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QUINCY, ILL. -- Cari French and her mom have owned Maid For A Day cleaning service for the past 12 years and like clockwork, their busiest time is always right before the holidays.

"We usually have six plus houses a day," French said. "Sometimes we do work from sun up to sun down."

If hiring a maid service isn't in your budget this holiday season, French has some secret tips that will make your home look like it was cleaned by a professional.

First you need the right tools. French recommends something you may not find in the cleaning isle.

"This is a vinegar and water mixture, it's wonderful," French said. 'It's like a Lysol so it will clear germs and you can clean anything with it, it's safe. You can clean floors, you can clean use it as an all clearing, you can clean windows."

Before you get to those windows clean ... what's above them?

"Anything that's up there, any kind of cob webs will be floating around the specific area," French said. "It will rise up with the air circulate your house and it will fall on your food."

French also says to get creative you don't only have to use that old dish rag.

"You can use a toothbrush, it's not just for cleaning your teeth," French said. "Also a razor blade. You have to have this for any of the built on gunk ... it'll take it right off."

But if you can't squeeze in time for a thorough cleaning, French says to fake it with a little ...

"Orange oil," French said. "This will give it a nice shine."

You don't need a professional to get your home ready for the holidays, all you need is a little elbow grease. But if that does fail, French said she'll be waiting for your call with her dustpan in hand.