What is Black Mold?

Have you ever heard of black mold? Black mold is a type of toxic mold that is commonly referred to as black mold, or Stachybotrys Chartarum. It’s usually the result of water damage, and can be horribly toxic for anyone living in the environment around it! Now let’s talk about how to detect and get rid of it!

How to Detect Black Mold in Your Home

So how do you spot this pesky menace around your home? Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to detect black mold in your home; you can see it! You can also smell it. It has a moldy, mildewy scent. You’ll definitely know it when you see it or that musky scent reaches your nostrils.

Black mold is also notorious for causing health problems to varying degrees. For example, it can lead to breathing and respiratory problems, headaches, asthma attacks, excessive coughing and sneezing, and many more symptoms! That’s why it’s so important to take care of it immediately upon discovery. Contact a professional cleaning and restoration company ASAP; you won’t regret it.

How to Rid Your Home of Black Mold

How do you rid your home of black mold? Because black mold is so dangerous, you should let the professionals handle the situation! Only a professional cleaning and restoration company will have the proper equipment and knowledge for the job. And you definitely want to act as soon as possible, for the sake of your home and health.

Mold is Serious: Rely on The Steam Team

The Steam Team has all of the right tools, equipment, experience, and expertise for any mold remediation situation! Simply give us a call today; we’ll come out to your home, give it a thorough look over, and begin to remedy the situation right away! You’ll be amazed (and quite frankly, relieved) at our results!

How Steam Cleans Your Carpet Effectively and Efficiently

Have you ever considered steam cleaning your home instead of using other methods? It can be easier on the body, the mind, and on your home as well! Steam cleaning provides a chemical-free clean for your carpets that you can trust. And the best part is that you can let the professionals, like The Steam Team, do everything for you!

Steam cleaning…

Cleans Without Using Chemicals

Let’s start with a major perk: Steam cleaning doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals at all! Not only does this save you tons of money on cleaning supplies, but it also means that your home will be healthier once The Steam Team leaves. This is especially a bonus for family members who may have allergy problems!

Pulls Dirt, Dander, and Grime from Your Carpets

Is your carpet feeling a bit grody? A professional grade steam cleaner will effortlessly lift dust, dirt, dander, grime, and more from deep within your carpet fibers. It can even remove both old and new stains from your carpet! Just give it a shot; we think you’ll be blown away by a steam cleaner’s results- especially when compared to those of simply vacuuming!

Trust in The Steam Team for Your Carpet Needs

The Steam Team has over a decade of experience with dealing with carpet cleaning and sanitization! You can definitely rely on our team of experts to come out and inspect your home, and then give it a good, thorough cleaning!

We’ve been serving the beautiful city of Austin, TX for over a decade now, and we don’t plan on quitting anytime remotely soon! So go ahead, pick up the phone, and give us a call today! We can come out, clean your carpets effectively and efficiently, and provide you with a feeling you haven’t felt on your floors since they were brand new!

Maintaining the Longevity of Leather

Leather furniture can really add an incredible appeal to a room- and that’s not its only benefit, either. Leather is one of the strongest and longest lasting materials used to upholster furniture, but it’s also the most involved. By that, we mean it requires a little more maintenance (although different maintenance than other fabrics). Here at The Steam Team, we’ve set out to help you maintain your leather furniture so that it lasts as long as possible, and looks as if you’ve just bought it. Just follow this quick guide to leather maintenance and you’ll be good to go!

Wipe Down and Dust

The easiest (and best) way to regularly clean your leather furniture is with a dry microfiber cloth. It’s cheap- you probably already have one laying around your house- and quick! All you need to do is wipe down any exposed area to make sure there isn’t any dust or other particles collecting on the material.

For larger messes, you can use the attachment from your vacuum cleaner for another quick and easy cleanup. This is also the easiest way to reach those difficult, small spaces like cracks and crevices in the corners.

