Tips for Cleaning Your Home for the Holidays

Now that December is here, your family is probably busy hanging decorations around the home, wrapping presents and preparing for guests to visit. Throughout this month, there is a lot of extra cleaning to do to and whether you are readying the guest room or wiping up the kitchen after making Christmas cookies, SpongeOutlet is here to help. Check out our holiday cleaning tips for an enjoyable and sparkly clean winter with your loved ones.

Do A Little Bit Every Day

Instead of panicking in the days leading up to your big holiday party, do a little bit of cleaning each day of the month to get your house ready for the holiday season. This way, you can just touch up areas like the bathroom and the living room on the morning of the festivities. Especially if you have a live tree or one covered in tinsel, we recommend quickly sweeping or vacuuming every evening to keep needles and sparkly strands of foil from ending up all over your home. This way, when it comes time to celebrate with your family and friends, you will be able to relax and enjoy your time together!

Brighten Walls and Surfaces

Looking to make every surface of your home sparkle and shine this holiday season? We recommend focusing on your walls, floors and countertops. The Eraser Sponge is perfect for cleaning scuffs and marks off of walls without compromising paint. It can also clean the toughest dirt and grime from your counters with ease, leaving you with plenty of time to build a snowman and bake your favorite holiday recipes.

Pay Special Attention to the Entryway

Make a great first impression this winter by sprucing up your entryway for guests. Organize coats and boots, scrub the walls with your Eraser Sponge and add a few holiday decorations to spread a little cheer. With a clean, cozy entryway, your loved ones are sure to feel welcome as they make their way in from the cold.

Visit SpongeOutlet to put in your Erase Sponge order today. Strong enough to use on nearly any grit, grime and dirt, the Eraser Sponge can be used anywhere without leaving a hazardous residue or chemical odor behind. For more information on our high-quality products, contact SpongeOutlet online or by calling 877-776-6430.

How To Make Cleaning Your Outdoor Patio Furniture Easier

clean patio furniture

Your home has been the hot spot for all the cool, entertaining parties this year.

With a big pool, large backyard deck, grass for activities, fancy grill and lots of friends to enjoy in the fun – you’ve had a successfully enjoyable summer. Lots of time has been spent in the backyard and if the chairs could talk, they would have quite the story to tell!

With all the parties and days out in the elements, your tables, chairs, and décor have seen better days. As the winter weather draws near, it is time to pack away your outdoor patio furniture.

Before you do, take some time to clean it up.

This way, when it is time for the outdoor fun to begin again next summer, your furniture will be ready to celebrate the sun’s reappearance too.

Don’t forget to clean a small inconspicuous area first before moving onto a larger one. Wipe those chairs clean of the grime accumulated from being outside all summer, and those patio tables from the spilled food and sediments splashed all over.

Visit SpongeOutlet to put in your order for Eraser Sponges today. These sponges are strong enough to use on nearly any grit, grime or dirt you can think of, without compromising any type of surface. The Eraser Sponge can be used anywhere and leaves no hazardous residue or chemical odor behind. For more information on the Eraser Sponge or any of the high-quality products we offer, contact us online or by calling 877-776-6430.

Kids Draw On The Walls? Eraser Sponge Makes Cleaning Easier

Kids can get in to trouble at any time.

You can be watching them, making sure they are behaving then at the next moment they are doing something they are not supposed to be doing.

That’s what kids do, and we all know that it is a full time job to watch them and to clean up any mess that they make, whether intentional or unintentional.

If you’re children happen to playing together in their play room, you might think it’s safe to sit down, relax and watch television. You might have even been so bold to give them crayons to use on their new coloring books of their favorite cartoon characters.

After just a few minutes, you hear them having too much fun and go to check on their coloring progress.

That’s when you see what they are elated about and realize they moved on from the coloring books to your newly painted play room walls.

Crayon doodles at child height scattered around the walls, and once you get over the initial feeling of being upset, you now know you have to figure out a way to clean it.

SpongeOutlet Eraser Sponge Can Help Clean Your Walls With Ease

When faced with the decision on how to clean your walls of crayon, back to their original state, the way to clean it couldn’t be easier.

