WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF PROFESSIONAL CARPET CLEANING?

1/5/2021 (Permalink)

There are several types of professional carpet cleaning out there, all of which are meant to get the dirt out of your carpet.

There are several types of professional carpet cleaning out there, all of which are meant to get the dirt out of your carpet. They all do the same thing in the end, but not all types of carpet cleaning are equal. Some work better on different types of carpeting, and others perform well in high-traffic areas. The best type depends on your home.

Carpet Shampooing

Most people don’t shampoo their carpets anymore, but this is still a viable option. It works like you would expect as you put a cleaning solution into the carpet in the form of a wet foam. The problem with this method is that the foam can leave behind a residue, and you do have to remember to rinse out the carpet after you’ve applied the shampoo. This reduces the sticky feeling in your carpeting.

This method can feel like a lot of work for some people, since you have to apply not only the solution, but you need to rinse it out too. Then again, it is less expensive than the machinery you’ll need for a steam cleaning.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

There are solutions that you can buy at the store that will help you with dry carpet cleaning. You only need to shake these powder solutions above your carpeting. The solution will work to absorb the dirt in your carpeting, so after 15 minutes, you can just vacuum it up. If you’re looking for a quick sort of clean, this is the perfect method. 

This is also a great method if you have jute, coir, or seagrass flooring, which are prone to damage and shrinkage if they get wet. For these types of carpeting, dry carpet cleaning is the best option.

This is a convenient method because there’s very little drying time and it’s easy to do. You may not like the harsh chemicals used in these solutions either, and you shouldn’t try to use this on plush pile carpeting, which can trap the powder mixture.

Foam Cleaning

You have the ability to clean with foam too. Just like the powder, a cleaning solution is distributed evenly across the surface of the carpet, but then it is whipped into a foam. The foam is then worked into your carpeting with a rotating brush. Once the foam sits for a little while, it can be removed with a vacuum cleaner, and since there’s so much foam and very little water, this works for water-sensitive carpets.

You will need about an hour to wait until the carpeting is dry and ready to use again, which is faster than other options. You won’t necessarily be able to get the dirt that’s deeply embedded into the carpeting though.

Hot Water Extraction

You’ve probably heard of this type of carpet cleaning since it’s more commonly referred to as steam cleaning. This is the type that we offer from a truck mounted motor. Steam cleaning works as the name suggests: using steam. The carpet is first pre-conditioned with a chemical emulsifier that is meant to lift dirt and anything else that may be stuck in your carpet fibers. 

Heated water is then pressurized to become steam before it is injected into the carpet. After around 15 minutes, all of this is sucked up with a vacuum.

Steam cleaning works best for the removal of ingrained dirt and deep stains, and doesn’t leave any residue or odors in your carpeting. Especially if you have pets, this is the best method for getting smelly stains out. Your only problem might be the cost, and the fact that you have to wait a while for the carpeting to dry.

Conclusion

In terms of the best carpet cleaning option, it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to get the most amount of dirt possible, hot water extraction may be best. If you have carpeting that doesn’t work well with water, foam cleaning or dry carpet cleaning is better. There’s also carpet shampooing as a cheaper yet more time-consuming option. Which method you use just depends on what method will work best for your carpets. 

Please follow our page, as we continue to explore the benefits of mitigation, and how this approach helps both your clients and your business. Please call us with any questions you have, 715-381-2266. Visit our site: SERVPRO of The Saint Croix Valley

Why SERVPRO Offers Post Construction Cleaning

10/8/2020 (Permalink)

The biggest mistake a janitorial service provider or a client can make is to assume post construction cleaning is like other cleaning.

The biggest mistake a janitorial service provider or a client can make is to assume post construction cleaning is like other cleaning. If you like surprises, you will love post construction cleaning. Post construction is a lot like remodeling, you never know what to expect until you get started. You have to be ready for every eventuality. So what makes post construction so unique?

We Don’t Have the Luxury of Time
When we clean after construction we go in after everyone else is done (translated, we clean up the other trades’ messes) and we have to make the building look like ‘new’, even if it isn’t. This is not as easy as it sounds for reasons we will discuss in a moment. The new tenant is expecting a clean, move in ready space and the building management company is looking at us to deliver. The challenge is that the janitorial service providers are the last trade in the building, which means the original schedule is meaningless and we are under the gun to meet the deadline. It’s not like when you are cleaning on a regular recurring schedule because you can ‘fix’ mistakes and take care of things you may have missed the next time you go to clean. Post construction cleaning does not have that flexibility.

