Category — Cleaning Tips
5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Window Cleaner
The Top 5 Questions to ask Any Window Cleaner:
1. Are you insured? What type and how much?
- Insurance is an important aspect of any business operation. If your potential window cleaner dodges this question….buyer beware. In most states, the homeowner assumes responsibility for any persons on their property. If an un- or under-insured cleaner was to become injured while working on your home, you could be held liable for any and all expenses.
2. Do you offer any guarantees?
- Any qualified business stands behind their product or service, and a window washer is no exception. You may not have time to inspect your entire property before they leave with your money in hand. What if you come across a broken screen a couple days later, or find an inconspicuous window that got missed? It’s good to know when a service provider offers a satisfaction guarantee.
3. Are you even a real business? How long have you been in business?
- To be honest, any John Doe with a bucket and a couple rags can “clean” a window. But very few can actually operate a window cleaning business. Many times these non-legitimate cleaners will ask to be paid in cash, or at the very least ask to have your check made out to them and not a business name. This is usually a sign that this person is “working under the table”, and is most likely not a true business. Some areas of the country require licensing or certification. Check with your states business filing office, or business licensing department to verify a business entity.
4. Who will be cleaning my windows on the day of service?
- The answer might seem obvious, but many companies “sub out” work to other contractors. That could mean that the initial cleaner or company you contact, may not be the ones actually performing the work. This could become a problem with accountability issues. If you have a dispute with your cleaning, you might get the run around between various contractors and individuals. You should deal with a company who provides you one contact person who can resolve any issues.
5. Do you have any references?
- If you really want to get the dirt (small pun intended) on any window cleaning business, then ask for references. A quality company will have many satisfied clients who are willing to boast about their great window washer. If your potential cleaner can’t offer any references, it may be an early warning sign. So ask first!
Window Cleaning Maple Grove, MN
August 29, 2010 No Comments
Choose the Best Pressure Washing Service Provider
The residents of Knoxville, TN are too busy with their daily routine that leaves them with very little time for cleaning and maintaining their house and office exteriors. It is therefore better to outsource this task to cleaning professionals. However, choosing a right pressure washing professional from a large number of competing companies in Knoxville, TN can be a challenging task.
Reputation of the pressure washing professional
Before you choose a professional for your power washing needs, make sure that your cleaning expert has a good reputation. You can check their website to check their services levels and to read their testimonials. Try to go in for only those washing companies that have a list of past clients with other necessary details. You can contact these clients to enquire about their professionalism and the work quality. Don’t forget to ask questions about their ability to meet deadlines related to work.
Price estimates
Compare the work quality and price estimates of at least two pressure washing companies before you choose one for your needs. Most of the reputed power cleaning companies offer free inspection services and price estimates. Check the past records of the companies and see whether the price estimates provided for their earlier projects were accurate. Be careful, as there are many dubious cleaning professionals who try to fool their clients and provide wrong price quotes by adding certain repair or replacements costs that are not required at all.
Other considerations
Make sure that your chosen pressure washing company is licensed. Also make sure that the cleaning professionals hired by you make use of the latest technology to clean the exteriors of your place. Pressure cleaning is a very skilled task that requires a lot of experience and expertise. Wrong use of machines can be fatal for your building or home. If your pressure washing professional is not skilled enough to do this task, you might end up with a big hole in your pocket.
Main pressure washing services
Washing is important as it keeps your expensive investments in a good condition. These services not only help you make a good impression on your visitors or clients but also increase the longevity of your assets such as house, office, and fleet of your commercial vehicles. This article focuses on the main type of pressure cleaning services that are in demand.
Fleet pressure cleaning
If your business demands a fleet of commercial vehicles such as trucks for delivery of goods or tractors; it is very important to maintain these assets. Pressure washing professionals are experts in keeping your commercial vehicles clean and presentable. Even if you have heavy equipments such as an excavator, large haulers, or dump trucks; you can rely on pressure cleaning services for their maintenance. However, be careful before you choose a pressure cleaning company to meet your requirements.
