Spiders can be great. They eat insects and keep away the mosquitoes and flies. They can also be a bit creepy. For instance, when an eight-legged creepy crawler surprises you in the corner of your shower, it’s not exactly the most pleasant experience.

But I digress.

The real topic at hand here is about the magical cobweb. How does it appear? Where does it come from? And more importantly… how do you clean it?

First of all, what exactly is a cobweb?

A cobweb is actually an old, dusty spider’s web that has been abandoned by their former inhabitants.

What does it mean if you have cobwebs?

You have a new arachnid friend hanging around the nooks and crannies of your home. He’s probably perusing his way around the house, looking for new places to create a web to catch his next meal.

Why does it get so dirty?

The residual spider silk left behind is very sticky. This attracts pollen, dust and other remnants, making the cobweb grimy and creepy looking.

Running into a cobweb is usually unexpected and always unpleasant. Get rid of those cobwebs simply by using the extension nozzle on your vacuum to suck them up. Windows, doors, ceilings and corners are prime real estate for those daddy long legs to make a comfortable home.

If you don’t have a vacuum, a sock at the end of your broom will do just fine.

Prevention is key to keeping the cobwebs from forming in your home. Spiders taste with their legs (weird fact of the day) and will stay away from any room that has lemon, peppermint or eucalyptus within it.

Take a cotton ball and dab it with one of these essential oils. Place them in areas around your home to deter spiders from entering. If you can’t reach an area, spray the oils directly on the space to keep the spiders out.

It’s a simple solution and win-win situation: your house smells great and you end up keeping the creepy crawlers from making themselves at home!

It only takes a moment or two, but cleaning the blinds is one of the few tasks that we tend to forget about over time. It’s only when we come to realize that the dust and dirt is building up so much that even the sunlight is having trouble making its way through!

Regular dusting will keep the need for a deeper annual clean at a minimum; your house looks brighter (that sunshine does wonders to brighten up a room!) and the allergens that come along with the thick coating of dusty particles will diminish significantly.

Here are a few tips:

Microfiber cloth – These incredible little inventions are great for swiping away the dust.

Dip a clean cloth in a bowl of diluted vinegar and swipe your hand across the top and bottom of each slat.

Microfiber cloth also reduces static cling and decreases the dusty mess left behind.

Vacuum – After a quick swipe with a dry microfiber cloth, gently use the vacuum brush attachment to get rid of the excess dust and dirt.

Lemon Oil – If you have stain finished wood blinds, dilute some lemon oil with distilled water and spray the solution on the blinds. Using a microfiber cloth, gently wipe the oil and let dry. Not only does it clean your blinds, but they look shiny and new, and smell great too!

Detergent – Faux wood blinds and venetian blinds are less expensive and made of a hardier material. Remove excess dust with your vacuum brush attachment first. Then mix together a combination of warm water and a dab of mild detergent (such as Dawn). Dampen a microfiber cloth and wipe the top and bottom of each blind, then let air dry.

Word to the Wise: Excess moisture could warp your blinds and/or discolour your blinds, so don’t overdo it on the liquid. This includes water, detergent, oils, etc. If you’re working with any of these materials, simply dampen your cloth. That’s more than enough to get the job done.

Cleaning your blinds can be an easy task with these tips. So you have to stop and think to yourself: when’s the last time you ran a white cloth across your blinds?

The holidays present a whole slew of cleanup challenges:  sap from your Christmas tree, salt from the roads tracked in my merry guests, spilled wine from really merry guests — these are just a few of the holiday problems that can present themselves. Plus, you want the place to smell good, look good, all without hurting environment.

It has become a common practice it seems to be as “green” or eco-friendly as you can, not only to save the environment but to live a healthier life as well. We are going to take a look into cities from around the world that have taken the “go green” initiative and have been granted the label as the “Most Eco-Friendly Cities in the World.” Join us and learn which cities are best for “green” lifestyles.

Common Myth #1: Green Cleaning means I have to work harder and use more time.

Not true at all. Actually, you will spend the same amount of time, if not less, when you use green and non-toxin cleaners. If you purchase your green cleaners the formulas are already tested, tried and ready to be used. Now, if you make your own cleaners you might go through a period of trial and error until you find the right things to use, but once you find your perfect solution, you will be a cleaning machine and move right along just as quickly as you would with harmful commercial chemical cleaning products.

You walk on your carpet on a daily basis, actually multiple times a day. If you have children you probably sit back and watch them roll around carefree on that same carpet. Have you ever wondered what is hiding in your carpet? Most people would answer that their floors are clean we remove our shoes before entering the home and I vacuum daily, but neither of those actions will prevent every nasty little thing from taking up residence in your carpet.

There are tons of cleaners on the market today that boast quick and effortless ways to clean, but have you ever wondered how those cleaners are able to be so effortless and quick? It is because most commercial cleaning products are filled with chemicals, which are pretty toxic not only to humans, but pets and our environment as well. Did you know you can get the same type of clean, if not better by using natural or “green” cleaning products and a little elbow grease? Let’s be honest you will have to put a little effort in when you use “green” cleaners because they aren’t filled with metal eating chemicals that could strip a car of its paint in 30 seconds.

You always hear about people trying to be more “green” today by doing simple little changes in their daily lives. Whether it be using more natural cleaning products or recycling their old items, no matter what you do there are always ways to be more “green.”

There are few things more annoying than a lightbulb flickering out when you switch it on — a lot of people aren’t prepared for it, and they often don’t keep spares But by spotting the signs of a fading light bulb, and being prepared with spares, you never need to be without light again.

Whether you employ a janitorial and custodial service, or you are responsible for the cleanliness, the hygiene and the safety of your own work environment, you’ll want to make sure that your workplace is stocked with these essential cleaning items: