Tile Cleaning Naperville

Take a look at our new video on tile cleaning in Naperville.

With our process we are able to get your tile & grout to look brand new. We also offer grout sealing which will help make maintenance easier.

Selecting A Carpet Cleaning Professional

If you find that no matter how much you vacuum, your carpet still does not look like it used to, it may be time for deep cleaning. While there are do-it-yourself cleaning methods on the marketing, hiring a professional is the safest, fastest and easiest options. Cleaning professionals who utilized CRI-certified carpet cleaning products as part of their cleaning process are recognized as Seal of Approval service providers. Using Seal of Approval service providers is an easy way to make sure that your carpets are begin professionally cleaned with quality products that will help maintain your carpet’s life and beauty. To keep your carpet at peak performance, CRI (The Carpet & Rug Institute) recommends professionally deep cleaning your carpet every 12 to 18 months. (Be sure to check your carpet warranty for particular requirements.) In addition Seal of Approval service providers, you can also find a professional cleaning company in your area at the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certifications (IICRC) at www.certifiedcleaners.org or 800-835-4624. When looking for a cleaning professional, take these cautions to heart:

• Be careful of any company that contacts you by phone or that advertises a cleaning price by the room.  Room sizes vary and charges should be based on the total area cleaned.
• The use of brand name cleaning products does not necessarily suggest an affiliation with those companies or added credibility for the cleaning service. Make sure that you select a cleaning professional with certification from an organization that certifies professionals.

Ask Good Questions

Do not be afraid to ask questions! Here are a few questions to keep in mind:

• “How long have you been in business?” The answer can speak volumes about a company’s reputation and experience.
• “What formal training is required for the company’s management and cleaning technicians?” A reputable company should require that employees receive training certifications.
• “Do you vacuum before deep cleaning the carpet?” All professional cleaners should vacuum before they deep clean the carpet. This critical first step makes a huge difference in the end result.
• “Do you use Seal of Approval cleaning solutions and equipment?” Seal of Approval products have been independently tested and certified to effectively clean carpet without causing any damage.

Get an in-home inspection and estimate

Never go strictly by television advertisements or newspaper inserts or jump at the lowest bid.  And don’t accept quotes over the phone.  Have the cleaning representative come to your home for an inspection to determine the type of cleaning method that is most suitable, as well as to inspect your carpet for problem spots or extremely soiled areas.  Obtain a written agreement before any work is done.  Usually they will not charge for furniture removal, routine spot removal or preconditioning.  Make sure you are not charged for any extras. Get a written contract with the total price and statements of guarantees that the cleaning company offers.

Get your money’s worth

The following tips will help you get the best results from hiring a professional carpet cleaning service provider:

• Show the cleaning professional any problem areas and spots or pet stains that need special attention.
• To prevent voiding warranties, contact the carpet manufacturer before allowing additional treatment, such as re-applying stain treatments or antistatic treatments.
• Wait for the carpet to dry completely before walking on the carpet or moving the furniture back into the room. If you replace the furniture too quickly, rust or stains from paint or finishes could mar the carpet permanently.

Vacuuming 101

Proper vacuuming is the easiest and most effective way to keep your carpet clean.  It may come as a surprise that something as simple as regular vacuuming can also have the largest impact on the air you breathe.  Removing loose soil while it remains on the carpet surface prevents dirt from being ground into the carpet pile and can help preserve the cushiness of your carpet. Keep in mind green cleaning starts with vacuuming.

How to vacuum

On carpet, use slow, repetitive front-to-back motions in an overlapping sequence. A quick once over doesn’t do much.  On the other hand, don’t press down or make too many passes over the same spot. Instead, move slightly to the left or right about every four strokes. To get the most out of your vacuuming regime, remember these few easy tips:

• When vacuuming, don’t ignore those corners and crevices where dust builds.
• “Top-down” cleaning saves you the step of vacuuming again after dusting. Dust blinds, windowsills, and furniture surfaces first and then vacuum away any fallen dust.
• Remember to remove and replace or empty vacuum bags when they are half to two-thirds full.

