Area Rug Cleaning: Why At-Home Methods Can Ruin Rugs

Area Rug Cleaning: Why At-Home Methods Can Ruin Rugs

Area rugs are often one of the most valuable and delicate items in a home. Whether it’s a handmade wool rug, an oriental piece, or a modern synthetic rug, each type requires specific care to maintain its appearance and structure.

Many homeowners attempt to clean rugs using household products or rental machines. While this may seem convenient, at-home rug cleaning methods can sometimes cause more harm than good.

Understanding the risks of DIY rug cleaning helps homeowners protect their investment and avoid permanent damage.

Why Area Rugs Require Special Care

Unlike wall-to-wall carpets, area rugs are often made with specialized materials and construction techniques.

Common rug types include:

• wool rugs
• silk rugs
• oriental and Persian rugs
• synthetic fiber rugs
• handwoven or antique rugs

Each of these materials reacts differently to water, cleaning solutions, and agitation. Using the wrong method can weaken fibers, fade colors, or damage the rug backing.

Homes in Austin, Oak Hills, and Tarrytown often feature decorative rugs that require careful maintenance.

Common DIY Rug Cleaning Methods

Homeowners often use a variety of at-home cleaning approaches.

These may include:

• scrubbing with household cleaners
• using rental carpet cleaning machines
• applying store-bought stain removers
• pressure washing rugs outdoors
• soaking rugs with water

While these methods may remove surface dirt, they often fail to address deeper issues—and can create new problems.

How DIY Cleaning Can Damage Rugs

Over-Wetting the Rug

One of the most common mistakes is using too much water.

Excess moisture can:

• penetrate the rug backing
• cause mold or mildew growth
• weaken the foundation of the rug

Rugs that do not dry properly may develop odors or structural damage.

Color Bleeding and Fading

Many rugs, especially handmade or wool rugs, use natural dyes.

Improper cleaning can cause:

• colors to bleed into each other
• fading of vibrant patterns
• permanent discoloration

This is particularly common when using harsh cleaning chemicals.

Fiber Damage

Aggressive scrubbing or incorrect cleaning tools can damage delicate fibers.

This may lead to:

• fraying edges
• rough or uneven texture
• thinning of the rug over time

Once fibers are damaged, they cannot be restored.

Residue Buildup

Household cleaning products often leave behind residue inside rug fibers.

This residue can:

• attract more dirt over time
• make rugs feel sticky or stiff
• cause faster re-soiling

Instead of cleaning the rug, it can actually make it dirtier in the long run.

Why Professional Rug Cleaning Is Safer

Professional rug cleaning uses specialized techniques designed for different rug types.

The process typically includes:

• fiber identification and inspection
• dust removal before washing
• controlled washing methods
• safe cleaning solutions
• proper drying techniques

These steps ensure that the rug is cleaned thoroughly without damage.

Benefits of Professional Area Rug Cleaning

Choosing professional rug cleaning offers several advantages.

Benefits include:

• deep removal of dirt and allergens
• protection of delicate fibers
• preservation of colors and patterns
• elimination of odors and bacteria
• extended rug lifespan

Professional cleaning helps maintain both the beauty and value of rugs.

When Rugs Should Be Professionally Cleaned

Most rugs should be professionally cleaned every 1–3 years, depending on use.

More frequent cleaning may be needed for:

• homes with pets
• high-traffic areas
• households with children
• allergy-sensitive environments

Homes in Round Rock and Cedar Park may experience additional dust buildup due to outdoor conditions.

How to Maintain Rugs Between Cleanings

Homeowners can protect their rugs by following simple maintenance practices.

Helpful tips include:

• vacuuming regularly using proper settings
• rotating rugs to prevent uneven wear
• cleaning spills immediately
• using rug pads for protection

These steps help extend the time between professional cleanings.

FAQ: Area Rug Cleaning

Q- Can I clean my rug at home?

A- Basic maintenance is fine, but deep cleaning should be handled professionally to avoid damage.

Q- Are all rugs safe to wash?

A- No. Some rugs require dry cleaning or specialized methods depending on the material.

Q- Can DIY cleaning remove deep dirt?

A- Most at-home methods only remove surface dirt and do not reach deep contaminants.

Q- Why do rugs smell after cleaning at home?

