Happy New Year!
Commercial Steam Team wishes you a fantastic 2013!
Be safe tonight and enjoy welcoming in the new year!
Archive for year: 2012
Merry Christmas
Commercial Steam Team wishes you a merry, happy and safe Christmas!
Winter Solstice Today!
Today is the winter solstice: the shortest day of the year. In Minneapolis, that means there are 8 hours, 46 minutes, and 9 seconds between sunrise and sunset.
Just think, from now on it only gets better as the daylight get longer every day!
Mold Allergies and Carpet
Mold is present in most places indoors and outdoors and particularly grows where it can find organic food sources and in moist dark places. Carpet can hold material that mold likes to eat so it is important to keep your carpet clean.
Mold is a fungus that breaks down dead organic material. Mold lives by digesting organic plant or animal materials such as leaves, wood, paper, dirt, food and urine. It spreads by releasing mold spores in the air seeking new materials to feed on.
Carpet spills that are organic such as food, pet urine and backed up drains can cause mold to settle and feed on the organic matter making your carpet smell and stain from the fungus. Allergy sufferers need to pay particular attention to getting any spills cleaned up off of carpet immediately before the carpet fibers absorb the organic matter.
Scheduled regular carpet cleaning can help remove any built up debris and remove mold spores from your carpet.
Call us today to ask about how we can help keep your carpet mold and fungus free – Call Commercial Steam Team 952-224-7222
Top 5 Germ Places
Microbiologists have identified the top 5 places in the home that have the highest number of germs.
• Dish sponges
• Kitchen Drains
• Bathroom Toilets
• Kitchen Trash Cans
• Air exhaust from a running vacuum cleaner
To prevent germs from being blown back into the air while vacuuming make sure your vacuum cleaner is working efficiently, change the bag often and schedule regular cleanings.
Give us a call if we can help with your carpet – Commercial Steam Clean 952-224-7222
Happy Hanukkah
Commercial Steam Team wishes you a happy and safe Hanukkah! For those that don’t know, Hanukkah is celebrated this year from today through the 16th.
Soil in Your Carpet?
Did you know that soil and dirt can build up underneath your carpet and padding? Most people replacing carpet find layers of dirt under their old carpet and padding. If dirt and detritus is allowed to accumulate on carpet it is ground in by simple foot traffic, and the dirt and dry organic material leaches down past the carpet fibers and into the padding below.
To prevent dirt infiltrations in your carpet have people remove their shoes, vacuum your carpet frequently and get your carpet steam cleaned at least once a year.
Please give us a call if we can schedule a thorough cleaning for you Commercial Steam Team 952-224-7222
Holiday Cleanup
Holidays are a great time for family, food, and spills on your carpet.
If you need some help cleaning up the spills, give us a call at 952-224-7222 so we can help get stains out before they set, and food particles out before they encourage mold and bacteria growth.
Have a great week!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Commercial Steam Team would like to extend our wishes for a warm, happy, and comforting Thanksgiving for everyone.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday, and keep us in mind if you need any pre-holiday or post-holiday cleanup!
Pet Odor Indoors
Now that the colder weather is upon us were spending more time indoors and keeping the windows closed which can make your home smell pretty stuffy. If you have an indoor pet they can shed dander, hair and oils which can accumulate in your carpet and cause odor.
Because you live in this environment every day, you probably don’t smell anything unusual, but you can count on having your visitors smell it.
To prevent the buildup of smells and odors in your carpet schedule regular steam cleanings to leave your carpet fresh and clean.
Call Commercial Steam Team 952-224-7222
Carpet Trivia – Commercial Carpet Materials
How much do you know about carpet?
Besides wool and natural fiber carpet there are 3 main materials that commercial carpet is made from. Can you name them?
The 3 types of man-made carpet are:
- Nylon
- PET Polyester
- Polypropylene
Read more about carpet cleaning https://commercialsteamteam.com/
Fall Leaves and Boot Trays
Many people think that winter and spring are the seasons that can result in the most damage to your carpet. Autumn completely falls under the radar, yet fall can set the stage for mold and mildew growth throughout the winter.
Dry fallen leaves are easily crushed by shoes and the resulting small debris and dust then get tracked indoors where they can make their home in your carpet.
If autumn leaves and decomposing material along with dirt and dust have gotten tracked into your carpet you may be providing fuel for mold and fungus growth. Your shoes can track organic material onto your carpet along with mold and setup a perfect breeding ground to feast on. To prevent material from being tracked in, remove shoes before walking on the carpet and install runners or mats at the doorway entrance to collect dirt and debris.