  • With the Eraser Sponge from SpongeOutlet, you not only get a high-quality cleaning tool, but you get it at a cheaper price than the competitors.
  • Use our Eraser Sponge to clean the walls free of crayon and restore them with minimal effort.
  • Don’t forget to test a small inconspicuous area before moving onto a larger one.

SpongeOutlet‘s Eraser Sponge can clean the dirtiest of areas and help you get through the even the messiest of child disasters. For more information about the Eraser Sponge or any of the great products we offer, contact us today!

Cleaning Your Bike Top to Bottom This Summer

Cleaning Your Bike Top to Bottom This Summer

Especially during the summer months, bikers can be seen all over roads and sidewalks.

On a nice sunny day, why wouldn’t you rather be basking in the warmth of the sun riding rather than driving?

As any cyclist will tell you, rain water, sun, and gravel are a few of what you can expect to damage your bike by either causing rust, chipped paint or denting.

Aside from those types of damage, everyday dirt can build up into the bike and decrease the bike’s ability to run and function properly.

Routine cleaning is essential to the upkeep of your bike, specifically during the summer months when the bike is in use the most.

The best preventative bike care is cleaning.

A good scrub will remove all the dirt and grime that accumulates inside and out.

How effective your cleaning job will be is based upon the product you plan on using. There are many cleaning solutions on the market but not all can ensure to clean without scratching and stripping of paint.

You can test a product on the smallest part of the bike as a trial run, but that is a risk not needed to take.

A solution to your bike cleaning needs is the melamine sponge.

  • This revolutionary sponge has been designed to use on a variety of surfaces, but more specifically for boats and automobiles.
  • The non-abrasive sponge works well and easily to clean and polish in one movement.
  • Melamine sponges are also very durable and will hold up for a large automobile like a motorcycle.

For cleaning instructions on a motorcycle, feel free to contact us.

Safely Removing Stains From A Leather Couch

Leather furniture provides the ultimate comfort.

The plush, sleek and cool material beneath the skin is like a trip to the spa after a really long day.

Most leather furniture has been pre-treated to a certain degree so that there is a barrier of protection when spills occur.

However, prolonged sitting and certain liquids will definitely damage the leather beyond repair.

  • Leather furniture, in all its beauty, can be a challenge to maintain.
  • Leather can become easily damaged by improper cleaning techniques.
  • Knowing what products to use and how ahead of a spill are key to protecting the leather when an actual spill occurs.
  • Most importantly for spills, you will want to clean it up immediately.
  • Leather is naturally porous and if the liquid passes the protective barrier on the surface, the stain becomes very difficult to clean.

Make sure all labels are read prior to cleaning and don’t forget to spot test on your couch before you clean it completely.

For example, anything with an oil base, furniture polish, waxed-based products, or ammonia-based cleaners like Windex on your leather, because they will leave the leather feeling sticky and will discolor it as well.

Abrasive cleaners are also not recommended because these cleaners will damage the surface of the leather.

With all of the don’ts for leather cleansers, what to do when you need one?

Our melamine foam eraser sponges are a product gentle enough to use on leather. This sponge is strong enough to remove grime, dirt, and stains without compromising the integrity of the product being cleaned.

For leather, the sponge leaves no hazardous residual or chemical odor and is mild enough to not damage the surface of the leather. Using our sponge to clean up spills and stains is quick, easy, safe, and effective.

If you have any questions about or how to use the SpongeOutlet eraser melamine foam sponge, feel free to contact us.

How To Care And Keep Your Shoes Looking Brand New

Whether you are a male or female, you know what it is like to have a good pair of shoes fall below “brand new” quality and feel yourself die a little inside.

We’re here to give you some tips on how to clean your shoes and keep them in pristine condition for many years.

Shoes and sneakers can be the equivalent of art, especially when you have your favorite pairs and they cost you a pretty penny!

The care and cleaning of your favorite masterpieces doesn’t have to be hard, it just requires a couple items that you can order right online.

Sneaker experts suggest anything like these eraser sponges, which are great for removing those dark scuffs that you thought were now one with the shoe.

Guess again – these high quality sponges require no chemicals and with a little water, will buff those scuffs and skid marks right off your favorite pair of heels or sneakers.

You can also use these sponges to make the laces from your kicks look crispy and clean again.

One expert says to remove them from the shoe and place them in a bowl of water, or for whites, bleach, and let them soak.

