Do you know that banisters can be very dirty and sticky from general usage? There is no doubt that cleaning staircase banisters are one of the few overlooked jobs in numerous homes. You will forget to clean these railings unless you are lucky enough to have a professional maid service. If your maid service does not frequent your home, your railings will become dirty by the time you get around and clean them.

DUSTING AND CLEANING RAILINGS

These are two different jobs that need to be done thoroughly to ensure that your railings are impressive from first sight. At times, you might decide to run a feather duster or even a dust cloth along your stair banisters. It is good to know that if you do this, you are not cleaning them to the expected standards. In most cases, they are made from wood. In such cases, they will tend to be sticky from time to time. Therefore you must find out the best way to clean them to avoid stickiness.

Unless you have hired a reliable professional maid service who will be cleaning regularly, your banisters will always be dusty and quite sticky. If you don’t appreciate their services and you have noticed your banisters are becoming sticky, then this is the right time to clean them.

TOOLS NEEDED

The tools you require to clean your banisters mainly depends on the severity of the cleaning required. You need highly advanced tools that will do the cleaning job efficiently. Also, it is good to consider easy to use tools that will never give you a headache when using them. In that case, you will need some of these supplies if you really want your banisters to look admirable and clean.

Most professionals who provides these services boast of special cleaners for removing dust and the rare sticky feel in your banisters. If you have used their services you can attest that they used one of these products. You might be having some of them in your home.

• Lemon juice.
• Vegetable oil.
• White vinegar.
• Cleaning cloths.
• Feather duster.
• Olive oil.

LEVEL OF CLEANING REQUIRED

Removing the top layer of dust is arguably the best way to start your cleaning activity. Use a feather duster and soft cleaning cloth over the staircase banister. It depends on whether your banister requires minimal or super cleaning. What does minimal cleaning mean? In this case, your wood is dirtier than your dust cloth. Therefore you can use a feather duster. You are much likely to fall under this category if you have a maid service who come regularly.

GET CLEANING

This is the time to begin your worst-case scenario. It is now time to do some super cleaning. All that you need to do is mix two cups of water and a single cup of vinegar. Afterwards, gently spray the mixture onto the stair banisters. You need to give the mixture some minutes to settle. How do you restore the shine in your banisters? Just put a few drops of olive or vegetable oil.

Carpets are fantastic home accessories that instantly enhance the aesthetic value of your home. Although it can usually be found in the living room and bedrooms, it can also be installed on the stairs, which is undoubtedly what many homeowners do. The stairs can give a new style and beauty, and also protect you and your family from slipping.

It is not always good to put a carpet on the stairs since cleaning can be very stressful. The stairs are used very often, so carpets can be installed there very quickly. If you have a rug on the stairs and don’t know how to clean it, check out the helpful guide I prepared for you below.

• Always start cleaning from the top of the stairs – this is something everyone should know, although some homeowners clean the bottom of the stairs by going up. It is always recommended to start from the top of the stairs until any dust, dirt, or other unwanted particles that you remove from the carpet fall to the bottom of the stairs. This will make it easier and more comfortable for you to clean the carpet on the stairs effectively. Besides, this will help you not to touch on areas that have already been cleared.
• Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner to remove debris – debris can be a big problem on your carpet, and the same applies to carpets on the stairs. Before cleaning, it is recommended to remove any debris on the carpet with a vacuum cleaner or a wet / dry vacuum cleaner. This will help prevent a large amount of waste in the vacuum cleaner, which you will use later.
• Clean a lot – If you think the carpet in your living room might get dirty, the carpet on the stairs may be a bigger cleaning problem. For this reason, you should always clean the carpet on the stairs. Don’t wait for the carpet to look dull and dirty before you try to clean it. Since it receives a lot of pedestrians every day, it is recommended to clean it three to four times a week so that it does not become too dirty or worn out due to heavy use.

Stair steps or small pieces of carpet on the stairs itself are a less expensive carpet option for your stairs. This will be a logical choice for the hidden staircase, such as the back staircase or the small staircase that leads to the basement or attic. They provide a cushion and are safe to slip, but at a much better cost than wall-to-wall carpets.

Visible staircases from other rooms are part of a large room and can be used more widely, and are best suited for individual carpets covering both riser and stairs. It must be securely fastened, preferably by professionals, so that no one travels on a mat-free surface. You can include the entire width of the drawer with a rug, eliminating the need for dust and cleaning small areas of wood or tiles that may extend beyond the carpet.

Regardless of your carpet requirements in your stairs, some considerations that your needs in the above areas will help you feel the carpet that you end up and how it matches your design before you make a purchase, every job — The need.

