Time to clean your mattress

How often do you wash your clothes? Pillow cases & sheets? Then why haven’t you cleaned your mattress recently? You spend 8 hours a night (if you’re lucky) sleeping on that mattress. What do you think is embedded in it? At minimum, you should vacuum your mattress monthly to remove dead skin cells, dust, dirt and dust mites as well as their eggs and feces. Beyond that, have Pro Clean come out and professionally clean your mattress to remove all the contaminants keeping you awake at night.

 Sleep well!

www.ProCleanSTL.com

What product to use on your little accidents

So you had a spill on your new carpet. Run to the cabinet and grab whatever over-the-counter product you happen to have? If you do, you just might void your manufacturers warranty. Most over-the-counter products are NOT CRI approved.

Here is a direct link to Mohawks website regarding maintenance of your carpet…

http://www.mohawkflooring.com/care-maintenance/carpet-care.aspx

So, what to do?

You can go store to store trying to find a CRI approved product, call a flooring retailer and purchase a bottle of the manufacturers spot remover that has been further marked up, or you can call Pro Clean and we will bring a bottle to your home for free, if you live in the greater St Louis area.

Keep in mind, pet stains require the same type of CRI approved product. The “specialized” products that the pet stores are likely not CRI approved. You may also call Pro Clean for a free bottle of CRI approved pet spotter and we will deliver for free.

Make sure you research your floors warranty or you could be left with a damaged floor that is not covered by the manufacturers warranty.

www.ProCleanSTL.com

The importance of “walk-off” mats

Want to reduce the amount of soil brought in to your office?                                                Want to save money by cleaning your commercial carpet less often?

Here is why “walk-off” mats are so important for your place of business or even your home.

 

Floor mats, also called soil control mats and walk-off mats, are removable carpet pieces designed to trap soil and to be cleaned (or replaced) more often than the main carpeted areas.

As shown by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), 80% of the soil brought into a building can be trapped within the first 12 to 15 feet after stepping onto a carpeted surface. To be effective, soil control mats should allow room for at least six footsteps, about 18-20 feet of walking space, and should be placed at all entryways and major transition areas. Unfortunately, most floor mats are an inadequate 2-9 feet!

Walk-off mats should be cleaned frequently. Once a walk-off mat becomes filled with soil, the soil will then transfer to the soles of shoes and spread throughout the facility.

A good walk-off mat performs these three tasks:

  1. Removes soil from the shoe.
  2. Absorbs large amounts of dirt, slowing the rate of transfer onto carpet surfaces.
  3. Absorbs excess moisture from wet shoes, thereby reducing soiling on the interior carpet.
  4. Absorbs salts from lots & drives in the winter and oils from lots & drives all year long.

The correct length of entry mats can help you keep your flooring investment looking great, paired with routine cleaning by an IICRC Certified company. Pay for it now, or pay for it later.

www.ProCleanSTL.com

Carpet cleaners pricing

Have you called around trying to get a quote for carpet cleaning and found that pricing is “all over the board”?

Here are a few things to understand about carpet cleaners pricing and what to look for.

  •  Does the quoted price include pre-vacuuming? The majority of soil in your carpet is dry soil. Pre-vacuuming with an industrial grade vacuum will remove the majority of this soil, therefore eliminating the soil from just being “pushed down” into carpet & pad.
  • Is pre-treatment included in this quoted price? If cleaning carpets with water only was effective, there wouldn’t be a need for carpet cleaning equipment. To be effective, you must have some type of pre-treatment solution, paired with time, hot temperatures and some type of agitation.
  • How long will it take for you carpets to dry using the equipment and knowledge they have? Over-wetting carpets causes carpet backing de-lamination, pad damage, mold and wicking(stains returning not long after the cleaning).
  • Are there pet stains and how will they be addressed? Urine will travel from carpet to pad and down to sub-floor. Any “topical” treatment is not going to resolve a pet stain problem. Urine must be addressed in the same manner as it made entry into the floor surface.
  • Is the company or individual going to further dry and groom the carpet helping the carpet maintain its original shape?
  • Will the process of moving furniture be included in cost?
  • Is the company or individual using CRI approved products? Some carpet manufacturers may void your carpet warranty if any type of product is used other than a CRI approved product.
  • Is the company Clean Trust Certified(IICRC)? If not, where has he/she gotten the education to clean carpets?
  • Is the company or individual insured? If there is an accident on your property, who will be responsible?
  • Is there a guarantee with the work if you are not satisfied?
  • Is the company or individuals cleaning based upon proper techniques or time? Many companies cleaning is based on quantity, not quality. Flooring must be cleaned in a determined amount of time, rather than cleaned properly.