We Are Operating on the Tenants’ Schedule
By the time we get started with our service the building management has leased the building to a tenant who has a time line and it cannot be moved. This is like the first point but it bears further attention. The client determines when we will clean whether it is convenient or not. To handle post construction cleaning well you have to be flexible and able to adapt to changes all on some other persons time table.

Uncommon Surfaces Are Normal
Normal day in and day out janitorial service is fairly straight forward and the areas we clean are not all that unusual (although there are those times). On a normal basis janitorial service providers are not tasked to wipe down and clean 20′ transoms or walls. We normally don’t clean inside cabinets once the tenant occupies the space. We don’t normally remove factory glued stickers from windows, appliances or fixtures. But all of these surfaces must be cleaned in post construction and it must look like new when you’re done. Post construction cleaning requires a broader knowledge of tools and techniques to be successful.

We Clean Substances Left By Construction That We Will Not Encounter During Daily Cleaning
When other trades are doing their work they will often leave behind ‘mystery substances’. Sometimes it is a glue or a sealant or… well, you get the idea. The problem is if it is on a wall or a floor or a window we are tasked to remove it even when we might not know what it is. To do well in post construction cleaning you have to have an understanding of what the other trades are using so that you can clean it up. You need to be prepared to address any stain or mark or ugly glob you find. The tools and knowledge required for this go well beyond your average cleaning.

Other Trades Are Continuing to Work While We Are Trying to Detail the Building
This is what the last guy in has to face. Everyone else has a deadline just like us but our challenge is doing our job while others continue to make messes and undo what we just did. It’s frustrating to go through a building only to get a call back to clean up a paint spill or sheet rock dust that wasn’t there yesterday. If you don’t learn to deal with it you won’t do well at post construction cleaning. It’s just the nature of what we do.

Cleaning Air Ducts In The Saint Croix Valley.

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

In addition to normal accumulations of dust and dirt found in all homes with air ducts, there are several other factors that can increase the need for regular HVAC system cleaning:

• pets
• occupants with allergies or asthma
• cigarette or cigar smoke
• water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system
• home renovation or remodeling projects

Some occupants are more sensitive to these contaminants than others. Allergy and asthma sufferers, as well as young children and the elderly tend to be more susceptible to the types of poor indoor air quality that air duct cleaning can help address.

The rule of thumb for consumers is that “if your air ducts look dirty, they probably are,” and that dirty HVAC systems should be inspected by a reputable, certified HVAC professional. Below are some other reasons homeowners choose to have their air ducts cleaned.

Indoor air quality is one concern that homeowners have when they decide to investigate air duct cleaning. Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home. The system takes air in and breathes air out.

Through normal occupation in a home, we generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work.

While dirty ducts don’t necessarily mean unhealthy air in your home, school or workplace, they may be contributing to larger health issues or harboring contaminants that could cause serious problems for people with respiratory health conditions, autoimmune disorders or some environmental allergies.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling a home is wasted. Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Although filters are used, the heating and cooling system still gets dirty through normal use.

When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, leading to improved cost-effectiveness.

Cigarette Smoke Cleaning

6/5/2018 (Permalink)

While not as many people smoke now days we get this call from time to time. After years of smoking in a home, walls and contents become blemished and develop bad odors. And when the time comes to remove the smoke residue and odors, it will be very difficult to successfully complete the task. Professional cleanup is often necessary. This can be one of the toughest jobs a we come across.   Learn more about smoke removal below.

"How does smoke affect properties?"

Tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds. Smoke sticks to every surface of the smoking area, such as walls, windows, furniture, and in every nook and cranny. It leaves a yellowish-brown sticky substance that you can see, smell, and feel. Cigarette smoke residue can permanently alter the appearance of every surface it sticks to. What’s worse, the HVAC system in the building will carry the smoke residue and odor throughout the structure. This residue is extremely hard to remove, much harder than the soot left over from a fire.

"How do you remove tobacco smoke from homes?"

As tobacco residue is present throughout the entire affected area, removing it is often very time- consuming. There is no magic formula that just whisks away residues and smells. The only effective way to remove tobacco residue and smell is through very thorough cleaning and then sealing all structural surfaces. Restoration specialists start tobacco smoke removal by cleaning all surfaces, which always includes deodorizing agents to help eliminate the very tiny particles of tobacco smoke. The residue is also filled with nicotine which during the cleaning process can be absorbed through the skin and give a person nicotine poisoning. Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a must!

Once the technicians finish cleaning the visible surfaces, using specialized equipment is often necessary to remove the very last of the odors that are not accessible (such as inside walls or joints). This will often involve Chlorine dioxide gas or ozone generators – professional equipment that effectively destroys the smelly particles that penetrated hard-to-reach areas.