Be Wary of Products

Other than regularly wiping down your leather furniture, you want to be extremely wary of what products you choose to clean it with. Leather is sensitive, so using anything harsh can damage the material. In fact, the best thing to do is keep away from cleaning products in general when it comes to your leather furniture. The only product you need is conditioner- to keep the material completely moisturized through the years.

Keeping your leather upholstery clean and conditioned will help to optimize its elasticity, help it last much longer, and of course, help it to look inviting to not only you, but any house guests you have over! And don’t forget- if you find yourself in over your head with your leather furniture, we here at The Steam Team are always available to help you out.

5 Ways To Prevent House Fires

You’ve heard the stories from someone you know, or at least seen someone tell their story on tv. It started out of nowhere, then- before they knew it- countless amounts of money in damage, irreplaceable items lost, and sometimes even loved ones gone. House fires are NO JOKE! In fact, there are about 365,500 house fires in the U.S. every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. On average, 7 people die in U.S. house fires every day. If you want to keep your home and loved ones safe, it is critical that you follow these 5 tips.

Smoke Alarms

This one should be a no-brainer. Smoke alarms are absolutely essential for keeping your home safe. Make sure you install at least one on every level of your home and inside all the bedrooms in the house.

Battery Changes

Having smoke alarms is great, as long as you alway remember to make sure they’re working. Test the smoke alarms once per month, and if the batteries are dead, replace them.

Checking The Home

Be sure to check certain systems in your home regularly. You may even want to hire a professional to ensure that your home is thoroughly inspected. The things you should regularly check include; the condition of your home’s electrical system, the natural gas/LP gas system in your home, and the air conditioning and heating units in your home.

Kitchen Safety

One of the most common causes of house fires is something going wrong in the kitchen. To ensure your safety in the kitchen, follow these practices: When you’re cooking on a stove and need to leave the stove for a minute or two, turn it off rather than letting it cook unattended. Don’t cook while under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, or if you’re tired. Also, ensure that no clothes or rags are left on or near a burner.

Safe Use of Wires

Faulty wiring and outlets are one of the top causes of house fires. So make sure your wires and outlets are working properly. Do not attempt to plug or unplug anything if your hands are wet. Also, don’t pinch or cover electrical cords with items like rugs.

If all of the above steps are followed, and the unthinkable fire still occurs, remember that The Steam Team has fire damage restoration experts awaiting your call.

How To Avoid Carpet Shrinkage

Our carpets are made up of fibers that- over time- actually end up shrinking in certain conditions. A shrinking carpet is not an easy eyesore to cover up, but it is something you can avoid. First, let’s start with the basics.

What Causes Carpet to Shrink?

There’s not one thing that causes carpet shrinkage. In fact, there are several mistakes you may make that could be inadvertently damaging your carpet. For example, carpet can shrink if there’s excess water on it for too long of a time (this usually happens when soaking carpet to remove stains). On the flip side, how you end up drying the carpet following cleanup can affect the fibers, too. Water temperature can be another factor- among many others- causing your carpet fibers to shrink. Now, let’s see how we can prevent these occurrences and keep our carpet in its best condition!

How To Avoid Shrinking Your Carpet

First thing’s first: hire a professional carpet cleaning company. We’re not just saying that because we’re The Steam Team, we’re saying that because it’s really true. Do your research and find the most knowledgeable cleaning company out there to handle your carpet.

Our trained technicians have extensive experience working with carpeting, ensuring that the fibers are treated with the right temperature of water and the floors are dried accurately so as to not damage them in any way.

Besides calling in the professionals, be careful what you choose to clean your carpet with before they come. Sometimes, when it comes to stains, homeowners will attempt to use various cleaning products to remove the stain from their carpets before giving up and calling in the professionals afterward. Be wary of this- mixing products or using harsh products in general can often damage your carpet fibers. Check out our other blogs on caring for your carpet if you need any other tips and tricks!

