Holiday Spotting Tips!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

That time of year is upon us again when we are inflicted with seasonal guests. Hoepfully your holidays will be spot-free, but should Aunt Dottie spill the gravy, or if Uncle Fred gets a little wild with the eggnog, we have some quick tips you can keep handy for an immediate cleanup!

HOMEOWNERS, BLOT THAT SPOT! Seriously, always blot, never scrub. That's our motto and I'm sure you've heard it before if we've had the priviledge to clean your home. Scrubbing creates friction and friction creates heat and heat can cause stains to set, and nobody wants that! Blotting with a cool, damp, white cotton towel will give you some great absorbancy potential, allowing you to soak up the bulk of the spill. You can use your hand OR your foot (or both, if you fancy Twister) to slowly and gently apply pressure to the towel for several minutes.

STEP AWAY FROM THE CLEANER! Most household cleaners and over-the-counter products are really not the sorts of things you want on your carpet. They can be very aggressive and abrasive, causing damage to your fibers and possibly even letting stains set easier and faster! While they may be well intentioned, most cleaners just mask the spot and damage the fibers, leaving a soapy or greasy residue that attracts more soiling over time, making spot "come back." Rather than risk a permanent stain, its better to use a neutral solution (like a 50/50 mixture of cold water and white vinegar). If this doesn't do the job, you should call your regular professional cleaner (when you have a minute!). A quality company will have trained and certified technicians who can address the spot much better and with the right tools.

SLEEP ON IT! OK, not really. But it doesn't hurt to leave a cool, damp, white cotton towel on top of the spot for a few hours, or even over night, if you suspect it might stain or if some residue is left. You can put a handy phonebook or similar weighty item on top of the towel to hold it in place and help absorbtion. Wet carpeting dries from the bottom up, so that wet towel will "trick" the carpet into thinking it's taller than it really is. It's a pretty neat trick, as the product will end up in the towel and not your carpet, and we find it alot easier to wash a towel than a carpet!

So there you are, three short, handy tips yo can keep in mind during your holiday functions. No matter what kind of spill you encounter, these three steps are the first things you should do! Save your own carpet from the "Holiday Spots" or be the hero and save a friends!

In any event, we wish you the best of Health, Wealth and Happiness over your holidays and in the New Year!

Natural Stone Care the Liberty Way

With the way the economy has been going recently, alot of folks have gone from trading up their homes to home renovations to increase the value of their home for when the market does come back. Often enough, this involves replacing old counter tops and flooring with new, more valuable surfaces. And when it comes to counters, granite is an old favorite. So we thought we would share some helpful tips for you to use when taking care of your granite surfaces. Whether they are part of a new update you've done or will do, or an old favorite feature, these tips will help you get the most out of your investment. :)

What you Should do

• Do: Protect counter top surfaces with coasters, trivets or place mats, particularly under containers or glasses with alcohol or citrus juices.
• Do: Blot up spills immediately. Acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas can etch the polish or stain the surface. Cooking oils may also leave a stain if not wiped up quickly.
• Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth. Always use a specially formulated neutral pH stone cleaner. Repeated or excessive use of regular soap, household cleaners or even water will cause a build-up of chemicals and mineral deposits that will dull your counter top's shine.
• Do: Polish your counter top regularly using a Granite spray polish, this really helps maintain brilliant color and the protective coating that safeguards your Granite. (By the way, Liberty does have Granite Spray Polish available for you. Call 586-294-3111 or log on to http://www.libertyservicesofamerica.com/ )
• Do: Remove water spots by rubbing with a #000 steel wool.
• Do: ALWAYS USE A CUTTING BOARD! Again, avoid the possibility of scratching the surface and protect your knives.
• Do: Use trivets and hotpads under pots, pans and dinnerware. Yes, you can take a hot pot off the stove and put it right on the granite, without any problems. Not true for all other surfaces. But you must consider other issues as well.

Grit that gets trapped between objects and the countertop surface may scratch the surface, even granite. Granite is very hard and can withstand considerable abuse, but will wear eventually. ALL other surfaces are softer than granite. Better safe than sorry. If it does happen, don't fret too much. Most chips and scratches can be repaired by a skilled professional, but it's best to avoid them by following these simple Granite counter top care tips.

