Area Rug Cleaning 101: The Steam Team Method

Area rugs add a certain warmth and color to our living spaces! As long as they’re kept clean and free of dust and/or pet hair, they look great, feel great beneath our feet, and are great investments for your home! Let’s talk about how to keep area rugs looking as clean as possible. Here are three tips for you from The Steam Team! 

Vacuuming

Of course we’re going to start with vacuuming! Vacuuming is the single most important thing you can do for your area rugs! Area rugs should be vacuumed at least weekly to keep them in good shape. If they experience more foot traffic, you may have to vacuum more often than that. 

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is the perfect method for cleaning your area rugs! It effortlessly lifts dust, dirt, dander, and other particles (like allergens! Feeling those Austin allergies yet?) from deep within your carpet fibers! And the best part? It uses nothing but highly pressurized water, and hot steam! There aren’t any harsh chemicals involved, and you can let the professionals do it for you! 

Calling in the Pro’s

Sometimes, we just need the help of a professional. If you’re unsure of how to treat your area rugs or don’t have time- whatever the reason, really, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals. The Steam Team in particular specializes in area rug cleaning and knows exactly how to treat your rugs!  

The Steam Team has been around for well over a decade; we’re not stopping what we do anytime soon. So if your area rugs could use a thorough, deep cleaning, don’t wait! Give The Steam Team a call today. We’ll be out in a jiffy to provide you with the exact services that you need. You won’t have to lift a finger!

Basic Rules for Cleaning Up Stains on Upholstery

Ah, upholstered furniture… doesn’t it look so great in our homes? We think so. But i looks especially great when it’s kept clean and taken care of! So let’s review a few basic rules for cleaning up stains on upholstered furniture, because no matter how hard we try, we simply can’t prevent accidents from happening!

And don’t forget; The Steam Team is always standing by, waiting to help you out!

Get to Cleaning Right Away!

We’re really hoping you know to do this already, but we’ll remind you: it’s important to tackle the stain as soon as you spot it! Doing so puts you miles ahead in the stain removal game; trust us. When cleaning, start by checking for any cleaning codes or instructions that could be on the label of your furniture. Some upholstery requires specific solvents, or can’t be cleaned with water, etc. If there aren’t any cleaning codes, simply perform a spot test on an inconspicuous area of the furniture.

Blot, Don’t Rub

This is another important rule when it comes to cleaning your upholstery, no matter what material it’s made out of! Blotting a stain instead of rubbing it keeps the stain from spreading! Blot the stain away with a clean white cloth (so that you can see the stain being removed from your upholstery).

Vacuum Regularly

It’s a chore that can’t be avoided or procrastinated: Vacuuming. Upholstery should be vacuumed frequently in order to keep its fabric in good condition, and of course to remove all of the dirt, dust, and crumbs that lurk in its crevices and underneath our cushions. Use your upholstery attachment to reach those tough-to-vacuum areas, and you’re good to go!

Finally, we recommend you call The Steam Team periodically for a thorough, deep cleaning. The Steam Team has over a decade of experience caring for furniture just like yours, so don’t be shy. Give us a call today!

Start Steam Cleaning Now

Once you choose to start steam cleaning, there’s no turning back. Not because the journey is dangerous or anything, but because a professional grade steam cleaner leaves behind a clean you’ve never known before! A clean you won’t be to be to go without, once you’ve seen it! Here are five great reasons to start steam cleaning today.

To start, steam cleaning:

Cleans Without Chemicals

A steam cleaner doesn’t need chemicals to thoroughly clean your home. All it needs is hot water and high water pressure! With these two amazing ingredients, a steam cleaner can effortlessly extract dirt and grime from deep within carpet fibers, pores of grout, and so on.

Provides a Clean You Can Trust

Like we mentioned before, you can definitely trust the clean that a steam cleaner leaves behind- especially if done by a professional cleaning company. No residue will be left behind for you to clean up. You’ll be amazed at The Steam Team’s results!