Deck restoration services
Apart from sidewalks, roof, walkway, patio, and driveway washing, there is another important pressure washing service that is in huge demand. This service is called deck washing and restoration. Pressure washing professionals are skilled enough to repair your deck and also remove the stains or spots that might have developed over its surface. These professionals leave your deck as fresh as new by sealing and re-staining it. Special wood care oil is then applied to improve the resilience of your deck against heat, dirt, and water.
Concrete cleaning
Be it the roof of your office or the outside walls of your house, concrete pressure washing is something you cannot neglect. Concrete cleaning is necessary to make your concrete roof or sidewalks look like new again. Concrete is a porous and abrasive material that traps the dirt into its deep pores. The dirt and debris embedded in the concrete attracts insects and spiders. When combined with moisture, this dirt can lead to development of mold or algae on your concrete structures. Pressure washing makes sure that your concrete structures and dwellings remain free from all these destructive outside intrusions.
James Jaison is an Mechanical Engineer by profession. He is passionate about the web and advices small and medium businesses like pressure washing Knoxville
June 16, 2010 No Comments
What to Consider When Buying a Miele Vacuum Cleaner
Finding the right Miele vacuum will depend largely on what model you are looking for, whether it’s a canister or stick, whether you’re comfortable shopping online, and taxes and shipping costs.
Miele canisters have an enormous operating radius. With this extended reach, you’ll have no trouble cleaning crown or baseboard moldings and everything in between. Stick vacuum cleaners Clean your car, house, sofa cushions and everything else in between with this convenient vacuum. With Miele’s “Sealed System” and HEPA it’s a healthy choice too.
Every alternative has its own distinct advantages. The genius is found in the details. These details are what make Miele vacuum cleaners powerfully unique. Miele’s upright vacuums are engineered to provide exceptional performance, convenient / useful features and superb HEPA filtration making your home cleaner and healthier.
Miele offers two universal upright models to choose from depending on the type of flooring being vacuumed, your specific cleaning habits… or color preference! Cleaning can be a chore if you don’t have all the right tools. Investigate some of Miele’s accessories and limit your workload.
Miele Vacuum canister Vacuums are a terrific value in an anti-allergy canister: Active HEPA filter, combination rug/smooth floor tool, extra above-floor cleaning tools and ample 29.5-foot operating radius. Recommended for low to medium pile carpeting and hard surface flooring. Default automatic suction control helps conserve energy by choosing the optimum power setting for the cleaning job.
Recommended for medium to high pile carpeting and hard surface flooring are the lightweight HEPA canister vacuum cleaners with electronic suction control and deluxe ergonomic handle.
Recommended for medium to low pile carpeting and smooth flooring are the upright vacuums offer unique swivel neck to maneuver around the tightest corners, a powerful 1200-watt motor, three on-board accessories and adjustable suction control, make this Royal Blue S7 ready for any cleaning surface.
Galaxy HEPA vacuums offer performance with turbobrush and parquet brush. Recommended for medium pile carpeting and smooth flooring. The Miele Vacuum S163 offers some of the best-selling features plus HEPA filtration, electronic variable speed and a telescopic handle.
Finding the best Miele vacuum for you will depend on whether you prefer to shop in person, by catalog, or are comfortable shopping online. If you’re willing to take the time and effort to search on the Internet and sort through numerous retailers, you can almost always find every model on sale somewhere. Remember to compare shipping costs when you compare prices. Often a vacuum on sale will not be the best deal once you take shipping and or taxes into account on the final price
Click here for more information about buying a vacuum cleaner, and how to find Miele vacuums on sale.
March 30, 2010 No Comments
Chemical Free Cleaning With a Handheld Steam Cleaner
Environmental awareness started America’s use of handheld held steam cleaners due to an interest in chemical-free cleaning and has since gained popularity. Many of the cleaning solvents used in the market today contain high contents of toxic chemicals which is harmful to people’s health.
