How To Clean Your Camping Equipment

Enjoying the outdoors is at the very heart of why we and so many others love to call this state home. Good outdoor gear is essential to enjoying the outdoors. Properly cleaning your camping gear and equipment is essential to ensure it lasts longer, performs better, and stays safe and hygienic. Whether you’re a casual weekend camper or a seasoned adventurer, learning how to clean your gear effectively will save you money and prevent mold, mildew, and wear. The team at 208 Cleaning has put together a comprehensive guide on how to clean your camping essentials. Enjoy! 

How To Clean Tents

Start by setting up your tent or laying it flat in a clean, open area. Shake out any debris, leaves, or dirt. Use a soft sponge or cloth with lukewarm water and a gentle, non-detergent soap to clean the fabric. Never use bleach or harsh cleaners, as they can damage waterproof coatings and cause your tent to deteriorate quickly. Rinse thoroughly with water and let it air dry completely, ideally in the shade, to avoid UV damage. Always make sure your tent is completely dry before storing it to prevent mold and mildew.

For the tent poles, wipe them down with a damp cloth and dry them before storing. Check zippers for debris and clean with an old toothbrush if necessary. Lubricating zippers occasionally can also extend their lifespan.

How To Clean Sleeping Bags and Pads

Sleeping bags should be aired out after every trip. For a deeper clean, check the manufacturer’s instructions—many sleeping bags are machine washable using a front-loading washer and a gentle cycle with a mild soap made for technical fabrics. Avoid fabric softeners. After washing, lay the bag flat to dry or use a large dryer on low heat with clean tennis balls to maintain loft. Always ensure it’s fully dry before packing it away.

Sleeping pads can be wiped down with a damp cloth and mild soap. Be sure to dry them fully, especially if they’re self-inflating, to prevent internal mold.

How To Clean Camping Cookware and Utensils

Clean all cookware and utensils with hot water and biodegradable soap. Avoid scouring nonstick surfaces with harsh scrubbers. For stubborn soot on pots used over a fire, a paste of baking soda and water can help. Let them air dry thoroughly before packing them away. Store cookware in a breathable bag or container to keep it clean between uses.

How To Clean Backpacks

Empty your backpack and shake out dirt and crumbs. Use a damp sponge or cloth with mild soap to clean the exterior and interior. For deeper cleaning, submerge it in lukewarm water and gently scrub. Rinse thoroughly and hang upside down to air dry. Do not machine wash unless the label specifically allows it.

How To Clean Camp Footwear

Hiking boots or shoes should be brushed clean of mud and dirt after each trip. Use a damp cloth for tougher spots, and allow them to dry naturally away from direct heat. Consider applying a conditioner or waterproofing treatment depending on the material (leather, suede, or synthetic). Remove insoles and laces for separate cleaning.

 

By taking the time to clean your camping gear after each trip, you’ll extend its life, improve performance, and be ready for your next adventure with ease. While you're taking care of your gear, let us take care of your home or business. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Incredible Camping Spots In Idaho

Idaho is a camper’s paradise, offering a wide variety of family-friendly campsites nestled among breathtaking mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes. Whether you’re looking for a primitive tent camping experience or a campground with full amenities for your RV, Idaho has something to make your family's outdoor adventure unforgettable. The team at 208 Cleaning has put together a list of some of the greatest camping areas Idaho has to offer. 

Ponderosa State Park – McCall, Idaho

Located on the scenic Payette Lake, Ponderosa State Park is one of Idaho’s most beloved family camping destinations. The park offers a mix of tent sites, RV sites with hookups, and even cabin rentals. Families can enjoy swimming at the beach, renting kayaks or paddleboards, hiking scenic trails, and spotting wildlife such as deer and bald eagles. Evening ranger programs are a hit with kids, and McCall’s charming downtown is just minutes away.

Redfish Lake – Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Surrounded by the stunning Sawtooth Mountains, Redfish Lake is a family favorite for its crystal-clear waters and wide range of activities. Campgrounds like Glacier View and Point Campground are just steps from the lake and offer access to fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. There’s even a small marina and lodge nearby with a restaurant and boat rentals, making it a perfect mix of rustic and convenient.

Farragut State Park – Near Coeur d’Alene

Set on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, Farragut State Park is one of the largest and most diverse camping areas in Idaho. It features over 200 campsites, including RV and tent sites, and offers amenities like bathrooms with showers, a visitor center, and playgrounds. Kids love the Discovery Center and the Museum at the Brig. The park also has excellent trails for biking and hiking, plus several great swimming spots.

Heyburn State Park – Near Plummer, Idaho

Heyburn is Idaho’s oldest state park and is ideal for families looking for a quiet getaway. Located along the southern shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene, the park has both developed and primitive campsites. Families can enjoy biking along the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, one of the most scenic bike trails in the Northwest, as well as fishing, boating, and birdwatching.

Henry’s Lake State Park – Near Island Park, Idaho

Close to Yellowstone National Park, Henry’s Lake State Park is a hidden gem perfect for families who love fishing and scenic beauty. The park is known for its excellent trout fishing and panoramic views. Campsites are spacious and peaceful, and wildlife sightings are common. It’s also a short drive from other attractions like Mesa Falls and Harriman State Park.

Bruneau Dunes State Park – Near Mountain Home, Idaho

For a more unique camping experience, Bruneau Dunes offers the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America. Families can camp near the dunes, hike up them, rent sandboards, or visit the park's small observatory for stargazing events. The campgrounds are well-maintained and include water and electric hookups, restrooms, and showers.

 

Whether your family enjoys water sports, mountain hikes, or simply roasting marshmallows under the stars, Idaho’s campgrounds provide the perfect backdrop for making lifelong memories. While you are out enjoying time under the stars, let us take care of the chores. Nothing caps of a fantastic vacation full of family memories better than coming home to a thoughtfully cleaned home. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

The Hidden Areas Most People Forget to Clean And Some Handy Tips For Dealing With Them

Sometimes, you just need another pair of eyes on the situation in order to see the proverbial forest for the trees. In our homes, if we’ve lived there for any significant length of time, we tend to fall into certain habits or routines when it comes to our cleaning. Sure, you can do the dishes, mop the floors, and dust the cabinets, but is your room really clean? In today’s article, we’re going to help to (gently) remind you of the most often forgotten and least cleaned places in and around your home and what you can do about them! If you have any tips or stories you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them. Share them in the comments below or on social, making sure to tag us in the process!

Forgotten Area 1: Behind and Under Furniture

It’s one thing to keep the living room tidy and vacuumed and dusted, but when was the last time you cleaned behind the couch or under the dresser or behind your bookshelves? For each room in your home, make sure that you are not only cleaning the outsides, aka the visible areas of each piece, but also underneath and behind as well. This is an area where a lot of dust and dirt can accumulate. 

Light Fixtures And Ceiling Fans 

While we (hopefully) use our lights every day, we probably don’t think to clean the light fixture housing except on the rarest of occasions. Dust buildup on light fixtures can negatively impact the functionality of the light itself as well as air quality in general if your light fixtures also include ceiling fans. 

Under And Around Large Appliances

We may not think about it during our day to day cleaning, but making sure that you clean under and behind all major appliances is a must if you want to ensure that your house is as clean as can be. 

For The Road

Keeping all of the spaces in your home clean is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

The Unique Cleaning Challenges of Retail Spaces (And How We Can Solve Them)

If you’re a business owner and are looking for commercial cleaning solutions, look no further than 208 Cleaning Co. in Boise. We can help you with all of your commercial cleaning needs, including cleaning retail spaces on a regular basis. In today’s blog, we’re going to cover the ins and outs of keeping these spaces clean and how you can approach those tasks on your own terms. 

No Second Chance For A First Impression

As a business owner, you know that you only have a few brief chances to make a great first impression with your customers. Of course, your products and your staff will take care of a lot of that first impression, however, another huge aspect is the cleanliness of the retail space itself. Today’s shoppers are very savvy and are used to a certain level of cleanliness that can be a high bar to clear. If your space is not in tip top shape, then your potential customers could be turning away and also telling their friends and family to do the same. 

