Archive for the ‘Carpet, Rug and Upholstery Cleaning’ Category

How to remove red wine stains from carpet

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Natural fibres absorb liquids quickly, making them more difficult to treat. Natural fibres commonly used in carpets include wool, cotton, silk, jute and sisal. Synthetic fibres like nylon, polyester, acrylic and polypropylene are not as absorbent. Liquids do not saturate these yarns as quickly, making them easier to treat. Removing red wine from both natural and synthetic yarns uses the same techniques.

First, immediately blot the spill with a clean, dry white cloth to remove most of the liquid. It is important to blot, not rub. Rubbing will distribute the liquid and imbed it into the fibres. Spills tend to bead up and sit on the surface of synthetic fibres, but are quickly absorbed by wool and other natural yarns.

After removing as much of the moisture as possible by blotting, sprinkle table salt over the spill and wait a few minutes. The salt will absorb both moisture and colour; it may turn pink as it continues to absorb. Vacuum the salt; the stain should be gone.

If there is still stain remaining, mix sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a cup of water. Pour this mixture over the stain. Again blot. Start with a sponge, which is very absorbent. Follow with a clean, dry white cloth. The stain should be gone.

For other stains, here are some general do-it-yourself stain removal tips that may help you in emergencies. Try to determine the fibre content of the carpet yarn. Although most stain removal agents work on both synthetic and natural fibres, not all do. Each type of fibre may react differently to the kind of stain. For example, polyester readily absorbs oils but not water-based stains or urine. Some nylons are treated with acid dye blockers and fluorochemical coatings. Alkaline solutions weaken these coatings. Stain removal agents should be as pH-neutral as possible to avoid damage to carpet fibres and dyes.

Treat stains immediately, if possible. Blot liquids with a clean, dry white cloth. Do not rub. Try to prevent a liquid from saturating the carpet backing and padding. Test cleaners on an area of the carpet that does not show. If in doubt, call a carpet cleaning professional for evaluation and treatment of the stain.

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Fire & Smoke Restoration

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Having a fire in your house is terrifying and heart-rending. Even after a fire is extinguished, the residual effects of high humidity, smoke and ash continue to cause deterioration of personal possessions and property and can create health hazards. The more quickly cleaning and restoration is initiated, the easier it is to minimise damage and reduce restoration costs.

Although fire and smoke cause damage that is obvious during and immediately after a fire, chemical reactions continue over days and weeks. During a fire, smoke is pushed by air pressure through a building and deposits residues on walls, floors, ceilings and other objects. Extinguishing the fire creates high humidity; the open pores of wood and other porous substances absorb odour and water.

After the fire, corrosive and acidic by-products generated by high heat and fire continue to affect structural materials, electrical equipment, appliances and other items. Within hours, grout, countertops, appliance finishes and furniture may stain, yellow or tarnish. Over time, the acidic residues of soot and ash interact with other materials causing discolouration, corrosion, pitting, staining and emission of volatile airborne particles and gasses.

Immediate treatment initiated within the first twenty-four hours by a restoration professional may mean the difference between permanent damage and restoration of salvageable possessions and property to pre-fire condition. A professional will evaluate the extent of damage, recommend treatment and identify objects that cannot be treated and must be removed.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a non-profit organisation that sets standards, monitors programs that certify cleaning and remediation technicians and provides advice to consumers about cleaning and restoration from fire, smoke and floods.

Steamy’s Cleaning and Restoration Services technicians are IICRC certified in fire and smoke damage restoration. A professional restoration technician is trained to neutralise residues, clean surfaces, perform deep cleaning on porous materials and restore stone, brick and wood whenever possible. Non-recoverable objects and materials will be removed. Salvageable surfaces will be cleaned to remove residues. Inaccessible areas will be isolated to prevent further odour and chemical contamination.

Steamy’s also has a hydroxyl generator that removes smoke odour from porous materials like upholstery, wood and clothing. This specialised machine neutralises odours and removes airborne contaminants without harm to humans and pets.

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Caring for your hardwood floors

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Hard wood floors are an elegant feature for any home. Along with maintaining the value of your investment, preserving the natural beauty of your floors is crucial to keeping that special look and feel that hardwood floors create.

We have compiled our top ten DIY tips you can use to improve the life of you hardwood floors and keep them looking beautiful.