  • After a few minutes, use your trusty eraser sponge to scrub out anything that wasn’t lifted. Voila!

The eraser sponges from Sponge Outlet are also a great tool to restore the bottom soles of your shoes to their former glory.

Some like to keep their soles in pristine condition and won’t wear them outside if the weather conditions are bad.

When you have an eraser waiting for you at home, you can wear your shoes in rain or snow without fear. Just come home, wet your sponge and buff off anything that might have accumulated on the bottom of your shoes.

Wax on, Wax off: Cleaning Your Car with Microfiber Towels

It’s springtime and the sun is shining, the only thing that isn’t is your vehicle.

All the dirt and filth from over the winter season has built up and taken its toll, and now you need to make sure to clean your vehicle spotless to avoid future issues.

Become the do-it-yourselfer, get outside, fill up the bucket with soap and water, and have your wax ready to go on the side.

One tool you’ll need to complete the car wash should be a microfiber towel.

Cleaning Your Car with microfiber clothMicrofiber towels are very high quality towels that are ideal for using on smooth and delicate surfaces that are susceptible to scratches, dust, dirt or debris.

Your car is something that you want to take care of and have look well because its appearance is an extension of you.

Microfiber towels will clean your vehicle best as the individual fibers and unique materials within them as this delicate, detailed clean is perfect for cars, windows, and interiors.

These towels lock in dust and dirt while soaking up water so that streaks and debris are never left behind on the fine finish of your car.

After you finish washing your car you can also use these towels to finish it off with a good waxing.

MICROFIBER TOWELS - RED (30 PACK)When using paint and wax finishes on car exteriors, dust shows up fast and can easily scratch your car because of these small particles left behind by a regular towel.

Also, while regular cotton or polyester towels the dust and dirt left behind will cause streaks in wax, whereas the microfiber towels will trap this dirt and take it completely off your clean car.

So, if you want the best clean for your car, purchase your order of microfiber towels at the Sponge Outlet today!

For more information on the microfiber towels or any product we sell, contact us today!

Wash Your Windows Like the Professionals!

cleaning windowsWhile nobody really likes to do chores around the home, there are some that are admittedly easier than others.

  • Take out the trash? No problem.
  • Make the bed? Not bad.

But washing the windows? That can certainly be a pain.

Just think of all the times you sprayed window cleaner trying to clean it up and inhaled all those chemicals.

Not only does it not smell nice, there were often times fibers left behind from your paper towel!

Now that can be a pain!

However we have a method that is used by window cleaning professionals that will change how you clean your windows! This method will help get your windows completely clean.

Here is what you will need for window cleaning:

Here are the steps to cleaning your windows:

  • First, put a couple drops of the dish detergent into your container and add a few inches of water.
  • Dip the scrubby pad into the water and squeeze out.
  • Then, scrub the glass down.
    • Between the dawn and the scrubby pad, the dirt will come off and there will not be any residue.
  • Once you have scrubbed everything loose, use the squeegee on the window starting at the top.
  • Work your way down and wipe the squeegee off each time with your cloth.
    • The better quality your squeegee is, the less streaking there will be which will leave your windows looking cleaner.
  • You may need to wipe around the edges of the window in order to absorb leftover water and/or dirt.

You will see a noticeable difference with this method and your windows will come out much cleaner!

Make Your Home Smell Great!

Tips for a fresh-smelling home. DIY

Nothing makes you smile quite like coming to a home that smells wonderful and inviting.

Luckily there are lots of simple DIY ways to achieve this that are inexpensive. Check out the do-it-yourself scent recipes below.  You may already have many of these item inside your home.

Taking just a little bit of time to improve the smell of your home can really do a lot for your mood!

See which of these options below works best for your home.

DIY Fresh Lemon Spray for Rooms and Home

A few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your house is all you need to do in order to give your home a great citrus scent. This simple DIY air freshener  is a fresh-smelling clean that doesn’t smell like harsh chemicals.

Directions: combine 1/8 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of hot water and ½ cup of lemon juice.

One you mix your ingredients, pour it into a spray bottle, shake well, and then spray the scent in the air.

Try Dried Lavender in a Jar to give your home a lasting pleasant smell

Combine equal amounts of dried lavender buds and baking soda into a jar.

