Health Hazards
Identify Mould in Your Home
Mould has a distinctive smell, most of the time you will only realize that you have mould in your home if you actually see or smell it. Once you realize that the mould or mildew is living in your home it is important to take immediate action of removal. These spores transport extremely quickly so it is important to remove the mould very carefully.
What to Wear For Mould Removal
First thing before starting the mould removal process is dress for the job. It is important that you limit your exposure to mould to the best of your ability. When you are cleaning the mold infested areas it is critical that you wear gloves and avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands. Wear goggles that do not have ventilation holes to avoid breathing in and getting mold spores in and around your eyes.
Tips for mould removal process
When you are cleaning the mold out of your home it is important to fix the plumbing and other leaks around the home as soon as possible and scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, then dry completely. Do not paint over mould at any time as paint that is coating mould tends to peel.
Most of the time if carpet and other absorbent materials get wet or grow mold they should be thrown out and replaced. With materials such as carpet mould can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices causing more mold buildup.
If you are unsure about how to go about cleaning an item, you may consult a specialist. At Steamatic our mould and mildew removal and remediation service ensures the safety of you and everyone in your household. If you suffer water damage and notice mould is starting to take over do not hesitate to call the professionals today!
Steamatic’s Candle Fire Clean-Up, Safety Tips and Flameless Alternatives
Between 2007 and 2011, Canadian firefighters responded to over 10,000 house fire calls that were started by the flame of a candle. Of these numbers, over a third began in the bedroom, which lowers the residents’ chance of survival significantly, while also increasing their likelihood of suffering fire-related injuries. Many people are aware of the dangers of leaving candles unattended, and assume that they are not in danger, but over 10% of house fires caused by candles started after the resident fell asleep.
As well as being a safety threat, candles are also notoriously bad for leaving soot marks on walls, ceiling, bath tubs, and other surfaces in the home.
Read on for some candle soot prevention and clean up tips from our Steamatic fire restoration team:
Our fire restoration wing would like to present some candle safety tips to try and keep homeowners safe:
If you or your family members are addicted to candlelight or the smells in the home, then perhaps these flameless candle alternatives would be an acceptable substitution. Try some of the following:
Follow these clean up and prevention tips, and consider these flameless alternatives to stay safe with Steamatic! If things go wrong, or your soot clean-up is taking forever, then call 1-888-767-7616 for help!
My Plumbing Backed Up: Stay Safe, Clean Up, and Avoid Problems with Basement Flooding
In both respects, Steamatic can help! We can refer you to professional help with your plumbing issues, and our full suite of water and mold restoration services can get life back to normal in no time. We are available 24/7 to help you in your time of need.
In the interest of prevention, public safety, and reader appreciation, we would like to present to you some valuable information about flooding caused by plumbing back-up. Read on to learn how to stay safe, clean up, and avoid future problems with flooding!
A word on health and safety
It is highly recommended that you contact a professional for help in the event that your plumbing backs up. Steamatic professionals are standing by 24/7 to help you with any water damage repair or document restoration services that you may need, and we can also refer you to a professional to help with your immediate plumbing issue. This is a job for professionals; raw sewage and flood waters are brimming with bacteria, fecal matter, viruses, and other caustic microorganisms that can seriously jeopardize your health. Flooding of this nature is especially hazardous to children and pets.
In the event that your plumbing backs up and floods your basement, follow these safety tips:
How to clean the flooded area
Follow this cleaning process to minimize flooding damages after your plumbing backs up. Remember that safety is the most important thing.
STEP 1
Assemble your cleaning arsenal. This should include:
STEP 2
Remove all furnishings. Carpet and other absorbent items may need to be disposed of due to their high risk of mold growth. Non-absorbent items and appliances are salvageable, but it is often better to be safe than sorry.
STEP 3
Clean and disinfect, room-by-room. First you will need to vacuum up all standing water, though the presence of standing water indicates that you require professional assistance. Use two buckets for cleaning, designating one bucket to cleaning and another to rinsing. Mop as normal, but be sure to replace your clean rinse water regularly. You will need to disinfect, applying your chosen solution to all affected areas and allowing adequate contact and drying time. Use dish washing liquid for items with light exposure to flood water, and laundry detergent for items that are more heavily soiled.
