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New Year's Resolutions – How Often Should You Have Your Carpets Cleaned?

It’s New Year’s resolution time! Often we at Cincinnati Maintenance hear our clients vowing to have a cleaner, healthier home as a New Year’s resolution – we say, “Go for it, Cincinnati!” Regular, professional carpet cleaning is a great addition to your cleaning resolutions!
Then, we are asked, “How often should I have my carpets cleaned?”  The answer can be different depending on your home, the age of your carpets, the size of your family, whether or not you have pets, etc., but here are some of our recommendations:  Homes with pets and families should have the carpets cleaned every 6-to-12 months.  Office buildings (particularly, ground floor offices) benefit from the same 6-to-12 month recommendation.  
Certain service institutions require more frequent cleaning, due to health and sensitivity concerns:  daycares, once per week; nursing homes, once per month; restaurants, once per month; and, schools, every 3-to-6 months.
Let Cincinnati Maintenance assist in your New Year’s cleaning goals – call (513) 827-6150 today to get started or contact us here!

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Why You Should Get Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned

Cincinnati Maintenance wants to help you keep your home healthy and clean – two very good reasons right there why it’s a good idea, Cincinnati, to get your carpets professionally cleaned!
Why you should get your carpets professionally cleaned:

  • Your home will smell great and will look great, too! Everyone wants that!!
  • Keeping your carpets in good shape keeps or adds to your home’s value – professional cleaning keeps the carpet fibers uplifted and keeps your carpets looking as new as possible for as long as possible.
  • As mentioned in the point above, professional cleaning prolongs the longevity of your carpets.
  • Keeping mold, mildew and harmful bacteria at bay is yet another great benefit of a deep professional cleaning. Your health is important to us!
  • And, hey – it keeps YOU from having to take on the task of deep cleaning your carpets yourself!

Now, THAT’s peace of mind! Call Cincinnati Maintenance today – (513) 827-6150.

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Low Moisture or Encapsulation Cleaning is Best

There are different methods of professional carpet cleaning. We at Cincinnati Maintenance prefer low-moisture encapsulation. Why? Because Low Moisture or Encapsulation cleaning is the most safe and advanced way to clean and maintain carpet. It dries fast; it’s PH balanced; and there is no chemical residue – therefore is wayyyyyy better for the environment AND for your own home or business.
However, whether you choose hot water extraction or encapsulation cleaning, please consider the following:

  • Pre-vacuuming should be required by the technician. If you hire a professional and they do not begin by dry vacuuming first, send them on their way before they do anything more. Seriously.
  • Request non-toxic, “green” pre-sprays and cleaners. Cincinnati Maintenance often uses Procyon Brand carpet and tile cleaning products to produce amazing cleaning results.  These cleaners are soap free and derived from various plant based ingredients. This helps eliminate any type of chemical exposure whatsoever.
  • Carpet grooming: The crimp and twist of the carpet is set at the mills with either a wet or dry heat.  When professionals clean with heat, the setting from the mills can be disrupted.  Post Grooming can help prevent harming the carpet fibers.

Cincinnati Maintenance is dedicated to staying current on all of the best products and best practices to help keep your home and business clean AND safe.

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Don't Let Your Carpets Make You Sick

Flu and cold season is about here – a topic we like to address this time of year. The kids are in school, probably around more children than usual and therefore more germs. It’s naturally flu season anyway. The change of seasons sometimes seem to bring on colds and whatnot. There’s not a lot you can do about any of that, BUT you can take measures to help keep your carpets from making you sick.

  1. Use an entryway mat. We have talked about this before. Entryway doormats are a place where grit, grime, and, yes, even some germs can be halted before it all reaches your home’s carpets. The trick here is to really, really have that doormat on a good vacuuming and cleaning schedule! And, hey, it’s a doormat – replace them as needed.
  2. Vacuum! Just do it. And, a vacuum with a good filter – preferably HEPA filter – is definitely best.
  3. Clean up spills and food crumbs immediately. The goal here is to reduce bacteria growth from organic material. Same goes for any pet accidents: get it cleaned asap.
  4. Deep, professional cleaning on a regular schedule (once per year or twice per year, even) is always a good idea. More often if you have pets or toddlers in that crawling-around stage.

Minor illnesses, especially during “the season,” can’t be completely avoided, but taking care of your carpets properly is just one more step in taking care of you and your family.
Contact us! Cincinnati Maintenance – (513) 827-6150.
 

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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!

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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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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.
 
 
 
 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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