Boot trays are a great way to store dirty shoes to avoid getting debris and water on carpet. Boot trays come in many colors styles and prices ranging from $8 for plastic trays to $68 designer steel boot trays.
Call us today at 952-224-7222 so we can help you have a mold-free winter!
Minnesota Vikings Football – Weeks 8,9 & 10
If you are a Minnesota Vikings fan there are some exciting games coming up.
Week 8: Thursday, October 25th, 2012 – The Vikings play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a home game at The Mall of America Field.
Week 9: Sunday, November 4th, 2012 – The Vikings play against The Seattle Seahawks during an away game at CenturyLink Field.
Week 10: Sunday, November 11th, 2012 – The Vikings play against The Detroit Lions during a home game at The Mall of America Field.
Grab your purple jersey, turn on the flat screen and pass the buffalo wings!
Here is the Vikings Football schedule for the rest of the season: http://www.vikings.com/schedule/season-schedule.html
How to Clean Area Rugs
The first step in cleaning area rugs is to vacuum them to remove dirt and debris.
Small pebbles and dirt can collect under the rug so vacuum the back of the rug as well.
If your carpet has fringes or decorative edges take care not to damage the fringe as you vacuum the carpet.
If you have pets or long haired people in your household the next step is to brush the carpet with a stiff bristled brush to remove hair left by the vacuum.
With smaller rugs you can take them outdoors and shake or beat it thoroughly to remove dirt.
Please let us know if we can help you with your carpet. Give us a call at 952-224-7222
What Kind of Rug Should I Use To Protect My Home and Office?
There are many beautiful rugs that you can put in your entryway to capture dirt and moisture.
One style is the carpet runner.
Here are some of the styles of carpet runner that they have in Home Depot. These entry and stair rugs are bound on the sides and can be cut and easily rolled up and taken home in your car.
Please let us know if we can help you with your carpet. Give us a call at 952-224-7222
4 Steps to Effective Carpet Maintenance
- Prevent Dirt from entering the building. Keeping dirt out of your building is easier than and less expensive than removing it. Place mats, rugs and runners at door ways to collect dirt from shoes before the entry doors.
- Regular vacuuming is the most important part of carpet maintenance. Removing dirt from the surface of the carpet before it gets ground into the carpet fibers will help keep the rug from wearing out.
- Spills and spots happen and can be cleaned up quickly preventing stains. If you have any questions about stains and what to clean them with give us a call we’d be happy to help you prevent those stains from setting.
- Regularly scheduled cleanings can help the carpet retain appearance and improve performance by periodically deep cleaning carpet using hot water extraction steam to remove any embedded abrasive soil.
Read more about how often you should clean your carpet here: When Should I Have My Carpets Cleaned?
Home Cleaning Tip – How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets
As you cook foods grease is deposited into the air and collects on kitchen cabinets and can build up over time. The cabinets directly above the stove will be the worst as grease rises up and collects along the tops of the cabinets.
You can easily clean grease by using Murphy’s oil soap natural cleaner on wood cabinets.
Read step by step directions at ResourcefulRemodeler.com
If you have any food stains on carpet we can help. Give us a call at 952-224-7222
Cleaning Up Carpet After Kids and Pets
If you have a pet or kids you can expect accidental stains on your carpets every so often. There are many homemade remedies for pet stain removal but they don’t get down into the carpet or are ineffective in other ways, and that can leave a source for bacteria, dust mites, and other things to feed on and grow.
Isn’t it good to know your carpet can be cleaned with a hot water extraction cleaning from Commercial Steam Team!
Learn more about cleaning up after pets.
Please give us a call if you have a carpet that needs special attention 952-224-7222 Commercial Steam Team – Your Carpet Cleaning Experts in Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota!
Meet the Team at Commercial Steam Team
We provide the best service possible by offering you thoroughly trained staff, high quality equipment, superior service and a nice clean carpet!
Meet our team of skilled professionals and see how we can improve the look of your carpet. Our company has such pride in the job that they follow up with a phone call after the job to make sure that you are satisfied.
Visit our team page at https://commercialsteamteam.com/ and give us a call if we can be of service 952-224-7222
How Often Should You Get a Business Carpet Cleaned?
Well that depends on what type of commercial business you have and how much dirty foot traffic there is. Commercial buildings with paved parking lots tend to be cleaner than a building at the end of a dirt road with an unpaved parking lot.
