10 Benefits Of Recurring Cleaning Services

Have you been considering adding a regular, scheduled cleaning service to your home? If you are going over an extensive list of pros and cons and can’t make a decision, let us make it for you. Here is our top ten list of why our cleaning service is a great option for your home and family:

• Life is busy
  You probably say all the time that you wish you had more time to get things done. Well, let us get it done for you, properly. A cleaning service is a great solution for busy people on the go. Don’t worry if you have to stay late at work, or have to get your kids to soccer, because we will make sure the busywork is done before you even get home.

• Come home to a clean house
  Who doesn’t love stepping into a hotel room with its freshly vacuumed rugs, streak-free windows, and perfectly-hung guest towels? Get that experience every day in your own home with regular weekly maintenance.

• Get a deep clean
  When you clean your own home, you worry about getting the knickknacks away and the laundry folded, often overlooking the deep clean issues like baseboards, lighting fixtures, and appliances. Let us do the dirty work and create a tailored, rotating schedule that allows us to cycle through what areas need to be cleaned and when. We will ensure heavy traffic areas are cleaned more frequently while remembering to address the less-used rooms with the same detail, but less frequency.

• It’s professional
  A cleaning service knows what they are doing. You wouldn’t take your car to anyone but a mechanic, so why leave your house to anyone other than a professional. They know the best products to use to clean safely and effectively and have effective means for a complete clean.

• It’s healthier
  Professionals know how to remove the filth and build up in areas like bathrooms and kitchens that can cause harmful microbes if left unchecked. Avoid mold, bacteria growth, and musty air while giving your family a safer place to breathe.

• No unwanted guests
  A cleaner home helps reduce the chance of insects and pests that may otherwise take up residence in your home.

• Reduce allergens
  A regular cleaning service reduces the buildup of dust, mites and mold; it also helps to rid the home of pet hair and dander, reducing irritation in allergy suffers.

• Reduce stress
  Take the guesswork out of evening chores and spend more quality time with family.

• Entertain
  There is no need to be worried about the state of your home. Be ready to entertain without having to do a massive clean before company, as it will always be maintained and ready for guests.

• Clean begets clean
  One of the best reasons to use our cleaning service is because when your home is clean, it’s easier to keep clean and maintain. You are never starting from scratch—rather tidying, more than cleaning, when you have us on your side.

Feel free to call us and speak to one of our experts on 316-243-9824 to find out even more great reasons why a recurring cleaning service by ServiceMaster By Best is right for you.

Clean Carpets Are Healthier for Patients Visiting Healthcare Facilities

 

Patients visit your Madison, WI healthcare facility to get better, not to pick up an additional illness. That’s why it is so important to hire a professional cleaning company that offers high-quality cleaning services. Whether you need commercial cleaning services, dayporter services, janitorial cleaning services, or floor care cleaning, including commercial carpet cleaning, contact ServiceMaster Building Maintenance today. We’ve got the tools, techniques, and skilled team members to make your healthcare facility gleam from top to bottom.

When you trust your healthcare facility cleaning needs to ServiceMaster Building Maintenance, we’ll eliminate the germs, bacteria, and viruses that can make your patients sick. For example, when you use our commercial carpet cleaning services, we’ll get them deep-down clean.  Here’s a short synopsis of what these nasty substances can do to your patients:

• Norovirus- also known as Norwalk Virus, it can cause the stomach flu and a host of other digestive problems. The virus can survive on carpet fibers for up to six weeks and become airborne each time someone walks on the carpet in your health-care facility.

• Salmonella – a pathogen that can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps – can be carried into your healthcare facility on the bottoms of the shoes of your patients, employees, service people, and vendors. It is especially dangerous to young children and the elderly.

• Campylobacter – bacteria that is found most often in winter, this shows up primarily in damp carpets. It can cause an illness called campylobacteriosis, which is especially dangerous to people with compromised immune systems. Bacteria, like mold, thrives in moist environments.

For detailed and affordable healthcare facility cleaning, including professional carpet cleaning, please give us a call at 316-413-5738.  We’re standing by to make your healthcare facility shine throughout, while eliminating nasty bacteria, viruses, and pathogens! Your patients will thank you!

The Dangers of Smoke and Soot after a Fire

 

When fire accidents happen, the one thing people try to avoid are burn injuries. What they do not realize is that you can actually get hurt even after the fire is put out. This is because the soot and smoke that gets left behind afterwards can also bring about problems to the people who happen to find themselves exposed to these.

Most people tend to assume that deaths that occur when a fire happens are due to the flames. In reality, most of the deaths that do happen when a fire erupts are because of smoke inhalation. Smoke can incapacitate a person since it robs them of oxygen, which then results in a person collapsing. When this happens while a building is burning, the person cannot escape from the flames and this is when fire deaths occur.

When smoke is present after a fire, you should be aware that these are also dangerous to your health. While these may not be lethal right then and there, inhaling these for even just a small amount of time can actually lead to health problems in the future. This is because smoke from a fire can come with certain chemicals in them, like hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and phosgene, all of which are highly toxic.

Smoke is not the only problem you will face when there is a fire in your home or your office. Soot is also a byproduct of such events, and is equally as dangerous to a person’s health as the smoke that lingers after a fire. The ash that is produced after a fire can also carry with it toxic substances that can irritate your skin, your eyes, and if inhaled, can cause respiratory and nasal problems. Some soot may even have cancer-inducing chemicals in them.

Cleaning up the soot and the smoke after a fire is just as important as putting out the fire itself.

These present people with other types of dangers, which are harmful to a person’s health. In order to prevent this from endangering lives, the removal of soot and smoke should not be done by those who do not know how to properly take care of these. People who are trained to clean the smoke and soot out of homes or offices that require fire and smoke damage restoration should do this. They have the know-how and the proper equipment needed to clean these places out safely.

If you are in need of professionals to help you with your smoke and soot clearing tasks, you should get in touch with ServiceMaster By Best today. We have the trained and skilled personnel to handle your smoke and soot clearing work effectively and safely. Call us today or get in touch with us via our contact us page.

Mold Removal Cost - What You Can Expect To Pay

The health and safety of your family is much more important than the price you’ll have to pay to remove the mold, but this guide will help you if you need to get a bid.

If the area is a small one, you can remove the mold yourself with just a few dollars worth of cleaning supplies. If you’re concerned about breathing the spores, you can get a respirator, which will cost from around $25 for a simple over the mouth and nose version, to around $150 for a full face professional level unit. If you’re unsure if you need a respirator there are 7 ways to know if a mold is dangerous. For large infestations, it’s time to call in the pro’s.

When The Job Is Too Big

It’s much cheaper if you can deal with the mold yourself, but large areas can’t be handled very easily be a homeowner. One of the things a mold remediation specialist can do is clean areas like the crawlspace under your home and the duct work in the walls and attic. Mold spores that get into your heating and cooling system can get recirculated through your home, continuing to make you sick even if you’ve cleaned up the area where you originally found the mold.

“Alright, so what can it cost?”

The level of infestation will directly affect your mold removal cost. The remediation cost of a crawlspace can really vary. It could be as little as $500 or as much as $4,000 depending on how big it is, and how much mold is present. If the attic and ducts are involved, the cost for those generally ranges from $2,000 to $6,000. If your home has been flooded and the mold is all throughout it, there is much more that has to be done. This could drive your remediation cost up to $10,000 – $30,000, or higher, depending on the size of your home.

Even though you have an idea of how much mold removal costs, be sure to shop around. The first company you find might not be the best one for your needs. Pricing can vary between companies, but you also have to pay attention to the experience levels and what kind of guarantee they have if the mold comes back.

Remember Insurance Considerations

Most consumers don’t have that kind of money to spend out of pocket, so when you’re considering insurance, make sure you get something that will cover at least part of the remediation cost if you live in a flood zone.  If your home has mold, here are some tips to handle water damage claims through your existing insurance.

