Lola Clean Freaks

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, we were all forced to spend most of our time at home. While the medical and economic heroes in the frontlines were battling the deadly virus, we tried our best to help by staying at home. We got stuck and left with nothing to else do, but mostly clean the house. As a result, we may have gotten bored of our daily routines and explored other means of cleaning our homes, like using homemade cleaning products. And after learning there are natural and eco-friendly alternatives to store-bought, chemically-induced cleaning products, it has become harder to go back to the old ways, right? Besides, if we intend to live in a world with a better ‘normal’, why not start with being more mindful of Mother Earth? 

We did some research to find out which common household items are effective as natural substitute ingredients for DIY cleaners, and we made a list to serve as your guide:

Baking Soda

It has been proven over and over again that baking soda isn’t just for baking. Sprinkle some to your carpet and other upholstered furniture hours before cleaning them, you’ll have an instant deodorizer. Rub in some on your tub and tiles using the Eco Clean™ Bamboo Scrub Brush, you'll have your own tub and tile cleaner. Mix it with vinegar and water, then you’ll have an all-purpose cleaner. Spray some on a Lola® Cellulose Sponge Cloth aka "Swedish Cloth", and you’ll have an all-around cleaning weapon. 

Lemons

As one of the strongest food acids, lemon (juice) is highly effective against most household bacteria and germs. Mix lemon juice with some vinegar or baking soda, and you’ll have a natural air freshener that absorbs and removes odors for a healthier breath of fresh air around your home. Rub a slice and squeeze some juice into your stained chopping board, you’ll get a stain-free chopping board after wiping with Eco Clean™ Vegetable and Dish Brush.

White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is one of the most convenient ingredients for cleaning and has many uses. Boil a 1:2 solution of white vinegar and water, you'll get your own lime or mineral deposits descaler. Dissolve 1/4 cup of baking soda in a cup of vinegar, then you'll have a toilet bowl cleaner that works well with the Lola® Toilet Bowl Brush. 

Hydrogen Peroxide

Although commonly known as a first-aid item, hydrogen peroxide can also be used in disinfecting the kitchen or bathroom. Create a 1:2 solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%) and water, and you'll have a bathroom mold deterrent. A 1:1 solution makes for a decent clothing stain remover. Spraying some on your rusty kitchenware and letting it sit overnight before scrubbing with Lola® Copper Mesh Scourer makes for an effective rust remover.

For the suggested cleaning ingredient alternatives above, results may vary and have no 100% effectiveness guarantee. But one thing's for sure, you will be helping in the reduction of environmental brought about by the manufacture, use, and disposal of toxic cleaning substances while giving your own home its natural glow.

After a long and tiring week, all you want to do is unwind and binge watch on your favorite TV shows, or invite some friends to just hang and catch up. But you realized that your home is a mess, and there’s no room to relax and chill. Suddenly, you find yourself trying to clean your home. Fast. 

Speed cleaning may not be the same as actual cleaning, but sometimes, it’s the only thing that you can do whenever you don’t have enough time to really clean your home. So, in anticipation for any visitors or house guests and you’re too busy to do some actual cleaning, the following speed cleaning tips will be very useful and are enough to get you through the day, especially with your fast-paced everyday lives: 

