Natural Stone Floor Repair From The Steam Team in Austin Texas

Natural Stone cleaning austin texas

For the most part, hardsurface floors are an easy flooring option to maintain. But over time, scratches, water and other forms of damage will erode your once appealing hardsurface floors. When this happens, you’ll want to have a solid plan in place of how to renew and refinish your hardwood. We want The Steam Team in Austin, Texas to be part of your plan!

When To Refinish Your Natural Stone Floor

There are some very easy signs to look out for that will tell you that your floor is in need of refinishing. An old, damaged floor will look far different than a newly finished floor. The most obvious sign will be a lack of the shine on the surface that usually characterizes a healthy, finished natural stone floor. If your floor has little to no shine, it might need a refinishing. If you dust and/or mop the floor and it still appears dull, that definitely means that the finish has been worn off. Also be sure to look out for deep scratches or dullness in the floor, as these could go through the finish and allow the floor to be more easily damaged. If you find any scratches that go deeper than the finish, it’s time to have your floor refinished and honed.

Refinishing Process

When our Austin, Texas technicians arrive for the natural stone floor refinishing process, they’ll start with a visual inspection to find the most troubling areas in the floor and work out the best solution. Then they’ll move on the damage repair; fixing all the trouble areas and mark any major problems and scratches. Then the cleaning process will begin; eliminating any traces of dirt or grime on the floor that may get in the way of the refinishing process. Finally, the floor will be refinished by applying two coats of finish, making your natural stone floor look better than ever and adding years to its lifespan.

For more information on natural stone floor refinishing in Austin, as well as our many other services, please visit The Steam Team website.

Don't Make These Mistakes With Your Marble Surfaces

Commercial Lobby Marble Floor Cleaning

We know homeowners love their marble countertops, floors, vanities, columns or other marble surfaces. For this reason, there’s an ongoing search for many homeowners to find the best methods and products to care for their marble. If you have marble in your home and have been on this search yourself, we might have exactly what you’re looking for!

Avoid Most DIY Methods

Far too many homeowners make the mistake of trying to clean their own marble surfaces with DIY approaches, using the wrong methods or products that end up doing more damage than good. That’s because marble is a porous and sensitive surface, especially to acidic products, like many common house cleaners. Marble is also softer than most stone, making it more susceptible to scratching and dulling if scrubbed too hard or cleaned with the wrong material.

Since most generic cleaners, DIY approaches and common cleaning practices might be bad for your marble, it’s always better to leave intensive cleaning in the hands of a professional or team of trained technicians. That’s where we come in.

The Steam Team

When you call in The Steam Team for our marble polishing service, you’ll find that our technicians are experts at proper marble care, and will utilize our full line of specialized products specifically designed for cleaning and polishing even the most delicate marble surfaces. Floor tiles, countertops, vanities and even shower walls can all be polished back to their original shine by our professional technicians!

Our technicians will choose only the right method for the specific level of wear on your marble, removing all dirt, scratches and stains, and renewing the protective layer of the surface. If you need marble polishing in your home, give us a call! For more information on our many other services, visit The Steam Team website.

How To Make Your Hardwood Floor Look Brand New

If you happen to have a hardwood floor in your home or business, you probably do everything in your power to keep it clean and in great shape. But are you prepared for a hardwood floor disaster? What if certain spots of the floor become severely discolored? What if you have a pet or a child, and you end up with a bunch of little scratches on the floor? Or what if the gorgeous hardwood turns dull and grey? If you don’t know what to do about these issues, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s the Steam Team advice on how to fix a hardwood floor with any of the issues mentioned above.

What To Do

If you’ve noticed any of the above problems with your hardwood floor, it means you need to have it refinished as soon as possible. Don’t wait too long, or the damage to your floor could get worse without a proper refinishing, and you might end up needing the entire floor replaced. If you give The Steam Team a call, our highly trained technicians will be with you ASAP to assess and refinish your floor. First they’ll give the floor a thorough inspection, determining the most troubling areas of the floor and informing you of the process before they start. Then they’ll repair damaged areas like cracks or splits in the wood itself, before moving on to a full cleaning. Then it’ll be ready for refinishing.

Our technicians will apply two separate coats of sealer to the floor, give them time to dry, and then your hardwood will be cleaner and brighter than ever! And once the proper refinishing is complete, your floor will be strengthened for years to come.

The Steam Team Difference

Our highly trained technicians have years of experience, and they use only the most high-powered, quality equipment in the industry. For more information on how The Steam Team can help you with hardwood floor refinishing or any other cleaning, carpet cleaning or restoration service in your home or business, visit The Steam Team website.

Check Out Our Cleaning Service Specials!

Carpet Cleaners Austin, Texas - Voted Best of Austin by The Austin American Statesman

Here at The Steam Team, we want to provide all of our customers with the very best cleaning services from the very best technicians using only the latest and most effective equipment on the market! But we also want to offer great deals to our customers so that you feel great about both the appearance of your newly cleaned home and about the money you spent! Because of our dedication to providing you a great clean for a great price, we want to show you our Special Service Packages.

The Elite

This plan has everything you could want out of a carpet cleaning package. Our technicians will give your carpet a professional deep clean with high-powered steam cleaners, pre-spotting and pre-vacuuming if required, a pet enzyme treatment on the carpet to keep pet odors from seeping in and then a powerful carpet protector on top of that to keep the carpet safe from spills and other odors. Even after all that, our elite package isn’t over! 

We’ll also groom the carpet to make sure it looks exactly the way you want it before our technicians leave, and we’ll throw in an additional 5 day warranty! The Elite package, as well as all the other specials we’re about to mention, also include moving any furniture out of the way if needed, and putting it back in place when the job is finished. With all of this, you might expect The Elite package to cost you hundreds, but it's only $93 per room!

The Pet

This package includes a professional deep cleaning with high-powered steam cleaners, pre-spotting and pre-vacuuming if required, a pet enzyme treatment and carpet grooming! The Pet package starts at $69 per room.

The Protect

This package includes a professional deep steam cleaning, pre-spotting and pre-vacuuming if required, a carpet protector and carpet grooming to top it off! This package also starts at $69 per room.

The Original

This package is the cheapest and most simple plan, and it includes the same steps as the Pet and Protect, just without the pet enzyme or the carpet protector. This package starts at an easy $45 per room.

So what are you waiting for? With deals like these available, there’s no need to neglect your carpet anymore! Give us a call or visit The Steam Team website for more information.

How To Tell When To Refinish Your Hardwood Floor

Every hardwood floor requires sanding and refinishing from time to time to keep it in great condition. Here at The Steam Team, we pride ourselves on our technician’s excellent service when it comes to refinishing hardwood floors. But how do you know when it’s time to have this done? Here are some important signs to look for:

Water Spots

Water damage is the most common and most expensive type of damage that homeowners deal with. Water damage under the floorboards can occur for a number of different reasons, but will usually result in dark spots appearing on the floor and separation or cupping of the boards. When you see this, it’s time to have your floor refinished and possibly have some of the boards replaced.

Deep Scratches

The seal on your floor is designed to keep the wood from being damaged or left open to spills. When something scratches deep enough to penetrate the seal, the boards are exposed. Pay attention to the scratches on your floor, and if any of them penetrate the seal, it’s time to call in The Steam Team and refinish your floor.

Discoloration

Pay close attention to the color of your floor as well. If you notice that your boards have turned gray, it might be a result of the polyurethane wearing off, leaving your boards more susceptible from water damage due to spills or regular cleaning. When you see this, have your hardwood sanded and refinished soon, before the boards turn black. Once they’ve turned black, they’ll need to be replaced entirely. 

Similarly, If you have a hardwood floor outdoors, keep an eye on the color. If it fades in color it may be damaged from the sun. Sanding and refinishing will take care of this as well.

We hope that the information provided will help you keep your hardwood floors in great condition for years to come. For more information on the many services we offer, visit The Steam Team website.

Tile and Grout Cleaning: The Professional Method

What if we told you there’s a better way to get in between tiles than the ol’ toothbrush? Here at The Steam Team we think there is. Our technicians will utilize the right tools for the job to give you newly cleaned tile floors in no time! Here’s how it works:

Inspection and Prep

When you’ve called in our technicians to clean your tile and grout or carpet cleaning, they’ll start off with a full and thorough inspection of your entire tile floor, locating all problem areas and deciding on the best solutions. All furniture over the tile surface will be moved and the tile will be sealed off from any carpet, hardwood, or other material.

