Many of us have them, and we sure love them. Pets are a big part of many families, and for all the joy they bring, sometimes they cause some problems in the way of odor. From a buildup of pet dander to messy accidents, pet odor can be pretty strong. Luckily there are some precautions that can be taken before pet odor removal is a serious problem.
1. Vacuum Regularly: If you read our blog at all, you will notice that recommending consistent vacuuming is a common theme. In general, pet dander isn’t smelly, but if it’s left to build up in your carpet for a while, it will start to stink. Vacuuming every few days will pull a good portion of that dander from the carpet, as well as any other allergens your pets may have brought in on their coats.
2. Clean Your Pet: We definitely aren’t recommending daily baths for your cat, but a good brush to pull out any build up, or even a wipe down after Fido has been outside (because who KNOWS what he’s rolled in this time) can help to keep those odors at bay.
3. Clean Up Accidents Right Away: For pet urine, we recommend first placing a folded clean dry towel on top of the wet spot, and placing something heavy on top of the towel for about an hour to draw as much of the urine out of the carpet as possible. If it’s a large amount, it may be necessary to change the towel halfway through. Once the spot is mostly dry, the urine smell can be neutralized by spritzing with a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, and then blotting with another clean dry towel. For solid waste, scoop as much off of the area first, being careful not to grind it in to the carpet fibers. Then spot clean with a very small amount of dish soap and warm water. Blot, don’t scrub. Once the spot has been removed, blot again with clean water to remove any soapy residue.
Of course, for larger messes or ongoing problems, an at-home spot clean won’t cut it. Sometimes pet messes, especially urine, can seep through the carpet and pad and in to the floor beneath. In these situations, professional pet odor removal is required. Treatment options will vary. Check with your carpet cleaning professional to see what the best option is for you.
You may be beginning to sense a theme with our posts for this month–it’s not just about carpet! Today I want to to talk a little bit about tile and grout.
If you haven’t taken a close look at your tile and grout, you may not even realize that it has become dingy over time. Just like your carpet, wood floors and upholstery, dirt builds up in the grout making it dull. Microscopic pores in the grout allow dirt and other contaminants to be trapped below the surface where they cannot be removed with regular mopping. The dirt can continue to build up inside those pores, leaving the tile and grout looking dirty and discolored. The dirt buildup within the porous grout can be a breeding ground for mildew and mold as well, and a soiled mop can actually exacerbate these conditions.
Of course, there are products that can be bought at your local home store made for scrubbing grout on your hands and knees with a small brush, but a professional cleaning can be a quick and effective alternative to have your tiled floors looking like they are brand new again, as well as contributing to a healthy home environment.
A common misconception related to having your carpet cleaned is that the actual cleaning of your carpet causes it to get dirty faster. This conclusion is usually made when a week or so after having the carpet cleaned, spots that were gone reappear or spots that you’ve never even seen mysteriously surface. Other times, it will just seem like your carpet is attracting more soil.
There are some specific reasons that these problems occur. The first is wicking. Many times, and especially in large volume spills the spot has seeped from the carpet fibers in to the backing or the pad of the carpet. When the spot is cleaned from the carpet only the material in the carpet fiber is removed. As moisture from the cleaning itself is introduced in to the backing of the carpet, the spot actually pulls out of the backing and wicks back in to the carpet fibers as it dries, thereby making it seem as though the spot reappeared. The good news is that even if a spot does come back, it can be removed. First, refer to the spot cleaning method we mentioned in this post. When the carpet is cleaned professionally again, be sure to point out the spots that have come back to ensure proper cleaning.
Another reason spots return, or the carpet appears to be dingy overall soon after cleaning is known as re-soiling. Re-soiling is caused by a sticky residue that is left behind. The residue may be from the spot itself, the cleaner that was used, or both. If a spot is not fully removed, sticky residue can be left behind. This residue acts as a magnet for soil, making it seem as though the spot has reappeared. Likewise, if the carpet is not rinsed properly and soap is left behind (as is common when cleaning with grocery store machines) the entire carpet will remain slightly sticky and will attract soil. We liken this to failing to rinse all of the shampoo from your hair in the shower. If you leave shampoo behind, your hair will be a sticky mess. The same is true of your carpet. A thorough cleaning should include a thorough rinse.
While these are certainly situations that occur, it is not simply that having your carpet cleaned is making it get dirtier. Having your carpet cleaned properly and with the proper equipment should alleviate these issues altogether, leaving you with the great looking carpet you would expect after a cleaning.
This is the time of year when weather is up in the air. Snow, rain and wind can come and go in a matter of a few hours leaving basements flooded, and many other problems in their wake.
We are often called in for flood and water damage cleanup and ask for recommendations as to what else should be done when you’ve experienced damage and the loss of items in your home. We’ve done some research and have answered these questions time and time again, so this week, we are going to give some of our best tips to help you in the event of disaster.
Inventory: Something that you don’t always think of, and that should be done before disaster strikes, is to maintain something of an inventory of the items in your home. You don’t necessarily have to do this piece by piece, but knowing that you keep 200 CDs in your basement is helpful. Photograph valuable items or items that you would consider to be a keepsake. Photographs make an excellent record for insurance claims purposes, as well as provide you a little peace of mind in knowing that even if you lose something that was an heirloom, or a favorite piece of your child’s artwork, at least you have a photo as a memento.
Coverage: It’s very important to be aware of what your homeowner’s policy covers. An average homeowner’s policy will not cover certain types of flood damage even if it is related to a storm or disaster event. Knowing where you stand with your insurance company up front is a very good place to start.
Documentation: When you do have a claim, it’s important to document any damage (this is where those photos and inventory we talked about will come in handy) and make only temporary repairs. It’s obviously important to make your home livable again after a disaster strikes; however, it is important for an adjuster to see the full scale of the damage in order to make an informed decision.
File a Claim: Regardless of the amount of storm damage you have to your home, it is important to call your insurance company to start the claims process as soon as possible. Most companies have a direct number for claims, but in a pinch, you can contact your insurance agent for direction as well. This is especially important if you are unable to stay in your home due to the damage. If you are staying in a hotel, advising your insurance company up front is a good idea. Some policies offer reimbursement for hotel stays when your home is not safe to stay in. Finally, it’s important to make a note of anyone you have spoken to at your insurance company, to keep a record of your conversations. Names, dates and extensions or ID numbers are always good items to keep in your file. With the early reporting of your claim, adjusters should be able to assess your damage quickly so the repair process can begin.
Most insurance companies will recommend a specific company or two to complete repairs and many times homeowners believe these are their only options. In most cases though, so long as a company has the proper damage repair certifications, the choice is up to you. As a homeowner, you should do some research and go with someone you are comfortable with to ensure the work is done the way you want it to be done. Often times word of mouth is a great way to accomplish this. Asking friends who have been in similar situations can be a great resource to finding someone who is reasonable and will do a great job.
We’ve all seen them: the articles circulating the internet claiming that after 10 years of use, a mattress weighs two times its original weight as a result of the accumulation of skin cells, dust and other debris. Articles of that nature tend to serve one purpose–they pull you in with a teaser line and get you to click through to read the shocking details. I’ll be honest–I’ve clicked on plenty of those but always take what I read with a grain of salt.
This one though, well, it has some merit.
We spend a good chunk of our lives in bed and we shed skin cells while we’re there. Where there are dead skin cells, there are dust mites–microscopic insects that feast on dead skin cells, multiply at an alarming rate, and leave excrement behind. Sure, some of this is absorbed by clothing and bedding which is washed regularly, but some of it isn’t and it resides in your mattress. Once the mites are there, thriving in the comfortable warm environment that is a mattress, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus and can also trap other allergens inside.
This of course raises a good question: What can I do to keep my mattress clean? All of the elements described above are present in even the cleanest of homes; however, we do have some tips to help keep them at bay and keep your mattress clean and healthy.
Keep a lower humidity level: Dust mites thrive in moist environments and die off when there is less humidity in the air. A dehumidifier in the bedroom can go a long way to keep them at bay.
Turn the Temperature down: Keeping bedrooms cooler will help to keep the mite population down as they prefer warmer areas.
Invest in a good mattress cover: Mattress covers and protectors form a barrier between the sheets and the mattress, allowing for fewer mites to make their home in your mattress.
Wash bedding often and in HOT water: Here’s a fun fact! Dust mites can survive temperatures of up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit! That means a typical cold water wash cycle, while being able to rinse some of them away, will not kill any dust mites. Pillow cases and sheets should be washed weekly while comforters, blankets and even pillows should go through every six weeks.
Vacuum: As a rule of thumb, when you strip your sheets, give the mattress a thorough vacuuming in order to pull up some of the dead skin on the mattress surface.
Professional Cleaning: Having a mattress steam cleaned by a professional once a year will help to ensure that dust mites and their excrement as well as any odors, body oils, and allergens don’t build over time. This will definitely help to add longevity to your mattress.
Dust mites are a part of life unfortunately, but following these tips will go a long way in helping you to sleep easy knowing you are reducing the numbers and thereby reducing the allergens in your bedroom.
Just because your flooring is not covered in carpet does not mean that it’s not necessary to have it professionally cleaned from time to time. Sure; hard woods and other type of flooring provide the convenience of easy spill cleanup, but this type of flooring can also become dull over time, and regular household cleaners just won’t cut it.
Normal wear and tear leads to dull floors over time. Your floors can take on an old worn out look without you even realizing it. Your floor care professional can help to restore the flooring to like new quality.
Hard woods and vinyl tiles can sustain gentle buffing, wax and polish for a deep clean to remove stains, treat discoloration and scratches, and restore shine. the exception to this is a wood floor coated in polyurethane, which should never be waxed. Your professional floor cleaner will have other alternatives to cleaning this type of flooring.
As with carpeting and upholstery, regular maintenance and cleaning can go a long way in extending the longevity of your flooring.
You hear it all the time…”Oh, I don’t allow shoes on my carpet! Shoes will make my carpet filthy!”
Little do most people know that shoes, unless unusually soiled, generally only carry dust and loose dirt that can be easily vacuumed. What you may be surprised to know is that bare feet, or even feet clothed in the cleanest socks, pose a risk to your carpet.
The oils and skin particles on the bottoms of the feet are a big problem for carpeting. No, you don’t see them, and you may not even feel them, but think about it…feet sweat. That sweat, along with the natural skin oil as well as dry skin is easily wicked in to the carpet and attracts dirt and grime.
Really your best bet is to invest in some good slippers that are only worn indoors. That way you don’t have to worry about outside debris (again, easy to vacuum) or the build up of oil from the bottoms of feet.
And when your weird Uncle Larry visits and brings his favorite pair of slippers? Well, you might think he’s not so weird after all. He’s doing you, and your carpet a favor.
We’ve talked sticky messes, we’ve talked pens and markers. Now let’s talk a little bit about craft or acrylic paint. Paint can be tricky to remove. It can be manageable with the right tools, but you have to be very careful. Small spots can be taken care of on their own, but for large scale paint spills, your carpet cleaning professional should be called immediately. You will need some fairly uncommon things for the at home removal, specifically, pure glycerine which can be found at most drug stores, and pure acetone which is found in home improvement stores near the paint.
When acrylic paint hits the carpet, the first thing you want to do is contain it. Left on its own, the paint will spread, absorbing deep in to the carpet’s fibers. Place clean dry paper towels around the spill to contain it.
Next, use another dry paper towel to blot at the paint. Do not rub. Use as many paper towels as necessary to blot up as much of the paint as possible.
Now, place a small amount of glycerine on a clean dry towel, and blot at the paint stain. This helps to loosen the acrylic paint and further remove the sticky paint residue from the carpet. Do this until all of the paint itself has been absorbed. You may need to use more than one towel.