A- Improper drying can trap moisture, leading to mold or mildew odors.

Q- Is professional rug cleaning worth it?

A- Yes. It helps preserve the rug’s condition and extends its lifespan.

Why The Steam Team?

• Serving Austin since 1983
• Specialized area rug cleaning services
• Advanced cleaning and drying equipment
• Experienced technicians
• Trusted across Central Texas

Related Blogs

• How Often Should Area Rugs Be Cleaned
• Wool vs Synthetic Rug Care
• Pet Odors in Area Rugs
• Carpet Cleaning vs Rug Cleaning

Schedule Area Rug Cleaning in Austin

Central Austin Cleaning Office

1904 W Koenig Ln
Austin, TX 78756

📞 512-450-7199

North Austin Restoration Office

9901 Burnet Rd
Austin, TX 78758

📞 512-451-8326

The Do's and Don'ts of area rug Cleaning in Austin, Texas

Area Rug CLeaning Austin TExas

Owning a home is a lot of work, and when you’re cleaning, it can be difficult to clean every little area of your Austin, Texas home. One of the frequently overlooked places to clean are area rugs. So if you’ve neglected to clean your oriental area rugs for a while, you might be wondering, what is the right way to clean your area rugs in Austin?

Don’t Do This

A lot of people think they just shouldn’t have to area rugs their drapes at all, and they’ll just keep them for a couple years or so until they get old, and then throw them out. But there’s a significant fact that some people overlook; the cost of area rugs cleaning is far less than the cost of replacing the area rugs altogether. Every two to four years, depending on various conditions in the home, drapery will start to show signs of soil. Having the drapes properly cleaned instead can double, or even triple, the lifespan of your drapes, saving you money in the long run.

Do This Instead

Now how does proper cleaning work? You can’t just throw your area rugs in the laundry machine unfortunately, due to the fabric most area rugs are made with. But when you call in The Steam Team of Austin, our professional and highly trained technicians will inspect the oriental area rugs to determine the exact cleaning method appropriate for your specific material. They may use either a dry cleaning process or a low moisture hot water extraction method to completely clean your oriental area rugs. Even the most delicate of fabrics will receive the proper care from our technicians. At the end of the process, all dirt, stains and debris will be fully removed from the drapes, and they’ll be left to dry. We have an area rug cleaning facility located at 9901 Burnet Rd. Austin, Texas.

Steam Team Cleaning Professionals

Hopefully we’ve shown you that you can save that old fabric rather than having to throw it out. Our professional technicians are always ready for your call. For more information on our many other services, visit The Steam Team website. We are Austin’s cleaning service experts. since 1983! 40 years of cleaning in Austin, Texas makes us the leader in the cleaning and restoration industry.

Important Advice On Avoiding Fire Damage In Your Home

Here at The Steam Team, we help people all around the Austin area with our fire damage restoration service. If a fire emergency ever occurs in your home or business, our professional technicians can help you get your home cleaned and restored as quickly as possible. However, if you take the right precautions you won’t ever need to make that call. We want to talk about some important advice when it comes to keeping your home safe; dryer vent cleaning.

Periodic Cleaning

Dryer vents must be periodically cleaned or your vents can cause highly flammable fire damage. Not only is a dirty dryer vent dangerous, but also impacts the efficiency of your dryer. Excessive build-up of lint and debris will force the machine to use more energy, which will cost you more money in the long run. 

Steam Team Inspection and Cleaning

To avoid these problems, it’s recommended that you have your dryer vents inspected and cleaned once every year. The Steam Team can handle that for you. Our professional will give your machine a full inspection and clean all vent ducting and all connected systems, keeping your home safe from fire damage and keeping your dryer running properly.

Why The Steam Team?

We are an Austin, Texas based company with the most experienced technicians available in Central Texas. Our technicians will be ready for your call, to utilize the most powerful and effective dryer vent cleaning equipment available. And we can handle not only residential, but also commercial dryer vent cleaning, and we can offer you fair pricing backed with a guarantee! So if you want to avoid fire damage and you haven’t had your dryer vents cleaned yet this year, call in The Steam Team! For more information on dryer vent cleaning and the other services we offer, visit The Steam Team website.

Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning Hardwood Flooring

There are many benefits to installing (or uncovering) hardwood floors in your home- from its longevity to its durability; it’s hard to go wrong with hardwoods. Refinishing your flooring is inevitable with how long hardwood floors can last. So, whether you’re facing that project now or later, we’ve got the details on refinishing hardwood flooring (and we’re here to share them with you). It can be daunting, so we’ve broken the process up into various steps for you below.

Cleaning and Set-up

Before you begin, it’s important to check the entire floor first. If there are any gaps in the floor where nails are visible, don’t bother trying to refinish it at all. You’ll also want to take a look at the thickness of the wood. Some newer hardwood floors are only about ¼ inch thick. If you have a floor like this, it can’t be sanded at all or you might wear through the whole floor!

First thing’s first- if you’re removing carpeting or another flooring on top of your hardwoods you’ll want to cut the flooring into sections to remove it. Then clean the floor thoroughly, removing as much dirt and debris as possible. Make sure there are no protruding nail heads that could tear the sandpaper.

Sanding

Cover up any doors or areas of the house that dust could fly into while you’re sanding. Then, attach a 20-grit sandpaper to your sander and begin sanding the entire floor thoroughly. Then, go over your work again with the edge sander, and finally with a power buffer. After you’ve sanded the entire floor three times, use an industrial-grade vacuum to get rid of the dust particles.

The Finish

Now that you’re done sanding and cleaning, it’s time for the big finish. Choose whatever sealant you prefer for the job, and start applying it all around the perimeter of the room. When the perimeter is finished, apply the sealant to the rest of the floor. Allow the sealant to dry for 24 hours, buff it with the power buffer, vacuum, and then finally, apply a second coat of sealant with the same procedure as before. Wa-la! You’re done!

While DIY’s can often be effective and save you money, it’s also important to remember that no one can do the job quite like The Steam Team!

Steam Cleaning To Rid Your Home of Allergies

You may already know that keeping your home clean is one of the best ways to combat allergy symptoms, but it’s not just about whether you clean or not. The products and methods you use in your home cleaning can also affect allergy symptoms, and some cleaning products may even make the symptoms worse! So, what products and methods are worst and best when it comes to ridding your home of allergies? We’re here to tell you about it on our blog today.

Chemical Cleaners

While common store-bought chemical cleaners are generally pretty good at disinfecting surfaces, they may not be the best for allergies of people living in the home. Many cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can aggravate and even worsen allergy symptoms. For those in your home suffering from frequent allergy or respiratory issues, pay attention to what’s in the chemical cleaners you buy.

Steam Cleaners

If you’re looking for the most allergy-safe cleaning method on the market, steam cleaners are the obvious choice. While other cleaners may contain chemicals that could potentially aggravate allergies, steam cleaners use only water and heat. To further combat allergies, they also get rid of dust mites and pet dander deep inside of your carpets that vacuuming normally can’t reach. On top of being the best choice for ridding your home of allergies, steam cleaners are also great at getting rid of any mold, bacteria, dirt or harmful viruses on the surfaces of your home.

The Steam Team Professional Cleaning

Steam cleaning is a great way to keep your home clean and safe from allergy-inducing substances- but professional steam cleaning is even more effective at getting the job done and more convenient for you! Our professional technicians can quickly clean any surface in your home with high-powered steam cleaners and other professional equipment. For more information on how we can help you rid your home of allergies with the power of carpet cleaning, please visit The Steam Team website.

Here's Why You Shouldn't Just Throw Out Your Old Textiles

When it's time to clean your home, you probably pay lots of attention and make sure everything is properly cleaned before you’re finished. But are you overlooking your drapes? Many people don’t clean them at all, and instead just throw them out after they’ve become dirty. If you’re doing this, you should know that you can save yourself money by having your drapes professionally cleaned instead.

When To Have Your Drapes Cleaned

Most people throw their drapery out prematurely, but even those who try to clean them often try too late. Many people wait until the drapes show visible signs of dirt and deterioration, but that can take up to six years. In reality, drapes should be cleaned every two years or so to maintain their appearance. Paying for professional drapery cleaning every two years may seem like a burden, but if you choose The Steam Team, it’ll be far less than the cost of replacing your drapes completely. With professional cleaning you can double or even triple the lifespan of your drapes!