  • Shake it up.
  • Add three drops (there will be 24 total) of lavender scented oil and then shake the jar.
  • Continue to do this until you reach 24 drops.

You can place the jar in a room to enjoy the scent, or you can add a lid with holes in it for a more subtle scent.

DIY Fridge De-Odorize – Oranges in the Fridge

Many people already have oranges that they buy- so why not use the peels?

  • Save any orange peels and place in a jar with salt.

The orange will give off a nice scent, while the salt will draw in the unpleasant ones. Use this inside your refrigerator to it smelling fresh.

Eucalyptus Leaves

Add a few sprigs of dried eucalyptus leaves in a vase or glass and place around the house. Not only will it smell nice, but it will look nice too!

Easy Lemon Trick for Destroying Foul Garbage Disposal Smells

Take the peels from three lemons and chop them up into small pieces.

  • Place them in an ice cube tray (2-3 pieces in each slot) along with 1 ½ cups of distilled white vinegar.
  • Place filled cube tray  into freezer.
  • Once your new garbage disposer cubes are frozen solid, transfer into a freezer bag and use whenever your garbage disposal needs a pick-me-up.

Not only will it smell good, but the ice helps sharpen the blades so it’s efficient, as well!

Consider the Season

Gather up some pine cones and drop in a few scents of your favorite essential oil.

To switch it up, think about the time of year. Cinnamon is great for fall, floral scents for spring, fruity scents for summer, and pine for winter- just to name a few.

Don’t Forget the Staples

For many, it’s easiest to go back to the basics.

Scented candles, incense, and reed diffusers are all very easy to use and all you have to do is pick them up at a store. Many of them even come in visually appealing options.

Find the Cause of the Smell

Your best bet is to figure out where the smell is coming from in the first place.

It something doesn’t smell quite right, there tends to be good reason for it!

Before adding additional smells into the home, take some time to assess where the bad smells are coming from. Sponge Outlet has many cleaning supplies that can help make it easier for you  to enjoy the better smells in life!

A Guide for Cleaning Your Basement

Basements are notorious for being dark, damp, and sometimes even a little spooky.

But if you clean them up and organize them, you might find they aren’t quite so bad.

Here are some of the things that you will need to clean a basement:

  • Sponges- 1 regular sponge & 1 eraser sponge handy
  • White Vinegar
  • A Soft cloth
  • Dish-washing liquid
  • Bucket
  • Ammonia
  • Drop-Cloths
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Tools like vacuum, broom, dustpan, mop
  • Baking soda
  • Batteries
  • Clay cat litter and pan

Begin cleaning the basement by gathering up your materials and keeping them in one place.

Consider listening to some music while you work.

dirty basementThe first thing you should do is tackle anything that was covered up with dust covers.

Take them outside to get rid of the dust, and then throw them in the washing machine. Wipe down any items that were covered.

Next, wipe down the outside of the furnace and the hot water heater with either sudsy water or equal parts water and vinegar.

  • If you want to make sure that all of the dirt and debris are off, however, we suggest using an Eraser Sponge.

Then, mix together a gallon of warm water, a cup of ammonia, and a teaspoon of mild dish soap.

  • Put down a drop cloth near one of the walls and clean them using the mixture you just created.
  • If you happen to find mold, clean it with hot soapy water. Make sure it is thoroughly dried afterward! Do this to all the walls.

Once you have done that, clean the windows.

  • If you don’t wish to use a window cleaner, you can use a mix of 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 2 tablespoons ammonia, and 2 tablespoons of dish soap. Then, wash the windows.
  • Rinse them and buff them dry.

Next, move your attention to the floors.

  • You can use baking soda on hard floors and carpets. This will neutralize odors.
  • Once the area is covered, you can sweep it/vacuum it up, and then throw it out.

While you have your vacuum out, take a moment to gently vacuum the smoke detectors and get rid of any dust that might be on it.

  • This layer of dust could affect their sensitivity and how well they work.

To make your floors shine, mop them.

  • If you really want to detail clean it, scrub it by hand, starting on the outside of the wall going in toward the center of the room in small, circular patterns.
  • This is also an excellent time to use an Eraser Sponge!

What valuable tips have we left out? What do you do in order to clean your basement?