11Aug/15

Drying Time

Frequently Asked Questions

KittyDID YOU KNOW that when you have your carpet professionally cleaned it can take as little as one hour to dry — and, according to some reports, as long as THREE DAYS to dry?

According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, or IICRC, the certifying body for professional carpet cleaners, carpet should take about six to eight hours to dry, and never longer than 24 hours to dry because after that amount of time, microbial growth (like mold and mildew) can begin to grow.

No one wants that!

This is why you need a complete carpet cleaning system that guarantees your carpet is dry fast. How fast? It depends on the carpet type you have and also the weather conditions the day you have your carpet cleaned.

Sad to say, some experience really long drying times when they have their carpet cleaned. Who knows why this happens, except that it never should happen!

One thing is for sure, having your carpet cleaned should be a pleasant experience and after it is clean, you should be able to get back onto the carpet and back to a normal family routine quickly. Some companies don’t have the powerful cleaning machines necessary for doing the best work, and some don’t have the training they should.

When you have your carpet cleaned, or your furniture or hard floors like wood, granite, marble and all the different surfaces you may have, you deserve complete satisfaction and the best cleaning you will ever see.

Remember: Clean and dry – that’s the goal!

03Aug/15

Dust Mites

Maintenance Advice

blue dust miteNo matter who you are, no matter where you live, you never sleep alone.

But don’t panic…those sleeping with you are somewhat peaceful. And not really that noticeable, until the “Welcome” sign goes up and they start inviting a bunch of guests over. Once the invitation goes out, there can be millions that end up in one mattress alone!

Yes, we are talking about dust mites, those tiny eight-legged creatures that live in every house and take up residence in virtually every pillow, mattress and other cushioned comfortable place in your world.

Commonly called the “house dust mite,” (there are a couple of different types known to inhabit various parts of the world) this little creature feeds on flakes of shed human and animal skin and are known to be a cause of asthma and allergic reactions. Dust must allergies can cause sneezing, stuffy and runny noses, and red, itchy, watery eyes.

Dust mite feces contain a powerful digestive enzyme that causes many of breathing problems — if there are enough of the creatures in your home.

Some people are highly sensitive to dust mites, while others never have a reaction.

What can you do?

First of all, like we already said, don’t panic. Dust mites are everywhere, and there’s nothing you can do about that.

What you can do is keep things clean. Dust mites reproduce quickly in mattresses, beddings, pillows and other areas because these absorbent items take up moisture, such as saliva, perspiration and blood, from body contact. Dust mites prefer those warm, moist environments created by sleeping bodies.

Besides moisture, they need food. Dust mites are like any living creature. They need to eat. The skin flakes, dander and other protein sources are food for dust mites, so regular vacuuming is smart, especially using one with HEPA filtering. And running an air cleaner in your home with HEPA filtering will help, too.

Professional cleaning is a good investment for your home. Deep cleaning all fabrics on a regular basis means you are taking food away from these unwanted tenants. Logically, this equates to fewer dust mites coming over to party at your house.

So be a smart homeowner. Keep things clean and keep some of the pests away! Call us today.

27Jul/15

Prevent Water Damage

Maintenance Advice

Who wouldn’t like a nice vacation? Time away from work to explore new places and to relax in a beautiful location with family and friends? After all, we all need to recharge our batteries now and then. Don’t we?

Prevent water damageBut that nice vacation and its positive effects can become a disaster, full of regrets, if you come home to a flooded house!

It can be a real disaster! Imagine that you were enjoying yourself so much that you didn’t want to come home. You wanted to extend your vacation, but you knew  that you had to go to work on Monday. So you went home late Sunday night, and when you walked in the door, instead of feeling soft, plush carpeting, you sink into a squishy wet mess that’s beginning to smell bad, and the first thing you hear is the sound of a pipe spewing water all over the place in another room.

Oh, if only you had been home when that pipe broke! If you had been home, you could have quickly shut off the main water supply and cleaned this mess up. But Murphy’s Law dictates that if the worst can happen, it will. Pipes seem to break when no one is home.

What can you do?

Here are 5 tips you can follow to prevent water damage before it occurs:

1. Secure all windows and doors. Remember that a storm can drive water into your home if there is any type of opening, even a small one at a window.

2. Don’t turn off the heat! Keep the thermostat set at a level that ensures nothing inside will freeze. In winter months, you never know how cold it may get when you are on vacation.

3. Some hot water heaters have a vacation setting. Play it safe and take advantage of it.

4. This one is really important! Shut off all water supply sources to anything that might leak, like the washing machine. Even better? If appropriate, shut off the main water supply to the home, but leave instructions if anyone is going to visit or stay at your home while you are away.

