i want to start cleaning houses for extra money aside from my full time job. my question is im confused as to how much is a fair charge? i am thinkin 75-125 per house depending on condition, size, etc is this amount too low or too high?

I would call a competitor and ask what their specials are. Find out if they charge by the room, the job or what. Your prices seem fair to me. Once you know what others are charging you can be more competitive. In fact hiring a competitor to clean your house may be good research for you and if you watch and take notes it could be great training. Write it off as a business expense. Good Luck

Perhaps it’s time to take a look around your house to see if it’s a good idea to start cleaning up the house. After all, a clean house is an eco friendly house. What does that mean? Well, that means when you clean and organize the stuff in your house, not only can you help save the environment, you can also save money. So what does eco friendly has to do with saving money?

The problem with most homeowners is that they are not aware that there are existing resources in their own home that can be reused or recycled. For example, papers may be lying around the house, used only on 1 side. They can actually be used on both sides. And when less paper is used, more trees are saved, and the homeowners save more money by spending less on paper. So the key here is to be sensitive to the use of resources around the house. Here are some tips on how to start converting your home to an eco friendly house.

The first step to take is to clean up the house. Start by creating 4 different piles – one for paper, one for glass, one for plastic, and one for metal. Organize your items according to these 4 categories. If there are many items in your house, the process may take some time.

After that, you will need to spend more time sorting through the 4 stacks of items. Here is when you decide which items to keep and which items to dispose of. Again, bear in mind that there are items that can be reused. Pick them out, and put them aside.

For items that you want to get rid of, don’t mix them up again. Keep them within their own respective categories, and pack them nicely into boxes and trash bags. There is more you need to do.

Once your house is in shape, you may start locating a recycling facility near you. The recycling center don’t have to be located in your area. You just need to find out where the drop off points are. Usually, there are many drop off points in every area, and there should be one that is convenient for you. If you like, you can always call up a recycling facility to find out if there are any drop off points that are near to you.

Another alternative is to find out if your current garbage collector has an existing arrangement with a recycling center. If so, you can let them collect your recyclable items as per normal. That way, you don’t have to worry about making extra trips to drop off points.

Keep the compartments that you have initially created – paper, plastic, glass and metal. As and when there is disposable but recyclable materials, just throw them in the right compartment. When the compartments are full, empty them and start the process all over again. That way, your house will always be eco friendly.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/a-clean-house-is-an-eco-friend-house-678859.html

I live in Orange County California area and I am wondering how much it cost these days to get a cleaning service for a 2600 sq ft 4 bedroom house
Anyone care to share how much they pay for by weekly or monthly

Your question reminded me something i read about how California was like one of the states where theres good service for house cleaners and what not to clean other’s houses.

If you are willing to pay weekly/monthly instead just a daily fee [really theres no need to have your house professionally cleaned each day, yet some cleaning services vary by how many times they will clean your home], have you considered getting a full time butler??? Yes i read that there are still some around, and knowing since you are somewhat near Beverly Hills, it might not be that difficult to find one, or get someone who has a butler to let them refer you to an "agency" [or however they call it].

Things have changed now, so of course the prices are going to vary much from what you think considering you said "these days". Only way toreally know is to call the company you want to clean your house and just ask for the prices…then you can just choose whether or not to go with them or choose another service. Hope i helped some

There are two ways to clean carpets. You can hire professional cleaners from cleaning companies then there is the DIY (do it yourself) method.

In many cases, people prefer to hire carpet cleaning services. Still, there are guidelines to follow. Here are some carpet cleaning tips in hiring professionals:

1. Number of carpets to be cleaned.

Take for instance; your carpet never ever really underwent deep cleansing since the time you have bought it, and you are living in a 2-storey house wherein all the rooms contain carpets. Moreover, your kids have inevitably left marks besides its general wearing and tearing.

In this case, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is advised. If only small carpet areas need cleaning, then you can do it yourself. There are lots of cleaning products that are doing well even with tough stains.

2. Consider your budget.

Keep in mind that you need to pay a considerable amount of money when you hire someone to do the carpet cleaning for you.

3. Know the advantages of hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

They have the expertise in cleaning even the worst carpet stains. Their equipments have more extraction powers compared to the units that you have. Their knowledge about cleaning agents is incomparable to you, besides they also know the distinctions between carpet fibers and construction.

4. Ask recommendations from friends.

Usually, they are good sources of information about reputable companies offering carpet cleaning services. You can observe their cleaning jobs when visiting some friends who also prefer carpet cleaning services.

Other sources of information are the internet and local business directories. Numerous reputable companies are advertising their services online. They really offer the best deals on carpet cleaning jobs.

Anthony Lee
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/4-carpet-cleaning-tips-in-hiring-professionals-124247.html

Let’s face it.  Tap water simply isn’t safe to drink.  Studies show that cooking with tap water, bathing with tap water, and going about other normal daily activities that require tap water are also dangerous.  To stay safe, many people are investing in whole house water filtration systems.  Using a whole house water filter is cheaper than drinking bottled water and you will have clean water coming out of every water source in your home.  Here are 7 benefits to having a whole house water filter. 