Are you planning to purchase a vacuum cleaner for stair for your house cleaning needs? There are many brands available in the market, and each offers excellent features. If you are still undecided on which model or type of vacuum to buy, then this article will surely be of help to you.

Vacuum cleaners for stair come in different sizes and shapes. A highly expensive model does not always mean it is the best; its features and its benefits make a good vacuum cleaner for stair. There are several models of vacuum cleaner for a stair that sound impressive and high-tech. However, you have to identify with yourself your expectations from the best vacuum for stairs. Do you want a small compact one or a slender upright vacuum? Are you after bagless vacs, or do you prefer the bagged ones? That is why it is essential to do some research on the many types of vacuum cleaners for a stair; once you know your options, you can identify the kind that is most suitable for your needs.

As for the features, home care companies have bombarded the public with several innovations that their products offer. They have come up with fancy names for the technology they used, but the bottom line is they wanted to emphasize the quality of suction of their vacuums.

Here are some essential features that you can look for if you are still searching for the best vacuum to buy:

Filtration System

Whether it is a bagless or a bagged vacuum, check out if the product of your choice has this feature. The filtration system works by trapping in allergens, instead of allowing them to float in the air. These particles can be harmful to you or any household member with asthma. Once inhaled, these allergens trigger symptoms that could cause much discomfort to the ailing person. However, a vacuum cleaner for a stair that has a filtration system can improve the quality of the air indoors.

On-Board Tools

Most vacuum brands include accessory tools that help clean hard-to-reach areas in the house. Among the most common on-board tools are crevice tool, stair tool, and dusting brush. These are useful in cleaning upholstery, drapery, and other items that you cannot clean thoroughly with a regular hose.

Superior Suction

This is the most essential feature to look for in a good vacuum. The best ones are those that can pick up pet hair, dander, and other allergens. Choose a vacuum that has speed control settings and variable suction; these features let you change the intensity of suction when you switch from cleaning the carpet to the hard floor.

Maneuverability

A good vacuum is one that is lightweight and can easily be twisted and turned around pieces of furniture at home. Housecleaning is already a challenging job, and it gets even more complicated if your vacuum weighs a ton. An almost immovable vacuum prevents you from cleaning thoroughly while it adds stress to your muscles.

A Few More Reminders

Before buying the vacuum of your choice, you can also try reading reviews about the product. You can learn so much from the product users as they give their honest opinion and feedback. You can also contact the manufacturer if you have further questions and clarifications.

Staircase railings essentially render using the stairs easy and safe. However, after a long duration of use, they tend to become dusty and sticky. This is caused by the accumulation of natural home dust as well as greasy substances such as lotions and natural body oils. Failure to clean the stairs implies that the mixture of dust and oils will continue to accumulate to the extent of making the rails gross and unsightly. Given that this problem cannot be averted, homeowners need to learn how to clean their stair railing. Below are the necessary items and effective techniques used in cleaning wooden handrails.

Must-have Items

ü    Dusterü    Cleaning clothsü    Spray bottleü    Cotton swabs or soft brushesü    White vinegar, mild soap, olive oil or lemon juiceü    Water

Step One: Selecting a Cleaning Agent

You may select from a variety of cleaning agents in a bid to keep your staircase railing sparkling. Homeowners may opt for chemical cleansers or choose to make homemade solutions by mixing natural products like vinegar, lemon juice, and vegetable oil. Here is how to use these mixtures.

ü    Vinegar and Warm Water

Mix one cup of vinegar with two cups of water into a large bowl. This mixture is mild and perfect for cleaning all wooden railings, whether polished or unpolished.

ü    Vegetable Oil and Vinegar

You may mix one cup of vegetable oil with two tablespoons of white vinegar. This concoction is loaded with anti-bacterial properties that come in handy in disinfecting the rails. It also moisturizes the wood, which gives it a better appearance.

ü    Olive Oil and Lemon Juice

Take one cup of olive oil and add a half a cup of lemon juice. This mixture works as a deodorizer, disinfectant and leaves the railings with a glossy finish.

Step Two: Dusting

Like mentioned before, wooden staircases tend to collect a lot of dust, which ultimately renders them unsightly. This is where dusting comes in handy. For this procedure, you will need a duster, which could be a soft piece of cloth, a disposable or feather duster. Begin running your duster from the top of the staircase and make your way towards the lower floor. Remember to dust the balusters as well.

Step Three: Cleaning

The following procedures are used for cleaning sticky staircase railings.