For a list of business carpet cleaning schedules based on business type visit https://commercialsteamteam.com/carpetnews/when-should-i-have-my-carpets-cleaned/
Traveling Pet Lovers – Bring Fido Review
We’d like to share a pet travel site that has a giant database of pet friendly hotels & motels, bed & breakfasts and vacation rentals. If you are a traveling pet owner then Bring Fido is the info site for you! You can browse pet friendly destinations worldwide and find the best pet friendly places to stay, eat, play, walk and even get a groomer or other resources.
10% Off Carpet Cleaning
For our Facebook customers only – now for a limited time get 10% OFF* your carpet cleaning job with the award-winning team at Commercial Steam Team! Call us at 952-224-7222 to find out how!
*Offer expires September 4, 2012. Offer applies to carpets within our service area and must meet conditions as described when you call. Carpet cleaning must be scheduled by September 4, 2012 for a cleaning to occur no later than September 30, 2012. Limit one per customer or business. Other conditions may apply. Offer subject to change without notice.
Pet Show Minneapolis MN – March 2013
The largest Pet Expo is coming to Minnesota!
The Twin Cities Pet Expo will be held March 23-24th, 2013 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. There will be 300+ vendors, world class entertainment, demos and contests to educate and entertain you. For more info visit http://www.twincitiespetexpo.com/
Have a fun day watching dogs and other animals compete, perform and show off!
Frisbee Golf History and Resources
We love disc golf at Commercial Steam Team so we’d love to share some disc golf facts with you.
Did you know that the Disc Golf Association was established in 1975 by Ed Headrick the guy that invented the Frisbee? The first disc golf park was opened in 1974 in Oak Grove Park, in Los Angeles, California.
There is a fascinating profile on the guy who invented disc golf and it’s history at http://discgolf.com/disc-golf-history/
Here is a blog post about our love of disc golf https://commercialsteamteam.com/carpetnews/2012/06/cst-loves-disc-golf/
Here are some disc golf resources:
How to play Disc Golf http://discgolf.com/how-to-play-disc-golf/
Disc Golf Association http://discgolf.com
Professional Disc Golf Association www.pdga.com/
Have a great day from Commercial Steam Team 952-224-7222
Hot Links for Football Season
August 5th started off the football pregame season with Arizona Cardinals vs New Orleans Saints at Fawcett Stadium. With football season quickly approaching you’ll find these links to the NFL’s preseason and season game schedule handy.
NFL Preseason Schedule http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2012/PRE0 August 5th
NFL Regular Season http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2012/REG1 September 5th
Sunday Night Football http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2012/SNF September 5th
Monday Night Football http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2012/MNF September 10th
Thursday Night Football http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2012/TNF September 13th
Keep our phone number handy in case you have any football party mishaps on your carpet! – 952-224-7222
New Carpet and Warranties
Remember when you talk with the carpet salesman that he or she is there to sell you carpet. As a result, things can go so fast that some topics may or may not get discussed, so it’s a good idea to have your questions ready and written down before you start the discussion.
If you are looking at new carpeting make sure that you read the warranty restrictions from the manufacturer. Some of the manufacturers have guidelines that if not followed will void the warranty.
Also check to see if there are any warranty guidelines regarding having your carpet cleaned by a professional. If professional cleaning guidelines must be met do you need to have the cleaning bills to prove you have met the guidelines?
There are many other guidelines to note on the warranty including high traffic areas voided such as stairs and hallways. Certain types of stain warranties are voided if they were caused by vomit, foods that contain dyes, bleach, urine, etc.
Is your carpet due for a cleaning? Give Commercial Steam Team a call 952-224-7222
Free House Repair Calculators
Just stumbled across some free calculators that help you estimate the amount of materials you’ll need for remodeling projects. Some the online calculators include carpet, ceramic tile, drywall, grass seed, insulation and paint material calculators.
Restaurants, Smell, and Trapped Grease
One of the first impressions customers get when they visit your restaurant is how your business looks and smells. If hungry customers walk through the door and can smell a heavy odor of old cooking grease build-up it is likely to subconsciously affect their whole experience and satisfaction.
In a perfect world restaurant carpets should be professionally cleaned at the frequency carpet industry leaders and carpet mills suggest. By following carpet manufacturer cleaning specifications frequently and removing grease, spilled liquids and dirt, you can make your carpet smell better and last longer.
