What a Kelowna winter does to your home

Okanagan winters mix snow, freeze-thaw and wet roads. That combination leaves a familiar trail indoors:

• Salt and grit that cling to boot treads and scatter across tile, vinyl and hardwood
• Slush puddles at the front door, mudroom and garage entry
• Damp mats and runners that hold moisture and odour if they are not washed or rotated
• Baseboards and lower walls that collect splash and grey film from wet floors
• Kitchen and laundry floors that pick up the same grit as people move through the house

Left alone, that grit scratches floors and dulls finishes. A quick sweep helps day to day, but a proper winter clean focuses on the paths people actually use and the spots that hold salt and moisture.

Entryways, mats and the first ten feet

Most of the winter mess lives in the first stretch of the home. We pay close attention to:

• Wiping and washing hard floors from the door inward so salt does not get walked deeper into the house
• Cleaning around shoe trays, benches and coat areas where grit settles
• Shaking out, vacuuming or washing mats when they are part of the clean, so they stop re-depositing dirt
• Detailing baseboards and corners beside the door where grey buildup shows first

If you only have time for one habit between visits, keep a mat outside and a second mat inside, and knock snow off boots before they come in. That alone cuts down how much salt reaches the rest of the floor.

Floors, baseboards and high-traffic paths

Winter cleaning is less about every shelf and more about the routes through the house. Hallways from the garage or front door to the kitchen, stairs and main living areas take the heaviest wear. On a regular clean we wash those paths thoroughly, lift what the broom leaves behind and wipe baseboards where splash builds up.

Hardwood and laminate need a damp, not soaking, clean so moisture does not sit in seams. Tile and vinyl can take a fuller wash to pull salt out of grout lines and textured surfaces. We bring our own supplies and equipment, so you do not need to set anything out for us.

When a deeper reset helps

After a stretch of storms, or when salt haze has built up on floors and lower walls, a standard tidy may not be enough. That is when a deep cleaning makes sense: more time on floors, baseboards, bathrooms and the spots that get skipped in a hurry. Many Kelowna homes book a deeper clean mid-winter or as the thaw starts, then return to a regular rhythm.

For week-to-week upkeep across the season, our recurring maid service in Kelowna keeps entryways and floors from getting ahead of you. And if you want the full picture of what we cover citywide, see our house cleaning in Kelowna page.

Owner-led cleaning, always a team of two

Get a Maid is owner-operated. Joe and the team clean your home personally. We always arrive as a team of two, never alone, and we clean in Kelowna, West Kelowna (including Westbank) and Lake Country. We do not send a rotating cast of contractors. You know who is coming into your home on a snowy day, which matters when coats, boots and wet gear are piled by the door.

Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. We are closed on weekends. Weekend jobs are by request only, so call first or arrange them with us in person before you book one.

Practical tips between cleans

• Keep a towel or boot tray at the door and empty it before grit hardens
• Vacuum or sweep high-traffic floors more often in January and February than you would in summer
• Wash or swap door mats regularly so they do not become a dirt reservoir
• Wipe salt off pet paws at the door when you can; it protects both floors and paws
• Note any floor finish concerns in your booking notes so we can treat surfaces carefully

Book a winter clean

If slush and salt are winning the battle at your door, we can help. Book online, or call or text 604-600-3309 during our weekday hours. Tell us about pets, mats, floor types and any rooms you want us to prioritise after a storm. We will show up as a team of two with our own supplies and leave the entryway and floors looking the way a Kelowna home should in winter: clean, dry underfoot and ready for the next round of snow.

Snowy weeks are hard on homes. You do not have to spend your evenings mopping salt trails. Let Get a Maid handle the tough work while you stay warm.

The post Getamaid, your solution to snowy Kelowna messes! appeared first on Getamaid.ca.

We wanted to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of our valued customers. It has been our pleasure to serve the Kelowna community and help keep your homes and businesses clean and tidy.

As we enter into the new year, we are excited to announce that we have a lot in store for our customers. We are constantly striving to improve and enhance the services that we offer, and this year is no different.