Restoring Water Damage from Overflow by the Professionals

Flooding occurs in all kinds of places from your home to your workplace. No matter its size, water damage is both dangerous and difficult to handle. The Steam Team has been voted best in Austin, TX for cleaning and restoration services. We’re available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, to help with anything from carpet and tile cleaning, to overflow cleanup.

Whether a pipe burst, an appliance broke, or a plumbing fixture is overflowing- we’re here to help you with your water damage restoration.

Plumbing Overflow

Plumbing overflow is never fun to deal with- who wants to think about all of that bacteria, anyway? That’s why we’re here. Our professional technicians ensure that any plumbing overflow is removed, sanitized, and your home is restored to its original condition.

Appliance Leaks & Overflow

As far as flooding goes, this one is pretty common. Appliances often pose a risk for flooding when not properly maintained. It’s not just our kitchen appliances that can cause water damage to our homes. Don’t forget about your washing machine, AC unit, and your water heater. That’s right- it’s best to routinely monitor any appliances that hold or filter water- but, of course, we know how quickly and easily life takes over. It can be easy to forget about those potential leaky appliances… until we’re calling The Steam Team, right?

Call in the Professionals

Our team of trained professionals will assess the damage, and offer assistance with whatever may be causing the overflow. Once the leak is repaired and the water is extracted, we’ll thoroughly clean, sanitize, and dry the area with our professional-grade equipment. Problem solved! The Steam Team is ready and willing to help you cleanup any type of overflow and water damage, regardless of the cause. Give us a call today for any of your restoration needs!

Combat Allergies in Austin with HVAC Cleaning

With the Spring months in the (very) near future, we all know what that means for us living in the city of Austin… allergies. The rain we’re experiencing now is just stirring up all of those allergens in the air, causing the mold count to rise among many others. Have you been walking around sniffing or blowing your nose all day? Even if you stay inside, it still feels like you can’t escape the tiny particles that seem to be everywhere. There is one thing around the house (and office) that you can do to help your allergies; check and clean those air ducts.

Air Duct Cleaning

While it might not seem like a common cleaning solution, our air ducts often harbor thousands upon thousands of particles. Between dust, dirt, allergens, feces, among other bacteria- the air you’re breathing everyday could be a major factor in your allergies and even your overall health.

When’s the last time you had your HVAC or air ducts cleaned? Don’t be ashamed if it takes you a while to answer that question, but think about it-

A good, professional, deep cleaning for your air ducts can actually help to alleviate these kinds of allergy symptoms. Here at The Steam Team, we use state of the art “source removal” equipment to remove all of these allergens and pollutants from the air inside your home.

After Cleaning Your Air Ducts...

You’ll enjoy a cleaner, fresher air quality which will also increase the efficiency of your HVAC system. With clean air ducts, the air will be able to flow more freely through the system without all the dust and debris in the way, meaning your system doesn’t have to work as hard.

A thorough, professional air duct cleaning is always recommended at least annually (depending on the size of your home, occupants, pets, etc.) to ensure high quality air and as good maintenance for your HVAC system. Contact us at The Steam Team today!

An In-Depth Guide to Properly Refinishing Your Hardwood Floor

With hardwood floors coming back in style, you might be thinking about having it refinished. If so, follow this guide and your hardwood floor will look better than ever!

Set-up And Materials

Before you begin, it’s important to check the entire floor first. If there are any gaps in the floor where nails are visible, don’t bother trying to refinish it at all. You’ll also want to take a look at the thickness of the wood. Some newer hardwood floors are only about ¼ inch thick. If you have a floor like this, it can’t be sanded at all or you might wear through the whole floor!

Refinishing an entire hardwood floor is a big job, and you’ll need a lot of materials. We won’t list them all here, but be sure to do a quick internet search and write down a list of all the materials you’ll need.