STEP 4
Ventilate thoroughly. Open all windows and doors that you can. Circulate air using box fans. Run a dehumidifier. This may seem like a lot of work after an already exhaustive clean, but it is a crucial step in the fight against mold growth, so take it seriously!
An ounce of protection worth a pound of cure
Prevention is always the best policy. There are several modifications and maintenance strategies you can use to minimize your chances of suffering more flood damage in the future.
Stop the Stink with Steamatic Odour-Removal Tips
Commercial deodorizers can cover up what reeks, but the reality is that stink is usually a sign that something badly needs to be cleaned up somewhere. Masking odours only adds another layer to a rich reek; your time is much better spent finding how to remove the odour rather than covering it up.
Depending on the size of the problem, you may need to hire professional cleaning services. Steamatic cleaners can handle everything from carpet to concrete, providing you with high-power cleaning that is as tough on stains and smells as it is gentle on the environment. Whether you need dry-ice blasting, steam-cleaning, mechanized sweepers, or bio-hazardous clean-up, we can handle it! Visit https://www.steamatic.ca to call in the heavy artillery for your plus-size stinky mess.
If the job seems a little more manageable, then you may consider trying out some simple home remedies first. Steamatic can help with that, too! Read on to learn some simple odour-stopping tips from the Steamatic professionals. If you decide it is too much to handle half way through, then you can always call 1-888-767-7616 for back-up!
Obliterating general odours.
Before we tackle some more specialized stink-removal strategies, let’s review some general odour-fighting tips.
Follow your nose to find where the pungent smell you’ve detected is coming from. Once you hone in on the stinky spot, treat it with hot soapy water and antibacterial cleaner.
After cleaning, mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a bowl, and retreat the area with this simple solution. This will disinfect the area. Note that any sensitive surfaces should not be treated with vinegar; marble and natural stone may be harmed by the acidity of this solution.
Finally, once you have finished your cleaning treatment, open up a window and allow the fresh air to circulate through the room. This should carry off any residual smell, and also manage the vinegar scent your cleaning left behind.
Snuff out the smell of smoke.
Smoke can be stubborn. The difficulty that you will have removing this smell will depend on the frequency of exposure, and also the surface you are trying to clean. Fabrics can soak up smoke smells and cling to them, but even hard surfaces can pick up this stink. You may need our smoke and fire damage remediation services.
For general freshening, sprinkle baking soda over your smoke-stained carpet and leave it there overnight. When you wake up in the morning, vacuum everything up.
Another year-round tip you can use to keep living spaces fresh is to fill a nylon stocking up with cat litter, and place it out of sight behind your couch or TV. This makeshift smoke-fighter will absorb smoke odours. Replace it once every couple of months, or more often if you smoke in the room daily.
Smoking can leave tar and nicotine stains on your walls or furniture, and heavy-duty cleaning might be necessary. To clean deodorize these surfaces, mix 1 gallon of warm water with 1 cup of ammonia, and stir to mix thoroughly. Wear protective gear and avoid exposure to the eyes or hands. Make sure to open a window so that the strong ammonia scent can escape. Lay down some old towel or linen to catch wayward drips. Use this solution to wash any surfaces requiring a heavy-duty clean.
Purge pet odours for good.
If you don’t know exactly where the stain originated, you may need to bust out a black light to pinpoint problem areas. If your nose can lead you there well enough, then you will first want to blot as much liquid as possible away using cloth or paper towel. Do not rub or scrub the stain at this point, as you will only spread and grind the stain in.
Next, apply a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. Allow this solution to sit in place for a few minutes because using more cloth or towels to soak up the liquid.
If any odour lingers, sprinkle the area with baking soda, and work it into the carpet. Allow this to sit for several hours, and then vacuum up the mess!
Freshen Up Foul Kitchen Appliances with Steamatic
However, aesthetics are only one part of the equation when you are trying to impress your guests with a clean home. All of the senses must be satisfied. The most tidy-looking house on the block will get no visitors if greasy countertops offend your guests’ sense of touch. Similarly, an immaculate-looking home will get few visitors this summer if it reeks!
Smells can be tough to fight off, in part because they can be tough to detect if you have lived with them for any substantial amount of time. Your nose will grow accustomed to the stink, effectively blinding you to the smell that is turning everyone away at your door.
Smells can take hold all over the home, too. Having an odour in your home isn’t necessarily an indication of poor cleaning and maintenance. Many odours in the home are the result of plumbing issues or mischievous pets, while others simply take hold because homeowners are not familiar with the proper cleaning techniques.
