Carrara Companies Cleaning & Restoration Services Blog

Upholstery Cleaning Will Revitalize Your Furniture

New upholstered furniture can be very expensive. Considering people, and sometimes pets, sit on furniture it's no wonder furniture gets dirty. Even simple aged furniture can benefit from a good cleaning. Most often, once people have their furniture professionally cleaned, they are amazed at how incredible it looks!

Having your furniture professionally cleaned saves you time and money. Here are some tips to use in between cleanings:

KNOW YOUR FABRICS

Synthetic fibers (polyester, etc) are fairly easy to clean without ruining the color or fabric.  If however, your cushions use more than 50% cotton or if they use Haitian Cotton, you should have them professionally cleaned.  Certain fabrics require special attention to clean and are easily ruined using the wrong product.

USE FABRIC PROTECTION

This helps with maintenance and care.  Always clean spills or stains in a timely manner.  Follow manufacturers' instructions for proper care.

TURN THE CUSHIONS   

Change the cushions around from one part to the other in addition to turning them over.  Some cushions get more usage than others.

VACUUM

Do this weekly for general cleaning.  This will aid in removing surface dust and dirt.

AVOID SUNLIGHT & POLLUTANTS

Too much sun causes fabric to fade.  Also, proper ventilation can help your fabrics from absorbing airborne pollutants.

CALL A PROFESSIONAL

It is best to have a professional clean your upholstered furniture once every couple of years.  Experts recommend having this done rather than wait for your furniture to get visibly dirty.  The dirtier your fabric becomes, the harder it is to restore it to its original glory!

Blinds Cleaning For a Brighter Home

As the leaves continue to fall, many of us are preparing for the upcoming winter months and our annual task of hibernation.

Cleaning your blinds can be a small task that can make a significant difference in the way you view your inside months.  Window blinds and window treatments are designed to brighten up the rooms of your home, but when a layer of dust covers them, you lose the effect and create additional household chore stress. Here are ways to easily clean your blinds and create a positive environment in your home for the winter. 

• Dusting your blinds when you clean your home will decrease the amount of dust build up, thus making it easier to maintain.
• For small amounts of dust, using a moist cloth can prevent the dust from getting into the air and affecting your indoor air quality. Another inexpensive option, to clean your blinds, is to dip the cloth in white vinegar instead of water.
• If you are cleaning vinyl or fabric blinds, use a dry, rubber sponge to easily remove dust. If your fabric or vinyl blinds are extremely dirty, ask your dry cleaner if they specialize in window treatments and seek professional help.
• An important point to remember when dealing with wood blinds: be careful not to over saturate the wood slats. This could lead to water damage, swelling or warping.
• Another idea is to use your vacuum brush attachment and go across the slats versus up and down.

Finally, after the initial blind cleaning is complete, use a fabric softener sheet on them.  This will give a "fresh" smell as well as postponing dust build up.

Infectious Control in Commercial Buildings

Whether a health care facility, school, or office building, you should have a housekeeping program which maintains your location's aesthetics, but more importantly, ensures your building occupants safety and health.

Today, the concern is surrounding H1N1, or swine-flu, but can it be deadly? There have been several cases, some covered by national media, where is has proven fatal, however studies have shown the normal influenza can be just as deadly. Germs, bacteria, and viruses can be a threat to your facility, and need to be controlled in an indoor environment.

If you fear your facility may be at risk, or wish to be pro-active in your infectious cleaning, make sure when selecting a cleaning company you have first done your research. Is the company a janitorial cleaning service, or do they specialize in infectious control? What practices and chemicals are being used in their processes? If you do find yourself in need of a company which provides this service, proceed with caution. Don't get caught spending money and not getting what you actually need.

For more information about different infectious diseases, please visit the Association for Professionals in Infection Control, http://www.apic.org/ and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/.

