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 Tips3 min read

How to Disinfect Cutting Boards Properly — Toronto Guide 2026

How to properly disinfect wood and plastic cutting boards in your Toronto home to prevent cross-contamination. The hydrogen peroxide and salt scrub methods.

Maidless

December 5, 2026

How to Disinfect Cutting Boards Properly

Cutting boards harbour bacteria in surface scratches and cuts — both wood and plastic boards develop grooves over time that trap food particles and bacteria. Standard dishwasher washing kills surface bacteria but doesn't reach embedded particles in deep grooves. For boards used to cut raw meat, disinfection after every use is recommended.

Plastic Boards: Bleach Solution

Wash the board with hot water and dish soap to remove food particles
Mix 1 tablespoon of bleach per litre of cold water (hot water makes bleach less effective)
Apply the bleach solution to the entire cutting surface and allow 2 minutes of contact time — this is the disinfection step
Rinse thoroughly with clean water and air dry
Note: Bleach is not recommended for wood boards as it dries out the wood and causes cracking over time

Wood Boards: Salt Scrub + Vinegar

Wash the board with hot soapy water first
Sprinkle coarse salt over the cutting surface
Use half a lemon to scrub the salt into the board — the salt acts as an abrasive to physically lift embedded particles, and the lemon's citric acid has mild antimicrobial properties
Rinse, then apply white vinegar to the board with a cloth and allow 5 minutes
Rinse and dry standing upright — laying flat restricts airflow and promotes warping

Hydrogen Peroxide (Effective for Both)

After washing, spray 3% hydrogen peroxide onto the board
Allow 5 minutes of contact time — hydrogen peroxide is effective against E. coli and Salmonella at this concentration
No rinsing required — it breaks down to water and oxygen
This is a good option for wood boards where bleach should be avoided

When to Replace

Replace plastic boards when deep grooves develop that cannot be fully cleaned — bacteria in grooves deeper than 1–2mm cannot be reliably removed. Sand wood boards with fine sandpaper to remove grooves and re-oil with food-grade mineral oil to restore the surface.

Book a Maidless deep clean at maidless.ca — 4.9★, 100+ reviews, vetted cleaners across Toronto.

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