Understanding the attachments

Attachments allow vacuums to do more than clean carpets.  They can tackle many other projects, such as cleaning bookshelves and other items that tend to collect dust.  Your particular vacuum may feature some of the following attachments:

• The all-purpose or universal brush works well on books and shelves.
• The crevice tool (long and thin) reaches into narrow slots and corners.
• The dusting brush details items that need a softer touch.
• The radiator brush cleans radiators and narrow spaces.
• The upholstery nozzle is good for vacuuming chairs, sofas, cushions, drapes, mattresses, and fabric furniture covers.

Setting the right vacuuming frequency

As a rule of thumb, you should vacuum at least once a week with a CRI Seal of Approval/Green Label vacuum cleaner.  However, the more foot traffic over your carpet, the more you need to vacuum. The general formula is:

• Vacuum daily in high-traffic or pet areas.
• Vacuum twice weekly in medium-traffic areas.
• Vacuum weekly in light-traffic areas, using attachments at carpet edges.

Vacuum care tips

For the best cleaning results, periodically inspect your vacuum keep it in tiptop shape and functioning properly:

• Keep the instructions that came with your vacuum and refer to them periodically.
• Keep hoses and attachments free from obstructions. Most vacuums that are discarded as nonfunctional often are only clogged somewhere in the unit. Learn where these likely places are from the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Grip the handle, not the hose.
• Keep brushes clean (for example, remove tangled hair) and replace them when worn. Typically, worn brushes are stiff, and they cause surface texture change on carpet.
• Empty containers or replace bags when half full. (Just as you would not top off a car’s gas tank until it overflows, you would not want your vacuum bag to spill over.)
• Look for rough edges or bent metal on your machine that can snag carpet.

Stop Dirt At The Door

Preventing dirt and grime from getting on the carpet in the first place is a great way to start keeping it clean. The following helpful hints can stop dirt in its tracks.

• Use mats — Outdoor and indoor mats or runners can reduce the amount of dirt that enters the house.
• Take off your shoes — You can save wear and tear on carpet by asking everyone  to take off his or her shoes before entering your home.
• Change your air filters — Change air filters in your heating and air-conditioning systems as recommended by the manufacturer’s directions. The more dust and particles removed by the filter, the less that fall on the carpet.

Pet Stain Removal Tricks

Expert Tips to Help Keep Your Carpet Fresh

There is one trick to removing pet stains that can save you tons of aggravation. It’s pretty easy when you think about it. But most pet owners just don’t get it.

Here’s the biggest mistake you can make. When Fido has a little tinkle or when Killer makes a huge puddle, the first course of action should NOT be towels or paper towels. This only mashes the urine down into the padding. It makes the urine harder to get out. Sure, some of the urine is absorbed in the towel, but not nearly all of it.

The second biggest mistake is grabbing for the spotter bottle first. Think about what you are doing. If you have urine in your carpet and spray some spot remover on the urine, you now have a puddle of urine with spot remover in it. This does NOT equal clean. The spot remover doesn’t make the urine evaporate. Sure, it may make it smell a little better, but the urine is still there and in a big way.

Here’s an important concept you should know: Spot remover is made to remove what left behind after you clean up the bulk of the mess. It isn’t designed to make urine evaporate. So having said that, what do you use to remove the bulk of the urine before treating with a spot remover?

Here’s the trick:

Use a wet vacuum or a shop vacuum as soon as you find urine on your carpet or rug. You can get one at any hardware store and most department stores. When used on a fresh urine spot, the wet vacuum will remove a majority of the urine. Then whip out your favorite spot remover and treat the remaining urine left behind.

It’s really that easy. If you use this tip you can save your carpet, rugs, and your relationship with your pet.