Tips For Cleaning High Foot Traffic Areas

The sales floor gets a lot of use from day to day. You will need to stay on top of cleaning this area if you want to make a good first impression on your clients. Tips for cleaning success:

Display and Merchandise Areas

Display areas and merchandise holding areas must be kept clean at all times. Make sure that you are dusting at least a few times a week in order to make everything look appealing, shiny, and presentable. 

For The Road

Keeping your retail commercial space clean is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

 

Best Practices For Spring Cleaning Your Kitchen Walls

Spring cleaning is often dreaded by many of us, but it doesn’t have to be a slog. If you start early and break things down into manageable smaller tasks, like tackling one room at a time as opposed to trying to do the whole house at once, then you can get a lot more done without being as stressed! In today’s article, we’re going to talk about best practices for Spring cleaning your kitchen, especially those walls and cabinets! 

Gather Supplies

If you’re working alone, then this is a great time to put on your favorite podcast or high energy playlist to help you stay motivated while cleaning. For the average kitchen cleaning job, you will need to put together the following supplies:

Declutter Your Kitchen 

So you can really tackle every available surface of your kitchen, you should start by quickly decluttering all of the items that can be moved, thrown away, or put away elsewhere. This may add some time to your overall cleaning routine, but it is worth it in the end once your kitchen is clean and free of clutter.

Start From Top And Work Your Way Down

In general, it’s just a good idea to start cleaning any room from top to bottom so that any dirt, debris, or suds falls to the next lowest surface (which is still dirty) rather than having to clean and re-clean every surface because you are cleaning a higher level surface after cleaning a lower level one.

Wipe The Walls Down With A Wet Cloth

Using your step ladder or actual ladder, make sure you can reach the very top of the wall in each part of the kitchen. Start by giving each wall a gentle wipe down with a moist microfiber cloth. This clears out the surface dust and grease without scratching the paint. 

Spot-Treat All Visible Blotches And Dirt Patches

Then, take your all purpose cleaner and start spot-treating any stains or blotches. You may need the scrub brush for more stubborn ones.

Gently Wash The Rest Of The Wall Surfaces

Once the visible blotches and spots are cleaned up, you can spray a thin layer of your all purpose cleaner or use a solution of warm water and a tablespoon of dish soap in your bucket and apply that to your microfiber towel and wipe down all wall surfaces from top to bottom. Once that’s done, then you can dry off the walls by wiping everything down one last time with a dry towel. 

For The Road

Getting your kitchen cleaned out for Springtime is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

DIY Easter Egg Dying Recipes For You To Try At Home This Year

If you’ve been watching grocery prices go up and up this year, then you’re probably familiar with the outrageous amounts that some retailers are charging for simple Easter egg dye kits these days. That’s why we put together a list of fun, easy, and relatively inexpensive egg dying kits that you can probably make at home right now with things you have lying around the back of your cupboard. 

A Classic And Simple Recipe

For this kit, you will basically be re-creating the dye kit that you will find at most grocery stores. It provides a simple baseline for your dye activities and allows you to add other elements like drawing on the eggs with a crayon for extra effects. The sky’s the limit!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Simply mix 1 cup of warm to hot tap water with 2 to 3 teaspoons of vinegar in a bowl or cup. Add 20 drops of food coloring to start, you can adjust as necessary. Stir the mixture to ensure even distribution and start putting your eggs in. Each egg takes about 5 minutes to dye and you can make multiple bowls so you can have several eggs working at once. 

Crazy Rice Bag Easter Eggs

For a budget friendly, yet out of the box recipe, you can try this rice centric twist! 

Here’s what you’ll need:

This one is fun and can even be more budget friendly than the first recipe. You don’t even need the vinegar! Take about a half cup of rice and dump it into your storage bag. Then add 10 to 20 drops of your food coloring. Shake the mix to combine the coloring evenly on the rice. Add a hardboiled egg and then gently shake it in the rice mix until it is covered in speckles to your liking. Remove the egg and repeat as needed! You can even add several dyes to the same bag for a cool tie-dye look.

Natural Dye Easter Eggs

You don’t even need food coloring to dye your Easter eggs! If you have any of these common household ingredients on hand, you can start coloring your eggs tonight.

