No matter how well trained our pets may be, occasionally they have accidents. Pet urine stains are one of the most difficult to remove from carpets and upholstery. Treatment must eliminate both the discoloured splotch and the odour. The longer the urine sits, the more difficult it is to remove. If the smell remains in the carpet, it is an invitation to your pet to use the same spot again. There are several effective ways to remove pet urine from textiles.

The faster the treatment, the more effective the result. If the spot is fresh, douse with cool water. A mist sprayer allows an even application of water without over-wetting. Try to keep the water concentrated over the spot as much as possible; if it disperses too far at the edges of the stain, the urine will spread. Blot immediately with a thick, clean, white cloth or towel. Place a heavy weight over the towel to pick up the liquid. If the urine is on a carpet with a pad, the pad, carpet and floor must be treated. Continue to blot until all the moisture is removed. If a stain or an odour remains, continue the same treatment until the stain is no longer visible and the odour disappears. Spots that sit for more than 10 minutes are more difficult to treat and may require more time to completely remove the stain.

Pet urine stains when dry are more difficult to remove because both the stain and smell have permeated the material. Urine contains uric acid, amino acids, proteins and water. Uric acid crystals adhere to fibres and are thus difficult to treat. Enzymatic cleaners like urineFREE® break these crystals down, making them easier to remove.

Treatment can be tricky on some fibres. Natural yarns like cotton, wool and silk absorb liquids faster than synthetic fibres, so stains saturate the fibres, pad and floor more quickly. Not all dyes are colour-fast; even water affects some dyes. If urine makes the dyes run, chances are that treatment with additional liquids will also affect dyes. If there is time, try testing a patch in a hidden area to see whether water or the cleaning agent affects the dyes. If dyes are not stable, it is best to call a professional.

Before applying chemicals or cleansers that could affect the fabric or dyes, consult a professional. A properly trained carpet and upholstery cleaning technician knows which products can be applied to specific materials for effective cleaning. The Clean Trust (formerly The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certifies professionals in the restoration, inspection and cleaning industry throughout the world. Specialities of certification include carpet cleaning, upholstery repair and cleaning, colour repair, odour removal and floor care.

For more information on urineFREE® or pet urine stains & odour issues, please give the team at Steamy’s Cleaning and Restoration Services a call today on 1300 881 110.

Pet Urine Stains and Odour Treatment

Well chosen furniture is a major element of the décor of a room. Upholstery is a visual and tactile component of the aesthetic design of furniture; its colour, texture and volume complement the frame and structural design of the pieces. Upholstery comes in a wide range of fabrics that typically include leather, vinyl, silk and heavy-duty cottons.

Furniture that is regularly cleaned has a better overall appearance and colours stay fresh-looking longer. Regular vacuuming removes dust, pet dander and fur and may prolong the life of the fabric. Regularly turning cushions preserves the lustre of upholstery fabric and keeps colours from fading from sunlight and uneven wear.

If upholstery becomes stained, the sooner the stain is treated, the more successful the outcome. Treatment depends on the type of stain and fabric. Liquids like red wine or pet urine should be immediately blotted with a clean, white cloth to remove as much of the liquid as possible. Wipe leather and vinyl dry with a soft cloth. If the liquid has penetrated porous fabrics, additional treatment may be required, by sprinkling the stain with table salt to absorb colour and moisture, leave on for a few minutes, and then vacuum off. Baking soda neutralizes odours. Sprinkle dry baking soda over the stain and then vacuum after 30 minutes.

If additional cleansers are required, test first on an area that does not show. Use a pH-neutral soap to reduce reactions with dyes or topical treatments to fabric. Hard-to-remove stains like nail polish, lipstick and inks may require special treatment; in these cases, it may be advisable to have a professional evaluate the stain and suggest treatment.

Regular household cleaning removes particles that are on the surface of upholstery. To thoroughly clean furniture, experts advise that professionals clean upholstery at least once a year. Even with frequent vacuuming, dust, allergens and oils eventually penetrate the cushions and cannot be removed without special equipment and cleansers. A professional upholstery cleaner uses machinery like industrial-grade high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuums that remove allergens and deeply embedded dirt that household vacuums cannot. Professionals also are knowledgeable about cleaning products, and can use the most appropriate for the job.

