How To Make Your Hardwood Floor Look Brand New

If you happen to have a hardwood floor in your home or business, you probably do everything in your power to keep it clean and in great shape. But are you prepared for a hardwood floor disaster? What if certain spots of the floor become severely discolored? What if you have a pet or a child, and you end up with a bunch of little scratches on the floor? Or what if the gorgeous hardwood turns dull and grey? If you don’t know what to do about these issues, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s the Steam Team advice on how to fix a hardwood floor with any of the issues mentioned above.

What To Do

If you’ve noticed any of the above problems with your hardwood floor, it means you need to have it refinished as soon as possible. Don’t wait too long, or the damage to your floor could get worse without a proper refinishing, and you might end up needing the entire floor replaced. If you give The Steam Team a call, our highly trained technicians will be with you ASAP to assess and refinish your floor. First they’ll give the floor a thorough inspection, determining the most troubling areas of the floor and informing you of the process before they start. Then they’ll repair damaged areas like cracks or splits in the wood itself, before moving on to a full cleaning. Then it’ll be ready for refinishing.

Our technicians will apply two separate coats of sealer to the floor, give them time to dry, and then your hardwood will be cleaner and brighter than ever! And once the proper refinishing is complete, your floor will be strengthened for years to come.

The Steam Team Difference

Our highly trained technicians have years of experience, and they use only the most high-powered, quality equipment in the industry. For more information on how The Steam Team can help you with hardwood floor refinishing or any other cleaning, carpet cleaning or restoration service in your home or business, visit The Steam Team website.

A Few Great Tips For Maintaining Marble Floors

Most people who have marble floors absolutely love them- they’re an elegant and natural beautiful flooring option. However, marble is quite a delicate material that can easily scratch or stain, and to polish it the right way you’ll need to use great care and the proper materials. Here’s some advice from the experts:

Avoid These Mistakes

Marble cleaning isn’t as easy as some other flooring options, so before we get into our suggestions, you need to know what NOT to do with your marble to ensure that it won’t become damaged.

Spills can certainly do damage to your marble floors, but mopping them up with a soaked mop can do even more damage. Be sure to only use a slightly damp mop for spills on a marble surface.

Marble is especially sensitive to acidic cleaners. For this reason, you should only clean marble with cleaners specifically designed for marble floors. Other store-bought products or DIY methods like vinegar, lemon, or ammonia could cause irreversible damage to your floors.

Never leave or drag heavy furniture or sharp objects on a marble floor, as they can easily cause damage.

Proper Marble Polishing

To prepare for polishing your marble, a polishing compound specifically designed for your kind of marble (cultured or uncultured), a low-speed polisher and a marble sealant is used. Once the surface is perfectly clean, the compound is applied in small sections. It can be a tedious job since it needs to be done with expert care throughout- you don’t want to leave any room for damage to the marble!

The Steam Team

If you want your marble floors to look the best they possibly can, you’re in luck. At The Steam Team, we have our very own complete line of products for marble floor cleaning that’s guaranteed to get the job done right.

Advice on Marble Floor Polishing From The Experts

Marble and Natural Stone Cleaning Austin

At The Steam Team, we’re proud of our accomplished technicians and all that we’ve learned from helping people in need with our cleaning, renewing, and remediation services. When it comes to the upkeep of marble, we have enough experience and expertise to treat any marble countertop, column, floor, or any other surface. That’s why we’ve decided to share some helpful information on how to take great care of the marble surfaces in your home:

Understanding Marble Polishing

When it comes to polishing marble surfaces, you need to know what signs to look out for that tell you when it’s time to have your marble polished. Marble is a sensitive material, especially when it comes to anything acidic. If it has sustained damage to the protective seal, you’ll want it to be polished as soon as possible. If the marble appears more dull or dirty in some areas, or the shine seems to be gone and it won’t go back to normal by simply wiping with a damp cloth, the protective seal may be damaged. If the seal isn’t replaced soon, the exposed marble could easily be damaged even more. Experts say you should have your marble sealed every two to three years, though the best maintained marble surfaces could hold out for four or five years.

