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 Get Smoke or Cannabis Smell Out of an Apartment — Toronto Guide 2026

How to eliminate cigarette or cannabis smoke smell from an apartment in Toronto. The cleaning steps that remove odour-causing residue from walls, fabrics, and air.

Maidless

November 19, 2026

How to Get Smoke or Cannabis Smell Out of an Apartment

Smoke smell in an apartment is caused by thirdhand smoke — the residue that deposits on every surface in the space: walls, ceilings, fabrics, carpets, and HVAC components. The smell returns unless every surface that has absorbed the residue is cleaned, since it continues to off-gas from surfaces even after the smoking stops. This is relevant both for tenants moving into a unit previously used by smokers and for current residents trying to manage or eliminate odours.

Step 1: Ventilate

Open all windows and run fans to maximize air exchange
Run the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans continuously for the first few days
Place activated charcoal bags or open boxes of baking soda in rooms — these absorb airborne odour molecules

Step 2: Clean Hard Surfaces (Walls, Ceilings, Baseboards)

Smoke residue deposits on all hard surfaces as a thin, sticky film that absorbs odour molecules:

Wipe all walls and ceilings with a solution of 1/4 cup TSP (trisodium phosphate) or TSP substitute in a gallon of warm water — TSP is a heavy-duty degreaser that cuts through smoke residue effectively
Alternatively: a solution of 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon water
Work systematically in sections: ceiling first, then top to bottom on walls
Rinse with clean water and allow to dry
After cleaning, apply a primer with odour-blocking properties (Kilz Original, BIN Shellac-Based Primer) to walls before repainting — this seals in any residual odour that cleaning didn't fully remove

Step 3: Clean Fabrics and Soft Surfaces

Wash all washable fabrics — curtains, bedding, throw covers — in hot water with a cup of white vinegar added to the wash
Upholstery: sprinkle baking soda on all upholstered surfaces, allow 24 hours, vacuum thoroughly. Repeat.
Carpet: rent a carpet cleaner or book a professional carpet clean — machine cleaning removes significantly more embedded smoke residue than surface cleaning

Step 4: HVAC and Air Quality

Replace HVAC filters — smoke residue deposits in filters and the filter itself becomes an odour source
If possible, have the ductwork cleaned — smoke residue can accumulate in ducts and re-enter the air continuously
Run an air purifier with an activated carbon filter — carbon filters capture volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from smoke, while HEPA filters capture particles

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

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