Do your research, ask for references and ask questions before making a decision. When choosing a company to clean your carpets, make sure you are comparing “apples to apples”  with regards to service. Check with the BBB, CRI, IICRC and local search engines reviews.

 

 

 

Carpet Manufacturers Carpet Cleaning-Fine Print

For those of you who have made the investment of replacing carpet in your home, make sure you are aware of the warranty of the product.

Here is a quote directly from Mohawk Flooring website page containing carpet warranty info…

  • “Some stains cannot be removed because they permanently alter the carpet’s color. These stains include acid toilet bowl cleaners, acne medication, alkaline drain cleaners, chlorinated bleaches, hair dyes, iodine, insecticides, mustard with turmeric and plant fertilizers. For these types of stains, call a professional. In order to maintain and protect your warranty coverage under the terms of these warranties, you must do the following: A minimum of one professional cleaning every 18 months is required.”

A minimum of one PROFESSIONAL CLEANING every 18 months is required. This means if you have ANY type of defect such as carpet shading, discoloration, pre-mature wear, staining, etc, you must provide documentation that your carpets have been cleaned at least ever 18 months professionally. This does not mean you cannot use a Rug Doctor or a retail type machine. In many cases, these types of machines will do more harm that good causing over-wetting, carpet/pad damage, soap residue, etc.

Generally, the retailer you purchase your carpet from will not inform you of this requirement and in some cases will not supply you with your warranty information. All of the carpet manufacturers require such cleanings, regardless of brand.

Protect your investment by having your carpets cleaned by a Clean Trust Certified Firm(formally IICRC).  

www.ProCleanSTL.com

(636) 233-6826

How to choose a carpet cleaner for my home

Ever wonder why carpet cleaning companies pricing varies so much?

Lets start with overall pricing for today. Coupons are sent via mail offering carpet cleaning for as low as $7.95 per room. Doing the math, an average homeowner might have 3 bedrooms, a hallway and an additional room. Total cost, according to this coupon, should be $39.75. There is not a company operating that could afford the proper equipment, insurance, pre-sprays, certifications and fuel to come close to producing a profit at this cost. So, how is it that these companies stay in business? Bait & switch tactics keep companies like these profiting. The coupon says $7.95, but this only includes “carpet cleaning”. “Carpet cleaning”, in this case, means wetting your carpets, nothing else. This price does not even include any type of pre-spray. There are fours fundamentals for cleaning; temperature, time, chemical & agitation. “Carpet cleaning” consisting of NONE of these four fundamentals is not cleaning.

When a technician arrives, the consumer will be instructed that their particular carpet will require additional treatment. Final cost may end up being 10 times the cost of the “deal” on the coupon. Once again, the carpets will not be cleaned according to The Clean Trust Standard of Care due to lack of certification & training and proper equipment & chemicals. Until a consumer has had to deal with such a company, they may not know the difference between an IICRC Certified(Clean Trust) firm and an individual that has decided to purchase a portable machine to clean carpets “on the side” without the proper insurance and training.

Pro Clean Restoration & Floor Care takes pride in providing you an accurate, written proposal during a free pre-inspection and following through with quality service that has a money back guarantee, no questions asked.

Pro Cleans carpet cleaning includes:

  •  A free pre-inpection with a written proposal, covering all areas of concern with client
  • Hard surface, furniture and wall protection while preform duties in your home
  • Pre-vacuuming to remove dry soil in carpet prior to cleaning
  • Pre-treatment of carpet specific to carpet and soil type
  • Furniture moving
  • Rotary cleaning to go beyond “wand” cleaning, leaving carpets dry in less than two hours
  • Carpet grooming to help carpet fibers dry evenly and somewhat restore them to their original shape
  • Additional carpet drying to further speed the drying time of your carpet
  • Optional ScotchGard protectant with spill warranty included
  • Care & maitenance instructions to help maintain the beauty of your freshly cleaned carpets
  • Carpet spotter bottle for those little accidents between cleanings

With all things in life, you get what you pay for. With Pro Clean, you get above and beyond what you pay for.

Call or email Pro Clean to set up your free pre-inspection

 

Tips for Healthier, Cleaner Carpets for Years to Come

1. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum

  • Vacuuming often helps remove dry soil from carpet. This dry soil is the main cause for carpet wear. As foot traffic moves across dry soil, the dry soil actually scratches the carpet fibers, causing wear areas, especially in heavy foot traffic areas. These fibers that are scratched appear dirty, while the carpet appears to be dirty, it is actually worn from being scratched by soil and foot traffic.
  • Vacuuming also removes dust mites, dander and allergens from carpeted areas. Unlike hard surfaces such as tile, hardwood or vinyl, carpet traps contaminants by filtering them into the fibers. Vacuuming removes the filtered contaminants from carpet, therefore keeping them from becoming airborne again.
  • Buy a good quality vacuum that uses hepa filter bags, rather than bagless vacuums. Have your vacuum inspected and/or serviced to assure it is operating as efficient as when you purchased it. Pro Clean is happy to supply you with a list of some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market, as well as local repair shops to have your vacuum serviced.
  • Vacuum at least once a week. The more you vacuum, the healthier and cleaner your carpets will be.