Professional Polishing With The Steam Team

As stated before, marble is sensitive to anything acidic, meaning many common household cleaners or home-made methods will only damage marble. Only specifically designed marble polishers should be used. If you don’t want to search for these products and go through the process of polishing the marble yourself, give us a call! Our professional technicians will use our very own line of marble polishing products to give you the very best results that only a professional can give.

For more information on marble polishing or any of our many other services, please visit The Steam Team website.

The Benifits Of Professional Marble & Travertine Polishing

Marble is a beautiful but sensitive material used to make all kinds of things like countertops, floors, columns, vanities and much more. If you have marble in your home, you probably want to take the very best care of it that you can. But how should you go about maintaining your marble? With years of experience in marble care under our belt, The Steam Team is here to tell you!

Choosing Professional Polishing

Caring for the marble in your home may prove to be a bit tricky. That’s because marble surfaces tend to be sensitive to anything acidic, including foods like citrus or sodas, as well as many common store-bought cleaning products and DIY cleaning solutions. Marble is also more porous, meaning it can scratch and get lasting marks easier than many other surfaces. For these reasons, we suggest professional marble polishing with only verified products meant specifically for marble. Putting the job in the hands of professionals also means you’ll get the best possible polish without the risks of scratching or damaging the marble, which might occur if you attempt the job yourself. Now that you know you should have your marble surfaces professionally polished, you just have to choose the right company for the service. That’s where we come in.

The Steam Team

When looking for the best marble polishers with years of experience and the right equipment, look no further than The Steam Team! To ensure that your marble floors, countertops, vanities, shower walls or whatever else achieves the best polish possible, we have our own line of marble polishing products to meet your specific needs. Our team will get to work using our professional stone cleaning process for marble polishing, starting with an inspection to find the most troubled areas, followed by removing dirt, erasing all stains and restoring the protective layer of the marble to keep it in great condition. For more information on marble polishing and our many other services, please visit The Steam Team website!

Caring for Marble Surfaces: A Guide from The Experts

Marble flooring sparkles and shines throughout a home, creating a unique appeal other floorings can’t. For centuries it’s been used in flooring, countertops, and other surfaces around the home- but if you’ve installed marble, you probably know that it takes work to maintain that perfect sleek look. Unfortunately, the material of marble is far more sensitive than other flooring options, so taking care to ensure you’re treating it properly is imperative. Today, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to keep your marble looking brand new and better than ever.

All About Marble Polishing

After a few years of owning a marble floor, you may start to notice that it doesn’t look quite the same as it did when you first got it. Maybe it has dull or dirty patches, or is generally less shiny than it once was. These are all signs that the marble needs to be polished, and that the protective seal may have been worn down, making the marble more sensitive to spills or other damage. To keep this from happening, a good rule of thumb is to have your marble floors polished every one to three years. The most well maintained floors may only need to be polished every five years.

Hiring The Steam Team

It’s important to remember that marble is a sensitive material, and can’t handle most common household cleaners, or anything acidic. For this reason, we suggest leaving the marble polishing up to professionals like The Steam Team technicians to prevent your floor from being damaged. Our technicians will only use products that are specifically designed for marble polishing. In fact, we happen to have our own full line of products designed for marble floor tile. Our professional technicians will use the best products and methods to restore your marble floor to its original shine.

For more information on marble floor cleaning and the many other services we offer, visit The Steam Team website.

What's The Best Way To Keep Your Marble Floor In Good Condition?

If you have marble flooring in your home or business, you probably already know how easily marble can be scratched and stained. It's a very sensitive material that requires the right methods of care and cleaning, but when treated properly, marble can look amazing! Here’s some advice from The Steam Team on how to keep your marble looking that way.

Common Mistakes

First, if you want to take proper care of your marble, you should know what common mistakes to avoid when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your floor.

• Do NOT use acidic chemical cleaners on marble surfaces, or common DIY methods like lemon, vinegar or ammonia, since anything acidic could cause irreversible damage to your floors.

• Avoid using a soaked mop to clean up spills. While spills can certainly do damage to the marble’s surface, a soaked mop may do even more damage. Instead, try to only use a slightly damp mop when cleaning spills.