Look For Experienced Remediators

You want people who’ve been removing mold (especially black mold) for a while, not new people who aren’t sure about the job. You’ll also want to see if there is some kind of guarantee offered – and there should be. You don’t want to find out that the people didn’t do their jobs properly and the mold has come back, only to be told that there is nothing that can be done until you pay more money.

Final Thoughts

When you find a company where you feel comfortable with the people, the work ethic, the guarantee, and the remediation cost that fit with your personal finances, you’ll be able to get the mold removed from your home and you and your family can get back to enjoying your lives. You’ll be much healthier, and your home will be a safer place to be.

Upholstery Cleaning Services Help Keep Office Furniture Looking Better, Longer

With offices around the country in the midst of their spring-cleaning efforts, many business owners will be looking to upgrade their old office furniture. You know the furniture we’re talking about: the office chair with a big coffee stain on the seat cushion, the dust-infested couches in your lobby, and that old, worn chair in your own office.

While you might think it’d be easiest to just toss the old furniture in the dumpster and replace it with something new, in reality you’re likely much better off exploring your options with an upholstery cleaning service. At ServiceMaster By Best, our commercial cleaning specialists are trained to perform a variety of upholstery cleaning duties, and can help make your old office furniture look as good as new again. We have the cleaning solutions you need to help revitalize their appearance, and extend their longevity.

Need more convincing? Here are 5 reasons why you should call an upholstery cleaning service:

1. Cost Savings

How many times have you heard the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t pay for a new one”? While that might not be the exact saying you’re familiar with, the idea remains the same. With furniture being a fairly costly investment for your business, you can’t afford to buy new pieces every time your old ones look dirty. One session from our upholstery cleaning specialists can cost a fraction of replacing the furniture altogether.

2. Revitalized Appearance

A simple cleaning session can completely revitalize the appearance of your old furniture and make it look brand new again.

3. Customer Satisfaction

Have you ever sat down in a reception area and had a cloud of dust fly up around you when you touch the cushion? It’s kind of unsettling, isn’t it? You only get one chance to make a good first impression with your customers, and dirty, dusty chairs in your reception area are NOT the way to do it. By having your furniture cleaned on a regular basis, you can keep your customers focused on the great things you do.

4. Increased Longevity

Though it’s invisible to the naked eye, dust particles are full of jagged edges that slowly breakdown upholstery fibers over time. With a semi-regular cleaning, however, you can remove the dust particles and help extend the life of the fabric.

5. Remove Allergens

With allergy season right around the corner, now would be a great time to rid your office furniture of the dust and allergens they’ve been collecting all year. Your employees and customers will certainly thank you.

Ready to learn more about the commercial upholstery cleaning solutions ServiceMaster By Best Service offers? Before you throw away your old, dirty office furniture; make sure you sign up for a free cleaning assessment.

Natural Ways To Prevent Pet Odors In Your Home

Oh, the unconditional love of a pet. We invite them into our lives and snuggle with them in our homes, but there’s one tiny aspect that blemishes this beloved relationship. Pet odor problems. Sure, we could say the same thing about humans, but hopefully, the people in our homes are willing to bathe. Ridding your home of pet odors is as easy as being proactive instead of reactive.

Reactive means scattered decisions that usually result in turning to harsh and toxic chemical-laden products. Well, let’s change our approach, shall we? Here are a few natural ways to prevent pet odors in your home…

Power up your Laundry Detergent

Using non-toxic deodorizers in combination with your regular detergent binds various odors in fabric to remove the smell of urine and pets in clothing and blankets. Make sure you use a natural cleaner-deodorizer that is safe to use around pets and children.

Give your Pet a Once Over

When Fido or Fluffy comes into the house from exploring or eliminating, tend to dirty paws with a damp paper towel. While you’re down there, wipe your pet’s coat down too. Set up a pet designated wipe down station with clean towels and a water source by the door to ensure you have all the necessary tools to stop dirt before it comes into the house.

Be Proactive

Brush, brush, brush – outside! This small task will decrease the amount of hair gathering on furniture. There will also come a time when Kitty needs a bath, despite the fact that she uses her tongue to wash herself. The ServiceMaster By Best has some fantastic tips for success when bathing a feline like tiring out your pet before the bath and using a rubber mat on the floor to minimize slipping.

Tend to the Air

Particles in your home often linger, even when the source of the smell is long gone. Washing the air rids the environment not only of foul odors but harmful and irritating allergens. Using a dual function air purification system, air washers bring wellness and healthy indoor air quality to the next level.

Don’t Forget the Pets with Tanks and Cages.

The standing water in a fish or turtle tank will eventually be a breeding ground for bacteria and smelly water, so remove dirty water and replace with fresh water every other week. Clean or discard old filters once a month. Daily remove all uneaten food and soiled bedding in gerbil cages and clean the cage weekly with warm water and pet-friendly liquid soap. The ServiceMaster By Best has fantastic recommendations for the care and maintenance of many species of small animals.

Summary

Taking the time to increase indoor air quality and rid your home of pungent pet aromas is easy with these simple suggestions and natural deodorizers. You will eventually see that a combination of proactive care for your pet and a little elbow grease will benefit the whole family.

The Ultimate Cleaning To-Do List Before Moving Into A New House

Moving into a new home should be an exciting time, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all fun and games. Before moving day, before unpacking all the boxes and before unloading all of your stuff, you’ll want to make sure that you give your new home a good cleaning.



There are lots of reasons why you need to give your new home a thorough once-over. For one thing, cleaning it before moving in will make it easier to do a good job since there’ll be no clutter to contend with.

So check out this ultimate cleaning to-do list before moving to a new house. You’ll be glad you did!

Kitchen

You’ll want to give the kitchen a good cleaning. That means disinfecting the surfaces, wiping down the cabinetry, washing the floor and deodorizing. You and your family will spend plenty of time in the kitchen, so that might be the first place to start when cleaning your new house.

Appliances

Whether it’s the stove, fridge, freezer or other things, you’ll want to pay special attention to appliances. Get appropriate cleaners and enough rags or sponges to do the job right. When working on the stove, remove any parts that can be removed like the elements and carefully clean everything methodically. Don’t forget the oven portion. Get a good oven cleaner and give the oven a good scrubbing before using it. Also, move the stove and clean beneath it and the sides of the stove as well.

After you’ve done the stove, you’ll want to turn your attention to the fridge. Remove the fridge to clean the sides and the floor beneath it. Remove the storage bins and drawers, and give everything a good washing. Warm water, soap and a sponge or rag will do the trick. You can then move on to the freezer. Clean it inside and outside. As with the stove and fridge, pull it out of its place to clean the sides and the floor under it.

Walls

It’s also important to clean the walls. A quick look at the state of the walls will give you some indication as to how much effort they will require. If they were painted very recently, you may not have to clean them at all. If your walls are particularly grimy, one trick is to apply a little bit of fabric softener and rub the soiled area. If your walls need cleaning, first get rid of things like cobwebs and dust, clean the baseboards and moulding, and wipe the doorframes and switch plates.

Floor

Clean the flooring thoroughly. If you have carpets, you can hire a company to clean them or you can rent a commercial rug-cleaning machine. You can use steam cleaners on hardwood, laminate and ceramic tiles, or you can use a mop and soapy water to clean such surfaces.

Bathroom

Give the washroom a good cleaning from top to bottom. That means scrubbing the tub, the floor, the toilet and the sink.

If you properly clean your house before moving in, you’ll be able to settle in and enjoy your new home sooner rather than later. So make a list of what needs to get done, roll up your sleeves and get to work.

And ServiceMaster meet these requirements. We are a well-known, trusted cleaning company in Wichita, Kansas. We are a trusted name that offer top-notch commercial and residential cleaning services in Wichita KS, according to the wishes of our clients. Therefore, if you need a cleaning company in Wichita, KS, don’t hesitate to call ServiceMaster at (316) 243-9824

Hiring a Professional Cleaning Company is an Investment not Cost

When business owners or facilities managers view commercial cleaning as a cost – we beg to differ. It is in fact an investment. Maintaining a clean environment can pay for itself, many times over and often in unexpected ways.