2.  Spots & stains

  • Avoid using over-the-counter spot removers unless they contain specific ingredients for specific stains. It is much easier to call Pro Clean for a free spotter, than try to take a course on the chemistry of carpet cleaning. Each individual stain requires a specific treatment. There is NOT a “one size fits all” for cleaning carpet stains. For example, a coffee stain requires  a completely different treatment than a Kool-Aid stain. If you don’t know the chemistry of carpet cleaning, it is better that you do not attempt to clean the stain. Many over-the-counter “stain removers” can actually lock in stains, since they are not specifically PH balanced for each individual stain. In some cases, using an “over the counter” “stain remover” can actually make it impossible for a professionally trained carpet cleaner to remove stain. Feel free to email Pro Clean if you have a question about a stain and we will do our best to help you remove it.

3. Rental, “do-it-yourself” cleaning equipment

  • Avoid using any rental or store bought “do-it-yourself” “carpet cleaning” machine. These machines will do one of two things. They will either make your carpets look worse or damage your carpet. These machines over-wet your carpets without having the power to extract enough of the water and solution out of your carpets that it puts down. The result of over wetting your carpets is that you can damage the backing of your carpets backing causing it to de-laminate, costing you life on your carpet. Carpet will also wear and fray in areas that have been over wet by  rental carpet cleaning machines. Another side effect of over wetting is called “browning”. If you have already used one of these machines, you may have seen this occur on your carpets. Browning, caused by over-wetting carpets, is the dirt that has been turn to a liquid type form, rather than the dry soil it previously was. Soaking the carpets causes this dry soil(dirt) to mix with the water and cleaning solution. As the carpet starts to dry out, the soil that was once below the carpet, moves to the top of the carpet fibers, causing the carpets to look more dirty than before you clean them. Do-it-yourself carpet cleaning machines also don’t use a clean water rinse or a neutralizing PH rinse. This means that all of the soap that was injected into carpet is not pulled back out of the carpet. This soap actually causes carpets to re-soil faster, because it is easier for the airborne dirt, dander and allergens to stick to the residue, than stick to the carpet fibers.
  • If you must use a do-it-yourself machine, use a steam machine that only uses water, without a soap. Make sure to not over-wet any areas, drying out impacted areas using a box fan to avoid re-soiling or browning of carpet.

 

Information About Dust Mites

Inhaling the house dust allergen triggers rhinitis allergica or bronchial asthma. People with allergies to house dust usually also have allergic reactions to house dust mite fecal material and cast skins. Studies have shown that the most potent house dust allergens can be extracted from the feces produced by dust mites. The rest of this fact sheet, based on Chapter 10, “Mites,” in Common-Sense Pest Control by Olkowski, Daar and Olkowski, will discuss biology of dust mites and will emphasize non-chemical control tactics. An allergist, a medical doctor specially trained to treat allergies, should be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment of allergies. One of the most strongly allergenic materials found indoors is house dust, often heavily contaminated with the fecal pellets and cast skins of House Dust Mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments. Common causes of allergy include house dust mites, cat dander, cockroach droppings and grass pollen. Symptoms are usually respiratory in nature (sneezing, itching, watery eyes, wheezing, etc.), usually NOT A RASH. However, there are reports of a red rash around the neck. Other allergic reactions may include headaches, fatigue and depression. The wheeze-inducing proteins are digestive juices from the mite gut which are quite potent. An exposure to the mites in the first, crucial year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy. There is no cure, only prevention. One must control house dust mite levels. Beds are a prime habitat (where 1/3 of life occurs). A typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. (Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings.) Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. A favorite food is dander (both human and animal skin flakes). Humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week. About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes. Also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations. The protein substances in the dust mite feces produces antibodies in humans who are allergic when these are inhaled or touch the skin. These antibodies cause the release of histamines which causes to nasal congestion, swelling and irritation of the upper respiratory passages. The Mayo Clinic, WebMD and NIH collectively provide this list of typical symptoms of an allergy to dust mites; You may experience all or just some of them: Hay fever, Watering eyes, Runny nose, Sneezing, Asthma, difficulty in breathing, Infantile eczema, Itchy, red or watery eyes, Nasal congestion, Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat Postnasal drip, Cough Facial pressure and pain Frequent awakening, Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes. In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose.