after the flood

Some of the hazards you can encounter cleaning after a flood includes:

  • Leptospirosis (still present even if there are very little flood water left)
  • Tetanus (bacteria called Clostridium tetani is very common in soil and flood water)
  • Electrocution
  • Cuts and bruises from glass and sharp debris washed in by the flood
  • Diarrhea (if you accidentally touch your mouth without washing your hands after cleaning)
  • Intestinal parasites like amoeba and worms
  • Respiratory diseases brought about by spores rising from the flood

Some possible property damage you can encounter after a flood:

  • Burnt out busted fuse in breakers and appliances
  • Water damaged engines in cars
  • Watermarks on walls and furniture
  • Floor erossion

WATER WASH

As soon as you have determined that it is safe to clean your place already, and after wearing safety equipments like gloves, boots and face mask, get a water hose and plug it to your faucet. Start spraying water from inner most part of your home going outside to wash away mud and dirt. Since water got those in, water should get it out. Make sure your curcuit breakers are still switched off so that you won’t have to worry about your power outlets. Use flash light if there is not enough light to work with, or better if you do this during daytime.

It may sound like a joke that after water comes in your home, you use water to flush it out, but this is easier than using a plastic broom or walis tambo to sweep out the debris. If the surface is still muddy and dries up, it would be harder to remove them, so keeping the mud and dirt wet will help you in cleaning and keeping your surfaces protected.

Flood in your home would most likely leave thick mud that is hard to remove. It is easier and faster to clean it using water.

SOAP AND RINSE

Once your place is clear of mud and other flood debris, you will then need to wash your flooded surfaces with soap. Combine 2 part all-purpose cleaner and 1 part bleach (chlorine or chlorox) with 10 parts water, and use this mixture to soap up surfaces. This will be your liquid cleaner and disinfectant. Spread out the mixture and scrub a little to remove other dirt that wasn’t washed away by the water.

This soap and bleach mixture can help greatly reduce the amount of bacteria and parasite eggs on surfaces, ensuring that there won’t be any health hazards left by the flood. Too much soap would make rinsing hard and too much bleach may cause respiratory problems, so it is best to keep these 2 dilluted.

Rinse surfaces to remove the soap and bleach by spraying water again. Rinse thoroughly to remove any other residue, be it the soap or flood debris. 

MOP DRY

Finally, at this point, things will look back in order, except everything is wet with clean water. Using a mop, wipe all floor surfaces, and a clean wash cloth to wipe walls to get rid of the remaining water. Mop at the same direction – from the innermost part of your home going out to your main door or gate.

Some traditional Filipinos use plastic brooms or walis tambo to sweep away water, though effective, can cause back problems and re-contamination. If you use plastic brooms or walis tambo to remove dirt, chances are, those same dirt are still in them, causing the newly cleaned surface to be dirty again.

Flood affects up to 700 areas across 6 regions in the Philippines, with damages amounting to up to P1.37 billion. (source)

FLOOD PROOF YOUR HOME

Finally your place is cleaned, and you don’t want to go through the same ordeal again, not anytime soon, not ever. Though you can hire a professional cleaning company to do your home cleaning after a flood, it is still best to make measures to prevent it in the first place. Here are some tips to help you flood proof your home:

  • Sandbag your entrance
  • Elevate your garage floor
  • Keep your ground floor exclusively for your garage only (all other rooms on the second floor or higher)
  • Join a clean up drive in your place to declog drainages

Do you want to learn more on how CMDA Cleaning Services can help you, your family, or your office fight against COVID-19? Send us an email at inquiry@cmdacleaning.com, or call/text us on any number mentioned above.

Let’s all be well and healthy, wear a face mask, wash our hands frequently, maintain a 1-2 meter physical distance to non-family members, and stay at home if we can. Stay covid-free!