Posts Tagged ‘Cleaning’

Floor Mops For Effective Cleaning

January 31st, 2010 admin

You want your hardwood floors to look good. It shows that you take pride in your home if the beauty of your hardwood floors is well maintained. It doesn’t take complicated tools to clean your hardwood flooring. All it takes are good floor mops.

A well maintained and finely polished hardwood floor is a beautiful addition to any home. An ordinary home on the outside becomes an extraordinary home on the inside if you have hardwood floors that are immaculate. This sounds like too much work to a lot of folks; but if you use floor mops, you’ll be working smarter, not harder.

To be honest, hardwood floors are a pain to keep looking beautiful once they’ve been left too long. They will become stained and damaged, showing every speck of dirt and dust. Every shoe mark and scuff will glare like a beacon to you. But, take heart, all is not lost and with a little effort and loving care, even hardwood in the worst state can be brought back to its original beauty and warmth. A USA manufacturer offers floor mops that are of the highest quality and all cotton which will make your dirtiest floors a breeze to clean.

You should always read the instructions from the floor manufacturer to see if it is safe to use a wet mop on your floor. Water can damage some floor surfaces and if it isn’t recommended you can use dry floor mops. Of course there is no better cleaning tool for floors than a wet mop if it is safe. You can purchase several different types of durable and effective floor mops.

It’s an easy decision to select a floor mop. Just remember one simple thing. Cotton; cotton is a superior material for mop heads and they are highly absorbent.

Now you have your durable, 100% cotton floor mop, get to work. You can bring out the shine in those hardwood floors. Moving in a figure eight pattern is very effective when you clean with wet floor mops. It also doesn’t cause as much pressure on your joints or your back. Try using some cleaner or even a polish, applied with your floor mop. Just remember not to over polish and most floor cleaners and polishes have overpowering fumes. You don’t want to use a lot to bring out your floors hidden beauty. Your floors will look like you worked for hours if you use good floor mops.

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How to Choose an Air Duct Cleaning Company?

January 30th, 2010 admin

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems collect mold, fungi, bacteria and a variety of contaminants that reduce the quality of the air residents and visitors breathe. A dirty air duct contributes to poor indoor air quality and affects the health of people in the residence.

Vacuum collection alone does not clean the HVAC system. Brushes, air whips, “skipper balls” and other tools that agitate contaminants and debris scrub the surfaces within the air duct system and propels contaminants and debris into the vacuum collection device(s).

Anti-microbial chemical sanitizers are applied to the interior surface of the air ducts to control microbial contamination…but…before sanitizers are used, the system should be thoroughly cleaned. All anti-microbial chemicals used must be EPA registered for use in HVAC systems. Ask to see the chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). If you are still concerned, call the EPA at 1-800-438-4318. There are no EPA registered anti-microbial products for use on porous system surfaces – such as fiberglass surfaces.

When sanitizing air ducts you want to make sure the air duct cleaning company uses safe; effective EPA approved products that are safe for people, pets, and the environment. An atomizer fogs the sanitizing product throughout the entire ventilation system.

Allergic people, infants and elderly are especially sensitive to the microbes that cause respiratory problems like bacteria, mildew, fungi algae and dust mites which require a highly-effective sanitizer to eliminate odor-causing microorganisms as well contaminants associated with allergies, mildew and bacterial growth. Make sure the sanitizer is rated by the EPA as a category IV product with the lowest toxicity rating. Sanitizing air ducts means toxicity and safety safeguards that establish and ensure there are no harmful dermal (skin), ocular (eyes), inhalation (breathing) or ingestion (swallowing) effects from the products.

There are two popular types of vacuum collection systems…those mounted on trucks and trailers versus portable units. Truck/trailer mounted equipment is generally more powerful than portable equipment. By contrast, portable equipment often can be brought directly into a facility, locating the vacuum closer to the ductwork. Both types of equipment clean to air duct industry standards. Vacuum units should be attached to a collection device for safe containment prior to disposal. A vacuum collection device which exhausts indoors must be HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestance) filtered.

The frequency of air duct (HVAC) cleaning depends on several factors:

*before occupying a new home.
*afterhome renovations or remodeling.
*number of smokers in the household.
*Pets that shed hair and dander.
*Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.
*Residents with allergies or asthma benefit from better indoor air quality.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that “duct cleaning services” typically range in cost from $450 to $1000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, level of contamination” and type of duct material.

Consumers should beware of air duct cleaning companies making sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning – such claims are unsubstantiated.

Consumers should also beware of “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning companies that charge low fees and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system. These companies also try to persuade consumers into unneeded services or provide service without the consumer’s permission. Contact the Better Business Bureau and local, federal, and state elected officials to report the company.

Interview at least 3 local air duct and HVAC cleaning contractors and to perform a free system inspection and to provide a price to clean the HVAC system.

Narrow your list of potential contractors:

* Make sure the company is a member in good standing of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).
* Verify that the company is certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning.
* Ask how long the company has been in business and determine if that experience is adequate.
* Ask if the company has the right equipment to effectively perform cleaning, and if the company has done work in homes similar to yours. Ask for references from neighbors.
* Inquire whether the company is in good standing with the local Better Business Bureau.
* Get proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
* Make sure that the company is going to clean and visually inspect all of the air ducts and related system components.
* Avoid advertisements for “$99 whole house specials” and other sales gimmicks.

NADCA Members sign a Code of Ethics stating they will do everything possible to protect the consumer and to follow NADCA Standards for air duct cleaning. Air duct cleaning companies must meet stringent requirements. All members must have certified Air System Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff, who have taken and passed the NADCA Certification Examination. Passing the exam demonstrates extensive knowledge in HVAC design and cleaning methodologies. Air System Cleaning Specialists are also required to continue their industry education by attending seminars to keep their NADCA certification status current.