   1. Whole house water filtration devices prevent chlorine and other chemical contaminants in tap water from being released into the air so the overall air quality of your home will vastly improve.

   2. Whole house water filtration systems provide fresh, clean water for doing laundry so tap water contaminants don’t get embedded in your clothing.

   3. There will be a lot less soap scum on your dishes, in your bathroom, and in your kitchen if you use a whole house water filtration device.  That means you will have a lot less cleaning to do in the long run.

   4. Fresh, clean water will come out of your shower.  When you bathe in chemical-free water, you will greatly lessen your risks of getting serious diseases.  When you shower in tap water, the chemicals are absorbed by your skin and enter you bloodstream and you also inhale the chemicals in the shower steam.  This can lead to respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis as well as cancer.  There are also cosmetic benefits to bathing in filtered water.  Your skin and hair will feel a lot softer.  Chlorine strips your hair and skin of its natural protective oils.

   5. For people who have allergies, whole house water filtration systems are highly beneficial because they stop harsh respiratory irritants from being released into the air when you bathe or do the dishes.

   6. Your last means of protection if your local water treatment facility breaks down is a whole house water filtration device.  Your filtration system will protect you against dangerous bacteria and other contaminants.  They will never even enter your home plumbing system.

   7. Whole house water filtration systems provide safer, purer water.  You won’t have an annoying countertop filter cluttering up your kitchen because your whole house filter will stay out of sight.  It will make your tap water much tastier as well since it removes chemicals that affect the taste of water such as chlorine. 

Your goal?  Take this information and weigh the pros and cons of having a whole house water filter.  Whole house water filtration systems are highly convenient and effective.  If you want to get pure, clean water from every water source in the house and be 100% protected from the dangers of tap water, a whole house water filter will be of great benefit to you.  So get out there and start shopping around for a whole house filter if you want to reach a state of optimum health.

John
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/7-benefits-of-using-whole-house-water-filtration-systems-673137.html

Mrs. A. Hill’s house has been on the market for 6 months, in a southern New Jersey town, near the Delaware Memorial Bridge.  Several potential home buyers came by to tour the house.  At least 3 couples made offers to buy the house.  Each candidate, although pre-approved by lenders, failed to actually get a mortgage commitment, so none of them were able to purchase the house.  Mrs. Hill’s listing agreement with her real estate agent expired after a 6-month period.  The real estate market had changed and  house values began to decline.

Many homeowners faced similar problems in 2008 and still have an unsold in a declining market.

Mrs. Hill decided to become more proactive in the sales process and got busy making her house irresistible to potential buyers.

Here’s how she did it:
1.    Mrs. Hill hired a new real estate agency to market her property.  It was a local agency with potential buyers specifically interested in living in her community.  The first agent had been a friend who lived and worked in another county.
2.    Since Mrs. Hill had equity in the property, she decided to offer “Seller/Owner Financing.  She was willing to give a qualified buyer a loan to cover part of the purchase price.
3.    The homeowner took a critical look at her property.  She decided to spruce up the exterior and the interior
4.    The homeowner allowed the agent to place a “lock box” on her door.  This gives licensed real estate agents access to the house to show their clients, without the hassles of major pre-arrangements.  The homeowners just required 2 hours advance notice.
5.    Mrs. Hill hired a professional cleaning service to clean the house before each Open House was held, giving the house had a fresh smell and appearance

These few actions allowed Mrs. Hill to make her property stand out from the competition.  She was able to sell her house, with the help of her agent faster than she anticipated.  Now that her house is sold she can fulfill her dream of retiring in another Virginia near her family.

Roz Miller Choice
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/5-tips-to-get-your-house-sold-in-2009-725848.html

Selling a house can be an extremely stressful process. Dealing with multiple walk through appointments, talking to your real estate agent, and making preparations to move all add to the confusion that is selling a home. One way to cut down on some of the stress is to invest in a storage unit while waiting for your home to sell. Why on earth would anyone want to rent a storage unit while waiting for their house to sell? It will help give them a head a start on their own move in the future while making their house more appealing to potential buyers.

After selling a house many sellers find that they have only 30 days to completely pack, move out of, and clean their old home. This might be doable for some hone owners but many home owners have a hard time especially if they are parents that have many children who are unable to help with the move. Investing in a storage rental unit will help get a head start on all of the chaos.

Before putting your house on the market, or immediately afterwards, invest in a storage rental unit if you do not already have one. If you do have one but it is a small one used for storing a few valuable items talk to your storage rental facility about upgrading to a larger unit. Then clean out your new unit and begin moving your furniture out of your home and into the storage unit. Focus on moving the furniture that you do not immediately need out of the house first. This can include couches, extra beds, desks, televisions, etc. Anything that you and your family do not need to survivor or do not use on a daily basis.

