How To: Removing Stains from Your Upholstery

Upholstery and Fine Furniture Cleaning Austin, Texas

When it comes to owning anything - whether it be furniture, flooring, or even clothes - stains can be your worst enemy. Fortunately, there are numerous solutions to avoiding the worst of them all - the permanent stains. First and foremost, timing is everything - and we mean everything - with stains. So before you start to worry about that spill on your couch, let us give you a few tips.

Timing

Remember how we said timing is everything? We’re specifically talking about the amount of time that passes between the spill itself and when you begin to clean it up. If left to sit, you could be looking at a permanent problem not even minutes from now. So, it’s incredibly important that you tend to the spill immediately and remove any excess liquid or grime. Then, you can blot with a dust-free towel to ensure that you don’t spread the stain further.

Why Hiring a Professional Will Guarantee Stain-Free Furniture

Every fabric should be treated differently as they absorb liquids and stains differently. In fact, using home products could end up being harmful to the fabric. This is often difficult to understand if you’re unfamiliar with cleaning upholstery. That’s why (among other reasons) hiring a professional will guarantee you stain-free furniture - their experience, equipment, and knowledge is hard to beat!

Before allowing the stains to set into your upholstered furniture - whether it’s a couch, chair, ottoman, etc. - give a professional cleaning company a call to at least get an estimate.

Often times, removing stubborn stains is not as easy as we’d all like it to be. With clothes, you can easily throw them in the wash, right? Not so with upholstery. Each fabric is different, requiring different techniques to really reach those tough spots. Don’t try to do-it-yourself, leave that to the professionals!

3 Benefits of Leather Conditioning

Leather Cleaning

Chances are - if you own leather furniture - you know that leather is a complex material. Whether we’re talking about cleaning, maintaining, spot-treating - it doesn’t matter, leather is certainly complex. You may already be aware of leather condition and it’s necessity, but there is more than one benefit to using conditioner with your leather furniture. In fact, here are 3 that we came up with!

1. Leather Elasticity

With proper conditioning, leather material is able to better maintain its elasticity. When leather dries out, it becomes more susceptible to wear and tear - or, in other words, damage. Leather elasticity is incredibly important to keeping your leather furniture in its optimal condition.

1. Proper Care Elongates the Life Span of Material

Since cleaning and conditioning are the biggest part of caring properly for leather material, it can really elongate its life span. Without proper conditioning, especially, leather furniture will dry out - there’s no doubt about it. Not only is dry leather much less aesthetically appealing, but it also becomes rough. Rough, dry leather material can unfortunately suffer from rips, tears, or other damage very easily.

1. Treatment is Cost Effective

Now, we know that conditioning can elongate the lifetime of leather material as it helps restore its elasticity - protecting the material itself from damage. However, that does mean you have to invest in leather conditioner. Although, the conditioner (and cleaner) itself is relatively inexpensive, you may want a professional to clean and apply conditioner for you to better take care of your leather furniture. If this is the case, we’re here to tell you that its treatment is still cost effective. In doing this, you’re further protecting your leather material, meaning, you won’t have to deal with any costly repairs in the future!

Does your leather furniture need some attention? We’d love to help! Give us a call, here at The Steam Team.

Should You Stain Your Concrete?

Concrete And Marble Polishing And Staining

Ah, summertime… Where the days are long and certainly hot (but beautiful, nonetheless). The late afternoons that finally start to cool off - calling your name to sit on the patio for a quiet evening. But, there’s something stopping you - the look of your dull, grey patio concrete. Oh! Slowly, your picture-perfect evening starts to go a little south. Environment really is everything, after all. So, what’s your solution?

It’s simple, really. Stain your concrete to drastically improve those aesthetics!

All About Concrete Staining

Staining your concrete has several benefits - the product you use is water-based and permanent (so you won’t have to worry about wear and tear). Furthermore, it’s entirely customizable to your taste. Whether you want a dark stain covering the grey concrete, or maybe something lighter (or even mixed areas) - it’s possible with concrete staining. Last, and of course the most important for most homeowners; you can completely makeover your patio without having to buy entirely new flooring, in turn, saving yourself some money.

How to Stain Concrete

There are certainly ways you can stain your concrete yourself, but if not done properly, there are many risks involved. If you’re wanting a guaranteed way to enjoy the new look of your concrete patio, give a professional a call.

