Category: Cleaning

Improve the air quality in your home with an upholstery cleaning

Upholstery cleaning is not something we think about every day, but it can really improve the air quality of your home! Regularly cleaning your home through vacuuming and other standard efforts is a great way to remove superficial dust, dirt and other items from your upholstery. You understandably want your home to look and smell clean, but you also need the air to be clean and fresh. While your regular cleaning chores can remove some of the dirt, bacteria and other particles from your furniture, some material is left behind. These particles can build up in your furniture over time, and they can result in a dirtier, smellier and altogether unhealthier home. Furthermore, dirty upholstery can directly reduce indoor air quality. Indoor air quality is something that is relatively easy to overlook until respiratory symptoms become problematic. However, this is a component of your indoor environment that should receive regular attention from you.

Why Upholstery Can Be Problematic…

Before you schedule upholstery cleaning services for your home, it is important to understand why these surfaces require special attention. When you use your chairs, sofas or other upholstered furnishings, your body brings bacteria, dander, dust and allergens to the fabric. Because fabric is porous by nature, these elements can become embedded in your furniture. Excellent home cleaning tips will tell you that regularly vacuuming your upholstery is a great way to remove superficial debris on your furniture. However, more significant cleaning steps are also needed for the best results. After all, debris can become so embedded in your furniture that a vacuum cleaner is ineffective. Deep cleaning efforts can remove debris and particles that are too deep for your vacuum’s suction power to reach.

Here are 4 ways you can improve the air quality in your home.

Open your windows

Leaving your windows open for even an hour is one of the best ways to reduce the concentrations of air pollutants in your home. Keeping your windows closed can cause condensation issues as well, which can lead to mould growth. It also causes the toxins and allergens already present in the home to continue growing.  Some of these irritants trapped in the home include mould spores, dust, smoke, bacteria, radon, and not to mention odours.

Radon is a radioactive gas naturally found in the environment. Almost all homes have some levels of radon present but how much can vary from house to house. Radon is produced when uranium in the soil, bedrock, or water begins to decay. Being a gas, it can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation or gaps around pipes. Levels are higher in basements and crawlspaces because they are closer to the source and often poorly ventilated. Opening your windows can greatly reduce the levels of radon in your home.

Take advantage of the vents in your home

Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans remove air pollutants directly from where they are positioned. After cooking meals, consider using the kitchen fan to eliminate fumes from gas stoves. Alternatively, you may open your windows and leave your exhausts on to bring in fresher air and to get rid of contaminants and odours simultaneously.

Add more houseplants

For those that enjoy a little nature inside their homes, adding houseplants can produce clean oxygen and eliminate toxins in the air. Be careful not to over-water the plants as the excessively damp soil may promote the growth of microorganisms which could affect people with respiratory sensitivities. If you have pets in your home, ensure the plants are not harmful to them.

Vacuum more often

Vacuuming at least twice a week (or more in homes with pets) can get rid of pet dander and other loose soils from the carpet. Vacuum too fast and you risk not picking up all the dirt trapped in your carpet, so vacuum at a slower speed for a more thorough cleaning.

Improving Indoor Air Quality with Carpet Cleaning

Carpet Cleaning

As dust, pollen, and other airborne particles that enter your home begin to settle, they often get trapped within the fibers of your rugs and carpet. This actually helps to improve the indoor air quality of your home as the carpet acts like an air filter, but when the carpet absorbs too much of these particles, it can contribute to indoor air pollution as walking on it may cause allergens to be redistributed into the air. Regular vacuuming, while important, will not adequately remove all the deeply embedded debris that could affect the indoor air quality from carpeting and area rugs. The most effective way to clean your carpet and improve the indoor air quality of your home is to hire a professional carpet cleaning service. The technicians of ServiceMaster Professional Services deep clean all types of carpeting using advanced equipment and cleaning products to remove embedded debris that contributes to indoor air pollution.

Why upholstery cleaning is important: how to deep clean your home

Upholstery cleaning might sound like a chore reserved for the rich and famous, but Millenials and parents are two demographics that deep clean the most. Consider the benefits of deep cleaning to help rid your home of unwanted germs and toxins.

Longevity

Americans spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars when purchasing new furniture. Allowing it to accumulate spills, dust and other debris wear on the fabric over time. Treat your furniture like an investment with a regular deep clean. Doing so extends the life of your furniture and will make your furniture more valuable if you decide to sell it in the future.