Handheld steam cleaners are ideal for people with allergies such as those who are allergic to dust mites, molds and other potential allergens. They can spot-clean the area with dirt clearing properties without harming your body. The hot steam can reach places a sponge or mop can’t and since the steam is hot enough to kill dust mites upon contact, this product is best as an allergen-control plan to clean bedding, tile grout and soap scum from shower doors. As a reminder though, this product can be used on carpets but they are not vacuums. So to properly clean carpets, check for separate products.
The best cleaners remove dirt, grime, stains and grease from surfaces by using only water. These appliances are not only credited with cleaning but also with sanitizing, disinfecting and killing bacteria, dust mites and mold. Instead, most experts say the best places to use a steam cleaner are bathrooms (tile, grout, shower doors, etc.), surfaces of large appliances, curtains, wood paneling and metal blinds.
Use on surfaces with paint or soft plastics is not recommended since steam cleaners use superheated water, which will damage these materials.
Some problems that you should watch out for with handheld steam cleaners are burns due to steam leaks, so find a product that has good durability reviews. Another minor setback of this type of cleaner is you need to have a wiper ready to clean the surface after the steam. Since they are handheld, they can only clean small areas but this can be a huge benefit as it is light and flexible enough to clean in all the nooks and crannies including most ovens and taps.
For your steam cleaner questions answered go to http://www.handheldsteamcleanersite.com
March 24, 2010 No Comments
Dyson Vacuum Part
Dyson has evolved into a great company in the vacuum cleaning business and has cleaners which they manufacture. Vacuum cleaners have become an important part of our lives with the great support they provide us. It is no wonder that Dyson vacuum cleaners have been tagged as the perfect ones for all households. Quality is one of the major attributes of the Dyson vacuums and they have been able to impress their customers especially because of their great durability.
These vacuums usually run for a long time and do not erode very easily. However, any machine has its wear and tear and thus Dyson vacuum part are always available in the market to see to it that the machine is replaced with the right part after getting broken. Dyson ball is an important part of the machine without which the vacuum cleaner is practically incomplete. Dyson hose makes the machine unique by reaching out to clear the dust from all the corners of the house. Dyson filters are one of its kind providing great services and the best part of Dyson bags is that they are those parts of the machine which hardly ever needs to be replaced. Even though, these amazing vacuum cleaners from Dyson come in good quality, it is important to monitor them on a regular basis to find out if all the parts are working.
In short, these vacuum parts are as important as your Dyson vacuum machines and you should only buy the ones available only in good quality.
March 4, 2010 No Comments
How to Clean Windows
The call came unexpectedly. It was my mother. She was in a panic about the need to clean year’s worth of dirt off the windows on her house. “I love ll the views,” she said, “but I don’t want to spend the whole ay cleaning windows.” No problem, I told her. In “Name that Tune” fashion, I told her how she could clean windows with not five, not four, but only three window-cleaning tools — and do it faster than she ever thought possible. “This, I want to hear,” she said.
Outdated methods
Too often, window cleaning turns into a dreaded chore. That’s because until now we’ve cleaned with everything from old shirts, discarded towels, newspaper, and pallets of paper towels. If that’s what I had to work with, I’d board up my windows. But, clean windows aren’t out of your reach.
The problem with windows is that we think we need gallons of specially formulated window spray to get them clean. After only ten minutes of spraying and pumping, you’ll wind up with kung-fu grip and a huge bill for all that spray. But with a small investment in a car window sponge and squeegee cleaning stick, some ammonia, and a few microfiber cloths, you can clean your windows in no time.
Microfiber is my absolute, hands-down favorite cleaning cloth – for everything. Whether it’s dusting, cleaning shiny surfaces like granite, glass-topped cooking surfaces, or polishing stainless, nothing cleans as well as microfiber. Look for microfiber cleaning cloths in the automotive sections of dollar stores, megamarts, or variety stores. These cloths will leave your windows completely streak-free and won’t deposit lint on them or give you blackened hands like newspaper does. Simply put, if you don’t use microfiber, you’ll wipe those windows until your arm wants to fall off, leaving you feeling like the Venus di Milo.