Before applying any type of stain, the concrete itself will need to be properly cleaned, polished, and the area prepared. Then, you (or your professional) can get to work applying the stain over the area. After the stain is the desired shade or tint, the concrete can then be sealed to further protect the color.

Whether you’re going to be entertaining a group of people or simply enjoying the atmosphere by yourself, you can never go wrong with staining your concrete.

How to Prevent Further Damage from Flooding

Water Removal And Restoration

Once an appliance breaks, a pipe bursts, or a natural storm occurs and water begins flooding your home, damage is just around the corner. Unfortunately, sooner rather than later, too. But - don’t lose hope! You can help yourself to prevent your home from suffering further damage. How? Let’s take a quick look!

Educate Yourself

You’re doing the right thing by first educating yourself on dealing with water damage (and properly).

Knowing the different levels of water contamination is extremely important in instances of flooding. There are 3 different categories; category 1 water is sanitary water, but can become contaminated if left unattended. Category 2 is mildly contaminated water that can cause illness (also known as grey water). Lastly, category 3 is known as black water and is the most dangerous type of contamination - including sewage backups and could cause severe complications (even death).

Act Quickly - Like Immediately

The sooner you call in a professional, the more likely you are to prevent that further damage we keep talking about. Water damage only gets worse with time, unfortunately. The longer water is left to sit around a home (or anywhere) the more contaminated it becomes. When you deal with it immediately, you also protect yourself from any potential mold growth around the house - which can cause a number of health problems.

Deciding which professional restoration company you should go with isn’t always a cut and dry decision, either. Ask for references, insurance, and make sure they’re willing to answer your most pressing questions! But, since time is of the essence - don’t take too long and find a company that’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In fact, we may know about one - oh yeah! Us, here at The Steam Team.

Can You Avoid Basement Flooding?

Water Removal and Drying 

Water damage can occur for a number of different reasons - from natural disasters to broken appliances. Unfortunately, basements are the most endangered area in the house when it comes to flooding. Although basements aren’t extremely common here in Texas, for those of you who do have them - you’re in for a treat today!

So, you’re probably curious now; is there a way to avoid flooding the basement in the event of water damage? And, while it may not be entirely fool-proof, there are certainly ways you can prevent this kind of damage from affecting your basement.

It’s in your best interest to have a professional come out to your house and check the following:

1. Secure Windows

If you live in an older home with its original windows, there’s a likely chance that there could be areas around your windows that need to be secured. With storms, unsecured windows are an easy way for water to leak into the basement.

1. Check the Foundation

As with the windows, cracks in the foundation are among one of the top reasons basements suffer from flooding. There are easy ways to temporarily seal cracks in your foundation, but if you’re looking at a more serious foundation issue - it’s definitely time to call a professional.

1. Maintain Gutters

Last, but certainly not least, keeping any debris or other gunk out of your gutters is extremely important to maintain water flow away from your home.

Unfortunately, water damage can lead to other, more dangerous, damages if left unattended for any period of time. Further, the basement is often one of the most neglected areas in the home - leaving a lot of room for error, and - you guessed it - damage. If you haven’t had your basement inspected for current water damage, recently, now may be the perfect time to do so. And, don’t forget to look at your windows, foundation, and gutters while you’re at it!

Keeping Your Office Carpet Clean During Summer

Cleaning 

We’ve experience a lot of mixed weather lately - from rain for days on end, to dry, hot days that feel endless. Unfortunately, neither situation is good for your office carpet. With rain, there’s a good amount of mud and other debris that can be tracked in with the water. But, with the dry heat, there’s likely dirt and other dry debris that can be tracked in on your shoes or your client's shoes. The more debris tracked into and around your office carpet, not only will your carpet become dirtier - but, it can also shorten the lifespan of your carpet fibers (and overall carpeting).

So, how do you make sure your office carpet is kept clean during the summer?

Get the Professionals Involved

When it comes to high rise cleaning carpet - you don’t want someone who doesn’t have the experience, equipment, or knowledge to be cleaning your office. Carpet can hold onto a lot of dirt and grime - leaving your clients with a not-so-good first impression if not properly cleaned.

That’s why we recommend steam cleaning and using a professional company - like The Steam Team - to do so.

The Benefits of Steam Cleaning

Not only does steam cleaning get your carpet thoroughly clean, but it also has a multitude of other benefits. From being completely safe for children and pets, to minimizing any allergens in the carpet (or other fabrics that you may be steam cleaning), you really can’t go wrong. Of course, when you’re hiring a professional too, you don’t have to worry about making any large purchases for equipment because they’ve already got the top-grade stuff!