• Try to avoid dragging heavy furniture or sharp objects across a marble floor, since they can easily cause scratches and other damage in the marble.

Professional Polishing

Now that you know what to avoid, it's time to talk about the right way to clean and polish your marble floor when it's time to re-seal the flooring. If you want to go through with the polishing process on your own, you’ll need to get a polishing compound specifically designed for type of marble, a low-speed polisher and a marble sealant. Then you’ll have to work through the cleaning process. But if you don’t have the equipment and don’t know the process, there’s an easier way. The Steam Team offers a professional marble polishing service that will make your marble shine brighter than when you first got it! For more information, visit The Steam Team website.

How To Tell When To Refinish Your Hardwood Floor

Every hardwood floor requires sanding and refinishing from time to time to keep it in great condition. Here at The Steam Team, we pride ourselves on our technician’s excellent service when it comes to refinishing hardwood floors. But how do you know when it’s time to have this done? Here are some important signs to look for:

Water Spots

Water damage is the most common and most expensive type of damage that homeowners deal with. Water damage under the floorboards can occur for a number of different reasons, but will usually result in dark spots appearing on the floor and separation or cupping of the boards. When you see this, it’s time to have your floor refinished and possibly have some of the boards replaced.

Deep Scratches

The seal on your floor is designed to keep the wood from being damaged or left open to spills. When something scratches deep enough to penetrate the seal, the boards are exposed. Pay attention to the scratches on your floor, and if any of them penetrate the seal, it’s time to call in The Steam Team and refinish your floor.

Discoloration

Pay close attention to the color of your floor as well. If you notice that your boards have turned gray, it might be a result of the polyurethane wearing off, leaving your boards more susceptible from water damage due to spills or regular cleaning. When you see this, have your hardwood sanded and refinished soon, before the boards turn black. Once they’ve turned black, they’ll need to be replaced entirely. 

Similarly, If you have a hardwood floor outdoors, keep an eye on the color. If it fades in color it may be damaged from the sun. Sanding and refinishing will take care of this as well.

We hope that the information provided will help you keep your hardwood floors in great condition for years to come. For more information on the many services we offer, visit The Steam Team website.

How Do You Clean Natural Stone?

So you have beautiful natural stone flooring, eh? Do you know how to properly clean it? Don’t worry, we’re here to help as always! Below, The Steam Team will provide a few tips on simple, intermediate, and deep cleaning your natural stone flooring. Happy cleaning, everyone! It’s certainly the season for it!

Simple Cleaning

First, let’s start by performing a few simple cleaning tasks! This includes sweeping and some light mopping. If you’re using a vacuum instead of a broom, just make sure you’re not using one with cracked or broken wheels that could damage your flooring. You can mop with your trust cleaning solution and a bucket of warm water (as long as the solution has been approved for natural stone flooring). That’s easy enough, right?

Intermediate Cleaning

When we talk about intermediate cleaning, we mean stain removal, or grout cleaning! All too often our grout is neglected, or those stains are just left to stick. When it comes to stain removal, the number one thing you must remember is that your cleaning solution must be meant for natural stone.

Deep Cleaning

When it comes time to deep clean your natural stone flooring, it’s best to call in the professionals. A professional cleaning and restoration company like The Steam Team will have all of the right tools and equipment for the job! You won’t have to worry about potentially damaging your natural stone flooring because it’ll be in expert hands!

Don’t hesitate; give The Steam Team a phone call today and you won’t regret making the leap! We can do wonders to your natural stone flooring or surfaces! We’ll come out, inspect your home, and restore them to their original condition. You can trust us to do the job correctly the first time!

The Do's and Don't of Marble Flooring Maintenance

Choosing the flooring throughout your house is no easy feat- we know your decision was not made lightly. That’s why it’s important to care for your floors over their lifetime to ensure you get the most out of them for the longest period of time.

One of the most popular materials right now is marble- and for good reason, too. Marble adds a gorgeous look to any room and is relatively easy to clean, maintain, and even restore (if need be). However, just because it’s flat and hard like hardwood floors or tile- you don’t want to treat it the same way. Here are our best tips and tricks of the trade to keep your marble floors looking bright, shiny, and brand new!

