Maintaining Your Leather Like a Pro

Voted Best Cleaners In Austin by the Austin American Statesman

Though many people think of it as a luxury material, leather can actually be quite easy to maintain and keep clean if you know how. Here at The Steam Team, we’ve been working with leather for years, showing people how to properly clean and maintain it so that it lasts far beyond your neighbor’s leather. Now we want to teach you how to maintain your leather like a pro!

Knowing Your Leather

The first step to giving your leather the right care is knowing exactly what kind of leather you’re working with. That’s right, leather isn’t just leather! There are actually four main types of leather, each requiring slightly different care. Mushroom leather has no protective film over it, so be careful abou spills and don’t use any water for cleaning it. Instead, lightly brush it with a soft wool fabric. With suede leather, use a soft nylon brush or lightweight sandpaper to remove stains. With Hair-on leather, you can gently vacuum or dust it with a dry cloth to maintain it. With Full Grain leather, use a lightly damp cloth with warm water, but don’t scrub too roughly.

General Maintenance

Keeping in mind your different types of leather, maintaining them day to day is very easy. When it comes to spills, clean them up quickly with the preferred method for your type of leather. Don’t use any standard house cleaners or spray bottles of chemicals that you may use on other surfaces. There’s a high chance that these chemicals could damage or dry out the leather. It's also recommended that you keep your leather out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources, or it could dry out quicker.

The Steam Team

When your leather does eventually dry out, it will need to be conditioned with oils to keep it vibrant and beautiful. Here at The Steam Team we have a service that does just that! It’s recommended that you have your leather conditioned at least once per year, so if you haven’t done it this year what are you waiting for? Give us a call! For more information, please visit The Steam Team website.

Your Pets Are Safe From Steam Cleaning

Are you ready to start steam cleaning this summer? Perhaps you are, and you have a few questions about the process! For instance, does this method of cleaning keep my pets safe? We’re here to at least answer that question, and maybe more! So stay tuned, and read more below! 

What is Steam Cleaning? 

Steam cleaning, or hot water extraction, is a method of cleaning that extracts dirt and grime from just about anything- using only hot water high water pressure! You can steam clean anything from the carpet, to the window blinds. You can rent a machine to clean your home yourself, or call in the professionals to do the legwork for you! 

Is Steam Cleaning Safe For Pets? 

Steam cleaning is absolutely safe for pets! Because it doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals or harsh cleaning solutions, and because it doesn’t leave behind any residue, it’s completely safe to steam clean around your pets. So if that carpeting could use a good deep cleaning because of Fido’s accidents, well, we’ve got you covered. 

Call in The Steam Team

The Steam Team is a professional cleaning and restoration company that excels in carpet cleaning! So, like we said, if your carpet needs to be steam cleaned, don’t hesitate to call in The Steam Team. We understand the plight of keeping everything clean and pristine when there are pets around. That’s why we’re so willing to lend a hand! 

Whether it’s your carpet that needs cleaning, your tile and grout, or upholstered furniture, The Steam Team has your back. We’ve been helping the city of Austin, TX for over a decade now, and would love to come out to your home and make a difference. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with cleaning this season; just call in The Steam Team!

Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking Like New

If you have hardwood floors in your home, then you’re likely all too familiar with how difficult it can be to keep them clean! Add on small children who love to make messes, or pets who can’t help but create messes, and you’ve got yourself an even bigger problem. But don’t fret! The Steam Team has the answers. Here’s a cleaning routine for your hardwood flooring that really works!

Dusting Floors Daily

When it comes to maintaining a clean floor, this is where it all begins. So start off on the right foot this time! Dust tends to settle all over flooring and baseboards, especially if you have a fan that runs constantly. We recommend using a microfiber dust mop on your hardwood flooring, as the microfiber material clings to dust and just doesn’t let it go!