What you SHOULD NOT do

• Don't: Cut on your counter top surface, this will prematurely scratch, dull and damage your Granite as well as wear the knives' edges quickly.
• Don't: Use generic cleaners such as bleach, glass cleaner or degreasers. The products at your local store contain acids, alkali and other chemicals that can damage the counter top surface, leave dirt attracting residues or degrade the granite sealer leaving the stone more vulnerable to permanent staining. Trying to save money by using these chemicals only ensures that you'll spend a lot more time and money on your granite counter top maintenance in the long-run.
• Don't: Use vinegar, ammonia, bleach or citrus cleansers.
• Don't: Use dish soap for regular cleaning. Dish soap is also commonly recommended for stone and counter top care as a daily cleaner because it will not damage your stone or sealant if it's mild, plain soap like Ivory. However, soap scum will build up over time, dulling the surface and requiring a thorough cleaning with special products to restore the original luster. So, while using a soapy sponge or cloth for quick clean-up while you're cooking, etc. is certainly fine, cleaning your counter tops with soap is not the best or easiest method.
• Don't: Use bathroom, tub and tile or grout cleaners. The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.
• Don't: Sit or stand on your counter tops. Unlike laminate counter tops, granite, marble and quartz counter tops are very hard, but not flexible, and the DO NOT have a plywood backing, so too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.
• Don't: Place toiletry products directly on your counter top surface. Hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams, lotions and potions may stain or damage the surface or etch the polish, leaving a ring. Protect your counter top by placing these products on a decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!

Bad Advice You May Have Heard

'Unfortunately, if you search around the web you'll find lots of conflicting and plain wrong information about the characteristics of counter top surface maintenance. I've seen Windex, Pledge and even Simple Green recommended for cleaning granite. True, it will clean it and your counter top will look nice and shiny. But as noted above, when used consistently over time, Windex and all other generic cleaners may damage the surface or granite sealer. You won't see it right away, but by the time you notice the damage is done.

You May Even Void Your Warranty

And don't forget when cleaning your mirrors in the bathrooms, to spray the glass cleaner away from the counter top and on to the paper towel or cloth FIRST, then wipe the mirror. Don't spray it onto the mirror because guess where the overspray goes? That's right, all over your counter tops.

Good Advice

Daily: Hot water and a sponge is sufficient to wipe up spills and debris and keep your counter tops clean and tidy throughout the day. At the end of the day, a quick spray and wipe of the most heavily used areas with our stone cleaner will adequately clean, disinfect and protect your counter tops.

Weekly: Use the stone cleaner over the entire surface. Then spray with aerosol counter top polish and buff dry with a clean, dry terrycloth towel. (And don't forget! We have that in stock for you!)

Granite counter to maintenance is very easy. In fact, if all you ever did was follow thee instructions after we have completely protected your surface, your stone will still look great 20 years from now!

I hope you found this valuable, and that you use these tips for years to come. If you have any further questions, we're always more than happy to help you! Call 586-294-3111 or click on http://www.libertyservicesofamerica.com/

Tips You Can Use At Home To Prolong The Life Of Your Carpet

Nobody like a worn, soiled-looking carpet. And I'm sure everyone has heard enough about traffic and wear patterns. Well here are a few tips you can use around your house to extend the wear life of your carpeting for FREE!

And they are easy too!

1. Rearrange furniture often in rooms that receive high traffic.

Some of us fear change, but for others rearranging the furniture is almost a hobby! Either way, altering the flow of traffic through a room will spread out that daily wear and tear, creating a more even appearance and increasing the amount of time it takes wear to show. Plus, it gives you a fresh perspective on things! ;)

2. Change your furnace filter at least monthly, or more often when its dry or dusty.

Indoor air quality is a very hot topic nowadays. As I'm sure you know, your carpeting is also a filter in your house. Maintaining a fresh air filter will help reduce some of the soiling in your carpet. So let the filter do the filtering and let your carpet do the comforting!

3. Consult with the professionals.

Some rooms, homes, or areas have special flooring needs. Make sure each room is optimized to handle its use. Having the right flooring in the right areas will contribute to the overall cleanliness of your home and make cleanings alot easier.