Do you know a restaurant that could use our help? Commercial Steam Team 952-224-7222
Bathroom Products Cause Stains on Carpets
Some of the products that you use in the bathroom can cause stains in carpet that permanently change your carpets color. Be careful when using toilet bowl cleaners that contain acid or drain cleaners as these products will discolor and stain carpet. You’d be amazed at how easy it is to splash and then track contaminated liquid into the rest of your home or office.
If you use acne facial cleansers and hair dyes try to keep these away from carpets. If you’ve washed your face with acne medication and the wash cloth touches the carpet you will find that to be especially damaging.
Spilled something on your carpet that you’d like us to take a look at? Give Russ a call at 952-224-7222
Free July Weekly Workshops at Home Depot
Home Depot features weekly workshops on home improvement. Learn how to do home improvement projects from the pros through their workshops and live demonstrations. At the Burnsville Home Depot, for instance, this July’s workshops include closet and storage systems, interior paint and installing laminate flooring. Most Home Depot locations hold workshops on Saturdays and each store is different so go online and set the location of your closest Home Depot then look at the upcoming schedule of free classes.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_WeeklyWorkshops
How Long Does Carpet Last?
Carpet being sold on the market today comes in varying quality and different lifetime ratings of between 5 to 15 years. A nylon fiber carpet will most likely have a 5-10 year warranty whereas polyester may be rated for only 5- 7 years and BCF Olefin fiber has a mere 5 year warranty.
Of course these carpet life numbers are conservative ranges. How you use and maintain your carpet can increase or decrease your carpet’s life.
Having people remove their shoes before entering your home, frequent vacuuming and an annual steam cleaning will make carpet last a lot longer than the numbers mentioned above.
Is it time for your cleaning? Give Russ a call at 952-224-7222
How to Make a New Carpet Last
You spent a lot of money on your new carpet so you’d like to protect your investment. There are two things that you can do to extend the life of your carpet. First, have a strict policy of removing shoes at the entry of your home to prevent dirt from coming indoors on the bottom of shoes. If that’s not likely to work, then at least try to make it apply on or just after rainy days.
The other thing that will make your carpet last longer is regular vacuuming. Carpet manufacturers recommend carpets get professionally cleaned every 12 – 18 months depending on foot traffic and usage.
If you don’t wear your shoes in the house and if you do vacuum regularly and have your carpet cleaned annually your carpets will stay cleaner and last a lot longer.
Do your carpets or upholstery need of a cleaning? Give us a call at 952-224-7222
CST Loves Disc Golf
Saying they are passionate about disc golf just can’t describe the love that Ryan and Russ have for their favorite sport. Ryan and Russ love to compete against each other and hold bragging rights until the next face off!
Disk golf is better exercise than regular golf – the course is not flat like a golf course you have to climb and hike between holes. Each disk course is different in terrain, scenery and skill level.
Here are some of the favorite Disk Golf Courses in Three Rivers Park District:
Bryant Lake Regional Park – 18 hole course has short and long tee boxes, scenic lake views and infamous hole #17 where golfers throw their disk off a cliff to reach the basket.
Elm Creek Park Reserve – 18 hole course that follows the sledding hill and terrain portion of the park. The course features 2 par 4s, multiple signature holes and other champion caliber holes.
Hyland Lake Park Reserve – 18 hole disk tournament course at Hyland ski area has one of the best views in the twin cities. Climb up steep elevations and descend for a fun and challenging course.
For more info visit The Three Rivers Parks website http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks.aspx
Grease on Restaurant Carpet
Over time grease can build up on commercial carpets and cause an unpleasant odor that your customers will notice, even if you do not. Even if you are careful to only place carpet in specific areas your staff will unknowingly track grease from the kitchen.
Food and grease buildup under tables is also how grease builds up in carpets and it happens frequently in restaurants that regularly have teenagers and guests under 12 years old.
Having the carpet in your restaurant steam cleaned to remove stains and odor will make a huge difference in the air quality of your restaurant.
Remember, Commercial Steam Team is here for you. Call us today at 952-224-7222 and see how we can help improve the positive impact of your carpet on your overall image!
Clean Vomit from Carpet
Whether you are cleaning up vomit from carpet at home or office you have 2 types of mess to remove – sight and smell. Cleaning up vomit requires both an odor remover and a stain remover. The key is to act fast and get it cleaned up as quickly as possible because you don’t want it soaking into your carpet. Here are a few tips to help you get both.
This may sound gross but remove as much of the solid materials as possible using a dustpan or piece of thick cardboard. Get old rags or absorbent paper towels and blot up any liquid or moisture. Use a second rag over the spot and step over the cloth to absorb any more moisture.
