Post-Construction Cleanup from The Steam Team

For professional carpet cleaners in Austin, Texas call The Steam Team at 512-451-8326.

If you’ve recently had a contractor do major construction or remodeling on your home, or especially if you did it by yourself, you were likely left with quite a mess to clean up afterwards including much needed rug cleaning. Major remodeling and construction are some of the messiest jobs out there, and we think The Steam Team should be part of your plan for post-construction cleanup. Here’s how our professional process works:

Getting Rid of Major Debris

After construction, the first thing to clean up will be the large pieces of debris. Pieces of wood, paint chips or other debris may be all over your home counters, floors or furniture. That’s where our technicians will start. Once all large debris is removed, they’ll remove all smaller debris like sawdust or anything else spread around by the construction. 

Thorough Surface Cleaning

All countertops, shelves, windows and countertops will be cleaned by hand, all floors will be sanitized, vacuumed or mopped. Furniture will be thoroughly cleaned with whichever product and method is preferred for your specific material. Our technicians always take great care when cleaning a home or business to meet your needs.

Final Touches

One common problem with construction and remodelling jobs is that small debris can also get inside of air conditioning vents and cause problems for the home as well as health hazards. We’ll keep the air ducts clean, and then move on to smaller things around the property like electronics, light fixtures and small appliances. At the end of the professional cleaning process, your home or business will be not only newly renovated, but completely clean!

The Steam Team Difference

We’re proud to say that our technicians can take on such large, complex cleaning projects that post-construction can sometimes be. But that’s because our technicians have years of experience with a huge variety of cleaning services and methods. For more information on the many services we offer including carpet cleaners, please visit The Steam Team website.

Oriental Rugs: The Importance of Proper Care

Our rug cleaning crew our supporting Austin Pets Alive.

Oriental rugs are beautiful, elegant additions to your home, but investing in such delicate, handmade artistry means you’ll need to take extra caution while caring for them! But don’t worry- if the task is ever too daunting (or too inconvenient) The Steam Team is always standing by, ready to help. In the meantime, here are a few helpful guidelines to caring for oriental rugs: 

Preventing Wear & Tear

Keep an eye on your pets, especially cats and puppies, who might try to scratch or chew on the rug. Give your pets fun alternatives, like a scratching post or a durable chew toy, and make sure their exercise and activity needs are met, to avoid destructive behavior. If one of your pets has an accident on the rug, take the rug to a professional cleaner. 

If you would like to use a rug pad for extra protection, try to find one made of polyester. Avoid rubber pads, which can become gummy over time and stick to the flooring underneath. 

Take your shoes off before walking on the rug, or get in the habit of leaving your street shoes at the door and wearing only dedicated house slippers. 

Rotate the rug 180 degrees once every few months or so. This is to ensure even fading from natural light. If the rug is in a spot that gets direct sunlight, try to minimize UV damage by installing curtains or blinds. 

Cleaning 

Vacuum regularly with the nozzle attachment. Avoid using any brush attachments or rollers on the rug, which can damage the fibers. Occasionally vacuum the back of the rug, too.   

In the event of a spill, blot—don’t scrub—with a white paper towel or cloth. If it’s a stain that water alone can’t remove, take your rug to a professional rug cleaner. 

Call the Professionals

And finally, it’s important to have your rug professionally cleaned every few years, to remove built-up dust, grime, and staining! Give The Steam Team a call today. You won’t be disappointed in our results!

All You Need to Know About Mold

Fine rug and carpet cleaning in Austin, Texas.

Wherever there’s water, there’s a possibility for mold growth. Unfortunately, once mold spores start to grow, they’re extremely quick to spread and can endanger the stability of your home and your health. That’s why, here at The Steam Team, we want to arm you with the right knowledge so you can take the correct action at the first sign of mold. On today’s blog, we’re covering how it starts growing and how you can tackle it (and we can help).

The Growth of Mold

Mold only needs twenty four to forty eight hours to grow and spread. That’s just one more reason to call in the professionals for a little extra help. The more hands in the circle, the better! The best environment for mold to grow in is a dark, moist area- this is why it’s essential to have your home checked after water damage for mold.

How Mold Affects Your Health

Mold is dangerous to your health. You might’ve already guessed this. It can cause health issues such as asthma, sinus problems, or even skin infections! To protect the health of yourself and your family, contact the professionals immediately so they can begin the cleanup process. 

It Should Be Handled by the Pro’s

Mold is a serious issue that should always be handled by the professionals, especially if you don’t have any experience dealing with it. Fortunately, The Steam Team knows exactly what to do. You can count on us to come out to your home, inspect the situation, and begin the water extraction and mold remediation processes immediately. We won’t leave until your home is safe again! 

The Steam Team is a team of trained professionals in a wide variety of cleaning and restoration projects! Our group of experts has plenty of experience in mold remediation, as well as water damage cleanup and restoration! No matter how large your problem may feel, it’s not too much for The Steam Team. So go ahead; give us a call today! We’re available 24/7 to help you out! 

What's Your Plan For Fire Damage Restoration?

24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

In case of life-threatening emergencies like severe storms or fire damage, you and your family likely have a plan for what to do to keep yourselves safe. But have you ever thought of what you would do after a severe fire has occurred in your home? It’s important to plan for the aftermath as well as the fire itself. Who’s going to clean up the damage, restore your home and salvage your belongings?

Should You Do It Yourself?

If you’re considering the option of cleaning up a fire-damaged property by yourself, consider these factors first:

• After a severe fire has occurred, walls and pillars may be unstable, and by entering the property you could risk the structure collapsing on top of you.

• Chemicals from common household cleaners, soaps and other items may have burned in the fire, creating a toxic atmosphere that may cause you to faint or may even be lethal.

• To properly clean up a fire damaged property, you would need the right equipment such as tarps, safety attire, industrial strength water pumps, a press extractor and much more.

Given these reasons, you should see that it’s a huge risk to enter a fire-damaged property, and you should leave the work up to the trained professionals.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration

When looking for a trained team of professionals who can safely clean and restore your property after a disastrous fire, keep The Steam Team in mind. Our technicians will inspect your home or business and give you a full estimate of costs and walk you through the process before they tarp up, clean and restore your property.

Safety Advice From The Pros

After the full cleaning and restoration process is complete, our Steam Team professionals will consult you on how to better prepare your home to withstand fire disasters in the future. For more information on fire damage restoration, as well as our many other services, please visit The Steam Team website.

Is It Time to Clean and Refinish Your Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors are an expensive but worthwhile investment. Few flooring surfaces can compete with the timeless elegance of classic wood—or add as much value to your home. It’s important to take proper care of your hardwood floors so they remain in good condition for decades to come. Part of proper care involves refinishing. 

What Is Refinishing?

A finish is a protective layer on a wood surface, meant to protect against wear and tear, water damage, and other environmental factors. Over time, it is important to reapply this protective layer, or refinish your wood surface. 

What Type of Finish Do I Use? 

• Wax. The tried-and-true old-fashioned way of finishing hardwood floors, before polyurethane products became available on the market. Apply 2-3 coats, working small areas at a time by hand. Although labor-intensive, it’s easy to touch up by hand. 

• Polyurethane. Generally more durable than wax, it has become today’s standard floor finish. Water-based polys are eco-friendly and can be applied over a previous oil-based finish. Do not apply an oil-based poly over a water-based one.        

How Do I Know It’s Time to Refinish? 

Depending on how much wear and tear your floors experience, you’ll need to sand and refinish your floors only once every several years, or sooner if your floors are in highly trafficked areas. You might want to consider steps to mitigate damage in high-traffic areas, such as sweeping more frequently and using protective throw rugs.  

Here at The Steam Team, we can help you refinish your hardwood floors using dust-free technology developed by Bridgepoint. This system will keep your floors looking good as new, with maintenance required only every 1-3 years. Call us for more info or about our carpet cleaning service ! 512-451-8326.

Caring for Your Flooring Over Time: Avoiding Damage

Cleaning Austin Texas

No matter what type of flooring you have, it’s inevitable that it will wear over time. All floors show their wear differently, though, so it’s important to know how you can prevent damage and when it’s time to call in the professionals. We’ve put together some tips to help you care for your floors effectively and efficiently! Voted best carpet cleaning in Austin, Texas. 

No Shoes

When debris is tracked into the house, it can get stuck in carpet, cause scratches on tile, grout, or even hardwoods. If you have a porch, that can be a great spot to stick shoes before walking in the house, or you could simply set down a mat near the door for guests and family members to place their shoes.

Don’t forget about area rugs! They’re great for protecting your flooring and being a beautiful accent piece in your home.   