One of the things that sets Getamaid.ca apart is our commitment to using environmentally friendly cleaning products. We believe that it is important to not only provide a thorough and effective clean, but to do so in a way that is safe for both our customers and the planet.

In addition to these new services, we will also be continuing to offer our regular cleaning services, including weekly, biweekly, and monthly options. No matter what your needs are, we have a cleaning plan that will work for you.

As we move into the new year, we want to thank our customers for choosing Getamaid.ca for all of their cleaning needs. We are grateful for your business and look forward to continuing to serve you in the coming year.

Thank you again, and here’s to a happy and healthy new year!

Sincerely, The Getamaid.ca Team

The post Happy New Year appeared first on Getamaid.ca.

1. Start by decluttering your space. Take some time to go through each room of your house and get rid of any unnecessary items. This will not only make it easier to clean, but it will also make your home look and feel more welcoming. Donate items you no longer need or use, and consider storing away items that you don’t need on a daily basis.

2. Deep clean your home. This is the perfect time to give your house a thorough cleaning, especially if you haven’t done so in a while. Start by dusting and vacuuming every room, including baseboards, windowsills, and corners. Wipe down surfaces and appliances, and make sure to sanitize your bathrooms. If you have carpets, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning service to get them looking and smelling fresh.

3. Pay special attention to your kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home and where everyone tends to gather during the holiday season. Make sure to clean and organize your pantry and fridge, and consider doing a load of dishes before your guests arrive. If you’ll be cooking for a crowd, take some time to plan out your meals and make a grocery list in advance so you’re not rushed or stressed on the day of your gathering.

4. Set the mood with holiday decorations. Once your home is clean and clutter-free, it’s time to add some holiday cheer. Decorate your home with festive holiday lights, garlands, and ornaments. Consider adding some cozy touches like blankets, pillows, and candles to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable.

5. Don’t forget about the outside of your home. First impressions are important, and the outside of your home is the first thing your guests will see. Make sure to sweep your porch and walkway, and consider adding some holiday decorations like wreaths or lanterns. If you have a yard, make sure to rake any leaves and keep the grass trimmed.

6. Make sure to have all the necessary supplies on hand. No one wants to be running to the store on Christmas day, so make sure to have all the supplies you’ll need for the holiday season. This includes things like paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, and cleaning supplies. If you’ll be hosting guests, make sure you have enough towels, blankets, and pillows for everyone.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to get your home ready for Christmas in no time. Taking the time to properly clean and prepare your space will not only make it more welcoming for your guests, but it will also help to reduce stress and make the holiday season more enjoyable for everyone.

Want help getting your home holiday-ready? Book a house cleaning in Kelowna online.

Hosting this season? Our deep cleaning is the ideal pre-holiday reset, and a recurring maid service keeps things sparkling through the new year. Hosting visitors in a rental or suite? See our Airbnb and vacation rental cleaning. More reading: why a clean home matters.

The post Christmas Cleaning Tips appeared first on Getamaid.ca.

Keeping a clean home is essential for both the physical and mental health of you and your family. A clean home can help to reduce stress levels, boost your mood, and promote a sense of order and calm. Not only can a clean home make life easier, but it can also provide a healthier environment for everyone living in the house.

First and foremost, a clean house can help to reduce stress levels. Clutter and dirt can lead to feelings of overwhelm and chaos, while an organized and well-maintained home can help to create an atmosphere of peace and calm. Taking the time to tidy up and declutter can help to create more productive and positive environments. 

A clean home can also help to boost your mood. When the house is neat and organized, it can be easier to focus and be productive. Additionally, physical clutter can be directly linked to mental clutter. When the home is clean and organized, it can help to clear your mind and boost your overall mood.

Finally, a clean house can provide a healthier environment for everyone living in the house. Dust, dirt, and other allergens can accumulate in a cluttered home, which can lead to respiratory issues and other health problems. Regular cleaning and dusting can help to reduce the amount of dust and allergens in the home and create a healthier environment. 

Here are a few reasons why keeping a clean home is important:

1. Improved air quality: Dust and dirt can accumulate in a cluttered home, making the air quality poorer. A clean home means better air quality, which can help reduce allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues.

