Cleaning Tips

A marble island catching the morning light. A quartz vanity cool beneath your fingertips. Stone is the jewelry of a beautiful home — and like fine jewelry, it rewards a gentle, knowledgeable hand.

Most damage we see on stone surfaces isn't from neglect. It's from caring for them with the wrong products. Here is how our Cleaning Specialists approach every stone surface we touch.

First, know your stone

• Marble, travertine & limestone are calcium-based. Anything acidic — lemon, wine, tomato, vinegar — can react with the surface and leave a dull mark called an etch.
• Granite is harder and more forgiving, but it is still porous. Its protection comes from a sealer, and sealers wear over time.
• Quartz is engineered: crushed stone bound with resin. It is non-porous and stain-resistant, but the resin can discolor under high heat or harsh chemicals.

Not sure which you have? Your builder, designer, or fabricator can tell you — and it's worth knowing before you reach for a cleaner.

The daily ritual

1. Wipe with a pH-neutral stone cleaner, or warm water with a drop of mild, dye-free dish soap.
2. Use a soft microfiber cloth — never a scouring pad or the rough side of a sponge.
3. Dry and buff with a second clean microfiber cloth. In Las Vegas, this step matters: our very hard water leaves mineral spots when it air-dries.

For quartz, add two more rules: always use a trivet under hot pans and appliances, and keep oven cleaner, paint strippers, and other high-alkaline products well away from the surface.

Spills: blot, don't wipe

Wiping spreads a spill across a larger area. Blot it up with a paper towel or cloth instead, then rinse with water and dry. Move quickly on red wine, coffee, citrus, and cooking oil — on marble, an acidic spill can begin to etch within minutes.

Etch or stain? They need different fixes

An etch looks lighter and duller than the surrounding stone — it's a change to the surface itself, and it usually needs professional honing or polishing. A stain looks darker, because something has soaked in. Many stains can be drawn out with a stone poultice made for that type of stain. When in doubt, call a stone restoration professional before experimenting.

The water-drop test

To check whether your natural stone needs resealing, place a few drops of water on the surface and wait several minutes. If the water beads, your sealer is doing its job. If the stone darkens where the water sat, it is absorbing — and it's time to reseal. How often that happens depends on the stone and how hard your kitchen works, so testing a few times a year is the most reliable guide.

Luxury is in the details.

If your glass shower door never looks quite clear, you're not imagining it — and you're not alone. It's the water.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority reports that our water measures about 280 parts per million, or 16 grains per gallon — officially classified as "very hard." Those dissolved minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) aren't a health concern, but when water evaporates, they stay behind as the white, chalky film Las Vegas homeowners know all too well.

Source: Southern Nevada Water Authority, Water Quality FAQs.

Prevention is the real luxury

Mineral scale is far easier to prevent than to remove. Two habits do most of the work:

• Squeegee glass after every shower. It takes about thirty seconds, and it removes the water before the minerals can settle.
• Dry your fixtures. Keep a microfiber cloth near the kitchen and bathroom sinks for a quick buff of the faucet after use.

Dissolving buildup that has already formed

Mineral scale is alkaline, so a mild acid dissolves it. For glass and standard chrome fixtures, a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water — or a commercial descaler — works well:

1. Spray or wipe on the solution and let it sit for 5–10 minutes.
2. Gently work the area with a soft, non-scratch pad or cloth.
3. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
4. Dry completely — otherwise you'll simply be starting over.

For a clogged showerhead, fill a plastic bag with the vinegar solution, secure it around the head with a rubber band, soak for about an hour, then run hot water through it.

In the kitchen

• Use a rinse aid in your dishwasher to help prevent cloudy glassware.
• Run an empty cleaning cycle with a dishwasher cleaner or descaler every month or two.
• Descale coffee makers and kettles on the schedule the manufacturer recommends.

Longer-term solutions

A hydrophobic glass coating helps water bead and run off your shower door instead of drying on it. For whole-home relief, many Las Vegas homeowners install a water softener or filtration system — SNWA offers guidance on home treatment systems, and a licensed plumber can recommend the right option for your home.

Luxury is in the details.

Desert living comes with sunsets you can't buy anywhere else — and a fine, persistent dust that seems to reappear the moment you've wiped it away.

Between spring wind events and the Southwest monsoon season (June 15 through September 30), Las Vegas homes take in more airborne dust than homes in most of the country. You can't stop the desert, but you can stop inviting it in.

Start with your air

• Check your HVAC filter monthly. Las Vegas systems run most of the year, so filters load up faster than the package may suggest. Replace when it looks gray or clogged.
• Choose the best filter your system is rated for. Higher-efficiency filters capture finer dust, but always confirm compatibility with your HVAC technician.
• Wipe vents and returns every few weeks — they collect dust and then redistribute it.

Dust like a professional

1. Work top to bottom. Ceiling fans, light fixtures, and shelves first; floors last.
2. Use microfiber, not feathers. Feather dusters move dust into the air, where it settles again. Microfiber traps it.
3. Go dry before wet. Remove loose dust first, then follow with a damp cloth. Wetting dust first turns it into a film.
4. Vacuum last, with HEPA filtration, so you capture everything that has fallen.