Pet Care

Now that you’re keeping majority of the dirt and grime out of your house by removing shoes and asking guests to do the same, the second-biggest thing to consider when it comes to protecting your flooring is your pets! Not only will they track in extra grime from the outdoors, their nails can also cause a lot of damage to flooring if they’re not regularly trimmed.

Furniture Placement

The last thing that causes concern when it comes to flooring is furniture. It’s best to use protective pads for furniture that’s frequently used, like office chairs or even dining room chairs, but be careful moving anything around. Depending on the type of furniture and how heavy it is, you may want to have professionals move and place your furniture to best protect your flooring.

Don’t forget about regular maintenance for all flooring! Give us a call at The Steam Team to learn about taking care of your flooring or for help cleaning your flooring, furniture, and more!

Cleaning Carpets: The Steam Team of Austin Method

Cleaning

Are your carpets looking dull and dingy lately? Are they in need of a thorough, effective deep cleaning? Then they’re in need of a steam cleaning! Read on to find out more about the process of steam cleaning, and learn what The Steam Team can do for you! We’re sure you’ll find a solution to that hideous stain you’ve been hiding, or those dull carpets in the living room…

What is Steam Cleaning?

Steam cleaning, or hot water extraction is a cleaning method that uses extreme temperatures and highly pressurized water to remove dust, dirt, debris, allergens, and more from deep within carpet fibers. It’s an easy and effective way of cleaning more than just carpet; it also cleans furniture, upholstery, surfaces, and even natural stone!

Steam cleaning is known for effortlessly removing stains and odors from carpet and furniture! Even when it comes to pet urine and feces stains, or some of the toughest food stains, steam cleaning can do it all. It reaches deep within the fibers of the carpet or furniture and extracts everything you don’t want existing down there!

Another perk to steam cleaning? It doesn't use any chemicals! It cleans using absolutely nothing but hot water, and high pressure. It doesn’t leave behind any residue either, and your carpet dries quickly. The Steam Team would never leave you with damp carpet! We know that mold thrives in damp environments, and definitely don’t want to cause any problems.

Choose The Steam Team

The Steam Team uses a cleaning method that is so thorough that you won’t believe the results! Give us a call today. We’ll come out, assess your carpet, and get right to work! We have all of the tools, technique, and expertise needed for any job. So don’t hesitate; give us a call!

Managing Dirt and Grime in Your Carpet and Rugs in Austin Texas

Rug and Carpet Cleaning

Carpet makes a fantastic option for your home! It’s cushiony, comfy, and cozy! It’s available in a variety of colors and textures, and is generally easy to clean. In fact, today we’re talking about how to remove dirt and grime from your carpet, so it can be as clean as it was the day it was installed! From dusting, to steam cleaning, there are many ways to keep your carpet clean. Call The Steam Team of Austin, Texas for professional rug cleaning today. 

Vacuum on a Routine Basis

Dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming your floor is essential! Do it on the regular, and you’ll be set. It’ll also make chore day that much easier on you- since you’ll have kept up with it the entire time. And don’t forget about those baseboards; they collect so much dust over time.

Occasional Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is a way of cleaning that helps to eradicate dirt, grime, allergens, and other nasty substances from deep within the fibers of carpet. It uses nothing but pressurized water and high temperatures! No leftover residue, no chemicals, nothing. If you’re going to have your carpet deep cleaned, this is the way you want to go. Our location at 9901 Burnet Rd. Austin, Texas has a state-of-the art rug cleaning facility.

Develop Helpful Habits

Sometimes, we just have to change the way we do things! Try developing helpful habits for your carpet like removing your shoes at the door, or putting a mat at the entrances to your home! Door mats help to pick up the dirt and dust we bring in, and if we aren’t wearing our shoes around the house, then we aren’t tracking dirt around!

Keep dirt and grime away from your carpet by keeping up these habits, and of course by steam cleaning every so often. Call The Steam Team today for any of your carpet cleaning needs! Your carpet will be so clean by the time we’re finished, you’ll be amazed at the results of our professional carpet cleaning.

What Is Hot Water Extraction By The Steam Team of Austin

Professional Rug Cleaning

So, what is hot water extraction? Well, it’s just another way to say steam cleaning. The two terms are often used interchangeably. So today we’re going to review steam cleaning (hot water extraction) and its many benefits to homeowners- because there are so many! And of course, this is barely scratching the surface; there are many other reasons as to why we should steam clean, and only so much time to cover them! Call 512-451-8326 for your Austin Texas rug cleaner!

