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2017 CLEANING ARTICLES
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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – December 2017

The Best Tech

DID YOU KNOW that one of the biggest decisions you will ever make involve whom you invite into your home?

No, we aren’t speaking of dinner guests or your next son or daughter- in- law.  Yes, they are important… but what we are speaking of is something you might do without giving it much thought.

What is it? Inviting a service company into your home. You have to do it from time to time. But you need to be extra careful of whom you invite. Remember, this is your home, your private domain, and you want only the best.

Sad to say, many service companies today are a disappointment when it comes to providing customers what they really need and want: Good, quality workmanship combined with top-notch customer service.

Your choice in a carpet cleaner or water damage restoration pro should be the best choice.

What should you expect when you hire a cleaning or restoration company to enter your home and do work for you?

The Top Three

1.    Quality work: When you call a company to do work for you, it is assumed they will do what they say they will do, such as clean the carpet, clean the tile and grout, or remove the water that flooded your basement.

2.    On time: They say they will be there between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. but if they are there at 2 p.m., what does that do to your schedule? A reputable company will be on time and respect your own schedule.

3.    Appearance: A quality cleaning and restoration company should look like professionals. Anyone coming into your home should make you feel comfortable. After all, if they can’t keep their trucks and technicians cleaned up, can you expect them to really clean up your home?

After all, it is your home. When looking for the best in cleaning and restoration, remember you deserve the absolute best!

Call a quality cleaning and restoration pro!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – November 2017

Tossing in the Towel

It happens all the time in a typical household. You grab a paper towel — or two, or three — to wipe up a mess when something is spilled. That’s what paper towels are for, right?

But something else you might have experienced using paper towels is for polishing your nice granite countertop, rubbing and scrubbing but still seeing streaks on the surface. You keep going until you have exhausted not only your stock of paper towels, but your own energy as well.

And what about the mirrors and windows in your home? Have you ever sprayed them with window cleaner and no matter how much you rubbed and scrubbed with a paper towel, you still saw those little swirly marks?

Of course. Happens all the time!

We have nothing against paper towels. We all use them and need them. But there is a better choice when it comes to cleaning many of the surfaces in your home.

What’s that better choice? A “microfiber” cloth or towel, and it solves all kinds of cleaning challenges.

Microfibers are amazing things. They are normally made from polyester, sometimes with other fibers added, and can be reused again and again and again with normal laundering. (Just don’t use fabric softener as that leaves a residue on the towel.)

The word “micro” is key: Tiny filaments that act like thirsty grime-seeking sponges. Microfibers are soft and eagerly grab dirt, spills and more, leaving the surface sparkling clean. Those shiny surfaces in your home are perfect for microfibers.

Bonus: Anyone who believes in cleaning “green” and recycling should consider using microfibers. They are environmentally a superior choice. You can purchase them from virtually any store that sells cleaning products. Try them out.

So toss in the towel — the paper one, anyway.

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – October 2017

How to Take Care of Your Outdoor Grill

There’s nothing more enjoyable to food lovers everywhere than firing up the gas grill and creating some delicious meals, whether steaks, burgers, bratwursts or healthy home-grown vegetables.
 
Keeping that gas grill in good shape is, therefore, paramount to happy outdoor barbecues and family gatherings.
 
And here’s something we all know: Outdoor gas grills don’t clean or take care of themselves. It takes determination on your part to keep them working for you, meal after meal after meal.
 
Here are a few easy steps to keeping your gas grill in good shape.
 
Step 1: After cooking your favorite treat on the grill (after removing all the food to a platter, of course) keep the grill on. In fact, turn it up a bit, and let all the bits of meat and drippings burn to a crisp so after everything cools you can scrape them off the grill grate. If you don’t do this, the next time you fire up the grill means you will be dealing with the remnants of the previous meal. That’s not tasty.
 
Step 2: Look underneath… no matter the quality of your grill, if you have a storage area for pans, spatulas and the propane tank, food drippings and debris can quickly create a problem. Clean out that storage area on a regular basis, keeping everything neat and ready for the next meal.
 
Step 3: Don’t ignore the exterior of the grill. Washing the outside of the grill with warm, soapy water keeps grime from building up.
 
Step 4: When not in use, keep everything covered up. Some feel that with warmer weather, they can leave the grill exposed to the elements. Hey, it’s meant to be outside, right? Yet keeping the grill under a quality grill cover can add years of life to your trusty outdoor cooking partner.
 
Of course, with outdoor grilling comes greasy spills that can spot and stain your carpet. Nearly everyone has dropped a burger or a hot dog on the floor when bringing the food inside. Even worse is when your tasty treat is covered with mustard or ketchup. Do your carpet a favor and call your professional carpet cleaning company when that happens.

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – September 2017

Man's Best Friend

DID YOU KNOW that man’s best friend can actually become your worst nightmare?

