Go GREEN This Spring Cleaning Season
By · CommentsSpring is almost here!
It’s that time of year again – Spring Cleaning
Why do we have this urge every Spring to turn the house upside down and do a thorough “spring cleaning”? Probably because that is what our mothers/grandmothers (parents/grandparents) did every March/April.
But modern spring cleaning presents challenges your grandmother never imagined.
Much larger homes, delicate and fragile upholstery, exotic fabrics and fibers, and infinite cleaning chemicals from which to choose.
Bathrooms
Many people choose to start in the bathroom when its time to start spring cleaning. But you dont need to wage chemical warfare to remove mineral deposits and rust from toilets. A pumice stone and rubber gloves can be used to erase stubborn stains. Mixing baking soda and acidic vinegar can be used if you need more scouring power. This is a very effective cleaner, with no toxic fumes to inhale.
Porous grout surfaces on tile floors require extraction to remove the accumulated deep down dirt and grime. Mopping drives the dirt and grime into the grout rather than removing it. Instead, apply tile & grout cleaner and let dwell for a few minutes, then use a wet/dry vac to extract the contaminants out of the grout.
More stone cleaning, tile cleaning and grout cleaning recommendations
Grout still dirty? We can help. We offer professional tile & grout cleaning, and sealing as well as color sealing. Put a smile back on your tile!
Kitchens
You prepare your food in the kitchen, so we recommend using only green cleaning products, or mix your own vinegar and water solution. While strong cleaners may remove the dirt, they can also leave some nasty substances you don’t want in your food! You can clean and disinfect almost every surface in your kitchen with a microfiber cloth, vinegar and baking soda, and at a fraction of the cost of conventional store bought cleaners.
Living area
You still need to use your vacuum, even if you plan to get your carpet professionally cleaned. Your carpet is a large filter for the air in your home, keep the filter clean, and it will help keep your breathable air cleaner. Vacuum as often as possible.
Keeping your carpet clean is essential for clean indoor air and your overall health. Good carpet cleaning is not cheap and cheap carpet cleaning is not good. Expect to pay $40 – $80 per room for premium professional carpet cleaning.
Another surface you should consider professional cleaning is your living room / family room upholstery. It can be tricky to know exactly how to deep-clean different types of fabrics yourself, especially if there are stains you can’t quite identify. Costs vary widely depending on the size of the furniture piece and the quality and state of its covering, but a typical sofa might run $75-125 for a thorough professional cleaning.
Fabric protector re-application is recommended after cleaning to protect your investment and is generally about half the price of cleaning.
Daily use of rugs can leave them dirty and dingy, in need of a good cleaning. Cleaning a dirty rug can rejuvenate and freshen a room. Vacuum both sides (if possible) of your rugs regularly.
When you have determined its time for professional rug cleaning, please trust us with cleaning your precious rugs. Each rug is unique and receives specialized cleaning and care at our Rug Spa. Treat your rug to the very best in rug cleaning and care. Rug cleaning prices vary by rug type, and services requested, but average $1.50 to 4.50 per sq ft.
Bedrooms
Homeowners should rotate and flip innerspring mattresses, and store out-of-season sheets and clothing. For carpets and mattresses in your bedroom, consider using a professional cleaning service. A typical mattress will cost about $75-$150 to clean, a bargain considering how much time you spend in bed. Breathe easier tonight, get your mattress professionally cleaned today!
Cleaning the house is a necessary part of life. Most people dread having to do it and look forward to getting it over with. That doesn’t mean it has to be bad for the earth. It also doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself. Should you Do It Yourself or hire a professional cleaner? I prefer to focus on what I know and do well and to hire others to support me in the other areas.
If we can be assistance in your spring cleaning, whether carpet cleaning, rug cleaning, tile & grout cleaning, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to the privilege of serving you.
NorthEast Ohio Service Area
Providing premium professional cleaning service (carpet cleaning, furniture cleaning, and rug cleaning) to the finest homes and businesses in Northeast Ohio. Lake County, Geauga County, and parts of Cuyahoga County and Ashtabula County.
Lake County : Eastlake, Concord, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Lakeline, LeRoy, Madison, Mentor, Mentor on the Lake, Mentor Headlands, North Madison, North Perry, Painesville, Perry, Timberlake, Waite Hill, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Willowick, (complete Lake County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Geauga County – Aquilla, Burton, Chardon, Hunting Valley, Middlefiled, South Russell, Auburn, Bainbridge, Burton Township, Chardon Township, Chester Township, Claridon, East Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg, Middlefield Township, Montville, Munson, Newbury, Parkman, Russell, Novelty, Thompson, Troy, (complete Geauga County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Ashtabula County – Ashtabula, Austinburg, Geneva, Geneva on the Lake, Geneva Township, Harpersfield, Jefferson, Plymouth, Rock Creek, Saybrook, Trumbull, (complete Ashtabula County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Cuyahoga County – Chagrin Falls, Beachwood, Moreland Hills, Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike, Woodmere, Orange, Euclid, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, (complete Cuyahoga County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Stone, Tile & Grout Cleaning Essentials
By · CommentsCleaning Procedures & Recommendations
General Cleaning Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner designated safe for natural stone. Use a clean mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Don’t use more than the recommended amount of any cleaning product. Too much may leave a film, causing streaks. Change rinse water frequently. Do not use products that contain lemon juice, vinegar or other acids on marble, travertine or limestone as these can etch the surface of the stone. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.
If you have large areas of stone, tile (or wood) in your home consider purchasing a Hoover Floormate Spinscrub 800. It’s a great tool for maintaining hard floors. It sprays scrubs and rinses will very little effort on your part and you won’t risk spreading dirty water around like mopping can. Amazon usually has a great price.
Floor Surfaces Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that can scratch a stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn as the metal or plastic attachments may scratch the surface. You will want a vacuum that lets you shut off the brush roll so grit & dust do not get scattered.
Counter/Vanity Top Surfaces Clean your countertops daily with a soft cloth or paper towel and a residue free pH neutral cleaner designated safe for natural stone. We recommend Stone Tech’s Revitalizer available at most tile shops or Amazon.
Bath and Other Wet Areas In the bath/ shower or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. Installing a water softener in your home will help tremendously as well. We recommend the use of Magic Al’s Non Acid Soap Scum Remover to clean all stone and tile shower stalls.
For hard water spots/build up glass and granite we recommend Magic Al’s Glass and Metal Magic. You’ll find a ton of uses for this great product. Magic Al products can be found in the cleaning supply section@ www.groundfloor.org
Outdoor Pool & Patio Areas In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas sweep often flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss. Neutral pH detergents can be used sparingly but take care to make sure they do not enter any waterways. Hydrogen Peroxide can be sprayed on organic stains. Apply a good amount over the spot and let it dry naturally, several applications may be necessary.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do dust mop floors frequently.
- Do clean surfaces with a neutral stone cleaner.
- Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing.
- Do blot up spills and cooking oils immediately.
- Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and counter top surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats, particularly under those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
- Don’t place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
- Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or concrete surfaces.
- Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners.
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
- Don’t mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
Stain Treatment and Other Issues
If possible, immediately blot spills with a clean paper towel. If something has soaked into the stone and stained it, a poultice may need to be applied. 40 Volume peroxide (hair developer) available at a beauty supply shop can be sprayed on stone to lighten organic stains such as coffee and wine Contact us for more details.
Sealing
We seal every stone that requires it after we clean it, but a reapplication needs to be done periodically. You can purchase a stone sealer product and do it yourself, or contact us to perform the service for you.
Invited Speaker at Carpet Cleaners Technical Conference
By · Comments
Andrechelle and I just returned from a Carpet Cleaners Advanced Technical Conference at the Sapphire Scientific facility in Nashville Tennessee. Only the worlds greatest carpet cleaners were invited to attend this exclusive event.
We were honored to be invited as presenters to speak to the attendees, along with some of the foremost experts in the carpet cleaning industry. Each presenter spoke about there specific field of expertise.
Presentations on topics included fine fabric cleaning and upholstery cleaning; advanced carpet color repair and carpet re-dyeing; carpet cleaning equipment trials, testing and comparison; branding, marketing and networking.
Again this year we plan to attend several technical conferences, speaking at some, teaching at others. From the outside it may appear that we are attending these technical conferences to speak and teach.
But we are also attending to learn. We’ll be attending a number of courses, lectures, workshops and seminars as well as dozens of training sessions throughout the year.
Technical Conferences offer the highest potential to learn the advanced skills in our field.
Attending conferences is a professionally rewarding experience, presenting a unique opportunity due to the vast melting pot of expertise and experience. Put hundreds like-minded people in a room and you’re bound to get something good out of it. Conversation is the inspiration for innovation. When we attend a conference the opportunity to contribute to the carpet cleaning industry is huge.
We go to conferences to teach, learn, and play. But mostly, we go to benefit you by being the World’s Greatest Carpet Cleaner!
Carpet Cleaner Guilty of Improper Dumping – Fined
By · CommentsA Thousand Oaks, California based carpet cleaner has been charged with unlawful discharge of materials into a storm sewer, a misdemeanor, for illegally dumping his carpet cleaning waste water.
Ryan Edlestein, 24, of Thousand Oaks recently pleaded guilty to unlawful dumping of materials into a sewer, a misdemeanor. The charges arose from him disposing of carpet cleaning waste into the city’s sewer system through a manhole. A concerned citizen reported the activity to the police, resulting in the issuance of a citation and subsequent criminal charges.
Carpet cleaner found guilty of improper waste water dumping
It is against the law to remove manhole covers to gain access to the city sewer system.
The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $250 and an additional $100 to the state restitution fund. He was placed on misdemeanor probation for 12 months, requiring him to obey all laws and provide proof of proper disposal of any waste.
Any subsequent violations could be charged as a felony.
Without the vigilance and assistance of private citizens, crimes of unlawful disposal or dumping often go unsolved. This prosecution should also serve as a deterrent to other businesses that are responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable rules and regulations.
http://da.countyofventura.org/10-004.htm
Far too many carpet cleaners will empty their waste directly onto your driveway, street or parking lot.
This is another reason why EcoClean Carpet Care uses natural, bio-degradable products, which have been certified as non toxic to aquatic ecosystems, non toxic to humans, do not contain ingredients that are carcinogens, are not corrosive to skin or eyes, not combustible, does not contribute to the production of photochemical smog, tropospheric ozone, or poor air quality and meets established volatile organic content (VOC) limits.
Many carpet cleaners don’t even think about how and where to properly dispose of the waste that is removed from your carpets during professional carpet cleaning. Far too many carpet cleaners will empty their waste directly onto your driveway, street or parking lot.
We dispose of waste into the sanitary sewer system.
Where does your carpet cleaner dump their waste?
Tips for Healthy Household Habits for Clean Water
Top Ten Tips for the Greenest Carpet Cleaning
By · CommentsBETTER, GREENER CARPET CLEANING
- Ask your carpet cleaners what steps they’ve taken to be greener. Focus on the trucks, the cleaning equipment used, the detergents and water disposal. Ask if they have the Carpet & Rug Institute Seal of Approval.
EcoClean Carpet Care 440-257-7791
- Ask your carpet cleaner how long the carpet will take to dry? Request that your carpet cleaner bring their own high-powered fans to dry the freshly cleaned carpet, while they are at your home or office.
- Schedule to have your carpet cleaned during the winter when humidity is low and specials are common.
- Show your carpet cleaner all your spots and problem areas. Identify stains when possible.
- Ask about carpet pad replacement for selected areas if pet urine odors linger. Ask your carpet cleaner if they are trained and certified to provide other necessary carpet repairs.
- Tell your carpet cleaner if you’re fragrance-sensitive or chemical sensitive. They might be able to use less or no detergent, or a more mild alternative, avoid any fragrance enhanced products, and rinse more thoroughly.
- Confirm prior to scheduling your carpet cleaning appointment whether there is a charge to come back and retreat any areas not cleaned to your satisfaction. Better cleaners offer a guarantee!
- Ask your carpet cleaner if they offer a paper free invoicing option.
- Ask your carpet cleaner if they offer green carpet protector, free of solvents and harmful, hazardous, carcinogenic chemicals.
- Use our Spot and Stain Removal Guide for emergency spill cleanup.
Got Bleach Stains?
By · CommentsBleach stain damage to carpet can be repaired through re-dyeing or a precision bonded insert.
We can re-dye small areas of discoloration in your carpeting including many bleach stains caused from chemicals in “stain removal” products.
Spot Dyeing is a tedious, time-consuming process that cannot guarantee an exact match. But we will definitely make it look better than it did prior to our arrival.
A precision bonded insert can provide an exact color match, although a slight difference in texture and /or color is possible with a new piece of carpet installed into a heavily trafficked area. Even if an extra piece of carpet is not available, often a donor piece can be scavenged from a closet or other inconspicuous area. 
Spot and Stain Removal Month – January Specials
Providing premium professional spot and stain removal and carpet repair services to the finest homes and businesses in Northeast Ohio. Lake County, Geauga County, and parts of Cuyahoga County and Ashtabula County.
Lake County : Eastlake, Concord, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Lakeline, LeRoy, Madison, Mentor, Mentor on the Lake, Mentor Headlands, North Madison, North Perry, Painesville, Perry, Timberlake, Waite Hill, Wickliffe, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Willowick, (complete Lake County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Geauga County – Aquilla, Burton, Chardon, Hunting Valley, Middlefiled, South Russell, Auburn, Bainbridge, Burton Township, Chardon Township, Chester Township, Claridon, East Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg, Middlefield Township, Montville, Munson, Newbury, Parkman, Russell, Novelty, Thompson, Troy, (complete Geauga County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Ashtabula County – Ashtabula, Austinburg, Geneva, Geneva on the Lake, Geneva Township, Harpersfield, Jefferson, Plymouth, Rock Creek, Saybrook, Trumbull, (complete Ashtabula County carpet cleaning service area click here)
Cuyahoga County – Chagrin Falls, Beachwood, Moreland Hills, Hunting Valley, Gates Mills, Mayfield, Mayfield Heights, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike, Woodmere, Orange, Euclid, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, (complete Cuyahoga County carpet cleaning service area click here)
In an ongoing effort to be greener and to continue to reduce paper use in our office …
This is a a reminder that we are still offering to deliver your carpet cleaning invoice by email with ECO-INVOICE. You will conveniently receive your carpet cleaning invoice in your Email box.
*New customers must provide us with an email address prior to the scheduled cleaning appointment. Previous customers may supply an email at time of cleaning appointment.
Spot and Stain Removal Month
By · CommentsThe Holidays can be rough on your carpet (and furniture). No matter how careful, sooner or later it happens to everyone, something is spilled on your carpet.
We know that every home has its little accidents, if your carpets or soft furnishings have suffered that little accident during this Holiday season, don’t despair we may be able to help!
We specialize in stain removal and may be able to remove unsightly spots and stains from your carpet that other carpet cleaning company’s won’t even attempt. With over 45 years combined cleaning experience we have encountered every stain you can think of, we have been fully trained to deal with all aspects of stain removal including hard to remove staining and carpet repair.
Carpet Spot RemovalFREE – with Carpet Cleaning
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Carpet Stain RepairBleach SpotsBonded Insert Only $49CARPET STAIN REPAIREcoClean 440-257-7791Expires 01-31-2010 |
Carpet RepairsPet AccidentsFood and Drink Spills
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*Minimum Service Charge Applies. Coupons for residential use only. Not valid with other offers or senior discount. Offers Expire 01-31-2010
EcoClean Carpet Care provides residential and commercial carpet spot and stain removal services to all of Lake County, Geauga County, and parts of Cuyahoga County and Ashtabula County. Seeing Spots? Call EcoClean! 257-7791
Your Carpet Spot and Stain Removal Specialists We specialize in difficult spot and stain removal. In fact we are known world wide as “SpotMasters” having won the annual international spot and stain removal competition for carpet cleaners multiple times.
Need a Good Inexpensive Vacuum?
By · Comments
Last year we blogged about a good cheap vacuum for your home or office. We decided to highlight that blog post again this year for the holiday gift shoppers looking for a good yet inexpensive vacuum.
I still cant say enough about the Bissell Momentum Cyclonic Upright Vacuum
Available online at Amazon and Newegg , and I have seen them in local stores Target, WalMart and BigLots. The Bissell Momentum Cyclonic Upright Vacuum
Who wants to wash a filter out every time you vacuum up after Chompers and Mr Whiskers?
The Bissell has somehow gotten around Dyson’s patent and duplicated the same “venturing cyclonic (what ever that means)” filterless system and sells it to you minus the huge cost of an incredible marketing campaign. You can buy five of the Bissells for the cost of one Dyson and still come out a head in the suction department.
Give one a shot, what have you got to lose.?
Except pounds of dirt?
Click here to buy a Bissell Momentum vacuum from Amazon.com and have it delivered to your door. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your home and go all the way to the crowded store.
Update: A new model has been introduced, the Bissell Healthy Home Bagless Upright Vacuum.
At $250 or so it’s a complete Dyson knockoff but with a better brush roll, a pile height adjuster and half the price.
If you have large areas of stone, tile (or wood) in your home consider purchasing a Hoover Floormate Spinscrub 800. It’s a great tool for maintaining hard floors. It sprays scrubs and rinses will very little effort on your part and you won’t risk spreading dirty water around like mopping can. Amazon usually has a great price.
Is Carpet Protector Safe?
By · Comments
Until now, in order to protect your carpet, rugs and fine furnishings from spots, stains and premature wear, a hazardous and carcinogenic (cancer causing) chemical had to be applied.
EcoClean Carpet Care now offers a safer alternative to Teflon & Scotchgard, the two big names most everyone else still uses. Not only is it safer but independent trials have shown it to perform better than the competition in stain and soil protection and resistance.
Our earth friendly carpet and upholstery protector does not contain solvents or any known harmful chemicals and is safe enough to be labeled Green. Every single ingredient in our fabric protector has been rated “green” by Synapse Handbook of Green Chemical Raw Ingredients. This is a chemical “Bible” used worldwide to determine the green status of thousands of raw materials before production into a finished product.
Our GREEN Fabric Protector is safer for you and your family, us and our family, and mother earth and her family. It’s also …
Biodegradable- EPA Exempt
- Non-Carninogenic
- Non Hazardous
- Non Toxic
- VOC Free/Low
- Non CFC
- Environmentally Safe
- HAP’s FREE
- Non Ozone Depleting
- Low Global Warming
- Low Vapor Pressure
- SARA Non reportable
- SNAP Compliant
Ask for Green Fabric Protector to be applied after cleaning when you next schedule an appointment with EcoClean Carpet Care.
