The Benefits and Limitations of Carpet and Rug Cleaning

More and more people are using steam cleaners, which have proven to be more natural and more effective than chemical cleaners in many situations. But how far do the benefits of steam cleaning really go? Can you use a steam cleaner on just any surface? If you’re wondering these things yourself, we’ve got some advice for you.

Benefits of Steam Cleaning

Because steam cleaning only uses water and heat, you don’t have to worry about any of the risks that chemical cleaners might bring. Nearly all household surfaces are properly sanitized with steam cleaners, more than just the percentage of clean that most chemical cleaners offer. Because the steam evaporates, surfaces will dry faster when cleaned with steam cleaners. Steam cleaners are also excellent at cleaning those tough to reach spots and removing hardened substances like wax or glue.

Best Uses for Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaning works wonders on nearly every surface of a home, but for some materials you may need to pay attention and think of the effect that water and heat may have. For example, steam cleaning is great for carpets, upholstery, mattresses, and even curtains, but for all of these surfaces you need to make sure you’re using an upholstery attachment. 

For floors, tiles, ceramic and metal fixtures steam cleaning works great to kill germs, mold, and fungus, so long as a floor attachment is used. With a window attachment, you can easily clean glass and windows. Even kitchen appliances can be cleaned with handheld steam cleaners. 

The only materials that can’t be steam cleaned are paper and cardboard products, delicate fabrics and anything covered in water-based paint.

Professional Services

Now that you understand what kind of jobs steam cleaners can be used for, you need the right team of technicians to get the job done. The Steam Team professionals are trained at handling high-powered steam cleaners and other cleaning equipment. If your home or business is in need of restoration or cleaning, call The Steam Team today.

Dealing With Insurance During Damage Restoration

Fire Damage & Water Damage

A huge part of our business is water and fire damage restoration; jumping to handle emergencies and to help homeowners in the Austin, TX and surrounding areas restore their properties. A major step throughout this process is handling the insurance claim; something no one ever wants to do. Regardless of what the claim is, the entire insurance process can be such a hassle. We know exactly how it is, but it is also one of the most important steps in this process. That’s why, we’re putting together any tips we have on today’s blog for you. 

Step One

Right after a disaster has settled, the damage can be overwhelming. Before touching or moving anything around, it’s imperative to document the extent of the damage. For peace of mind, many people opt to hire a professional restoration company (but we’ll touch on that more below). Everything from your small, personal belongings to the walls and structure of the home- the more documentation for the insurance company, the better.

Step Two

After everything is documented properly, we’re able to step right in and get to work minimizing damage and securing the area so everything is safe for everyone around. Fire often weakens the structure of the home, so our first concern is you and your family’s safety.

Hiring a Professional Restoration Company

When you work with a professional restoration company, like The Steam Team, we’ll do a separate fire damage analysis that will also be sent to your insurance company (before beginning our restoration process). No matter the size, we document everything, detailing the extent of the damage throughout the entire property.

Don't Forget About Cleaning Those Window Treatments

When it comes to cleaning the house, window treatments don’t typically need regular maintenance every day. Over time, however, that becomes a different story. Since our draperies, blinds, and other window treatments are often the most neglected areas in our home when it comes to cleaning, they tend to build up dirt, dust, and other grime quickly. In some instances, this could be contributing to continued dust around the home or even those allergies that have been tickling your nose lately! So, what’s the best way to clean any type of window treatment?

A regular vacuum attachment is a good option for an every-now-and-then clean, but ultimately steam cleaning is one of the best options for cleaning drapes, curtains, and any other type of window treatment.

How It Works

Not only is steam cleaning effective, but it’s an extremely efficient cleaning method. We’re not talking about removing all of your window treatments and hand-washing them (if they’re fabric), nope! Everything can stay just where it is, there’s not much you’ll have to do besides let our technicians handle the job.

We’ll use a low moisture, hot water extraction method, or a dry cleaning method to safely remove dust, dander, dirt and other particles from your draperies. Since steam cleaning uses such low moisture, your window treatments will be dry in no time!

Expert Tips for Ongoing Care

While they’re not the most obvious piece of furniture or decoration around your home that needs to be cleaned, we can’t let you forget about your window treatments and their need for some regular TLC. To best maintain any curtains or drapes and keep them around as long as possible, rotate them every so often just like you might a rug or an armchair. This keeps the harsh sunlight from damaging their fabric so they’ll wear evenly.

If you need any more help with the window treatments around your home, don’t hesitate to call in The Steam Team. We’re here to clean those fabrics and bring them back to life!

3 Ways to Freshen Up Your Home

How’s your upholstered furniture looking these days? Is it in need of an old fashioned deep cleaning? It’s possible! Don’t hesitate to give The Steam Team a call if that’s the case. And in the meantime, follow these three guidelines for keeping your upholstery as fresh as can be! Happy cleaning!