Put down baking soda, corn starch or commercial type moisture and smell absorbent powder. Wait 15 minutes and vacuum up the powder completely. To treat the odor and stain you’ll need to use an enzyme cleaner that will break down the protein in the vomit. Enzyme cleaners are available at pet stores and in supermarkets. If you don’t have any cleaners on hand you can mix water, vinegar and soap as a temporary cleaner. Make sure you blot up all the cleaner and liquid with a clean rag, water will make the bacteria grow if you don’t remove all the moisture.
It is very important that you get all the vomit out of your carpet so there is no odor or stain, and top then remove all remaining residue so that you don’t end up with a re-occurring stain. We can help with that! Just give us a call at Commercial Steam Team and we’ll help remove the remainder 952-244-7222
Have You Seen Our New Website?
If you have not been to our website lately come meet our team and learn more about Commercial Steam Team. We’ve added new sections on how to care for your carpet and our new search feature lets you search for information more easily. For example If you search for “pet urine” you will find a article on how to clean up after pets. Click on the title to expand the story and you can read all the tips and information we have on cleaning up pet urine on your carpet and other pet accidents.
Check out our website at https://commercialsteamteam.com/
Sagging Outside Door?
Hardware that needs maintenance can cause a door to sag. Depending on how frequently your front or back door gets used your door hardware gets open, shut, and slammed. Inspect your exterior door hinges to make sure they operate properly. Quite frequently people find that the door hardware is loose, a screw is missing or the hinge is not properly aligned. If you have a squeaky door your door may need lubrication.
Get a screw driver and tighten any loose bolts and screws and lubricate hinges with oil. Make sure to wipe the excess oil up quickly so that it won’t drip and make a mess that can be tracked throughout your house.
Cleaning Your Computer Screen
Computers are delicate machines but they sure do get dirty.
To clean your computer screen, first turn off your computer and monitor.
Dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth with plain water and wring it out.
Wipe the screen with the cloth. Do not spray Windex or other sprays on the screen of your monitor.
After you clean the screen wipe down the outside of the monitor frame and then the rest of the monitor.
Cautions:
- Be careful not to get water into the grooves of the monitor cabinet.
- Never clean a monitor with alcohol, ammonia, finger nail polish remover, or other types of cleaners as they can damage the plastic.
- NEVER use a spray dust remover to clean a monitor, especially CRT monitors which have stored electrical charges. These canned sprays are flammable and can ignite.
Cleaning Ceiling Fans
One of the hardest to reach places is your ceiling fan. If you are tall enough to use a chair and a dust attachment on the vacuum cleaner it is the easiest way to remove dust and not spread it around.
If you cannot reach the blades you may have to invest in a long handled dust mop. When using a dust mop you’ll find it is less of a mess if you spread an old sheet or piece of large plastic under the area you are working to catch all the big gobs of dust that will fall from the fan blades.
Recommended cleaning is at least once a year in early spring before you start to use the fan.
Reaching Cobwebs
Spiders spin webs that collect dust and make a room look messy. You can go get yourself a fancy cobweb-removing telescope extension duster or you can make one at home that gets you into the high places to collect cobwebs. Keeping your home free of cobweb buildup will make it cleaner and healthier to live in. Whether you have straight walls or decorative ceilings they need cleaning at least every six months.
If you have shorter ceilings you can make a cob web cleaner by taping a thick rag over top of a broom.
For taller ceilings you can buy a cobweb duster or you can make your own rod by connect 2-3 pieces of PVC tubing and 1-2 connector tubes for the middle. You’ll have to measure your tallest ceiling and break that down into manageable pieces for storage when not using it. Duct tape a large rag on the end of the rod and change the rag often.
The cobweb cleaners sold in stores and online are usually made from poly fiber material similar to a plastic broom. Most manufactured cobweb dusters have round 8 inch heads.
Keep the cobwebs at bay by dusting as soon as you see more spider webs appear.
Kids, Recliners and Carpets
If you have kids then you know that every time you clean you find the craziest things in the most unusual places. When doing the weekly vacuuming you can find all kinds of stuff under the couch from fruit snacks to toys.
Another piece of furniture that is a collector of debris is the recliner. Not only do things drop into and through the recliner, but each time you recline you release whatever is stuck in the chair. Crayons are an extreme example of things you want to keep out of the recliner.
