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 Get Marker Off Painted Walls — Toronto Guide 2026

How to remove permanent marker, dry-erase marker, and crayon from painted walls in your Toronto home without damaging the paint.

Maidless

November 21, 2026

How to Get Marker Off Painted Walls

Marker on walls is a common problem particularly in homes with children. The approach depends on the marker type and the paint finish — the wrong method can remove the wall paint along with the marker.

Permanent Marker (Sharpie)

Permanent marker contains a solvent-based pigment binder — it requires a solvent to dissolve it:

Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl): Apply with a cotton ball, dab rather than rub to avoid spreading. Test in an inconspicuous area first — alcohol can remove some paint finishes.
Hand sanitizer: High alcohol content, works similarly to rubbing alcohol. Apply, dab, rinse with clean water.
Non-gel toothpaste: White paste toothpaste is mildly abrasive and lifts marker without solvent. Apply, rub gently with a soft cloth, rinse.
Magic Eraser (melamine foam): Effective on permanent marker. Use dampened, with light pressure — Magic Erasers are abrasive and can dull matte or flat paint finishes with repeated rubbing.

Dry-Erase Marker

Dry-erase marker is water-soluble and much easier to remove:

Damp cloth or paper towel wipes dry-erase marker off painted walls easily when fresh
For dried dry-erase marker: a small amount of dish soap and water, applied with a cloth
If that fails: rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball

Crayon

Crayon is wax-based — requires either a solvent or heat:

WD-40: Spray on, allow 1 minute, wipe off. Very effective on crayon. Clean the WD-40 residue with soapy water and rinse.
Non-gel toothpaste: Works well on crayon — the mild abrasive scrubs the wax without solvents
Baking soda paste: Mix with water and apply with a soft cloth — gentle on paint

By Paint Finish — What to Avoid

Flat or matte finish paint: The most delicate — avoid anything abrasive (Magic Eraser, baking soda paste) and strong solvents. Try non-gel toothpaste first at gentle pressure.
Eggshell or satin finish: More washable — most methods work safely
Semi-gloss or gloss finish: Most durable and washable — can handle alcohol, WD-40, and light abrasives without damage

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

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