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  Employers are slowly becoming aware of the health and productivity boosts that mold and mildew remediation and duct cleaning services can offer their businesses. With less sick days being taken, and less time spent sneezing or stressing about air quality, employees get more done in a given week.

If you work in an office where your employer has neglected duct cleaning or mold remediation services, try following these simple DIY tips to improve your indoor air quality.

• Inspect the office for moisture leakage. If you find any, you should clean them up with a towel immediately to stop mold growth. Alternatively, bring these spots to the attention of your employer to support your case for a Steamatic mold remediation service.
   
• Consider bringing a dehumidifier into work, or to request one as a cost compromise from your employer.
   
• Open a window, and as many doors as possible in your office. Mold loves stagnant, warm air; proper ventilation will reduce the growth of toxic mold, and improve indoor air quality.
   
• Check closets for mold growth. These are common areas for mold problems since wet coats and shoes are stored in these confined spaces during the winter or stormy season. Never remove mold on your own, as you will mobilize active spores into the air. Instead, bring it to your employer’s attention, and schedule your mold remediation treatment immediately.   

 In an effort to spread awareness about disaster hazards in Canada, Steamatic post-disaster restoration specialists would like to share with you a list of some of the most devastating natural events this country has ever seen.

• The Frank Slide – In 1903, this Albertan landslide covered 2 kilometers of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and killed 10% of the town of Frank’s citizens.
• Canadian Great Lakes Gails – From November 7th to 11th in 1913, storm forces climbed to speeds of 145 km/h, sinking ships and killing hundreds.
• The Grand Banks Earthquake – On November 18th, 1920, Newfoundland was hit by a devastating earthquake, registering at a 7.2, and bringing with it a three-wave, 15-meter tall tsunami that took the homes of 10,000 people.
• Regina cyclone – June 30th, 1912, a cyclone touched down south of Regina and torn through the business sector, taking the homes of 2,500 people and causing structural damages that would take the city 40 years to pay off.
• Hurricane Hazel – Hurricane Hazel hit Haiti, the US, and Toronto on October 15th of 1954. The storm brought winds as fast as 150km/h, and caused over $1 billion in damages to the city’s infrastructure.

Canadian is no stranger to Mother Nature’s wrath. Don’t overlook the likelihood of natural disasters in the Great White North. Be diligent with your disaster preparations, and consult some of our other blogs for disaster safety tips!  

 Though hard surface flooring is an excellent way to wow your guests and clientele, it requires cleaning just like any other part of your home or business. Though the smooth, sweep-friendly surfaces of hard flooring are easier to maintain than carpet, there are still some tricks and techniques that need to be kept in mind if you want to avoid any collateral damage during your cleaning. Many people opt for professional help to keep their pricy floors in top shape. Whether you are looking to hire on professional help from Steamatic hard surface cleaners, or simply want to brush up on your hard surface cleaning knowledge, these 2 hard surfaces cleaning facts are worth the read.

Why opt for a professional hard surface cleaning?

• Leave no residue behind. Many amateur attempts at hard surface cleaning end up leaving soap and wax residue behind. These residues build up over time, and giving dirt, dust, and grit something to cling on to, and dull the look of your expensive flooring.
   
• Eliminate the risk of scratching. Enthusiastic scrubbers often go overboard trying to scrape away stubborn grit, and end up carving into the flooring itself. This not only leaves unsightly marks across the tiles, but creates cavities for dirt and grime to occupy. Steamatic uses turbo vacuum cleaners that blast your floors with super-heated water and emulsifying agents to dissolve dirt and stains gently. 

 Fortunately, you can both prevent and remove fireworks stains that have dirtied your concrete and pavement. Steamatic proudly presents some easy home solutions to help you enjoy a stain-free celebration.

An ounce of prevention.

Prevention is always the best policy. Preventing fireworks stains is not very difficult; all you need to do is stick a buffer between the firework and your concrete, cement, or patio surface. However, some thought needs to be given to the materials used. Throwing down scrap paper or a piece of cardboard only adds kindling to the threat of a house fire. Instead, thoroughly wetting a piece of old plywood will give you a safe and protective launch pad.

3 cleaning options to consider:

1. Leave it to mother nature. If you have the patience and ability to ignore the eyesore, you could just leave these stains alone and let the wind and rain whittle them away over time. The sun’s UV rays can also act as a natural bleaching agent. Of course, this “method” welcomes the kind of weathering most homeowners try to avoid, and also takes a long time with no guaranteed results.
    