ü    Moderate Cleaning

This level of cleaning is usually done once a week. It goes a long way in removing moderate amounts of oils. For this step, you should wipe down the entire railing with a soft cleaning cloth saturated with a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice. Alternatively, you may add the mixture into a spray bottle and shake gently for a few minutes. Subsequently, spray the mixture on to the cleaning cloth and use it to wipe the rails. You may also use a mixture of vegetable oil and vinegar.

ü    Deep Cleaning

This level of cleaning is suitable for extremely greasy railings. You should pour the mixture of white vinegar and warm water into the spray bottle and shake well. Subsequently, spray the wooden railings with the mixture and let it sit for a minute before cleaning it away with a cloth. While cleaning, ensure to scrub the rails thoroughly and change the cloth when it becomes too oily. Repeat the process until the rail acquires a natural, smooth feel.

ü    Using Chemical Cleaners

For this purpose, you should get some liquid soap or dishwashing detergent and mix a few drops with warm water. You may either pour the mixture into a spray bottle or dip a cleaning cloth into the liquid before scrubbing the rails. While this method is quick, it requires a lot of water, and thus it’s not ideal for staircases with carpets—unless of course, you need the carpeting cleaned in the process.

Note: You may use cotton swabs or soft brushes to clean hard to reach areas like sharp corners or the nooks and crannies of the decoration. Also, after cleaning, it’s advisable to use baby wipes or a wet cloth to remove leftover residuals from the cleaning solution.

Wooden staircase railings become dirty and oily after some time of use. They, therefore, need to be dusted frequently and cleaned with chemical cleaners or homemade organic solutions. Cleaning ought to be done as often as possible, depending on the amount of traffic the staircase experiences. Knowing the right products and techniques for cleaning the staircase railings properly makes the procedure easy, successful, and more satisfying.

The difference between a professional and a non-professional cleaner lies primarily in technique. Technique is the systematic way of doing a particular work or the skill/ability in a particular field”. The other huge factor is the use of by the professional cleaner of easy to operate mechanized movable cleaning tools and multi/purpose cleaning materials.

In cleaning a stair, the professional’s effort yields better results. More areas of the stair would be cleaned, including nooks and corners of the stair beyond the reach of traditional cleaning methods. Moreover, the professional cleaner can clean a particular stair faster than a non-professional cleaner because of better technique, tools and cleaning materials.

Technique pertains mainly to the cleaning method. Method is the well-organized procedure of doing work honed by training and practice. An untrained non-professional cleaner cannot do a work as fast and as easy as a professional cleaner even if he happens to have the professional tools and materials. He must get used to using the tools and eventually become proficient in handling them.

Cleaning involves dealing with dust, dirt, grime, stain, foul odor, insects and minor scratches. System plays a huge difference in confronting each of the said troublesome elements. The non-professional cleaner starts at any place on the stair and he deals with the annoying elements as he comes across each of them. On the other hand, the professional quickly surveys the entire stair to discover and identify the nature of the elements to be eliminated; then, he figures out and prepares the required tools and chemical solutions to be used for cleaning.

The traditional way of cleaning involves a broom, dust pan, duster, dust bin, rags, water and mop. This is inconvenient because the traditional cleaner would customarily not carry all the tools as he moves along; it entails considerable time for the cleaner to retrieve and put away each of tools as he works.

On the other hand, the professional cleaner carries along with him all the tools and materials he needs as he moves from the top-most step of the stair going down; it entails lesser effort for the cleaner to move the cleaning equipment from a higher step to the next below. Moreover, spilled dirt from an upper step tends to fall to the lower steps; hence, the cleaning process would be more thorough and be uninterrupted.

Professional cleaners prefer to use “vacuum cleaners” when working on wide areas. The vacuum cleaner is a cleaning equipment that combines the functions of a broom, a dust pan, a dust bin, a duster, a rag and a mop; the function are set in a single light, movable equipment powered battery or electricity. As a bonus, the equipment can carry on top of it a bag containing multi-purpose chemical cleaners, a squeegee, a scraper and small tools needed to eliminate hardened dirt, deep crevices and soiled grouts in tiled stairs or scrape stubborn blemishes on wooden steps.

The vacuum cleaner can be used for wooden, tiled or steel-covered stairs. Many cleaners prefer “bagged multi-purpose vacuum cleaners” because the bags can readily be disposed and replaced. The version that has non-disposable bag is cheaper but it is cumbersome to clean the bags from time to time.

Now we know that cleaning a stair the professional way entails lesser effort, time and money. It is difficult to deny the argument- that the savings in terms of effort and time would eventually exceed the cost of buying multi-purpose equipment and cleaning materials- is valid.