Brings added value and marketing tool:

When you walk into a business premise and see it drab and unkempt, we can’t help but assume that if they do not care enough to keep the space clean, they might not care enough to take care of our needs. A good impression after all, is important. A sparkling clean workplace is an excellent promotion tool and brings added value.

Preserves and protects assets:

Commercial companies usually have a system for cleaning. They have specialised training in handling building assets such as carpets, floors and equipment which will prevent excessive wear and extends lifespan.

Healthy and happy employees:

If your employees’ morale is sagging, a good cleaning might just do the trick. Working in a clean office isn’t just nice, it’s a must. A clean workspace can have a major impact on how people feel and behave at work. It also improves air quality improves employee’s health and productivity and reduce sick days.

When you connect these benefits, you can now understand the value of commercial cleaning.

Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty: How to Clean Grout

Do you find yourself mumbling profanities at your grout? Or sometimes think, “Of all the colors in all the world, I just HAD to pick white…”

Well fret not, grime-fearing friends, for there are ways to properly tackle the mildew, dirt, and gunk that cling to those once sparkling crevices.

First and foremost, avoid wasting money on chemical cleaners that promise to work wonders on tile grout when cheap and healthier solutions can be found at home. No matter what you use, a lot of elbow grease will be involved – so be prepared to scrub! Here’s how to clean grout, so you can enjoy a shiny bathroom and kitchen once more.

Best Ways to Clean Tile Grout

When it comes to cleaning tile grout, you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. Grab a rag, toothbrush, and some vinegar, and you’re in business.

Vinegar

A simple bottle of vinegar puts those notorious “cleaning miracle” informercials to shame. Either apply it to the grout by itself or dilute it with water. Pour the vinegar along the edges of the tile and let it sit for 10 minutes before using a toothbrush in a circular motion. And if you need an added cleaning punch, look below for how it works with baking soda.

Vinegar + Baking Soda

These two household products combine to create one fantastic grime-fighting duo. Make a paste out of the baking soda by adding a little vinegar. Scrub the grout with the paste and handy-dandy toothbrush, and simply wipe away the residue. Yes, it can be a bit time-consuming, but the results of clean grout are far worth the effort.

Lemons

When life gives you lemons, clean that dirty grout! The high acidity in lemon juice eats away at stubborn stains and discoloration in grout. Leave it on for ten minutes before wiping clean. And bonus: The smell of fresh lemons is a lot better than cleaning solution.

How to Clean Really Tough Grout Stains

If you haven’t cleaned your grout lines in years (don’t be embarrassed; life gets busy), it’s time to bring in the big guns. With a few extra drops of this and a few scrubs of that, you can see shiny tile edges in no time. Put on some sunglasses; your bathroom and kitchen are about to shine bright. Here are the best ways to clean grout, when the stubborn gunk doesn’t want to leave.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Thanks to its oxidizing properties, this liquid makes a spectacular cleaning solution for many household needs, but especially for grout cleaning. It’s much safer than chlorine bleach or ammonia-based products, and, best of all, less expensive. Make a solution of half hydrogen peroxide and half water. Spray the grout and let sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing away with the toothbrush.

White Shoe Polish

If these other solutions don’t seem to do the trick and hopes of reaching that white grout perfection are waning, time to get creative. Apply white shoe polish to the grout and let it sit overnight. The polish will easily wipe off the tiles the next day, but the color will remain on the grout.

Follow these cheap and easy solutions and you’ll be on your way to pristine looking floors in no time. Just remember – keep your grout-cleaning toothbrush separate from your own!

And of course, if you want to skip the work and still enjoy perfect tiles, give ServiceMaster By Best a call. With over 30 years in the business, we know how to clean tile grout, along with everything else. Give us a call at 316 413 5738 for a free price quote today!

Cleaning Dog Hair Out of the Carpet

Dogs can be the perfect companion, their hair can be a nuisance. Is your pooch shedding onto your beloved carpet? No matter how hard you may try to prevent it, a hairy carpet (from time to time) is inevitable. Although vacuuming can be a great way to help maintain the quality of your carpet on daily basis, relying on a specific approach to clean deeply embedded hair correctly will save you money and time in the long run.


Here are some ways that you can help your carpet.

• Clean Up Dog Hair with Baking Soda. 

The baking soda method is not only great for extracting dog hair out of the carpet;it also leaves it smelling great. All you will need is a vacuum and a fresh box of baking soda (which you probably already have in your pantry.) Apply the baking soda liberally to the hair infested areas of your carpet and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Vacuum it throughly and you are done!

•  Clean Up Dog Hair with a Fabric Softener.

Cleaning up excess dog hair from your carpet does not have to cost you a thing.In fact, when you use the fabric softener approach, all it takes is some creativity and a little bit of time for this perfect do-it-yourself remedy to take affect. For this DIY, you will need a spray bottle, fabric softener, water and a vacuum. Start by mixing three parts water to one part fabric softener and pour into a pray bottle. Without spraying too much onto your carpet spray solution by lightly misting the misting the affected area of your carpet. Let is stand for a few minutes and vacuum it up!

• Use a Sponge Mop or Squeegee.

For stubborn hair that has been in your carpet for a while, it can easily become embedded deep in your carpets fibers. Try using a rubber squeegee and brush it along those troubled areas that contain your dog’s hair and fur.

• Try the Professionals at ServiceMaster By Best Rug and Carpet Cleaning Services. 

Do you have stubborn hair that is not budging despite your best efforts or just do not have the time to work on it? Give a professional carpet cleaners a try. We take pride in a through deeply penetrating clean so that your carpets can become restored to their natural, healthy state. Your carpets do not have to look like you are a pet owner, they just need to stay clean for one!

Structural Drying Techniques that Can Totally Eliminate Water Damage

Flooding is a type of disaster one cannot control. Be it from the excessive downpour of rain or a broken pipe, we know that floods can generate numerous damages in your residential and commercial places. When water enters a building, it immediately soaks up anything it comes in contact with.

Materials made out of paper, electrical wiring, and even the durability of your walls and floors are at stake when it comes to the destructive consequences left by flooding; and the majority of the time, these items and structures do find themselves under the mercy of the waves.
Dealing with the aftermath of a flood can range from being very simple to really complicated situations. Floods that do not even touch your ankles can be easily addressed with equipment that can be found in your home. Mops and rags will soak up and also dry the water that has entered in the room; if you want the drying process to be quicker, you can use a floor or a ceiling fan to get the job done.

For floods that have left a bigger catastrophe, however, mops and electric fans might be too small to get the job done. When you are facing this situation, the best solution is to contact the professionals immediately so they can perform what is called structural drying.

What is Structural Drying?

In its simplest terms, structural drying is the process wherein restoration companies utilize a strategy which saves time, money, and resources when it comes to drying a given space. Before structural drying, most afflicted areas were stripped off from floor to ceiling in order to remove the excess liquid that was left during the flooding. It is time consuming because it takes time to remove all the damaged areas of your home and replace them with a more durable material.

Why is it important to remove excess water, you ask? Water that has not been thoroughly removed from your floors, walls, and contents can further damage them. It promotes wood rotting, weakens the structural integrity of your space, and creates perfect places for mold to manifest.

Given the importance of removing the liquid from your home, it is in your best interest that restoration companies do what they must to protect your home from secondary water damages. With structural drying, the process of drying your home will be faster and cheaper than traditional methods.

What Happens During Structural Drying?

Restoration companies follow a set of principles when they are facing a structural drying project:

• They must actively extract the water with special tools
• Use air movers to evaporate moisture
• Dehumidify the air to prevent secondary damages from showing (e.g. wood rotting and mold)
• Maintain the ideal temperature for evaporation and dehumidification

Because of today’s technology, restoration companies can now eliminate water without the need to remove your walls or your floors. We use hi-tech equipment like dehumidifiers and air movers to dry the space, use scientifically proven methods that help quicken the drying process, and utilize techniques that uses less manipulation of contents.

