How Well Do Steam Cleaners Work On Non-Carpet Floors?

Austin Cleaning Companies

If you’ve used an Austin cleaner in your home, or paid for a carpet cleaning like us here at The Steam Team, then you don’t need us to tell you how great steam cleaning can be for your carpet. But what about the other types of flooring in your house? Will a steam cleaner work just as well?

Austin Steam Cleaning Tile?

Believe it or not, steam cleaners are great for a lot more than just carpet. Nothing fixes a dirty ceramic tile floor like a steam cleaner. The high pressure steam strips the floor of residue and chemicals left over by other household cleaning products. If you have any pets or children that spend a lot of time on the floor, it’s very important to keep these harmful chemicals off of your tile. To use a steam cleaner on a ceramic floor, first do a thorough sweep of the floor to pick up all the larger pieces of dirt and debris. Then just add the water, place the microfiber cleaning cloth on the unit’s cleaner head, plug the machine in, and you’re ready to go! We also handle all types of restoration including water and fire damage in Austin, Texas

Austin Steam Cleaning Hard Surface Floors?

While steam cleaners work great on tile, hardwood floors aren't’ quite as simple.  It depends very much on what kind of steam cleaner you get, as well as the condition of your floor. If you are going to steam clean your hardwood, make sure to only purchase a steam cleaner that is advertised to be used on hardwood. Then, you will notice that there is a warning on the steam cleaner that says to only use it on floors that have been properly sealed. To test the seal on your floor, place a drop of water on it. If it is immediately up, then the seal is intact and your floor can withstand the steam. If the water spreads out or sinks into the wood, DO NOT attempt to use a steam cleaner on your floor. Check out our recent projects.

For more information on steam cleaning and professional steam cleaning services, be sure to contact us at The Steam Team!

House Fires & Soot: Damage Restoration by the Professionals

When the colder months blow through, many of us begin to light fires in our homes or outdoors. While most of these fires are contained, they can get out of hand sometimes, especially if not built and watched properly. House fires can be costly and devastating to our homes and families- in fact, nearly 15,000 people were injured from fires in 2016 that cost roughly $10.6 billion in property damage. And, not only that, like any natural disaster, fires leave a long lasting effect on our homes. After the fire trucks leave, we return to our homes to find the stench of smoke and water, the visual impact of fire, and of course, soot. Soot everywhere.

Removing soot after a fire is an extremely difficult task- both dry and oily soot cling to the walls, floors, ceilings, and other surfaces around the home. So what’s the best way to get soot out of your home? Today we’re going to tell you three ways that we, The Steam Team, take care of your home following a fire.

Cleaning the Walls and Ceilings

Taking care of your walls and the structure of your home following a fire is of utmost importance. First and foremost, determining what kind of soot is where will help you to decide the best method of cleaning. With dry soot, you’ll be able to vacuum the areas it covers- but on the other hand, with oily soot, you’ll need to use a degreasing agent in order to fully remove its remnants.

Start with the walls first, working through them one small area at a time and leave the ceilings for last.

Professional Tips for Furniture and Floors

The best way to begin caring for your flooring and furniture after fire damage is with a mild soap, washing the soot away. If you’re dealing with more extensive damage, it’s best to call in the professionals because when soot is left behind it can be harmful.

The Steam Team has been serving the Austin area through thick and thin for several years now. Give us a call any time!

5 Ways to Protect Your Carpet Cleaning

Carpet looks great in our homes and offices, but it definitely requires some TLC on the regular to keep it looking great! Below you’ll find several tips on keeping your carpet safe and protected. The Steam Team has been cleaning rugs in Austin for over 40 years. Call us today at 512-451-8326.

Utilize Door Mats

Door mats were invented for a very great purpose! They help catch dirt from the outside and on our shoes, and prevent it from reaching our beautiful carpet. Keep a door mat at each entrance to your home and you’ll be surprised at the impact it makes (just don’t forget to clean the mat itself every once in awhile)!

Remove Shoes at the Door

An impressive amount of dirt, dust, and debris cling to our shoes as we walk about. All of that debris can really take a toll on our carpet- if we let it. Another option is to leave our filthy shoes at the entrances to our homes, so that it doesn’t even have a chance to reach our carpet!

Vacuum Frequently

We simply can’t get around vacuuming and sweeping our floor! It has to be done at least once a week, depending on the amount of traffic your carpet experiences. If you have pets or children, expect to clean a little bit more frequently.

Use a Carpet Protector

Carpet protection works by repelling dirt, and by protecting it from spills and stains. It also helps to prevent wear and tear on your carpet and increases its longevity!

Call in The Steam Team!

Lastly, call the professionals. The Steam Team is your leading cleaning and restoration company in Austin, TX, and we have over a decade of experience taking care of this city! We don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. So if your carpeting is in need of some professional attention, absolutely do not hesitate to give us a call!

Cleaning Up After Smoke and Fire Damage Austin Texas

Fire Damage

Fires are devastating all around; this is only one reason as to why the professionals should come help with the cleanup! After the firefighters leave, this potentially dangerous process begins, and there are a few things you should be aware of when dealing with a crisis like this. Of course the fire was the main danger, but what’s left behind can be detrimental to the safety of your home, and those who live in it. Visit our office at 9901 Burnet Rd. Austin, Tx 78758 for tips on repairing your home or business. 

Here’s what you should do right after the firefighters leave:

Call the Professionals Immediately

This is no DIY task; the professionals need to be called out to your home immediately after a fire. They’ll know what to do, and they’ll have the correct tools and equipment for the job. DON’T hesitate- call a cleaning and restoration company ASAP (like The Steam Team).

