How To: Clean Walls

Like everything there is a way and a way not to clean walls. Much of the time scrubbing too hard or with the wrong chemicals can damage the paint, finish or wall paper and scrubbing too soft won’t get the job done. Fortunately Complete Supply Company has the answers and the products you need to get your walls looking like new.

The frequency in which you clean is an important part of keeping your walls looking nice. If you clean to often you could damage the paint or wallpaper but if left for too long the fingerprints and dust build-up can make it very difficult to clean and you may have to repaint. It depends on how quickly your walls become dirty. If you start seeing fingerprints or dirt on your wall it is probably time to clean. Different walls require different techniques. If you are not careful you could accidently remove coatings or paints and have to repaint the area. Wallpaper is even easier to damage.

The first thing that should be done when cleaning any wall is to dust the wall and remove as much dirt as possible before getting the wall wet. A feather duster is the best tool to use or if you have out of reach places an overhead duster may be helpful. The equipment and technique for cleaning the wall varies slightly depending on if you are cleaning a painted wall or a wallpapered wall. The painted wall is not as delicate as the wallpapered wall and therefore you can use a moderate cleaner. Mr. Clean works very well. You will also need a bucket of clean water, a bucket with a moderate cleaning solution, a soft sponge and several dry, clean towels or you can use paper towel. You start cleaning the wall bottom to top and proceed in circular motions. Once the section of the wall in cleaned, rinse if off and dry it with a towel. It is important that a painted wall not remain wet for very long so only clean a section for about 2 minutes before you dry it off. If there are sections of wall that are still dirty, wait until the wall is completely dry before cleaning again. Keep in mind, not all painted walls are the same. Some are more delicate than others or may have coatings that require a more gentle cleanser. Often organic or natural cleansers are the best choice. 

This is also the case with wallpaper. Because wallpaper is so much more delicate than paint it is more tedious to clean. Unlike most paints, wallpaper requires a much gentler approach. For starters, the cleanser should be delicate. Once again, a natural cleanser is often the best choice due to their gentle nature. The Seventh Generation All-Purpose Cleaner is a great option. Other than the cleanser all the material is the same. Two buckets, one with mild cleanser solution and one with clean water and several clean, dry towels. It is important to use as little water as possible on wallpaper so when rinsing, use a damp sponge, not a wet sponge, you want to avoid dripping if possible. Wallpaper takes longer to clean because each section can only be wet for about 1 minute before it should be patted dry and not rubbed dry.

Other useful cleaning tools include the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, for pesky spots or try Green Works All Purpose Cleaner when you need a more gentle cleaner.

The On-The-Spot Stain Solution

Stains can be a problem, especially when on a white surface surrounded by colors and precision bleach application is nearly impossible with a gallon of liquid. Complete Supply Company has the solution to this debacle. 

That solution comes if the form of the awesome Clorox Bleach Pen. This small applicator is perfect for detail bleach work and can be used on more than just clothes; the pen is great for a variety of surfaces.

The pen has a dual tip to maximize precision application. There is no need to worry about spraying bleach where you don’t want it. The pen is great for making your clothes a bright white that only comes from bleach. Or use it to get that luster in your kitchen or bathroom. Simply use the pen to draw a neat line of bleach on caulk or grout and they will shine like never before with no mess. It is also great for carrying with you for use on the go. Spill coffee on that white shirt, no problem. The pen is great for removing small stains wherever you might be. 

Other great bleach products that can aid in your cleaning include the Color Safe Bleach Powder and for those who have more sensitive skin or just don’t like the idea of super harsh chemicals, check out Borateem Chlorine Free Color Safe Bleach Powder. They can all be found at www.Completesupplyco.com. 

 Complete Supply Company is a Michigan based janitorial and restaurant supply company.

The Great Mop Dilemma

I Mop, You Mop, We All Mop

For over 100 years the mop has graced nearly every household, business and factory. Almost every floor that has ever been in the last century has met a mop. They are able to clean spills and stains, wood or linoleum. Over those 100 years the needs of the cleaning industry have evolved and the mop has had to evolve with it. As the mop evolved it changed into two main iterations and it can be difficult to know which mop is right for your work. In this article the differences between the string mop as well as the microfiber or ‘flat mop’ will be discussed. Hopefully at the end it will be easier to choose which mop is best for you.

A mop is an essential part of cleaning in any setting but the different kinds of mops are better for different situations. The first kind of mop that we will discuss is the String Mop. String mops are the original mops.  Credit for first inventing mops goes to a Thomas Stewart who received a patent in 1893. Despite being over 100 years old Stewarts string mop continues to be a major tool in any cleaning arsenal. The modern mop has undergone certain improvements but the principal is the same. This century old invention still holds as one of the best ways to absorb liquid. This is the primary advantage to the string mop versus the microfiber or flat mop, which does not have the absorption capacity of the string mop. Because of this, many cleaning companies prefer the string mop on uneven surfaces such as corrugated floors or ceramic floors where there is grout. The string mop can get into all the small spaces the grout creates. This mop is best for areas that are prone to a lot of liquid such as schools, community centers, or restaurants. Another significant issue with upgrading to the microfiber mop is the cost to the company. The microfiber head requires more care than most string mop users are used to and new buckets designed for the microfiber mop must be purchased. So for now, in areas involving a high level of spills, string mops are still the tools of choice.

Despite the level of maintenance required for microfiber flat mops they have broken their way onto the cleaning scene with force. While they may not be able to absorb as much liquid, they can clean with much less water all together. This allows them to be more efficient; in areas where sources of water might be very spread out efficiency in a huge advantage. There are a couple other economical advantages to the microfiber mop. Each mop head is much easier to clean even if it has to be done more often. A washer and dryer are all you need. Flat mops can also be used for both wet and dry mopping. The double purpose decreases on the amount of products that must be purchased. The mops can also be equipped with a bucket free system as well. A chemical storage reservoir can be attached to the pole making water virtually unneeded. Companies have reported these mops being used in a variety of settings, particularly with concrete or vinyl composition tile (VLC). Another significant advantage to the flat mop is its ease of use. Because the mop head is smaller and lighter with not as much water in it the entire mop is more ergonomic and as a result is popular in the home where only small spills occur and not as much water is needed.

No matter your choice of mop http://www.completesupplyco.com/ has what you need! With a user friendly website and a comprehensive search system it is simple to find the style of mop that fits your work the best.