With structural drying, you and your home will immediately receive the relief you need when clearing out the aftermath of flooding.

If you are in need of professional water or fire damage restorers and live in the Wichita Kansas Areas, dial: 316-243-9824 and we will immediately respond to your call! Our services include residential cleaning and commercial cleaning services, mold remediation, and many more!

You may also visit our contact page here. Our operating hours is 24/7, because we know that disasters can strike any time anywhere.

Why to Hire Green Cleaning Services?

Did you know that most of the cleaning products used by different office cleaning companies are made up of harsh cocktails of chemicals that can have an adverse effect on you and your employees?

You’ll be surprised to know that most of the regular cleaning products have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can mix easily with air. Any short-term or long-term exposure to them can cause many health problems such as headaches, dizziness, and can even affect the liver, kidneys or nervous system of your office staff.

Looking at these adverse effects, most of the businesses as well as commercial cleaning services have started to realize the importance of environmental-friendly green cleaning services.

If you’re already using or even planning to use the commercial cleaning services, it would be a better choice to hire environmentally friendly office cleaning service that uses green cleaning products for the betterment of your employees as well as environment.

These non-toxic and Eco-friendly green cleaning services minimize the chances of harmful chemicals present in the cleaning products and also ensure that you get healthier offices and better air to breathe.

Hence, don’t delay anymore to change your office cleaning company with the one that have years of expertise in green cleaning. Because, as they say, “Better safe than sorry!”

Contact ServiceMaster By Best at 316 413 5754 for all your cleaning services. Mail us at info@smbybest.com

5 Ways a Professional Office Cleaning Service Can Improve Your Business

Most people don’t like to clean, but that’s only part of the reason people hire professional cleaning services. If you don’t have a cleaning service utilized at your office it’s easy to underestimate its benefits.  Check out these 5 reasons why you should hire an office cleaning service today:

1. Making a Good Impression

If your office environment is dirty or disorganized, people will take notice.  It makes for a terrible first impression if a potential client or business partner walks into a dirty office.  Get peace of mind knowing that your office is always spotless by having a cleaning service take over the dirty work.

2. Stay Healthy

Does it seem like there’s constantly some kind of bug going around the office? Are people calling in sick on a regular basis?  The tight quarters of an office are a breeding ground for viruses.  One sick employee can start a chain reaction that can potentially halt productivity for days.  The bottom line–healthy employees will be more efficient, and a professional cleaning service can help keep sickness down to a minimum.

3. Save Time and Money

Cleaning isn’t only an undesirable task, its time-consuming.  Even small cleaning tasks can add up over time, cutting down your valuable workday.  You probably aren’t paying your employees to waste time cleaning the office.  Do yourself a favor, save some time and money by outsourcing cleaning tasks.

4. Get the Job Done Right

A professional cleaning service will have the proper tools and supplies to effectively tackle any mess.  If you don’t know the ins and outs of cleaning supplies it’s a succinct possibility that you can do damage to valuable office furniture and equipment.  If you want a job done right, leave it to the professionals.

5. Avoid Hassles

You’ve had those days where every moment counts.  It never seems like there’s time to get everything done—but that doesn’t mean you can leave the office a mess.  With a professional cleaning service on hand, you’ll never have to stay late to clean up or put off important cleaning tasks again.

For the premier cleaning service specializing in large, medium, and small businesses all over Wichita, El Dorado & Derby in Kansas, contact Wonder Janitorial Service for a free quote.  You’ll wonder what you did without us!

Odor Removal Services Wichita Kansas

Take advantage of Service Master Wichita KS professional odor removal services and make your building habitable once again. Undesirable odors in commercial and residential building make occupants uncomfortable while keeping visitors away. On the other hand, embarrassing odors in commercial buildings repel potential customers, leading to financial loss.

Hiring a professional cleaning and restoration team is highly recommended as the odor may be a sign of a serious underlying problem such as plumbing issues etc. Service Master Wichita KS has skilled, trained and IICRC certified technicians that have vast experience in recognizing the source of the odor, cleaning up the damage, treating the area as needed and assist in preventing possible serious problems. Call Service Master Wichita KS and benefit from the odor removal services.

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• Smoke odor removal services

ServiceMaster by Best a part of the Service Master Wichita KS family has experienced technical staff and equipment necessary for smoke odor removal. Smoke odor can occur due to regular kitchen fire after a period of time or a major fire disaster. Cigarette smoking in the rooms may leave the house with a nicotine stains and a pungent odor as the stale tar from cigarettes penetrates the surfaces such as spongy furniture, carpet and walls.

Though regular cleaning of the rooms with over the counter cleaners may remove some of the smoke, the smoke and odor that has penetrated and built up with time often results to odors that won’t just go away. Seeking help from professional technicians leads to complete removal of odor caused by different sources of smoke with a multi step cleaning and restoration process.

• Pet odor removal

So many households have one or more pets. Pets are an extension of the family, but sometimes they can be a source of embarrassing odors in residential places. Untrained pets do their business on rugs, carpets, floor and other surfaces such as on the furniture. This leads to strong smell of urine that requires immediate action. However, with well trained pets, odor problems may take time to occur as the urine gradually seeps into the floors, pet carpets and other surfaces.

This creates irritating odors in the house and compound after a period of time. In order to handle pet odors successfully, it is advisable to hire a reliable professional odor removal service provider. The technical team from Service Master Wichita KS cleans the carpets, upholstery and other affected areas with quality odor removal detergents with professional equipment, leaving the house odor free that makes everyone comfortable.

• Plumbing odor removal

Plumbing problems may result to unpleasant odors either due to sewage backup, backflow on the U-shaped pipes (p-Trap), clogged pipes from kitchen with rotting food particles or even drainage pipes from bathrooms and washing machines. Flushing out the kitchen, sink, bathroom, washing machine and other drainage pipes within and around the house with enzyme based cleaner helps in temporarily removing the odor.

However, routine plumbing odor removal services offered by professionals are important as they do not only get rid of the odor but accurately identifies the main source of the odor and goes further to treat other possible sources for prevention.

Contact Service Master Wichita KS at (316) 413-5754 for reliable, quality and affordable odor removal services in Wichita KS!

Never Rent Equipment in a Panic

As a restoration professional, your job is a help manage panic. People call you at all hours of the day, every day of the week, for your help solving big problems. Whether you’re removing standing water from a crawl space, drying out soaked carpet or cleaning up the chaos of a flooded basement, you are the person who comes in to save the day.

Since you have to be the one to manage others’ panic, it’s vital that you never panic yourself. And not knowing if you have enough equipment or manpower to respond to customer calls may indeed cause some stress. You don’t want to have to buy $100,000 worth of equipment impulsively in the middle of the night, just because you never thought the flood levels would get that high, or the rain would last that long, or the ice would be that destructive….

Prevent the panic by engaging with Global Drying Equipment ahead of time. We work with restoration companies who don’t need to rent additional dehumidifiers, desiccants, or air movers right now, but understand it’s vital to have contingency planning and equipment support in advance of peak business cycles.

With a Master Lease Agreement, we can take care of the paperwork and set up our relationship so that we’re ready to get equipment to you immediately, without fussing with new contracts or basic information. Your business is to respond immediately, so we want to be able to respond immediately to you by shipping equipment, right away, from one of our many equipment depots. A Master Lease Agreement helps us help you by ensuring you can immediately meet your customers’ needs.

Learn more about the benefits of renting equipment instead of buying it (and check out the cost-comparison infographic). Then, learn more about the benefits of starting a relationship with a rental company now.

Ready to talk with us about a Master Lease, or just learn how renting from Drying Equipment can help you avoid the last-minute equipment panic? Contact one of our knowledgeable salespeople today at (316) 413-5750.