Often times, carpet becomes dirty before we can notice it with the naked eye. If your office experiences a high amount of foot traffic - do not hesitate to give us a call! We’re always happy to help, here at The Steam Team.

Quick Tips for Handling Water Damage

water damage emergency service

Water damage can occur at any size and severity - whether large or small. Being prepared prior to any occurrence of damage is essential in times like these - so don’t stop reading just yet! We’ve put together some quick tips for the initial acts of dealing with water damage, no matter the size.

Remove Excess Water (if you can)

Depending on where the damage occurs, you’ll want to remove any excess water you’re able to. Most importantly, from wood furniture and upholstery if possible. However, if you can remove water from your flooring as well, it’s definitely recommended.

Remove Colored Materials on Top of Carpets

Whether these materials are fabric - like rugs - cushions or even art, it’s important to remove them from carpeting immediately as with the addition of water damage, the colors could bleed and cause further damage to your carpets.

Move Furniture Off of Carpeting (if possible)

It’s difficult for carpeting to fully dry and restore to its previous condition if furniture is left on top of it when soaked. Unfortunately, for many homes that have carpeting throughout the entire home, it’s difficult to find a place to move this furniture (much less, move it by yourself). If you’re unable to - ask your professional restoration company what you should do. They may have a trick or two up their sleeve to help protect your flooring and furniture while you wait for them to get there.

Move Loose Objects to Dry Ground

This one may seem obvious, but in the midst of the commotion can also be overlooked. If you have loose objects laying around that are touching water, it’s easiest to move them to dry ground to best protect them from further water damage.

Stay Safe

Above all, do not touch anything electrical if water is near - no televisions, appliances, stereos, cell phones, cords, etc. None of it - the last thing you need is to risk your physical health and well being on top of worrying about the condition of your home.

If you’re unsure of how to handle any water damage - wait for help from a professional restoration company. You won’t regret it!

Can't Seem to Get Rid of Those Allergies?

Air Duct Cleaning Austin Texas Since 1983

Take a Look at Your Air Ducts!

You would be surprised to learn about the millions upon millions of people that suffer from allergies. Although Austin may be the allergy capitol of the world, people suffer from allergies all over the world - and not just outside, but inside the home too. Have you noticed your eyes watering more than normal lately? How about sneezing, coughing, itchy nose or eyes? Don’t let your allergies get the best of you - there are many ways you can get rid of those annoying allergens inside the home, starting with a good and thorough air duct cleaning.

Why Your Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned

While they are certainly an incredibly important part of your home, air ducts are commonly neglected. This means they end up collecting tons of dirt, debris, dust, pet dander, and other grime that then gets further spread around the home. Over time, mold can even build up inside your air ducts - causing allergic reactions among your household members.

So, even if the rest of your house is kept extremely and thoroughly clean, if your air ducts aren’t properly tended to - allergens can continue to spread (far and wide) across the home.

The Best Way to Clean Air Ducts

Many times when homeowners hear that their air ducts need a good cleaning, their first reaction is to dust the vents and call it a day. Unfortunately, a poor cleaning for your air ducts just takes up your precious time and doesn’t do much for the allergens or grime that are busy collecting in your ducts themselves.

The answer is rather simple; hire a professional who has the experience and equipment to get the job done right the first time! They’ll take care of your ducts and the entire system too, now that’s a thorough cleaning.

When Should Hardwood Floors Be Refinished?

You may think refinishing your hardwood floors would be an obvious choice - maybe you start to notice wear, scratches, discoloration, or even large gauges among the wood planks. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always so obvious. Refinishing your hardwoods is, in fact, a little more complicated.

At first, you may be concerned with the cost of refinishing your floors - but, before jumping to any conclusions, let’s go over a few things to look for before making that final decision.

Amount of Traffic

With any floor - whether refinishing or replacing - the first thing to take into consideration is the amount of traffic walking on them (between kids, pets, other guests, etc.). With a higher amount of traffic, hardwoods will lose their original luster faster - but this does depend on the type of shoes (or for pets, even how long their nails are) traveling back and forth across your home.

Hardwood Floor Cleaning

A New Look

Refinishing your floors is an exceptional alternative (and much less costly) to completely replacing them altogether. In fact, if you’re in the mood for a big change, you can choose a different stain color and save thousands and thousands of dollars without having to replace each plank.