Air Quality

No matter the style or quality of fabric on your furniture, it retains dust that gets released into the air each time you sit down. Improve the air quality in your home by removing layers of potential allergens with an upholstery cleaning.  Once a year is great for some homes, but furniture that regularly accommodates pets and lots of visitors might need deep cleaning more often. Pets bring fleas, dust mites, and bacteria from outdoors to your furniture upholstery. Your home’s air filter is a good indication of the dust levels in your home and can help you create a schedule for maintenance. Check the filter each quarter to gauge how must dust your furniture attracts each month.

Improves Health

Mold and dust allergies worsen in the face of unkempt furniture. With all the nooks and crevices on a sofa, it’s easy to overlook places where bacteria can hide. A deep upholstery cleaning is the answer. The cushions should be regularly removed and the entire frame of your furniture cleaned from end to end.  When a full deep cleaning isn’t possible, even wiping the surface of most fabrics helps create a healthier surface if you have allergies.

Removes Bad Odors

Open floor plans are a gift and a curse. They are great for entertaining guests in a living room while preparing food in a kitchen. However, daily smells from the kitchen seep into the fabric of your furniture. Not all smells are problematic but over time the furniture will accumulate a smell beyond your control.  A deodorizing deep clean helps you reduce and reset the odors in your home.

Style

There’s a pride of ownership that should follow an investment in furniture. How many times have you flipping a couch cushion or throw pillow to hide stains or visible wear? A deep upholstery cleaning allows you to showcase your style without embarrassment.  When your furniture looks polished and clean, the entire room gives a good impression.

The Truth About Indoor Air Quality

Particles or gasses that are not normally part of the air affect air quality. This is called air pollution. Air pollution can also happen indoors. Why is this?

You bring outdoor air inside any time you open a door or window. You can also bring in pollen and smoke. Leaks around doors and windows can let in polluted outdoor air.

Indoor air can have allergens like dust, pet dander and mold. Humidity can lead to higher dust mite levels. Particles are released into the air by furnaces, wood-burning fires and candles. Cooking sends oil and fat particulates into the air. Newly installed floors and furniture can release chemicals.

Clean outdoor air needs to replace indoor air often or else the indoor air becomes more polluted. Otherwise allergens, smells and pollutants stay in your home and recirculate. Because newer, more energy-efficient homes don’t have the same gaps and cracks as older homes, there’s less air circulation.

4 Issues to Address Before New Tenant Move In

Having a new tenant move into your property can be stressful for both the tenant and landlord. Having a checklist of items that must be addressed before the tenant moves in can help make the transition easier and ensure you do not miss any important steps. Here are ten things you should address prior to having a new tenant move into your rental.

Clean the Property

Cleaning is especially important if you are doing an apartment turnover, which means there was a previous tenant living in the unit. You will want to make sure the unit is thoroughly cleaned, especially areas such as the tub, toilet, stove, and refrigerator. Vacuum or sweep to remove any additional debris.

You should also have the property exterminated before tenant move-in even if there is no noticeable problem.

Look for Issues With Heat, Plumbing or Electrical

Before a tenant moves in, you must make sure all utilities are working. You will want to make sure the heat works in all rooms, that there are no clogs or leaks in the plumbing and that the outlets and overhead lights in every room are operational. These are necessities that a tenant needs to maintain their quality of life.

Review and Sign Lease With Tenant

You should go over the lease agreement with the tenant section by section so that they completely understand what they are agreeing to. Once you have gone over the entire agreement with the tenant and answered any questions, you and the tenant should sign and date the lease agreement.

Have Necessary Property Inspections Completed

Depending on your town’s laws, the unit may have to be inspected by a home inspector before a tenant can move in. This inspection is done so the town can issue you a Certificate of Habitability. Some towns only require this inspection the first time the unit is rented, some towns require it every five years and some require it every time a new tenant moves into the unit. Make sure you know your town’s rules.

Moving In – Understand The Terms Of The Lease

• When you are renting an apartment, both you and your landlord have created a relationship in good faith. You must get the name, address and phone number of your landlord. If the person you are dealing with is a manager, make sure you know her/his name, address and phone number and find out who owns the property. Get their name and phone number as well.
• Make sure you know what your rent is, where to pay it, and where to contact your landlord for repairs or problems.
• You will probably be required to pay a security or damage deposit with the first month’s rent. THE DEPOSIT IS NOT RENT. If you have a written lease, it will generally state what your deposit will cover. If you don’t understand the terms, ask the manager to explain them clearly.
• Ask the manager outright – “How much is usually deducted from the deposit upon move-out?” Surprisingly, they will usually tell you – if they do, have them write the amount on the lease and initial it.