Is Safe for the Environment, Pets, Children, etc

Since steam cleaning doesn’t involve the usage of any chemicals, it’s perfectly fine to do around your home, children, and pets!

Saves You Money

Mops, scrub brushes, cleaning solutions, and any other cleaning supplies… you won’t be buying anymore with steam cleaning! This will save you money in the long run- that’s a major perk!

Saves You Time and Effort

Steam cleaning is an easy process that doesn’t require a lot of backwork. Finally, a cleaning method that won’t break your body, right? This is especially true if you let the professionals take over the project for you! Then you won’t have to worry at all.

If you’re thinking about starting to steam clean your home, think about hiring the professionals! They can do everything for you; you don’t even have to lift a finger! Contact The Steam Team today for more details, or visit our website to view our services!

How Do You Clean Furniture Austin Texas?

How do you clean your leather furniture? Not sure how to? Well, that’s okay because below, we have five tips for cleaning for leather upholstery! We’ll start with the basics, and move onto the tasks that require professional treatment. And remember, The Steam Team has over a decade of experience in caring for leather furniture. And we’re just a phone call away!

Dry Dusting

Dust builds up quite quickly; we just tend to ignore it, procrastinating the chore. But procrastinate no more! Grab your clean, white, microfiber cloth and begin at one end of the furniture, working your way to the other. This will pick up most of the dirt and dust.

Utilizing the Vacuum

Your vacuum likely has a handy dandy attachment that’s perfect for your leather sofa! Use this attachment to reach areas like cushion corners and crevices, or even underneath your couch! If your vacuum lacks this attachment, skip to the next step:

Cleaning With a Moist Cloth

For light stains and stubborn areas of dirt, moisten a microfiber cloth and wipe gently. Be sure that you’re thorough, as you’d hate to have to redo your cleaning job!

Using Soaps and Detergents

If that bit of moisture doesn’t lift the dirt from your leather, try rubbing the microfiber cloth across a bar of mild soap. Do not rinse your furniture. Instead, buff it dry with a new, dry cloth. It’ll get the job done!

Steam Cleaning for the Best Results

For best results, we always recommend steam cleaning. Steam cleaning can achieve a clean that you’ll hardly be able to even believe. And what’s even better- it can all be done by the professionals. You don’t even have to lift a finger.

For help cleaning your leather furniture, don’t hesitate to call The Steam Team! We have over a decade of experience and expertise, plus all of the right equipment for the job!

How To Blast Bacteria Around Your Home

This year, we’ve had one of the worst flu seasons yet! Families everywhere are combating the illness by fighting bacteria and germs around their home. How can you help your family? Well, let’s look at another method of cleaning: steam cleaning. Steam cleaning may just be the method that gets us all out of this mess! Contact The Steam Team ASAP today for a thorough deep cleaning, or visit our website for more details on our services.

Steam Cleaning VS Other Methods of Cleaning

To start, steam cleaning kills 99.9% of all germs and bacteria. So, flu season? Be gone! With a professional grade steam cleaner, you’ll eradicate those pesky germs from your home, and hopefully everyone will stay perfectly healthy. And you can rest peacefully, knowing that you home is clean, clean, clean.

But there are other advantages to steam cleaning, as well! For instance…

It’s a Versatile Method of Cleaning

Steam cleaning is very versatile! You can steam clean virtually any surface and flooring in your home (as long as it’s not hardwood!). From countertops, to baseboards, to carpeting and more; The Steam Team can take care of it all! That’s what makes it such a versatile method of cleaning: we can essentially clean your home from top to bottom.

It’s Safe For Your Home, Children, and Pets

Because steam cleaning uses nothing but high pressurized water and hot steam, it’s perfectly safe for the environment. You won’t have to worry about your pets licking off any residue from a cleaning product, or your children putting their fingers in their mouths after crawling around on the flooring. It’s perfectly safe!

Whether you’re looking for your home to be thoroughly steam cleaned in order to eradicate germs and bacteria, or you just need a good, old fashioned, deep cleaning, The Steam Team is here for you! Give us a call today!

