Showing posts with label Bacteria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bacteria. Show all posts

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Common Contaminants Found in your Carpet

Your carpet is exposed to a number of contaminants on a daily basis, especially if you have children or pets in your home or if you enjoy having guests over or hosting events. In an ideal world, your carpet would stay clean and fresh no matter what came its way. 



Here’s a brief inventory of just a few of the contaminants that are commonly found in your carpets and rugs.

Pet Urine

Exposure to pet urine is a serious concern for your carpet and the health of your home. As the urine dries, it doesn’t just evaporate into the air. It actually leaves behind urine crystals that cling to carpet fibers and continue to release a noxious odor and a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria. Without deep cleaning and expert care, you may find the stubborn consequences of a pet accident too difficult to bear.

Everyday Dirt and Soil

Dirt and soil are tracked onto and compacted into your carpet through everyday use. While you can certainly slow this process by having a no-shoes policy in your home, at some point you will begin to notice signs of dirt and soil becoming embedded in your carpet. 

One of the most common signs of this process occurring takes the form of traffic lanes. Traffic lanes are easy to identify as they appear with a darker, dingier color and flattened texture in the areas that receive the most foot traffic. Traffic lanes typically start to show up in hallways and doorways. You may also notice that sections of your carpet have more dirt and soil in areas where your children or pets play and rest.

Dust, Dirt, and Other Airborne Particles

Many homeowners do not realize their carpets act as an indoor air filter. When carpeting is at its peak performance, it effectively traps and holds onto airborne dust and dirt. In doing so, carpet helps keep these irritating airborne particles from circulating within your home and dragging down its indoor air quality.

Of course, when too much dust and tiny particles of dirt are compacted within carpet fibers, both the quality of your indoor air and the longevity of your carpets will suffer. Layers of dust can rub against the delicate materials carpets.  This friction leads to early signs of wear and tear.

Food Residues and Stains

Food residues represent one of the most frustrating carpet contaminants because they can so easily become stubborn stains. Everything from wine and chocolate to ketchup and grease can pose a threat to your carpets, but this doesn’t mean you should only indulge in your favorite treats within the confines of your kitchen.

Soap Residues and Mold

You may assume that renting a carpet cleaning machine from a local dealer or supermarket is the best way to really deep clean your carpets, but this is far from the truth. Oftentimes, these machines are poorly maintained and difficult to use. Plus, they require the application of a carpet shampoo or detergent, which can be tough, if not impossible, to fully remove from your carpet.  Soaps and detergents can leave a sticky, dirt attracting residue, which causes your carpets to get dirty faster.  When your carpets are moist for several hours and even days after being cleaned, they offer an inviting environment for the growth of mold.  Watch out for cleaning techniques that require long dry times, use soapy, residue-causing detergents, or only provide a surface clean.

You’ll be happiest with a carpet cleaning method that offers deep-clean results and leaves your carpets dry within hours.

Thursday, July 1, 2021

Upholstery Cleaning Questions Answered

 When was the last time you had a scheduled upholstery cleaning? Whether your family spends evenings on your sectional sofa, you enjoy reading every morning in your recliner, or you love to host events in your living room, your upholstered furniture likely gets quite a workout.

Most families don’t think much about their upholstered couches and chairs beyond the comfort they provide. What we often forget is that these furnishings also trap dust and airborne pollutants, preventing them from lingering in the indoor air. As a result, it’s important to schedule regular upholstery cleaning to ensure your soft furnishings are performing at their peak and to promote their longevity.

Even in homes that have carpet, upholstered furniture still plays a vital role in filtering pollutants. You may be surprised to hear up to 80% of the dust and dirt that comes into a home with carpet ends up on upholstered fabrics.

This doesn’t mean having dirty furniture is an inevitability. With frequent upholstery cleaning from a trusted service provider like Johnson County Chem-Dry, you can keep your home feeling fresh and have confidence your soft furnishings are just as clean as they are comfortable.

upholstery cleaning being conducted on a sofa


Frequently Asked Questions About Upholstery Cleaning Service

We understand you may have questions about our upholstery cleaning services and the types of benefits you can look forward to when you choose Johnson County Chem-Dry. We’re here to give you all the details so you can have total peace of mind. We’ll make your home a cleaner space for your friends and family. Below, we’ve answered some of the questions we’re often asked by our clients about our innovative approach to upholstery cleaning.


 

 


What distinguishes Johnson County Chem-Dry upholstery cleaning services from others?