The Steam Team

When you call us in for professional drapery cleaning, our technicians will identify your specific fabric of drapery and choose only the best products and methods to give your drapes the very best clean. For the more delicate fabrics, we’ll use our low moisture hot water extraction method or a dry cleaning process. For more information on how we can help with your drapery, or to see our many other services, just visit The Steam Team website.

The Best Tips for Keeping Carpet and Rug Clean

Keeping carpet clean and in good condition is no easy job! But with a few easy tips and tricks, The Steam Team can help you keep your carpet looking its best. So without further ado, here are five great tips for keeping your carpet clean! 

Use a Welcome Mat

Welcome mats serve three purposes: they greet you and your house guests, add a touch of decoration to your porch, and most importantly, they help to catch dirt, sand, mud, etc that’s on your shoes! How convenient is that? If we were you, we’d get ourselves a doormat! 

Remove Shoes at the Door

It can be helpful to remove your shoes altogether once you’ve entered your home. You can keep a decorative basket near the entrances to your home for the shoes to be tossed into. Then, the only thing to make contact with your clean and pristine carpet are your clean, fresh socks!

Vacuum Regularly

Vacuuming is, of course, important when it comes to keeping carpet clean. It’s the easiest way to extract dirt and dust from your carpeting! But unfortunately, sometimes our vacuum cleaners just can’t get it all and we need to go to greater lengths to clean our carpet. That’s when the pro’s step in! 

Collect Pet Hair

Pet hair, it’s a plight, for sure! It often becomes entangled in the fibers of our carpeting, and sometimes the vacuum cleaner can’t pull it up. In these cases, it could be helpful to use a broom to essentially sweep the pet hair off of your carpet, and into a pile that you can easily pick up and remove. 

Call in the Professionals

Occasionally, call in the professionals to care for your carpet! The Steam Team is a team of trained professionals who are standing by 24/7 to help you out! So go ahead, give us a call today! Your carpeting will look like brand new when we’re finished.

3 Ways to Keep Carpet from Staining

Carpet is cozy and cushiony; why wouldn’t we want it in our home? Well, one reason is that it can stain easily, but there are several things we can do to prevent staining and discoloration! And when times get tough, you can always rely on the professionals to remove the stain; The Steam Team specializes in that, you know! Below are three quick and simple tips for preventing staining on your carpeting!

Remove Your Shoes at the Door

Let’s start with the basics. It always helps to just remove your shoes at the door. This means that your carpet doesn’t even have the opportunity to come in contact with the dirt, sand, and mud that’s on your shoes! Place a basket or mat near the entrances to your home, and ask guests to remove their shoes, as well.

Clean Up Spills Immediately

It’s always important to clean up spills and accidents as soon as you spot them! The sooner you get to a spill, the less likely it is to stain! Whether you’re using a commercial cleaner or a homemade remedy, just make sure you tackle that stain immediately!

Call in the Professionals

Every once in a while, make you sure you give your carpeting the royal treatment by calling in the professionals! A professional cleaning and restoration company, like The Steam Team, can come out, inspect your flooring for stains and discoloration, and clean it right up! You’ll be floored by our results!

The Steam Team is a group of trained professionals who can help you remove virtually any stain from your carpeting! Just give us a call and we’ll come out and give you a hand! And that’s not all we specialize in; log online to our website today to view our list of services. You might find yourself in need of more than one service!

Do You Live in A Highrise?

Do you live in a high rise? Does it need a thorough, professional, deep cleaning? Well fortunately, The Steam Team can help out with that! Here are just a few areas in your high rise that we can clean up and restore to original condition! Hopefully the next time you need a deep cleaning, you’ll call in The Steam Team! We’re happy to help out!

Carpet

Carpet cleaning is no joke, friends! It has to be done regularly and carefully to thoroughly remove dirt, dust, allergens, and other grime from its fibers. We can steam clean your carpet back to its original condition… just say the word!

Tile and Grout

Only a steam cleaner can reach deep within the pores of grout to extract unwanted grime and clean up discoloration! If your high rise has tile and grout in the bathroom, kitchen, or anywhere, give us a call. We’ll have it cleaned up in no time.