1. Start with your entryway. The main idea here is to create an immediate impression of cleanliness. Your entryway is the first thing that you’ll see when you get home, so will your guests. Shake off dust from your doormats. Gather all the clutter in a basket and set aside. Throw away any trash you may find. Use Lola® Anti-Microbial Clean n' Wipe™ Cloth to wipe your doorknobs. Sweep the entryway floor with the Lola® Angle Broom with Dustpan to remove any visible dirt and debris.
2. Tidy your living area. This is where you receive guests, so it has to be clean (or at least has to have that impression). Even if you’re not entertaining visitors, you’d still want to have a living room that’s tidy so you can relax. Start by collecting clutter and things that belong elsewhere in a basket and set aside. Straighten books and other decors on tabletops. Use Lola® Jumbo Microfiber Cleaning Cloth to dust living room surfaces. Arrange throw blankets and sofa cushions, and fluff your throw pillows. Use Lola® Rola Sticky Mop to sweep seating surfaces and other high-traffic areas in the living room.
3. Clean your kitchen. A clean and organized kitchen makes cooking meals and preparing beverages a bit more fun. And if you have visitors over, they tend to wander into the kitchen randomly, so speed-clean to avoid embarrassment. Begin by gathering all the clutter in a basket and deal with them later. Scrub the sink and faucets with the microfiber side of the Lola ® Microfiber Cloth and Nylon Cleaning Pad, then rinse. Use Lola® Rubaway Eraser Pads to wipe countertops, kitchen table, stovetop and other appliance fronts. Empty your trash and set out a clean dish towel.
4. Sanitize your bathrooms. The main objective here is to get high-touch surfaces sparkling clean and eliminate sources of any stink. Spray the toilet seat and bowl with disinfectant and let it sit. Wipe the toilet seat, and scrub the toilet bowl with Lola® Pro Euro Bowl Brush. Make sure you have enough toilet paper, towels, and soap.
5. Organize your bedrooms. Whether you’re expecting house guests or just to keep them tidy in between major cleaning sessions, your bedrooms should never be skipped during speed-cleaning. Do a clean sweep by throwing away trash and putting things away to your dressers and nightstand. Make your bed and deal with dust around the entire room by using the Lola® Swiffer® Comparable Extender Duster.

When you’re done, spray air freshener or light up some scented candles. Remember, when your home smells nice, it’ll seem really clean, even if it isn’t! And following the tips above is the quickest way to have that always-ready-to-receive-guests kind of home.

Have you ever finished your dishwashing cycle, and when you pulled out your drinking glasses, they have this milky and foggy film? Isn't it frustrating? You just washed them, but for some reason, they still look cloudy and in desperate need of another cleaning cycle.

So, why does this happen? Most likely, hard water is at fault. Minerals in hard water can leave behind a cloudy residue. Compared to soft water, hard water is usually less effective at rinsing away dish soap, which results in a milky film. Also, your dishwashing habit may be the culprit.

Now, what can you do to solve (and even prevent) this problem? We've scoured the internet to find answers and found effective hacks that take that frown off your face:

Use White Vinegar or Baking Soda

In case of hard mineral build-up, you will only need to soak your cloudy drinking glasses in white vinegar for about five minutes. It'll dissolve the minerals, but if stubborn spots persist, you may gently rub them off with some baking soda. Thoroughly rinse the glasses by hand and dry them with a lint-free Lola® Jumbo Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, before drinking out of them again.

Tweak your Dishwasher Habit

Your dishwasher may be a godsend because it saves you a lot of time and effort, but it's also sometimes the cause for foggy drinking glasses. Improper use of dishwashing detergents and wash cycles can often lead to mineral build-up. Using too much dishwasher detergent results in incomplete rinsing and unnecessary soap film formation. Try adding less detergent than the recommended amount (but you may need to experiment on how much is less), and your glasses will come out with a brand new sparkle.

Use a Glass Cleaner

If you handwash your drinking glasses and they usually end up with a foggy finish, it might be time to add a glass cleaner to your cleaning process. But no, we're not necessarily talking about a store-bought glass cleaner. We found a homemade recipe for a DIY glass cleaner that eats through film and leaves nothing behind but the sparkle of clean glass. Mix ammonia and isopropyl alcohol in a 1:4 solution, and add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Spray some inside and outside the drinking glass, use a Lola® Pot Brite™ Scour n' Sponge to scrub away the cleaner, and rinse with cold water. 

Scrub with Toothpaste

You'll be surprised to know that toothpaste isn't just for your brushing your teeth. When it comes to DIY solutions for cloudy drinking glasses, it can actually work some miracles. The mild abrasive action in the toothpaste scrubs away unsightly deposits and film, and it leaves the glass unscratched and looking like brand new. Apply a layer of toothpaste to all cloudy spots and wait for about ten minutes. Using a damp Lola® "The Original" Kitchen Sponge Puff Bottle Cleaner, gently clean away the toothpaste. Rinse in hot water, clean with soapy water, and rinse again. Dry with Wowables® Reusable & Biodegradable Paper Towel.