Steamy’s Cleaning and Restoration Services uses a variety of cleaning techniques to thoroughly clean your upholstery. We assess the type of fabric, evaluate stains and recommend appropriate cleansers and treatment before we begin. Deep cleaning may involve applying detergents, agitating with a soft brush or extracting soil with steam. Our special drying process using high speed air ensures that your furniture is completely dry before we leave.

Why get your Upholstery Cleaned?

A good mattress is an investment, and well-taken care of, should last at least 10 years. Since people sleep approximately 8 out of every 24 hours, keeping a mattress fresh and clean is important.

Mattresses absorb moisture from perspiration as we sleep, creating an environment for moulds, pests and dust. A poorly ventilated room may cause build-up of these allergens in furniture and bedding, which can trigger allergic reactions as well as respiratory reactions for people with asthma.

One of the biggest problems is unseen: the occurrence of dust mites in mattresses, pillows, carpets, draperies and furniture. People with allergies are particularly sensitive to the fecal droppings left by these microscopic Acari, a type of arachnid that includes mites and ticks. Dust mites feed on dead skin that sloughs off and settles in the mattress. They occur on every continent and in all climates.

Regular mattress cleaning prevents build-up of moisture and allergens and may also extend the life of the mattress. Experts recommend turning a mattress every six months to even out the wear and prevent sagging. When turning, thoroughly vacuum the top, bottom and sides with a crevice tool along the seams and a brush and upholstery tool over the surfaces. This will remove dust and much of the waste material left by dust mites.

Putting the mattress in the sun allows both heat and ultraviolet (UV) rays to kill bacteria and mould and remove moisture. Bring the mattress back inside before sunset, when the dewpoint rises and moisture may again settle on the mattress.

Dust mites burrow into a mattress deeper than an ordinary vacuum can reach. They rise to the surface for feeding, then burrow back inside. Although freshening bedding can reduce the number of dust mites in mattresses, the best way to eradicate them is by using a professional mattress cleaning service. Professionals use several machines and products that penetrate deep into the mattress to extract both the mites and the wastes they produce.

Specially-made, heavy-duty portable vacuums with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters remove 99.97 percent of all particles greater than 0.3 micron (µ) and remove spores and bacteria to 0.1 µ. To be effective, the air must be drawn through the filtration system so that particulates are trapped before the air is expelled. Household HEPA vacuum cleaners typically leak, allowing air to escape before filtration occurs. Thus, household machines re-release mould, fungi and small particles into the air.

Ultraviolet light is used in medical environments to kill bacteria, fungi and mould. Specifically, UV-C, or shortwave radiation, has been proven to have a germicidal effect. Professional cleaning combines HEPA and deep-penetrating UV-C light to kill mould, bacteria, fungus spores and other micro-organisms. Your mattress will be sanitised and freshened, allowing you to breathe and rest in comfort and health.

Mattress Cleaning

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 stains 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 red wine stains 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 red wine stains.

How to remove red wine stains from carpet

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.

Fire & Smoke Restoration

Hardwood 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.

Caring for your hardwood floors

Steamy’s Cleaning and Restoration Services has acquired a hydroxyl generating air purifier, the Odorox BOSS XL3, a patented device that eliminates bad odours and airborne contaminants from indoor environments. If you have had the unfortunate experience of damage to your home or business from fire, flooding or other natural disasters, you will understand why we are so pleased to offer this new service to our customers.

Hydroxyl generators can be used to treat airborne contaminants including bacteria, mould, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odourless gasses. Although we offer several types of effective odour remediation, the Odorox purifier offers additional benefits that systems such as ozone remediation cannot provide. The Odorox purifier does not produce gasses or chemical reactions that will harm you or your property. The molecules penetrate porous surfaces such as fabric, wood and upholstery, neutralising odours.

The Odorox air purifier uses hydroxyls to clean the air, just the way nature does. If you remember high school chemistry, water, or H2O, contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. When ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun hits water vapour, a chemical reaction occurs. One hydrogen atom is released from the water molecule, leaving the remaining hydrogen attached to the oxygen. This molecule, called a hydroxyl, OH, is unstable, with a free electron. The molecule becomes stable by forming a chemical bond with another atom. This happens automatically and naturally outdoors, but does not happen naturally indoors.