Over time, recliners move around quite a bit when they are in use. Anything that gets dropped into a recliner has a good chance to work its way under the frame where it can then be ground into the floor. On your weekly cleaning make sure you tip the recliner over and remove the great collection of things that have dropped down under the chair.
Free Estimates are available for all kinds of mishaps! Give us a call at 952-224-7222
Types of Carpet
Spring is here and now is the time to start planning for that new look. Selecting the right type of carpet for your lifestyle can be easy if you know a few simple facts about the types of carpet available. There are 7 main types of carpet to choose from.
- Textured Carpet – cut pile and suitable for every room of the house.
- Plushes – smooth, soft and thick more elegant for formal settings.
- Friezes – tightly twisted loose yarns for casual settings, does not show footprints.
- Berbers – tight loop carpet with extra durability, does not show footprints or vacuum marks.
- Loops – tight loop carpet perfect for high traffic areas as it is durable.
- Wool – natural fiber carpet, high quality, soft and durable, naturally stain resistant.
- Indoor/outdoor – mildew and fade resistant good for porches, pool, workshops and basements.
Most carpets are made from synthetic fibers of nylon, olefin, acrylic or polyester. Natural fiber carpets are made from wool, cotton or bamboo. Each fiber has different points that you should know when it comes to durability and absorbency of liquids and oils. Here are a few factors to weigh when making your decision:
- Olefin & polyester fiber carpet will retain soil and stains if they are not treated promptly.
- Sunlight may fade some types of carpet and cause it to deteriorate if not treated to resist ultraviolet rays.
- Wool carpet will mildew if damp or soiled.
- Synthetic carpets have different flammability ratings depending on what they are treated with.
When choosing carpet talk with your carpet store professional about the types of fibers in carpet and its strengths and weaknesses. If you have kids and pets you may also want to inquire about protective treatments.
If you have any questions about carpet cleaning please give us a call 952-224-7222
Protect Your Hardwood Floors
If you protect your hardwood floors from dirt, oils and water they will last longer. If you have hardwood floors you should use floor mats at each of your entry doors to collect dirt and debris from shoes. Tiny particles of dirt can scratch wood flooring and damage the finish. Place mats near any work areas such as the kitchen sink where water can splash on the floor. Floor mats without backing can cause slips but be careful when choosing mats: remember that rubber or plastic type mats can damage your floor, so it’s important to buy rugs especially made for hardwood floors.
The three most common things that leave big scratches in hardwood flooring are moving big pieces of furniture, women’s high heels, and sand and gravel beneath entry mats. Be careful when moving heavy objects across your floor to avoid scratches. By removing shoes before you enter an area with wood flooring you avoid dents and scratches made from wearing heels indoors. Finally, shake out your entry mats frequently and clean the floor beneath carefully.
To maintain your hardwood floor…
- Sweep your floor regularly to remove dirt and dust.
- Use a vacuum without the beater bar to get into cracks and between thresholds.
- Clean up spills with a damp towel or sponge, minimize water spills and clean up water immediately.
- If your floor has a urethane finish don’t use wax on it.
- Don’t use a wet mop or use excessive water on your hardwood floor.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning your hardwood floor.
Indoor Waterparks – Fun and Swimming During Winter and Spring
It’s still a little cold outside but you can still enjoy a little swimming in Minnesota’s water parks. If you have been cooped up all winter and have cabin fever this is a great way to spend the day. Most of the indoor water parks are at hotels and resorts and require a day pass. This is a great activity for little kids as most water parks have special kiddie pools with fountains and slides. Other water parks are designed for older kids and adults and have long tube slides, floating inner tube rides, and whirl pools.
Some of the local Twin Cities water parks include:
Tropics Indoor Waterpark and Playground – St. Paul – adult $8, Youth (1-17 yrs) $7, family $28
The Grove Aquatics Waterpark – Inver Grove Heights – single $7.50, 4 person family $19.50
Safari Island Waterpark – Waconia – adult $8.75, Youth $7.75
Water Park of America – Bloomington – Prices start at $15 each
The Depot Waterpark – Minneapolis – Prices start at $20 each
Static Cling, Static Electricity and Carpet
The air is very dry and cold in winter and makes the perfect environment for static electricity to strike. You can walk across your carpet and reach for something made of metal and get a static shock. If you come inside from the cold and remove your hat and your hair stands up straight it’s due to a positive charge of static electricity. Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on the surface of objects like your shoes or your hair.
