How To Manage Pet Odors

There’s no denying that we absolutely love our cuddly pets. But sometimes, even for the most affectionate of pet owners, the smells that they leave behind can become a little overwhelming. Here are some tips to manage those odors, so you won’t scare off any of your human guests.

Dog Odor

If you’ve ever owned a dog, you’ll know they often leave a very distinct and nasty smell on things they rub against, especially if they're not bathed enough. The source of this smell left behind, especially on furniture, is usually from the hair that rubs off of them. So the first thing you’ll need to do is take the furniture apart and vacuum every part thoroughly (Pillows, blankets, cushions, etc). Get deep into the crevices of the furniture and remove all the hair. If it’s a mattress, flip it over and vacuum the other side as well. Also be sure to vacuum under the furniture, where hair usually accumulates over time. After you’ve done this, you can just use any pet odor remover found in a supply store.

What Not To Use

Whether you’re getting rid of urine smell or just dog smell, there are a few things you definitely should NOT use:

Bleach- This will disinfect, but won’t actually remove the odor in question. It can also be harmful to breathe, and even toxic for your pets.

Ammonia- Dog and cat urine actually have an ammonia odor. Therefore, ammonia will only intensify the smell. Also, make sure you never mix ammonia and bleach, as this can be fatal.

Homemade Remedies- People may suggest using things like vinegar, peroxide, dish detergent or baking soda. These may be somewhat effective, but won’t fully remove the odor.

Urine Odor

It may seem obvious, but the most effective way of removing any urine odor in a stained carpet is by removing and replacing that soiled area altogether. But if this is too difficult or costly, you can use an enzyme-based product that breaks down the bacteria and neutralizes the odor. These can be purchased online or in pet stores.

Professional Odor Treatment

If your home is riddled with stains and pet odors that seem like too much to handle, call The Steam Team and get those odors removed the right way!

Caring for Hardwood Floors: The Secret to A Longer Lifetime

Hardwood flooring looks beautiful in our homes, and lasts a long time, too! With the proper care, you can elongate the lifespan of your hardwood flooring! Here are three simple rules to caring for your hardwood the proper way! We hope you find them helpful!

Vacuum or Sweep Regularly

The first step to caring for your hardwood flooring is to vacuum and sweep. It’s important that you vacuum or sweep your floor on a routine basis. Doing so will surely catch all of the dust, dirt, and grime that builds up on your floor! So when chore day comes around, make sure you’re incorporating your hardwood flooring into the cleaning routine!

Place Area Rugs Around Your Home

Next, let’s talk about placing area rugs around your home. Area rugs help protect your flooring from regular wear and tear, caused by foot traffic. Simply put, they serve as a barrier between the soles of our feet and the hardwood flooring. They also add a touch of personality to the room!

Clean Spills and Spots Immediately

Finally, stain removal; let’s discuss what to do when an accident happens! As soon as an accident occurs (don’t we wish we could prevent them!), it’s important that you tend to it! Clean up spills and stains immediately. You can use a DIY concoction, or your favorite household cleaner, just as long as it’s safe for hardwood flooring! You wouldn’t want to cause even more damage by using the wrong cleaner.

If you need assistance caring for your hardwood flooring, don’t hesitate to give The Steam Team a call! We have over a decade of experience with a wide variety of cleaning and restoration projects! Hardwood flooring shouldn’t be steam cleaned, but we have plenty of experience refinishing it and restoring it to its original condition! So pick up the phone today!

3 Reasons to Call a Professional Cleaning and Restoration Company

Maybe you need some work done around the house, and you’re not sure who to call. Should you DIY the project, or call in a professional? Whatever your need is, we recommend calling in the pro’s for just about anything; after all, what could go wrong? Here are three reasons you should give The Steam Team a call whenever you’re in need.

We’ll Do it Right the First TIme

We’ll make sure the job is done right the very first time we set out to do it. There’s nothing worse than having to redo a project, or even a portion of one. Fortunately, The Steam Team doesn’t have that problem! Everything is done right the very first time.

We Won’t Make Any Mistakes

When you DIY a project, you run the risk of making a mess of the situation; it could happen to anybody. You never know. So hire a professional, who will make sure there aren’t any mistakes to be made! You can trust that The Steam Team knows exactly what we’re doing, and won’t make any mistakes- ever.

We’re Reliable and Trustworthy

The Steam Team has been assisting the Austin community for over ten years now! We have plenty of experience when it comes to any cleaning or restoration project. Our team of trained experts have no trouble at all tackling water damage, fire damage, deep cleaning, stain removal, or any other service!

Give The Steam Team Carpet Cleaning a call today and you won’t regret it. You’ll be highly impressed with our results; we guarantee it! So whatever it is- flood damage, or a pesky stain you can’t seem to remove, or even a hardwood floor that needs refinishing, hand it over to The Steam Team, and let us take care of it for you. We’re beyond happy to help out!