The recipe
To clean your windows, fill a bucket with water and then follow the instructions on your favorite bottle of sudsy ammonia to make your cleaner. A whole bottle of ammonia costs about a dollar and will make gallons of cleaner, making it an economical choice. Or, you can do what I do and simply add a quarter cup of sudsy ammonia to a gallon bucket of water. (Sudsy ammonia has a little bit of detergent that helps make the dirt come off easier.) Put in your squeegee and get the sponge wet with the ammonia water. Scrub the windows with the sponge, squeegee off the excess water, and polish dry with a microfiber cloth. Bada bing, bada boom, you’re done.
Ah, that’s great for the outside windows, but what about the inside windows, you ask? Dampen a microfiber cloth with your ammonia water and wring it out. Wipe the inside windows with the wet cloth and follow with the dry cloth. Voila! You’re finished again in nothing flat.
The phone rings. It’s Mom, singing my name. Her arms are still moveable she’s happy to report, and her hands aren’t in a frozen death grip from all the squirting of window cleaner and she’s finished with the inside and outside windows in under two hours. Now that’s a job well done and done, well, fast. Every carpenter will tell you that any job is easier when you have the right tools – and that’s true for window cleaning too.
Until next time, make your living space more beautiful with sparkling windows.
Kathryn Weber is a decorating and lifestyle columnist and the publisher of RealHOME E-zine, the e-zine with ideas and tips for today’s real families. To subscribe, log on to http://www.realhomeezine.com and get this free special report, The 10 Habits that Help You Keep a Cleaner House.
November 12, 2009 No Comments
Cleaning Dirty Grout in Tile Floors
Tile floors are wonderful. They’re easy to keep clean, they’re durable and tough, and they look good for a long, long time. There is only one drawback: grout. In short, grout is tile’s Achilles heel. When tile floors don’t look good it’s usually because the grout has become stained. So, can you revive your grout once it’s gone bad? Sure, you can.
Most of the time grout becomes stained because it was either not properly sealed with a grout sealant when the tile was put down or because the sealant has worn off with time. Often tile is set and no seal is ever applied. Many homeowners are also unaware that grout needs to be sealed. Fortunately, there are some new grouts with sealant already in the mix, eliminating the need for the very tedious job of sealing the grout once the tile is set.
Oxygenate grout
If your floors look dirty because the tile grout is stained, you have some cleaning options. The first option is to clean the tile yourself by damp mopping with a bleach alternative, such as Oxiclean. Make a solution of two gallons of hot water with one cup of oxygen powder. Make sure the powder dissolves completely and then mop as usual. I like this option because oxygen bleaches don’t have fumes like chlorine bleach does and they aren’t as risky with carpeting, fabrics, or pets. If that doesn’t work, apply the mix with a long-handled plastic bristle deck brush. The extra brushing action will often do the job without making you get on your hands and knees to scrub.
Bleach with caution
If the grout still looks dirty, try wet mopping with chlorine bleach. Make a solution of two gallons of hot water and one tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Add one cup of liquid bleach and mix. Mop the floors with the bleach solution being very careful not to get any of the solution on carpeting or fabrics.
Go pro
If your grout still looks bad, this brings us to the second option: professional cleaning. Because many people have built houses in the past ten years and are using more tile, and because more and more tile goes unsealed, the need for grout cleaning has become clear. Luckily some carpet cleaning services, such as Stanley Steemer, now offer tile grout cleaning in addition to regular carpet cleaning services. They can also add a sealant during the cleaning process that will help keep your grout clean for a longer time.
Once you’ve gotten the grout looking good again, it’s worth it to take steps to keep the grout from getting dirty again. This would include sealing the grout with a sealer (available at your home center and tile stores) and placing area rugs at areas such as entryways, hallways, sinks, stoves, bathrooms and anywhere there’s a lot of traffic and opportunity for dirt.
Tile floors are wonderfully convenient and easy to maintain. A quick sweep and they’re clean. But, when the grout gets dirty, tile floors get ugly. Try the cleaning steps above and see if you don’t notice a difference in the way your grout looks. And, if not, there’s always the option of hiring a service to clean it for you – and sealing it, too. Either way, though, do take the time and seal your tile after cleaning. Check with your local tile company or home center for sealants or for help with sealing. Sealing it is the only way you can ensure the grout in your tile floors looks good for a long, long time.
Kathryn Weber is a decorating and lifestyle columnist and the publisher of RealHOME E-zine, the e-zine with ideas and tips for today’s real families. To subscribe, log on to http://www.realhomeezine.com and get this free special report, The 10 Habits that Help You Keep a Cleaner House.
November 11, 2009 No Comments
Carpet Stains – How To Remove Them
To get out carpet stains of specific types, you need to learn the specific steps for those stains. However, there are some general rules for getting out any stains, and some things to try before you get too technical in your efforts. Taking these simple steps may get many things out without the need to get out a specific stain removal guide.
Stain Removal Rule Number One
The most important point is to prevent spills from becoming stains. In fact, until they are more permanent, carpet cleaners refer to them as “spots,” which are generally easily removed, rather than “stains,” which require some special procedures. Rule number one then, is: Act Fast. The longer you wait after something spills on or marks your carpet, the more permanent or difficult to remove it becomes.
Also, don’t believe that there are “stain-proof” carpets. Such a thing has not yet been invented. Many modern carpets are very stain-resistant, but this is not the same a stain-proof. Generally, this just means that the stain will take lopnger to set, so you have more time to get the spill or mark cleaned up.
To Get Out Carpet Stains
Don’t rub stains or spills into a carpet. You’ll only make it worse. You want to blot it up. This means using white paper towels or a clean white cotton cloth and pushing it straight down on the spot to soak it up. This is the way you get out liquid carpet stains or spills.
With semi-solids, such as peanut butter or jello, you should first scoop up any excess carefully with a spoon. What if you find the spill hours (or days) later, and it has dried and hardened? Break it up and vaccuum first. At this point, whether you have blotted, scooped or vaccuumed, it is time to clean up the remaining spot.
Usually, this involves using a liquid solvent (cleaning solution) of some sort to loosen the carpet stain and allow more blotting of it. Try water first, before you move on to other solvents. Water is the universal solvent, the safest to use on almost any stain. If water doesn’t work, then you’ll want to get out that stain removal guide and choose a solvent acording to what kind of stain it is.
Whatever solvent you use, here is the basic routine:
Apply the solvent to a clean white cotton cloth and work it into the stain. Start from the outside of the spot and work your way in, to prevent spreading the stain to the surrounding carpet. Extract the solvent by blotting it up, then rinse with a little water and blot that up.
Repeat the process until the spot is either clean or no more stain is being extracted. You can test this by pressing a clean part of the cloth into the stain to see if there still is some transfer. If so, keep cleaning.
Always extract solvents completely. Some solvents, especially the stronger carpet-cleaning solutions, can damage the carpet and even remove the color from the fibers if not completely removed. Blot it up, rinse it and blot up the rinse water, and rinse again.
If you have a shop-vac, use it to get out carpet stains. It can extract the solvent and water quickly, allowing you to more quickly repeat the process. This not only makes it more likely that you’ll fully complete the process, but it also is potentially less damaging to the carpet than a cloth might be.
Finally, when you have gotten out as much of the carpet stain as is possible, dry the area as quickly as you can. You can put some plain white paper towels over the spot with some weight on them to get the last of the moisture out, or you can place a fan where it will blow on the spot for a couple hours. Fast drying prevents any remain stain that is deep down in the fibers from wicking up to the surface where it could become visible again.
Steve Gillman has worked in the carpet cleaning industry for years. For more on carpet-care, carpet stains, and specific stain-by-stain removal instructions, visit http://www.HowToRemoveCarpetStains.com
November 10, 2009 No Comments