One of the most common tips to remove static electricity is to increase the moisture in the air with a humidifier. Here are some other great tips:
- Touch something with a quick, solid grasp. Larger points of contact allow the charge to transfer with less current at any single point, reducing the chance for a painful shock.
- Synthetic fibers such as polyester carry more static so try switching to natural fiber clothing such as cotton.
- Shoes usually collect the most static so try walking barefoot on your carpet or wear leather soled shoes.
- Avoid sliding your feet; the friction between your feet and the floor will build up a static charge in your body.
- Try touching metal objects with the back of your hand or fore arm first to discharge the static. This is not as painful as touching things with your fingertips, which is more painful because your fingers contain more nerves.
- Using hand lotion will put more moisture on your skin and may help cut down on static zaps when you touch objects.
- If you get zapped every time you get out of your car try rubbing a fabric softener sheet on your car seat.
- When petting your pet, first try a firm solid touch on its back to discharge the static without a shock.
Have some static electricity fun by rubbing a balloon in your hair for 15 seconds and sticking it on a wall. Try brushing your hair in the dark and you can watch sparks fly from your hair. Taking your wool sweater off in the dark can also provide an interesting spark light show.
If we can help you with your carpet in anyway please call Commercial Steam Team at 952-224-7222
Car and Truck Carpet Protection
Salt and chemicals that melt ice and snow can leave a white ring of chemicals in your automobiles carpet and can damage the metal underneath. Ice melting salts are caustic to metal so if you let it build up in your vehicle’s carpet it can start rusting and eating away at the metal in your car or truck.
It’s a given that ice melt chemicals will get on your shoes and then be deposited in your vehicle as you drive unless you have something placed down as a barrier. A thick rubber mat with deep grooves and a lip that runs around the edge can collect the melting snow and chemicals from your feet. By collecting the chemicals and winter sludge from getting in your carpet you protect the carpeting and the metal beneath.
Remember to periodically clean the mat off as it becomes filled with melting snow, sand or ice melt crystals.
If we can help you with any carpet questions please call our team at 952-224-7222
Commercial Office Buildings and Carpet Cleaning
It is important to try and protect your commercial carpet from salt and chemicals in the winter. Corrosive chemicals get deposited in the carpet and start to damage the carpet almost immediately. To protect your entrance carpets put down large mats outside the door to first collect the salt from people’s feet then place mats inside to collect any water or additional chemicals.
Mats with loose pile texture or nubs that stick up like fingers remove more sludge than tightly packed pile mats. Make sure you have someone clean your mats as they collect dirt and sludge and a dirty mat is not as effective at collecting salt and chemicals. Regularly have your carpet steam cleaned by a professional to make it last longer.
If we can help you clean your carpet please call us for a free estimate 952-224-7222
Minneapolis Home and Garden Show
Got cabin fever? Well get out of the cold and attend the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show from February 29th – March 4th, 2012 inside at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Home Show will run for 5 days and feature celebrities Chip Wade of Curb Appeal on HGTV, Mark Brunetz of Clean House on Style Network , Yigit Pura Dessert Chef on BRAVO network and Sasha Andreev of Curb Appeal and Decorating Cents on HGTV.
During the Home and Garden show you can experience the latest’s trends in home, gardening, remodeling and home décor. Order tickets online and save $2 a ticket. Visit: www.homeandgardenshow.com
Watch Your Footing
It may seem silly to take precautions before going out the door on your way to the car but it can be more important to be careful at this time than at almost any other.
When you go outside your shoes or boots have been indoors and are warmer than the temperature outside. This means that the warmer material of your footwear can melt a very thin layer of ice or snow when you walk. This layer of water between the snow or ice and your shoes then acts like grease, allowing your feet to slide over the snow or ice and making each step into a slick balancing act.
Make sure when going outside you use handrails on walkways and take it slow going over ice patches. When choosing footwear for outside use boots or shoes with good tread. Flat soled footwear surfaces do not grip and are more slippery than treads.
Even when your shoes are already cold, remember that ice melt helps break up ice around entryways, sidewalks and driveways and can sometimes be slippery as well.
Before you go outside be aware that ice and snow may be hazardous and watch your footing.
Visit our website: www.commercialsteamteam.com
Lake Home & Cabin Show
If you are really missing summer and have cabin fever you may want to head out to the Lake Home & Cabin Show February 10-12th at the Minneapolis Convention Center. If you want to decorate your home in Northwoods décor this is a great place to get ideas and pick up a few tips on lake home and cabin lifestyle. This show will feature products, services and how to seminars and demonstrations on everything about owning and having fun at the lake or cabin.