Starting with Vacuuming

There’s a handy upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner that does wonders for cleaning your furniture! It can reach inside those nooks and crannies like nobody’s business! It can also reach underneath cushions and pillows for your convenience. You can easily remove dirt, dust, pet fur, and dander from your furniture.

Moving onto Stain Removal

Are there any unsightly stains or spots on your upholstery? Let’s remove them! In most cases, stains can be removed with the right cleaning solution and a little bit of patience and elbow grease. In worse cases, a professional may need to be called in, like The Steam Team. Steam cleaning is great for restoring your upholstered furniture to its former glory!

Finishing by Steam Cleaning

Finally, consider steam cleaning your upholstery. A professional grade steam cleaning machine won’t harm your furniture, and it won’t use any chemicals to clean it. High pressurized water and hot, hot steam are all that’s needed in this process! Your furniture will look absolutely amazing after a good old fashioned steam cleaning, done by yours truly, The Steam Team.

The Steam Team is your leading cleaning and restoration company in Austin, TX! We’ve been serving this beautiful city for over a decade now, and there’s no way anyone can stop us! So give us a call today. We’ll come out, take a good look at your upholstered furniture, and get to cleaning right away. You’ll barely believe our results!

Sprucing Up for Spring: Tackling Your Whole Home With One Method

Even though it’s still chilly outside, springtime is just around the corner- at least, we hope so. With the spring, we know comes spring cleaning, and we often sit around pondering which method of cleaning we should use throughout the house. Steam cleaning is the smartest option, as it can clean just about your entire home, using nothing but hot water and high water pressure!

The Kitchen

Let’s start in the kitchen. Does your kitchen have pesky tile and grout? We know it’s difficult to keep clean; that’s why we recommend steam cleaning! A steam cleaner can effortless reach deep within the pores of grout, and the surface of tile, and extract all that grime that causes discoloration and staining. Your kitchen will look brand new!

The Bathroom

When it comes to cleaning the bathroom, tile and grout are often our main nemesis. But since we’ve covered how we can help with that, let’s discuss countertops, toilets, sinks, and showers! All can be steam cleaned. Dust, dirt, grime, and soap scum will plague your bathroom no more! And it’s completely safe for your environment; steam cleaning doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals!

The Living Room

In the living room, a steam cleaner can help remove stains on upholstered furniture, carpeting, and can also even help clean window blinds and draperies (we don’t even have to remove the blinds from where they hang)! Dust, dirt, and stains are absolutely no match for a professional-grade steam cleaning company!

So you see, steam cleaning is a very versatile method of cleaning, and that’s why it’s superior among all of the other methods! No matter which area of your home needs a thorough deep cleaning, The Steam Team has you covered! Just give us a call today and we can help you with your spring cleaning!

Pets and Cleaning: How Do You Get Rid of Fleas in Your Carpet?

carpet fleas cleaning

Ah, fleas, those pesky little creatures! It always seems like once you have an infestation, it grows, and grows, until you’re on your third flea treatment and you’re still finding them all over Fido. And in Texas especially, flea seasons lasts pretty much all year long. So we’re here today to talk about a different method of treating fleas, and that’s steam cleaning! You’d be surprised at how effective this method is, even when it comes to these little buggers!  “Our professional carpet cleaning is more effective at removing fleas than regular vacuuming. It’s not a guarantee but it helps a lot. “

The Scoop on Steam Cleaning

There are many reasons as to why steam cleaning is effective, and thus the leading choice of cleaning methods among homeowners! First, it cleans without harming the environment, or any family members or pets. Second, it doesn’t leave any harmful residue behind, because all that is required is hot, pressurized water. And third, it cleans- the kind of clean you can thoroughly trust. And we could go on and on, truthfully! But let’s get down to the dirt: fleas.

Steam Cleaning v.s Fleas

If you have a flea infestation, it’s imperative that you vacuum every single day. If you’re already doing that and having no luck, then we recommend steam cleaning. Steam cleaning kills larvae,  adult, and flea eggs with no problem! Looks like fleas simply can’t handle the heat! You may have to repeat the treatment more than once, but we promise- it’s a great method for ridding your home of these nasty, annoying creatures.

See, it’s not just carpet, or upholstery, or hardwood flooring all of the time. We can also help assist you in ridding your home of pesky fleas! Just give The Steam Team a call today and we’ll be out in a flash! You won’t regret it, but the bugs will!  “Our professional carpet cleaning is more effective at removing fleas than regular vacuuming. “ Steam cleaning is not a guarantee but it helps a lot.

A Quick Guide to Furniture Maintenance

Cleaning By The Steam Team Austin

Many homeowners prefer upholstery furniture for its advantages, such as its long lifespan, easy cleanup, and aesthetic appeal! Here at The Steam Team, we’ve set out to help you maintain your furniture so that it lasts as long as possible, and looks as if you’ve just bought it. Just follow this quick guide to upholstery maintenance and you’ll be good to go! Contact us today for quick reliable service. 