Drapes

Finally, rid your environment of dust and allergens by having your drapes cleaned by The Steam Team! Drapery cleaning is a cinch when you’re The Steam Team; we won’t even have to remove them from where they hang, most likely!

Leather Furniture

From dry dusting, to vacuuming, to conditioning, we can certainly take care of your leather furniture! It could be time to revamp the look of your entire living room!

Upholstery

Does your upholstery have a stain or three? Let us take over; you’ll be amazed at what we can extract from your upholstery. It’ll (hopefully) look like brand new when we’re finished! No more hiding that stain with a blanket, or chair cover!

So you see friends, The Steam Team can be enormously helpful when it comes time to deep clean your high rise! So don’t hesitate; give us a call today! We’ll be out in no time, and everything will look like new when we’re finished with the job!

Do You Live in A High Rise? We've Got the Best Cleaning Solution for You

Do you live in a high rise building, or work in one? We can help you keep it clean and pristine- with ease! Check out these five areas we can effortlessly clean with a steam cleaner! Your high rise is absolutely no problem for us!

Ceiling Fans

If you have ceiling fans in your high rise, you know they need to be cleaned, but they’re often neglected. Ceiling fans trap copious amounts of dust. And the worst part is that while the fan is running, you can’t really see the dust! So do us a favor: stop your fan, and let us dust and steam clean it! It’ll look brand new!

Window Treatments and Blinds

The Steam Team can steam clean your window treatments and blinds without even having to remove them! It’s a super efficient way of cleaning. Not to mention, you won’t have to fuss with the hassle of doing it yourself!

Carpeting

Dirt, dust, debris, crumbs… our carpet can hold it all, and conceal it all very well. Let The Steam Team tackle your carpet today by steam cleaning it down its very core! Using nothing but pressurized steam and hot, hot water, we’ll extract all of the debris from your carpeting and leave it looking as good as new.

Surfaces

Have you wiped down your surfaces yet? Well it’s time to do some spring cleaning in your high rise! The Steam Team can steam clean just about anything- including desk and end table surfaces. Just leave it to us; we’ll get the job done correctly the first time.

Natural Stone Flooring

It’s not just carpeting we steam clean. If your high rise has natural stone flooring or tile, we’ve got it taken care of! No more dirty and unsightly spots. It’ll look like brand new flooring when we’re finished thoroughly cleaning it.

So don’t forget, friends! The Steam Team is always here, waiting to help you out! And we have the best cleaning solutions for you and your high rise this springtime.

Back to the Basics: A Quick Guide to Cleaning

So you’ve given up your traditional methods of cleaning and have decided to go with steam cleaning! First of all, we’re proud of you! Second of all, let’s go back to the basics of steam cleaning. What’s it all about? Well, here are five facts about steam cleaning that are bound to get you even more excited about your new endeavor!

Steam Cleaning is Completely Safe

Steam cleaning is absolutely, entirely safe for your children, pets, other family members, and the environment in general. It doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals at all. That means that no potentially harmful substances are used while we clean, and we won’t leave behind any residue!

Steam Cleaning Saves You Money

That’s right! Steam cleaning saves you money. You won’t need to purchase any cleaning supplies if you’re steam cleaning- since a steam cleaning machine won’t use them! You’ll love

having that extra cash stowed away for a rainy day.

Steam Cleaning REALLY Cleans

Finally, a clean that you can trust! You’ve seen the before and after pictures, right? Then you know that steam cleaning really gets at that grime and dirt. Nothing gets past a professional grade steam cleaning machine!

Steam Cleaning Kills Germs and Bacteria

Bring it on, springtime. Bring all of your germs and bacteria. Let us fight them away with our professional grade steam cleaning machine! With high pressurized water and intense heat, we can take care of germs and bacteria in bathrooms, kitchens, entry ways- wherever!

Steam Cleaning Eradicates Allergens

Having trouble this allergy season? We can’t blame you; Austin is the allergy capital of the nation! But before you throw in the towel and succumb to runny, stuffy noses forever- consider steam cleaning. It does wonders for eradicating allergens like dust, dander, and pollen!

Contact The Steam Team today if you’re in need of a serious cleaning! Or log online and view our list of services here!

