Caring for Floors in Your New Home

Luxury Home Cleaning

Alas- after much anticipation, preparation, and hard work, you’re all moved into your brand new home. And you stand in the entryway, marveling at its immaculate state, you wonder… How am I supposed to keep my house this clean?

While we can assure you that this task is totally doable without the acquisition of superhero strength, there are still a few tools of the trade that we think you should know!

Hardwood

Well Friends, there’s no easy way around it: you’re going to be doing a ton of vacuuming. On the bright side, this is more efficient than sweeping, and isn’t as demanding on the body. You can use an attachment to reach dusty corners, or those creepy dark spaces beneath appliances. After the dust and dirt has been removed, use a spray mop to finish it off! Spray mops are typically lightweight and very simple to use.

Carpet

In addition to frequent vacuuming and spot treating, we recommend hiring a professional steam cleaning company. Occasionally, carpet collects enough dust, dirt, and general wear that it needs a professional’s touch: this includes expert technique, and professional-grade equipment!

Tile

Tile flooring should be periodically mopped with warm water and a cleansing solution, but in the interim, a dry dusting mop will be your secret weapon.

Marble

To maintain that new, spotless look in your marble flooring, you’ll need only two things: a soft sponge, and a cleanser that is specially formulated for marble/stone. With warm water, sponge away spills immediately after you discover them. With this habit in place, and frequent dust mopping, your floors should sparkle!

Don’t dwell on all of the accidents, spills, scrapes, chips, and scrubs that will inevitably take place all over the flooring in your new home. Instead, gear up to establish a thorough, effective cleaning routine to keep your home looking like the day you moved in. And of course, for a professional’s advice and expertise, contact The Steam Team today!

3 Tips to Maintain Your Flooring Through the Winter

Water And Fire Damage 

The holidays are a hectic time of year for most people! We’re exhausted from working long hours, tying up the year. We’re frazzled, running on fumes, and full of doubts like “Does Timmy already have this set of Legos? Are gift cards still a ‘thing?’” In the middle of preparing for family gatherings and a season spent indoors, it’s difficult to keep up with cleaning routines! But with the right amount of focus in the correct areas of your home, you can keep your flooring in great condition throughout the winter.

1. Prepare for Increased Foot Traffic

During the winter time, it’s likely that our pets will be spending more time indoors, cuddling up next to us on the couch or beside the fireplace. Wherever their spot is, they’re bound to leave a mess behind.

Having more people in our homes means more foot traffic, and thus more dust and dirt to clean up at the end of the day! Keep the necessary supplies on hand for your convenience, or add a couple of area rugs to your living room.

1. Vacuum, Instead of Dust Mopping/Sweeping

Dust mopping and sweeping both have a way of merely pushing dust and dirt around the room, instead of collecting it. Vacuums are more effective, efficient, and will save you frustration this winter as you’ll be cleaning up more frequently.

1. Have Your Carpet, Tile, or Hardwood Flooring Regularly Cleaned by a Professional Steam Cleaning Company

Having a professional tend to your flooring is a wonderful way to optimize its condition. Whether you have carpet, tile, hardwood, or concrete flooring, a professional cleaning and restoration company has the right equipment to get the job done.

For professional results, you’ll need a professional’s experience and expertise. Give The Steam Team a call today; we’ll have your flooring looking like new, just in time for the holidays!

When the Pipes Break: Cleaning Up After Water Damage

Cleaners Austin

Water damage can be caused by anything from an old pipe breaking, to leaky appliances, to a tragic house fire. But whatever its cause may be, water damage always seems to strike us at the wrong time. It can destroy our furniture, parts of our home, and empty our wallets. We know it’s not easy, but we encourage you to take the cleaning and restoration process one step at a time, and allow us to help you get off to the right start.

1. Dry Out All Affected Areas

After the damage has been discovered, it’s imperative that you act as quickly as possible to thoroughly dry out all areas affected by the water. Water has a way of seeping into everything and if you’re not careful, you could have a mold infestation to deal with in the near future. Use towels, sponges, anything that is absorbent. Using a dehumidifier will help extract any remaining moisture from the room.

1. Disinfect

Once everything has dried out (including walls and carpet padding) it’s important to disinfect the affected area to protect against bacteria. Your walls, counters, floors, and other surfaces will likely need professional treatment to prevent odors and stains.