That’s right. He’s cuddly, cute and you love him, but sometimes he has a problem with “accidents” and pretty soon, you start to notice the… ummm… odiferous situation.

Besides the obvious occasional accident from Fido, his hair can also be an issue. Once he shakes a bit off, it goes into the carpet and furniture and sticks to it all and it can be quite a problem.

Then you have the issue of “I want in. I want out. I want in.” You know it… Fido is always on the move and the constant going outside and then back inside brings in all kinds of dirt.

What can you do about all this?

1.    Clean messes up quickly. Once you discover an “accident,” it’s important to grab a few paper towels and blot up the mess before it sinks down into the padding of the carpet. A good enzyme deodorizer like you might get from the vet helps with lingering odors, but of course it’s best to have a professional carpet cleaner come over to handle these odor challenges.

2.    A hairy situation can be tamed by brushing your dog often. Loose hair that’s about to go into the carpet and furniture can be easily pulled from Fido with a good grooming brush. And guess what? He probably likes the attention!

3.    While you may not have the time to wipe off Fido’s muddy paws each time he wants back inside, it is a good idea to place mats inside and outside the door. When Fido want’s back inside, let him beg a little bit on the outside mat because some of that dirt is definitely going to come off.

Do all of this and man’s best friend is going to be a dream to live with, not a nightmare!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – August 2017

Washing Your Dishes (like a pro!)

Washing dishes may seem like a pretty easy chore. But many skip a few steps, thinking they can just get it done quickly. Washing dishes is a task that no one really enjoys.
 Here are a few tips to consider to make it a little bit easier and also more effective.

• Scrape it:  When getting ready to wash dishes, you do the obvious. You scrape off the excess. Get rid of all the extra “gunk.” The more you put into the garbage can before going to the sink, the better! This is especially true if you are using a dishwasher.
• Soak it: Don’t think that cold or even warm water will do the trick. You need hot water. Depending on the dishes, perhaps hotter than your hands can handle. So fill that sink with super-hot water but be sure not to burn yourself. You can protect yourself with high-quality gloves.
• Soap it: Be sure to add the appropriate amount of dish detergent. Usually known as a “squirt”. This helps the hot water to penetrate and remove soils. Without getting too technical, what you are doing is reducing surface energy of the dish water, allowing it to get to work better. You are allowing the water to flow, doing its job.
• Splash it: When you pull that now-clean dish out of the dishwater, rinse it off and set it aside to dry. When rinsing, if you use soft water, all the better. But if not, consider a special rinse additive to use when you are finishing up the dishes. This helps remove more residue, more hard water minerals and generally ensures a better looking (clean) dish.

Now it’s time to give the dishes some time to recover from the bath you just gave them, and then inspect them to ensure they are really clean. If they are, put them in the cabinet. If not… wash them again!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – July 2017

How to Remove Blood Spots from Carpet and Furniture

Blood spots on your carpet or on your furniture… what a terrible thing. Hopefully when it happens, it’s not from a very serious accident.
 
But when it does happen, you must remove it quickly. Blood spots can be removed fairly easily if you get to it quick enough.
 
Of course, if there is a fair amount of blood, more than just a few spots, it’s best not to do anything except call a pro.
 
For a small amount of blood, though, you should be able to handle the task of removing the spot if you follow some simple, safe procedures.

1. Blot. When you have a fresh blood spot, get a white absorbent and disposable towel (like a paper towel without print on it) and blot up as much as you can. Never rub or scrub. That can damage the color and/or texture of the fabric, especially furniture fabric.
2. There is probably still a spot remaining, even with a lot of blotting. So take about a quart of luke-warm water in a bowl, and add a drop of dish soap to it. Just a drop, you don’t want to leave any sticky residue behind. Dip a fresh, white absorbent and disposable towel into the solution and carefully blot the blood again. What you are trying to do is use the detergent solution to release the blood from the fibers into the towel.
3. After that, if there is still some light blood staining remaining, use a fresh, white, absorbent and disposable towel to apply a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, the same strength you purchase at a drug store. But remember, hydrogen peroxide is a “bleach” and you must be careful with colors, especially on furniture fabrics. It’s best to test an area like on the back, bottom skirting to make sure the colors aren’t affected.

 
Phew! That’s a lot of work. And it might do the trick, but it might not. You could set the blood and it could become a difficult stain if you aren’t careful.
 
So if you don’t like to live dangerously and would rather play it safe… call your favorite carpet and furniture cleaning company. They know exactly what to do and they have the tools and cleaning solutions to do it right!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – June 2017

Bed Bug Myths Debunked

There’s virtually nothing more disconcerting than an infestation of the bed bug in homes… and in the past few years, bed bugs have been making a comeback.
 
