Trillium Chem-Dry

Cleaning furniture is a chore that is often accompanied by reluctance and complaint. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be an agonizing chore any longer! We’ve got some simple routines and tips to brighten your home and to make upholstery cleaning less of a headache.

Upholstery can look dull and discoloured overtime. This is usually because when dust, dirt, and crumbs aren’t cleaned off, they make their way through the fibers on the cushions, through the seams, and corners, making the fabric look dull over time. What’s even worse is when a spill occurs, it leaves behind unsightly stains.

Vacuum Regularly

Vacuuming is your best line of defense for dust and dirt from settling in. It’s also a step for maintaining the condition of your upholstery in top condition. Vacuum weekly using the upholstery attachment to get the best possible results.

In case of any food spills, vacuuming will suck away all the loose particles so you can get a better understanding of the stain and how to best tackle it. The sooner the spill is tackled, the higher the chance it won’t settle in.

Quick At-Home Tips

Imagine this scenario: A spill occurs on your sofa and you need to act quickly. There’s no time to get it cleaned professionally. What do you do?

Luckily, there are items in your kitchen you can use to whip up a solution (yes, pun intended, see below) in no time. First, begin by blotting the stain to absorb as much liquid or grease as you can. Rubbing will only make things worse because it can spread the stain and allow it to settle. Clean with a white cloth to prevent any dyes from transferring onto the upholstery.

For grease stains, generously sprinkle cornstarch (baby powder works too) and let it sit on the stain for a few hours. By the time you vacuum it, the stain should have disappeared.

Mix up a solution

Instinct might suggest mixing dish soap with water and applying that to the stain. Be warned, however, that not all upholstery can be cleaned with solvents and/ or liquids.

If the upholstered material can handle it, a mixture of water, dish soap and vinegar can help. Using excessive water will leave behind watermarks and if it’s not dried properly, it could even lead to mildew or mold growth.

When you’ve whipped up the mixture with ample bubbles, scoop out only the bubbles and spread them over the area that needs cleaning. The bubbles help you control how much liquid is used while using the carbonation from the dish soap and vinegar to clean the stains.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

Regular cleanings will add years to the life of your upholstered furniture. Professional upholstery cleaning can freshen and brighten up your furniture with a thorough cleaning. Furniture is a big investment in any home, so it makes sense to clean it regularly to maintain it in the best possible condition.

While many carpet cleaning services will refuse to work with difficult materials such as wool, silk, and velvet, our technicians receive in-depth training and have mastered the techniques to clean all types of fabrics, even leather!

We use our proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) process to provide your upholstery with a deep cleaning by lifting dirt, dust, and allergens to the surface so it can be easily removed. With this method, furniture resists re-soiling and greatly reduces the chance for mold or mildew growth.

We use The Natural™, the same all-natural, green-certified cleaning solution that we use for carpet and area rug cleanings. Rest assured that our process is non-toxic and safe to use around children, pets, nursing mothers, and those with breathing problems such as asthma.

We spend a great deal of time indoors, especially during the colder months, so having carpets and upholstery cleaned professionally is important for maintaining a healthy home.

Water damage can occur at any time. It can result from a burst pipe, heavy rainfall and floods, sewage backup, water seeping through a cracked foundation, and much more. It can be a very stressful time for many homeowners worrying about damage to valuable items, structural integrity of the house, mould growth, and dealing with insurance companies. Following the tips below can help prevent your home from sustaining such damage and provide next steps for those that have suffered damage.

Prevention is the best defense

1. Check your homeowner’s policy

Homeowners are strongly encouraged to review their home insurance policies to educate themselves on whether their coverage includes flood insurance. Coverage for water damage, (such as from overflowing toilets) may not be the same as for flooding. With some insurance companies, if water enters the basement through a crack in the foundation, it could fall under a maintenance issue and that may not qualify for your flood damage claim.

2. Upgrade your home with flood resistant or waterproof materials

Materials are qualified to be labeled as flood resistant if they are in direct contact with water for at least 72 hours without suffering considerable damage. According to HGTV, these materials include concrete, closed-foam insulation, pressure-treated and marine-grade plywood, and ceramic tile.

3. Waterproof your Walls

To prevent water entering your home during heavy rainfalls or floods, consider installing a waterproof veneer to your exterior walls. There are many elegant and aesthetically pleasing styles to choose from including faux-stone and brick.  It is also important to clean out the gutters and to point any downspouts away from the house.

For interior walls, replace current insulation with closed-cell foam insulation. Closed-cell foam insulation is a better insulator and is much more water-resistant than open-cell foam insulation.

One of the most important things you can do for your home is to waterproof the foundation to protect the structure of the house. Inspect your crawlspace, if you have one, for any cracks which could allow for any water to seep through. Also check your windows for any cracks or holes that need to be fixed.

4. Don’t overlook sewage

In areas where flooding occurs more frequently, sewer lines can back up into homes through drainpipes. Not only is the damage from this difficult to repair, but it is also a health hazard. Consider installing backflow valves as these can prevent unwanted flow into your home.

5. Waterproof storage

Many people utilize the space in their basements for additional storage purposes. Storing items and books in plastic boxes that can be fully sealed are both cost-effective and prevent moisture from seeping through.

What to do if your home is flooded

Fast action is essential when your home has been flooded or sustained any water damage. Knowing the following tips during this time-sensitive event can help keep a clear head and reduce the amount of damage your home could sustain. With moisture comes the added issue of mould growth so swift action is vital.

1. Inspect your basement

Water damage happens more often in basements but this applies to any part of the house where is water seeping through. Assess the situation and immediately check for any electrical wires or outlets that have been compromised. Call for an electrician at once.

2. Call a flood or water damage service as soon as possible.

Many water damage restoration and flood services operate 24/7 and often work directly with your insurance companies. Water damage restoration companies detect the source of the leak and often use thermal imaging to locate where the water is seeping in from. Once the water is removed, the process of restoration begin, which dries your home to prevent any mould growth.

3. Remove all valuables from near the source of the damage

During your inspection, remove any valuable items from getting damaged. If an item cannot be dried, consider tossing it out to prevent mould growth which could spread in your home.

4. Sanitize everything

Once your home has been dried and restored, use bleach to clean and sanitize everything the water has been in contact with and to get rid of any mould spores.

5. Get clean carpets

Wet carpets and area rugs are big culprits for mould growth. Consider getting rid of wet carpets. If this is not an option, consider scheduling a professional carpet cleaning for your home. Wet methods such as steam cleaning or shampooing are not ideal when the carpet is already wet. Drier methods, like ChemDry, dry much faster and do not use harsh chemicals that traditional methods use. Traditional methods leave behind a soapy residue which attracts more soiling and carpets are dirty again in a matter of weeks. The ChemDry method is cleaner and Green-Certified, meaning our cleaning agents are all natural and safe to use around children and pets.

6. Plan for future water damage and flood

Following the prevention tips above, consider creating a plan to prevent your home from suffering another damaging event.

Water damage could occur at any moment and catches most people off-guard. Armed with this knowledge, you can prevent your home from potential flooding, or should your home be flooded, you will know which steps to take next. Trust Chem-Dry Trillium to solve this disaster so you can have one less thing to worry about during this overwhelming time.

Spring should not be the only time for major cleaning. With all the dirt, allergens, and muddy footsteps making their way into your home during the summer months, fall is the perfect time to clean and get your home ready for the long cold months ahead. Freshen up your home with the following tips:

1. Get your carpets cleaned professionally

Many people prefer to leave their windows open to bring fresh air into their homes after months of stale indoor air during the winter. While leaving windows open can do wonders for the air quality of your home, it also brings in allergens which settle deep within carpets and upholstery. Dirt also finds its way easily into your home through dirty shoes, children and pets.

Carpets act like filters in the home and trap all sorts of dirt and allergens in the fibers that often vacuuming alone is not enough to remove them.  This type of soiling damages the fibers of the carpet and upholstery and wears out these areas faster. Call professional carpet cleaning services so your carpets last longer and so you can breathe clean again. Add in area rug cleaning to get the most out of your carpet cleaning.

2. Dust ceilings and baseboards (also inspect your fireplace and chimney)

These areas are often ignored during routine cleaning. Just like carpets, these surfaces get covered with dust, dirt and pollen, so take this time to do a thorough cleaning of these areas as well. Call the professionals to inspect and clean your chimney to ensure it is cleared of all build up on the inside of the walls, which can be a fire hazard.

3. Clean the air filter in your furnace

Ensure that the air filter in your furnace has been cleaned thoroughly or is replaced before turning on the heating for the first time this season. HVAC systems generally pull in air from different rooms around the house, heat it, and then force it back throughout the home.

As it pulls in this air, airborne particles such as dust, dirt, pollen, allergens, pet dander get pulled in as well. The air filter traps these particles to prevent them from getting blown back out again and to prevent dust from building up in the air ducts. These filters also keep the dirt from finding its way deeper inside the HVAC system, which helps to keep it running more efficiently.

4. Put away summer clothing and linens into storage

Fall is the ideal time to wash and put away summer clothes and bedding and for bringing out warmer clothing and blankets. Consider going one step further by using vacuum bags to reduce storage space.

5. Clear leaves and other debris from your gutters

As the leaves continue to fall, they often get trapped in the gutters. Clearing the gutters prevents blockages and potential water damage to the structure of the house.  Consider pointing downspouts away from the house so the water run-off does not seep into the foundation of the home.

With these five tips above, you are on your way to getting your home ready for the cooler months ahead.

HOW TO AVOID 4 CARPET CLEANING RIP-OFFS

RIP-OFF #1:UNBELIEVABLY LOW PRICE.

To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want to work within a budget.  But some carpet cleaners use price as the bait for their false and misleading advertising.  They offer a cheap price–ususally between $4.95 and $9.95 per room, and then, once they’re in your home, they pressure you into buying “extras.”  It’s as if you were buying a car and found that the dealer was charging you extra for the tires and steering wheel.  Carpet cleaning is not as cheap as some unethical companies would like you to believe.

RIP-OFF #2: BAIT AND SWITCH.

Dual process carpet cleaning describes the process of applying a detergent or heavy preconditioning, followed with hot water extraction or rinsing.  Unfortunately, unethical carpet cleaners often use dual process as a bait-and-switch technique.  Here’s how it’s done:  First they “bait” you with a basic cleaning  (single process) at an unbelievably low price.  Then, when they arrive, they try to “switch” you to more expensive dual-process cleaning.  If you don’t fall for their switch and choose their basic service, you’ll likely receive poor workmanship using little more  than plain water and they will not guarantee their work.

RIP- OFF #3: UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS.  “THIS CLEANING METHOD IS THE BEST.”

You’ll read this in almost every ad.  You’ll hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner.  Remember this:  the method that’s best for you is the method that achieves your goal.  If you want a method that dries quickly, then a method that takes a long time to dry isn’t the best for you.  So before you choose a carpet cleaner, identify your objectives.  Then select the method that best reaches those objectives.  Making sure the company stands behind their work with a 100% money-back guarantee lets you know they’re serious about doing the job right.

RIP-OFF #4: OUTDATED BELIEFS “CLEANED CARPETS TAKE DAYS TO DRY.”

Years ago many people believed you had to soak your carpets with lots of soaps and water to get them clean.  But today we know this is false.  Over wetting and sticky soaps can cause mold and bacteria problems as well as damage the carpet and floor beneath.  Obviously each carpet cleaner will be biased towards his own method, and each method does have advantages.  I suggest a good place to start is by making sure the company you choose is a CRI (Carpet & Rug Institute) accredited firm with trained, certified technicians who know how to properly clean all types of carpets and perform advanced spotting.