How is it Done?

The best (and easiest) way to refinish your hardwoods is to hire a professional, for many reasons. First and foremost, a professional has the experience and knowledge behind them to get the job done in an efficient and effective manner. Taking on a job as big as this one by yourself is tiresome (to say the least), skip the stress and save yourself some time and go ahead and make that phone call to a professional company - like The Steam Team. We’re always happy to help!

Odor Removal After Fire Damage

Fire Damage Georgetown, TX

We hope you’ve never had to experience fire damage, but if you have - there’s one thing you can agree with us on; the odor that lingers is no joke! Of course there are several factors that play into the severity of the smoke odor, like the size of the fire, the length of time your home is exposed, the materials that were affected, etc. But regardless of the severity of the odor - one thing is for sure, we all want to know how to get rid of it.

First thing’s first; the best way to begin tackling your fire damage restoration is to hire a professional restoration company (but you probably already knew that). The professionals will know exactly how to handle each situation - no matter the factors. Odor removal is already a part of the entire ‘cleanup’ process, but depending on the materials that have burned, The Steam Team will take different approaches to properly and effectively tackle the worst of odors.

How Smoke and Soot Are Removed

Removing odor from fire damage begins with eliminating the source of the odor, which stems from the smoke and soot left around the home. A professional restoration company will use an industrial-grade vacuum that has high powered suction to pull any oily soot off of your flooring, other surfaces, and materials. This step is vital before beginning to rid of any odor around the home - because if soot is left, that odor will come back.

So, what is the easiest way to remove that lingering odor after a fire? Trying to do-it-yourself may feel overwhelming and seem tiresome. Don’t put that stress on yourself - hire the professionals to do it and  you can guarantee your home will be taken care of.

Dealing With Mold After Water Damage

Water Damage San Marcos, Texas

After water damage, the clean up isn’t finished when all the water is gone. There’s a lot more to water damage clean up than just letting the affected areas dry. Unfortunately, water - especially standing and contaminated water - can lead to mold growth. Mold poses many dangers, including health risks, especially for those who are allergic. For this reason (among others) it should always be handled by an experienced professional.

Where Does Mold Grow?

Mold can grow wherever moisture becomes trapped - whether that be in the walls, carpets, furniture, etc. It especially thrives in areas that are moist and humid, which is why homes become such a breeding ground for mold after floods.

Unfortunately, mold is often not visible to the naked eye, unless you go looking for it. But even then, sometimes, it can be hard to see with an untrained eye. So, it can be difficult to know if you have mold growth unless the professionals can examine the extent of water damage.

Removing Mold from the Home

Getting rid of mold in the home begins with removing the water and drying out the damaged area. Your best bet is to hire professionals to steam clean the entire affected area afterwards - carpets, furniture, any other flooring (or furniture) involved. These professionals will use the right (and best) equipment to properly remove any mold and dry it out enough to stop growth and spreading.

Trying to remove mold growth altogether by yourself is surely a daunting task, so don’t overwhelm yourself unnecessarily. Often times, do-it-yourself products or techniques aren’t as effective as the techniques that professionals use.

Dealing with mold can feel impossible, but it shouldn’t! Especially when you involve the professionals from the beginning. Together with their training, experience, and equipment, they’ll surely get the job done properly and thoroughly.

The Best Way to Treat Leather Furniture

Leather Cleaning

Leather is a special material - very different from others, especially more expensive. All good reasons to learn the best way to treat and care for your leather furniture. Unfortunately, leather can easily wrinkle, tear, scratch, among other damages if not properly cared for. On the flip side, fortunately, there are ways to prevent all of this from happening.

Regular Maintenance    

Just as flooring and other upholstered furniture, vacuuming regularly will rid of dust, debris, and other grime. In addition to vacuuming, however, it’s imperative to wipe the leather down with a damp (not wet) cloth.

There are several things you should always keep away from leather material, too. Cleaners that aren’t made for leather furniture, especially, as they could end up damaging the furniture even worse. Additionally, try not to use any soap or excess water on the furniture because it could end up ruining it.

Treating and Conditioning Leather

To keep leather in the best state, it’s best to condition and treat it at least annually - although you certainly don’t want to overdo it. If you’re unsure of how to treat leather, you can always hire leather technicians. When we say ‘condition’ we’re not talking about picking up any conditioner or oil around your home and rubbing in on your fine leather, either. Make sure you’re only using leather-specific products, because you don’t want to cause any further damage or unnecessary damage to your costly investment.