  1. Research
    Research the proper care for you particular floors and their finish – contact the manufacturer of your hardwood floors for their recommendations on cleaning and care.
  2. Vacuum/Sweep Regularly
    Regular vacuuming or sweeping is important to protect your floor from dirt and sand, as their abrasive texture can scratch your hardwood floors when walked on. Try using a soft bristle broom or soft brush attachment on your vacuum.
  3. Protect From Sunlight
    Protect from sunlight as UV rays can damage hardwood floors over time, consider using sheer curtains or blinds that can reduce fading and discolouring of your floors.
  4. Do Not Drag Heavy Objects
    Never drag furniture across your hardwood floors, always lift and place heavy items carefully to avoid scratches or damage.
  5. Use Furniture Pads
    Furniture pads and felt feet beneath furniture items will prevent damage to your hardwood floors.
  6. Protect From Traffic
    Use floor mats at entrances and consider carpet runners (with non-skid pads) in high traffic areas.
  7. Floor Cleaning Products
    Never use cleaners designed for other surfaces (ie., linoleum, laminate, tiles) on hardwood. Again, follow your manufacturer’s recommendations on what cleaning products will best for your floors.
  8. Avoid Heavy and High Heal Shoes
    Some heals can cause dents in your hardwood floors, damaging the surface of your floors and leaving permanent damage.
  9. Clean Up Spills Quickly
    Remove spills quickly and dry the area thoroughly. Standing water can damage the polish and even warp a wooden floor.
  10. Professional Cleaning
    Many floors require periodic waxing and buffing – contact your manufacturer for recommendations, or call Steamy’s Cleaning & Restoration Services on 1300 881 110 for information or an obligation free quote.

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Water Damage and the Hidden Dangers of Mould

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Important Information Regarding Health Risk

The floods we have seen across many regions of the country in recent months have brought water damage restoration and the dangers of mould into the public eye.

Floods or unexpected water damage such as a burst pipe can have a devastating impact on a property and those who live or work within that property. If water damage is not dealt with correctly and quickly by experienced technicians, water damage may result in undetected toxic mould growth, leading to expensive mould remediation.

Besides the additional costs involved in treating the mould, the presence of mould poses serious health risks with many types of mould proven to lead to respiratory illness, allergies, rashes and asthma. The elderly, children and people with low immune systems are most at risk.

The spores of fungi remain present in the air and on objects. They lie dormant, waiting for the perfect conditions of high humidity and warm temperatures to grow. Once the growth begins, it spreads quickly. Since microbial growth is exponential, quick response is imperative to control it. Dehumidification is effective in arresting the growth, but the active growth must be stopped and spores must be removed.

To avoid the danger of mould and the cost of remediation, the National Upholstery, Carpet Cleaners & Restorers Association advise, ‘Hire a restorer who has been trained in specialised water damage restoration. Not all companies who offer restoration services have the appropriate skills to carry out the work. The drying process is the most important part of the restoration process and if it is not carried out professionally there are many risks that can occur. Choose a NUCCRA Member who specialises in Restoration. These companies have the training and experience to carry out the work. If your insurance company sends you a restorer ask if they have a IICRC qualification and ask to see their IICRC card. You do not want to put yourself or your family at risk by having the job done by someone untrained’.

At Steamy’s Cleaning and Restoration Services it is our goal to get water damaged properties back to a liveable and safe place for the family and get business premises back to normal as quickly as possible. Steamy’s has IICRC qualified technicians to ensure your property is properly and safely remediated. If you or anyone you know have any questions about recent flood damage and any remediation work done, feel free to contact us today on 1300 881 110.

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The importance of using a qualified carpet cleaner

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

When selecting a business to provide you a service, there are some industries where qualifications are simply a given; plumbers and electricians will have completed their apprenticeship, lawyers and doctors will have graduated from university. So why don’t people have the same expectation that their carpet cleaner being trained and qualified?

If you do choose a technician without the correct training and qualifications you run the risk of having your carpets cleaned poorly – or worse still, permanently damaged.

People don’t realise that carpet is often the most expensive item in their home, with the cost of good quality carpet, starting from around $100 per linear metre. The cost of using an untrained technician can cost you more than just having your carpets cleaned a second time – sometimes carpets are so badly damaged that they will need replacing.