Cleaning

All dry soil will be removed by sweeping and vacuuming before a high quality cleaning agent will be sprayed over the entire surface of the tile. We use only the most scientifically advanced tile cleaner on the market. The tile and grout will then be cleaned using a self-contained pressure cleaning system, while more difficult areas will require either a manual brush cleaning or a mechanical, rotating brush.

Rinse and Finish

Finally, a rinse solution will be pumped through the machine, fully sanitizing the floor. Then a finish will be applied to fully seal your newly cleaned floor. The finish will vary depending on your type of tile. And before they leave, our technicians will have one last walk-through inspection to ensure that you’re satisfied with the results.

If you’re done cleaning your tile and grout the hard way, why not give The Steam Team a call? For more information on our many other services, visit The Steam Team website.

Disinfectant Electrostatic Cleaning From The Steam Team

Do you clean your home or business in the Austin area by yourself with standard house cleaners? If so, you’re probably doing a fine job, but you might not be able to achieve a complete clean. Thousands of harmful microbial organisms will still be lurking around, unless of course you call in The Steam Team. We have an anti-microbial process that involves a powerful disinfectant, light-activated coating and electrostatic application that will rid your property of these harmful organisms.

Our process will start with our technicians showing up to apply a mist-like EPA approved solution that is completely non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and safe for pets and children. This solution will be applied to every accessible surface in the building, and works on any material, porous or non-porous.

The thing that keeps most cleaners from dealing with germs effectively is the protective layer around the germ called the “biofilm”. The biofilm protects the germ and allows it to double every twenty minutes or so. Our process will break down this biofilm quickly, and without any toxic chemicals.

Our next step will be to use a powerful deodorizer. This will neutralize any traces of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, gasoline and formaldehyde, eliminating any odors that come with them such as the smell of cigarettes, pet urine, feces, skunk and decay.

The last step in the process is to ensure lasting protection for your newly disinfected property. That’s why our professionals will apply a microbiostatic antimicrobial coating to your surfaces, using our electrostatic spraying process, ensuring 90 days of protection. This coating will fight microbial growth and control bacteria and germs.

So if you need your home fully disinfected, you need The Steam Team’s process. For more information on electrostatic cleaning, steam cleaning, fire and water damage restoration, or any of our many other services, please visit The Steam Team website.

Marble Polishing 101: A Short Guide from the Experts

Have you ever heard of marble polishing? It’s a great way to change up the look of your marble! Marble may look sturdy and durable, but it’s actually quite delicate! Because marble is calcium-based, it’s prone to acid damage. This is why it’s important to take proper care of our marble surfaces and flooring. Below, we’ll delve into what marble polishing is, when you should have your marble polished, and finally, how The Steam Team can help!

What is Marble Polishing?

To put it simply, marble polishing helps to reverse the damage of wear and tear on your marble surfaces and flooring! The treatment that is used is pure and tested, and doesn’t involve any artificial coatings! It helps to bring back that shine you remember from your marble’s “younger days!”

As always, for best results, contact your local cleaning and restoration company (like The Steam Team) for a polishing you can trust, one that’s installed correctly and efficiently, and one that will last you a really long time!

When Should You Polish Your Marble?

So, when should marble be polished? Well, it’s pretty simple: just keep an eye out for dull spots or scratches. Or, when you’re cleaning your marble flooring or surface, is it difficult to keep it clean? If this is true, it may be time for a good old fashioned marble polishing, friends!

Until the professionals come out to polish your marble, keep it clean by dry dusting, mopping, and using only cleaning supplies that are safe for marble.

Call in the Professionals

Whenever you’re in doubt, or you know your marble is due for a thorough polishing, don’t hesitate to call in The Steam Team! We’re a team of trained professionals who have years of expertise on polishing marble and taking care of other types of natural stone! You can rely on us to get any job done efficiently and correctly.

How The Steam Team Can Help With Tile and Grout

Are you struggling to keep that tile and grout clean? Is it in your kitchen, bathroom, or everywhere? Well, you certainly have good reason to struggle; it can be difficult to keep tile and grout looking like new (like the way we want it, we mean). But luckily for you, we at The Steam Team have plenty of experience up our sleeves! We know what it takes to keep tile and grout looking clean all the time.

