CleanWorks

Mold Remediation – Can You Do It Yourself?

CleanWorks — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:01:45 +0000

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ Source: (linked in photo)

Have you found a small area of mold in your home, but are hesitant to call a professional? In this post, we’ll take a look at the standards for when professional mold remediation is needed, and when you can handle a small project yourself.

An example of proper PPE for larger projects.
Mold remediation can be a frightening prospect for many homeowners. Some people prefer to call a professional even for very small spots of mold because they don’t want to have any worries about air contamination or the health of their family. That’s always an option, and CleanWorks can help with any mold remediation project, large or small.

However, the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification) actually has placed recommended standards on what size remediation can be handled with relative ease by the homeowner, and when a professional needs to get involved. The recommendations are as follows:

The homeowner could take care of any mold remediation of 32 square feet or less in total area with little to no extra training.
For areas of 33 to 100 square feet, the homeowner can take care of the issue, but would need to utilize personal protective equipment.
If the moldy area is larger than 100 square feet, a professional should definitely be called in.

Taking care of small mold removal projects yourself can help you save money, but calling an expert may give you extra peace of mind, even for these minor problem areas.

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How Spring Carpet Cleaning Creates A Healthy Home

CleanWorks — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:00:10 +0000

There’s never a wrong time to clean your carpet, rugs, and upholstery. Professional cleaning removes the build-up – whether visible or invisible – of grime, dirt, and allergens. But why might a spring carpet cleaning be especially effective?

Springtime means kids and pets are able to spend more time outside. During the winter, everyone tends to stay in the house as much as possible to escape the cold, which can accelerate the build-up of dirt and allergens in your carpet and upholstery. Wintertime – especially around the holidays – also tends to bring lots of guests into your home. Guests are wonderful, but the extra visitors can mean faster wear and tear on your carpet, as well as more materials being tracked inside on shoes and paws. Spring also allows us to throw open our windows, often for the first time in months. After spending so much time without being aired out, homes can often become stuffy, and this worsens the build-up of allergens like dust mites and pet dander that can turn your home’s air quality from “a bit stuffy” to “uncomfortable”. Now that the weather is warmer, it’s a good time to clear out all that winter build-up in your carpeted and upholstered surfaces. A spring carpet cleaning is a great way to refresh your home after the long winter. Give CleanWorks a call or try out our Online Quote Generator to schedule your spring cleaning today!

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Water Damage Prevention & Preparation

CleanWorks — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:57:36 +0000

We’re onsite in less than 4 hours!

No one likes to think about the prospect that a flood or other water damage could affect their home. But preparation can make the difference between a small cleanup and a huge disaster. So what can you do to prevent and prepare for a water damage emergency?

1. Have a plan.

Think ahead of time about your course of action. When water damage prevention isn’t possible, preparation is key. Keep the names and numbers of your preferred plumber, your insurance agent or claims line, and a certified water damage restoration company saved in your phone, as well as in a water-safe covering on your fridge or in another easy-to-reach area.

It’s also a good idea to have an evacuation or safety plan in place in the case of a major flooding disaster in your area. Talking this over with your family now could save you valuable time and worry in the future.

2. Check your insurance policy.

If you’re a homeowner, you probably have homeowner’s insurance. But did you know that most regular homeowner policies don’t cover flooding? They may cover damage from a dishwasher malfunction, toilet overflow, or plumbing issue occurring inside your home. But if outside flooding creeps in, you may be sunk. “Flood” in insurance terms means any water that hits the ground before coming into the house. It isn’t limited to just big weather disasters: an outdoor pipe break, for example, could cause flooding in a basement or crawlspace. This circumstance is often not covered on homeowner’s insurance policies without extra flood protection.

Talk to your insurance agent. Most of the time, you can add a fairly inexpensive rider to your homeowner’s policy to protect from outside flooding, which is a great supplement to what’s covered under your homeowner’s policy. This can give you added peace of mind and ensure that your home and belongings are safe even in the worst weather.

3. Check your sump pump.

Many water damage losses can be prevented or minimized through use of a properly functioning sump pump. Check yours periodically to make sure it’s working properly.

We often see flooding or water damage emergencies occurring when power is lost in an area due to extreme weather. Unfortunately, this is when you need your sump pump the most! We highly recommend looking into getting a sump pump with a built-in battery backup, so that even if the lights go out, your home will have some defense against water damage. However, a note of caution: even the best backup battery can only last 6-8 hours. If your power looks like it’ll be out for longer than that, and your plumber can’t get there first, you may need to go out and buy a second backup battery to keep the pump running until a plumber can assess the situation.

These few tips can help you be better prepared for the worst, so you can enjoy the here-and-now with peace of mind. If disaster strikes, don’t wait – call in the experts. Often, damage can be minimized if water mitigation is started right away. CleanWorks can respond to emergency calls within four hours, 24/7, so you can rest easy knowing that we’re on call for you.