Cleaning And Sanding

First, cut the flooring into sections to remove the top layer of flooring, revealing the hardwood underneath. Then clean the floor thoroughly, removing as much dirt and debris as possible. Make sure there are no protruding nail heads that could tear the sandpaper. Cover up any doors or areas of the house that dust could fly into while you’re sanding. Then, attach a 20-grit sandpaper to your sander and begin sanding the entire floor thoroughly. Then, go over your work again with the edge sander, and finally with a power buffer. After you’ve sanded the entire floor three times, use an industrial-grade vacuum to get rid of the dust particles.

The Finish

Now that you’re done sanding and cleaning, it’s time for the big finish. Choose whatever sealant you prefer for the job, and start applying it all around the perimeter of the room. When the perimeter is finished, apply the sealant to the rest of the floor. Allow the sealant to dry for 24 hours, buff it with the power buffer, vacuum, and then finally, apply a second coat of sealant with the same procedure as before, and then you’re done!

While DIY’s can often be effective and save you money, it’s also important to remember that no one can do the job quite like The Steam Team!

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!

The Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a main choice among homeowners for its aesthetic appeal, and other benefits. We’ll go over hardwood floorings pros and cons to help you decide which type of flooring you’d like installed in your own home!

The Pro’s:

Maintenance

For the most part, it’s pretty easy to care for hardwood flooring. They’re durable and can last a long time if cared for properly. And typically proper care means sweeping vacuuming, and polishing with a wood cleaner. Easy peasy!

Value

Did you know that homes with hardwood floors tend to sell faster and easier than homes with carpeting? It’s true! Buyers are willing to pay the most for homes with hardwood flooring installed.

Style Options

Hardwood flooring looks great with all types of decorating, and matches any color scheme! Hardwood floor is also available in many different styles itself, from oak, to cherry, and others. You’ll have no problem finding a style you adore for your home.

The Con’s:

Noise

Simply put, hardwood floor can unfortunately be very noisy. This is especially true if you’re on the second or third floor of an apartment, living with a pet! But don’t worry; there are things we can do to muffle the sound. Place area rugs around your home; these are especially helpful for changing the look of a room, or providing cushioning to family members who are prone to falling (like children).

Cost

Well friends, unfortunately, installing wood flooring is a costly option. And it’s no project to DIY; often it involves the help of professionals, so labor costs will increase your overall bill.

Requires Occasional Refinishing

Occasionally, floors will need to be refinished. Once they’ve been scuffed or scratched, or have started to fade, they’re ready for a refinishing! This is also a con because hiring a professional company to refinish your hardwood floors could be costly.

Contact The Steam Team for all of your hardwood flooring needs! We have all of the right equipment needed for the job, and you’ll love our results!

3 Ways to Blast Bacteria from Your Home

The winter is notorious for the spreading of germs and bacteria; you probably know this, because you’ve probably been sick this season! So quick- grab your pencil, and get ready to take some notes! Here are three ways to blast bacteria from your home, and provide a healthier, cleaner environment for yourself and your family!

Furniture Cleaning

It’s all about reaching into those nooks and crannies in your furniture. Underneath the cushions, too! You can use the attachment on your vacuum cleaner to vacuum upholstered furniture, and don’t forget to vacuum underneath the furniture, as well! Furniture requires a thorough job; we know you have it in you!

HVAC Cleaning

Have you tested your air ducts lately? Oftentimes they need to be cleaned before we know it! Give the professionals a call (like The Steam Team) and we’ll be out in a jiffy to inspect and clean your air ducts! Feel like having clean, healthy air to breathe in? Give The Steam Team a call to clean your air ducts.

Floor Cleaning

Lastly, the floor. Let’s tackle that flooring! Whether it’s tile and grout, or granite and/or natural stone, we can help you keep it clean! The Steam Team has plenty of experience cleaning and caring for all types of flooring. And believe us- this cuts way down on bacteria! So much gunk and grime hides in our flooring, and we walk all over it all day long- yuck!