What’s left should be a spot on the carpet, the color of the paint. using another clean and dry towel, apply a small amount of acetone to the towel and begin to blot at the stain. At first, it may seem like it’s not working, but keep at it. Blot, blot and blot again. Soon you will see progress, and the stain should come pretty close to disappearing.
When you are done with the acetone, it is very important to rinse the area of your carpet to ensure the removal of the acetone chemical. Mix a quarter teaspoon of dish soap in to 2 cups of warm water, and dip a clean towel in the mixture and blot the area. Do not saturate the carpet, just blot and blot some more to pull the acetone out. From there, blot with clean warm water (no soap) to ensure there is no sticky residue causing soap left behind.
Place a clean and folded dry hand towel over the area, and place something heavy (like a phone book) on top to further draw out anything that may be left in the carpet. Leave for a few hours or overnight.
If the stain is not completely gone at this point, it should be significantly improved. Be sure to point out the area to your carpet cleaning professional at their next visit so the area can be treated and extracted properly.
A common misconception related to having your carpet cleaned is that the actual cleaning of your carpet causes it to get dirty faster. This conclusion is usually made when a week or so after having the carpet cleaned, spots that were gone reappear or spots that you’ve never even seen mysteriously surface. Other times, it will just seem like your carpet is attracting more soil.
There are some specific reasons that these problems occur. The first is wicking. Many times, and especially in large volume spills the spot has seeped from the carpet fibers in to the backing or the pad of the carpet. When the spot is cleaned from the carpet only the material in the carpet fiber is removed. As moisture from the cleaning itself is introduced in to the backing of the carpet, the spot actually pulls out of the backing and wicks back in to the carpet fibers as it dries, thereby making it seem as though the spot reappeared. The good news is that even if a spot does come back, it can be removed. First, refer to the spot cleaning method we mentioned in our last post. When the carpet is cleaned professionally again, be sure to point out the spots that have come back to ensure proper cleaning.
Another reason spots return, or the carpet appears to be dingy overall soon after cleaning is known as re-soiling. Re-soiling is caused by a sticky residue that is left behind. The residue may be from the spot itself, the cleaner that was used, or both. If a spot is not fully removed, sticky residue can be left behind. This residue acts as a magnet for soil, making it seem as though the spot has reappeared. Likewise, if the carpet is not rinsed properly and soap is left behind (as is common when cleaning with grocery store machines) the entire carpet will remain slightly sticky and will attract soil. We liken this to failing to rinse all of the shampoo from your hair in the shower. If you leave shampoo behind, your hair will be a sticky mess. The same is true of your carpet. A thorough cleaning should include a thorough rinse.
While these are certainly situations that occur, it is not simply that having your carpet cleaned is making it get dirtier. Having your carpet cleaned properly and with the proper equipment should alleviate these issues altogether, leaving you with the great looking carpet you would expect after a cleaning.
Did you know that cleaning your upholstery is just as important as cleaning your carpets? You may not have to have it done as often, but some general maintenance on your sofa and recliner can make them last a lot longer, and keep them looking fantastic.
As with carpeting, regular vacuuming is key. Use the brush attachment of your vacuum and go over all the surfaces, both sides of any loose cushions and even if it is not exposed, the back. Remove the cushions and use the crevice attachment to vacuum in the cracks underneath.
Dust and debris built up in and under furniture can be more of a problem than the same buildup in your carpeting because furniture does not act like a filter in the same way as carpet. Think about a day, with sun streaming in through your windows. You flop down on your sofa, and can see through the sun rays the stream of dust that floats in to the air. This is why the vacuuming is important.
Unless you have severe stains, or a pressing pet issue, upholstery does not need to be cleaned nearly as often as your carpeting. Every 12-18 months, as long as regular vacuuming is performed, is usually fine.
As with your carpeting though, this regular type of maintenance can go a long way in extending the longevity of your furniture.