This technique is a little slower, but it yields beautiful results. Boil each dye ingredient separately in 2 cups of water for at least 15 minutes. Strain the liquid and add to a clean bowl. Add a teaspoon of white vinegar to each bowl and stir. Soak your eggs overnight in the mixtures for best results. You will love the natural, earthy tones of this technique. 

For The Road

Getting the perfect egg dye setup together at home is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Signs Your Home Or Office Needs A Deep Clean And What To Do About It

Sure, if you see a mess on the floor or a spilled cup of coffee on the break-room counter, then you know to clean it up immediately, but it’s harder to know when the best time will be for a more detailed and comprehensive clean of your home or office. In today’s blog, we’re tackling just that. What signs to look for at home or around the office to signify that it is finally time for that deep clean. 

Signs Your Home Needs A Deep Clean

As a homeowner, you’re more than likely familiar with having to clean your home constantly just to stay afloat, however, there are some things that get pushed to the wayside until much later. Here are some things that you can be on the lookout for around the house to let you know that it is indeed finally time for a deep clean.

Signs Your Office Needs A Deep Clean

Around the office, it’s easy to get busy with an important client or project that demands the lion’s share of your time, but it is still very important to keep the office clean and tidy for both guests/clients, and staff. Here are some signs to look for:

For The Road

Getting to know when your home or office is ready for a deep clean is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

 

3 Great Indoor Play Locations For Your Family

When you think of cabin fever, you often think of an old man isolated deep in the woods talking to his pet rock while slowly going mad due to his complete isolation, but cabin fever also hits hard if you’re a kid and it’s the middle of winter and your options for playing outside are limited at best. That’s why we put together this list of the best places that you can take your kids to when it is too cold outside to play where they can have fun in a warm and safe environment and get to do fun activities to their heart’s content! 

Wahooz

Not just for summer! Wahooz offers a wide variety of play and entertainment options for the whole family, especially the kids. For their indoor attractions, there are almost too many to name, but they have things like an arcade, laser tag, bumper cars, several indoor “rides,” like the 7D Dark Ride Experience and The Twister, and so much more. They serve food including pizza and hot dogs and other similar items as well so you can play all day and fuel up when you need. Here is some more info on their attractions: https://www.wahoozfunzone.com/play/attractions/indoor/

Leap Years

Boise's original Montessori-inspired infant and toddler indoor boutique playground, Leap Years is a fantastic place to take your kids for some educational fun. They offer a wide array of play structures, games, and toys that your child will love. You can reserve a 2 hour play block on their website or you can even rent out their party area for any occasion like birthdays, or other celebrations. 

Jabbers

While similar to Leap Years, Jabbers offers a place where busy parents can bring their kids and let them play in a safe and supervised environment while either taking a break or working on your laptop. Jabbers offers a full cafe menu complete with coffee drinks, sandwiches both hot and cold, fries, salads, and a great kid’s menu. You can bring your kids and enjoy a cafe atmosphere that provides a place to work or relax for you and a place for your kids to run around and play in a safe environment. Everybody wins! If you’re looking for more information, please check out their website here. We encourage everyone to try their coffee, as it is delicious and they have unique and interesting flavor combinations like their Cookie Dough Latte and their Snickerdoodle Latte which features toasted marshmallow, caramel, and cinnamon.

For The Road

Finding a place to take the kiddos for some fun during the winter time is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

5 Ways To Keep Your Office Germ-Free In 2025

Let’s let 2025 be the year that we are the most on top of our office cleanliness routine! We know that keeping your office space is important for not only your health, but for the health and wellness of your fellow officemates as well. In today’s article, we’re going to cover some of the best ways in which you can keep your office clean in 2025 and beyond!

Opt for Touchless Technology

It can be shocking just how much we touch the same surface every day that 90% of the rest of the office does as well. For instance, the front doors to the building, the railing to go up or down the stairs, the bathroom door handles, the break room coffee pot handle, the fridge handle, the elevator buttons, just to name a few. These places and more are ones that are typically touched by everyone in the office at least once per day, if not more! 