5. Make sure your sump pump (for readers not in Florida) is in good working order. A failed sump pump means ground water is going to intrude and create havoc in your home.

So enjoy your next vacation, and keep that “recharged feeling” when you come back to your dry and comfortable home .

 

20Jul/15

Furry Friend

Frequently Asked Questions, Maintenance Advice

furry friendThree Tips to Keep Your Relationship With Your Furry Friend Friendly

DID YOU KNOW that your furry best friend can sometimes become your worst nightmare?

Sadly, it’s true. He is cute, cuddly and you love him, but at times he has a problem with “accidents” and pretty soon, even those who love him the most start to notice the… ummm… rank results.

Besides the obvious occasional accident, Buddy’s hair can also be an issue. When he shakes it off, it goes into the carpet and furniture and sticks to it, weaving itself into the fabric. Then it’s almost impossible to remove.

Then there’s the constant  “ar rooff, let me out”, “rrowff I want in.”  You know it… Buddy is always on the move and the constant going outside and then back inside brings in all kinds of filth.

What can you do to make living with your fluffy friend easier?

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 (Read Pet Accidents for more information), 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 Buddy with a good grooming brush. And guess what? He probably likes the attention! Read Pets Shed for additional tips.

3. While you may not have the time to wipe off Buddy’s muddy paws each time he wants back inside, it is a good idea to place mats inside and outside the door. When Buddy wants 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 your furry best friend is going to be a dream to live with, not a nightmare!

13Jul/15

Colorful Drinks

Maintenance Advice, Spots & Accidents

Guilty: colorful drinksColorful Drinks: What to do when they  spill…

DO YOU KNOW that the devastation of spilling colorful drinks like grape juice, Kool-Aid and other beverages doesn’t have to be devastating?

So you have kids, grandkids, or other young guests come over, and they want something to drink. They certainly don’t want plain tap water. That’s pretty boring stuff. They want something fruity, sweet, and with lots of color: Such as deep blues, vivid greens, bright yellows or reds. You know, the stuff that can really stain a carpet or piece of furniture.

And the inevitable occurs. The kids enjoy what you give them, but after all, they are kids. So something gets spilled. For some weird reason, this never seems to happens on a hard tile floor. It happens right on the carpet.

What should you do?

Step #1
Don’t panic or freak out. Take a deep breath and realize this isn’t the end of the world.

Step #2
Start blotting. You want to use white cotton, microfiber or paper towels, with no print or dyes, and blot – blot – blot! Most of any spotting or staining substance will come right out because the towel you are using is more absorbent than the carpet the drink was spilled on.

Step #3
It may be appropriate, with some coaching from your carpet cleaning pro, to do some spotting. Use a spotting product, like a mild neutral detergent spotter. Apply a tiny amount to the spot and keep blotting. Never scrub. Scrubbing can damage the carpet fibers and you can’t fix that. Keep blotting.

Step #4
Did we say keep blotting? Keep it up! You may need to apply more approved mild detergent spotter. One thing you do not want to do is apply too much moisture, as that gets into the backing of the carpet and into the padding, creating additional problems.

Step #5
Once the spot is gone, it’s time to dry the carpet. How to do this? Keep blotting, of course! But also aim a fan on the spot and let the air current remove more moisture.

Is the spot still there? It may be a stain, very tough to remove. It is definitely now time to call us!

Alternative to colorful drinks

From livescience.com’s 9 Healthy Habits You Can Do in 1 Minute (Or Less)

That said, we would like to offer you an better alternative for colorful drinks that is healthy and fun. Consider serving fruit flavored water — still or sparkling– garnished with a little fresh fruit. Our kids and their friends really enjoy them and we feel good about serving them.

Please note that spills still need to be dealt with immediately using the five steps above, but the possibility of them causing permanent stains is virtually eliminated.

06Jul/15

Avoid Mold & Allergens

Maintenance Advice
mold-allergen

From WebMD’s slideshow: 10 Ways to Reduce Mold

DID YOU KNOW that even the healthiest of individuals can experience negative effects when they come in contact with the mold and allergen in many common household items?

We’re not just talking about the things that start growing in your home after a flood. Mold and allergens often show up unexpectedly as unwelcomed guests. Fortunately, they aren’t too hard to avoid and get rid of if you know what to look out for.

Many items that we bring into our homes can trigger allergies or other sensitivities. These  include cardboard boxes, packages and other items sent or brought to you. The worse of these would be old things that have been around a while gathering dust. Get rid of packaging in the garage and clean things before you bring them into you home.

Have you ever walked into a library and felt a tickle in your nose or throat? Old books and documents can often trigger allergies. Consider gently dusting or vacuuming these items before they’re allowed inside.

