Cleaning Tips & Guides from Aussie Duo cleaning service

Because a lot of what makes a workplace unproductive is invisible. Poor air quality can slow thinking and focus, and illness spread through shared surfaces drives up sick days. Research led by Harvard found links between office air quality and staff performance on cognitive tests.

It depends on foot traffic and use. Busy offices, shops and shared facilities usually need daily or several-times-a-week cleaning, while quieter premises may suit weekly visits. Shared touch points benefit from regular attention whatever the overall schedule.

Not necessarily. Looking tidy and being hygienic are different things. A wiped desk can still be a germ hotspot, and a vacuumed carpet can still hold dust and allergens. A written task list and consistent cleaning close that gap.

The areas people touch and share most: door handles, switches and lift buttons, plus washrooms, kitchens and tea points, and floors and entries. These spots spread germs, shape first impressions and cause slips if they're left too long.

It can contribute. Germs spread through shared surfaces like keyboards, phones and kitchen benches, and poor air can leave people tired and headachy. Regular cleaning of shared spaces is one practical way to reduce that risk.

It's when people feel unwell, with headaches, tiredness or irritated eyes and throat, mainly while they're inside a particular building, and feel better soon after leaving. It's often linked to ventilation and indoor air quality. Regular cleaning that reduces dust is one part of managing it.

It helps with one part of it. Dust, allergens and fine particles build up in carpets, vents and soft furnishings and get stirred back into the air. Vacuuming with HEPA-grade filtration captures those particles instead of recirculating them. Ventilation problems need a building or air-conditioning specialist.

Commercial cleaning is usually regular, agreed work for offices, shops and other business premises, often done after hours to a set task list. Domestic cleaning is for homes. Commercial work also needs proper insurance and consistent records of what was done.

Many businesses prefer after-hours cleaning so staff and customers aren't disrupted. Busy sites may also need a daytime visit for washrooms and shared touch points. The right choice depends on how your building is used.

Ask for a written task list, proof of insurance (a certificate of currency), police-checked staff and a clear way to report problems. A consistent team that knows your building will spot issues early and keep standards steady from one visit to the next.

It can help, but it is not the full answer. The Carpet and Rug Institute's method uses a diluted vinegar rinse (one cup of white vinegar to two cups of water) after washing the spot with a weak dishwashing liquid solution. To remove the smell your dog can still detect, the RSPCA recommends an enzymatic cleaner. Always dilute vinegar and test it on a hidden patch first.

Usually one of two reasons. Urine that soaked deep into the pile can travel back up the fibres as the carpet dries, which Godfrey Hirst calls wicking. Let it dry fully and treat it again. If the smell comes back within days, the urine has most likely reached the underlay, where surface cleaning cannot reach it.

Yes. The Carpet and Rug Institute explains that urine can attack carpet dyes, sometimes weeks or months after the accident. On beige carpet it often leaves a yellow, orange or red mark. Left untreated, the moisture can also weaken the bond between the carpet layers and damage seams. Once the dye has changed, cleaning cannot bring the colour back.

Because it still smells like a toilet to them, even when you cannot smell anything. RSPCA Victoria advises cleaning accidents with an enzymatic cleaner so your dog cannot smell their waste there. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners, which smell similar to urine. If a trained dog suddenly starts having accidents, see your vet, as there may be a health problem.

Usually, if the urine has not soaked through to the underlay. Professional treatment breaks down the urine in the carpet rather than masking the smell. If it has reached the underlay and the floor below, the smell often returns and that section may need repair or replacement. A good cleaner will check the spot and tell you which situation you are in before starting.

Loosen it first, then vacuum. Drag a damp rubber glove, a rubber broom or a clean window squeegee across the carpet in short strokes so the hair rolls into clumps. Pick up the clumps, then vacuum slowly in overlapping passes, against the pile first and then with it.

It is a popular home tip, but it is not in the carpet manufacturer guidance we reviewed. If you try it, use a light sprinkle and vacuum it out thoroughly, because powder left in the pile can hold onto dirt. A rubber glove and a slow vacuum do most of the work on their own.

We do not recommend it. It is a common online tip for loosening hair, but Godfrey Hirst's care guide warns that residue left in carpet from cleaning mixtures is sticky and attracts dirt from foot traffic. A damp rubber glove loosens hair without leaving anything behind.