ServiceMaster Cleans Up with Post-Construction Cleaning in Wichita Kansas

 

ServiceMaster Clean offers many services to the homes and businesses in and around Kansas. Our team of trusted professionals provide these services to benefit the lives of Wichita, El Dorado, Derby residents. From carpet and upholstery cleaning to water damage restoration and mold remediation, we help people get their homes and businesses clean, organized, and back on track. We are also experts in post construction cleaning for any new construction, remodeling projects, or demolition jobs they may have.

If you are expanding your business and building out to add more space to an existing structure, we can help you with your cleanup needs. If you are constructing a new addition to your home, we can help you remove old building materials. If you are undertaking any sort of remodeling project, our team of technicians can assist you with hauling away old wood, wires, and bricks, and by thoroughly removing any remaining debris like sawdust and drywall dust.

Undertaking a remodeling project for the home can be an exciting time, but it can also create a giant mess. We take care of the cleanup as quickly as possible so you can enjoy your new home improvements.

We tackle the cleanup after kitchen and bathroom remodeling, living room or dining rooms, and any indoor or outdoor post-construction cleaning. We can tackle any job and leave your home or place of business looking better than it ever did before.

Some of the other cleaning services we provide to homes and business owners includes tile and grout cleaning, hard surface floor cleaning and maintenance, carpet, drapes, blinds, and upholstered furniture cleaning. We also provide cleanup and restoration services after floods and fires. Whatever your home or business remodeling project, ServiceMaster Madison can help with full post-construction cleaning in Wichita Kansas.

Contact Us for More Information

How to Clean Laminate Floors - Less Water is Best

Please call 316.413.5742 to get a quote and schedule your appointment. While having your Laminate floor cleaning in Wichita, consider having other items cleaned while the techs are at your home.

Cleaning laminate floors is a breeze with the right mop. This handy guide will teach you how to clean laminate floors effortlessly so you have more time to put your feet up!

To get started you will need 2 things:

#1 Microfiber Mop

First make sure you have the right mop for the job. The best way to clean laminate floors is with a microfiber mop.

Microfiber mops glide across the floor picking up dirt and pet hair effortlessly. The swivel heads make it super fast to cover large areas, they get under tables and chairs easily, plus they require less water which is best because laminate flooring warps easily if exposed to water.

#2 Cleaning Solution

You can either buy a manufacturer’s cleaning solution or make one yourself (scroll down to see my recipe for homemade laminate floor cleaner below). Either way you’ll need a spray bottle to squirt the cleaning solution onto the mop pad.

Quick Instructions

1. dry mop with your microfiber mop OR use a vacuum on the wood floors setting to suck up big dust bunnies and hair tumbleweeds
2. dampen the microfiber pad with warm water and spray on the cleaning solution of your choice
3. mop the floor
4. when the microfiber pad gets too dirty simply – rinse, replace and continue
5. when you’re finished rinse the microfiber pad and put it in the washing machine on sanitary wash

 

 

NOT Recommended

Cleaning laminate floors with string mops or sponge mops will take you longer, leave streaky marks and because they use a lot of water will make it easier for moisture to sink into the cracks.

If moisture gets into the laminate core board it can warp the laminate floors over time.

No matter what the manufacturer told you about their floor having an airtight lock system, unless you’ve bought special waterproof laminate flooring with waxed edges I would never recommend using a string or sponge mop on laminate floor. The janitor in our office in Beijing used a string wet dripping mop and the flooring is warping after only two years of use.

Scroll to the bottom of this page to read my do’s and don’ts for caring for laminate flooring, plus bonus tips for removing exotic stains or stubborn marks.

3 Best Ways to Start

There’s never one perfect way to do anything which is why I’m going to leave it up to you to choose how you get the big dust bunnies and hair tumble weeds off the floor.

Everyone has their own personal routine and if you’re happier to do things a certain way then stick to it.

Here are the 3 best ways to get rid of the big stuff before you begin mopping with water. I’ve started with the fastest method and ended with the slowest.
 

1. Run a vacuum over the floor. Make sure it is set on the wood floors setting*
2. OR use the microfiber mop (without water) to get all the big clumps of hair and dust up. You can scrape the debris off and rinse before using the same microfiber pad for wet mopping
3. OR dry dust mop with a Swiffer type sweeper

Top Tip – It is best to sweep or vacuum in the direction that the floor is laid in to collect all the dirt between the grooves instead of trapping it.

*Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar because it can scratch the laminate floor. If your laminate floor has a high gloss or piano surface I recommend you avoid vacuuming altogether just to be on the safe side and begin with #2 or #3 instead. This is because even if you set the vacuum to the wood floors setting it can still scratch the floor and scratches on high gloss or piano surface are very obvious in the light.

Just Add Water 

If you’ve already been using your microfiber mop to dry mop the laminate floor, you can either scrape off the debris into a bin, rinse and reattach or simply replace the microfiber pad with a spare one.

Top Tip – it’s good to have a spare pad or two so you always have one to mop up emergency spillages with whilst others are cycling in the wash.

1. prepare your home made cleaning solution in a spray bottle or just grab your branded one from the cupboard
2. dampen the microfiber pad with warm water from the tap (not too soggy) and spray on the cleaning solution
3. mop the floor – a microfiber mop cuts through gunk with hardly any pushing down or scrubbing, so relax and let the mop do the work
4. when the microfiber pad gets too dirty after one or two rooms – rinse, reattach and continue. REMEMBER – You don’t need to haul a bucket of warm water around with you. One microfiber pad can easily last for two rooms or more so you don’t need to rinse it out in the sink very often. There’s no squeegeeing or high-duty wringing like with a string mop
5. when you’re finished rinse the microfiber pad in the sink and hang out to dry.
6. After several uses (and the pad appears to be quite discoloured) put it in the washing machine on sanitary wash

And that’s it!

This method of cleaning laminate floors will cut your cleaning time in half, plus it is the safest way to wet mop laminate flooring to prevent serious damage from warping.

Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner

Here’s an excellent recipe for home made laminate floor cleaner that works a treat, especially for cleaning high gloss laminate flooring leaving it completely streak free:

• 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar
• 1 squirt of liquid dish detergent
• put it all in a spray bottle and you’re good to go!

Making your own homemade laminate floor cleaner will save you from ever needing to buy an expensive manufacturer’s cleaner

Do’s and Don’ts of Caring for Laminate Flooring

• Do not use mops like string mops or sponge mops that use a lot of water (remember – if water corrupts the core-board it will cause it to warp!)
• When wet mopping your floor, do not soak the microfiber mop pad just dampen it
• Blot up  large spills with a sponge, dry cloth or paper towel. Do not allow puddles to remain on the surface of your laminate floor for a long period of time because they could cause warping
• Remember, laminate floor is not real wood, so you should never wax or polish your laminate flooring
• Do not use anything with chemicals that promotes a clean and shine
• Do not use bleach or abrasive cleaners for cleaning laminate floors
• Never use steel wool or scouring pads because they are renown for scratching surfaces

 

Removing Exotic Stains and Stubborn Marks

• Blood: give it spray of window cleaner and wipe with a damp cloth
• Chewing gum: use a plastic knife or something else (non metal) to get under the gum and avoid scratching the floor. Once you’ve prized the worst of it off rub the residue with a soft cloth dampened with mineral spirits
• Crayon: apply mineral spirits to a damp cloth and rub away
• Grease: Freeze with an ice pack until the grease hardens, then scrape off with a plastic knife. Wipe away the remaining residue with a squirt of window cleaner and a damp cloth.
• Ink: Wipe with a damp cloth. Add a little detergent if the stain is stubborn. If it’s very stubborn use a commercial ink remover but be sure to wipe up with a damp cloth once you’re done
• Nail polish: You guessed it, the answer is – nail polish remover. Wipe up with a warm watered damp cloth once your done.
• Red Wine or Coca Cola: wipe with a damp cloth
• Scuffs and heel marks: rub with a pencil eraser. It’s just like correcting your kid’s homework

Maintain The Life Of Carpet With Interim Cleaning

 

 

To maintain carpeting between deep cleanings, end users can choose from a range of options — equipment such as bonnet cleaning or low moisture methods, such as encapsulation and absorbent compounds. 