Mopping Floors Weekly

Don’t be intimidated by the task of mopping your hardwood flooring. The important thing is that you keep a few things in mind, such as, too much liquid on hardwood floors is not a good thing! It can definitely do some damage. It’s also important to note that some cleaners can damage the finish, so only purchase cleaners that are made for hard floors. Keep these things in the forefront of your mind while you’re mopping and you’ll be good to go!

Polishing Floors Quarterly

If your floors are lacking the shine that you remember from when you first moved in , it may be time for a good polishing! In actuality, hardwood floors should be polished every two to three months. But don’t let that intimidate you, because the professionals can always help out! The Steam Team specializes in caring for hardwood flooring, as well as other types of flooring!

You can put your trust in The Steam Team today! You’ll be amazed at the results, and will never want to call anyone else again!

Top Benefits from Steam Cleaning

Depending on how many feet are sludging through your household, you may only worry about cleaning once or twice per week. However, as those feet increase (whether you gain a few pets or a few kids), those messes will, too. We don’t believe in steam cleaning just because we’re The Steam Team, we’re The Steam Team because we see the effects and benefits from steam cleaning! And today, we’re going to share a few of these with you, too!

Effective and Efficient (and Cost Efficient!)

Steam cleaning only needs hot water and the steam cleaner (and the technician, if you hire the professionals). Say goodbye to any mops, buckets, and detergents!

Steam Cleaning Eliminates Germs, Bacteria, and Dust Mites

It’s true! Steam cleaning eliminates 99.9% of germs, bacteria, dust mites, and other unsightly things in your home. Anyone in the home who has allergies will also be grateful, as steam cleaning destroys allergens.

Additionally, steam cleaning tackles mold easier than any other method we’ve seen. Using solutions like bleach don’t actually stop mold growth, but the high intensity of a steam cleaner does!

It’s Completely Safe for Your Environment

Because all you’re using is heat and water, steam cleaning is completely safe for your home, children, pets and other family members. There won’t be any leftover residue, either! It’s the most environmentally friendly way of cleaning!

Whether you’re dealing with normal grime or something as devastating as water damage, The Steam Team is here to help! Don’t hesitate to give us a call for help with your flooring, bathrooms, window treatments, HVAC systems, etc. Steam cleaning works for so many different types of materials and we’ve got the equipment to get it taken care of. Give us a call, today!

Change the Look of Your Home or Patio with Concrete Staining

Concrete Floor Cleaning 

Concrete flooring has become a popular alternative to carpet and hardwood among homeowners. Perhaps this is due to carpet’s vulnerability- in some cases, stains are too much to hassle with, or carpet in general can be too difficult to maintain. Concrete staining is a simple, easy process, and the results are stunning! Click here for more information. 

The Pro’s of Concrete Staining

Besides its simplicity, there are several pro’s to staining interior or exterior concrete flooring. It’s extremely customizable, as the stain is available in several different colors and shades. You can even match your patio with its furniture or the siding of your home! And inside the house, you can match your choice of concrete stain with the living room drapes, furniture, or wall color.

Another obvious advantage is the ability to completely remodel your outside patio in a simple, cost-effective manner, and that it’s so simple to clean!

How to Stain Concrete

We always recommend contacting a professional restoration company for this process. There are certainly ways to “DIY,” the project, but calling a professional guarantees success; you won’t risk damaging your patio, home, or anything else- not that we don’t trust you, of course. We’re certain you know what you’re doing. However, if you do decide to contact The Steam Team, here’s what we’ll do:

You concrete will be sanded down, polished, and properly cleaned before the stain is applied. Once the stain has been applied and is the shade you desire, we’ll apply a sealant to insure that it lasts longer. We want your concrete to look as beautiful as you’d like it it to be, and won’t stop until we’ve achieved the results you desire!

The Steam Team is a team of experts who have many years of experience in several different types of cleaning and restoration projects. Give us a call and we’ll be out in a jiffy! Best reviews in town.