Apartment Cleaning Checklist for Before You Unpack

You’ve been thinking about how great your mid-century modern coffee table is going to look in your new apartment since you saw the rental listing.

But here’s a hot tip before you go charging in with all your belongings: Your new apartment will never be easier to clean than when you’re holding the keys for the first time. Take advantage of the empty space and follow this easy cleaning checklist to make your place a tidy home for youself—and all your beloved stuff.

1. Start from the top.

When it comes to giving your new home a deep scrub, it’s best to clean each room from the top down. Because, gravity. Start by dusting the ceiling fan, ceiling corners, and overhead lights. (Globe-shaped light figures are notorious for collecting dust, so be sure to give them a good clean.) Then start working your way down—walls, baseboards, and finally, the floors.

2. Work toward the door.

Here’s another way to order your cleaning in a room: Start at the farthest point from the entryway. This is especially important when it comes to floors. You don’t want to trod over freshly-vacuumed carpet in your dusty house-cleaning shoes!

3. Deep clean the closets.

Once the closets are full of your odds and ends, it’s unlikely you’ll ever take them all back out to clean in there. Dust out the corners, and consider lining shelves with vinyl or decorative paper (just be sure it isn’t permanent). Shelf lining looks good, is easy to clean, and covers up mystery marks and gross stains left by previous tenants. It’s a win-win-win.

4. Replace the toilet seat.

You’re bringing your own recliner and couch, and those aren’t even as hard to keep clean. You’ll spend a lot of time sitting on your apartment’s toilet, and it’s arguably the most important seat in the house. Do yourself (and your guests) a favor by giving your toilet a fresh start.

5. Disinfect the bathtub.

You’re much more likely to enjoy a soak in the tub after you’ve disinfected away all trace of the last person who soaked there. For an easy cleaning hack, use dish soap and a sponge to wipe down the bathtub—though you may need to enlist a more convensional cleaner to fight tougher stains. Prefer a natural method? Equal parts baking soda, borax, and kosher salt make a great cleaning scrub without any impossible-to-pronounce chemicals.

6. Clean your appliances.

Yes, even your dishwasher needs help getting clean. Start by running a cycle with only a cup of white vinegar in the top rack—using the hot water setting if your dishwasher has one. Afterwards, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the bottom rack and run a second hot cycle.

Disinfect the microwave (inside and out), then hit the fridge. Remove all the shelves you can, and wipe them down—you can even let them soak in the sink or bathtub. A solution of vinegar and water works great as a food-safe, all-purpose cleaner.

What happens if my Full Security Deposit is not returned?

You have moved out of your old apartment or rental house and are settling into your new place when part of your old security deposit shows up with no explanation for the deductions. What are you to do?

In many jurisdictions, if a landlord does not return all of your security deposit, or returns a portion of the security deposit without a written explanation of everything that was deducted for you may be able to sue. In California, for example, the landlord must provide receipts for any repairs or cleaning over $126. This action, allowed by security deposit laws, is generally called a Wrongful Withholding of Security Deposit or a Wrongful Retention of Security Deposit lawsuit. If you do decide to take legal action, you may be able to recover all or some of your security deposit.

Take Precautions Along the Way

In addition to the recommendations above, there are other tips and tricks to keep in mind throughout the term of your lease. Taking these small steps can make moving out and getting your security deposit back that much easier.

• Move-In Inspection. Ask your landlord to inspect the apartment with you before you move in. While doing the walk-through, keep a list of any damages you notice. Inspect everything from top to bottom, including inside the drawers, cabinets, and closets. Have your landlord sign off on your damages list. If the landlord makes any promises to repair major damage you notice, get the promise in writing. Keep a copy of both documents so you can use them to prove pre-existing damage, if necessary, when you move out.
• Take Photos. Before you move in your furniture, take clear photos of every room with a date stamp, including inside the closets as well as outside areas, such as balconies. If any damage exists, take close-up photos as well. A visual will help prove pre-existing damage should the landlord try to take it out of your deposit.
• Move in Carefully. Take care when moving your furniture in for the first time and when rearranging pieces later. Bulky items can scratch floors, rip paint off of walls, and ding door jambs. Add pads underneath chair legs to keep them from scratching the floor when you move chairs in, out, or around.
• Read the Lease Before You Make Changes. Some landlords will allow you to paint, while others request you don’t even use small nails in the walls. A change you might consider minor may be prohibited by your lease. If you want to make major changes, such as painting a room a new color, get the landlord’s permission in writing before you do so as it will help avoid a conflict later on.