1. Stop the Spread of Mold

As we’ve warned you many times before, mold only needs twenty four hours to grow and begin the horrific process of taking over your home, so stop it in its tracks! As soon as you notice a mold issue, follow the previous steps and call a professional cleaning and restoration company to thoroughly inspect and treat your home.

1. Call Your Local Cleaning & Restoration Company

Professional cleaning and restoration companies, like The Steam Team, have all of the expertise and equipment needed to tackle your water-damaged property. Don’t wait! Call The Steam Team today! No matter the severity of the damage, we can make any home look brand new again!

The Importance of Removing Smoke Damage After a Fire

It would be an understatement to say that the cleanup process, after a devastating house fire, is difficult. You’ve yet to forget the tragedy, you’re not ready to learn of all that’s been damaged, or which parts of your home will need to be replaced. However, in a frightening time such as this one, it’s encouraged that you pass this burden onto the professionals, by contacting your local cleaning and restoration company. A professional company, such as The Steam Team, will have plenty of experience handling smoke damage and restoring your home to its former condition. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Immediate Steps

While you wait for us to arrive, there are a few things you can do to both minimize smoke damage, and prevent further damage from occurring.

1. Set Up Box Fans

Proper ventilation is key when it comes to removing smoke and dust contamination. Set up box fans around your home/work area, and open windows to really get the air flowing.

1. Clean Surfaces w/Soap & Water

Wipe down all surfaces and cabinets with a damp cloth. Start from the top and work your way down, to be sure you’ve covered every inch.

1. Vacuum All Upholstery & Carpet

Vacuum all upholstered furniture and carpeting. While vacuuming, be sure to clean and change your filter often to prevent soot from circulating around the room.

1. Launder All Washable Items

Everything that can be put through the washing machine should be laundered. This includes clothing, bedding, towels, curtains, pet bedding, etc.

Cleaning Austin

1. Remove Soot From Walls (& outside property)

Smoke damage will continue until you properly remove soot from the outside of your property. Attach a cleaner to your water hose loosen tough soot!

The Steam Team has all of the right equipment and training to help you during this time of crisis. For help handling smoke and fire damage after a house fire, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Staying Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

 Cleaning

Ah… ah… Achoo! It’s fall, which means cold and flu season is right around the corner! It can be difficult to stay healthy at work when you’re around other people so frequently (especially those people who may be carrying additional germs from family members). It’s tough to avoid! But this year, we can help you head into cold and flu season with confidence. We’re going to go over the most important places to keep clean in your office.

Restrooms & Break Rooms

The cleaning crew should be taking care of your office restrooms and breakrooms. But there are still a few things you can do to help keep germs away from you and your coworkers. For instance, it can be helpful to keep bottles of Lysol and hand sanitizer for everyone. This way, messes can be thoroughly cleaned before the nightly cleaning crew comes in. And everyone can quickly disinfect their hands before and after meals.

Wipe down countertops, table tops, and chairs in the break room (pro tip: do it before you take your sandwich out). Sink faucets and microwave buttons are other culprits; when do you ever see those getting cleaned?

Desk, Keyboard & Cellphone

All day, your fingers touch your desk, keyboard, and cellphone. This can spread a lot of germs (or crumbs and smudges - ugh). You can use disinfectant wipes to keep them clean. Wipe down your desk periodically and keep tissues nearby in case of a sneeze attack.

In addition to keeping these areas clean and disinfected, always remember to wash your hands and cover your mouth if you have a cough! These simple habits go a long way in keeping everyone healthy. And if you have sick days, take them! There’s no sense in coming to work sick or feverish and infecting others around you. If you’re able to take time off, it’s always best to do so.

If it’s time for a deep cleaning in your office, don’t hesitate to call us- The Steam Team! We’ll have your office looking spectacular and germ-free in no time!

Rid Your Venetian Blinds of Dust, Dirt, & Grime

cleaning 

Venetian blinds provide us with the privacy we need while helping our homes to look more warm and welcoming! But over time, blinds collect so much dust and dirt; eventually they need to be cleaned. We know this may not be the easiest of household chores, so we’ve come to help!

When homeowners set out to clean their window blinds, they typically choose one of a few routes: dry dusting/vacuuming, washing in a tub, or steam cleaning. All three methods have their advantages, but steam cleaning will provide you with the most efficient and satisfying results.