No matter what area of the home needs cleaning, The Steam Team can tackle it all! We’re your leading steam cleaning company in Austin, TX, and we’ve been helping out this beautiful city for over a decade now! Why stop? Give us a call today! We’ll come out, inspect your home, and then clean it until it’s in tip top shape again- and bacteria free!

Sprucing Up for Spring: Tackling Your Whole Home With One Method

Even though it’s still chilly outside, springtime is just around the corner- at least, we hope so. With the spring, we know comes spring cleaning, and we often sit around pondering which method of cleaning we should use throughout the house. Steam cleaning is the smartest option, as it can clean just about your entire home, using nothing but hot water and high water pressure!

The Kitchen

Let’s start in the kitchen. Does your kitchen have pesky tile and grout? We know it’s difficult to keep clean; that’s why we recommend steam cleaning! A steam cleaner can effortless reach deep within the pores of grout, and the surface of tile, and extract all that grime that causes discoloration and staining. Your kitchen will look brand new!

The Bathroom

When it comes to cleaning the bathroom, tile and grout are often our main nemesis. But since we’ve covered how we can help with that, let’s discuss countertops, toilets, sinks, and showers! All can be steam cleaned. Dust, dirt, grime, and soap scum will plague your bathroom no more! And it’s completely safe for your environment; steam cleaning doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals!

The Living Room

In the living room, a steam cleaner can help remove stains on upholstered furniture, carpeting, and can also even help clean window blinds and draperies (we don’t even have to remove the blinds from where they hang)! Dust, dirt, and stains are absolutely no match for a professional-grade steam cleaning company!

So you see, steam cleaning is a very versatile method of cleaning, and that’s why it’s superior among all of the other methods! No matter which area of your home needs a thorough deep cleaning, The Steam Team has you covered! Just give us a call today and we can help you with your spring cleaning!

Tackling Tile and Grout With Steam Cleaning

We all know that tile flooring can be difficult to keep clean, but let’s not lose hope, friends! Have you ever steam cleaned your tile and grout? You’d find that it’s the perfect method for tackling tile and grout, no matter how dirty it is! Let’s discuss tile flooring and how to keep it clean; there are three methods that we can lay out, but ultimately, steam cleaning is your best option!

Method #1: Scrubbing

Scrubbing is the most difficult of methods for cleaning tile flooring. It involves a lot of manpower and energy, which we don’t always have! But if you must, use your favorite tile and grout cleaner or a DIY concoction to spray onto the tile and grout, and get to scrubbin’!

Method #2: Sweeping and Mopping

Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping are essential for keeping tile flooring clean! Just make sure you’re using a cleaning solvent that’s proven effective for tile flooring, and you’re good to go. And of course, sweep/vacuum before you mop! Your floors will look so much better when you’re finished, but nothing beats the results you would get from steam cleaning!

Method #3: Steam Cleaning

Unfortunately, the above methods will never provide you with the results you would achieve through hiring a professional cleaning company. Steam cleaning is the best and most effective method for cleaning tile and grout, and it’s also the easiest on your body (especially if you hire the professionals- you won’t even have to lift a finger!).

The Steam Team is proud to offer you our expert services! We’ve been helping tile and grout to stay super clean for over a decade now! You’re bound to be impressed with our results. So for professional tile and grout cleaning that will absolutely blow you away, contact The Steam Team today!

How Do You Clean Furniture?

ow 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 Care for Area and Area Rugs

Ah, our area and oriental rugs… sometimes we use them to cover those gross, unsightly stains, and sometimes they’re family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation. Either way, they look lovely in our homes, and they need to be deep cleaned occasionally. But how do you clean your rugs? Well, let’s take a stab at answering that question today!