The next step consists of sealing the surfaces with a sealant. A product designed to seal smoke residues is required – these can lock in the very last of the stains and odors. Finally, the surfaces will be ready to paint, refinish, or to apply new coverings.

"What about the soft items?"

The soft things in a home such as upholstery, bedding, draperies, and clothes absorb odors so well and are often easily damaged. Because of this, they are very difficult to successfully restore and may require outside specialists. In many cases though, the decision is made to simply replace these materials and items.

If you find yourself dealing with a cigarette smoke odor we’d love to help, call us at 715-381-2266

Duct Cleaning in The Saint Croix Valley

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

Indoor air quality has become a huge topic in recent years. As a result, we’re seeing more and more services and products tuned to improving the overall quality of the air we breathe in our homes and businesses—from air filters, to HVAC filtration improvements, and even to the service of duct cleaning itself.   We get asked about the importance of our service pretty often. Is duct cleaning necessary? Is it worth it? As to whether or not the service is worth it, we can give a resounding yes! But is it necessary? That answer can depend on a number of variables, which we’re going to talk about today!

Should I Invest In Duct Cleaning?

Organizations like the NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) have put tons of study into the importance of duct cleaning in recent years.   Duct cleaning often can have a noticeable impact on the cleanliness of your home or business, and in many situations can reduce many of the airborne risks in your structure.

It’s the question of when you need it most that is important. Due to the nature of air filtration and the habit of home and business owners to keep spaces relatively clean, duct cleaning isn’t needed super often. It’s not, say, a monthly service or anything. But having the service performed every few years by trained specialists that carry the tools and experience needed to do the job right can be a huge boon!

When Do I Need Professional Duct Cleaning?

Aside from time, there are some situations where duct cleaning might become necessary, or have demonstrable benefits to your structure. These situations include:

Routine cleaning. It’s a good idea to have your system handled by pros every three to five years, depending on the traffic of your structure, its size, and the overall cleanliness of the occupants. This ensures you don’t end up with a buildup of pollen, dust, and mold spore that can begin to pile up and reduce air quality and HVAC efficiency. Routine care also helps keep your space cleaner overall, reducing the necessity of other cleaning activities and services.

Risks of mold. Hands down one of the biggest benefits of duct cleaning is eradicating a major risk of mold. Mold takes root in ductwork fairly commonly. And because ducts tend to be dark, moist, and fairly spacious, mold spores can become a serious threat to your home. If you suspect a presence of mold in your home, duct cleaning is an excellent service to pursue.

Vermin and infestations. Many common pests like mice, rats, other vermin, and insects can make a pretty prosperous home out of your ductwork. If you notice signs of these (droppings, odd sounds, a presence of insects, etc.), duct cleaning by professionals can solve your problem very effectively.

Construction and renovation. Home additions, remodeling, and construction can all generate huge amounts of dust and small particles that can get jammed in your ductwork. This can result in poor air quality and lower HVAC efficiency. Duct cleaning is a great service to follow up with after construction!

If you would like to set up an appointment to have your ducts cleaned, call SERVPRO of The Saint Croix Valley – 715-381-2266

Carpets and Pets

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

When you own pets and have carpet in your home, it can be difficult to keep the carpet looking clean all of the time. Cats are generally cleaner than dogs since most cats are indoor animals. They do still shed and spread pet dander, so vacuuming twice per week is suggested. It is also ideal to have a carpet with a medium tone and that has a few colors woven in to help hide some pet dirt from showing. Regardless of which pet you have, it's never easy getting the pet smell out of your carpet. Let's explore a few tips that just might help.

Purchase Stain Resistant Carpet

If you are able, stain-resistant carpet is always the way to go. Consider this option if you are replacing the carpeting or wish to carpet a wood or tile floor. This type of carpet is often more costly but also lasts for an extended period of time. Stain-resistant carpet already has a protective layer applied to the fibers. There is no need for scotch guarding practices as it can withstand being steam-cleaned, vacuumed and spills without losing too much of its integrity.

Scotch Guard Non-Stain Resistant Options

If you have carpet that is a few years old it is best to scotch-guard the carpets. This will put a protective guard on the carpet. It will need to be repeated after a period of time to help the fibers maintain their structure and help protect additional stains from being possible. You should have this done professionally to ensure that every fiber is treated. Missing a spot by doing it yourself can cause stains to get under fibers that are treated. This can cause stains that do get past the scotch guarding to be harder to get out.