Holidays seem to attract unwanted guests.  Ornaments, decorations, gift wrap…  come out of storage with a year’s worth of accumulated allergens. At least give them a wipe-down, if not a complete cleaning, before putting them away and before you set them up.

Consider NOT bringing that used mattress home. This can be a tough and sensitive issue. Sure, it’s OK to pass on mattresses from one generation to another, but what are you getting when you inherit an old mattress or other bedding from someone? Don’t be tempted by that new-looking mattress at your neighbor’s garage sale. You just don’t know what you are getting into. Did you know that every mattress has dust mites? At the very least, vacuum it before you put your clean linens on it and use it.

Old furniture, rugs and carpet may be very important to you, but be sure to have them professionally cleaned before bringing them into your home. These are items that can collect all types of allergens and other contaminants that can affect you and your family.

Don’t be afraid to throw old things out. Your health is more important than stuff!

Make sure that what you bring into your home is safe and sound — and safe for any allergy or asthma issues you or your family may have.

Want to learn more about about reducing mold and allergens in your home? See WebMD’s slideshow: 10 Ways to Reduce Mold Allergies.

29Jun/15

Lost Weekend

Maintenance Advice

Lost Weekend: Rent or hire checklistA lost weekend can never be recuperated.

You work hard all week and look forward to the weekend. Finally, a couple of days to relax and enjoy with your family and friends! But, you still have to catch up on laundry, go grocery shopping, clean the house, mow the grass…

Sometime during the week, you look down. You aren’t happy with the appearance of the carpet. So you make a decision to rent a do-it-yourself carpet cleaning machine from your local grocery store. That’s right… you are going to clean your own carpet. Your goal this weekend is to create a nice, fresh and clean carpet and enjoy a healthier home.

Friday evening arrives. You drive to your grocery store. Then find yourself in front of several do-it-yourself cleaning machines and all of the different cleaning solutions available. There are products to put on the carpet before you clean it. There are products to put in the machine with the water. There are other types of products for all kinds of spots and stains. Still others for pet odors. You’re not sure which ones you’ll need, so you grab a what you hope will work and take them to the front of the store to pay.

At the register, while paying for the daily rental of the carpet cleaning machine, you discover the cost of all those cleaning products is more than what you spend on food for the family for an entire week. But you aren’t deterred! You are going to clean your carpet. Nothing will stop you.

So you go home with all your cleaning stuff and get started. It takes all your Saturday and, sadly, part of your Sunday as well. It’s backbreaking work. You had no idea what sweating was really like. Yet… it looks pretty good when you are done. The bad part is it takes a few days to dry and you yell at the kids to not walk on the carpet. Maybe you thought they could float over it?Lost Weekend: call us!

Within a couple weeks, unfortunately, the carpet looks worse than before it was cleaned. How is that possible?  What happened? What did you do wrong?

You didn’t call your carpet cleaning professionals. You know who we are. We’re the people who have the training and superior equipment and cleaning solutions that get the job done right.

Don’t waste your money, time and energy! A lost weekend can never be recuperated. Do the smart thing and hire us to do what we do best: Clean your carpet and keep you smiling.

24Jun/15

Need New Carpet?

Frequently Asked Questions, Living Green, Maintenance Advice

When it’s time to replace your carpets, we want you to make a choice that you’ll be happy with for many years.

We don’t sell flooring. We clean and protect it so it stays beautiful and lasts longer. Let us help you make the best choice for your needs.

Imagine that you’re shopping for new carpet for a few rooms. Two of the rooms are bedrooms, which don’t get  much foot traffic. The living room, stairs and hallway also need new carpets. It’s been almost fifteen years since your current flooring was installed, so you’re eager to see the new products available.

You drive to  a local flooring store or home improvement center. The salesman has a great deal for you: A virtually stain-proof carpet that comes in many vibrant colors and is soft to the touch. You sink your fingers into it and love how it feels. So, you order this carpet for all the rooms you want to replace.

A few days later on the scheduled installation day, you remove all the furniture from the rooms and the installers show up, remove the old carpet and pad, then put in the new.

It looks great! You’re happy!

Many months, spills and accidents later, you decide it’s time to have the carpet cleaned. We show up and do a great job removing the dirt. Even the spots come right out! However, there is a “worn” area in the entrance, on the center of the stairs and down the hallway. Only the bedrooms look brand new. You ask your technician why this happened. He performs a fiber identification test and informs you that you purchased polyester carpet, which tends to matt down in high traffic areas because it lacks resilience. He gently informs you that if you had purchased nylon or wool carpets (Yes, they are more expensive.) you probably wouldn’t have this problem.

You’re not happy anymore! You are upset! You hate it when you spend your hard earned money on something and it doesn’t perform as promised. A carpet salesperson may not be your best source for good advice when it comes to which carpet to buy.