ODOROX Hydroxyl Generators replicate this natural processODOROX implements a dual process attack on contaminants.

The Odorox Hydroxyl Generator creates three types of UV light within the machine. As air is blown in, these rays interact with the humidity in the air to create hydroxyls. The contaminants bond to the hydroxyl molecules. This happens naturally and does not create toxins or chemical reactions. The pollutants are neutralized.

This generator can be set up on your site to remove airborne contaminants, mould, smoke and bad odours. The amount of time of remediation required depends on the type and extent of damage and the extent of the area to be treated. We use air movers and air injectors to increase and direct air flow through the generator. We will be glad to provide an assessment for remediation at your site.

ODOROX Boss XL3

Purify the Air You Breathe

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.

Water Damage and the Hidden Dangers of Mould

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!

The importance of using a qualified carpet cleaner

As you know, fire and smoke damage is a danger for your home and your health. Whilst the fire damage can render your home or property unsafe to live or work in. The smoke and odour that remains on the walls, in the ducts and throughout the property is a danger – breathing in smoke particles has serious adverse health effects. It is important to ensure the proper restoration of the property is undertaken as soon as possible.

Whilst the cost conscious homeowner may be tempted to take on the cleanup on their own, it is important to be aware that without the appropriate knowledge or experience, this can make conditions worse – and cost more in the long term. It is recommended by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (ICCRC) that you contact a professional, certified in fire and smoke damage restoration, to refurbish your property.

As qualified technicians, the team at Steamy’s Carpet Care are time conscious when restoring fire and smoke damaged properties. When neutralization, corrosion control and cleaning are delayed the level of damage increases and restorations costs will escalate. The more the restoration process is prolonged, the more the property will be exposed to the effects of the smoke.

The following timeline illustrates why there is such a sense of urgency to restoring a fire and smoke affected property. According to the IICRC…

Within Minutes
Acid soot residues cause plastics to yellow; small appliances located close to the source of combustion discolour; highly porous materials (marble, alabaster) discolour permanently.

Within Hours
Acid residues stain grout in bathrooms; fibreglass bath fixtures yellow; metals tarnish, counter tops may yellow; finishes on appliances, particularly refrigerators that extend into the heat line, may yellow; furniture finishes may discolour.

Within Days
In time, acid residues cause painted walls to yellow permanently; metal corrodes, pits and rusts; wood furniture requires refinishing; vinyl flooring requires refinishing or replacement; clothing becomes soot stained; upholstery stains permanently.

Within Weeks
Restoration costs escalate tremendously. Synthetic carpet fibres may yellow or discolour permanently; silver plate is corroded permanently; glass, crystal, china may require replacement due to severe etching and pitting caused by prolonged exposure to acid soot residues.

It is crucial that soot residue is cleaned as soon as possible. During combustion soot residue is carried by humidity, volatile vapours and air currents to surfaces throughout a structure, and deposited. This deposition process occurs repeatedly until combustion ends, with soot residue building up on surfaces layer-by-layer. If not addresses quickly, the hardened lacquer-like soot residues will become extremely difficult to dissolve and remove.

Removing the residue is only one part of the job, it is also necessary to rid your property of its smoky odour. All good professionals and our qualified technicians use the following four step process to eliminate odours:

1. Identify the source of the odour and remove – this includes removing any unsalvageable debris that contributes to odour and risks the recontamination of cleaned and deodorized areas.
2. Clean all salvageable surfaces and items thus removing the odour causing residue.
3. Apply an appropriate odour counterbalance. Using the direct application of deodorants, or by generating a deodorizing fog that seeks out and combines with odour causing substances.
4. Encapsulate and prevent progressive recontamination by sealing salvageable surfaces that are inaccessible or only slightly scorched.

To minimise the need for costly repairs, we recommend home and property owners educate themselves on how fire and smoke can affect their property and know that when using the right professionals, your home can be restored to a ‘pre loss’ condition.

Should you require further information, or would like to speak with a qualified fire and smoke restoration technician, please call Steamy’s Carpet Care today on 1300 881 110.

After the Smoke Clears – Fire and Smoke Restoration