Perhaps one of the biggest problem areas is the kitchen. The kitchen is where a number of plumbing fixtures are stored, and where all of your food preparation and storage is done. This means there is plenty of moisture and organic matter to kick-start some seriously pungent odours. If you have ever wondered how to keep your kitchen appliances smelling fresh, then read on to learn how to freshen up foul kitchen appliances with Steamatic cleaning tips!
My refrigerator reeks!
Your refrigerator may reek for any number of reasons. Not only are leftovers stored here, but drip trays and other faulty internal components can leak and mold. Finding the source of the smell is going to be your first challenge, but it is often as simple as following your nose.
A good first step would be to root through your fridge in search of any old food items. Sometimes deodorizing your refrigerator can be as simple as pulling out any moldy leftovers and tossing them away. However, if these old foods have been stored in your fridge for a long time, you may need to make a bit more of an effort.
To clean away mold or sticky stains from old food, mix together a cleaning solution using 1/4 cup of baking soda and 4 cups of warm water. Clean off any sides, shelves, and drawers that may have come into contact with spoiled food. When you are finished, leave an open box of baking soda to ward away future smells.
To keep odours from coming back, remember to clean up spills on the spot, seal all leftovers tightly, and to monitor your fridge temperature to ensure everything is being cooled properly.
My sink stinks!
The kitchen sink is a dump site for all kinds of cooking liquids, sugary drinks, and soap suds. This combination can create quite the stink.
First you will want to unclog the sink. Even if water drains out in a satisfactory way, any food particles that get lodge harmlessly in the drain can fester, especially since they are constantly exposed to water. To remove these stinky obstructions, use a hair-clog removal tool or makeshift metal coat hanger to claw around. If you can’t pull it out, you might be able to push it through.
You can also try a vinegar and baking soda solution. Pack the drain with baking soda and pour 1/4 cup of vinegar over the drain. Allow this mixture to bubble and fizz for about 10 minutes, then empty a kettle of boiling water over it to flush away any left-over debris.
My garbage disposal needs to be deodorized.
It isn’t hard to imagine how kitchen garbage disposals get stinky when you consider all of the old food that is carved up in there.
The first step for stink removal is to keep things clean. Occasionally drip some dish soap into your disposal and let it run for a minute or so. Let the tap run as you do so.
If this doesn’t work, try freezing white vinegar in an ice cube tray and running them through your disposal. The combination of acid and abrasion should clean out the worst of the smells that you face, while also obliterating any stinky bacteria.
General upkeep is important; it is easier to prevent a smell than to remove one.
How Do I Clean My Cleaning Implements and Appliances?
Steamatic’ professionals would like to present some tips for those who need to clean their cleaning implements. Read on to learn how to remove odours and bacteria from vital cleaning implements and appliances around the house.
Save stinky sponges.
Removing odours from sponges is easier than you might think, but the smell is the least of your problems when talking about a stinky sponge. A pungent sponge indicates the presence of large amounts of bacteria, which means a stinky sponge is unfit for dishwashing. If your sponge stinks, you need to replace or clean it right away. Otherwise, every wash is just smearing germs into wet dishes that will later be eaten off of.
To clean your sponge, run it through the washing machine. Alternately, you can run it through the dishwasher on the top rack. If neither of these options are available to you, soak your sponge in a bucket of water containing 2/3 cup of bleach for every gallon of water.
Sponges need to be changed often, regardless of how much effort you put into sterilization and cleaning. However, you can extend its life with a wash every few days.
Deodorize and disinfect the dishwasher.
Most people don’t even realize that they need to clean their dishwasher. After all, the dishwasher runs through multiple soapy cycles in a day’s work. You would think that this is enough to keep it clean, but the dishwasher needs to be maintained just like anything else around the house. Failing to do so will expose your family to bacteria-laden food particles.
Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your dishwasher clean:
Rid your rubber gloves of bacteria.
Rubber gloves are worn for some dirty jobs, so you will need to have some cleaning techniques handy if you don’t want to spread germs or chemicals around the house. Follow these simple instructions:
Additionally, you can always throw your rubber gloves through your washer.
Using these simple cleaning techniques, you should never have to worry about spreading germs with contaminated cleaning implements again! We hope this helps your home cleaning and maintenance efforts; if you need any heavy-duty help in future, you can see if our services are right for you at https://www.steamatic.ca.