Frustration is an understandable reaction whenever we find the drinking glasses that we've just washed to be anything but clean and clear. But if you keep the above tips in mind and include them in your cleaning routine, there's a big chance that you'll make your glasses shine in no time!

You probably knew this already, but we have already arrived at the time when advancements in technology meant putting everything into a small gadget -- Exhibit A: Smartphones. The smaller the item, the more advanced its capabilities might be. It is also safe to say that the invention of microfiber technology may have resulted from the same craze since it's probably one of the most significant product innovations to the cleaning industry for the last century. 

So, what is microfiber, anyway? Literally, “microfiber” is any fiber that is equal to or less than one denier—a measure of particle fineness where one unit of fiber weighs one gram for every 9000 meters. In layman's terms, it’s about one percent of the diameter of a human hair! While there may be different types of microfiber cloths, they are all super-absorbent because of the microscopic qualities of the materials. In addition, the friction between the individual fibers also generates static electricity that acts as a magnet for tiny particles of dirt and dust (and even bacteria)! We made a list of the high-impact benefits of microfibers and why you should make the switch: 

Environment-friendly. Microfiber mops, like Lola® The Revolution™ Microfiber Spin Mop Systemand The Evolution™ Microfiber Self-Washing Mop System, reduce the amount of water and chemicals used for cleaning. All it needs to do its job is water, and not that much of it even. Surprisingly, soaps and chemical detergents may reduce the effectiveness of microfibers. If you're only gonna need water to clean, you'll be a big help to Mother Nature by not adding any more chemicals to your liquid waste. 

Economically efficient. Microfiber cloths can save you money on expensive cleaning products. Most of the time, a dry or microfiber cloth, like the Lola® Jumbo Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, is enough for dusting, wiping tables, cleaning windows and mirrors, and shining stainless steel. In case you'll need to use a cleaner for wiping down surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, microfiber towels are so absorbent that you’ll be able to clean more with less product. It'll take a lot of cleaning sessions before you can consume all your cleaning products, keeping more money in your pocket.

All-around. The uses and benefits of microfibers in cleaning are numerous, beginning with the ability to clean just about anything. Their ability to also use static charge to trap small particles, dust, and bacteria helps in more ways than just cleaning counters and mopping floors. They absorb water and chemicals better, and are able to disperse them on surfaces as needed. Their usefulness ranges from disinfecting, dry-dusting, dry and wet scrubbing, and polishing surfaces, and this versatility can be proven by the Lola® Microfiber Spritz n' Mop.

At the moment, you may not be that conscious and attentive to the environmental impact and lifespan of your cleaning tools. But with the huge benefits of using microfiber products, we hope that on your next grocery run for cleaning tools, you will consider buying those made with the microfiber technology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the way we appreciate regular cleaning. The things we normally take for granted are suddenly part of our daily (or even hourly, and by the minute!) cleaning ritual. But even before the pandemic, there have already been a number of household items and areas that if left unnoticed, even for just a day, can make you and your family seriously ill. As such, these household items and spaces require daily cleaning.

Kitchen and Hand Towels. Dish towels are some of the most contaminated items in the kitchen, while the same goes for the hand towels in the bathroom. They get very dirty quickly since you use them a lot during the day. You should change them every couple of days, or even daily if you have a big household.

Bathroom Tiles and Shower Walls. Use the Lola® Scrub Brush to help rid your bathroom surfaces of mold, mildew, and soap scum. Keeping your bathroom dry will help prevent further growth of bacteria.

Countertops and Sinks. Disinfecting your kitchen counters and sink should become a standard part of your cleaning routine. Paired with your trusted spray-on disinfectant, use a Lola® Jumbo Microfiber Cleaning Cloth to wipe down your countertops and sinks every day. Just make sure to sterilize the cloth before each use.