Next, start packing up your belongings that can be spared. This can include everything that is decorating your home that is pretty to look at but not immediately useful. Start packing up pictures, paintings, and other things that are hanging on the walls. This will give you a chance to fix any holes that might cause a problem with potential sellers while giving you a head start on minor repairs that will be necessary. Then start packing up extra clothing. Place all of the clothing in tight plastic containers that have been filled with paper to avoid moving and moth balls to avoid damage. Leave only enough clothes in your house that is necessary to get through work and casual activities. Always remember that you can go to your storage unit at anytime to retrieve anything that you placed inside by accident.

After you have packed everything into boxes or plastic containers that can be packed including clothes, books, and pictures start packing up all extra kitchen appliances. Once you have everything out of the way you can begin giving your home a thorough cleaning. This will help your home sell because visitors will see a nice, spacious, residence that is clean and well cared for. Also you will no longer have to worry about strangers coming through your home while you are gone and being able to go through all of your personal belongings.

Lastly, using your storage unit while you are waiting for your house to sell will make it easier for you and your family to move once your house has sold. As soon as your house has sold and you are able to move you will be able to easily have your remaining furniture moved to your new residence and your home made available to the new owner. This will help avoid an awkward transition between owners where the new owner must wait impatiently for the old owner to completely vacate the premises. By using a storage rental you will be able to quickly move into your new house and then slowly move your items out of storage into your new home. No more scrambling around trying to plan a last minute move from one home to the next.

Another benefit of using your storage rental when you are waiting for your house to sell is that it gives you the opportunity to get rid of junk that you have been holding onto. Many people are pack rats meaning they love to hold onto to things even if they aren’t immediately useful. Packing things up and moving them into storage gives families and individuals two chances to go through their belongings in search of things to throw away. They have one chance when initially packing and moving things to storage and another chance when moving things out of storage into a new home.

Simply Self Storage
http://www.articlesbase.com/moving-and-relocating-articles/use-your-storage-rental-while-waiting-on-your-house-to-sell-747998.html

seems like there is never any life ,out side of the home due to house cleaning is taking over my life! Help….all tips and information greatly wanted here today!! thank you so kindly everyone.

I think you should narrow your time for cleaning to one or two days a week. Try the best you can to do everything (apart for wasshing the dishes of course) in these two dyas/one day. If you can’t, try to spend the week without doing them. I’m sure next time you’ll be faster and finish everything.

Steam Cleaning provides an effective way of cleaning dirt, dust, grime and stains in your house. Steam Cleaning works on environmentally sound and stable technology offering value and affordable cleaning solutions for commercial and household use. Steam cleaning equipment consists of a sealed boiler which is filled with tap water enabling heating of water between 240-260 degrees. For more results you can visit at www.your-own-home-theater.com The vapor thus generated is lighter then air we inhale, and carries 5-6 % moisture making it an effective tool to uproot and remove dirt and stains from variety of surfaces. Steam Cleaning offers eco-friendly ways to clean our house walls, kitchens, and tiles without use of harmful and environmentally degrading chemicals. There is no expulsion of harmful gases in the air during Steam Cleaning making it most sought after option of the modern day cleaning needs. Steam Cleaning doesn’t affect the indoor quality of air.

Steam Cleaning has been in use since seventies, but did not catch up with household consumers due to cost and bulky machine setup. Steam cleaners have grown smaller in size, efficient in use and portable to carry around. You have had your share of spills and stains on your carpets followed by a frenzy of frantic calls to Steam Cleaning services for help. No doubt, the Steam Cleaning professionals were quick to respond, but not before you paid exorbitant charges and waited for them to arrive with their whims and fancies.

So, what can you do to make it faster and affordable? Probably you need to buy a steam cleaner to get rid of your cleaning troubles. Steam Cleaning enables dry vapor to penetrate deep in to the pores and dislodge the impurities and embedded foreign particles without use of detergent and toxic cleaners. Steam Cleaning is an eco-friendly process relying on use of tap water. You can also go to www.america-gardener.com. Steam Cleaning uses as much as 1 -1/2 quarts per hour, as fine and thin vapor is generated at very high temperature. Moreover, less moisture content of vapor fastens the drying process and speeds up the cleaning.

There are two different types of steam cleaners: Cooler and humid Steam cleaners: These cleaners don’t boil water producing cooler steam with more moisture content. Hot and dry Steam Cleaners: These cleaners boil water above 240 degrees to generate hot and dry steam.

Steam Cleaning eliminates residue from all types of surfaces, killing fungus, mold, mildew, viruses, and bacteria. Steam Cleaning facilitates cleaning of floors, window sills, bathrooms, kitchens, granite, upholstery, fiberglass, and hard to clean nooks and crannies of the house. Steam Cleaner removes soil, grease and debris from the surface, sanitizes and deodorizes it. It must be noted that heat sensitive surfaces like thin plastics and silks are difficult to clean using dry vapor.

Risna
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-marketing-articles/steam-cleaning-what-can-you-do-to-make-it-faster-and-affordable-682560.html