The Benefits of Steam Cleaning Versus Other Methods

If you have carpet in your home, it’s likely that you’ve heard the news that more and more people are choosing steam cleaning as the prefered method for keeping their carpets in great condition. But why? Does steam cleaning really make such a drastic difference? Well, yes! And here are just a few reasons why;

Safer for the Home

When using a steam cleaner, the only forces at work are water and heat. This means that you’re able to avoid using cleaning agents that could have potentially harmful or toxic chemicals in them, while still killing 99.99% of bacteria. Essentially, you’re able to get the job done right without harming any children, pets, or causing any allergic reactions that you might get from other methods.

A Cheaper Alternative

A steam cleaner is not only safer for the home, but easier on the wallet as well. The repeated costs of having to restock on detergents or other cleaning products far outweigh the cost of the steam cleaner itself. And the only payments you’ll need to make for the steam cleaner are water and electricity.

Why Not Just Vacuum?

Unfortunately, many people rely on vacuuming alone to clean their carpets. What they don’t realize is that a vacuum cleaner can only collect a small fraction of the dirt, dust, and other allergens left behind in the carpet. Another issue with vacuum cleaners is that they won’t be able to get rid of dust mites, which may be living in your carpet and eating the residue left behind that a vacuum cleaner just can’t reach. The only method for a complete clean is high pressure steam!

Professional Steam Cleaning

While such methods can be carried out by the homeowner, most people find that a trained professional with more powerful equipment can achieve even greater results. If you’re looking for top-notch professional carpet cleaning, be sure to contact The Steam Team.

3 Reasons to Rid Your Home of Smoke and Ash After a Fire

House fires are devastating all around. You lose possessions, you take on structural damage to your home, and smoke and ash feel nearly impossible to get rid of! But with the help of a professional cleaning and restoration company who really knows what they’re doing, you can have your home back to normal in no time! And you definitely want to be hasty about it; here are three reasons to rid your home of smoke and ash after a fire:

Simply put, smoke and ash cause...

Damage to Your Possessions

Smoke and soot can cling to your possessions, causing discoloration, staining, that stench; ultimately the smoke ruins them. It’s important that you immediately contact the professionals for help with the cleanup! You want to make sure it’s done correctly, in order to protect the health of you and your loved ones.

Damage to Your Home

Smoke clings to walls, countertops, and flooring, too. The evidence of that devastating house fire is everywhere. But let’s get rid of it! The Steam Team can come in and effortless steam clean your walls, countertops, flooring, draperies- almost anything. Contact the professionals, like us, and we’ll be out in no time to help restore your home to its original condition!

Damage to Your Health

Finally, smoke and ash pose a health risk. Not to mention, smoked-damaged property slowly and gradually releases toxic gases and chemicals into the environment- that doesn’t sound good for your health, does it? Contact the professionals for help removing smoke and soot completely from your home.

Whatever the issue may be, The Steam Team has your back! From general cleanup and restoration to cleaning up after a house fire, we know exactly what to do! We also have top-notch equipment that we like to bring along; you’ll be shocked at our results!

Expert Care For Your Area Rug- Cleaning Austin Texas

The gorgeous handmade rug lying on your floor was probably one of the best decisions you made when it came to decorating your home. It’s an elegant addition and certainly an investment- so today, let’s talk a little bit about caring for such a delicate piece.

Caring For Your Fine Area Rug

The best way to care for your oriental rug is to prevent additional wear and tear from occurring. This is usually easier said than done, especially if there are pets or children in the house, but it’s worth it in the long run if you’re able to set a few guidelines. Area Rug Cleaning Plant located at 9901 Burnet Road Austin Texas 78758

Preventive Measures

Rug pads are a great place to start when it comes to additional (preventive) measures for your oriental rug. They add extra protection by cushioning the rug, creating less strain on the rug fibers when weight or pressure is applied.

Next, consider making your oriental rug a “no-shoe” zone. This will keep extra dirt and debris from getting on your rug and becoming stuck in the fibers and is far less abrasive.