Dirty Dishes. Don't let the dishes pile up. Leaving dirty dishes in the sink until the next morning is a bad habit that makes washing up more troublesome. As much as possible, wash your dishes immediately after every meal.

Cutting Boards. Any cutting board needs to be regularly disinfected. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in half a liter of hot water, and apply the solution over the board’s surface. Let it sit for around 5-10 minutes, then rinse under running water. Soaking them in a vinegar and water mixture for a couple of minutes will also kill fungi and bacteria.

Kitchen Sponge. Your sponge might be the most "abused" item in the kitchen. The easiest way to disinfect a sponge is by microwaving. After washing it thoroughly, place it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on low power, but monitor it carefully.

You're guilty of this: You don’t clean your microwave that often. The fact that you use it because you're always in a hurry just shows that you have a hectic schedule. But anything that has spilled or splattered in it can give birth to harmful microbes that can make you sick. To clean it, take a damp Lola® Cellulose Sponge Cloth aka "Swedish Cloth" and wipe inside and outside your microwave.

Coffee Maker. Your coffee maker is a hotbed for bacteria and mold, so you do need to clean it daily.

A quick daily sweep of crumbs on the floor using the Swiffer® Sweeper® Comparable Wet & Dry Sweeper Floor Mop by Lola® will definitely keep your home cleaner looking.

Your keys harbor a lot of bacteria since we always touch them with dirty hands, and would never think of cleaning them. Using Lola® Anti-microbial Clean N' Wipe™ Cloth is a convenient way to clean and disinfect them.

The thought of having to clean all these items almost every day might seem unappealing. But, when you take even just a few moments to tackle them, you’ll have some assurance of living in a cleaner and germ-free home!

Hardwood floors are one of the main things that make your home special. Aside from giving your home that simple and rustic vibe, they are durable, valuable at resale time, and can enhance almost any decorating style.

But, think about all of the abuse they take lying down, literally! After all, floors take the greatest amount of wear and tear. Think about all the dust, dirt, grime, and debris you bring in from the outside. That said, allowing your hardwood floors to get too dirty is not only unclean, but it can also be too damaging to the wood itself. Believe me when I say that you would not want this to happen because it will be expensive to repair, refinish, or worse, replace.

Fortunately, there are easy ways to give your hardwood floors that special cleaning treatment and keep them beautiful for years.

Wipe up Spills Immediately

To protect and preserve your hardwood floors, this has to be the basic cleaning strategy you need to remember! Spills can't clean themselves up. Even something simple as an ice cube dropping on the floor can wreak havoc on your precious hardwood floor. So as much as possible, immediately wipe up spills with Wowables® Reusable & Biodegradable Paper Towel, then buff dry to avoid stains and keep your floor looking fresh and clean.

Sweep Regularly

Not only is this the most popular, but regular sweeping is also the easiest way to keep your hardwood floor clean. You may start by using the Lola® Angle Broom to sweep any visible dirt. Also, a dust mop that can trap dirt and dust, like the Swiffer® Sweeper® Comparable Wet & Dry Sweeper Floor Mop by Lola®, will work perfectly, too. Then, to complete the regular cleaning combo, use the Lola® Rola Sticky Mop™ to make sure you didn't miss any dust particles. You will need to keep doing this every other day because the fine grit and dirt under your feet act like sandpaper slowly wearing off the hardwood finish.

Use a Damp Mop for Soiled and Stained Floors

There may be times when quick cleaning won't be enough to get rid of that extra grime on your hardwood floors. This is where using a microfiber mop, like the Microfiber Spritz n' Mop with Scuff Remover™, comes into play. Aside from attracting dirt, a damp microfiber mop doesn't hold onto as much moisture as regular mops do, which means that you can clean your hardwood floor without heavily saturating it. Most of the time, water as the cleaning liquid  is enough. But in case of stubborn stains, a homemade cleaning solution with baking soda or white vinegar can always do the trick.

Believe it or not, your hardwood floor is a long-term investment that, with the right amount of care, will definitely last for a lifetime. Like with all good things, a little care here and there is not that hard to give and it is something that you won't regret for the rest of your lives.