Steam cleaning is not the best tool for loose hair. Hair comes out most easily when it is dry, so vacuum thoroughly first. Professional hot water extraction then removes the finer dander, oils and soil held deeper in the pile, which vacuuming cannot reach.

At least weekly, and more often in the rooms your pets use most. Godfrey Hirst recommends weekly vacuuming with extra attention to high traffic areas, and ASCIA also advises weekly vacuuming of carpets for allergy management. Step it up during the autumn and spring moult.

For a deep clean, yes in most cases. Hot water extraction rinses the fibres and then pulls the dirty water and most of the cleaning solution back out with strong suction, so less residue is left behind. Shampooing can freshen lightly soiled carpet, but it is not a substitute for a deep clean.

Every 12 to 18 months for most homes, and more often if you have pets, young children or allergy sufferers in the house. Regular vacuuming in between removes loose grit before it wears the fibres.

Check your lease first. Many Canberra and Queanbeyan leases require professional carpet cleaning, and property managers often ask for a receipt as proof. Our end of lease cleaning can include carpet steam cleaning.

For a quick refresh between professional cleans, small fresh stains, or light-traffic rooms such as a spare bedroom. Avoid relying on shampooing alone for wool carpet, pet urine, odours or an end of lease inspection.

Salt is a common home remedy, but it is not in the carpet manufacturer guidance we reviewed. Cold water, then a weak mild detergent solution, is the method Godfrey Hirst recommends. Stick with that rather than experimenting on a stain you want gone.

Usually because some of it, or some detergent, is still deep in the pile or the underlay. As the carpet dries, moisture wicks it back up to the surface. Rinse with plain water, blot well and press it dry under a weight. If it keeps returning, it needs professional extraction.

Some wool clothing guides use white vinegar on blood, but carpet is different and undiluted vinegar can be harsh on wool carpet. On carpet, start with cold water and a mild detergent solution. Only try anything else after a hidden-spot test.

Health departments advise treating all blood as potentially infectious. Wear disposable gloves, bag everything you used, and wash your hands well. If it is a large spill or you are not comfortable, get professional help.

Often it can lighten or remove them, but no one can honestly guarantee it. How well it works depends on the fibre, how long the stain has been there, and what has already been used on it. That is why we look at the stain before quoting.

It depends on your household, but fortnightly is the most common choice for maintaining a genuinely clean home without paying for a weekly visit you don't need. Larger households, homes with kids or pets, or anyone managing allergies often prefer weekly. Smaller or lower-traffic homes can often get by with monthly.

Kitchen surfaces and cooktop, bathroom and toilet cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and general tidying across living areas and bedrooms. Inside-oven cleaning, window cleaning, and carpet steam cleaning are typically add-ons rather than standard inclusions - always confirm what's covered when you book.

It's worth it if your home genuinely gets messy fast - young kids, pets, shared housing, or a busy household where daily upkeep keeps slipping. If your home stays fairly tidy between visits, fortnightly is often the better-value option.

No, most clients aren't. Once you're comfortable with your cleaner, many people provide access details and go about their day. It's entirely your choice, though - some clients prefer to be home for the first visit or two.

Domestic cleaning is ongoing maintenance - it keeps a home at a consistent standard. A deep clean is a one-off reset for a home that's fallen behind, covering areas a regular visit doesn't reach, like inside ovens, built-up grime in grout, or neglected corners.

Home size, how often you book (weekly and fortnightly are cheaper per visit than one-off), the condition of the home on the first visit, and any add-ons like inside-oven or window cleaning. Access and layout - multiple levels, pets, lots of furniture - can also add time. [confirm price]

No - most professional cleaners, including Aussie Duo, bring their own products and equipment as standard. If you have a preference for certain products (allergies, eco-friendly options), just mention it when you book.

Yes - add-ons like inside-oven cleaning, window cleaning, carpet steam cleaning, and upholstery cleaning can all be added to a standard visit. Just mention what you'd like when you book so it can be quoted and scheduled properly.

A quick tidy helps - putting away clothes, dishes, and clutter off floors and benches means the cleaner can spend their time actually cleaning rather than tidying first. Beyond that, no real prep is needed - just let us know about access on the day.