Before you go looking for new carpet or furniture do your homework and give us call. We do not sell these items nor will we recommend a retailer.  But we will arm you with information that can help you choose the best products for your needs and budget.

Carpet fibers chart

Both charts are from : http://inspectapedia.com/index.php

tufted carpet types and styles

Dry Solutions Specialty CleaningChoosing flooring and furniture that lasts doesn’t just save you money, time and aggravation. It helps our planet by not adding even more waste to the  2.6 trillion pounds of garbage produced every year.

22Jun/15

Save Water

Living Green

Changing everything in our lives suddenly in attempt to live green, may be more than most of us can handle. We suggest making just one small change or adding one new habit every week. These little things add up to a big difference over time. This week let’s:

Save Water

water-conservation-logo: Save Water

Water Facts: 70% of our planet is covered by water. Only 2% of it is fresh. 1.6% of all fresh water is locked in polar ice caps and glaciers leaving the Earth with only 0.4% to survive on. Around 7 billion people now share that 0.4%. We should all conserve water, even in areas where water seems abundant.

Saving water will save you money on your utility bill,  help prevent water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds. it may also help extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also cause untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers. The smaller the amount of water flowing through these systems, the lower the likelihood of pollution. In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by community wide household water conservation.

Save water inside your home.

1. Check for drips and leaks. A small drip from a worn faucet can waste 20 gallons of water per day. Bigger leaks can waste hundreds if gallons.

  • Check for leaks with your water meter. Read the meter before and after a three hour period when no water is used. If the reading aren’t the same, you have a leak somewhere.
  • To check your toilet for leaks see conserve h2o’s instructions.
  • Repair leaks ASAP.

2. Save toilet water.

3. Save shower water. Five to ten gallons of water are used for every minute that your shower is running. Consider:

  • Taking shorter showers and turning off the water while lathering up.
  • Installing water saving shower heads and low flow faucet aerators.

4. Save sink water.

In the bathroom:

  • After you wet your toothbrush, turn the water off. Use a cup for rinsing.
  • When you shave, partially fill the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor. It works just as well as running water.

In the kitchen:

  • When washing dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing. I gather my sponged dishes in a dish rack, then rinse them.
  • Rinse vegetables and fruit in a pan of clean water
  • Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running water to cool it is wasteful.
  • Minimize the use of your garbage disposal. They need a lot of water to run properly. Start a compost pile to dispose of food and fertilize your plants.
  • Only use your dishwasher for full loads

5. Only run your clothes washer for full loads. Avoid using the Permanent Press Cycle because it uses 20 liters (5 gallons) more water. When it’s time to replace your washer, look for a front load Energy Star machine.

6. When you’re ready to have your floors and furniture professionally cleaned, choose a company that doesn’t waste water.

Save water outdoors and in your garden.

7. Plant drought resistant lawns and plants that will thrive where you live.

8. Use mulch around plants and trees to slow down evaporation and discourage weed growth

9. Position your sprinklers so water only goes where it is needed.

10. Water early in the day and avoid watering when it’s windy.

11. Don’t leave the hose running when washing your car. Use a bucket to apply the solution and turn the hose on when you’re ready to rinse.

12. Use a broom, not a hose to clean up outside.

Read 100+ Ways to Conserve Water. We hope this post helped you to think about the importance of saving water and small things you can do to help. We look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.

 



 



Smart Like Al!

Be smart like Al EinsteinAre you smart like Al? Smart people know that some things, like professional tile and grout cleaning are better left to the experts. They know that:

  • We all have only 24 hours in a day.
  • Life is relatively short.
  • Our energy, like our time, is limited.
  • No matter how much we know, we don’t know everything.
  • Time really is money.
  • There are things that we should hire others to do for us.
  • Some things, like tile cleaning and sealing, are better left to the experts.
  • A big part of being smart is knowing how to use our limited resources wisely.

Smart people value their time, energy, and other limited resources:

  • Why spend your valuable  time and energy searching  for the tools and chemicals you will need to clean and seal your tile and grout correctly and safely?
  • Do you really want to scrub for hours on your hands and knees for mediocre results or risk damaging your floors?
  • Don’t you have better things to do with your time, energy and other limited resources?
  • Wouldn’t you prefer to get superior results with a single phone call?
  • The best things in life are worth paying for.
  • Smart people know what it takes to succeed.Read Forbes’ The Six Rules of Personal Success.
  • Smart people hire professionals with proven results.
  • Don’t you want to be smart like Al?

Be smart like Al and spend your limited resources wisely. Leave your tile and grout maintenance to Dry Solutions LLC. Call 1-888-364-5899 now for an appointment! You’ll get great results at a fair price. Now, that’s smart!