2. Reduced stress: Clutter can be overwhelming, causing us to feel stressed and anxious. Having a tidy home can help us feel more relaxed and in control.

3. Better sleep: When our home is cluttered, it can be difficult to relax and fall asleep. A clean home is conducive to getting a good night’s sleep, which is essential for overall health and wellbeing.

4. Improved productivity: Messy homes can be distracting, making it hard to focus on tasks and get things done. A clean home can help us stay organized and productive.

5. Sense of accomplishment: Keeping a clean home can give us a sense of accomplishment, as we can feel proud of our hard work.

At Getamaid.ca we offer cleaning services in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country.  We’re all about keeping a clean home.  If you have any questions you can contact us.

If you would like to book a cleaning check out our online booking page

To see our reviews you can go here BBB

Ready for a cleaner home without lifting a finger? Owner Joe and the Getamaid team offer luxury house cleaning in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country, from a one-time deep clean to regular maid service. Compare all of our cleaning services.

The post The importance of keeping your house clean. appeared first on Getamaid.ca.

According to Roman legend, soap was named after Mount Sapo, an ancient site of animal sacrifices. After an animal sacrifice, rain would wash animal fat and ash, that collected under the ceremonial altars, down to the banks of the Tiber River.

Women washing clothes in the river noticed that if they washed their clothes in certain parts of the river after a heavy rainfall their clothes were much cleaner. Thus the emergence of the first soap – or at least the first use of soap.

Although this explanation seems possible, evidence of the legendary Mt. Sapo has never been found.

The word “sapo” first appears in a book written in Latin titled “Natural History” by Pliny the Elder an academic from Pompeii. It was like an early set of encyclopedias of the ancient world, written around 77 AD. In book 28, chapter 51, Pliny writes: There is also soap (sapo), an invention of the Gauls for making their hair shiny. It is made from tallow and ashes, the best from beechwood ash and goat fat, and exists in two forms, solid and liquid; among the Germans, both are used more by men than by women.

The earliest known written soap recipe was written on clay tablets and is credited to the ancient Babylonians. A soap-like material found in clay cylinders during the excavation of Babylon a city in ancient Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is evidence that soapmaking was known as early as 2800 B.C. Inscriptions on the cylinders indicate that fats (rendered from a slaughtered cow, sheep, or goat) were boiled with wood ashes and water. 

An Egyptian scroll called the Ebers Papyrus dated 1550 BC indicates that ancient Egyptians bathed in a combination of animal and vegetable oils mixed with wood ash, which would have created a soap-like substance. It is well documented that Egyptians regularly bathed.  

Moses gave the Israelites detailed laws governing personal cleanliness. Biblical accounts suggest that the Israelites knew that mixing ashes and oil produced a kind of gel that could be used on hair. Soap is mentioned twice in the Bible, but it is generally agreed that the Hebrew word “borith,” which has been translated as soap, is a generic term for any cleansing agent made from wood or vegetable ashes.

Soap became hugely popular throughout the Roman Empire, around 100 BC to 400 AD. When the ruins of Pompeii were excavated, an entire soap factory was discovered in the rubble.

Bathing habits all over Europe rose and declined with Roman civilization. When Rome fell in 476 A.D., so did bathing. It is believed that the lack of cleanliness and poor living conditions contributed to the many plagues of the Middle Ages.

By the second century A.D., the Greek physician, Galen, recommended soap for both medicinal and cleansing purposes.

Not until the seventh century did soapmakers appear in Spain and Italy where soap was made with goat fat and Beech tree ashes. During the same period, the French started using olive oil to make soap. Marseille soap has been made in the south of France for more than six centuries. The recipe was first officially recognized in 1688 during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King.” Eventually, fragrances were introduced and specialized soaps for bathing, shaving, shampooing, and laundry began to appear. There is a story that King Louis XIV of France executed three soapmakers for making a bar that irritated his very sensitive Royal skin.

The English began making soap during the 12th century. In 1633 King Charles I granted a 14-year monopoly to the Society of Soapmakers of Westminster.

