Ewwww….What's in YOUR Carpet?

What’s in YOUR Carpet?
Carpeting can harbor some pretty unpleasant stuff. Of course there is your everyday dirt and grit that gets tracked in your home or office, but did you know…..

  • Your family and employees spill crumbs, bits of food, drinks, etc., in your carpets and even if the spill is blotted up, smaller particles and sticky residue likely remains.
  • Bacteria – yep, bacteria grows from the aforementioned spilled food particles and spilled beverages.
  • Mold – and other ick. Yes, if you have had damp or wet carpets for any reason, deep down mold and mildew can grow if the carpet isn’t properly cleaned. This also means that viruses can live for a period of time if the carpet pad got wet or if your carpet remained damp for a period of time. No homeowner nor employer wants something like norovirus living in your carpet or rugs.
  • If you have pets, naturally your carpet grabs onto pet fur. But, that’s not the only hair in there – your family’s hair or that of your employees and clients is in your carpet, too. And, if there is pet dander (which there is), then, guess what, there are human skin “flakes,” too.

Unfortunately, I could go on and on about what’s in carpet that you would really wish you didn’t know about, but luckily there are solutions. Vacuum, people! Keep your carpets vacuumed  – that’s your first line of defense. Make sure spills and other wet occurrences are thoroughly cleaned and dried. Periodic professional deep cleaning is actually more than a recommendation; we consider it a necessity.
Call Cincinnati Maintenance today at (513) 827-6150 or schedule your cleaning online. Free estimates!

/by

What to Do if Your Basement Floods

It happens. It just does. No one wants to think about it, but knowing what to do if your basement floods and your carpet is soaked might come in handy some day. We usually don’t say this as a first resort, but when something big – okay, this could be near-catastrophic to some – like this happens, give Cincinnati Maintenance a call. We will talk you through the initial steps you can take.
First and foremost, safety first! Be absolutely positive there is no risk of electrical shock before heading down into your flooded basement. If the water has risen above the electrical sockets, call a professional right away.
Now, to negate the damage: get the water out. You can try a shop-vac and get your sump pump going again, but the water has got to come out. If you have standing water, call Cincinnati Maintenance immediately.
Next, air flow is key. Use a dehumidifier and also get some fans going down there. Get a hold of the best/biggest you can. The main thing to remember is to move fast to get that carpet drying to try to salvage it and to avoid mold. Don’t “wait until morning.”
You may think raising the temperature will make the carpet dry quicker, but this is not a good idea: higher heat will promote bacteria growth. Keeping the temperature at or below 75 degrees is best.
Again, these are a few emergency initial steps for you to take if your basement floods. In a case like this, please also give Cincinnati Maintenance a call, (513) 827-6150. We will provide the help you will need.
 
 
 

/by

Helpful Floor Cleaning Tips from #CincinnatiMain

We at Cincinnati Maintenance thought it was time for us all to brush up on how to care for our carpet and flooring in between professional, deep cleanings.
First of all, we cannot stress enough the importance of vacuuming. It’s simply essential. The main reason is that getting up the dirt and grime helps protect your carpet! Dirt and grit wear down and break down the fibers, so vacuuming is pretty high up there in how to take care of your home and business flooring.
Sweeping and vacuuming your un-carpeted flooring is important, too! For the same reasons – it helps keep grit from wearing down your floors.
When you are “sweeping,” we recommend MICRO-FIBER. Using a mop with a micro-fiber pad works so much better than an old-fashioned broom.
Some bonus tips:

  1. For hardwood floors, use a dust mop or micro-fiber pad mop regularly. When damp mopping, a neutral (neutral being the key word) cleaner – such as the Bona products – is best. This product can be found at Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.
  2. For tile and grout, a good tile brush from Home Depot or somewhere similar will help clean the grout. Definitely avoid sealers and high alkaline cleaners. Again, neutral cleaners are key.
  3. For vinyl flooring, avoid anything that says “enhances shine” and avoid applying floor finishes. A good neutral, preferably “green,” solution is always best.

If you have any concerns or questions, you can always contact Cincinnati Maintenance and we are happy to help!

/by

Have You Heard of Marmoleum?

A popular flooring out there is called Marmoleum.  Have you heard of it?
Marmoleum is touted as a “green” flooring, meaning it is an environmentally conscious choice for many residential homes.
The adhesive upon installation is solvent free and there is also a “clickable” type of Marmoleum that uses no adhesive.
Some other benefits, according to popular home improvement website dengarden, include:

  • Estimated life of Marmoleum with normal use is 50 years
  • 100 percent biodegradeable
  • Anti-static – therefore, easier to clean because not as much grime sticks to it
  • Made of natural materials – no gaseous output of chemicals

Dengarden also indicates a few disadvantages:

  • Dents easily – so be sure to put furniture foot pads on table legs and chairs
  • Could stain – be sure it is properly installed and finished as well as cleaned properly
  • Must maintain a proper seal on the floor – discuss with your retailer exactly what this entails

As always, feel free to contact Cincinnati Maintenance should you have any questions about your home’s flooring and maintenance needs.
 

/by

Wicking: Wha-what?

Wicking: Wha-what?
What the heck is “wicking?”
Well, have you ever had your carpets cleaned – particularly a specific stain – and it looks great but in a few days, that stubborn stain mysteriously shows back up? Annoying as all get-out for sure – that’s wicking.
Wicking is caused when a stain has penetrated deep into the carpet.  Then, when the carpet cleaned – commonly by a “wet” (water) extraction method – the part of the stain that has deeply penetrated the carpet is not completely removed.  After this “wet” type of cleaning is performed and the carpet has dried, the residual portion of the soiled area “wicks” its way to the surface of the carpet fibers. Darn it! – and you’re likely out the money for that professional cleaning you just paid for.
The GREAT news is that with Cincinnati Maintenance’s green, low moisture technology, dry time is often only 45-90 minutes and also prevents that nasty wicking or reappearance of a nasty, stubborn stain.
Contact Cincinnati Maintenance today to take advantage of our low moisture cleaning process – a deep clean that is truly just that – a deep clean that dries fast!