2. Power wash stains away. Pressure washing is probably your best solution. In the hands of Steamatic professionals, pressure washers guarantee a deep-clean that will strip away stains and corrosive contaminants without harming your hard surfaces. Be warned, though; pressure washers can carve strips out of your concrete if used improperly, so this method is best left to the professionals.
    
3. Bleach away the stains. Another popular and effective option is to bleach away the stains using a 3:1 solution of water to bleach. Simply pour this solution on your stains, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, and then scrub your surface clean. This method does have some risks. Too much bleach can cause discolouration to your concrete surfaces, and any wayward dribbles will kill off plant life. 

 Steamatic have been helping keep Canadian homeowners’ HVAC systems clean for over 40 years, with our HVAC cleaning services being one of the staples of our home maintenance and restoration suite. If you are wondering why you should choose us over the competition, then read on for 2 reasons why Steamatic HVAC cleaning is a great choice!

• Experience and accessibility. With over four decades in the HVAC cleaning industry, Steamatic has refined their cleaning process to ensure great results in a small amount of time. Additionally, Steamatic is highly accessible, boasting over 45 franchises spread across Canada, each of which can offer the same top-tier service standard. All services are available around-the-clock.
   
• Unparalleled cleaning process. Steamatic uses a 3-step cleaning process that goes above and beyond the industry standard to give you the best results. Often overlooked by Steamatic competitors, HVAC coil cleaning rids your home or business of the bacteria that collects in these problem areas. All said, Steamatic’s HVAC cleaning process removes up to 82% of the mold, mildew, and other bacteria that lurks in the hidden recesses of your HVAC system.

Visit our website to learn more about our unparalleled HVAC cleaning process! 

Whatever the volume, source, and cleanliness of the water, Steamatic can help! Our water restoration services have helped homeowners bounce back from severe water damage for over forty years. We dry out your home, remove mold safely and effectively, restore any ruined drywall, flooring, or paint jobs, and freeze your documents to give you the best chance of recovery. Though our professional restoration workers operate at the highest level, some things are simply beyond repair; if you have wondered what to cling to keep for a chance at recovery, and what is irrepairable, then read on to learn the difference!

What to repair and recover:

• Digital equipment that was not fully submerged can often be dried out using rice-bag and air-drying techniques. Most often, you want to disassemble the device as much as possible to allow maximal air flow, and lay it out on a dry towel. Alternatively, once you have separated all possible components, throw them into a bag of rice to leech away the moisture. Even devices that have submerged are often worth hanging on to for a week or so to give the drying process a chance. Your odds are slim, but the price tag on these items justifies a bit of patience.
   
• Papers and important business documents. Though water-logged paper may seem impossible to recover, Steamatic’s freeze-drying media restoration can get the job done. Set these delicately aside, making sure to separate them as much as possible, until help arrives. Speed is key – the faster you call Steamatic to start the document recovery process, the better your chances.

What to replace:

• Moldy or water-logged drywall sections. These are difficult to repair, and easy enough to replace that recovery is typically not worth the effort, especially when mold has set in.
   
• Soaked, musty carpet. Though Steamatic’s carpet-cleaning solutions could help in a pinch, moldy carpet is often not worth trying to save. 

Hang them up to air them out.

Gently hang your book or business document over a railing or clothesline. Leave it there for as long as is feasible; a few hours should be considered the minimum, but a whole day is ideal. The air should help diminish the smell somewhat. Make sure to choose a shaded spot so as not to accidentally bleach your book.

Mask the smell.

Another handy trick is to seal your book or business document in a container filled with another smell. We recommend potpourri. Use fresh potpourri, and discard it when finished, as it may have absorbed some of the smoke smell. Leave your documents in this container for a day or so.

Use dryer sheets.

Place dryer sheets between the pages and let the document sit for a few days. Both scented and unscented dryer sheets are useful here, since the point is to absorb smell rather than to impart any.

Activated charcoal.

Charcoal may seem counter-intitutive, but activated charcoal (i.e. Not briquettes) will absorb the smell of smoke. Wrap the charcoal in cheesecloth to avoid marring your book or document with black residue; there does not need to be contact for the odour-absorbing effect to occur.