Seal the entry points

• Check weatherstripping and door sweeps each spring; worn seals let a surprising amount of dust through.
• Use a quality mat both outside and inside every entry door.
• Consider a shoes-off home — a simple bench and basket by the door makes it effortless for family and guests.
• Keep windows and sliding doors closed during wind advisories and dust storms.

After a dust storm

Give the "forgotten" areas attention first: window sills, sliding-door tracks, blinds, patio furniture, and the entryway floor. Clear sliding-door tracks with a vacuum crevice tool before wiping — grit left in the track can wear the rollers over time.

Luxury is in the details.

The finest hotels don't feel serene by accident. Someone quietly resets every room, every evening. The same ritual works beautifully at home.

A professional clean restores your home. These small habits preserve it — so the calm you walk into after a Hermosa visit lasts all week, not just an afternoon.

The ten-minute nightly reset

1. Clear and wipe kitchen counters. An empty counter instantly makes the whole kitchen feel finished.
2. Empty and dry the sink. Load or run the dishwasher, then buff the faucet dry.
3. Restore the living room. Fluff and straighten pillows, fold throws, return remotes to one spot.
4. Gather the day's clutter. Mail, keys, and bags go to a single designated landing spot.
5. Refresh the bathroom. A quick wipe of the vanity, a glance at the mirror, fresh or refolded hand towels.
6. Reset the entry. Shoes away, mat straight, lights dimmed.

Weekly touches

• Change bed linens and bath towels.
• Clear out the refrigerator the night before grocery day.
• Wipe high-touch points: door handles, light switches, cabinet pulls, and remotes.
• Take out all trash and recycling, and wipe the bins if needed.

The finishing details

Hospitality lives in the small things. A throw folded over the arm of the sofa. A fresh candle. Hand towels facing the same direction. None of it takes longer than a minute, and all of it makes your home feel intentionally cared for.

What to leave to the professionals

Your nightly reset is for maintaining. Leave the time-intensive work — baseboards, grout, inside appliances, detailed dusting, and high-reach fixtures — to your scheduled Hermosa visit. That's what we're here for.

Luxury is in the details.

Whether a guest is about to arrive or you're about to hand over the keys, the principle is the same: the next person to walk through the door notices everything.

For short-term rental hosts

Guests judge a stay in the first sixty seconds — and they write reviews about what they notice. Use your listing photos as the standard: every room should look exactly as it does online.

1. Walk the property first. Before cleaning, check for damage, missing items, and belongings left behind. Photograph anything you find.
2. Strip every bed and replace all linens and towels — including any that look unused.
3. Check the hidden places: under beds, inside drawers and closets, behind shower curtains, and inside the oven and microwave.
4. Empty the refrigerator of everything guests left, and wipe the shelves.
5. Sanitize high-touch points: door handles, light switches, remotes, faucets, and appliance handles.
6. Restock essentials: toilet paper, soap, shampoo, coffee, trash bags, and paper towels.
7. Stage to match the photos — pillows, throws, and décor exactly where guests expect them.
8. Final walk-through with fresh eyes, from the front door inward, the way a guest will see it.

For move-outs

A move-out clean goes far beyond a regular clean, because everything is visible once the furniture is gone. Start by reviewing your lease or purchase agreement for specific move-out requirements, then work through:

• Inside every cabinet, drawer, and closet shelf
• Inside the oven, refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher
• Baseboards, doors, door frames, and light switches
• Blinds, window sills, and window and sliding-door tracks
• Spot-cleaning walls where furniture once stood
• Bathrooms detailed from grout to exhaust fan cover
• Garage and patio swept

When you finish, take a date-stamped photo or video walk-through of every room. It is the simplest way to document the condition you left the home in.

Preparing a home for sale?

Listing photos are a buyer's first showing. A detailed pre-listing clean — clear glass, polished fixtures, gleaming floors, bright light fixtures — lets your home's best features speak for themselves.

Luxury is in the details.

One restores. The other maintains. Understanding the difference is the key to a home that feels consistently beautiful — not just beautiful on cleaning day.

What is a deep clean?

A deep clean is a top-to-bottom reset. Beyond the surfaces you see every day, it reaches the details that build up quietly over time: baseboards, door frames, light switches, vents, grout lines, cabinet fronts, and fixtures. It takes longer, and it is designed to bring your home back to a true baseline.

What is recurring cleaning?

Recurring cleaning is maintenance on a set schedule — weekly, every other week, or monthly. Because the home is already at its baseline, each visit keeps it there: kitchens and bathrooms refreshed, floors cared for, surfaces dusted, beds made, and everything returned to order.

Choose a deep clean when…

• It's your first professional cleaning, or it has been more than a month or two since your last one
• You're preparing for — or recovering from — hosting guests or a special event
• You're moving in, moving out, or preparing to list your home
• You want a seasonal reset (spring and after monsoon season are popular in Las Vegas)

Choose recurring service when…

• You want your home consistently guest-ready without thinking about it
• Your schedule is full, and your weekends are worth protecting
• You have children, pets, or a home that entertains often

How often?

• Weekly — busy households, pets, young children, or frequent entertaining
• Every other week — the most popular rhythm for most homes
• Monthly — lighter-use homes, smaller households, or second residences

Luxury is in the details.