At Chem-Dry, we utilize a cutting-edge Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process that employs the power of carbonation to lift and remove dirt, dust, oil, and allergens from fabrics. This process requires significantly less water than other cleaning processes. With Chem-Dry, your furniture will be dry and ready to use within hours, not days. That way, you can get back to your normal schedule as quickly as possible and won’t have to worry about moisture-related damage to your furnishings.


Does the cleaning process involve any harsh chemicals that could be harmful to my children or pets?

At Johnson County Chem-Dry, Our process is safe and healthy for all members of the family, including children and pets. Our very own cleaning solution, called The Natural®, is tremendously effective at cleaning upholstered furniture.

This formula works just as well, and in some cases even better, than conventional cleaners and does not leave behind the concerning residues often produced by harsh chemical substances. It is green-certified safe and is a non-toxic cleaning solution. You can be confident it’s safe for your family and pets.


Do your cleaning services provide any protective benefits for my upholstery?

We understand spills are a part of life. However, stains don’t have to be. After cleaning, we can apply a special stain protectant to your furniture that actually establishes a barrier around the upholstery fibers. This helps the fabric resist future stains and enables your furniture to stay cleaner for longer.


What kinds of upholstery materials can Johnson County Chem-Dry clean?

Our services work on almost any upholstery fabric. Whether your coach is suede, leather, or denim, we can safely and effectively revitalize its appearance and remove deep-set dirt and grime. Both natural and synthetic fabrics respond well to our Hot Carbonating Extraction process, and their life can be significantly extended through the careful cleaning we offer.


What kinds of health benefits do your cleaning services provide?

As our cleaning method has been tested in an independent laboratory environment, we have hard facts to back up our claims of delivering extensive health benefits for our clients. The results of this testing proved our cleaning process removes 98% of allergens, specifically pet dander and dust mites, from upholstery.

When a sanitizer is added to this process as part of our Healthy Home package, we can also eliminate 89% of airborne bacteria. Thanks to our cleaning services, you can have confidence that not only are your comfy sofas and chairs clean and healthy, but your indoor air is as well.

For more information from your Healthy Home Provider, visit Carpet Cleaning Near Me or our friends at Carpet Cleaning Fort Worth.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Spring Cleaning

 

IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING – DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR TILE & GROUT

As the weather warms up, many homeowners dive into spring cleaning. The to-do lists of baseboards to wipe down and windows to clean seem endless, but it’s just as important not to overlook your tile and grout.

blue sponge cleaning white tile and grout  

While routine sweeping and mopping are helpful, they don’t provide the deep clean that your tile flooring needs. Over time, dirt can build up in the surfaces of your tile and grout flooring, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria. While grout serves a needed purpose, it’s incredibly porous and typically light colored. This means that it easily absorbs dirt and spills and can quickly become dingy in appearance.  

A little routine tile and grout cleaning can go a long way in maintaining the appearance of these surfaces.

Clean tiles with soap and water.

The simplest way to refresh your tile and grout is with soap and water. It’s best to use a basic dish soap and warm water to wipe down the surface. Harsh cleaners and even vinegar can be damaging to different types of tiles and can weaken grout. For a quick, easy clean simply spray the dish soap and water solution and wipe with a cloth.  

Focus on the grout.

Dirty grout can make your entire tiled floor look dull and dingy. Due to its porous nature, grout gets visibly dirty fairly quickly. Commercial grout cleaners are an easy route to choose, but be sure to purchase a product that is pH neutral to prevent damage. You’ll want to use a small scrub brush or toothbrush for best results. Spray on the cleaner, give it a good scrub, and then wipe the surface with a cloth to be sure there isn’t any leftover cleaner hanging out on your tiles. While people commonly recommend using a vinegar and baking soda mixture to clean stubborn stains, the Tile Council of America warns that this can actually be harmful. Grout is alkaline and will react to any acidic cleaner, such as vinegar, resulting in some of the grout dissolving. So, while it may look clean, it’s not worth the damage. 

Have your tile and grout professionally cleaned.

As anyone who has attempted to clean their tile floors with a toothbrush can tell you, it’s a time-consuming job. The most effective and time efficient way to Spring clean your tile floors is to have them professionally cleaned. Tile, Stone, and Grout cleaning by Johnson County Chem-Dry penetrates deep inside the porous surfaces to remove dirt and bacteria, leaving you with surfaces that will sparkle and be safer for your family. Independent laboratory testing determined that our process, in conjunction with sanitizer, eliminates an average of 99.9% of bacteria from these surfaces. In addition to a deep clean, Johnson County Chem-Dry also applies a sealant to help prevent future stains.


