How often should I have my home professionally cleaned?

For 1–2 person households: monthly. For families with children or pets: bi-weekly. For heavy-use households: weekly. First-time professional cleans should always be a deep clean.

What should I do before a professional cleaner arrives?

Declutter surfaces so cleaners can access everything. Clear the kitchen counters and move any items from the floor. You don't need to pre-clean — that's what your cleaner is there for.

What is the difference between a deep clean and a standard clean?

A standard clean covers bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, floors, and dusting. A deep clean adds inside appliances, inside cabinets, baseboards, window tracks, and all the areas that accumulate over time. Always start with a deep clean for a first booking.

How do I keep my home clean between professional cleanings?

A 10-minute daily reset — dishes away, kitchen counter wiped, bathroom sink wiped, entry swept — prevents accumulation between visits. Squeegee the shower after each use to eliminate 90% of soap scum buildup.

Cleaning Tips4 min read

How to Clean a Dishwasher with Vinegar and Baking Soda — Step by Step

A dirty dishwasher leaves residue on dishes and smells stale. Here's how to deep clean one in 30 minutes using vinegar and baking soda — no special products needed.

Maidless

January 3, 2027

Dishwashers clean your dishes but they don't clean themselves — over time they accumulate grease, food residue, mineral deposits (especially with Toronto's hard water), and mould in the door seal. A dirty dishwasher leaves a filmy residue on dishes, runs less efficiently, and develops odours that transfer to freshly washed items. Here's how to clean it properly in about 30 minutes.

Step 1: Clean the Filter

The dishwasher filter is the most important component to clean, and the most frequently overlooked. It sits at the bottom of the dishwasher interior, usually a cylindrical filter that twists out.

Remove the lower rack
Twist out the cylindrical filter and lift out the flat filter screen beneath it
Rinse under warm water while scrubbing gently with a soft brush (an old toothbrush works well) to remove food particles and grease
Soak in warm soapy water for 5–10 minutes if there's significant buildup
Rinse thoroughly and reinstall

The filter should be cleaned every 1–2 months. If you've never cleaned it, you may find significant buildup — this alone often resolves a dishwasher that smells or leaves residue on dishes.

Step 2: Clean the Door Seal

The rubber gasket around the dishwasher door traps moisture and food residue, leading to mould growth. Wipe it down with a damp cloth, paying attention to the fold at the bottom where debris accumulates. For mould: a cloth dampened with diluted white vinegar (50/50 water and vinegar) will kill mould on the gasket. Work around the entire perimeter.

Step 3: Vinegar Cycle

Place a dishwasher-safe bowl or cup filled with 250ml (1 cup) of white vinegar on the top rack
Run the dishwasher on a hot water cycle (no detergent, no dishes)

The vinegar steam circulates through the dishwasher interior, dissolving mineral deposits, breaking down grease, and deodorizing. This is particularly effective in Toronto homes where hard water leaves mineral scale on the interior walls and spray arms.

Step 4: Baking Soda Cycle

Sprinkle 125ml (½ cup) of baking soda across the bottom of the empty dishwasher
Run a short hot cycle

The baking soda deodorizes and gently scrubs the interior. This follows the vinegar cycle — running them together would neutralize each other.

Step 5: Clean the Spray Arms

The spray arms (rotating arms with small holes that spray water) can become clogged with food particles and mineral deposits, reducing cleaning effectiveness. Remove them (usually unclip or unscrew from the centre) and rinse under running water while unclogging the small holes with a toothpick. Soak in vinegar solution for 30 minutes for mineral deposit buildup, then rinse and reinstall.

How Often to Clean Your Dishwasher

Filter: monthly or every 2 months
Door seal: monthly
Vinegar and baking soda cycle: every 1–2 months
Spray arms: every 3–4 months

Dishwasher interior cleaning is part of Maidless's Toronto deep cleaning service. Book a deep clean — HST included.

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