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!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
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:
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.
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