ServiceMaster By Best recommends encapsulation for large carpeted areas.

With a lot of interim maintenance concepts, you’re not removing a tremendous amount of the soil load, but you’re making the surface look more uniform and clean. Most facilities don’t have the budgets or manpower to continually deep clean that carpet, so to me, this is the next best option.
To fill the gap between vacuuming and deep cleanings, the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Program has introduced a new category for interim maintenance systems. This new maintenance protocol can educate customers and help them make the right choice when purchasing interim cleaning machines.

The interim maintenance system is a test to measure whether you have appearance improvement and also whether an interim maintenance program would have a deleterious effect on the carpet or carpet fibers. We check resoiling, the presence of optical brighteners, color fastness and determine the pH level of cleaning chemicals.

Extremely acidic or alkaline chemicals can adversely affect dyes and certain carpet fibers. Chemicals with a more neutral pH are considered safer to use when cleaning carpets. The diluted formula is tested using a standard pH meter.

With regard to surface appearance improvement, the carpet is measured before and after cleaning using a spectrophotometer. A step change analysis determines whether or not the appearance has improved enough to pass the test.

Resoiling is one of the primary reasons interim maintenance systems fail.

The test results have to be less than a half step on the AATCC grey scale for color change. That can be a rigorous test. One of the things we find is when you look at treatment chemicals used in interim maintenance, [resoiling] is usually the source of failure; they cause resoiling because they leave too much residue in the carpet.

Hiring a Carpet Cleaning Professional Services

When you hire professionals, you’ll get to choose between steam cleaning and dry extraction cleaning. Each method — if handled by a qualified pro — will do wonders for dirty carpets. Not only do professionals have far more powerful equipment than you’re likely to buy or rent, they have far more experience removing stains. Prices may vary widely for essentially the same service, so shop carefully.

ServiceMaster meet these requirements. We are a well-known, trusted cleaning company in Wichita, Kansas. We are a trusted name that offer top-notch commercial and residential cleaning services in Wichita KS, according to the wishes of our clients.

Therefore, if you need a cleaning company in Wichita, KS, don’t hesitate to call ServiceMaster at (316) 243-9824.

The Hazards of Hoarding

Please call 316.413.5742 to get a quote and schedule your appointment. While having your hoarder cleanup services, consider having other items cleaned while the techs are at your home.

People begin hoarding for a number of reasons. They believe they will need the items they keep; they think items will be valuable one day; they are emotionally attached to items, feel sentimental, or they have trouble seeing items in the trash.

Whether hoarding is connected to a medical condition or a condition all its own, it is an issue that divides the medical community.

Regardless of the motivations behind hoarding, it is unsafe and can make living conditions dangerous. ServiceMaster Cleaner’s professional staff is trained to help families compassionately and can safely return a home to habitable conditions.

The health consequences of hoarding

The majority of hoarding involves clothes, books, knick-knacks, mementos and various paper materials, like stationery or even coupons. There are serious health consequences if this clutter expands to unsafe levels and overtakes a home.

1. Dangers of fire
A home full of books and magazines is loaded with kindling. If paper covers a heat vent, fires may occur. Additionally, overcrowded outlets in a hoarder’s home can spark.

2. Impact on your lungs
Hoarding may lead to health problems, especially if people in an unclean environment breathe in damaging particles. Potential hazards to your respiratory system include mold spores, dust or chemicals.

3. Transmission of disease
When a setting becomes infested with mice, rats and/or biological material like fecal matter or urine, the situation is ripe for the spread of disease. If the home in question is full of animals, this danger may be magnified. It’s important to remember that contact with an infected surface can harm the homeowner or a visitor even if there is no visible threat, as some communicable diseases can survive outside the body for months.

4. Getting trapped or injured
When belongings are precariously stacked throughout a home, falling items sometimes injure hoarders. They may trip and hurt themselves and can even get trapped under debris.

5. Clutter obstructs first responders
In the event of an emergency, first responders may not be able to navigate a home to offer assistance if the clutter obstructs entrances or pathways to the bedroom.

ServiceMaster by Best returns homes to a safe environment

Cleaning a home occupied by a hoarder can be very dangerous. There are many serious hazards to avoid. That’s why it is important to call a professional when a home is in need of remediation.
Aftermath works with families and friends to remove waste and eliminate health risks. Our process helps prevent the spread of communicable diseases and offers the peace of mind that comes with knowing waste is disposed of properly. If you need assistance, give us a call. We’ll put the Aftermath Way to work for you.

4 Remedies for Stubborn Odors

Please call 316.413.5742 to get a quote and schedule your appointment. While having your odor removal in Wichita, consider having other items cleaned while the techs are at your home.
There is nothing more pleasant than a clean, fresh-smelling home. Unfortunately, your home can also be a breeding ground for nasty odors. Here are some common home odors and how to get rid of them:

Stinky Garbage Can

Everybody is familiar with the stinky smell of a full garbage can. Eggshells, potato skins, and apple cores are all heaped together to create a disgusting symphony of smell. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to get rid of the odor: take out the trash.

But what if the garbage can still stinks?

You might be tempted to battle the stink by simply spraying the can down with an air freshener before putting a new bag in. But air fresheners merely mask the problem and are not effective in providing a real solution. Also, many contain harsh chemicals and the too-sweet smells might give you a headache. So it’s best to tackle the problem by getting to the odor source.

Firstly, you can also give the garbage can a good washing, either with dish detergent, bleach, or ammonia. But be careful! Mixing bleach and ammonia creates toxic fumes, which would be even worse than a smelly trash can. For the best results, clean and deodorize simultaneously with a commercial strength product like ODOREZE™ Natural Dumpster Odor Eliminating Spray & Cleaner.

Secondly, it best to prevent the smelly garbage problem in the future by adding a little bit of SMELLEZE® Natural Garbage Smell Proofing Granules in the bag before using it. This way the granules will continually absorb any rotting food smell as it’s created and keep your garbage can and kitchen smelling clean.

Smelly Diaper Pail

Parents only want what’s best for their children, especially when it comes to keeping the little ones safe and happy. A diaper pail is a breeding ground for nasty smells. Even those handy pails that wrap each individual diaper can only do so much. Be sure to empty the pail often.

If you’re worried about using harsh chemicals in the baby’s nursery, never fear. There are plenty of natural ways to get rid of the stinky diaper smell. You could try a dryer sheet in the bottom of the pail, or you can sprinkle in some baking soda. But the results may be marginal at best.

If neither of these is powerful enough to vanquish the diaper smell, then it’s time to consider using a professional but safe product like SMELLEZE® Eco Diaper Pail Odor Absorbing Crystals. This is a 100% natural product that eliminates stool and urine odor without using fragrances or toxic chemicals so it’s safe to use around the nursery.

Moldy Smells

Moldy smells can appear in any area of the house, but they’re most commonly found in the kitchen, bathroom, and basement – the damp areas.

• In the kitchen: Be sure to wring out sponges and washcloths and let them dry thoroughly. If you live in a humid climate, switch out the sponge for a plastic brush. That way there’s no dark, damp place for mold to grow.
• In the bathroom: Invest in a squeegee. After a steamy shower, squeegee the shower doors and any mirrors. In dry climates, floor mats will usually be okay, but be sure to wash them often anyway and even more often in humid areas.
• In the basement: If water is getting in from the outside, get in touch with a professional waterproofing company. Even if you don’t hire them, they can give you some tips for keeping water away from the foundation of your home. You may invest in a sump pump, or have the rain gutters on your roof replaced to direct water away from the home.

