Helpful Hints

Carpet Maintenance

Carpets and upholstered furniture will not age gracefully no matter how exceptional the performance test results, if not maintained properly.

Tracking soil in your home from outdoors is the biggest problem because it is carried throughout the house. If you can keep tracked-in soil to a minimum, you can reduce the dirt build up and ultimately decrease the frequency of periodic professional cleanings.

We recommend the following helpful hints to reduce the "aged look," keeping your carpets looking clean and fresh longer.

Controlling Soil

We always recommend the use of entry mats/rugs that collect and absorb soil and moisture. Mats and Rugs should always be placed adjacent to high traffic areas and entryways. (It is not recommended you lay a mat directly on top of carpet). Rugs and Entry mats should be vacuumed, shook and/or cleaned on a weekly basis.

Vacuuming

Routine vacuuming with properly maintained equipment is the most important step you can take to extend the life and appearance of your carpet.

• Use a top-fill vacuum with an agitation brush system OR a canister with a "power head" that also has a brush agitation system.


• Soil should be collected in the vacuums recovery system (avoid re-entry into the air which can contribute to indoor air pollution).


• Make sure you always use a bag in your vacuum, or if the unit is bag-less, make sure it has a high efficiency HEPA filtration system.

Upholstery

Read all labels and tags carefully. Always follow manufacturer's recommendations for the proper care and maintenance of your upholstered furniture.

Always re-apply 3M Scotchgard^® to your furniture after you have a professional cleaning. This will extend the beauty and useful life.
Make sure you only hire industry standard (www.iicrc.org) trained professionals who have experience with different types of fabric. (Ex: Haitian cotton, leather, linen, etc.)

Spills and Stains

• Wet Stain: Blot the area with a white cloth or paper towel.


• Dry Stain: Scoop up all of the loose material and vacuum any residual particles.


• Always test the cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area to determine if discoloration will occur.


• Never rub, scrub or brush the area being cleaned.


• Work from the outside to the center of the stain to prevent spreading of the stain.


• Always allow the area to dry thoroughly.


• Sometimes the stain persists even when you think it is gone, it may re-appear. This is called "wicking."


• Groom the cleaned area by hand brushing or vacuuming to restore the pile's original appearance.

Too many times, our office staff hears customers say "I used an over the counter product or oxygenated product to try to get the stain out before you came..." Many times because of science and pH levels, over the counter products and the stains/spills react to each other, setting the stain in permanently. AMERICA'S BEST DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS UNLESS THEY ARE ALL NATURAL AND NEUTRALLY pH BALANCED. We sell an all-natural in-expensive product, Home Pro Spotter^®, that will help you touch up those spills and stains in between cleanings.

Emergency Water Damage Tips

DO'S

• If the temperature outside is above 60 degrees, use dehumidifiers if available.


• Use a fan to circulate the air and assist in drying.


• Remove as much water as possible by mopping or blotting.


• Wipe furniture dry.


• Lift drapery off the carpets.


• Prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying.


• Open furniture drawers and closet doors to enhance drying.


• Move photos, paintings and art objects to a dry location.


• Remove wet fabric and dry them ASAP. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.


• If damage occurs during a cool season, leave the heat on; if in the summer, use an air conditioner when available.

DON'TS

• Do not use a house hold vacuum to remove water.


• Do not use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or floors.


• Do not lift tacked down carpet without professional help. Incorrect lifting could promote shrinkage.


• Do not go into rooms with standing water if the electricity is on. Shut off power ASAP.


• Do not wait to call for professional help. Waiting could cause further damage. Damage from water and bacteria growth could begin within hours.

Tile and Grout Maintenance Tips

RULE #1 - If in doubt, don't apply any cleaner or cleaning technique to your tile and grout.

Some mistakes can be irreversible, always check labels on the product you are thinking of using. Then test in an inconspicuous area to see if there will be any effects the cleaning process or product(s) may have on your tile and grout.

Everyday cleaning:

Immediately wipe up spills and messes. Use pH balanced cleaners and soap-less detergents for daily cleaning. Agitate grout joints with a soft bristled brush to loosen debris. Thoroughly rinse, dry, and polish cleaned areas.

Acidic cleaners will eventually erode the grout in the joint making, cleaning and maintenance more and more problematic. This is especially true if using acidic cleaners on sanded grout installations.

This is due to the tendency of the acids to eat away the smaller aggregates first leaving the larger stain attracting aggregates in their place.

Grout haze

Grout haze is grout residue left on the tile face. Many times this haze can be cleaned off by simply using a scouring pad and water. The next progression would be a scouring cleanser or poultice and pad.

Mold in your home:

When water leaks or spills occur indoors, ACT QUICKLY!

If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after the leak or spill happens, in MOST CASES, mold will not grow. If you are already seeing mold or you have an ongoing water problem, bring this to our attention right away so we can give you the proper advice or treatments.

Clean and repair roof gutters on a regular basis.

Make sure the ground slopes away from your building foundation so water does not enter or collect around the foundation.

Keep air conditioner drip pans clean and drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.

Keep your indoor humidity low. We recommend below 60% relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture meter or humidity meter.

If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, pipes or walls, ACT QUICKLY to fix the problem.

Affects of using bleach to treat mold

Chlorine (bleach) reacts by "adding" chlorine atoms. This can create trichloromethanes residue (food for mold) and dioxins (Any of several toxic or carcinogenic hydrocarbons that occur as impurities in herbicides), both known to be powerful carcinogens. What this means to you is, to kill any biological contaminates, the concentration of chlorine (bleach) would be so high, it could have adverse health effects or could be potentially deadly.

In conclusion, chlorine bleach has been widely accepted as a cleaner for many years in various areas of your home. It is still good to use when you are washing your clothing, dishes, or in your bathroom. Keep in mind you are constantly rinsing these areas or items so you don't get the harmful effects from its reactions.

An industry standard does not recognize chlorine as a good agent for eliminating biological contaminates such as mold and mildew. As an IICRC certified firm, we highly recommend you do not use bleach as an agent to try to eliminate mold and mildew in your home after your home has been affected by these biological contaminates.