If just one person has cold, flu, or COVID germs on their hands, then everyone else who touches that surface for the next several days will also get those germs on their hands, which then spreads to dozens or even hundreds of other surfaces. That’s why leading epidemiologists recommend implementing hands-free technology wherever possible in the office. Talk to your supervisors or bosses about investing in these items for your office today!

Train Employees on Hygiene Best Practices

Physically installing new touchless technology in the office is one way to help reduce the spread of dangerous germs, but education is another that can be just as, if not more, effective. Every other quarter, sit your team down and go over the current best practices for reducing the spread of germs in your office. These training sessions don’t have to be long and can be added to the end of another regularly scheduled meeting to save time. 

Schedule Professional Deep Cleaning

It’s one thing to have your employees in charge of their own cleanliness around the office, but when it comes to really tamping down the spread of pathogens, you want to call in the professionals. Hire a local professional cleaning team to help clean and disinfect all of the crucial surfaces in your office to help stay ahead of the game rather than playing catchup once disaster strikes. 

Implement a "Stay Home When Sick" Policy

Yes, this type of policy may lose the company some money or productivity in the short run, but it sure beats the alternative when one person unknowingly contracts COVID or the flu and is hounded by their manager to come in to the office anyway despite them feeling a little under the weather during the first portion of the illness. If that happens, then the entire office could contract the sickness, hampering productivity much more than losing one person for a few days while they are contagious. When in doubt, sit it out!

For The Road

Finding the best ways to keep your office clean this year is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!

Top 10 Cleaning Myths You Need To Stop Believing In 2025

As with any profession or pastime, there are many myths associated with cleaning techniques that many people believe without even realizing it. In today’s blog, we’re going to touch on the top cleaning related myths that you should ditch in 2025. If you have any myths that you’d like to share or discuss with us, please give us a shout out on social! We’d love to hear from you.

Myth: Vinegar Cleans Everything

It’s true, vinegar does clean a lot of things! Heck, you can even prepare food in it or even drink it to help reduce acid reflux flare-ups.  However, it doesn’t clean everything. It kills germs and is gentle on our bodies compared to harsher chemical compounds, but it is terrible at some things: cleaning delicate surfaces like granite and marble. For those, you will need to switch to something like pH neutral cleaners.

Myth: Bleach Cleans and Disinfects All Surfaces

Bleach is pretty much the nuclear option when it comes to disinfecting surfaces. Just about every germ, virus, bacteria, or mold folds like a house of cards when it is exposed to this titan of cleanliness, but it is not necessarily a good cleaner. Bleach is terrible at helping you get a surface that is covered with things like dust, grit, grime, or food particles at all. For those tasks, you should use something like a traditional cleaner that is more gentle like soapy water, or a vinegar solution. Then, once the surface is cleaned, you can apply a small amount of bleach to actually disinfect the surface to make it safer.

Myth: You Should Clean Windows on Sunny Days

It seems logical when you first think about it, but unfortunately, cleaning your windows (especially the outside surfaces) on a sunny day is about the worst way to go about it. The sunlight and excess heat actually works against you when it comes to creating unsightly streaks and drying off your cleaner before you have a chance to wipe it clean. Try cleaning your windows on an overcast day or in the morning or evenings before the sun is fully up.

Myth: Carpets Don’t Need Regular Cleaning if They Look Clean

Wrong! Unfortunately, carpets do require a fair amount of upkeep if you want them to last a long time and stay tidy for guests. Vacuuming alone can’t get your carpets as clean as they need to be and regular professional deep cleaning is recommended to get the most out of your carpet’s lifespan. 

Myth: You Only Need to Change Your Sponges When They Smell

Sponges are really good at soaking up large amounts of water and allowing you to scrub surfaces effectively with the help of the extra H20, however, this means that they are also really good at trapping bacteria and other bad things. You should be sanitizing your sponges weekly in the microwave or dishwasher or replacing them outright long before they start to smell off in any way. 

For The Road

Understanding the cleaning myths that still cling on to our collective memory is no small feat, but with a little preparation you can be ready for anything that comes your way this year. Contact us if you or someone you know may be in need of a residential or commercial cleaning service like ours. We can’t wait to hear from you. Give us a call or email us here. Have fun and stay safe out there!