Wherever the moldy odors are coming from, be sure to keep the area clean and dry. To help with the latter and prevent mold, place MOISTURESORB™ Reusable Moisture Absorbent Pouches in damp areas to capture excess moisture from the air. Mold spores can cause breathing difficulties and serious illnesses, so it’s important to track down and eliminate the cause of the smell.

Toilet Smells

The stench of a backed-up drain is one of the most unpleasant odors in a home. But if you’ve got a smelly toilet, don’t panic. As long as you’ve got another working commode in the house, you can use that one while you deal with the problem. Here are a few tips for getting rid of the yucky toilet smell:

• If the toilet is clogged, try to force the clog through by using a plunger. If that doesn’t work, you can use hot water with a bit of dish soap – hot water will hopefully loosen the clog. Another method to try is baking soda and vinegar. That volcanic action will, with any luck, force the clog out of the pipes.
• If, after all your hard work, the toilet is still clogged, it’s time to call in the professionals. Plumbers in Oakville are sometimes available 24/7, so you can get help whenever disaster strikes.
• If the toilet isn’t clogged, you’re in luck – it just needs a good cleaning. Instead of simply scrubbing the bowl, get a rag and some cleaner and wipe down the entire outside: tank, lid, seat, bowl, base, and the floor around. Inside the bowl, use whichever toilet cleaner you like best. For tough stains, drop in a denture cleaning tablet or two. Let them effervesce for half an hour or so, give the bowl a quick scrub with the brush, and flush. For tough commode odors, discretely hang a SMELLEZE® Reusable Toilet Odor Eater Pouch on the side of the tank in the commode.

No matter where the stubborn odor is coming from, getting rid of it is easier than you think once you know how.

8 No-Sweat Tricks to Clean Any Type of Floor

The same quality that makes this natural material so beautiful—its porosity—makes it very susceptible to water damage. Because it’s so absorbent, most cork flooring is sealed, but you still need to proceed with caution.

Please call 316.413.5742 to get a quote and schedule your appointment. While having your hardwood flooring cleaned in Wichita, consider having other items cleaned while the techs are at your home.

Don’t break out the knee pads and scrub brushes just yet. Whether your floor is laminate or tile, linoleum or cork, we’ve got the simplest and safest ways to keep them looking spotless and new.

1. Cleaning Laminate Flooring

After all, the planks are constructed in sun- and light-resistant layers to maintain a like-new appearance for years. That said, it’s important to keep water from getting underneath the planks. Dearing recommends dry mopping or vacuuming the floor, making sure the machine is on tile mode (as opposed to carpet) so the beater bar is raised. Spot-clean with a slightly damp mop (or a wet Swiffer, since they aren’t sopping wet) when necessary.

Dearing’s last bit of advice: Never polish a laminate floor. If the finish of a plank looks damaged, it’s best to replace it.

2. Cleaning a Cork Floor

“Vacuum often to prevent scratching, wipe up spills immediately, and wash cork floors once a week,” says Leslie Reichert, the Green Cleaning Coach. Reichert suggests skipping commercial cleaning products in favor of a vinegar-and-soapy-water solution: Place 1/4 cup vinegar in a spray bottle with 1 drop of dish soap and warm water.

Naturally acidic vinegar works with the soap to break down dirt, cut through build-up and disinfect. Don’t shake the solution (that would create suds), just gently combine the ingredients in a spray bottle by rocking it back and forth. Spray the floor a section at a time and wipe with a damp microfiber mop as you go.

3. Cleaning a Hardwood Floor



Hardwood floors typically have one of two finishes: polyurethane or wax. Not sure what you’re standing on? Rub your finger across the surface, says Meg Roberts, president of Molly Maid. If a smudge appears, the floor is likely waxed.

Sealed wood floors typically have a urethane, polyurethane, or polyacrylic coating. This protects them from stains and water damage, says Roberts. To clean, simply mix ¼ cup of mild or pH-neutral soap (try Seventh Generation All-Purpose Natural Cleaner Concentrate) with water in a bucket. (Steer clear of acidic vinegar solutions, which can dull wood floors over time.) Then damp-mop (be sure the mop is wrung out very well), using a dry microfiber cloth to wipe up any excess moisture. Clean high-traffic areas like the kitchen once a week; for less-trafficked areas, mop once a month.
If you have waxed wood floors, you’re off the hook—sort of. Since this type of flooring can be damaged by even small amounts of water, keep damp mops away from this surface, and instead sweep, dust mop or vacuum regularly.

4. Cleaning Bamboo Flooring



Bamboo is sustainable, beautiful—and in some cases, softer and more prone to nicks and scratches than hardwood floors. Unless you have strand bamboo flooring—the hardest, most durable type available—be extra vigilant about regularly sweeping up dirt and debris. “Especially with the expense of bamboo, extra care should be used,” says Roberts, who uses a tennis ball to gently buff out marks. She uses the same cleaning solution on bamboo as on hardwood: mix ¼ cup of mild or pH-neutral soap in one bucket of water. Swipe across floor using a barely-damp mop, wiping up excess moisture with a dry microfiber cloth.

5. Cleaning a Linoleum Floor



We’re not talking nearly-indestructible vinyl flooring (see the next section for tips on cleaning that surface). True linoleum is made from linseed oil, resin, limestone, wood fiber and cork dust, and colored with mineral pigments. Treat this resilient, natural flooring as you would cork, advises Reichert: Mix up a spray bottle of just a few drops of dish soap and hot water, then spritz a section of the floor at a time and wipe with a damp microfiber mop. The floor should air-dry almost immediately, but if it feels slightly sticky to the touch just swipe it with another clean, damp microfiber mop or cloth.

6. Cleaning a Vinyl Floor



For weekly cleaning, use Reichert’s spritz-and-dry mop technique to keep tile floors looking fresh: Gently mix 1/4 cup vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle with 1 drop of dish soap and warm water. Spray the floor one section at a time and wipe with a damp microfiber mop as you go. For periodic deep cleans, she likes to use a steam cleaner to clean both tile and grout—the steam does the work of removing stains (and bacteria!), so you don’t feel like you got an extra workout right there in your kitchen.

7. Cleaning Natural Stone Flooring



Whatever you do, leave the vinegar in the pantry, warns Kris Koenig, CEO of eco-friendly cleaning company Natura Clean, in Middleton, Wiss. Even a small amount of the acidic liquid could damage stone floors, as could bleach and ammonia. Instead, mop sealed stone floors with a pH-neutral, non-chelating cleaner that won’t react adversely to the minerals in natural surfaces. Koenig’s favorite is Naturally It’s Clean Floors cleaner.

If your stone tiles are unsealed, says Reichert, simply mop with a microfiber mop and hot water; chemicals would penetrate the stone. For stubborn dirt, use a steam cleaner.

8. Cleaning Porcelain Tile Flooring



For weekly cleaning, use Reichert’s spritz-and-dry mop technique to keep tile floors looking fresh: Gently mix 1/4 cup vinegar in a 16-ounce spray bottle with 1 drop of dish soap and warm water. Spray the floor one section at a time and wipe with a damp microfiber mop as you go. For periodic deep cleans, she likes to use a steam cleaner to clean both tile and grout—the steam does the work of removing stains (and bacteria!), so you don’t feel like you’re getting an extra workout right there in your kitchen.

Indoor Mold Removal: the Health Risks, Identification and Remediation

Indoor Mold Removal in Wichita Ks (316) 413-5750
 

When you think of indoor mold, what typically comes to mind? That neglected drawer in the fridge—you know the one, where you stash the broccoli your kids despise? Truth is, indoor molds are common and come in many varieties, yet are often overlooked. As the source of health problems including allergies, asthma attacks and worse, mold removal performed by a professional may become necessary.

 

What sorts of health problems are caused by indoor mold?