6 Home Cleaning Mistakes You Might Be Making (And How to Avoid Them!)
What if there were a better way to clean? Many homeowners lack any kind of formal training when it comes to cleaning, and inherit any mistakes that their parents may have developed with their cleaning technique.
Taking the time to absorb some simple cleaning tips can really increase your efficiency so that the job is done sooner.
Our Steamatic professional cleaning team would like to highlight some common house-cleaning blunders that may be costing you valuable time and effort. Read on to make your cleaning more efficient!
If you are loading up your utensils improperly, you will have to waste a lot of time scrubbing off caked-on mess. Taking the extra fraction of a second to line them up properly can save you a lot of trouble.
If all of your forks and spoons are pointing in the same direction, they get in each others’ way and obstruct the cleaning jets of water and detergent. They literally “spoon” each other so that one utensil covers the back of the other. Take a quick moment to turn them away and watch your dishwasher clean like never before.
The ideal time to clean windows panes in any season is in the late afternoon or evening, or whenever you notice that the sky is overcast.
Restore Your Life After Disaster Strikes
Following a natural disaster such as an ice storm, hurricane or flood, it is very difficult to know what to do. Nothing is more important than getting help from someone you can trust and giving you a piece of mind that your life will soon be back up and running normally.
There are a variety of suggested restoration services that you can look forward to after disaster these include; water damage, storm damage, water restoration process, caring for your belongings, mold remediation, sewage cleanup, carpet cleaning and odor removal. Most of the time disasters cause a buildup of mold, mildew and other contaminants so it is especially important to make sure these harmful contaminants do not affect yourself or members of your family.
What to do when disaster strikes
Hopefully, you will never experience a damage to your home because of a disaster but if you do, will you know what to do? What to expect?
A few different people play a role in restoring your life back to normal these are your insurance company and of course the restoration company of your choice.
Cautions to take upon re-entry
When you re-enter your home after a devastating destruction there are many cautions you should keep your children and pets away from leaks, do not combine chemicals from damaged containers, avoid dumping chemicals down toilets or drains.
The Process
Step 1: Assess the damage
Step 2: Evaluate all affected areas
Step 3: Determine what service of restoration you will need
Restoration plan tips:
If you are waiting for a professional to help restore your damaged home, there are a few different things to consider. Firstly, water will keep you alive, ration your food
Steamatic have over 40 years of experience and can provide you with competent, professional electricians, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, heating specialists and other craftsmen you need to repair and renovate your building.
Eliminating Bacteria From Workspace Furniture
Though the cleanliness of your furniture may seem unimportant in the jumble of stress, malfunctions, and obligations that owning a business entails, it is not! Clean furniture helps your image, which helps your business. After all, your furniture is partly responsible for the first impression you give to your visitors.
When they first step into your office, they will instinctively take in their surroundings. Important clients and prospective employees will see your front desk immediately upon arriving, and will probably be passing or using furniture at some point during their visit.
Having a dingy office that needs a deep cleaning job will not give visitors the warm welcome they are looking for. Though they may not be the deciding factor in closing a sale, visible stains or mold spores will certainly not help your business.
The cleanliness of your workspace furniture is also important for your employees. The level of comfort that your workspace offers is based in part on how clean and maintained it is. Typically, mold and bacteria hide in your furniture at work which is why it is especially important to maintain or clean them regularly. Allowing mold to grow unchecked can contribute to Sick Building Syndrome and other respiratory issues, lowering productivity and putting your staff at risk.
Though less dramatic, stains are a problem too. People are just generally less comfortable about sitting in chairs that are dirty or stained; worrying about stains and ruined clothing can be distracting.
What can I do?
Stain removal gets a little more complicated, but there are some good general cleaning habits you can adopt to improve both your image in the eyes of employees and clients.
Vacuuming the cushions in the office every once in a while is a performance booster for workers as the workspace becomes bacteria free. This will help remove pet hairs, dander, crumbs, dust, and food residue. It can also eliminate contaminants such as; pollen, allergens, odors, and unpleasant allergens that tend to work their way deeper into your furniture.
Stain removal is possible on your own, but prescribing one single method is difficult due to the variety of furniture materials and cleaning tools out there. What works for your office chairs may be harmful to your wooden desk. Amateur cleaning efforts can be effective, but must be done at your own risk.