Preserving your leather furniture also preserves your investment. The better care you take of your furniture - leather especially - the longer it’ll last.

If you’re dealing with extensive damage to your leather, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. Here at The Steam Team, we have certified leather technicians who know how to restore your leather to its original condition.

What is Black Mold?

Water Damage in Austin, Texas

As if suffering from water damage isn’t enough already, there are other risks you have to worry about - like mold. There are different kinds of mold, or rather stages. All mold can spread rapidly, but the most toxic of all is black mold.

What is Black Mold?

Black mold is exactly what it sounds like - mold that is black in color. Unfortunately, because it’s the most toxic of all mold, it does have increased health risks. If you’re around black mold, you may experience allergic reactions and other health problems like chronic headaches, fever, eye irritation, coughing, etc. But that’s not the end of it - you could even experience more severe symptoms (nausea, vomiting, etc.). We’re not trying to scare you - but everyone should be aware of the health effects that black mold (or really, any mold) can have on you and your family.

How Do You Take Care of Black Mold?

Most importantly, you must take safety precautions. Mold is not something you want to mess around with. If you notice any signs of mold or if you suffer from water damage - your best solution is to call a professional cleaning and restoration company.

Trying to rid of mold by yourself can cause more than just a headache - it could begin to affect your health, especially if you’re not careful or don’t have experience doing so. Getting a professional company involved will guarantee that the mold is taken care of. With their experience, equipment, insurance, and safety precautions, they’ll be able to ensure that the mold will stop growing and spreading around your home.

Black mold can be toxic - it can be dangerous to your health and your home. There’s a reason it’s referred to as ‘toxic’ mold to begin with! Don’t put your health at risk, protect yourself and your family by hiring a professional to take care of the mes

The Best Way to Clean Carpets in Cedar Park, Texas

Carpet Cleaning Cedar Park, TX

Each different type of carpet should be treated differently. With shag carpet (or rugs), especially, it can be difficult to find the methods that are going to yield the best results.

Choosing A Vacuum

Most vacuums have small wheels, but these often pose a problem when it comes to high-piled carpeting because they have a hard time pushing through all of the fibers. So, there are a few things to look for when choosing a vacuum; larger wheels and a machine that weighs less work best to move through the thickness of a shag carpet or rug.

Just as you would any other carpet, don’t forget to regularly vacuum to keep it in the best shape and elongate its lifetime. Regularly cleaning your carpet will also keep it from looking dirty on a consistent basis, obviously, but it keeps you from having to deal with a damaged carpet once you begin to notice the dirt and grime.

Deep Cleaning

Since choosing a vacuum is so different for shag carpets or rugs, you may be thinking that deep cleaning is too - but it’s actually not much different! That’s the nice thing about steam cleaning - it’s extremely versatile. No matter the type of flooring, steam cleaning can be used to get that thorough, deep clean that your carpet needs.

Your best bet is to hire a professional once, twice, or three times a year, because they’ll know how to maneuver their equipment through the high-piled fibers. A steam cleaning professional will also give you better suction, more power, and of course - a deeper clean.

When cleaning yourself, keep in mind that many materials and fibers do require different treatment. But - you can always count on your professionals at The Steam Team for that thorough steam cleaning that your flooring needs.

How Inspection Works After Water Damage

24 Hour Emergency Service Austin, Texas 

After your home has suffered from water damage, the entire house and extent of damage needs to be inspected and evaluated. Not just for insurance purposes, although that is extremely important, but also to evaluate how much cleaning and restoration is needed. Typically, there are two inspections - a exterior and interior inspection - to thoroughly assess all of the damage.

What the Inspector is Looking For

On the outside, an inspector will be looking for signs of water damage - obviously. However, those signs look different on the outside than they do the inside. On the outside, there could be cracks or breaks in the foundation or exterior material on the house. If the roof was affected, look for missing shingles or collapsing areas in the roof. Depending on how the water damage occurred, they may look for places that would be leaking on the exterior.

On the inside, they’ll begin by looking at the ceiling for cracks or water spots to determine where the damage is coming from (if not already known). Otherwise, they’ll look around the home to see the areas that have been affected - the walls, doors, and other structural damages. They’ll also look at fixtures and appliances around the home to make sure those are safe and sound. Finally, they’ll inspect your bathrooms, flooring damage, and belongings.