Hood Vent Cleaning

If you ever worked in a fast food restaurant or greasy spoon, then you know how bad a kitchen may get, even after a short period. In fact, if you ever thought about what goes on in a kitchen, you probably would not eat out much – if at all. Kitchens must have standards of cleanliness higher than most other establishments simply because other people’s health and safety depends on it.

A restaurant’s exhaust, or hood vent, system is one of the most important aspects, which much be cleaned, at least annually, to maintain proper health and safety. Even in the home, proper hood vent maintenance is essential to ensure a fire does not start. Grease has a tendency to build on surfaces and stay there, and unless cleaned properly, it will remain there.

• Make sure your commercial kitchen follows the standards set forth in NFPA 96, along with your local fire codes.
• Have your entire system cleaned at least annually to ensure you proactively prevent fire hazards.
• Grease buildup cannot only pose a fire hazard, it can also damage the exhaust equipment, and in some cases building structure.
• Shutting the system down for complete and proper cleaning is necessary. Ensure the fire suppression system remains active in case something goes wrong.
• For commercial kitchens, inspections are conducted according to law in regular intervals. In home situations, you should conduct your own inspection and know the proper care of your hood vent system.
• If cleaning a residential system yourself, it is a good idea to practice the highest levels of safety. Ensure the system is shut off and you are wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Make sure the degreaser is strong enough to remove all particulates from the filter when cleaning, and avoid spraying anything directly on the light bulb or in the light socket.
• Cleaning the exterior of the unit be done with any household cleaner, but if there is a ventilation system involved, it’s best to contact a professional with experience.

Window Cleaning Best Practices

If you take a poll of the housework people hate to do the most, window cleaning is almost always near the top of the list. Truth is window washing can be a simple chore if done correctly. Here are some window cleaning tips to ensure you get those streak-free windows, without taking the whole day.

• Make sure you have the right tools for the job. A professional squeegee and/or applicator, a bucket with a firm handle, cleaning solution, a corn broom, and a microfiber or lint-free cloth.
• Never clean your windows in direct sunlight. The heat from the sun will raise the temperature in the glass, causing streaking to increase.
• Take the corn broom and sweep away any cob or spider-webs, which may be lurking in the corners.
• The window cleaning solution is up to you, whether it be dish washing detergent, diluted combination of vinegar and water, or even automotive windshield washer fluid.
• When using the squeegee, pick one motion and stay with it. For instance, do all the outside windows horizontally and the interior windows vertically. This way, you will be able to determine which side you need to correct any streaks.
• Remember to wipe the squeegee or applicator dry at each pass. This will ensure no moisture remains on the glass and will help to improve the look.
• If the windows are especially dirty, don't be afraid to use extra water. At the same time, remember to clean up any standing water so the windowpane does not soak it up.
• Make sure you wipe the sides down with the microfiber or lint free cloth to remove excess water. This will prevent water spots, and water from running down the sides.
• For extra credit, clean off the screens while you are there. All you need is a bucket of soapy water, a soft-bristled brush, and a garden hose. Gently spray the screen with water and avoid a strong jet setting. Scrub lightly, in a circular motion being sure to hit the corners. Rinse once more and let air dry!

Carpet Cleaning: Melting the Wax Away

Over the years, people have enjoyed the comfort and warmth of candles. They have provided symbolism and hope, and, unfortunately, sometimes a mess. Here are some carpet cleaning tips to remove those accidental waxy messes.

While most carpet cleaners use a hot water extraction method, a simple solution can be done with your household iron. Place either a brown paper bag or white towel over the affected area and, with the iron on low to medium, gently push the iron on the towel or paper bag in a blotting motion. Allow the newly melted wax to absorb in the towel or bag, and repeat as necessary to remove as much visible wax as possible. If there are still some residual oils, try using a citrus gel solvent spotter to remove them.

If the stain remains from a colored candle, try blotting the area with a mixture of hot water and commercial fabric or upholstery cleaner. There are some cleaners, which you can find online and in stores, that directly work for this, and takes only a little hard work. If the stain is persistent, then contact a professional carpet cleaner.