How to Care for Your Carpet if You Have Pets at Home

Cleaning Pet Urine

Pet urine is one of the toughest things to battle when it comes to carpet care. In order to get accidental urine spots out of the carpet, you need to catch it rather quickly. Get several paper towels first and step on them, a few at a time, with shoes on. This will help you to pull up the urine without spreading it. Continue to do this until the paper towels come up nearly dry. Make a mixture of 1-teaspoon of ammonia and 1-cup of water. Spray this on the area and let it sit for 5-minutes. Use a stiff brush and make small circular motions from the inside of the spot outward. Use a wet/dry vacuum to pull up the rest of the area. This should prevent the urine from staining and should pull all of it up from the carpet.

Keep your Pet’s Nails Trimmed

The length of your pet’s nails can cause damage to a carpet. When a pet gets excited and runs around or scoots across the carpet, it can snag the strands of material. This can cause an unraveling effect that would eventually leave spots that are bare, disheveled looking or less fluffy than the rest of the carpet. When trimming your pet’s nails it is also ideal to use a pet nail file on them. This removes the rigidity left to make the nails feel smooth again. This also helps to protect carpet and hardwood floors as well.

Use a Hardwood or Tile Entrance

After taking the dog for a walk when it has been raining or snowing, a hardwood or tile floor entrance with a rug that they can walk over first is ideal. This prevents wet and muddy feet from making prints on the floor and prevents the mud from getting on the carpet. Some dogs will play in mud or splash a little due to their size. Keep a towel handy, next to the entry door, to wipe them off. Some types of mud can be more difficult to remove from carpet than others.

Vacuum Twice Per Week

Even if your pet does not shed a lot, dander is still created. This can cause a carpet to get weighed down and have a pet odor to it. To prevent this from being an issue, you should vacuum twice per week. One of these times you should move furniture and thoroughly vacuum. Pet dander and hair can travel, causing it to get on carpet that is underneath furniture. If the pet eats on the carpet or plays with toys on carpeted areas, it is also ideal to vacuum their play areas. Drool and particles from toys can get into the carpet as well. Pet saliva can leave an unpleasant odor over time.

If you’ve got problem stains from pets that are too big for you to handle call the professionals at SERVPRO of The Saint Croix Valley at 715-381-2266.

Cleaning St Croix Valley Air Ducts

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

Your air ducts see a lot of traffic, especially during temperature extremes. But do they really need the kind of cleaning other surfaces in your home do?

Your air ducts may need cleaning if you see these signs:

• An air duct with permanent or long-term water damage.
• Mold, mildew, slime, or other microbial growth.
• Debris buildup that restricts air-flow.
• Dust, cobwebs, or other debris visibly blowing from ductwork/registers.
• Evidence of insect or rodent infestation.
• Offensive odors from your ductwork or HVAC system.
• Frequent bouts of illness or allergies among your family.
• Fiberglass ductwork, which collects contaminants more easily than sheet metal.

"Is cleaning my air ducts really that important?"

During normal operation, dust can accumulate in ductwork that can lead to microbial growth. Duct cleaning has been shown to reduce this growth, as well as increase the efficiency of your system. In fact, in some cases of extreme buildup, it can increase efficiency as much as 40 percent!

How are air ducts cleaned?

Duct cleaning depends on the extent of buildup in your ducts. A trained technician will inspect each air duct, opening all access panels. Once it is determined cleaning is necessary, equipment will be gathered to address your cleaning needs, including brushes and vacuum equipment specially designed to remove ductwork debris. In addition to cleaning supply ducts, return ducts, air vents, and diffusers, your system will also undergo routine cleaning and maintenance as well, addressing system components such as your heat exchanger, coils, drain pan, fan motor and housing, and system housing. This ensures thorough cleaning results as well as the smooth and efficient operation. In all cases of duct cleaning, it is also necessary to address the source of the dirty air duct to prevent recurrence, including moisture, water, dust, debris, pest contamination, and other pollutants.

"Can I do it myself?"

Poor air duct cleaning practices have actually been shown to decrease the air quality in your home. Be certain to protect your home and family by choosing a reputable air duct cleaning company in good standing with the National Air Duct Cleaning Association, whose strict requirements help ensure skillfully performed, effective cleaning.

Want to reduce the need for duct cleaning?

Regularly change your air filter.

Regularly schedule annual professional maintenance and cleaning.

Maintain good housekeeping practices to reduce the likelihood of contaminants.

Ensure air intakes are properly located.

Have your ductwork regularly inspected.

 Call SERVPRO of The Saint Croix Valley to schedule your Duct Work Cleaning at 715-381-2266