Cleaning Area and Oriental Rugs

Here’s how the process works when you call The Steam Team to take care of your area or oriental rug! First, we use our expert knowledge to inspect your textiles. Just by looking at the fibers and dyes involved in your carpets, we can tell which cleaning type we need to use. Then, using a pile lifter and vacuum, we’ll remove soil and dirt from the fibers of the rugs. Finally, we’ll perform a final inspection to make sure we’ve thoroughly cleaned your rugs! We won’t leave until they look brand new.

You Can Trust The Steam Team

Through a process that we’ve been practicing for over a decade now, The Steam Team can remove dirt, dust, allergens, debris, and stains from your area and oriental rugs! Just think about it: these substances cling to the carpet fibers in our rugs. Our children play on them, our pets nap on them, and we walk on them all day long (which, grossly pushes clouds of dust into the air!). It’s important to keep your area and oriental rugs clean- for the sake of cleanliness, and for your health! But don’t worry- The Steam Team is always here to help!

You can rely on The Steam Team to properly clean your area and oriental rugs! For over a decade now, we’ve been cleaning rugs in the Austin area. And don’t worry; we know exactly what we’re doing, and have the perfect tools for the job (they’ll be gentle and safe for your precious rugs)!

Why Start Carpet Cleaning?

As you begin to plan out your spring cleaning ritual, why not consider steam cleaning? There are many benefits to this type of cleaning; we can’t wait to tell you all about them! Below, you’ll find five reasons to start steam cleaning now!

It’s Completely Safe for the Environment

Steam cleaning doesn’t involve the use of chemicals at all. The only things it uses are hot water, and high water pressure! With nothing but steam, it efficiently cleans, sanitizes, and removes stains from flooring, upholstery, and more.

It’s Easy and Efficient

Finally, no more scrubbing on your hands and knees! No more unwieldy dusters. A steam cleaning machine effortlessly removes dirt, dust, and debris from just about any surface! You can even clean your window blinds without having to remove them!

It’s Safe for Pets

For some (or most) of us, our pets are like our children. We want them kept safe and healthy! While some cleaning chemicals may be harmful to animals, steam cleaning isn’t! Simply because it doesn’t use chemicals in the first place!

It Kills Germs and Bacteria

Is it that time of year again? Is the stomach bug spreading around? Steam cleaning kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria! So you can rest assured that your home is properly cleaned and sanitized.

It Can Be Done By Professionals

A professional steam cleaning company, like The Steam Team, will have all of the right equipment (and expertise!) for any job. They’ll save you the time and effort of cleaning your home; all you have to do is make a phone call!

Did you know that The Steam Team is available 24/7? We sure are! Contact us for all of your cleaning needs; we’d love to come help out! We can restore your home to its original condition!

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!

How Can You Know What Cleaning Products Are Harmful?

These days, it can be somewhat difficult to know if the products you use to clean are actually safe for you and the loved ones in your home. In fact, according to a study by The Environmental Working Group, 53 percent of cleaning products contain lung-harming ingredients. So the question is, what can you do to identify which products are safe to use?

Look Out For These Toxic Chemicals

If any of your cleaning products contain the following chemicals, you might want to think twice about using them:

Phthalates -- These can be found in many fragranced household products like air fresheners, dish soap, and even in toilet paper! If the product says “fragrance”, it likely contains phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors.

Perchloroethylene or “PERC” -- This is a neurotoxin, and possible carcinogen that can be found in most carpet and upholstery cleaners.

Triclosan -- Another possible carcinogen that can be found in most dishwashing detergent and hand soap labeled “antibacterial”.

Ammonia -- This is a very powerful irritant that has been known to cause chronic bronchitis and asthma after prolonged inhalation. Unfortunately, ammonia can be found in most polishing agents and glass cleaners.

DIY Alternatives

Luckily for you, there are safer ways to keep your home clean. We’ll list a few for you here:

For carpet cleaning; mix 3 cups water, ¾ cup vegetable-based liquid soap, and 10 drops peppermint essential oil. Then rub the foam into the carpet with a damp sponge, let the spot dry, and then vacuum!