Why the Struggle?

Yes, it’s very hard to keep tile and grout looking the way we’d prefer it to look: bright and shiny, right? Grout stains easily or becomes discolored because it’s porous in nature, so it easily absorbs spills! But while it’s difficult to keep clean, it certainly isn’t impossible. All you need is a professional-grade steam cleaner, and a company who knows what they’re doing. Like us, The Steam Team!

How The Steam Team Can Help

So, how exactly can The Steam Team help you with your tile and grout? Well, our professional-grade equipment has enough power to effectively and efficiently extract dirt, grime, and other unwanted substances from deep within the pores of grout! And you know what the best part is? We’ll use nothing but hot water, and highly pressurized steam. It’s a completely safe, hassle-free process!

Give Us a Call Today

The Steam Team has been serving the Austin area for over a decade now, and isn’t stopping any time soon! We’re also available 24/7 if you’re ever in an emergency, like a flood, or a fire. We can start the cleanup process right away. So all in all, it’s perfectly safe to give us a call today if you’re in need of a thorough deep cleaning, or even emergency cleanup and restoration!

We truly mean it; The Steam Team is here to help. Don’t hesitate to give us a call ASAP!

Basic Rules to Keeping Carpet Clean

You know the struggle it can sometimes be to keep carpet clean. You knew it before you got into it. But you can’t help but fall in love with it’s soft, cushiony side, can you? We can’t! So instead of feeling frustrated over your flooring, here are five ways you can help keep your carpet clean!

Vacuum Regularly

It can’t be avoided, friends! Your carpet must be vacuumed at least once a week with a quality vacuum cleaner (to avoid the hassle, of course). However, if you carpet experiences more foot traffic on a regular basis, you may need to increase the vacuuming. But don’t worry; it isn’t that strenuous!

House Training: Do it Right

Pet owners, we’re looking at you! If you have a pet, make sure they’re housebroken properly. Do your research and don’t skip any steps! If you have a cat, make sure they have full access to a clean litter box at all times. Make sure Fido is walked first thing in the morning. There are so many things you can do to prevent pet stains and odors!

Utilize Rugs and Runners

Rugs and runners are a great way to spice up your living space, and also help protect carpet! If you have a stubborn stain you can try to hide it with a  rug as well, but we always recommend calling in the professionals for those types of stains!

Treat Stains Immediately

Ah, this one… This one, we can’t say enough! When a spill or accident happens, treat the stain immediately! Keep proper cleaning solutions on hand and stocked up, and of course make sure you have plenty of towels or paper towels, whichever you prefer. Remember friends: the quicker you treat a stain, the more likely it is to come up!

Call in the Professionals

Lastly, give The Steam Team a call! We’ll come out and clean up your carpet in no time! We have plenty of experience in cleaning and caring for carpet and other types of flooring. Never hesitate!

The Easiest Way to Clean Granite

Granite is the perfect material for many surfaces in our homes- from the kitchen, to bathrooms, and even the floors, it’s versatile and beautiful all-in-one. While undoubtedly durable, natural stone can sometimes be tricky to clean (and keep that way). That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the easiest ways to care for and clean your granite, no matter where it is!

Install a Sealant

Before you even get to cleaning, make sure your granite is sealed with a proper sealant before placing anything on top of it. A sealant will keep any spills from harming your stone or causing stains over time. Now, a sealant won’t last forever so you may need to re-apply a sealant if your granite has been around for several years.

Create A Cleaning Routine

We all know by now how important it is to clean your floors, furniture, and everything else regularly in order to keep it maintained and lasting as long as possible. When it comes to granite or any other natural stone, the process is no different. However, you want to find a cleaning solution that is specific to the stone you’re cleaning so as to not damage any part of your surfaces or flooring.

Use the Right Equipment

Scrubbing your counters with a hard scrub brush is probably not the best idea for natural stone. Instead, try grabbing a microfiber cloth or another type of fabric cloth to work your way through those spots and stains.

Whether you’re replacing your countertops or looking to freshen up your old ones, we’re here for you. Our team of experienced technicians has the equipment and the knowledge to finish the job- and finish it right! So, if you’re looking for installation or a good ‘ol deep cleaning, count on The Steam Team to get it done.