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Filtration Soil – What It Is & How To Eliminate It

CleanWorks — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:55:55 +0000

Filtration soil collects around baseboards, doorways, etc.

What are these dark lines in my carpet around the floor boards and how do I get rid of them?

This is something we see frequently in homes and it actually has more to do with the air quality and construction of the building than the number of dogs or children they have. When the cool air in your home sinks, it moves under doorways, around furniture, between baseboards, and actually filters itself through the carpet fibers; over time this leaves behind visible particles that are particularly oily and hard to remove. This is called filtration soil.

So how do you get filtration soil out of your carpet, especially in that corner where the wall and carpet meet? There’s an “edger” tool specifically designed to clean that last inch that other tools are not able to reach. Hardly anyone actually takes the time to use this tool and most companies don’t even have one. This edger tool combined with a special cleaning agent is that extra step that we take to ensure high quality carpet cleaning for our customers.

If these dark lines look familiar, feel free to make an appointment with us right from our website. Any other questions? Add CleanWorks on Facebook and send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

The post Filtration Soil – What It Is & How To Eliminate It appeared first on CleanWorks.

How to Clean the 3 Worst Carpet Stains

CleanWorks — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:54:45 +0000

If you own a carpet, cleaning carpet stains is inevitable. People love carpet because it’s comfortable, stylish and inviting. However, over time carpet accidents happen and your lovely carpet loses appeal because of dirt build up and stains.

So, how do you clean carpet stains that happen because of life?

While we’ll always recommend regular professional carpet cleaning, cleaning a carpet stain in advance of a professional coming out will certainly help to temporarily minimize a stain’s impact.

Wine Stains

You know the scenario. Uncle Joe tells great stories but talks with his hands. Give him a glass of red wine and, voila, his story is memorialized as a giant red carpet stain. What do you do? (First, don’t get too mad at Joe, he’s family). Second, take club soda and pour it over the stain. Next, with a dry towel gently blot the affected area.

We’ll clean it up

Blood Stains

First, make sure everybody’s ok. To remove blood stains, blot as much of it as possible. Next combine 2 tablespoons of liquid dish detergent and 1 and ½ cups cold water. Spray the mixture onto the carpet and begin to blot it again with a fresh cloth. This could be a temporary fix for a very small stain, but larger blood stains and smears will require a professional carpet cleaning.

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Coffee Stains

The National Coffee Association found that 79% of American coffee drinkers brew coffee at home. So, the probability that some of that coffee ends up on the carpet is significant. To get rid of morning brew from your carpet, combine 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. Use the mixture to blot the coffee stain.

When stains are very small home remedies are a great temporary fix. Frequently after using a DIY method, carpet stains seem to reappear after a while. To help your carpet recover from life’s little accidents, we recommend calling a professional. CleanWorks uses state of the art equipment to eradicate common carpet stains and keep your carpet looking great.

A Temporary Fix is Only Temporary

When stains are very small home remedies are a great temporary fix.

Frequently after using a DIY method, carpet stains seem to reappear after a while.

To help your carpet recover from life’s little accidents, we recommend calling a professional. CleanWorks uses state of the art equipment to eradicate common carpet stains and keep your carpet looking great. Want to try us out? Visit our specials.

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Why Do Carpet Stains Come Back?

CleanWorks — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:00:20 +0000

Ever have the frustrating experience of removing stains from your carpet only to have the stains reappear a few days or weeks later? Ugh!

Two reasons why carpet stains come back are wicking and soiling.

Wicking

Stains that penetrate deep beneath the carpet fibers can reappear due to wicking. When the stain is absorbed in this manner, it usually indicates that the backing and carpet pad has been affected by the stain as well.

Sometimes the stain causes wicking because too much moisture or water was used to remove it from the carpet. The resulting moisture, which is just dirty water sitting at the base of the fibers, eventually evaporates. As the water evaporates it is drawn up through the carpet fiber thus causing wicking. When the carpet is finally dry the stain reappears on the carpet fibers.

Soiling

Soiling occurs when there’s a residue left on the carpet. The residue, in turn, attracts more dirt. Essentially, the stain was never really completely removed in the first place because a residue was left behind. This type of soiling is different from filtration soil.

Typically, carpet cleaning products for home use leave a residue. Initially, when using these products, the stain appears to be removed, but over time it reappears as dirt adheres to the residue left behind. Additionally, oils, lotions, grease, and tape often cause a buildup of residue as well.

Prevent Stains in the First Place and Carpet Care

Prevention and maintenance are your best friends when it comes to extending the longevity of your carpet.

Clean stains quickly but don’t oversaturate the area or you will cause wicking. After cleaning the stain make sure it is dry as soon as possible.

Also, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute, carpets should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months.

For tough recurring stains, an experienced professional carpet cleaner will know how to remove the moisture from a carpet to prevent stains from resurfacing.

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