Finally, rotate the rug 180 degrees a few times each year. This keeps the fibers from fading in certain spots, especially if there are patches of the rug that get direct sunlight.

Call the Professionals for Cleaning

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.

However, even if you aren’t dealing with stains or spots on your rug, it’s important to still have oriental rugs professional cleaned every few years. This ensures that any built-up grime is taken care of and won’t affect your gorgeous, timeless piece.

Do you have an oriental rug that needs to see a professional? Give The Steam Team a call today- our experts are highly experienced and use only the latest equipment.

Best Carpet Cleaning Options Austin Texas

Do you know what the best methods are for cleaning your carpet? There’s certainly more than one! Today we’ll go over three methods of carpet cleaning, and you can decide which one is best for you. But as always, we recommend steam cleaning; it’s the most effective out of the three we’ll list here! The Steam Team has been serving the Austin community for over a decade now; we’d love to come out and care for your flooring!

Sweeping and Vacuuming

Sweeping and vacuuming are chores that definitely make the routine list. It’s necessary to sweep and vacuum carpeting on a daily basis to pick up dirt, sand, dander, dust mites, crumbs, and other unsightly things we don’t want camping out in our carpet! But of course, after so much foot traffic and so many spills, vacuuming may not cut it.

Shampooing

Carpet shampooing is typically that step you take when vacuuming no longer restores your carpet like it used to. There are many products and tools available on the market for shampooing your carpet; be careful with certain chemicals and make sure to perform a spot test on an inconspicuous area of your flooring!

Hot Water Extraction

Hot water extraction, or rather- steam cleaning, is the method we prefer and always recommend! Using absolutely no chemicals (nothing but hot water and high pressure, in fact), a professional grade steam cleaning machine can reach deep within the fibers of your carpet, and extract everything from dust to dander!

The Steam Team has ten years of experience in steam cleaning carpets, and many other types of flooring, too! So don’t even bother with rental machines or DIY methods; skip straight to hiring the professionals! They’ll have all of the right equipment, knowledge, and experience needed for the job! Give us a call today.

Tile Cleaning Austin

Tile looks beautiful in our homes, and comes in a wide array of colors and textures! But the downside of tile (there’s always a downside, isn’t there?) is that it can be difficult to keep clean! Grout is porous in nature, and thus absorbs stains quite easily, causing staining, discoloration, and a lot of frustration! So let’s discuss ways in which we can care for and clean our tile and grout!

Seal Your Grout

Sealing your grout is a great way to keep it protected. It fills the seams between tile, and helps it absorb less materials like dirt, dust, sand, and general grime.

Mop Frequently

Mopping is necessary for keeping tile clean. As much as we want to procrastinate it, or simply not do it- there’s no getting around it, friends! So grab your preferred mop and cleaner and get to cleaning! When deciding on which type of cleaner to use, always start with the most mild detergents first. Then work your way up if you find that your selected cleaner isn’t performing how you expected. The frequency at which you mop will depend on how much foot traffic your floor receives. Once a week might be a good medium! Voted best tile and grout cleaning company in Austin. 

Tips for Scrubbing Grout

You can scrub your grout to clean off the gunk and grime. But the #1 rule for scrubbing grout is to not use abrasive materials. This is obviously so that you won’t damage your tile or grout; scratching is easily caused by abrasive scrubbing materials.

Remember, if your grout is just too much to handle, The Steam Team is standing by, ready to help! We have over a decade of experience cleaning and caring for tile and grout, as well as other types of flooring and surfaces. So when it doubt about tile and grout, rely on The Steam Team!

Cleaning And Preparing Your Flooring

Adopting a pet is a monumental decision -- they take a lot of our time and attention, cause messes around the house, and unfortunately damage things unintentionally. No matter what type of flooring you have in your home, chances are you’re going to get really familiar with cleaning and caring for it really quick as this new member of your family grows. We’re here to help! Voted best carpet cleaning in Austin, Texas. 