How A Professional Restoration Company Can Help

When it comes to inspection and assessment of damage, a professional restoration company can help more than you think. With their experience, they already know what to look for, they know how to document everything from taking pictures to writing descriptions. Plus, they have all of the equipment you’ll need to begin cleaning and restoring your home to its previous condition.

It’s best to eliminate any additional stress, since the process can be hectic as it is. Hiring a professional company to help you throughout the entire process.

5 More Tips to Handle Water Damage

Tips on cleaning up water damage. 

When you’re overwhelmed with water damage, you may not know where to start. So we’ve put together an additional five tips to deal with water damage in continuation from our blog last month.

1. Take Immediate Action

The longer water is left to sit, the more contaminated and dangerous it becomes. The clock doesn’t stop just because your home has suffered from water damage, unfortunately, so don’t let much time pass before you call the restoration company!

1. Grab Any Valuables

If there are any valuables you can salvage before the water touches them (or even after) move them to the top of the house (if applicable) or outside the home. If they’ve already been affected by the water damage, you can begin drying them out.

1. Exit the Home

It safest to exit as soon as possible to protect your health and the health of your family. Let the professionals begin removing the water and drying out the home.

1. Look Through Your Insurance Policy

If you haven’t already, get to know your insurance policy. Knowing your coverage can help tremendously when going to make your claim. Sometimes insurance policies don’t cover all kinds of water damage - so make sure to read, reread, and even have someone read through your policy with you.

1. Most of All, Be Careful

You can never take too much caution when it comes to any kind of damage - so be careful with whatever you choose to do in and around your home. Be careful around electronics, as they can drastically jeopardize your health if they’re turned on and are submerged or around water. Take caution with your health, especially, because the water can become instantly contaminated (depending on what caused the water damage in the first place). Lastly, be careful with your documentation - be sure to document every piece of damage, take lots of pictures, etc.

Why Should You Hire a Professional For Fire Damage Restoration?

No one expects a fire to start in their home - so often times, you won’t be prepared. The most important thing to do after a fire starts is to call for emergency help and leave the premises. Then, your next phone call should be to a professional fire damage restoration company - and for a number of reasons. We know you’ve heard it from us before, but the firefighters will be able to get the fire under control - and that’s it. They’re not available to help restore your home to its previous condition after the damage. Since water is used to control and put out the fire, depending on the size of the fire - you may be dealing with a large amount of water afterwards too. Both fire and water damage pose all kinds of risks, not only to your home, but to your health. It’s imperative to let the professionals asses the damage before stepping foot back in your home.

How the Professionals Secure the Home

First, your professional restoration company will come in and asses the damage to see the best approach for cleaning and restoring. If there are weak spots around the house from the fire and smoke damage, they’ll board up those weak spots to ensure no one gets hurt. Then, they’ll go through the belongings around the home to see what is salvageable and what isn’t - this is for your safety, to ensure the smoke that’s left inside the belongings doesn’t continue to harm or endanger anyone’s health.

24 Hour Water And Fire Damage Restoration Experts Austin, Texas

Dealing with Smoke and Soot Damage

Professionals will be able to ensure that smoke and soot are properly removed, although it is difficult to do so entirely. Unfortunately, both smoke and soot can cause discoloration to numerous materials around the house - so the longer it’s left, the harder it is to remove and restore.

It’s important to call your restoration team as soon as possible because removing the damage sooner rather than later eliminates the risk of permanent damage!

How do you protect carpet? The Steam Team Austin

The Steam Team

How Does Carpet Protector Work?

By Amy Renken

If you have young kids or pets, you’re probably considering purchasing a carpet protector (as you should). These are recommended for carpet that is in a high traffic area, but also if you know you’ll be encountering frequent messes. Carpet protectors make stains easier to clean and odors easier to remove.

Usually, when a liquid is spilled on a carpet, the fibers absorb the liquid and can be easily stained. However, with a protector – it works to repel the liquid from the fibers. When the fibers don’t absorb the liquid, it makes the stain much easier to lift from the carpet.

Most carpet protectors not only protect from spills, but from odors and sunlight as well. The ultraviolet rays that shine on your carpet throughout the day can cause the color to fade with time.

Will carpet protector work with all types of carpet?