 

When mold cells are breathed in and invade the respiratory tract, the body’s immune system tries to destroy the mold much like it would fight a flu virus. The result could be a runny nose, headaches, scratchy throat and sneezing, or allergic rhinitis.The lung disease asthma, in which the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs can partially close, can also be aggravated by indoor mold. More than half of asthmatics have respiratory allergies, and inhaling mold can trigger asthma episodes in sensitive cases.

Respiratory infection, in which live mold occupies the tissues of the respiratory tract or lungs, is especially dangerous for those with weakened immune systems.

Finally, ingesting or inhaling large doses of certain molds can result in poisoning caused by toxins in the mold cells.

What are the most common indoor molds?

Generally speaking, there are three categories of mold: allergenic, known to cause allergic reactions; pathogenic, of concern to those with weak immune systems; and toxigenic—a danger to all. Folks sometimes try to categorize mold by its color, but this doesn’t always work, as both harmless and harmful molds exist in each color group.

Two recognizable molds that pose health problems are:

1. Green Molds (Aspergillus/Penicillium) – With over 185 types, this fungus is linked to allergies as well as a serious infection called Aspergillosis found in the lungs, ears, eyes, nose, sinuses, and even the brain. Aspergillosis is caused by inhaling the spores of green mold. And green mold, like all molds, is the result of exposure to moisture.
2. Black Molds (Stachybotrys) – Perhaps the most dreaded of molds, black mold is slimy to the touch and grows rapidly in wet wallpaper, drywall, carpet, ceiling tiles and elsewhere. Not all black mold is toxic. Professional testing using protective clothing and equipment is needed to be sure. Black mold removal should be done by professional remediation if results are positive.

What does the mold removal process involve?

According to the EPA, “the key to mold control is moisture control.” Mold spores won’t grow if moisture isn’t present, so if there is a moisture problem in your home or office, you must clean up the mold and fix the water issue or the mold will return.

Mold remediation is the process of cleanup and removal of mold from an indoor environment. Step one is a visual examination to determine if mold is present, what species it is and what level of remediation will be necessary. The assessment often involves moving furniture, lifting or removing carpets, checking behind wallpaper and even opening up walls…much to the property owner’s dismay.

In some cases, especially when occupants of the home or business are experiencing symptoms of illness, sampling of the mold spores may be performed by experts to answer further questions.

When cleaning the mold with bleach, it is important to wear a respirator and protective clothing. Better yet, play it safe and leave the job to the experts who may use any number of high-tech mold removal methods and equipment in the remediation process, including:

• Moisture meter
• Humidity gauge
• HEPA filtered vacuum
• Dry ice blasting
• Borescope (to view potential mold problems inside walls without damaging them)
• Themographic camera

…and more.

To learn more about mold remediation, talk to your local disaster cleaning and restoration professionals. If you suspect that mold is affecting the health of those in your home or office space, please don’t wait—mold problems should be addressed within 24 to 48 hours.

ServiceMaster by Best Cleaning & Restoration has proudly served all of Wichita Kansas. ServiceMaster by Best specializes in the complete repair of fire, smoke, wind, water and vandalism damage to both commercial and residential properties. Capable of handling any size loss and working with all types of insurance providers, the ServiceMaster by Best disaster team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

For more information, visit www.smbybest.com or call 316-413-5738

How to Do an Emergency Water Damage Restoration

Water damage on property can happen from blocked drains, broken pipes, malfunctioning appliances, storms, sewage backups and flood waters. In every scenario, the nature of the damage will dictate the appropriate treatment. But whatever the cause of the water damage, the promise of restoration will depend largely on the speed with which the premises and personal property can be dried. Some emergency restoration services may be carried out by property owners themselves until professional help arrives.

Emergency Water Damage Restoration Tips

While most of the work will need to be done by professionals, here are some water damage restoration tips to follow while waiting for professionals to arrive at the scene.

• Remember that water does not have to be contaminated to cause damage but that even clean water can generate mildew, mold and other bacterial growth if neglected. Therefore, it becomes very important to ventilate the wet areas as soon as possible. The safest way of doing this is to open all windows for maximum airflow. This will help remove some of the moisture and circulate air around the premises.
• Shut off the electrical supply to the affected area to prevent the risk of electrical hazards such as getting electrocuted.
• Carefully start removing standing water from flat surfaces by sponging, mopping or blotting. When doing so, it is absolutely crucial to wear protective covering especially if the water is contaminated. This includes rubber gloves, boots as well as face masks.Remove saturated rugs, carpets and other porous materials. In case of clean water, carpets may be saved when cleaned and disinfected professionally but will need to be discarded if water damage is from contaminated water.
• Transport computers and portable devices to a dry environment. The faster these items get out of water’s way, the greater their chance of salvaging.
• Likewise, clear away lamps, telephones and decorative items from wet furniture tops.
• Open drawers and cabinet doors for interior drying without forcing to open any stuck surfaces.
• A useful tip is to freeze important documents and books to retard mildew growth until proper drying can be performed.

Where water damage is caused by contaminated water, such as sewage or flood water, it is important to remember that this water contains bacteria and other microorganisms that are extremely dangerous to human health. Sewage and flood damage restoration demand additional precautionary measures such as keeping all children and pets out of the contaminated area while considering all water impacted surfaces as toxic until properly decontaminated.

Just as it is important to know what to do in a water damage emergency quickly, it is equally important to know what not to do in the same situation. These measures include the following:

• Never operate any appliances or vacuums while standing on wet carpet or floors.
• Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors since both mildew as well as expanded moisture damage may occur.
• Avoid leaving wet fabrics in place and space them apart to prevent mold formation.
• For water damage sustained from sewage or flood waters, try not to track any contaminated materials onto undamaged areas since that can spread the contamination.
• Also, trying to decontaminate surfaces with over the counter sprays and other products may not work and not completely sterilize the affected surfaces.

Whenever a water emergency hits your home or other property, immediately get assistance from a professional water damage restoration company like ServiceMaster By Best in Wichita. We are a team of professionals who know that water damage restoration costs can add up quickly and offer our timely services to restore your property to its original condition.

What the heck is a Pack-Out?

www.SMbyBest.com, a flood and fire cleanup provider with pack-out transfer storage services you can trust!

Everyday 14,000 people experience a water or fire emergency inside of their home or business. The emergencies are unexpected incidents stemming from faulty pipes inside of your walls, and a variety of other environmental issues. Emergencies that are fire related often times stem from poor electrical wiring or lack of responsibility when operating flames. With a number that staggering it is no mystery that you need help. All too often the disaster not only affects the property, but all of the contents that are inside of it. The contents can range from your comforters and blankets, to clothing purses and shoes.

In a nutshell, a pack-out is done when a customer experiences a household disaster such fire or water damage and they discover that damage carried over from the structure of the house to the items inside of their home. This is when a restoration company is called in to gather and box up the wet and damaged contents of the house. The overall goal is to prepare the contents for transport to the restoration company’s warehouse where it will be cleaned and deodorized while repairs are being made to the structure of the home.

The Pack-out, Transfer and Restoration process is performed by skilled and qualified restoration team members, who pay extra attention to the care of your belongings. Each one of your items are photographed, carefully boxed up and inventoried and transported to a climate controlled warehouse where they are sorted, washed, deodorized, sanitized, disinfected and dried. They are all re-inventoried then packed back up and stored in a climate controlled storage vault until the house is back to it’s habitable state. It is at this point that the restoration company will perform what is called a “pack-back” where all items are returned back to your home & unpacked.



To assist you in choosing the right restoration company for you we have provided a list of 10 questions to ask when you are researching companies.

10 Questions to ask when choosing a Pack-out, Transfer and Restoration Company

1. How long have you been in business?
2. What is the number one service your company provides?
3. How many jobs like ours have you done in the past year?
4. Are you a local business?
5. Does your company do all of the work or is it subcontracted?
6. What kinds of cleaning methods do you use?
7. What kind of training or certifications does your staff have?
8. What is the turn around time for cleaning emergency items?
9. Do you store my contents in a secure, climate controlled location?
10. What kind of inventory system do you use for contents?