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