Marble Polishing 101: Call in the Professionals

Marble is a natural material that is used to produce beautiful kitchen countertops, tile floors, marble bathroom vanities, marble wall tile and even columns. If you have marble in your home, you probably want to do everything in your power to take the very best care of it and ensure that it stays clean and undamaged. If you follow our advice carefully, you’ll be able to do just that!

Why Professionals?

When it comes to any home cleaning, the job will almost always be done better with the help of professionals. This is especially the case when it comes to marble polishing. If you’re wondering why, it’s because marble can be rather tricky to clean and maintain.

When you’re cleaning or polishing other surfaces, you might be able to just buy any generic product or use your own DIY concoction, this is not the case with marble. That is because marble is more sensitive to acid than other surfaces, making it more sensitive to cleaning products and even some foods that contain acid like citrus products and sodas. Marble is also softer and more porous than other stone, meaning it scratches and etches much more easily than other surfaces might. For these reasons, marble requires great care- and you can never go wrong with a professional!

The Steam Team

When it comes to marble polishing, you won’t find anyone that does it quite like The Steam Team! Luckily for you and for your marble, The Steam Team has their own complete line of products for marble floor tile, marble countertops, marble vanities and even shower walls. These specialized products will be used carefully and thoroughly by the professionals to ensure that the job is done right.

When you call in The Steam Team, the most suitable method will be chosen according to the level of wear on your marble, and the professionals will take it from there; removing dirt, erasing stains and restoring the worn protective layer. If your marble needs polishing, call The Steam Team today!

How Do You Clean Natural Stone?

So you have beautiful natural stone flooring, eh? Do you know how to properly clean it? Don’t worry, we’re here to help as always! Below, The Steam Team will provide a few tips on simple, intermediate, and deep cleaning your natural stone flooring. Happy cleaning, everyone! It’s certainly the season for it!

Simple Cleaning

First, let’s start by performing a few simple cleaning tasks! This includes sweeping and some light mopping. If you’re using a vacuum instead of a broom, just make sure you’re not using one with cracked or broken wheels that could damage your flooring. You can mop with your trust cleaning solution and a bucket of warm water (as long as the solution has been approved for natural stone flooring). That’s easy enough, right?

Intermediate Cleaning

When we talk about intermediate cleaning, we mean stain removal, or grout cleaning! All too often our grout is neglected, or those stains are just left to stick. When it comes to stain removal, the number one thing you must remember is that your cleaning solution must be meant for natural stone.

Deep Cleaning

When it comes time to deep clean your natural stone flooring, it’s best to call in the professionals. A professional cleaning and restoration company like The Steam Team will have all of the right tools and equipment for the job! You won’t have to worry about potentially damaging your natural stone flooring because it’ll be in expert hands!

Don’t hesitate; give The Steam Team a phone call today and you won’t regret making the leap! We can do wonders to your natural stone flooring or surfaces! We’ll come out, inspect your home, and restore them to their original condition. You can trust us to do the job correctly the first time!

The Do's and Don't of Marble Flooring Maintenance

Choosing the flooring throughout your house is no easy feat- we know your decision was not made lightly. That’s why it’s important to care for your floors over their lifetime to ensure you get the most out of them for the longest period of time.

One of the most popular materials right now is marble- and for good reason, too. Marble adds a gorgeous look to any room and is relatively easy to clean, maintain, and even restore (if need be). However, just because it’s flat and hard like hardwood floors or tile- you don’t want to treat it the same way. Here are our best tips and tricks of the trade to keep your marble floors looking bright, shiny, and brand new!

Regular Maintenance

When it comes to marble flooring, the regular maintenance you do heavily relies on the tools you choose. Finding a broom that’s not too tough is important when you sweep and a duster that’s going to really capture everything it meets.

Preventing and Removing Stains

Preventing stains is relatively similar across any flooring, furniture, or fabric of any kind- you want to try and catch the spill as soon as it happens, wiping everything up immediately. This will keep any liquid from seeping into the flooring and staining.

In order to remove stains, there are several products on the market that are made specifically for marble flooring. If you’re unsure of which product to choose- give us, The Steam Team, a call. We’re happy to help.

Call The Steam Team

With decades of experience and tons of knowledge and expertise, The Steam Team is your leading choice of professionals for marble cleaning and polishing. We know exactly what we’re doing, and what’s more important- we’re here to serve you!