Try these simple document recovery techniques to tackle your stubborn smoke smell. If all else fails, Steamatic’s professional fire restoration, and document recovery services, are available 24/7!

 With the warm spring and summer months ahead, Steamatic professionals would like to share some relevant fire safety tips to keep your family and home safe.

Summer Barbecue Safety

• All grills are meant strictly for outdoor use. Wheeling your BBQ into the garage not only enhances the risk of fire in an enclosed space, but also exposes you to toxic gas, presenting a serious risk of asphyxiation.
   
• Always keep combustible items away from the grill. This seems obvious, but can be overlooked in a crowded backyard gathering. Separate your BBQ station and socializing spots to avoid any chance encounters with loose clothing, spray-on sun screen, or alcohol.
   
• Do not neglect your grill cleaning duties. Clean and service your grill as often as is recommended by the manufacturer. Empty out the catch-trays to prevent the accumulation of highly-flammable grease.
   
• Never leave your lit grill unattended. This can be tough in whirling social situations, but be strong, and stay vigilant!
   
• Keep a functional garden hose nearby. Make sure that the hose is not pinched up, and that the nozzle is in good working order. In the case of a flare-up on the grill, close the lid to limit oxygen flow, and target any openings in the lid with the business end of your hose.
• Limit your use of fire-starting chemicals on the BBQ. This is important for a number of reasons. Not only do these fire-starting solutions often impart an unpleasant flavour on the food you are preparing, but they are almost always used in excess. Stick to charcoal or propane for a delicious and more manageable BBQ set-up.

Steamatic fire restoration professionals wish you a warm and wonderful summer. Stay safe with these simple tips, and soak up the sunshine!

 With 40 years in the post-disaster restoration industry, Steamatic professionals have helped Canadian homeowners bounce back and recover from even the worst of storms, and would like to present some summer storm safety tips to minimize the damages that you and your family incur from these experiences. Being aware of these hazards is instrumental in avoiding them – use the following tips to keep your home and loved ones safe after a summer storm.

Summer storm fire hazards include:

Lightning. This powerful electrical charge can electrocute on contact, split trees, and cause fires around the home. Even pools of water near the point of contact can become electrically charged, so be mindful of any large puddles, pools, or water basins when surveying your property during or after a storm.
 

Shorted appliances. When exposed to water that leaks in from violent summer rain storms or flooding, appliances can short out and become a fire hazard. This is especially problematic because many appliances are tucked away in the basement, or otherwise kept out of sight. Be sure to check your appliances during and after a storm to ensure that no fires have begun.
 

Generators. Many homeowners opt for generations during summer storms to keep the power on. You should not only think of your generator when the power goes out, however. Generators that are not properly maintained, cleaned, and used can be serious fire hazards.

Chemicals. Keep a close eye on any stored gasoline or other combustible liquids you have accumulated in your garage. Lighter fluid and paint thinner are two common combustibles that are kept in the garage, both of which can be triggered by generator use, short-circuited appliances, or lightning contact. 

The best advice you’ll receive – leave it to the professionals!

To eliminate your risk of fire or burn injury, Steamatic recommends avoiding informal family fireworks displays. Not only are these displays usually underwhelming, but they can be extremely dangerous in the hands of amateurs. Instead, why not attend public fireworks displays, with arsenals bolstered by municipal budgets, and firing sequences arranged by professionals? The display will be much better, and infinitely safer!

Fireworks safety tips for informal displays:

If you must host your own fireworks launch, at least follow these fundamental safety tips:

• Appoint a designated launch leader. Only adults who are experienced with fireworks, or at least aware of the hazards and required safety precautions, should be anywhere near your fireworks display.
• Follow all instructions, as the explosive charge, lighting process, and fuse time will varty between manufacturers.
• Keep a water source nearby at all costs. A hose is recommended, but a large pail of water will suffice.
• Discharge all fireworks only when pointed away from combustible materials, buildings, or trees.
• Light only one firework at a time, and only when they are on the ground; this means that you should never light a firework held in your hand.
• In the case of dud fireworks, leave them for a full 30 minutes to ensure their inactivity, and then soak them in a bucket of water as a precaution.
• Be mindful of wind conditions when discharging fireworks, as blow-back is a common cause of house fires.   

Whether it's the elimination of soot from a fire, restoration after flooding or a simple carpet cleaning, we are ready to help you get started on the right foot.