Start Simple: Sweeping

To start, you’ll be doing more sweeping than you’re used to. Tile and hardwood floors will need to be swept weekly, or multiple times a week depending on how much your pet sheds. Even if they don’t shed, just having their four furry paws running around the home moves the dust and other dirt around the floors. A broom with a dusting attachment may work better to grab hold of pet fur and dander.

Don’t forget to vacuum your carpets, either. Anything that you can see on your hardwoods or tile flooring is going into your carpet fibers and staying there until you come around to vacuum!

Now, Let’s Talk Stains

Dirt and mud are going to be the two most common outside factors you’ll be dealing with inside. As soon as any moisture touches dirt outside, it turns to mud and our furry friends step in it, get it stuck to them, and then proceed to track it all around the house. The best way to handle mud initially is to let it try before trying to vacuuming up any dirt that you can see. However, over time, the smaller dirt particles left behind are going to build up in your carpet and will eventually need a stronger suction to remove them (like steam cleaning) before causing stains.

For urine and feces stains and/or odors, the best way to take care of these is to blot up any additional feces or urine so as to not let it soak into the carpet. In dire cases, it’s best to call in the professionals.

A good steam cleaning will do your carpet wonders, and a professional steam cleaning company will use nothing but hot water, and high water pressure. It’s an easy, environmentally friendly way to rid your home of these nasty stains and odors. The Steam Team of Austin was voted best carpet cleaning company. 

Carpet Cleaning Made Easy with The Steam Team of Austin TX

Carpet Cleaning Expert Service Austin Metro Area

It’s time to stop hiding those carpet stains beneath furniture and area rugs! With the help of The Steam Team, we can remove even the toughest of stains from your carpet, making the entire process far easier on you! So don’t fret, just give us a call and we’ll be out in a jiffy to restore your carpet to a cleaner, brighter condition.

How Steam Cleaning Works

It’s a fairly simple process. The only materials we’ll be using are hot water, and water pressure- well, along with our professional-grade equipment. This makes steam cleaning an entirely safe method of cleaning for the environment, your pets, children, and family. Our team of experts has several years of experience in a variety of cleaning and restoration techniques, so you can rest assured that your carpet is safe with us. More than safe, we’d say!

A steam cleaner effortlessly lifts dust, dirt, debris, allergens- you name it- from deep within the fibers of your carpet. It reaches beyond the threshold of a normal vacuum cleaner or scrub brush. It’s far easier on your body- no scrubbing, no getting down on your hands and knees, and it’s affordable!

What All Can We Clean with a Steam Cleaner?

The Steam Team can help with more than just carpet cleaning. We can also help clean your draperies and window treatments (without even removing them, might we add), hardwood flooring, tile and (stubborn) grout, and even your outside patio! We can also expel germs and bacteria from your counter tops, tables, and children’s toys. And if you’re ever in need of water or fire damage restoration- we’re there in the case of emergencies, too.

You can find out just how limitless the possibilities are by giving The Steam Team a call today!

Steam Team: All About Refinishing Hardwood Flooring After Water Damage

Water Damage In Round Rock, Texas

Hardwood flooring is often chosen for it’s aesthetic appeal; this type of flooring makes the living room more charming, wholesome, and welcoming. And yes- it’s relatively simple to clean and care for. However, over time wear and tear will become more apparent. Scratches, dings and discoloration stand out, and you’ll wonder if it’s time to have all of the hardwood floors replaced.

But maybe you don’t need to replace your flooring! Often times, hardwood flooring can be salvaged by trained professionals. By replacing a few boards, and making necessary repairs, a team of experts can restore your flooring to its previous condition!

The Refinishing Process

Refinishing hardwood flooring involves several steps that may vary depending on the situation. Below, we’ll list the basic steps involved in the process:

Step 1: Sanding

If your hardwood has a wax coating over its finish, or if the wood underneath has been dinged and damaged, your finish will need to be entirely sanded down- until your hardwood is completely bare!

Step 2: Staining

Though sanding may add time and cost to your refinishing project, it’s the perfect way to alter the color of hardwood flooring. A professional will apply several coats of stain, and will likely need to sand in between applications.