Find out as much as you can about the air duct cleaning company before you hire the company.

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Cleaning With Dry Steam Cleaners

January 30th, 2010 admin

With house cleaning becoming more of botheration than merely a daily chore, technology plays a defining role by offering various cleansing appliances. Dry Steam Cleaner is one such appliance that makes the task of cleaning easy and hassle-free.

Dry Steam Cleaners are the best chemical free appliances for cleaning purposes. A Dry Steam cleaner sprays water and solution onto the dirty surface and then pulls back the moisture and the dirt for an effective, deep clean. An efficient Dry Steam Cleaner can clean anything from nook and crannies of the bathrooms, dirty corners of kitchen, to any corner of the house. Previously inaccessible places are now easily cleaned and sanitized in the process.

Dry Steam Cleaners utilize dry steams of levels of 240°F and above to sanitize and clean almost any dirty surface. It extracts moisture while cleaning to help eliminate the need for towels which are generally required by conventional steam cleaners. Dry Steam Cleaners, with an effective filtering facility up to 3micron give protection against allergies. With fingertip controls and pressure gauge for steam regulation, the appliance can be used for deep cleaning. Dry steam vapor dislodges the most persistent stains and dirt by using superheated steam to clean any kind of surface as Dry Steam Cleaner systems are small, portable, quiet, powerful and a complete solution system.

Equipped with standard cleaning tools, Dry Steam Cleaner sanitizes surfaces, removes soap scum and mildew, kills bacteria, germs, microorganisms, viruses, mold, mildew, dust mites, and reduces allergies for effective allergy relief. They are chemical free appliances with no ongoing costs and are widely available in various formats and price ranges. Dry Steam Cleaners are the healthiest way to clean without supermarket chemicals, and it is green since they don’t contribute to indoor pollution.

Thus, a Dry Steam Cleaner is a good investment for cleaning, sanitization and redefining the process of cleaning.

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Duct San Cleaning

January 29th, 2010 admin

Homeowners know that routine maintenance of real estate requires a lot of work. From the roof to the basement and everywhere in between there are things that should be checked, cleaned and repaired on a regular basis. One of the areas do not lose sight of this air conditioning and heating system. When cleaning the air is part of normal procedure, homeowners will realize a number of benefits.

Ventilation cleaning involves quite a thorough process to clean from dust, dirt and debris from the central heating and cooling system. Not only professional services to remove these things from the system, but many also take steps to disinfect ducts to kill mold and bacteria. Other routine maintenance, such as coil cleaning usually goes on this type of service.

Savings. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that even less than .04 inches of dust in the cooling coil can reduce efficiency by as much as 21 percent. When cleaning the air is part of normal service, coils are cleaned in this process. This can be done heating and cooling home as an effective and time.

Protection system. It is estimated that approximately nine out of 10 central heat and air system, not simply because routine maintenance was carried out. Replacing parts in a central heating system can be quite costly. In general, the replacement can install thousands of homeowners ago.

Air quality. Air purification is very important because for many it can help improve indoor air quality Dust and debris can become a trap in air ducts if they are not cleaned on a regular basis. When this happens, the particles can be released back into the air. Even if family members do not suffer from allergies, the particles can cause breathing problems, among other things.

Allergen reduction. If allergies are a problem with family members, this service could prove vital to create a home livable. Air cleaning can also help reduce the number of allergens in the air. From dust mites and pollen, mold and more regular cleaning of air ducts can reduce allergens that circulate through the house with heating or cooling.

Improved smell inside the house. Since air ducts can harbor mold and bacteria, they can displace unpleasant odors, but when the system is in operation. Regular air duct cleaning can remove this issue almost entirely.

Ventilation should be cleaned at least once every three to five years. Houses with pets, small children and the issues with a lot of tracking in dust and dirt may require more regular air. Doing this task can save homeowners a lot of money and trouble in the future.

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Do-it-yourself Technique For Cleaning Glass Tiles

January 29th, 2010 admin

Small pieces of glass casted into consistent shapes are known as glass tiles. They spread the feel of an expensively royal home decor. If you take a close look, then you’ll get an idea about the beauty of this tile. It is popularly used in mosaic designs. Their colors add on to the artistic appeal of the mosaic. Innovative artisans from Greek, Persia and India have encased the beauty of these tiles in their masterpieces.

Glass tiles have an aesthetic beauty and their biggest advantage is that they are non-porous in nature. This makes them free from stains and dirt. Some minute cleaning measures restore their shine as ever. However, these tiles tend to trap soap scum, if the tiles are installed in the bathroom. These tiles also get tainted due to deposition of hard water.

Hence, the glass tiles can be cleaned with help of the given below tips. Take a spray bottle and mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Now, spray the solution on the tiles with help of the nozzle. Leave the solution on the surface for 10-15 minutes. When the solution settles down, it cuts the soap scum and stains from the surface. It makes the stains moist and removable.

The stains near the grout layer can be cleaned with a brush. Take an old toothbrush and rub the grout line gently. You can also use nylon brush for effective cleaning. Don’t use a hard brush it might produce scratches on the glass tiles. Remove all the scum and stains. Later on, clean the tile with fresh water and pat dry with clean cloth. Wipe the tiles carefully else water deposition would lead to streaks on the glass tile.

If in case, you don’t have the time to clean the glass tiles then ask a restoration expert to restore the life of the glass tiles. The idea is to maintain the tiles regularly so that they serve you with their durability and beauty for a long time.

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