Yet just because you find a bed bug (or several) in your home doesn’t mean you aren’t keeping things clean.
 
Contrary to popular opinion, bed bugs aren’t picky. If they get into your home, they are looking for one thing: Food. That means, unfortunately, you are on the menu. And when they take a bite out of you, the emotional impact can be severe.
 
Bed bugs can be hard to find. Besides the tell-tale bites and itchy reactions, you have to go hunting to find their nesting ground. This can be in folds of blankets on your bed, in dresser drawers and in electrical outlets, just to mention a few. Bed bugs are sneaking critters.
 
The good news is that when you travel, and you encounter what you think are bed bugs, it’s not automatic that they will ride home with you. As a precaution, keep your suitcase on a table and avoid putting clothes in dressers. If you are careful, you can keep those critters at bay.
 
And when you arrive home, if there are any concerns about bed bugs hijacking in your suitcase, put your clothes in the washing machine and then in the dryer. This should take care of the pests.
 
Of course, when in doubt, do what’s safe: Call a pest control expert!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – May 2017

The Shower Dilemma

The job of your shower or bathtub is to keep you and your family clean… yet you might have noticed that the shower or bathtub themselves are in need of attention from time to time.
 
The problem is a common one. You combine soap residue with hard water and the resulting challenge is a build-up on the walls of the shower, the fixtures and more. It can be an ugly, difficult-to-clean mess! Sometimes, the shower and bath seem to be dirtier than you…
 
The solution is also a common one, pretty easy to accomplish, if you have the right tools.
 
A somewhat misleading concoction some think works for cleaning shower stalls and bath fixtures is to mix vinegar with ammonia and add a few other ingredients. The problem with that is the vinegar and ammonia cancel each other out in regards to the acidity and alkalinity of the products. Remember that the “crud” on the tile and tub need acidity to remove them… thus the idea of using a vinegar or acidic solution.
 
The solution? Create your own cleaning agent using vinegar, a drop of Dawn Dish Soap (or similar product) with super-hot water. You will need a trigger sprayer or small pump-up sprayer. Apply the home-made concoction liberally over all the areas that need to be cleaned. Allow at least 5 minutes of contact time (the more the better) and then rinse.  You may need to repeat the application of the vinegar, dish soap and hot water.
 
Using vinegar is safe. Don’t use a harsh acid (such as a rust removing product) in place of vinegar. The chemical reaction and resulting residue from using a strong acid can be harmful to your skin or the skin of your family.
 
Don’t forget that a little elbow grease may be necessary to get the job done right. The soap scum and mineral deposits can be very tough to remove. But with the right amount of cleaning solutions along with your own scrubbing efforts, your shower dilemma will be over.
 
Of course, for all your cleaning needs, from carpet to upholstery to tile floors and more, call your favorite cleaning pro!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – April 2017

Taking On Holiday Stains

It’s that time of year when you start planning for family and friends to visit and, since you are hospitable, you start thinking of all the delicious meals, snacks and beverages you will serve them when they arrive.
 
Despite the very best attempts of you and your guests to keep things on the plate, in the bowl, in the glass and on the spoon or fork, the inevitable happens: Food or drinks spill, and for some reason they always spill on the carpet. Usually white carpet.
 
There is no need to panic, but there is a need to gather your thoughts, keep your cool and not overreact to the situation. That is difficult when you witness a full glass of merlot splashing onto your white, wool rug in the middle of the living room.
 
Your first reaction might be to grab a random cleaning product from the collection underneath the kitchen sink. This can be a mistake. Some consumers have been known to use window cleaner, bathroom tile cleaners and other products on carpet.
 
Instead, keep things simple. Use these three, easy-to-remember procedures:
 
1. Scrape and Blot: If the spill is food related, scrape up as much as you can. Then, using white, disposable paper towels or white, washable cotton towels, start blotting up the spill. Keep at it until the area you are working on is fairly dry and you have removed as much of the spot as you can. Then…

2. Add product: Using a flip-top or trigger sprayer application, apply small amounts of a product manufactured specifically for carpet fibers. The best products for this can be obtained from your carpet and furniture cleaning company. Blot in between applications, and when the spot is gone, use a little warm water to help remove the cleaning residue, blotting as you do so. Then…
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3. Blot some more: When the job is complete, and you are happy with the results, blot until all moisture seems to be removed and then leave a white, absorbent towel on the spot with a weight on the towel, so any remaining moisture wicks up into the towel. Leave the towel in place for several hours.
 
But when the occasion occurs (and it will) and the spot just won’t come out, stop your work to avoid damage to the color texture of the carpet and “setting” of the spot or stain. Quickly call your carpet and furniture cleaning specialist. 

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – March 2017

The Basics of Spot Removal

It’s a good feeling. You have a beautiful home, you spend time keeping it in perfect shape, and your brand-new carpet is the icing on the cake. It’s soft, comfortable and clean.

