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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!

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What is LEED, anyway?

What is LEED, anyway?

You probably know by now that Cincinnati Maintenance is all about healthy environments and safe cleaning within homes and commercial buildings. One word you may have heard in conjunction with healthy environment is  “LEED-certified.”  What does that mean, when a building is LEED-certified?
Well, when you hear “LEED-certified” think GREEN!
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, and office and commercial buildings that are “LEED-certified” means these buildings operate at lower costs and create a higher standard of environmental quality. “Green” buildings mean that closer attention is paid to energy-efficiency in heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as windows, lighting, plumbing and more.  The maintenance of these environments then require green cleaning and maintenance to uphold the higher standards set forth in the construction and outfitting of the office or commercial buildings.
Cincinnati Maintenance proudly operates with the most advanced and up-to-date cleaning methods and safe chemistry available. We strive to provide the healthiest possible work space for the buildings we maintain.  We also closely monitor the most cutting-edge green technology and practices to ensure you, your properties and your businesses are protected and are doing your part to be responsible to the environment.

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After a Professional Cleaning, Who Wants their Carpets to Dry FAST?

After a Professional Cleaning, Who Wants their Carpets to Dry FAST?

After you have a professional come out to clean your carpets, do you want the carpets to dry quickly so you can get back to your normal household or business routine?  Well, sure you do! 
Cincinnati Maintenance knows that low moisture cleaning – called encapsulation – is the most advanced way to clean and maintain carpet in your home or business. Low moisture technique solves many problems commonly associated with carpet cleaning. Among these are waiting hours and hours for the cleaned area to dry, possible exposure to unwanted or unsafe chemicals, and – for the environmentally conscious – having a tremendous water-wasting footprint.
The great news is, with encapsulation, carpets dry fast! Really fast.  Homeowners are happy because “regular life” carries on and commercial clients are happy because their place of business has very few interuptions and no fear of a slip-and-fall hazard.
And, guess what? Most all encapsulation cleaners are PH balanced.  Not only are they safe for all carpet fibers, but they do not require the application of rinsing agents.  The carpet is fresh and there is no sticky residue that attracts unwanted soil.
Lastly, Cincinnati Maintenance continues to be on the cutting edge of green cleaning technologies.  Our low moisture cleaning is enviromentally responsible by cutting out waste of thousands of gallons of water, as well as being safe, effective, and clean without causing environmental hazards or exposing anyone to toxicity.

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Which Comes First? Do You Dust Before You Vacuum or Vacuum Before You Dust?

Which Comes First?

Ask people this question: Do you dust before you vacuum or vacuum before you dust?  You will get a plethora of answers – and different rationalizations for each anwer.
The same goes for baseboards. Should you clean the baseboards before you vacuum or after?
Well, if inquiring minds really want to know, this is what we at Cincinnati Maintenance recommend:
Dust first, then vacuum. Why? Pet hair, dander, dust, and other allergens are are always “floating” in your home, even if you can’t always see them. A good rule of thumb when cleaning is to wipe down your home’s surfaces first  – on a side note, we always recommend using microfiber cloths for dusting and other surface cleaning.  These help trap the particles and allergens in the cloth.
What you don’t want to do is vacuum, then dust, and then watch your surfaces appear dusty once more when the disturbed particles settle once again.
Neither notion of “which comes first” will ensure that all dust in the home is removed, but dusting and cleaning the baseboards first will trap most of the dirt and dust in your microfiber cloths, and then vacuuming afterwards will clean up any remaining debris that fell onto the floor or carpet when you dusted.
So, now you know.
 

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