Step 3: Finishing & Coating

The last step, applying the final finish on your hardwood flooring, is the step best left for professionals. There are so many varying types of stain (both oil and water based), each accompanied by a specific set of rules that you do not want to break! By hiring a professional, you can avoid causing further damage.

Don’t despair- this process doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Call your local cleaning and restoration company today; they’ll have the correct equipment and experience for the job- we know that our experts at The Steam Team do!

5 Reasons to Break Out the Steam Cleaner

Austin Cleaners

Every day, we become more busy, and consequently, more stretched for time! It’s no wonder that steam cleaning has grown to become such a popular method of cleaning for homeowners. Listed below are five reasons as to why homeowners are choosing steam cleaning over traditional methods of cleaning!

1. Environmentally Friendly

Steam Cleaning is entirely safe to use around your home, children, and pets. Chemicals are not necessarily required to eliminate germs and bacteria; steam cleaners will only use heat, and high water pressure.

1. Eliminates Germs, Bacteria, Allergens & More!

If you can’t seem to shake the common cold, steam cleaning might be the answer you’ve been waiting for! Germs, dust mites, and allergens are no match for a steam cleaner; a steam cleaner’s vigorous water pressure, and intense heat eliminate these pests with no problem!

1. Cleans Hard-To-Reach Areas With No Problem

You can finally quit avoiding your baseboards, the corners behind your living room furniture, and all of the areas in your home that seem impossible to reach, and thus clean thoroughly.

1. Cleans More Thoroughly Than Traditional Mopping

We’d recommend wet mopping your kitchen floor the old fashioned way- but only if you’re going to have to skip the gym today. Mopping requires a decent amount of physical labor, and while this can be refreshing for our bodies, it’s not so great for our schedules! You’ll find the exact opposite case with a steam cleaner.

1. Saves Time, Effort, and Frustration

Stop lugging around that heavy, sloshing water bucket from room to room. And aren’t you growing tired of wringing out your unwieldy, inadequate mop? A steam cleaner’s water pressure can effortlessly lift dirt and stains from your floor, whereas typically, you’d be scrubbing for a long while!

Steam cleaning is becoming increasingly more popular among homeowners, and we can understand why! It’s more efficient, thorough, and satisfying than other methods of cleaning, and there are professionals who can deep clean your home for you! Don’t hesitate to give The Steam Team a call! If you need mold remediation austin or any other cleaning please call us at 512-451-8326 today.

3 Fun Facts About Steam Cleaning

The Steam Team Austin, Texas Official Sun Glasses

Who said cleaning can’t be fun? Steam cleaning may not seem like it could be exciting to you, but when you see the effects it has on various surfaces and environments everyday - it’s certainly intriguing.

Check out these awesome facts about steam cleaning!

1. Steam cleaning can help improve air quality around the home.

Ridding flooring (and other surfaces) of common allergens, dust particles, and grime build up keeps these things from circulating around the home. With all of these particles, the air quality around your home will start to improve.

Don’t forget to clean your air ducts and you’re sure to breathe clean air!

1. The steam cleaner was first invented over 150 years ago.

Since then, it’s come a long way! The technology integrated with steam cleaners now is entirely different. Machines are able to be used on various surfaces, materials, and fabrics for a variety of reasons, too. Not only can flooring be steam cleaned, but furniture, window treatments, appliances, air ducts - you name it!

What we know now versus what we knew when steam cleaning was initially invented is monumental.

1. Carpet should be professionally steam cleaned every 12-18 months.

Regularly cleaning carpets with a steam cleaner helps to eliminate any grime build-up but also keeps allergens and pollutants at a minimum around the home. Remember; steam cleaning is a much more thorough and deep clean versus regular vacuuming. Scheduling a professional to come into your home every 12-18 months has shown to be the most effective and efficient way to protect, clean, and maintain carpet flooring.

If you need a professional to take a look at your carpets, give us a call at The Steam Team today!