Call the Insurance Company

The insurance company needs to come out and evaluate the area, make estimates, and speak with you.

Follow Safety Guidelines

Be safe out there! Wear a dust respirator (safety mask) to protect yourself against dust, smoke, and other dangerous substances in the air. Smoke will immediately begin to settle onto furniture and surfaces, so you’ll want to be safe and protected while surveying the area.

Ventilate the Area

Box fans are great for this. Open windows and set box fans facing outward, so that they blow smoke and contaminated air out the windows!

Rely on The Steam Team

For over a decade, The Steam Team has been helping homeowners take back their homes after fire and smoke damage. We know exactly what to do, and we have the equipment for it, too! We’re available around the clock, and we’ll get the job done in a timely, efficient manner. Don’t panic- just give us a call!

Fire Damage Restoration: The Insurance Process

The Steam Team Helping Install Fire Alarms

When you and your home or place of business are victims of fire damage, the recovery process can be overwhelming. One of the first things you’ll need to do is contact your home insurance company to discuss how to proceed—and ASAP, to prevent further damage to belongings that could potentially be saved. We’ve compiled some tips for communicating with your insurance company during the claims process.  

Leave a trail

Document everything! Have a mindset of gathering proof or evidence, in case any challenges come up later. Confirm updates on your claim or any promises made over the phone by sending a quick follow-up email or letter.   

Be polite and proactive

Everything goes into the company’s records, so no matter how frustrated or justified you feel, refrain from saying or writing anything that would make you come across uncooperative or the cause of any delays or problems. And don’t make the insurance company a target of your venting emotions related to your loss. Instead, be proactive about staying in touch and offering proof of your losses.  

Stay organized

Keep a separate folder, notebook, and/or binder of all paper mail and printouts, and organize any related electronic communications in a separate folder in your inbox. Also, keep a diary of when you spoke with your insurance company, to track info and jog your memory should you need to look back.

Cleanup and restoration are going to require professional help, so you’ll want your insurance company on your side. After speaking with your insurance, you will need to hire a company that can take care of the fire and water damage. It’s important to act fast to minimize permanent damage. The Steam Team offers restoration services 24/7 within 24–48 hours of a fire. Call the emergency line at 800-880-7785, and we will send out a restoration professional to assess the extent of the fire or water damage and provide you with an estimate of costs.   

Commercial Cleaning: Keeping Your Restrooms Clean

Commercial Cleaning The Steam Team

Restrooms can sometimes be a harsh reality. In order to continuously keep commercial restrooms clean and sanitary, it’s likely that you’ll have to implement systems or bring in outside help.

Bringing in Outside Help

Deep Cleaning

One of the most common complaints with cleaning high-traffic restrooms is keeping the tile and grout clean. In some cases, this could on the floor, backsplash, or even countertops. Grout can be especially difficult to clean around moisture, but steam cleaning will undoubtedly do the trick.

Targeting Trouble Areas

Of course the tile and grout aren’t the only areas that need attention around the bathroom - especially with how damage-prone the environment already is (from the constant waterflow). Cleaning around the bathroom becomes much more efficient when you target the sinks, floors, counters, toilets, trash cans, etc.

Additionally, if you take preventive measures to keep these target areas from collecting grime, you’ll find that a deep clean can turn a sort-of clean restroom into a room that looks brand-spanking-new!

Cover Every Surface

Last, but certainly not least, don’t leave any surface behind! When you make sure to touch every surface before leaving the restroom, you’re guaranteed a spotless environment.

Now, remember when we talked about bringing in outside help? That’s really the secret to ensuring that your commercial restrooms are continuously spotless. It’s not as daunting as you may think - in fact, it’ll take a huge stress off of your shoulders!

Are you looking for a commercial cleaning company? We’d love to take a look at your office! Give us a call, here at The Steam Team, today.

Leather Furniture Lasts! Here's How.

maid service

Outfitting your home in leather furniture has a few obvious perks: leather is aesthetically appealing, comfortable, and durable. And best of all, leather furniture can last a long time! With proper care and conditioning, you can elongate its life span, and it really doesn’t require a lot of elbow grease. We’re here to show you how simple the process can be. The proper cleaning and conditioning not only helps keep your furniture looking wonderful, but it will also prevent damage from everyday occurrences or beloved small children and pets. And as always, The Steam Team is standing by with specialized technicians who have the expertise and equipment to handle any type of leather!

When caring for your leather furniture, you’ll want to start by dry dusting on a regular basis. Use a dry cloth or sponge to remove dust and dirt, and a vacuum attachment to reach corners and crevices. Clean spills immediately to keep the furniture from staining, but avoid using products that are not designed for leather material (yes, even the “all purpose,” cleaners). Also avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight; this will easily dry out the material and cause it to crack!

Conditioning your leather periodically will help keep its elasticity in optimal shape. However, when caring for such a high quality material, you’ll want to be as careful as possible. Since each type of leather is different from the rest, it may be wise to contact a professional to find out which specific cleaner you should use. Using the wrong cleaner could potentially worsen the condition of the material, as well as deepen any stains that you might’ve tried to remove.

So if you’re considering furnishing your new living room with leather sofas and loveseats but are intimidated by the upkeep, remember that you can have the beautiful, long lasting living room of your dreams; it only requires a regular routine of cleaning and conditioning. And better yet, this process can be taken care of for you by a professional cleaning company. Don’t hesitate to contact The Steam Team for advice on making your leather furniture  last beyond its lifespan!