Ask the Experts: Allergy Concerns Now?
By Scot Morris
December 12, 2010
The snow is falling, the cold winter wind is blowing, and most may think that allergy concerns are over for this year. Clearly, for allergy sufferers the worst is behind us, or at least we are in the gap between growing seasons, so allergy symptoms are less severe. During the growing season, allergy sufferers seek refuge inside their homes, but our homes too can aggravate our allergies. All those soft carpeted and upholstered surfaces in our homes, while creating comfort, also absorb and hold those allergens and pollutants. Let me ask a few questions.
We wash our clothes and our dishes every time they are used, but when was the last time you had your carpets thoroughly and professionally cleaned? How about your upholstered furniture? When was the last time you vacuumed the platforms under your sofa and chair cushions? How long has it been since you had your mattress cleaned?
If you are the average American homeowner, you had your carpets cleaned once in the past 18 months, and you may never have touched the other items. We won’t discuss where our shoes have been, or talk at length about dust mites, but imagine all those soft, absorbent surfaces in your home acting as a large filter. Would you pull the filter out of your furnace and lay your head on it to watch TV, or let your kids roll around on it to play? Of course not, but those very same contaminants, including; pollen, dead skin, chemicals, mold, dust mites and their waste, and an impressive list of air pollutants, are in your carpet and upholstery. Chances are our filters are full!
Now don’t overreact, rush off, and seal yourself inside a bubble. These contaminants are all part of our every day life, but it is important for everyone, and especially allergy sufferers, to include regular carpet and upholstery cleaning in their plan for maintaining a healthy home. A certified, professional Omaha carpet and upholstery cleaning specialist is going to skillfully use truck mounted equipment that provides the heat, pressure and suction power necessary to remove allergens and other contaminants from your home. For severe allergy sufferers, cleaning experts can even offer additional services and protections.
Winter is a great time to rid your home of those trapped contaminants that have built up through the year. For allergy sufferers, this is an opportunity to breathe a little easier. For the rest of us it’s our chance to shake out our filters and get ready for another year. As an Omaha carpet cleaner and healthy home expert, I recommend that everyone consider a regular cleaning schedule. Many reputable, certified carpet and upholstery cleaners offer terrific specials this time of the year for those interested in regularly scheduled cleaning. I suggest you call and check them out. Live confidently, breathe easy, and sleep soundly inside your healthy home!
Free consumer information and tips are available online at www.cleaningomaha.com, or at www.facebook.com/specialistscleaning.
Scot Morris is owner and president of Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning in Omaha. He provides top quality carpet and upholstery cleaning services to customers in the Omaha metro area, that are always 100% guaranteed. Mr. Morris is an expert in the cleaning industry, and is dedicated to providing services and education that help people maintain healthy homes.
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Ask the Experts: Pet Problems?
By Scot Morris
November 9, 2010
Perhaps the most common cleaning issue we see as Omaha carpet cleaners, relates to our client’s pets. Like many of our customers, we too are pet people. I cannot imagine going through life without a dog (or two) in the house. I have friends and clients who feel the same way about their dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, etc. Having our furry (and feathered?) friends around though certainly does create some challenges when it comes to maintaining clean, healthy homes.
Like most cleaning challenges, effectively dealing with pet issues is made easier when those occasional messes are cleaned up immediately. I know I sound like a broken record, but even an expert carpet cleaning technician, using the best equipment and techniques is at the mercy of time. The longer any soil, especially pet urine or worse, is in contact with your carpet fibers, the more difficult it is to remove. Worse than that though, urine and other bodily fluids are acidic, and will strip the finish from your carpet fibers.
In addition to carpet fiber damage, and the obvious sanitary concerns, those untreated, or improperly treated pet accidents obviously don’t smell very good. Nobody really wants friends and neighbors coming into our home and commenting on our dog or cat before they have met the adorable little creature. Pet odors may say something about the way we live, and for most of us it’s not what we want said.
To stay ahead of odors and maintain that healthy home, our Omaha carpet cleaning experts offer the following advice; first, clean up messes as soon as possible. The technique we recommend for pet urine removal is to fold a towel (or paper towels) and place on top of the affected area, and then stand on it. Repeat the process a couple of times. Now pour a tall glass of clear water on the spot and repeat the process again. When dealing with pet messes that are more solid in nature, (regardless of which end of the pet it originates from), it is critical to get as much as you can off of the carpet as soon as possible. Vomit and fecal matter can contain a variety of enzymes and acids that are particularly destructive. Depending on what your pet has consumed, those agents can create a natural dye that will leave a permanent stain if not removed quickly. This is one of those times when a small, inexpensive cleaning machine can be very handy. These little machines aren’t great carpet cleaners but they are terrific for quick clean ups. As always, be very cautious with the use of over the counter, or home cleaning remedies. It will be another complete article to explain all the possible drawbacks to the “try anything” approach, but suffice it to say that our technicians do not recommend most of these products. Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning will provide Omaha area clients with a free bottle of spotter that is safe, effective, and technician recommended.
Remember, that these spot clean ups are only the first part of a critical two part process. Only regular, professional carpet cleaning by certified technicians, using powerful truck mounted, hot water extraction equipment will completely remove the pet problems. Pets are wonderful, fun, and let’s face it, a necessary part of our families. We love them and enjoy them every day. Cleaning up after them though can be a challenge which is why the Omaha carpet cleaning experts at Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning offer these timely tips and resources.
Free consumer information and tips are available online at www.cleaningomaha.com, or at www.facebook.com/specialistscleaning.
Scot Morris is owner and president of Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning in Omaha. He provides top quality carpet and upholstery cleaning services to customers in the Omaha metro area, that are always 100% guaranteed. Mr. Morris is an expert in the cleaning industry, and is dedicated to providing services and education that help people maintain healthy homes.
Ask the Experts. What is Carpet Protector?
By Scot Morris
10/27/10
As a certified, Omaha Carpet Cleaner we strongly recommend the periodic application of carpet protectors. Most carpets these days come from the mill with some stain protection built it. The stain protection creates a barrier between the carpet fiber and whatever nasty spill happens to come into contact with it. These protectors, whether from the factory or applied by a certified carpet cleaning technician, allow the homeowner some time between the actual spill and development of a permanent stain.
The best carpet protectors are quite effective, but that effectiveness is diminished as the carpet is used. Properly applied protectors do not wash off when carpet is cleaned, as some unethical cleaners may suggest. But they certainly do wear off with normal use, and can be removed or compromised by certain spills or cleaning agents. So periodic reapplication of carpet protector, by a certified carpet cleaner is important.
Many ask just how often that protector should be applied. I wish I could offer an absolute answer, but the truth is that it depends on the type of carpet, the type of environment, and most importantly the type and amount of use that the carpet gets. Our recommendation is to reapply protector every other year under normal conditions. Carpets with extremely light use may require less frequent application, while a busy home with kids, dogs, etc may need it more often.
The carpet in your home represents a significant investment, and it will last a long time if taken care of. Your carpet’s manufacturer often requires periodic professional carpet cleaning in order to maintain your warranty. Your Omaha carpet cleaning experts at Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning strongly recommend the application of carpet protector as an another important part of protecting your investment.
Free consumer information and tips are available online at www.cleaningomaha.com, or at www.facebook.com/specialistscleaning.
Scot Morris is owner and president of Specialists Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning in Omaha. He provides top quality carpet and upholstery cleaning services to customers in the Omaha metro area, that are always 100% guaranteed. Mr. Morris is an expert in the cleaning industry, and is dedicated to providing services and education that help people maintain healthy homes.