The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means only one thing -- you'll be welcoming family and friends into your home. Whether you're someone who loves hosting the festivities or you're just unlucky to have drawn the short stick amongst your relatives, preparing for these holiday gatherings comes with a lot of pressure and is always stressful. Luckily, you can take away all the stress from the holiday preparations by simply following these practical tips, and for sure, a sparkling clean home awaits you and your guests.

Plan Before You Clean

Believe it or not, there's such a thing called cleaning too early. Especially if you have kids, things can get dirty really fast. So, before you bust out those gloves and cleaning supplies, finalize your event date and make sure to do the following first so you can better plan your future cleaning schedule.

• Make a list. First of all, make a list of everything you want organized and cleaned. You're gonna be doing a lot of preparations, so this is your chance to ensure that you're not gonna miss out on the important tasks. A properly outlined event, more often than not, results in both the host and the guests having a good time!
• Stock up on supplies.At this point, you can start gathering extra supplies. You’ll want to consider supplies for the preparations, the actual party, and the party aftermath. On top of our list would be toilet papers and paper towels, garbage bag, cleaning wipes, and other basic toiletries in case an overnight guest forgets anything.
• Prioritize and tackle one room at a time. You don’t need to (and can't) do everything at once. Focus on the areas and rooms that guests will be using the most, like the kitchen, the guest bathroom and of course, the living room. Do this so you don't get overwhelmed.
• Enlist help. Don’t try to take on house cleaning all by yourself if there are able-bodied adults and even kids around to help! Assign tasks that you are comfortable to delegate and are within your helpers' capabilities.
• Keep calm and don’t stress. In hosting any house parties, you don't need to be perfect. Only do what you can. Whatever happens, your family and friends will understand, and if they don’t, just find a new set of family and friends. Kidding!

Start Cleaning

At the earliest, start with your holiday preparation cleaning 4-5 days before arrival of your guests. Starting earlier than this may just be too soon, and you may end up with a home that's not ready to accept guests a day before, or worse, on the day of the house party. To get you started, you may check out our 'spring-cleaning in the fall' tips and room-specific cleaning hacks. Of course, you should focus on the areas in your priority list.

Do Some Finishing Touches and Relax

Prior to guest arrivals, you may do final last-minute cleaning just to make sure everything is in order. You may start by cleaning obvious debris in your backyard, and finishing it off with some quick cleaning tasks. Once done, you can sit back, relax and just wait for your guests to arrive. 

In a nutshell, the holiday season is a wonderful reason to celebrate and is meant to be fun! Don't let the duties of entertaining and cleaning keep you from having a great time. Just follow the simple tips above, and you're ready for the most festive and enjoyable time of the year.

If kitchen sinks could talk, they would have already told you to stop washing stuff in them. After all, you usually clean dishes and all other dirty kitchen equipment there, so it is not surprising that they get incredibly filthy easily. Stainless steel may generally be a good material to use for kitchen sinks, but you must admit -- maintaining that radiating shine like they're brand new is something that you're not always inclined to do.

Like many items in your home, you’re probably not deep cleaning your kitchen sink often enough. Lucky for you, here are a few DIY tips and sanitary tricks for you to achieve that sparkle in your sink without comprising safety. 

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

It's no secret that baking soda is capable of doing wonders in almost anything and making your kitchen sink shine again is just one of them. Simply mix baking soda and water into a paste and spread it over the sink. Baking soda is fantastic because not only does it naturally neutralize odors, but it’s powerful enough to clean the surface without scratching the stainless steel. Add in a small amount of vinegar which will help in easily getting rid of those annoying water spots. You may then use the Lola® Nylon Net & Sponge Cleaning Pad to give the sink some scrubbing and just run the water through the sink to clean up afterward. 