Instead of regular laundry soap, you can try “soap nuts”. They’re made from the dried fruit of the Chinese soapberry tree. They’re available online and in some natural grocery stores. They come in a cotton sack that goes into the washing machine with the clothes.

Rather than using furniture polish, try a microfiber cloth. You can even use a little olive oil as a polishing agent.

Keep in mind, in this article we have only listed a few of the cleaning products that may contain toxic chemicals, as well as only a few healthier alternatives. For a more in-depth idea of what’s in your cleaning products, call a professional from The Steam Team and feel free to ask!

How Carpet Padding Benefits Your Carpet Over Its Lifetime

For homeowners, carpet is an investment. We want our carpet to last as long as possible. Luckily, there are many things we can do to help elongate its lifespan! In addition to generally keeping it clean and taken care of, you can also install carpet padding! Carpet padding has a number of benefits to our flooring; let’s take a look at what it has to offer!

Carpet padding…

Lengthens Carpet’s Lifespan

Our feet do a ton of damage to carpet; we just don’t think about it! But carpet padding absorbs the impact made by foot traffic, and preserves the carpet’s backing and binding. So yes, fortunately, installing carpet padding does protect and lengthen your carpet’s lifespan!

Provides Extra Cushion for Our Feet

If you’ve never walked on carpet without padding before, you’re lucky! It can feel like walking on the bare concrete foundation! That’s definitely not comfortable. Luckily, carpet padding adds that extra cushioning that our sensitive feet need as we walk around our home. Once you’ve installed carpet padding, you’re undoubtedly notice the difference!

Holds Area and Oriental Rugs in Place

Area and Oriental rugs make fantastic fashion pieces for our home, but they’re notorious for slipping and sliding around! Finally, with carpet padding, we can hold them in place. This actually makes life at home much safer, as you’ll alleviate the risk of falling and sustaining an injury!

So all in all, carpet padding elongates the lifespan of carpet, makes carpet more comfortable to walk on, and keeps our rugs in place. The Steam Team would say that carpet padding is worth every penny!

You can rely on The Steam Team for all of your carpeting needs! We have over ten years of experience under our belts; we’d be happy to help you with your flooring! So whether you’re in need of carpet padding, or a deep cleaning, or expert stain removal, The Steam Team has your back! Just give us a call and we’ll be out soon!

The Basics of Keeping Carpet Clean

Carpet looks fantastic in our homes, and feels comfortable on our feet, but it can be a bit of a challenge to keep it clean, can’t it? Accidents can’t be avoided, and spills seem to happen all of the time! But luckily we have professional cleaning and restoration companies to step in, and give our carpet a deep, thorough cleaning we could never do by ourselves! Here are three tips for keeping your carpet clean, from The Steam Team, your leading cleaning and restoration company in Austin, TX!

Vacuum Regularly

It simply cannot be avoided, friends. When it comes to vacuuming, carpet needs your attention at least once a week, depending on how much foot traffic it receives, or if there are pets in the home. Vacuuming not only keeps your carpet clean as a whistle, but it also keeps it from becoming matted down! It’s a mundane chore that does a lot of good!

Clean Up Spills ASAP

Rule #1 of stain removal is to tend to the affected area as soon as you possibly can, ideally right after the accident has happened. No one’s perfect, but the quicker you get to the spill, the better chance you have at completely removing the stain!

Call in the Professionals

Sometimes, you just have to let the professionals take over. If your carpet is due for a deep cleaning, or those pesky stains just won’t come out, don’t hesitate to call in the pro’s! A professional cleaning and restoration company will have the right knowledge and equipment for any job!

Speaking of the professionals, The Steam Team has over ten years of experience in cleaning and restoration projects! We can come out and restore your carpet to its original condition. Just rely on us, and you won’t ever regret it! Contact The Steam Team today.