Hot water extraction...

Cleans Without Chemicals

Simply put, steam cleaning cleans without the use of any chemicals. All that it requires is high water pressure, and extreme heat. It easily extracts dirt from carpet, and porous materials like tile and grout.  This not only saves you money on cleaning products, but it doesn’t leave behind any harmful residue or streaking.

Cleans Like No Other Method

There’s a reason why homeowners prefer steam cleaning over other methods of cleaning. It cleans thoroughly and effectively- without much effort! Mopping takes a lot of back work, much like scrubbing and vacuuming. But a steam cleaner doesn’t require the same kind of physical labor (especially if you let The Steam Team do the work for you- hint hint!).

Saves You Time and Money

We’ve already mentioned how steam cleaning saves you from having to buy cleaning products (though that is a major plus!). But its effectiveness is also what saves you time! With hot water extraction, you no longer have to re-do cleaning projects; steam cleaning gets it the first time. It provides you with a clean that you can fully trust, and we all know that that’s all we want!

Professional steam cleaning companies, like the Steam Team, can help you steam clean just about anything, from carpets, to surfaces, walls, and ceilings! Just give us a call whenever you’re in need! Local cleaning companies. We have been serving Austin for over 40 years. Call 512-451-8326 today.

Using Carpet Protector to Maintain Your Carpets Longevity

Carpet Protection

Carpet protection can be helpful in maintaining the new, clean look of your carpet! It protects it, and also increases its longevity- and we can explain how! Below we’ll tell you what carpet protector is, whether or not you should install it, and how it helps to prevent wear and tear on your flooring.

What is Carpet Protector?

Simply put, carpet protection works by repelling dirt from carpet fibers, protecting them from stains. Remember that unprotected carpets easily absorb spills and stains, and wear down quicker than protected carpets. But with carpet protector, your carpet has an extra layer against the dangers of toppled wine glasses, muddy paws, and dirty shoes!

Is it Worth it?

Ultimately, it’s up to you. Sure, it does wonders in protecting carpet- especially carpet that’s placed in areas of high traffic, but certain types of carpet may not even need protector. So when installing your new carpet, do some research, and find out whether or not you need it. Then it’s all up to you! Do you want your carpet to repel most stains and spills? Do you want it to last longer? Most homeowners would say yes!

Increasing Carpet’s Longevity

Carpet protector increases your floor’s longevity by, well, protecting it. It keeps spills and accidents from completely ruining the carpet fibers, and even protects it from ultraviolet light! So if your carpet is in an area where the sun shines directly, you won’t have to worry about it fading quicker over time. It’ll last longer!

For all things carpet, you can rely on The Steam Team to do a fantastically thorough job! From installing carpet protector to redoing your entire flooring, we’ll make sure we don’t leave your home until you’re satisfied with your new carpet, or carpet protector!

Removing the Worst Stains On Area Rugs Austin

rug cleaning

Sometimes accidents happen; they can’t be prevented, as much as we want to be able to stop that wine glass from toppling over! From mud stains to wine stains, to bleach stains… rugs can really cause a headache from time to time. Sometimes our trusty all-purpose cleaners work out the stains, and other times, the stains call for more extreme measures. This is when steam cleaning comes into play! The Steam Team can help you remove even the worst of rug stains; you’ll be surprised at the condition of your carpet after we’re finished!

Until then, here are a few tips for removing stains from your are rugs.

Food and Drink

For stains like ketchup, tomato sauce, mustard, etc, try combining one tablespoon of ammonia with one cup of water. You could also try diluted Dawn dishwashing liquid!

Pen Ink

Pens explode when we’re least expecting it! For these stains, use non oily hairspray, or rubbing alcohol. Blot gently as to not rub the stain further into the area rugs.

Pet Urine

Stains resulting from our loving (and loved) pets are some of the most common among households. Don’t sweat it! Try mixing a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar. After soaking up the urine with paper towels, gently blot out the stain.

Red Wine

Like we said, sometimes these things just can’t be prevented. For this one, mix ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing detergent with 4 cups of lukewarm water. Gently blot the stain clean, then use a damp, clean cloth to absorb the rest.

Don’t forget- The Steam Team deals with these stains and many more on a constant and perpetual basis, so we have the right equipment to handle the job! Our team of trained professionals are experts at removing stains from your carpet; just give them a call! Voted Best Area Rug Cleaner in Austin, Texas.