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!

Maintaining Natural Stone Flooring Over the Years

Over time, our natural stone floors begin to reflect the foot traffic and damage they’ve endured. We can’t avoid natural wear and tear, but we can certainly make the right steps when it comes to caring for and cleaning our natural stone flooring. Below you’ll find five easy peasy steps you can take that will hopefully improve the quality and aesthetic appeal of your flooring! The leader in Austin Texas for natural stone cleaning and sealing. 

Sweep and Mop Frequently

This can’t be avoided! Sweeping and mopping will help control the grit and grime that accumulates on your flooring.

Utilize Area Rugs and Door Mats

Rugs and mats help to catch dirt that clings to the bottom of our shoes- before it reaches our flooring. You’d be surprised at how much they help out!

Daily Spot Clean

Spot cleaning will cut down on the amount of work you have to do when you set out to sweep and mop. Use your trusty cleaning solution or a mild detergent.

Clean Up Stains, Drops, and Spills Immediately

We can’t stress this enough! Drops, spills, stains and accidents should be tended to immediately after they occur in order to keep your floor in tip top shape, and avoid etching and discoloration.

Steam Clean

And lastly… steam cleaning! Steam cleaning natural stone floors really helps to keep them looking new and well, clean! If your floors are in need of a deep cleaning, you know who to call: The Steam Team.

We hope these tips help you take superb care of your natural stone flooring! If you need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to call in The Steam Team Tile Cleaning! We can help clean and care for your flooring- even if it’s not natural stone. We have plenty of experience with carpet, hardwood, tile and grout, and many more types of flooring and surfaces! Give us a call today! 9901 Burnet Rd. Austin, Texas 78758.

The Best Way to Care for your Tile and Grout Austin Texas

High moisture areas, like our bathrooms for example, can be difficult to keep clean! Tile works great in these areas, but unfortunately, because of grout’s porous nature, it can stain easily, or become discolored. And to make matters worse, it’s typically a light color to begin with. So let’s discuss a few ways to keep high moisture areas clean, and that tile looking marvelous! We clean tile and grout all over Austin so if you need service give us a call. 

The Mopping Method

Sweeping and mopping are things that you’ll need to do frequently to prevent the buildup of dirt and grime. Incorporate these chores into your weekly routine and you’ll be much better off. When mopping, start with the mildest cleaning solution before moving onto stronger ones. Use your trusty mop, and work from the furthermost corner and outward. Some other services you might not be aware of that we offer are natural stone and marble cleaning. 

The Scrubbing Method

Now, it’s important to remember here to not use abrasive materials on your tile- or you’ll risk scratching it, which would be quite counterproductive. You’ll need a scrub brush, but not one that’s going to scratch your beautiful tile! Try to find something in between. And if this method doesn’t work out for you, move straight onto…

The Steam Cleaning Method

This is the best method for taking care of tile and grout! A professional grade steam cleaning machine can reach deep within the pores of grout and extract dirt and grime! And the best part is that it can do this without the use of chemicals. Nothing but hot water and high water pressure go into steam cleaning! It’s efficient and effective!

If your tile and grout is in need of a deep cleaning, or your whole bathroom, at that- don’t hesitate to call in your leading professional steam cleaning and restoration company in Austin, TX: The Steam Team! We have over a decade of experience cleaning homes and offices alike, and can’t wait to make your bathroom sparkle! Voted best tile cleaning company in Austin, Texas by the Austin Monthly Magazine. 

How Does Cleaning Effect Hardwood Flooring?

Do you have hardwood flooring in your home? Perhaps it’s cleaning day, and you’re wondering which method you should use! While we usually promote steam cleaning as the number one method of cleaning, we won’t be doing that this time around! In fact, hardwood flooring is a naturally absorbent material, and since steam cleaning uses a lot of water, it can cause a lot of damage. Let’s take a look at what exactly happens when we steam clean hardwood floors.

What is Steam Cleaning?

First, let’s explain how steam cleaning, or hot water extraction, is used to tidy up our homes. It uses nothing but hot water and extreme pressure to eradicate dirt, dust, grime- you name it! It extracts these nasty materials from many different types of flooring and surfaces- carpet, natural stone, tile, and even the infamous, hard-to-reach grout! It’s completely safe for the environment and won’t leave behind any residue at all. This is why we typically encourage you to steam clean your home!