Regular Maintenance

When it comes to marble flooring, the regular maintenance you do heavily relies on the tools you choose. Finding a broom that’s not too tough is important when you sweep and a duster that’s going to really capture everything it meets.

Preventing and Removing Stains

Preventing stains is relatively similar across any flooring, furniture, or fabric of any kind- you want to try and catch the spill as soon as it happens, wiping everything up immediately. This will keep any liquid from seeping into the flooring and staining.

In order to remove stains, there are several products on the market that are made specifically for marble flooring. If you’re unsure of which product to choose- give us, The Steam Team, a call. We’re happy to help.

Call The Steam Team

With decades of experience and tons of knowledge and expertise, The Steam Team is your leading choice of professionals for marble cleaning and polishing. We know exactly what we’re doing, and what’s more important- we’re here to serve you!

Tile Cleaning Austin

Tile looks beautiful in our homes, and comes in a wide array of colors and textures! But the downside of tile (there’s always a downside, isn’t there?) is that it can be difficult to keep clean! Grout is porous in nature, and thus absorbs stains quite easily, causing staining, discoloration, and a lot of frustration! So let’s discuss ways in which we can care for and clean our tile and grout!

Seal Your Grout

Sealing your grout is a great way to keep it protected. It fills the seams between tile, and helps it absorb less materials like dirt, dust, sand, and general grime.

Mop Frequently

Mopping is necessary for keeping tile clean. As much as we want to procrastinate it, or simply not do it- there’s no getting around it, friends! So grab your preferred mop and cleaner and get to cleaning! When deciding on which type of cleaner to use, always start with the most mild detergents first. Then work your way up if you find that your selected cleaner isn’t performing how you expected. The frequency at which you mop will depend on how much foot traffic your floor receives. Once a week might be a good medium! Voted best tile and grout cleaning company in Austin. 

Tips for Scrubbing Grout

You can scrub your grout to clean off the gunk and grime. But the #1 rule for scrubbing grout is to not use abrasive materials. This is obviously so that you won’t damage your tile or grout; scratching is easily caused by abrasive scrubbing materials.

Remember, if your grout is just too much to handle, The Steam Team is standing by, ready to help! We have over a decade of experience cleaning and caring for tile and grout, as well as other types of flooring and surfaces. So when it doubt about tile and grout, rely on The Steam Team!

Carpet Cleaning Your Way to a Healthier Home Round Rock Texas

We all know how difficult it can be to stay healthy this time of year, when temperatures are lowering and our noses start to sniffle! How do you keep your home clean and free of germs this year? By steam cleaning, of course! We’ll point out five areas in the home that can be steam cleaned- and will help your family stay healthy and away from the sniffles! Round Rock Carpet Cleaning is one call away. 

Steam Cleaning in the Bathroom

The bathroom is the place that likely needs the majority of your attention, as it’s used by every family member in the house. The Steam Team will clean every nook and cranny until the space looks brand new (and healthy).

A Germ-Free Kitchen

That grimey kitchen comes next! In addition to killing germs and bacteria, a steam cleaning machine can lift tough stains, even stains that have been there for some time.

Thoroughly Cleaning Upholstered Furniture

Imagine little hands running over a snotty nose and… all over your living room furniture. Yuck! Talk about catching a cold! Luckily a steam cleaning machine can thoroughly clean upholstered and fabric furniture until it’s sparkling clean!

Carpet and Rug Cleaning

Our carpets and rugs carry germs and bacteria, too. Luckily, that’s our speciality. The Steam Team will use high pressurized water and intense heat to lift dirt, dust, bacteria, germs, dander, and more from deep within the fibers of your carpets!

Window Blinds and Ceiling Fans

Have a case of the sneezes? Maybe there’s too much dust clinging to your window blinds and ceiling fans. Fortunately for you, a professional steam cleaning company (like The Steam Team) can thoroughly clean these areas without removing anything. It’s easy peasy!

The Steam Team has been in business for over a decade now, working on a wide variety of cleaning and restoration jobs. We have plenty of expertise in hot water extraction, and genuinely enjoy what we do! Give us a call today to clean your way to a healthier home! We also cleaning tile and carpet in Cedar Park Texas. 