3 Dusty Places to Take Care of this Spring

Are you spring cleaning this year? We hope so! Not just because it’s a good practice in general, but because The Steam Team can help you out! Whether you’re looking to have your air ducts professionally cleaned, or your floors steam cleaned, we’re here for you. We can cover almost anything with our professional-grade steam cleaner!

Air Ducts

Air ducts are notorious for hoarding dust, dirt, dander, and other allergens. If you’re having trouble with your allergies this season (even indoors), then it may be time to check out your air ducts and have them professionally cleaned. You won’t regret it! And how often do you need to do this, anyway? Let’s just get it over with.

Underneath Furniture

When was the last time you moved your couch and checked underneath for dust, dirt, and pet hair? It’s probably safe to say that this doesn’t happen very often. It may be a pain to physically move your furniture around to make sure everything is cleaned thoroughly, but we promise: the results are well worth the effort.

Ceiling Fans

Try this: turn off your ceiling fan (because we know it runs almost constantly). Now, what do you see? Dust? More dust? So much dust you forgot what color the blades were? That’s okay. Ceiling fan blades can be steam cleaned! So after you’ve dusted, give The Steam Team a call; we’ll be able to reach those tight spots and give your fan the thorough clean that it deserves.

And there you have it, friends! Now, don’t forget: there are plenty of other dusty areas around your home or office, so don’t neglect those! And also don’t hesitate to call in The Steam Team, no matter what you need done around your home. We’re not just here for spring cleaning! We can help with cleanup and restoration, too!

How to Protect Your Property From Fire & Smoke Damage

While we always hope the holidays are the happiest of times, the past has proven that the holidays are also often filled with fires, unfortunately. The dry air coupled with Christmas trees indoors and lights all around the house- there are numerous reasons that house fires increase around this time of year. Even further, when fire damages our property, it leaves behind a trail of smoke, soot, and ash that can permanently destroy our furniture and possessions. In most instances, it may be your first instinct to rush directly to the fire itself- but we always want to stress that you be extremely careful. Where there’s fire involved, it’s always best to call in the professionals (both to put out the fire and to clean up the damage).

After the calls have been made, you can begin the cleanup process; just be sure to follow these few safety guidelines!

Protect Yourself

First things first: DO NOT enter the scene without wearing a dust respirator mask! These masks will protect your lungs from the harmful contaminants which linger in the air after a fire.

Call in the Professionals

Smoke damage is always best handled by the professionals. A professional steam cleaning company, like The Steam Team, will have the correct equipment to thoroughly clean your furniture, as well as your carpets, surfaces, and window treatments- the whole package!

It’s incredibly important that your home is handled properly after fire damage- with ventilation, equipment, and safety precautions. One thing you can do to help the ventilation around your home is to open any windows or doors to increase the airflow.

A professional company, like The Steam Team, will come in with the latest equipment to clean any upholstered furniture, carpeting, window treatments, countertops, and any other surfaces or possessions that were affected by the fire. Give us a call today! We’re available 24/7 for your immediate fire damage needs.

How Best to Clean Your Office Area Rugs in the Winter

As our year comes to a close, we end up reflecting back on the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2017. This past year has had it’s shares of ups and downs, just like the years before it- but we’ve definitely found ourselves in a lot dirtier situations here in Texas. Hurricane Harvey brought torrential downpours not just for the Houston area, but for all surrounding areas, too. The floodwaters left behind tons of dirt and grime that could even be potentially dangerous to our health. What better way to kick off the New Year than with a thorough clean for your whole office?

Germs spread like wildfire- and in the winter time, more often than usual. Typically this can be traced back to the colder temperatures causing us to stay indoors more, and thus, spread our germs with each other. Winter time is the worst time of year for the common cold, flu, and other respiratory illnesses- so here are our tips for keeping your workplace (and home) disinfected and germ-free!

Heat & Pressure

Germs, bacteria, and other allergens are no match for a steam clean! The intense heat and pressurized water ensures that nothing is left behind to continue spreading. This method of cleaning is completely safe for the environment, and will not leave behind any excess moisture or harmful residue- so there’s no need to worry about mold growth!

Flooring

Regular vacuuming routines do wonders for keeping up with the dust, dirt, and allergens that plague our carpets on a daily basis. It’s likely that the cleaning crew does a fabulous job of this, but we should still expect the office flooring to need the occasional deep cleaning, just as your house does, so...