Not necessarily. Since most carpet protector is water-based, it won’t work with a polyester carpet. Polyester is a plastic-based fiber and will actually repel the protector if it is water-based.

What are the benefits of a carpet protector?

Carpet is a large purchase for your home – you want it to last, don’t you? Adding a protector will elongate the life of your carpet because it will protect it from staining and soiling.

• Easier Vacuuming

• Easier Cleaning

• Less Damage

• Longer Lifespan

How often should I apply a carpet protector to my carpet?

It is recommended that the protector be re-applied every 4 years, unless you feel that your carpet is wearing unusually fast. It’s critical that the carpet protector is applied correctly. Therefore, we recommend calling a professional to do it. New carpet should come with a protector, so you shouldn’t have to worry about your carpet protector until it is 4 years old.

If you need a thorough carpet cleaning, call us at 1-800-880-7785 to come take a look at your carpets! We’re only a phone call away and always happy to help!

Help! My Child got Candy Stuck in my Carpet!

Oriental Rug Cleaning

Help! My Child got Candy Stuck in my Carpet!

 

Has this ever happened to you? With Halloween right around the corner, you’re better off safe than sorry! We wanted to share some helpful tips on how to keep candy out of your carpet, but also on how to get it out (should you find yourself trying to remove gum at midnight on Halloween from your newly-cleaned carpet).

The first thing we suggest as a preventative is to simply keep the candy away from your carpet. However, we know this is difficult – especially if you have multiple kids who are running around on a sugar high. So, if and when you are unable to keep the candy away from the carpet, there are (luckily) several ways to go about cleaning it up.

If you’re dealing with a sticky candy, such as gum, the first step is to apply ice directly on top of the spot. Don’t reach for the scissors just yet! Generally a bag of ice will work to cool it enough to be able to scrape it away from your carpet. Then you can use any kind of scraping tool to remove the excess candy. Vacuum the rest of the particles and all you’re left with is a stain to clean! This is the easy part, you can try using any homemade solution to remove the stain, water and soap, or you can call a professional to spot treat the stain. Problem solved – no more candy or stain!

Now, if you’re dealing with a hard candy (jolly ranchers, life savers, peppermints, etc.) you’ll want to treat it a little differently. Hard candy can be softened by water, which makes it easier to remove from the carpet. Don’t try to pull it too soon though; you could damage your carpet. Hard candy will actually dissolve if enough cold water is poured on it – then it should just be a couple large pieces that you can pick out of the carpet, and the rest you can wipe up with a rag. You’ll be left with a stain after the candy is removed, and again you can try using your homemade solution or call a professional!

We hope these tips will help you, even if it is midnight on Halloween – we always want you to have a clean carpet! Give us a call at 1-800-880-7785 if you find yourself in a tricky situation, we would love to help!

How Keeping Your Office Clean Can Lead to Healthier Employees

Stone Cleaning & Marble Polishing In Central Texas

It’s obvious as a business owner - no matter what type of business you run - that keeping your office clean is a no-brainer. However, there’s a lot more to it than just the surface level appearance of the first impression. When the environment around you isn’t properly cleaned, your health and the health of your employees could be at risk. Do you notice a lot of sneezing, runny noses, coughing? With a dirty (or not cleaned very often) office, germs can spread like wildfire. We’re not just talking common allergens, either, we’re talking illness-causing germs. The more germs, the more illnesses - the more sick days your employees will need (which isn’t good for anyone).

Don’t interrupt the productivity of your business with sick employees - keep your office clean!

Whether that means you perform regular cleanings more often or hire a professional cleaning company, both are likely necessary. Steam cleaning is the most efficient way to clean your office as it thoroughly cleans all aspects of the office in a short amount of time (so as to not interrupt business productivity).

What Areas Can be Steam Cleaned?

• Flooring: carpeting, hardwood, laminate, marble, tile and grout

• Furniture: upholstered furniture (no matter the material), leather

• Drapery (Window Treatments)

• Air Ducts

The healthier the environment, the healthier the people! Don’t let germs - or even common allergens - get in the way of producing business or those day-to-day activities. Of course, health isn’t the only thing at risk here, although it’s likely the most important. But, the more your assets (like furniture) are taken care of, the longer they’ll last. So, if there’s one thing you’ve learned today - let it be; don’t skimp on your commercial cleaning company.

If it’s time for a thorough office cleaning, don’t hesitate to give us a call, here at The Steam Team.