Then one day, you notice (gasp) a spot right in the middle of the living room. There’s no way you can live with that eyesore. It has got to go. What do you do?

Here are a few tips to basic spot removal. Don’t forget that a spot can really be a stain, which needs professional attention.

Identify
 
Do your best to visually identify the spot. Some spots are easy; others are pretty tough. It’s not always possible to identify the spotting substance in the carpet. Yet, a little sleuthing on your part can get you close. Where is the spot? Is it near the dining room or where those in the family might eat? Odds are, it’s food related, and you might find success with a spotting solution for sticky residues. Is it in a bedroom? Could be cosmetic, shoe polish or other substance common to getting ready for the day, and you might find success with a dry solvent spotter.

Apply product

When you have figured out as best you can the type of spot you have, choose a reputable product for that particular spot. Some of the best spotting solutions can be obtained from your carpet cleaning company. Ask them what they recommend.

Blot

Next comes removal. Carefully blot the spot. Do not scrub. You will damage the tips of the fibers and there’s nothing short of replacement to fix that. Keep applying and blotting product until the spot is gone.


Remember, if you do your own spot removal, there is some danger of removing original fabric color and causing other damage. Take your time and do it right. Pretesting fiber and solution compatibility is always recommended.


And when in doubt (or when a spot stumps you) always do the very best thing: Call your cleaning professional right away!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – February 2017

Mattress Matters
 
Thinking about the care and cleaning of a mattress may not be on everyone’s minds, but when you consider you spend six, eight or even more hours with it every day… you should take good care of it.
 
Some people notice that over time, perhaps just a year or two, they suffer more from allergies and other conditions. It is possible an unclean mattress could be the culprit.
 
This is not saying there are issues with anyone’s hygiene. Mattresses are like any other surface and they need regular cleaning — yet when you cover them up with clean sheets on a regular basis, not many give it much thought.
 
Dust mites (which are in every bed), their fecal matter, dead skin cells and more all add up over time and can cause a host of health issues.
 
There are many steps you can take to keep your mattress clean and healthy:

1. Change the bedding on a regular basis
2. Use a mattress cover to keep contaminants out of the mattress
3. Vacuum the top of your mattress, perhaps four times a year
4. After vacuuming, flip the mattress and vacuum again

 
Those are pretty basic steps, but ask yourself… “Am I doing them?” If not, start now. You will have a healthier sleeping environment that not only gives you peace of mind, but also relief from some allergic reactions and other issues that you may have been suffering from but didn’t know the source.
 
Don’t forget, there are professional service companies that can periodically give your mattress a deep cleaning. Just as with all your carpet cleaning and furniture cleaning needs, call your favorite professional cleaning company to care for your mattress.
 
And then you can do what everyone wants: Get a good night’s sleep!

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Art-MZ Article – Cleaning – January 2017

Detergents, Soaps and More
 
When it comes to your home, you usually have two prime, important goals in mind: Keep your home clean and keep your home healthy. Family is important to you.
 
To do that, it takes a lot of thought. Not about your cleaning technique… but about the products you choose to do the cleaning.
 
When you wander the cleaning supply aisle at your favorite department or big-box store, the options are endless. The list of ingredients is long and the descriptive words are confusing. While a scientist working in a laboratory knows what those ingredients are, it’s not your fault that they mystify you.
 
What do you really need to know? The basics. Here they are.
 
Detergent versus Soap
 
Most of the products you use are “detergents” — in that they are man-made or synthetic. They clean great, and usually don’t leave a sticky residue. Soap, on the other hand, is natural, clean great as well, yet can leave a sticky residue if not rinsed off completely. Choose either one, but keep in mind the residue issue. You don’t want to clean a surface and then have the sunlight shine on it and show you a white, sticky residue.
 
Surfactants
 
This weird word you might have heard of is the active cleaning agent. It stands for “surface active agent” and in layman’s terms it “makes water wetter.” Think of a waxed surface. The water beads up. Yet if you add a little dish detergent, which has surfactants, the water spreads out. Surfactants allow water to penetrate surfaces, which is how we clean.
 
pH
 
pH can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. It is simply a measurement of alkalinity and acidity. Consider a lemon. It’s acidic. So is coffee, tea and most foods. Most of your cleaning products are going to be alkaline, the opposite of acidic. When you have an upset stomach, you reach for an antacid, because the alkalinity in the antacid will counteract the acid that is upsetting your stomach. Cleaning is like that, balancing pH, in addition to using surfactants so water can do its job.
 
But the bottom line when it comes to choosing products? Choose a reputable brand. One that has good consumer reviews. And when you really want to know what’s best for your home when it comes to cleaning… contact your favorite cleaning company. They have the intel.