Call The Professionals!

With our qualified team of experts and professional-grade equipment here at The Steam Team, we’ll have your office looking, smelling, and feeling perfectly pristine!

Is it Time to Clean Your Office?

You spend at least forty hours a week in your office, sometimes more, working productively. But you know what increases productivity, that we don’t often think about? A clean work environment! Perhaps it’s time to finally give your office (or even home office) the cleaning that it deserves. Let’s go over a few areas that may need some TLC this time around!

Your Desk

Let’s be honest; sometimes we’re guilty of eating our lunch at the desk in order to keep working as much as we can. But while you’re proving that you have great drive and work ethic, you’re making a huge mess of your desk! Fortunately, surfaces can be steam cleaned. So give the professionals a call! Your desk will be clean and pristine afterward.

Window Blinds and Curtains

So much dust and dirt is collected in our window blinds and curtains, it’s disgusting! Use a professional-grade steam cleaning machine to clean blinds and window treatments without even removing them! Or, make it easier on yourself and hire the professionals for the job. You’ll breathe easier and feel healthier after the job is done!

Carpeting

If your office has carpet, your office needs cleaning. Carpet should be vacuumed at least once weekly, and steam cleaned whenever stained or necessary. Steam cleaning is great method of carpet cleaning, as it uses absolutely no chemicals, and extracts grime from deep within its fibers with ease. Even older stains can be removed with the right equipment. And you know who has the perfect equipment for the job? The Steam Team!

Surfaces, window treatments, and flooring are no match for the powerful cleaning of a steam cleaner! The Steam Team can take care of your office for you! Just give us a call; we’ll be out shortly to restore your office to its original condition! And then you can get back to work and feel even more productive!

5 Tips for Removing the Toughest Stains from your area rugs

rug cleaning by the steam team of austin

Some stains are harder than others to remove- and that’s okay! Because today we have five great tips for removing stains from your upholstered furniture, carpet, or anywhere else you might’ve spilled that glass of wine! So stay tuned- because these are tips from the professionals! Area rug cleaning specialists. 

Act Quickly!

As always, catch a spill as soon as it happens! This does wonders when it comes to removing the stain. The longer the spill sits on your carpet or upholstery, the more permanent it becomes. Voted best area rug cleaning company in Austin, Texas. 

Work from the Outside In

Always work from the edges of the affected area to prevent the stain from spreading! It’s important here to remember to blot the stain, instead of scrubbing it. Scrubbing the stain not only unravels your carpet fibers (which can’t be undone) but it also pushes the stain further into the carpet. You definitely don’t want that! For the cleanest area rugs call Austin's favorite cleaning company today. 

Dry Stains with a Flat, Heavy Object

For wet stains like pet urine or coffee, grab a stack of paper towels, and a heavy object like a large book. Set the book onto the paper towels and let the towels absorb the stain. Change the towels out as needed. Our rug cleaning plant is located at 9901 Burnet Rd. Austin, Tx 78758

Patience is a Virtue

Remain patient. It may take a few tries to thoroughly remove a stain. If you’re having difficulty or the stain has already dried, consider steam cleaning the area! You can do this with a rented machine, or you can call in the professionals to help you out. We will come pick up your rugs anywhere in Austin, Texas. We can even drop off your newly cleaned rug at your home when we are finished cleaning. 

Rinse the Area When Finished

Lastly, you’ll want to rinse the affected area once you’ve successfully removed the stain. There’s a lot of cleaner that went into that process, and you’ll need to wash it out! Use cool water and a clean towel to absorb the moisture.

We hope these tips help you in the future, or now if you’re dealing with a tough stain! And remember- The Steam Team is always standing by, ready to lend you a hand!

The Most Efficient and Effective Damage Restoration in Austin, Tx

Water Damage Austin 

It doesn’t matter what the type of damage is, it’s always devastating to your home, your sanity, and many other facets. Floods cause water damage that spreads mold throughout your home. Mold in itself is a damage issue. Fires destroy everything and anything in their wake- we totally understand why these times are stressful, and why you might need to lean on the help and support of professionals!