According to Alison Sim, in her book “The Tudor Housewife,” wealthy ladies of the Tudor period (1485-1603) used a scented toilet soap or ‘castile soap’ for their daily washing. This soap, made with olive oil and imported, was very expensive. A household instruction manual written during this period included recipes for soap which suggests that people of all levels of society were interested in personal hygiene.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, soap consumption in England was greater than in any other European country. It seems that Queen Bess set the fashion herself, for it was reported that the Queen took a bath every four weeks “whether it was necessary or not.”

In the 17th and 18th centuries, just as the soap industry was gaining momentum in England, it became the subject of a series of restrictions and crippling taxation on soap. Eventually, the Victorian Era came around, and with it, a new interest in personal hygiene. It was not until 1853 that Gladstone abolished the tax on soap allowing soap to be available and affordable to more people.

Two discoveries by French chemists helped elevate the progress of commercial soap making. In 1791, the French chemist Nicolas Leblanc discovered a process for transforming common salt (sodium chloride) into an alkali called soda ash. Since alkali was critical in the manufacture of soap as well as other products, this discovery became one of the most important chemical processes of the nineteenth century. In 1811, Chevreul discovered the chemistry behind the relationship of glycerin to fatty acids. With the advent of the industrial revolution, the stage was now set for mass soap production.

In the 19th century, Louis Pasteur proclaimed that good personal hygiene would reduce the spread of diseases which helped increase the demand for soap.

In the United States, by the beginning of the 19th century, soap making was one of the fastest-growing industries. Rural Americans made homemade soap using a process developed during Colonial times. They would save ashes from their fires for months. When they had enough fat leftover from butchering hogs they would make soap.

Old fashioned lye was made using hardwood ashes, a barrel or ash hopper, and rainwater. Holes were drilled in the bottom of a barrel. The barrel was placed on a grooved stone slab that rested on a pile of rocks. A layer of gravel was placed over the holes. Then a layer of straw, twigs, and sticks was placed on top of the gravel as a filter to prevent the ashes from getting in the solution. After filling a barrel with hardwood ashes, rainwater was poured through the ashes to leach out the brown lye liquid which would flow into the groove around the stone slab and drip down into a container.

Some soapmakers used an ash hopper for making lye instead of the barrel method. Using the same basic process, the lye dripped into a container located underneath the hopper.

The most difficult part of early soapmaking was determining if the lye was the correct strength. The “lye water” was considered the proper strength to make soap when an egg or small potato placed in the solution floated about halfway beneath the surface of the solution. If the egg or potato floated on top, the lye was too strong. If it sank quickly, the lye was too weak. Some early soapmakers used goose or chicken feathers to test their lye. If a feather inserted in the lye water began to dissolve in it, then the lye water was at the right strength.

During World War I, commercial soap, as we know it today, came into existence. The injuries of war brought an increased need for cleaning agents. However, at the same time, the ingredients needed to make soap were scarce. German scientists created a new form of “soap” made with various synthetic compounds and as a result, detergents were born. By the 1950′s, detergent sales had surpassed soap sales in the United States.

Most commercial “soaps” available today are actually detergents, which are made with petroleum by-products. Since these “soaps” are detergents, by law they cannot be called soap. Chances are that when you see a soap called a “body bar,” it is not soap at all.

After the Great War and until the 1930s, soap was made by a method called batch kettle boiling. Commercial soap makers had huge three story kettles that produced thousands of pounds of soap over the course of about a week. Shortly thereafter, an invention called the continuous process was introduced and refined by Procter & Gamble. This process decreased soap making production time to less than a day. Large commercial soap manufacturers still use the continuous process.

Commercial soap manufacturers also learned that they could remove the natural glycerin in soap which gives it moisturizing properties. They sell it or use it in other higher priced products like the moisturizers and creams you need when their soap dries out your skin. Removing the natural glycerin also extends the shelf life of the soap so that it can sit in the storehouse or on store shelves for many years.

We are a cleaning service in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country. You can book an appointment online.  If you have any other questions feel free to contact us.

Today the soap is ours to bring. Owner Joe and the Getamaid team arrive with their own products and equipment for every house cleaning in Kelowna, deep clean and move-out clean. See all of our cleaning services.

