Posted by Jim Dunphy on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 01:59 PM
In the spirit of giving this holiday season, Carrara Companies recently joined in the effort in assisting a local family in their time of need.
The McClellan family of Akron had recently fallen on tough times, including having taking custody of 3 grandchildren ages 1, 2, and 3 who completed a family of 8 when joined by mom & dad and their 3 teenage children already living at home. Life was crazy enough when in late October the family had a basement fire in their home.
As if having to live outside their home and provide for the needs of six children were not enough during the clean-up and repair process, smoke damaged contents in the home included Christmas presents that had been stowed away early for safekeeping by Santa’s elves.
In light of this situation, Carrara Companies’ owners Justin and Julie Sucato decided to help. Plans were put into motion to help with toys, clothes, and food for the McClellan Family. Next, the date was set for a surprise visit at the McClellan residence from Santa’s Helpers along with Santa Claus (proudly portrayed by 28 year Santa Veteran – Nationwide Insurance Agent, Rick Zivsak) following the move back into their home two weeks before Christmas.
On the evening of Dec. 17, the McClellan Family State Farm Insurance Agent, Jennifer Kaiser, joined Carrara Companies Vice President, Julie Sucato with her daughters, Olivia and Ava, help make the McClellan Family Holiday a little brighter by delivering food and toys just in time for the holiday! The smiles and joy shared by all was truly an example of what the holiday season is all about!
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 01:18 PM
When you think of dangers in the home or office, radon is not one usually on the top of most people’s lists. However radon is responsible for an estimated 20,000 deaths per year in the United States, with lung cancer being a known effect from exposure.
What is radon? Radon is an invisible gas, both tasteless and odorless. It is produced from the decay of natural occurring uranium in soil and water, and may accumulate in homes, commercial buildings, and drinking water. It usually gets into a building, impacting the indoor air quality, through cracks, gaps, and/or joints in the structure or substructure as well as hidden cavities and a building’s water supply.
The State of Ohio falls into the moderate-high zones for potential elevated radon levels. It is recommended all homes be tested for radon, and if in the market for a new home be sure to ask if the home as been tested. Although many homes today are built to prevent radon from coming in, it is still a good idea to have testing done.
Thankfully, testing for radon is easy. You can purchase a test kit yourself or hire a qualified radon testing company. If there is a radon problem, it probably can be fixed for about the same amount of money as other common home repairs.
For more information about radon, how to obtain a test kit, or find a qualified testing company, visit the EPA’s website along with the State of Ohio’s website.
Posted by Ed Duke on Fri, Jan 15, 2010 @ 08:29 AM
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!
Posted by Eric Schlaubach on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 @ 09:09 AM
How do you find a carpet cleaning company? Is your decision based on price, quality, reputation, or word of mouth? All are great things to consider when selecting a carpet cleaning company to enter your home or business.
Like anything, research is necessary to determine the best fit for you. Personally, I live by the motto, you get what you pay for, and with that in mind I will pay a little extra to make sure I get the best service. The phrase, getting it done the first time, seems to be leaving many companies' business practices.
Steamatic by Carrara Companies offers a unique process when it comes to carpet cleaning. Our patented process has a proven track record of getting your carpets cleaned, without the use of harsh chemicals. When cleaning, the hotter the water, the better the result. When you wash your dishes, you automatically know to use hot water, as it cleans easily and kills germs and bacteria. Carpet is the same - the hotter the water the better the clean, because every 15 degrees increase in water temperature doubles the cleaning power.
Most carpet cleaning companies use a system wherein water leaves the truck and travels through hoses to the carpet cleaning wand. Once the water leaves the machine, the temperature may be 212 degrees, but by the time it travels to the wand the temperature has significantly decreased. The Steamatic difference is our re-circulating system for the hot water. This means the hot water flows to the wand, and then is sent back to the truck to be reheated. When the steam touches the carpet, it is the same temperature as when it left the truck - 212 degrees.
With our patented system, Steamatic is a GREEN cleaning company for the simple fact less chemical is needed. When selecting a carpet cleaning company make sure you feel comfortable about them sticking by their word, and performing at the level you expect.