Can You Clean Marble Flooring? The Steam Team of Austin Can!

Cleaning Austin for 40 years

There are many benefits to having marble floors in your home. To start, they help keep the flooring cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. They also look gorgeous, and are relatively easy to care for! But you may be wondering “how do I care for my marble floors?” Well, to start, we have three different ways that marble flooring can be cleaned- and yes, one of them is steam cleaning! Marble floor polishing experts. 

Traditional Mop

Many people still prefer the traditional method when it comes to mopping the floor, though it takes a little bit more work! But if you’re going to set out to mop your floor, let us first warn you; don’t use acidic cleaners on your marble flooring, and vinegar (for once) is not safe. Instead, use heavily diluted dishwashing detergent, or a special marble cleaner.

Dust Mop

Dust mops are great at picking up icky substances that lurk on the surface of our floor, but eventually you’ll need to use a more extreme method. Your marble flooring should be dust mopped on a weekly basis. Now, if you only dust mop, your marble will never be completely clean. But this small chore will help make your cleaning day much easier.

Steam Cleaning

Whether you’re using a rented machine, or you’ve hired the professionals to do it for you, steam cleaning is your best bet! It reaches deep into the pores of marble, extracting dirt and grime with ease (and without chemicals)!

Hiring the Professionals

Don’t DIY. Hire the professionals! They’re there for a reason. And no matter what type of floor you have installed in your home, The Steam Team has the expertise, equipment, and experience necessary for any cleaning job. Give us a call today and we’ll restore your marble flooring to its clean, gleaming condition!

Tile and Grout: How to Bring Back the Shine in Austin, Texas

Tile and Grout Specialits 

Ah, tile and its corresponding grout… despite the color of your grout, inevitably it will change shades- and not for the better! It’s difficult to keep grout clean, and even more challenging to keep it in its new, pristine condition. Fortunately for you, though, The Steam Team can help out. If we’re not coming out to your house, you can still read further for some handy tips on keeping tile and grout as clean as possible!

Tile and Grout Cleaning

Restoring tile and grout is no easy feat. It can be taxing on the body if you utilize the scrubbing method (scrubbing on your hands and knees with an old toothbrush- we’ve all done it, and we’ve all despised it). You’ll want to choose a method and product that is safe for your family and home, and one that is relatively easy- especially on your body!

Non-Steam Cleaning Method

Try using powdered oxygen bleach! It’s non-toxic and therefore safe for your family, pets, and even fabrics. This method works brilliantly to remove stains, even stains as tough as red wine. Mix powdered oxygen bleach with your mop water, and go to town! Using a mop is much preferable than using that old toothbrush, so we’re confident that this method will be helpful in more ways than one.  

Steam Cleaning Tile & Grout

If you’d rather cut to the the chase, you can always trust The Steam Team with your tile and grout. Grout may be porous in nature and therefore more difficult to clean, but our professional-grade equipment easily extract dirt and grime from the grout. Whether your tile is in the bathroom, entryway, kitchen or all over your home, we’ll be able to restore it to a clean, shining state. So just give us a call- we’ll be out to help in a jiffy! Call us at 512-451-8326 today or click here. 

Stone Cleaning In Austin, TX

Stone Floor Cleaning In Austin, Texas

Marble has been used in art and architecture for millennia as a beautiful- yet strong and durable material. It is a type of metamorphic rock, which is a sedimentary rock—such as limestone—that has been transformed by heat and pressure in the earth. Marble is more rare than limestone, and therefore more expensive. It also has a finer grain, and can be highly polished, which contributes to its decorative appeal.   

Marble is also delicate, so if you are lucky enough to have it in your home, you are probably aware that it requires particular care to avoid damage. Here are a few reminders how to best care for marble.

Natural v.s. Cultured Marble

Before you determine a cleaning method, first check which type of marble you have. Natural marble is generally cooler to the touch, and will fizz in contact with a couple of drops of vinegar (wipe away the vinegar quickly!). In contrast, cultured marble is manufactured with a protective coating that makes it easier to care for and less likely to experience damage.  