Get in touch as soon as you can and let us know what wasn't up to standard. A good cleaning company will come back and fix it rather than argue about it - that's worth checking before you book with anyone, not just us.

For most everyday surfaces, regular cleaning with soap and water is enough to lower germ levels and reduce infection risk. The CDC recommends adding disinfecting on top of that mainly for high-touch surfaces or when someone in the household is sick.

Check the product label for its contact or dwell time, typically anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes. Wiping it away sooner means the germs it was designed to kill may still be alive.

Household studies have found sponges accumulate more bacteria than almost any other item in the home, since they stay warm and damp between uses. Replacing a sponge every one to two weeks, or running it through a hot dishwasher cycle or microwaving it daily, helps keep bacteria levels down.

Yes. A cloth or mop head that isn't laundered regularly just redistributes the same bacteria from one surface to the next instead of removing it. Wash reusable cleaning cloths in hot water and let them dry fully between uses.

Blot up as much as possible immediately with a clean cloth, working from the outside of the stain inward. Speed matters more than the product you use — most stains treated within the first five minutes lift far more easily than those left even an hour.

No. Combining bleach with ammonia produces toxic chloramine gas, and mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar creates corrosive peracetic acid. Use one product at a time and rinse thoroughly before trying a different one.

A stain that reappears days later is usually "wicking" — residue trapped in the carpet backing or underlay rising back to the surface as it dries. Rinsing thoroughly and drying the area completely, ideally with airflow, reduces this risk.

Yes. The CDC and EPA both note that mould can begin developing in damp carpet within 24–48 hours, so any soaked carpet — from a spill, leak, or over-wet cleaning attempt — needs to be dried quickly and thoroughly.

If a stain is more than a day or two old, has resisted two DIY attempts, covers a large area, or is on wool carpet, professional hot water extraction has a much higher success rate and lower risk of damage.

They are the same thing. Vacate cleaning, bond cleaning and end-of-lease cleaning all describe the deep clean you do before your final inspection so you can get your rental bond back. The goal is to return the property to its entry condition, with fair wear and tear excepted.

It depends on your lease and the state of the carpet. Many Canberra and Queanbeyan agreements ask for it, and agents often want a receipt as proof. You are not automatically liable for normal traffic marks, which count as fair wear and tear, but stains and pet damage are your responsibility.

Fair wear and tear is the natural ageing of a property from ordinary living, such as faded paint, light carpet traffic marks or small furniture indentations. You are not charged for it. Damage from neglect or accidents, like stains, burns or holes, is different and can be deducted from your bond.

It varies with the size and condition of the property and whether carpets need steam cleaning, so a quote is more reliable than a flat price. Carpet steam cleaning starts from $4.50 per square metre. Request a quote for an exact figure for your property.

If you cannot agree on deductions, the dispute is decided by a tribunal, ACAT in the ACT or NCAT in NSW. Your entry condition report, dated photos and cleaning receipts are your strongest evidence, which is why keeping them matters.

No. Steam cleaning suits fabrics coded W or W-S, which can handle water-based cleaning. If your couch is coded S (solvent only) or X (vacuum only), water and steam can cause watermarks, shrinkage or colour bleed, so those fabrics should be cleaned by other methods or by a professional.

It can. Research has found that all house dust mites are killed at water temperatures of 55C or higher, and a steam cleaner's vapour runs well above that. Steam also sanitises without leaving chemical residue, though pairing it with regular HEPA vacuuming gives the best result.

Most couches dry within a few hours if you keep the moisture low and use good airflow. Working in small sections, wiping with a microfibre cloth as you go, and running a fan or opening a window all speed up drying. Avoid over-wetting, as soaked cushions can take a day or more and risk mould.

For small refreshes, armrests and spot cleaning, a handheld steamer can work well. For a whole large lounge you will usually want a cylinder or vapour steam cleaner with a bigger tank and an upholstery tool, so you can finish the job without constant refills.

Light, regular upkeep on W or W-S fabric is fine to do yourself. Consider a professional for delicate materials, heavy staining, odours, allergy concerns, or any couch coded S or X. Professional hot-water extraction reaches heat and moisture levels a home machine cannot, then extracts most of the water back out.