Water/Flood Damage Restoration

It doesn’t have to be a flood or natural disaster (tropical storm, hurricane, etc). Sometimes all it takes is for a pipe to burst, or an appliance to go kaput, and suddenly everything is soaked and dripping! Your immediate concern is likely mold growth, as it only takes twenty four hours to begin spreading. But with The Steam Team’s help, we can dry out your home in no time- while you get busy getting back to work!

Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration

The thing about fire and smoke damage is that it often involves water damage cleanup, as well. You’ll definitely want to call in the professionals in these scenarios. Our team of restoration professionals will first inspect your property for structural and smoke damage, and determine where to begin. Until we arrive, you can help out by setting up box fans, and opening windows for proper ventilation. This will help air out your home so that it’s a safer environment to work in. We’ll handle the rest!

The Steam Team is your leading water and fire damage restoration company in Austin, Texas, and we’re happy to help turn a disastrous situation into the clean, safe home that you remember. In the case of a fire, flood, or damage from a natural disaster, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re available 24/7 to help meet your needs!

The Best Way to Clean Natural Stone in Austin TX

Best Tile Cleaning Austin

Whether we’re talking about natural stone countertops or natural stone flooring -- it all needs to be cleaned and properly maintained over time. Voted best tile cleaning in Austin, Texas. 

If you are having new floors installed, typically the stone is sealed upon installation – but this will only last for a few years, so you’ll need to clean them and seal them again several times over their lifespan. When it comes to cleaning, the best method to use is steam cleaning. We’re not bias, we promise, it’s efficient, effective, and you can hire a professional to get the job done for you!

Regular Maintenance

Like any other floors, natural stone requires a good bit of regular maintenance – sweeping, mopping, dusting, etc. With a regular cleaning routine, your daily filth won’t add up as quickly making your floor cleaner for longer periods of time.  

The biggest problem people can have with natural stone is that it’s porous and can absorb liquids and stains very easily. When it comes to these situations, time is key – quickly wipe up the liquid before it has time to settle.

How to Clean Natural Stone

Stay away from cleaners with harsh chemicals (such as acids) as they tend to have negative effects on natural stone such as scratching and wearing down the stone more than usual. While this may not be an immediate difference, the discoloration can worsen over time. Carpet and tile cleaning in Austin, Texas. 

Efficient and Effective

If your natural stone flooring has damage to it (scratches, discoloration, stains, etc.) you’ll want to hire a professional to ensure that your stone is restored and taken care of properly.

The Steam Team has a team of highly trained professional technicians who only use state-of-the-art equipment. Together with their experience and knowledge, we can advise you on how to best care for your flooring -- whether it’s natural stone, hardwood, tile, or carpet. Contact us today for more information!

The Dangers of Leaving Your Area Rug Untouched

The Steam Team Rug Cleaning Austin

When was the last time your area rug was cleaned? When was the last time it was professionally cleaned? There are definitely dangers to leaving that fine rugs untouched, and many benefits to having a professional take care of it! Let’s take a look at a few reasons as to why we should have our flooring occasionally treated by a professional steam cleaning company.

#1 Germs and Bacteria

Feeling those allergies a bit more than usual, lately? Steam cleaning is notorious for knocking out germs, bacteria, dander, allergens, you name it! A steam cleaner reaches deep within the fibers of your carpet to pull these substances and more to the surface, leaving your rug spotless and sanitized.

#2 Unsightly Stains

First impressions are everything, aren’t they? When your clients walk into your office, you want them to notice how clean and spotless your carpet is- not that stain you’ve been trying to hide underneath your chair! Steam cleaning easily removes stains- new and old. We are the number one area rug cleaning company in Austin, Texas.

#3 Obnoxious Odors

Is there a certain, peculiar odor coming from your rug? Not good, friends! This could be from an old spill or stain, or from a general lack of maintenance. Fortunately, a professional steam cleaning company such as The Steam Team can extract odors from your carpet- using nothing but high pressurized water and intense heat! Meaning, you won’t have to worry about residue, or any chemicals worsening the scent.

No matter how neglected or unsightly you think your area rug may be, The Steam Team is bound to have a solution. Never hesitate to contact The Steam Team for any commercial or residential cleaning service, as we’ve covered it all- from stains to spills, to treating window blinds and cleaning upholstery! The Steam Team has you covered all around, so give us a call! We have been cleaning area rugs in Austin and Round Rock for over 36 years.