/by

Storing a Rug? Things to Know

A lot of people want to show off their beautiful floors during the summer months and many need to store their area rugs. There are a few rules our Cincinnati clients should think about when it comes to storing a beloved rug:

  1. Be sure the rug is CLEAN before it goes into storage. An unclean rug can attract any bugs or other pests. Ewwwww. Also, removing any dirt and grime before storage helps protect the rug’s fibers.
  2. Be CERTAIN the rug is dry before considering storage. So, you’ve got your area rug all cleaned and ready to store away for the summer. Ask yourself, is this rug COMPLETELY dry? Never store a rug that is damp in any way. This will lead to mold, mildew, odor and unwanted trouble.
  3. Roll or fold? If you have the room, roll the rug. Folding can cause major stress to the rug fibers.
  4. Try to store in a climate controlled storage unit or space.
  5. Do not place items on top of a stored rug. Crushing the rug in this manner can damage the rug’s foundation and lead to cracking and other problems.

If you follow these five tips, when cooler weather arrives and you’re ready to feel a lovely rug under your feet in the mornings instead of a cold floor, you can feel confident that your area rug will be just as nice as when you stored it away.
If you have any questions about cleaning an area rug and getting it ready for proper storage, please contact us at Cincinnati Maintenance.
 
 
 
 

/by

EVERYONE Talks about Green Cleaning – So Do We!

EVERYONE talks about “green cleaning.” Guess what, so do we here at Cincinnati Maintenance! We love letting our Cincinnati clients know that we care not only about their carpets, upholstery and floors, but that we also care about their kids, pets, and the whole family!
Also, Cincinnati Maintenance knows the importance of taking care of our environment. It’s a no-brainer that keeping the environment healthy, keeps you and your families healthy, too.
That’s why the products we use and how we use them are good for your home AND your family. We use green-certified products that have your carpets and rugs drying quickly and that also eliminate the risk of mold or other growth.
Taking it a step further, Cincinnati Maintenance does not use gasoline-burning engines during cleaning services and we use only HEPA filtration vacuums on every job. Our products and techniques ensure that your home is taken care of in the “greenest” way possible. That’s how we show we care.

/by

Have You Received Bad Carpet Cleaning Advice?

Everyone has advice for everyone these days – and they post it all over social media, too! Have you received bad advice about carpet cleaning? We at Cincinnati Maintenance are often told things from our Cincinnati area customers that they’ve “heard” or “been told” about their carpets, and some of this advice is just not true! Here are a few examples:
“My carpet doesn’t look too dirty, so it does not need a deep, professional cleaning.”
Did you know that if you wait for that big stain or spill for a professional cleaning – that if you don’t clean your carpets because they “look fine,”  – you may be risking carpet damage and a shorter lifespan of your carpet investment? Dirt, grime, soil, and pet hair/dander can make its way deep into your carpet fibers, and, while you may not see it if you are vacuuming regularly, this can do damage deep within your carpet. Having a deep, professional cleaning extends the life of your carpets.
“Carpet shrinks when you get it professionally cleaned.”
Actually, carpet can shrink if it is not properly cleaned by a professional who is trained and uses appropriate equipment and products. When improper cleaning leads to improper drying time, that’s when the threat of shrinkage becomes viable. Cincinnati Maintenance’s technicians are certified, are highly trained, and use a low-moisture method with appropriate, “clean,” “green” products to ensure your carpets are cared for in a manner that produces good, safe results.
Contact Cincinnati Maintenance today for a free estimate.

/by

Things Reputable Carpet Cleaners Do

Let’s face it – not all carpet cleaning companies are alike. As with any type of service, some companies are just better than others. Cincinnati Maintenance strives to adhere to a certain level of high performance combined with good ethics – providing great customer satisfaction throughout the Cincinnati area. As you search for the best carpet cleaning service to meet your needs, keep in mind these things that reputable carpet cleaners do:

  1. Follow strict IICRC standards for carpet cleaning and floor care services
  2. Pre-vaccum carpets to remove loose soil and debris
  3. Use U.S EPA screened and tested products that are safe for your family, pets, and commercial customers
  4. Understand and implement safe cleaning methods for all types of carpet, even wool
  5. Post-groom your carpet, providing a fresh look and feel
  6. Have educated and properly certfied technicians
  7. Is fully insured

Do not hesitate to ask any company you are considering using if they can say “yes” to all of the above.  After all, it’s your money you’re spending, and it’s your home or business you are protecting!
If you have questions about carpet cleaning in general or about a particularly tough problem you may be having with pet stains or other difficult carpet issues, please contact Cincinnati Maintainance today. We are happy to discuss your needs and methods to meet them. As always, we provide free estimates.

/by

Grout Color Sealing!

Grout Color Sealing!

Hey, Cincinnati! Did you know that color seal is the best way to restore damaged grout lines without having an extensive remodeling expense!?
Have you been trying to clean, and trying to clean AGAIN, and then trying to clean YET AGAIN that grungy grout?  If all cleaning attempts have failed, there IS another option!
Yes, Grout Color Sealing could very well be the way to go to restore your grout without a massive remodel! It is DEFINITELY worth looking into and we at Cincinnati Maintenance are happy to provide you with an estimate to bring your tile and grout back to beautiful life!
Here’s some more info:

/by