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Carpet Cleaning Burleson, TX

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Disinfecting Mistakes

 

ARE YOU MAKING THESE COMMON DISINFECTING MISTAKES?

 

Common Disinfecting Mistakes

 

If you’re like most people, you didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about disinfecting before 2020. Most of us grabbed a familiar product off the store shelf and didn’t think twice about it. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a greater need for disinfecting at home, but the dos and don’ts circulating on the internet can be confusing. Here are three of the top disinfecting mistakes to avoid: 

  • Clean before using disinfecting products. Cleaning refers to using water and a product like soap to remove dirt and other debris from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs and bacteria but can reduce the amount of them on a surface. It is a vital first step that shouldn’t be missed. Cleaning a surface before applying a disinfectant allows the product to work better. 
  • Read the product label before use. It’s common for people to assume that all disinfectants work the same way, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Each product has its own individual concentration, which means unique requirements for use. Reading the label ensures you’ll get the maximum effectiveness and protect yourself by knowing the proper safety protocols. 
  • Don’t immediately wipe the disinfectant away. It’s cleaning instinct for most of us, you spray and then you immediately wipe the surface. But that’s not how disinfectants work. In order to kill germs, disinfectants have a “dwell time” or amount of time they need to sit on the surface they’re disinfecting. This typically ranges from 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the product. If you aren’t giving the product time to do its job, you’re most likely leaving germs behind.

Prefer to leave the disinfecting to the experts? Johnson County Chem-Dry can help with our new MicroPro ShieldTM Service which includes the application of an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant along with the application of a protective antimicrobial coating to surfaces that were disinfected, inhibiting the growth and spread of microbes (bacteria and algae) on contact for up to 3 months.2

Learn more about our MicroPro Shield service here.

 

1Based on EPA registration # 82972-1. Hard surface bacteria tests were based on independent lab testing associated with EPA registration # 82972-1; sealed stone and VCT surfaces were evaluated for 38 pathogens including bacteria, germs and viruses. Our sanitizer associated with EPA registration # 82972-1 has been approved by the EPA for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19.
2Based on EPA registration # 87583-3. Effective against algae and odor and stain-causing bacteria.

Carpet Cleaning Burleson, TX

Monday, November 16, 2020

Professional Wood Floor Deep Cleaning


We are excited and proud to introduce our Wood Floor Deep Cleaning Services in both Johnson County and Hood County.

Wood floors need regular maintenance to maintain their beauty and durability. Our Wood Floor Cleaning Process is specifically designed for solid hardwood and engineered wood floors as well as luxury vinyl tile (LVT) type flooring. Like other surfaces that see regular use, dirt, grime and debris build up over time that can damage wood floors as well as allergens and bacteria that can compromise home and family healthy.

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

 

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VIRUS AND A BACTERIA?

In this time of uncertainty and stress from the current pandemic, keeping our homes healthy can feel overwhelming. Viruses, contagions, bacteria and other terms can seem confusing. A little knowledge can go a long way towards helping us cope and provide peace of mind that we can continue to keep our homes safe. So to help, we have put together this infographic comparing bacteria and viruses, and the differences between them. 

Check it out to get the science straight, and to stop your stress about sanitizing and disinfecting, read about the Sanitizing & Disinfecting services Johnson County Chem-Dry provides to help make your home healthier and safer for the entire family.

What's the Difference Between Viruses and Bacteria Infographic by Chem-Dry

VIRUSBACTERIA
Not a living organismLiving organisms
Submicroscopic — range from 0.02 to 0.25 micron (a micron is one millionth of a meter)Much larger than viruses — about 0.4 micron
Only grow and reproduce inside of the host cells that they infect. When outside of living cells, viruses are dormant — this is why they need a living cell in order to “live”Consist of a single living cell than can generate energy, make food, move, and reproduce — this is why they can live in places such as soil, water, plants, and the human body
Visible under electron microscopeVisible under light microscope
Cause systemic infectionCause localized infections
Examples of systemic infections: AIDS, common cold, flu, chicken pox, measles, Covid-19Examples of locaized infections: food poisoning, gastritis, ulcers, meningitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis
Antibiotics designed for bacteria have no effect on virusesCan often be treated with antibiotics
Most viruses are potentially harmfulMost bacteria are not harmful
Carpet Cleaner Near Me

How to Prevent The Spread of Bacteria and Viruses

  • Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
    • Wash hands regularly, after touching high-touch surfaces, and before eating.
    • If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
    • Use EPA-approved disinfectants on surfaces in the house

For more information on the services we provide, visit our website at Carpet Cleaner Near Me. Independently owned and operated. Serving Johnson County and Hood County, Texas.