All-Purpose Flour

You might be surprised that another baking ingredient can make your kitchen sink shine bright like a diamond. Not that many people know about this, but all-purpose flour can be very effective. First, make sure that your sink is completely dry, then give it a good round of dusting, roughly about four tablespoons worth, of all-purpose flour. Using the microfiber side of the Lola® 2-Way Cleaning Sponge Pad, and then rub around the entire sink in small circular motions.

This hack may require a bit of elbow grease because once you're done with rubbing, you will need to wipe all the flour away with some Wowables® Reusable & Biodegradable Paper Towels. Remember, you should never rinse the flour down the drain because it can result in clogging. Once you've wiped off almost everything, you just need to rinse the sink with water and you should find that your stainless steel sink has got some of its shine back again.

Baby Oil

Lastly, this simple tip but rarely ever done is the use of baby oil to get that new shine back into your stainless steel sink. Simply add a few drops of baby oil onto a paper cloth and wipe your stainless steel sink. It will add a layer of shine to your sink that you probably have not seen since you first got it.

Keeping your stainless steel sink in good condition is not that difficult, but you're at fault for ignoring it often. It's a good thing that any of the above DIY cleaning tips will be effective in keeping your sink sanitary while restoring its brand new-ish shine, but you must do it at least once a week. Then, you will see that not only stars can shine bright, but your kitchen sink can too!

American holidays will never be complete without the anticipation for Thanksgiving. And yes, in just a few days, you’ll be filling your tummies with delicious turkey while drinking wine and whatnot with friends and family. Excited like everyone else? Of course, you are! 

But, if you’re the host, a lot of work has to be done to make Thanksgiving happen every year. You’ll need to prepare yourself mentally and physically for the challenges of planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning the house for your guests, and believe me when I say that it’ll be stressful.

So, are you ready for a secret? A little preparation can shake all the stress away. We scoured the internet for tips and made the checklists below for you to have a nice Thanksgiving holiday.

Game Plan BEFORE Thanksgiving Dinner

When it comes to Thanksgiving cleaning, preparing for the holiday is more intense than the aftermath. You have to get your home ready to welcome guests, while preparing the sumptuous meals that you will serve. The list below will guide you through your Thanksgiving preparations:

• Organize your kitchen so that it’s ready for the massive amount of cooking. Make sure there’s ample room in your fridge for all your ingredients, and of course, for leftovers thereafter.
• Wash your holiday-specific serving dishes and platters, and other large cookware items, especially if they haven’t been used for a while.
• Tidy guest rooms in case you have visitors who will be staying over. Freshen up mattress covers and beddings.
• Stock up on toilet papers, tissues, hand soap and towels. Of course, clean all the bathrooms. Tackle the toilet and sink, and wipe down the mirror and buff bathroom hardware.
• Prior to guest arrivals, dust and vacuum your living and dining areas. Ensure there are enough seats for guests by setting out extra chairs. Clean your windows and blinds for an uninterrupted view outside.
• Wipe down your dining room table and if your dishes are ready, you can go ahead and set the table.
• Clear out space for friends and family to have a place to store coat and other belongings, and keep the rooms you haven’t had a chance to clean locked if you don’t want anyone to enter them.
• First impression always lasts. Sweep your porch and foyer before guests arrive. Blow the leaves off your driveway and sidewalk so that the first thing your guests see is a clean, welcoming pathway and your festive fall decorations.

Clean-up AFTER Thanksgiving Party

Cleaning up after the dinner is easier than the preparation. Still, it’s no fun. The key to getting everything done quickly is to streamline your process, and of course, asking for a little help. So, here’s a checklist of tasks you and your helpers will need to take on after that fulfilling Thanksgiving dinner party:

• Pack leftovers into food-storage bins and offer some to your guests.
• Clear the dining table of all the dinnerware and stuff, and wash the dishes.
• Spot clean the walls, tables, countertops, carpets, upholstery and other areas with visible stains or spillage.
• Sanitize fixtures and surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, as these are the frequently visited areas during the party.
• Take out trash, declutter and organize all the rooms in the house.

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time we’re grateful for everything that’s going on in our lives. It shouldn’t be a source of stress. Just take note of the tips above, and you’ll be thanking us in no time.