Always Dust and Vacuum Your Furniture

Routinely use a dry cloth to dust your upholstered sofa and furniture, and keep it looking clean and inviting! You can also use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove the dust and debris from the tightest of crevices and corners. There’s nothing like a perfectly clean sofa after a long day of, well, cleaning.

Make Sure to Avoid Products Not Suitable for Upholstery

Avoid using cleaning products that aren’t specifically designed for upholstered material. You could easily damage your sofa by ignoring this great rule of thumb, but by following it, you can elongate its life span and help your furniture look its best. Unfortunately most all-purpose cleaners aren’t suitable for upholstery, so you’ll likely have to seek out a specific formula. We also offer the most thorough rug cleaning ever. For all your textiles visit our office cleaning plant located at 9901 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78758.

Properly Protect Your Furniture

Lastly, be sure to properly protect your upholstered furniture on a routine basis. However, again make sure you’re using the correct product. A professional cleaning company can help you decipher which cleaning and conditioning formula that you should use.

Keeping your upholstery clean and protected will help to optimize its elasticity, help it last much longer, and of course, help it to look inviting to not only you, but any house guests you have over! And don’t forget- The Steam Team is constantly standing by to help you with any of your cleaning and restoration needs! We’re happy to come out and help your leather furniture sparkle.

How Cleaning Affects Indoor Air Quality Austin Texas

Air Duct Cleaning In Austin TX

It’s no secret that we spend most of our time indoors, rather than outdoors. We think we’re breathing in cleaner, healthier air since we’re in a more controlled environment, but are we? Is the air inside more clean and pure than the air outside? Studies show that sometimes, it isn’t! According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the air outside is two to five times more polluted than the air inside! So, knowing this, what can we do about it? The Steam Team of Austin can clean your Air Ducts and help with allergies. 

How Cleaning Affects Indoor Air Quality

Imagine your carpet, rugs, air ducts as if it’s a giant trap for dust, dirt, allergens, dander, and other nasty, harmful substances. That’s basically what it is! We kick these substances into the air by walking on the carpet. Since we can’t avoid walking on our own flooring, we can at least avoid it’s filth- by keeping carpet in tip top shape, and calling in the professionals when we need to. The Steam Team Austin Duct Cleaning Specialists. 

Keeping your carpet clean does far more than improve appearance in your home or office. It affects the health of your family, self, and/or customers! And since steam cleaning is entirely safe for the environment, it’s definitely the better way to clean and maintain your flooring. Steam cleaning requires the usage of nothing but hot water, and extreme pressure. There will be no residue left behind from cleaning solutions, and no damage from harsh chemicals! Austin Air Duct Cleaning for commercial and residential customers. 

If you’re concerned about mold growth (as you should be when we’re talking about moisture), let us reassure you. The moisture left in your carpet from steam cleaning will dry so quickly that you won’t even need to worry about mold growth or infestations.

Professional cleaning companies like The Steam Team of Austin will never leave you with wet carpet! Call us today for a deep cleaning that you can rely on- and for an improvement in your health and wellbeing! Serving Austin for over 36 years. 

Cleaning: How to Spot Treat the Most Stubborn Stains

Smoke Damage 

There’s simply no way to catch every toppling wine glass, or every muddy paw before it reaches our beautiful, once-flawless carpet. So what can we do to treat these pesky carpet stains?

Pets

Oftentimes, urine stains are left behind after house training sessions, or muddy pawprints plague our entryways. To start, urine stains must always be treated with an enzymatic cleaner. As for mud, vacuum the solid pieces first, and thoroughly dry the carpet. Afterward, combine a teaspoon of mild dishwashing liquid with warm water, and blot away!

Wine & Grape Juice

The dining room, the carpet beneath the bedside table, or even the living room: all common places for wine stains! To treat these stains, soak a sponge in a mixture of one tablespoon of ammonia, and two cups of warm water. Blot the stain, and rinse with cold water after it’s been removed.

Bodily Fluids

Blood and vomit will likely require a professional’s attention. But until these pro’s arrive, layer the affected area with a coat of baking soda. This will help to reduce the foul odor that’s likely oozing from the stain.

Coffee

Coffee stains- the typical light-brownish-yellowish patches that are found near desks, or on kitchen rugs. Try applying your own mixture of dishwasher detergent and white vinegar. Blot the stain, as opposed to rubbing!

Ink

Pens break frequently and we’re lucky if the ink misses our clothing on its way down to our once-pristine office carpeting! Ink can be removed by applying rubbing alcohol to a white cloth, and blotting the area until the cloth comes back clean.

If you’ve given these tactics a try without success, consider calling your local carpet cleaning service, or restoration company, but certainly don’t let those stains sit any longer. The Steam Team is made up of experienced technicians who can restore your carpet to its previous condition. Call today!