4. Vacuum regularly.

Lets say that again: Vacuum Regularly! This is probably the single greatest controlling factor that decides how long your carpet will last and how quickly it soils. It may not be the most enjoyable task ever, but it is a very important one and can have a suprising effect not just on your carpet, but also on your physical and mental health! Once again, Indoor air quality has been linked to a number of illnesses, diseases and disorders. Keeping your carpet clean and fresh eliminates so many contaminates from your home.
Vacuum at least once a week or more!

5. Quality flooring.

The cheapest carpeting is probably not the best. And while you may not need to shell out top dollar for the fanciest of carpets you should select a quality carpet. The extra cost up front will save you alot of time and stress later, when you need to quickly replace a cheap carpet that has worn too quickly. And of course, buyer beware. Always check out the dealer and installer and make sure they are a quality company.

There you have it! 5 quick tips you can use to keep your home and carpets fresh, clean and healthy in between regular cleanings! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or are looking for a good referral. If we don't have one directly, we can always point you in the right direction! :)

Big saving in Macomb, Oakland and Grosse Pointe Michigan

Just a quick update before the big turkey day. Right now, any businesses in Macomb County, Oakland County and Grosse Pointe can save BIG on Stone, Tile and Carpet Cleaning! Call 586-294-3111 or toll-free at 800-KARPETS and get up to 200 sq. ft. of carpet cleaning FREE! Got stone or tile? Get up to 50 sq. ft. of tile and grout or natural stone flooring FREE! When you schedule a cleaning between December 26th and December 31st. All appointments must be made by December 19th to qualify.

Don't Wait! Scheduling will be limited an it will be first come, first served! Save money on your flooring investments and give you and your employees a safe, healthy environment for the holidays!

What's in YOUR Carpet?

No, I'm not talking about the soils today! Instead, lets talk about what your carpet is made out of. Chances are, your carpet is a man-made fiber rather than a natural one like wool.

There are quite a variety of these fibers on the market today--nylon, olefin, polyester, acrylic--and your carpet may have one, or more likely, a blend of them. Why is that? Well, different fibers have different advantages and disadvantages depending on the location and use of the carpet.

Most homes will have a nylon or nylon blend of carpet. This is because nylon is the most wear-resistant of the common fibers, shows its color nicely and has some inherent soil and stain resistance. It is the most expensive to make though, which can be a prohibitive factor for large installations or tight budgets.

On the flipside, many commercial and public carpets are olefin or an olefin blend. This is because olefin is the cheapest to manufacture, which allows a lower price--a nice advantage when you need to carpet large areas! But olefin is not as wear-resistant, and though it also has a nice visual appeal, it can soil quickly and easily--even more so over time, as its quicker abrasion makes resoiling even quicker and easier.

Additionally, olefin (and polypropylene, essentially the same material) are petroleum-based products, as you might have guessed by the name. This means they are "oleophilic," or oil-loving. In plain terms, it means that this fiber attracts and bonds to oil-based soils VERY easily and DO NOT like to let them go, making it difficult to clean them. As you might recall from an earlier blog here, oil-based soils are a large part of the soiling process, making olefin a short-lived product that will wear quickly and soil easily.
If you have an olefin, vacuum it OFTEN and WELL! Keep it as free of soils as you can to reduce wear. Also keep it on a regular maintenance clean.

Polyester and acrylic both have low wear-resistance, which makes them less appealing for high-use areas, which results in a low frequency of use.

Now for the dirty secret. Many carpets being sold today are a blend. Most commonly you'll find a nylon/olefin blend. Knowing what you know now about olefin, you might wonder "Why? Olefins wear quickly and soil easily, and love to hold onto oily soils, making them difficult to clean, so why blend them?"

Recall that olefin is the cheapest fiber, while nylon is the most expensive. Selling a blend means that the production cost is lower for the mill and that the carpet will wear faster, requiring more cleaning and more frequent replacement. A very common ratio you'll find is 70% nylon and 30% olefin. Not too bad, right? Maybe so, but that 30% is enough to visually reduce the appearance over time and with soiling.
Remember that in school, 70% was a C-. Not so appealing, eh?