As yet, Australia has no standard qualification or licence that a carpet cleaning business must practice under to actually provide Carpet Cleaning services. So it is up to the customer to ensure they are choosing the right technician to care for their carpet.

To ensure you are hiring a professional, always choose a carpet cleaner who is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The IICRC is the certification registry and standard setting organisation for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industry. It is the largest world-wide registry of inspectors, cleaners and restorers serving Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, Great Britain and Japan.

IICRC certified technicians have earned their certification through study, experience and the successful completion of formal written examinations. If you’re not sure if a technician is certified, visit the IICRC Find a Certified Firm page where you can check to see if a company is actually a IICRC certified firm.

When selecting a carpet cleaner, remember to ask for the following:

  1. What training have you done?
  2. Who have you completed your training with? (there are only three IICRC schools in Australia: Jena Dyco International, CPK Training and the Institute of Cleaning and Restoration Education.)
  3. Is your business certified by the IICRC and can you show me your certification certificates?
  4. Are your technicians certified by the IICRC and can I see their certificates?

Steamy’s Cleaning & Restoration Services is proud to be a IICRC certified firm and places great value in training our technicians and ensuring they are equipped with the right knowledge to provide you the highest quality service. We ensure all our technicians undergo training to become IICRC certified in carpet cleaning and you will also find a number of our technicians have a range of other IICRC qualifications including Carpet Repairs & Reinstallations, Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning, Applied Microbial Remediation, Odour Control, Fire & Smoke Restoration, Health & Safety….just to name a few!

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Rug Cleaning

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Rug Cleaning
Rugs require special care to maximise their life and durability. There are a number of things you can do at home to make your rug last longer, such as vacuuming regularly to remove loose soil and avoiding continual direct exposure to sunlight. However, one of the best ways to maximise the lifespan of your rug is to get it professionally cleaned every 2 to 4 years.
As a child I can remember my mother hanging our family oriental rug on the balcony and beating it heavily with a broom. The soil would fall off leaving the carpet a little cleaner; however these days we have much more efficient and advanced methods of cleaning rugs.
The rug needs to be taken away from the premises (offsite) so that the rug can be cleaned properly. The first step is to beat the soil out with a special machine. The soil that detaches away from the rug is usually colourful due to the soil eating through the pile.
Once the soil has been removed, the rug is then steam cleaned using the correct kind of detergent and amount of water specific to the type of rug, thus ensuring no running of colour or any other damage is caused to the rug. If not done correctly this can be a very costly exercise for all concerned.
I’m currently getting myself prepped up for a big rug job that we’ll be starting on soon. The rug is wool oriental and over 50 years old, meaning that it’s a very big job and one that we’re going to have to take a lot of care with.
Rug cleaning jobs always include a high trust factor. Rugs are very expensive and, for some people, can often hold a degree of sentimental value. It’s always in the back of my mind when I’m cleaning a rug that the customer has placed a high value item in my care, and it’s my duty to make sure that it returns to them in the best condition possible.

Rugs require special care to maximise their life and durability. There are a number of things you can do at home to make your rug last longer, such as vacuuming regularly to remove loose soil and avoiding continual direct exposure to sunlight. However, one of the best ways to maximise the lifespan of your rug is to get it professionally cleaned every 2 to 4 years.

As a child I can remember my mother hanging our family oriental rug on the balcony and beating it heavily with a broom. The soil would fall off leaving the carpet a little cleaner; however these days we have much more efficient and advanced methods of cleaning rugs.

The rug needs to be taken away from the premises (offsite) so that the rug can be cleaned properly. The first step is to beat the soil out with a special machine. The soil that detaches away from the rug is usually colourful due to the soil eating through the pile.

Once the soil has been removed, the rug is then steam cleaned using the correct kind of detergent and amount of water specific to the type of rug, thus ensuring no running of colour or any other damage is caused to the rug. If not done correctly this can be a very costly exercise for all concerned.

I’m currently getting myself prepped up for a big rug job that we’ll be starting on soon. The rug is wool oriental and over 50 years old, meaning that it’s a very big job and one that we’re going to have to take a lot of care with.

Rug cleaning jobs always include a high trust factor. Rugs are very expensive and, for some people, can often hold a degree of sentimental value. It’s always in the back of my mind when I’m cleaning a rug that the customer has placed a high value item in my care, and it’s my duty to make sure that it returns to them in the best condition possible.

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