The post The history of soap appeared first on Getamaid.ca.

The history of maids goes way back, like many other living things on this planet. Humans have powerful instincts for competition, domination and control. With this kind of blinding power comes a certain amount of influence over others, which has been used to varying degrees by leaders throughout the ages of mankind. The resulting series of class-based hierarchies dates back about as far as recorded history, and the denizens of higher social classes have always felt entitled to the aid of slaves and servants. This is the history of maids.

Women of prestigious status have long seen it as a necessity to have assistance with things like housecleaning, child rearing, and yard work. Despite the fact that women in lower classes have no choice but to balance all of these tasks alone. Being raised by a dedicated staff of servants became a hallmark of refined breeding in high society. Although the details and nuances of relationships between nobility and servants have certainly evolved since then.

The history of maids in the Middle Ages

The term maid has been used to refer to all kinds of female servants since the Middle Ages. It was derived from the term maiden, which referred to a young, unmarried woman. The association between these two terms is related to the fact that most domestic housemaids of that time gave their lives to service and were not allowed to marry.

Maids were historically kept in massive estates as part of a huge staff. They were not always paid for their services. They were provided with food, clothes and boarding inside the homes where they were employed. They were responsible for all the details of household maintenance so that their Masters could focus on matters more fitting to their social status. The service of multiple maids was widely considered essential to the management of sprawling palaces, castles and estates between the Middle Ages and the 19th century.

In some periods of history, the human obsession with classification by rank was applied even to servants themselves. They were often arranged into their own social hierarchies and assigned to tasks based on how closely they were allowed to work with the masters of the household. These stations were usually set in stone, and there was little opportunity for a maid to move up in the ranks once she was assigned a set of tasks.

The history of maids in the Victorian Era

In the Victorian Era, the highest ranking servant managed the staff of a large estate and was called the housekeeper. Below her was the Lady’s maid, who interacted mostly with the Lady of the house. Below this classification was an entire set of ranks for housemaids whose responsibilities related to maintaining the condition of various rooms in the house. The head of the housemaids reported to the housekeeper and managed the operations of subordinate housemaids, such as parlor maids, chamber maids and laundry maids. Nannies also reported to the housekeeper and were in charge of all servants responsible for childcare. Below all of these was an entire staff of lower-class servants who were dedicated to the preparation and serving of food, as well as the maintenance of kitchen areas.

This structure for managing large estates also existed in earlier civilizations such as ancient Rome, but all of these roles were filled by persons who were widely referred to as slaves. Similarities to this system can also be seen in the present-day hospitality industry. The upper class has since become much smaller, and those who carry this distinction tend to own multiple homes as opposed to one or two large estates. Many of the huge British country homes which were once managed by maids have now been transformed into hotels or resorts, yet they still require service staff in order to function.

It is now most common to find maids working on a daily basis for a maid service or agency. Only the highest class folk are known for hiring an entire staff of servants. Throughout the classes of upper middle and above, it is not unheard of for a household to have one or two live-in servants. Aside from that, it is pretty rare to find a maid who is completely sustained within the estate of her employer. Usually, if she is, it has something to do with childcare.

Today’s Maids

Today, maids sometimes have entire families of their own to support. However, they are not always paid a full living wage. Despite the variety of costs and charges associated even with higher-end agency cleaning services, the maids they employ are not generally paid more than minimum wage. Some work as maids to supplement other forms of income. However, it is very difficult to live above the poverty line on a maid’s wages alone.

When observing the history of maids throughout all the times and cultures they have inhabited, it is hard to deny that one thing has remained consistent. Maids have rarely – if ever – been paid wages that were equivalent to the value of what they do. The dynamic between Master and servant has evolved in small ways, but not nearly as much as one would expect. Until a form of power is found which does not corrupt, the so-called Noble are doomed to keep repeating the same crimes against those they perceive to be inferior.

We service Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country here at getamaid.ca. Ready for a cleaner home? Book your house cleaning online. Feel free to leave comments and if you have questions about our service please Contact Us. If you would like to see some of our reviews you can go here BBB Thank you for choosing getamaid.

The post The history of maids appeared first on Getamaid.ca.