Nylons are great in the home, but certain rooms, like the bathroom, might be better served with an olefin, as it is hydrophobic, which means the moisture in that room will affect it less. It will wear quicker, but if properly maintained, can look good in the meantime.
In the kitchen though, olefin would probably be a terrible idea!

So be aware and check the labels when you are buying carpet! Knowing what you are putting in your home is one huge step towards maintaining that investment for a long time. The right stuff in the right spot with the proper cleaning measures can keep any carpet looking good for years to come!

The Value of Soil Retarding Treatments (such as Scotchgard)

Soil retardants help to protect your carpet in two ways: One, it causes spills to bead up on the carpet surface, rather than letting them sink in immediately. This allows you more time to respond to a spill before a stain sets in. Two, dry soils do not adhere to the fibers as easily, making the carpet much easier to clean, especially at six to twelve month intervals.

Of course this doesn't mean that soils can't adhere to the carpet, but it does mean it will slow down the process. Like anything else, its not a miracle cure-all, rather it is a measure of protection for your carpet.

Typically, a soil retardant is applied as a coating to the fibers. And just like the fibers themselves, it is subject to wear and tear from soils, shoes and the like. So to better understand the challenges and benefits lets examine the soiling process:

Oil-based soils are the most likely to adhere to a carpet fiber first. These can be airborne, such as from cooking vapors and vehicle exhaust. Others might be tracked in on your shoes from the parking lot or pavement outside.

Over time, these small amounts add up to one big headache in the form of a dirty, stained carpet, as the oily soils build up. This is especially noticeable in your traffic lanes and pivot areas, like corners in hallways or next to your bed or in front of your sofas or chairs. Of course, the more people or traffic you have, the faster these soils will work their way into your fibers.

Even worse, these oily soils have a tacky consistency which allow them to trap and hold other soil types--especially dust which contains a wide range of contaminants (organic, inorganic and biological) as well as abrasive grits. This combination of soils is what causes those unsightly traffic patterns, which is permanent damage to your fibers, caused by the abrading action of the grits on the fibers thanks to the weight and movement of your feet across the surface. This is why regular cleanings are highly recommended, even for new carpets, and why soil retardants are offered with each cleaning. Getting and staying on a regular maintenance program will greatly reduce the amount of soils in your carpet, which reduces the wear and tear and consequently extends the life of the carpet, saving you money.

So get the sandpaper out of your carpet! save yourself the time, hassle and cost of traffic patterns and replacing carpets. Find a cleaner who will provide quality cleaning on a regular schedule and who will offer you quality protectants for your valuable investment.

To Clean or Not to Clean, That is the Question

We often hear from our clients how they "meant to get a cleaning done sooner." With today's hectic lifestyles it easy to overlook something as onerous as getting the carpeting, or other surfaces, cleaned.
We understand. Really, we do.

Just like you, we work hard all day, and when you get home, its easy to want to just zone out and forget the problems of the day and enjoy your own personal paradise. A cleaning can feel disruptive and intrusive. You have to find a company (hopefully one you can trust!, set a date, get stuffed moved, and tidy up. Plus, you have to be there (physically, anyways). So we put it off, wait "just a little longer," or just plain forget.
It happens.

However, procrastination carries its own costs with it:

• Threat to health
• Causes odors
• Degrades air quality
• Causes dyes and fabrics to deteriorate, possibly causing permanent damage

Maybe you don't want to spend the money, or maybe you want to avoid the hassle, or maybe you've had a bad cleaner in the past. But all of these excuses (and they are excuses) will only cost you more money and create more problems in the long run. Clean floors and furniture directly impacts the environmental quality of your home, your own personal retreat. And clean fabrics last longer. So keeping up on regular cleanings will save you money and preserve your health over the long run, which is invaluable.

How can you help stay clean between cleans?

• Don't eat over the carpet
• Don't wear outdoor shoes in the home
• Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum!
• Clean up spills (Properly!!!) when they happen

Further, there are good, trustworthy companies out there. Trust us, we know, we're one of them. ;) A good company will save you alot of time and hassle and treat you with the respect you deserve. Once you find that company, you can build a relationship that will have you in a clean, healthy home for years to come.

Stay tuned for more great tips on keeping clean and healthy! In the meantime, click this link to find a great cleaner in your area.

http://www.ethicalservices.com/