Dry Dusting

With a soft towel or microfiber cloth, you can wipe most of the dust and dirt particles off of your blinds. For the best results, frequently exchange dirty clothes for clean ones.

Tub Washing

Aside from steam cleaning, hand washing your blinds in a tub of warm, soapy water is definitely the most effective methods.

Start by filling your bathtub(s) with warm water, and add your favorite household cleaner or detergent. Gently remove your blinds from their brackets, scrub them down thoroughly in the tub, and hang them up to dry.

Steam Cleaning

The power of a steam cleaner will easily remove dust and dirt particles from almost any surface. Using a personal steam cleaner, leave the blinds open, and guide the steamer over each slat. You’ll be cleaning and drying your blinds simultaneously, making the process much more efficient!

When you finish one side, adjust the blinds to reach the opposite side. When all's said and done your venetian blinds should look and feel brand new. No more dust, no more grime.

We hope these tips help you as you set out to clean your blinds this weekend! And remember, if ever a project is too daunting, time consuming, or you’d just like a bit of expert advice, call us today! The Steam Team has all of the knowledge and skill that you need to keep your home looking bright and beautiful.

Mold, & All The Problems

Austin Cleaners

Have you ever noticed a musty, mildewy smell stemming from your basement, garage, bathroom, or laundry room? Mold is most likely to grow in damp places, areas that retain moisture. In perfect conditions, it can grow over the course of a short twenty four hours! Mold will grow both indoors and outdoors, and it uses multiple methods to enter our homes through doors, windows, heating and air conditioning, or vents!  Once mold has found us, it begins to fester, grow, and spread.

If left untreated, mold can carry many unhealthy, dangerous consequences. However, there are ways to control mold infestations and ensure the protection of your home, health, and wellness.

Health Concerns

Some people are more sensitive to mold than others, and therefore experience an array of health issues. A person affected by mold may present symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, eyes and throat irritation, or nasal stuffiness. Of course, if you have a mold allergy, unfortunately you’ll likely endure a more severe reaction. This is all the more reason to quickly get a handle on any mold issue that may present itself in your environment!

Call the Professionals Immediately

Upon discovering a mold infestation, you should immediately contact your local professional cleaning and restoration company. Mold is not an issue to take lightly; keep in mind that do-it-yourself methods of removing mold may not actually do the job. You’ll need the industrial-strength equipment and expansive knowledge base of a professional water restoration company… like us, The Steam Team!

We know how stressful and tiresome it is to deal with a mold issue in your home. We also know how imperative it is to solve the problem the right way. The moment you detect mold growth in your home, give The Steam Team a shout!

Indoor vs Outdoor Air: Which is More Polluted?

Indoor Air Quality Austin

It may be difficult to believe that the air you breathe indoors may be more polluted than the air you’d encounter outdoors. This fact is absurd, and only grows more unsettling as we consider that the amount of time we spend indoors versus outdoors is only increasing. All of this may leave us wondering where we can escape to, or at least what can be done to increase air quality. But first, let’s take a glance at a handful of causes to these indoor air pollutants!

What’s Polluting Indoor Air in Austin?

1. Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke is a major pollutant, and its second hand smoke lingers in the air far longer, only to settle onto every surface present.  

1. Mold

Mold grows in lickity split and spreads even more rapidly. If you notice a mold issue in your home you’ll need to act quickly! It’s a good idea to call in a professional cleaning and restoration service to ensure that your home is thoroughly treated.

1. Poor Ventilation

Inadequate ventilation is one of the most common causes of indoor pollution. This also explains why you may feel worse in humid climates, or in the winter when the air conditioning isn’t running as frequently. Be sure to properly ventilate your home by utilizing kitchen fans or other exhaust fans, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, etc.

What Can Be Done?

Indoor pollutants can put our health at risk by causing irritated mucous membranes in our eyes, nose, or throat, and an array of other medical conditions. Symptoms are often masked by colds, flus, and other illnesses.  The best thing you can do for indoor pollutants is to eliminate the source(s), and thoroughly ventilate your home.

For a professional touch, consider hiring The Steam Team to thoroughly clean your home and reduce indoor air pollutants!. In no time at all, we’ll have your home looking and feeling pristine and, most importantly, healthy.