How Does Steam Cleaning Effect Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood flooring is simply too absorbent! A steam cleaner’s vapor can reach deep down into cracks and crevices of flooring, but when it’s used on hardwood flooring, it can cause many problems in the future, such as warping, molding, or plumping. We certainly don’t want your beautiful hardwood floors to be damaged, so it’s wise to use a different method (and yes- even try to avoid steam cleaners that are “safe,” for hardwood floors; you just never know!).

If your floors are looking dull and your normal cleaning routine is no longer cutting it, contact The Steam Team! We have the best products available to clean and restore your hardwood floors to their original condition without harming them. So don’t hesitate- give us a call today!

All About Marble Polishing

Marble and Stone Cleaning

Perhaps the home you desire represents your personality, embodies your family core values, and welcomes your loved ones with open arms. When it comes to picking out the perfect materials to create this very atmosphere, options are plentiful. Do you dream of cozy wood floors or plush carpets? Dazzling tile, or stunning natural wood? While the choices seem endless, there’s one material that stands out amongst its competition: Marble.

Marble is a natural material formed from crystallized limestone. It is used in flooring, countertops, walls, columns, vanities, and more. It’s gorgeous, modern, and luxurious; one of the few downsides to installing marble is that it’s not as easy to clean and maintain as other materials.

Marble’s components make it extremely sensitive to acid and cleaning products. In addition to this marble is susceptible to scratches. Over time, it loses its luster and becomes dingy or scratched.

When cleaning marble tile or flooring, avoid cleaners which use bleach, lemon, or vinegar. Instead, you can try a mixture of warm water and diluted dish soap. This homemade mixture is both cost-efficient and gentle on the marble’s sensitive surface.

If you set out to use an all-purpose cleaner, remember to dilute with water, and to also check the label on the bottle! Make sure the label specifically states that the solution is safe to use on marble.

Though it can be difficult to care for, we encourage you to allow your dream of marble flooring and columns to flourish! This is easier done alongside the professionals. The Steam Team’s expertise and professional-grade equipment are no match for the scratches, blemishes, and flaws in your marble. It’s not just carpet, tile, and hardwood that we specialize in. We’re happy to inspect your marble floorings and restore them to their dazzling condition!

Stone Cleaning In Austin, TX

Stone Floor Cleaning In Austin, Texas

Marble has been used in art and architecture for millennia as a beautiful- yet strong and durable material. It is a type of metamorphic rock, which is a sedimentary rock—such as limestone—that has been transformed by heat and pressure in the earth. Marble is more rare than limestone, and therefore more expensive. It also has a finer grain, and can be highly polished, which contributes to its decorative appeal.   

Marble is also delicate, so if you are lucky enough to have it in your home, you are probably aware that it requires particular care to avoid damage. Here are a few reminders how to best care for marble.

Natural v.s. Cultured Marble

Before you determine a cleaning method, first check which type of marble you have. Natural marble is generally cooler to the touch, and will fizz in contact with a couple of drops of vinegar (wipe away the vinegar quickly!). In contrast, cultured marble is manufactured with a protective coating that makes it easier to care for and less likely to experience damage.  

If You Have Natural Marble…

Natural marble is very porous, so you must take care to avoid using cleaners with acidic ingredients. Marble also scratches easily, so don’t use anything abrasive, either, such as hard brushes or Comet. Instead use a pH neutral cleaning solution, such as ammonia or dish soap highly diluted with water, with a gentle mop.

Steam cleaning should also be a safe alternative cleaning method for your natural marble flooring, since it only uses water (no harsh chemicals) and doesn’t involve any scrubbing.       

Also be sure to clean up spills immediately before they seep in. If you clean your marble floor with water, dry it afterward with towels to avoid the water soaking in and staining the floor.

If you Have Cultured Marble…

Cultured marble is not as delicate as natural marble. You may use standard household cleaners, even those that contain acidic ingredients. You also don’t have to be as careful about accidentally scratching it! Whew!

Check with The Steam Team about how we can help you clean your marble flooring. With the right know-how and professional equipment, we’ll take the pressure off of how to treat your prized flooring!