Some of the stuff you’ll find at the show include rustic and specialty furniture and furnishings, sports gear, outdoor equipment, landscaping and lakeshore maintenance and marine products. There will also be architects, builders, remodelers, real estate and finance professionals to answer any questions you have about cabins and lake homes.
More Info: www.lakehomeandcabinshow.com
Superbowl Party Planning
Next Sunday is Superbowl 46 between the New York Giants and The New England Patriots. Its also one of the best times for a party!
Make sure that you have all your food and beverages ready, and plan carefully. If you also plan to have food, beverages, or snacks that can stain your carpet, you may want to place runners or area rugs down for the high-traffic areas to minimize potential damage to your carpet.
If you need help with pre- or post-party carpet and upholstery cleanup, remember to call your friends at Commercial Steam Clean at 952-224-7222!
Remove Animal Stains from Carpet
Protein stains from animal accidents can be very difficult to get out of your carpet unless you deal with them right away with the correct extraction method.
The first step to cleaning up animal accidents is to pick up all solids with a paper towel and then blot up any liquids from the spill. If cleaning vomit pour an inch of baking soda onto the wet spot. The baking soda will wick acidic digestive juices up and neutralize the vomit. Pick up the clumps of baking soda when done and throw them away.
For wool or natural carpets always read the manufacturer’s directions to clean a spill. If you have a synthetic carpet you can use use an enzymatic pet urine remover product next. The enzymatic will digest animal proteins including urine, feces, blood and vomit. Because it works on all proteins it cannot be used on wool which some carpet is made from. If you have a natural carpet made of wool or cotton you need to use baking soda and vinegar to remove protein spills.
Of course, you can achieve even better results with no worries by calling Commercial Steam Team . Our powerful and safe equipment relieves you of any worries from using rental equipment and is so much more powerful than any equipment on the market. We leave your carpet fresh, clean, and safe for pets and family. Call us today at 952-224-7222 and let us show you how easy it can be!
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Direct Sunlight and Carpet Damage
Even though it is winter you should still protect your carpet from the sun’s damaging rays. Prolonged exposure to sunlight will cause a bleaching effect and will change the color of your carpet and furniture.
Sunlight damage to carpet can be prevented by drawing blinds, shades or heavy drapes when the sun is shining directly on your carpet. You can also purchase UV resistant types of carpet but drawing the shades is the best form of preventing sunlight damage to your carpet.
There are also special types of window film that you can apply directly to the window that blocks the ultra violet rays but allows other light through. Using window film is a great way to let in light and stop the suns damaging rays from bleaching your carpet and furniture.
If replacing your windows is under consideration, many windows now have UV protection built in. Ask your dealer or contractor about windows with UV protection.
Ice Melt, Doors, and Commercial Carpets
If you decide to use salt or ice melt crystals on your parking lot or sidewalks you should also use something to remove the crystals before people step onto carpet. Salt and ice melt rocks can get into carpet and break it down. Removing chemicals and abrasives from your shoes and boots will save the life of commercial carpeting.
Ice melt is typically made from Calcium Chloride, a chemical that melts ice and leaves a slimy residue. Ice melt is corrosive to metal and will damage metal door thresholds and door moldings. Rock salt is made from sodium chloride and is also corrosive to metal.
The solution to keeping ice melt and rock salt off commercial carpet and away from metal doorways is using a special rug that brushes salt from the bottom of shoes. These types of rugs have deep rubber pile or bristles that brush the salt from the bottoms of footwear and collect debris in the mat.
Placing such a mat both outside and inside the door will help prevent winter chemicals from being tracked into your carpet. Remember to periodically shake outside mats in particular to keep them fully functional. Runners from the doorway down the hall will help collect any additional debris.
Preventing Stains from Indoor Plant Water
House plants make beautiful additions to any indoor space. Having house plants indoors can clean the air, adding oxygen and reducing toxins by acting as air filters. House plants also add humidity to the air.
As with most good things, there are some cautions. One in particular is to avoid overwatering.
Plant water from the bottom of a plant pot contains dirt, minerals and fertilizers washed from the soil. These can collect in the bottom of the plant saucer.
Subsequent watering of your plant can result in the water picking up the minerals, dirt, and fertilizer. If you overwater, or jostle the plant pot, this laden water can then spill over from the saucer and stain your furniture, woodwork, or carpet.
If you have larger plants such as trees or palms that are sitting directly on carpet or flooring, having a larger than usual tray under the pot is necessary.