Fortunately, Steamatic can help. We offer a full suite of cleaning services that can accommodate any of your cleaning needs. Our diverse cleaning tools and deep industry experience allow us to handle vintage wooden furniture, lush carpeting, and office couches with confidence.
2 methods for effective furniture cleaning
Method 1
The first method of furniture cleaning is to use extremely hot water and an emulsifying agent to break down dirt and bacteria ensuring a deep, quality clean. With this method hot water is sprayed deep into the fibers of your furniture and is immediately sucked back out by a vacuum, removing all the contaminants deep down inside.
Method 2
The Lambrite dry cleaning technique is a professional method of HVAC cleaning that can be used on a wide variety of fabric types and is particularly appropriate for more delicate, stained, soiled or fragile materials. This technique is also a master at removing odors from furniture as well.
The Lambrite option uses very similar techniques to those used in processes for dry cleaning clothing and will ensure that your furniture dries quickly without wrinkling. This leaves a clean look and smell which improves the overall impression of your work space and efficiency of workers in that space as well.
How it works
When you clean your furniture it helps to control the flow of moisture and keep it from penetrating into the body of the furniture. Cleaning the furniture in your office space will not only make it look and smell cleaner it also improves the air quality within the workspace as well.
Steamatic furniture cleaning techniques will leave your business looking and smelling fresh and appealing to consumers. Both processes take only minutes to dry so you aren’t displaced or inconvenienced at home or in your business for long.
7 Tips: Cleaning Your Home After Water Damage
Your success in restoration really depends on how long the water has been flooding for. It is important to check for articles of furniture that can be saved, and sometimes, even carpet, but any electronics hit by water are most likely doomed.
Don’t treat flood water in unwanted places lightly.
Even if your basement only has an inch of water in it, or even if it’s just damp, it is the perfect breeding ground for mold. Mold growth not only ruins walls, furniture, carpets, flooring, etc., it can lead to poor indoor air quality causing respiratory problems including asthma, and can lead to severe illness.
Preventing mold growth is key to keeping your home’s air clean and healthy. So in addition to calling your insurance company, here are a few tips to deal with your flooded basement and minimize the water damage. Call your insurance company before you do anything, and tell them what you want to do.
Here are some steps to follow if you suffered water damage to your home:
Disconnect the power. unplug any electronics, and remove electronics, furniture and movable items immediately. The faster you get items out of water’s way, the more likely you’ll be able to save them. Pull up any carpets (wall to wall and area rugs) and underpadding. You may be able to salvage the carpet if you get it cleaned and disinfected.
Get rid of the water. There are several ways to get rid of the water. If you don’t have power, or are worried about loose wires, the old-fashioned, manual way will work. Use old towels, buckets and mops to soak up as much water as possible. As long as sewers in your neighbourhood aren’t backed up, you can pour the water down the drain, otherwise, pour onto your lawn or other permeable surface. A wet/dry vacuum can be used too. Getting rid of all the water and drying out the area is the most important thing you can do to prevent mold growth.
Dry out the affected area. Once you’ve mopped up all the water, use fans and a dehumidifier to help dry out the area. If it is not raining, open windows to allow for air circulation and faster drying. You want to dry the area out as soon as possible. If you have a finished basement and the drywall was affected, you’ll probably have to cut away the areas that were touched by water as the drywall will crumble and the paper backing is a good source of food for mold. If you have baseboard trim, take it up first, and if it’s made from pressboard it will likely not be salvageable. If it was wood, you might be able to save it.
Disinfect. After the area has dried out, including wood beams, insulation, drywall, etc., use a good disinfectant to get rid of any bacteria that might have come up through sewers, toilets, etc.
Prevent mold growth. After you’ve disinfected and let the area thoroughly dry out, apply Concrobium throughout the affected area according to directions. Once a thin layer of Concrobium is applied, let it dry overnight. As Concrobium dries, it forms a thin layer over any mold that may be growing and actually crushes the roots of the spores. Wherever it’s sprayed will prevent any mold from growing, providing continued resistance. If you’re spraying an entire room, you might want to consider renting a mister from a hardware store such as Home Depot. It’s easy to use and very fast.
Dispose of damaged items responsibly. You will be tempted to throw everything into a dumpster and send it all away and out of site. But if you can organize damaged goods into piles and take what you can to recycling centres, you will help alleviate the pressure on your local landfill site.