If You Have Natural Marble…

Natural marble is very porous, so you must take care to avoid using cleaners with acidic ingredients. Marble also scratches easily, so don’t use anything abrasive, either, such as hard brushes or Comet. Instead use a pH neutral cleaning solution, such as ammonia or dish soap highly diluted with water, with a gentle mop.

Steam cleaning should also be a safe alternative cleaning method for your natural marble flooring, since it only uses water (no harsh chemicals) and doesn’t involve any scrubbing.       

Also be sure to clean up spills immediately before they seep in. If you clean your marble floor with water, dry it afterward with towels to avoid the water soaking in and staining the floor.

If you Have Cultured Marble…

Cultured marble is not as delicate as natural marble. You may use standard household cleaners, even those that contain acidic ingredients. You also don’t have to be as careful about accidentally scratching it! Whew!

Check with The Steam Team about how we can help you clean your marble flooring. With the right know-how and professional equipment, we’ll take the pressure off of how to treat your prized flooring!

How Effective is Steam Cleaning?

Rug Cleaning

Maybe you’ve heard about the impressive qualities of a steam cleaner, and the even more outstanding results that it delivers. But you may be wondering… Just how effective is steam cleaning? What’s so special about it? It’s normal to feel skeptical about changing your routine! That’s why we’re going to review a few of steam cleaning’s most impressive qualities, and why it may be beneficial to have your home professionally cleaned.

1. Deep Cleaning

If you or another member of your household has allergies or asthma, you’ll appreciate the power and intensity of a thorough steam cleaning. The process easily removes dust mites and allergens from your home, allowing you to breathe easier, and live healthier!

1. Chemical-Free

Other household cleaning products may leave behind residue that lingers in our environment, potentially harming our health. However, steam cleaning will thoroughly remove dust and debris from your carpet and/or furniture without the use of chemicals! You won’t find any leftover residue or markings.

1. Knocks Out Mold

Mold- it spawns, it spreads, it destroys everything in its path! When handling a mold issue, the most important thing you can do is to act quickly. Once you’ve contacted your local cleaning and restoration company, the rest is up to the professionals. With intense heat and high pressure, a steam cleaner is the perfect tool for removing mold from your home.

Steam cleaning can be effective in many different situations. It’s perfect for dealing with pesky, stubborn stains, removing unwanted odors, or regular, routine deep cleaning. Choose steam cleaning over dry mopping for a thorough cleaning that you can trust.

And remember, if you’re looking for a professional touch, be sure to give The Steam Team a call today! We have all of the right tools and equipment to help your home look brand new again!

Steam Cleaning Different Flooring

Professional Carpet Cleaner 

Whether you have carpet, tile, wood, laminate, or even natural stone - there’s no doubt that the floors will start to collect dirt, dust, and other debris. Sure, the severity of mess widely depends on the extent of traffic around the home. For example; do you have kids or pets? How many? What kind of shoes are you wearing and where have they been? There are so many factors that contribute to how often your floors will need your undivided attention, but there is one thing each type of flooring has in common; they can all be steam cleaned (and they should be).

Carpeting and Cleaning

Using a steam cleaner on carpet fibers can be extremely effective for numerous situations. Whether you’re dealing with a pet accident, a wine spill, or just an overall annual deep clean - you’re in the best hands with a steam cleaning professional.

Tile and Grout

Grout is one of the most absorbent materials - it’s incredibly porous, after all. Because of this, however, it can become stained quite easily. A steam cleaning machine is able to powerfully wash the grout (and tile) with water and a natural cleaning solution. Then, the same machine can suction the water out to pull any stains or other grime that’s settled between tiles and in grout.

Hardwood

Caring meticulously for hardwood floors pays off in the long run. Although a steep investment, hardwood floors can last for centuries. In fact, there are plenty of historic homes that have the original gorgeous hardwood floors throughout! Steam cleaning is a great way to ensure that hardwoods are properly cared for - no dirt, dust, or other grime is going to get in the way of its appearance (or longevity).

When was the last time your flooring was deep cleaned? Give us a call, here at The Steam Team!