Professional Tips on Caring For Your Carpet

Cleaning Service Austin Texas

For many homeowners who don’t want to deal with the difficulties of tile or hardwood flooring, carpet is an excellent choice. It's also safer for children and the elderly, and a clean carpet can be a gorgeous sight. However, a carpet that is not properly maintained and cleaned can easily become a problem. If you follow these tips from The Steam Team, keeping your carpet looking clean and soft can be simple and easy.

How To Prevent Stains

Nothing ruins a good carpet like a stain, and sometimes one small spill is all it takes. Here is some helpful advice to avoid staining your beloved carpet:

• Train your pets well to avoid them urinating on the carpet. 

• Make use of rugs in areas of the carpet where spills are common, such as underneath the dining room table.

• Remove your shoes when entering the home. 

Avoid These Mistakes

You might think cleaning a carpet is easy, and it can be! But many homeowners make mistakes that only worsen their carpet, here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

• Using carpet powders. Carpet powders are advertised as easy ways to eliminate unwanted scents from carpets, but these powders can leave residue in the carpet and do damage over time.

• Rubbing stains. Rather than rubbing, dab and press on stains to remove them from your carpet. Rubbing stains will only push them deeper into the carpet.

Proper Carpet Care

Nothing is more important to the cleanliness of your carpet than well.. Cleaning it! Here are the proper ways to regularly clean your carpet:

• Vacuum with baking soda. Vacuuming regularly will help keep dirt and debris out of your carpet. Adding baking soda before vacuuming will help remove odors.

• Remove stains immediately. Any stain left unattended, even for a short while, will sink deeper into the carpet.

Call in the professionals. Even with all other methods in this article properly utilized, it’s good to occasionally have your carpet professionally cleaned to keep it looking its best. This is why The Steam Team offers professional carpet cleaning. Call The Steam Team for your carpet cleaning needs today!

Why Should You Choose Marble Flooring?

So you’ve set out to choose a new flooring for your home, have you? Have you considered installing marble flooring in your living areas or entry ways? It’s known for its elegance and ability to elevate any living space. It’s an obvious contender. Let’s take a glance at why you should choose marble flooring in your home. 

It’s Stylish

To start, marble flooring is very stylish! We know this, but let’s talk why! Marble is available in multiple different colors, and even color mixes. You have plenty of options for decorating your living area and we know you’ll find the perfect colors for your home. 

It’s Polished

When treated properly, marble is silky smooth and shimmering. It’s a truly unique look that looks beautiful in flooring, as well as countertops and other spaces in your home! Keep it nice and polished (you can always let the professionals do this for you) and you’ll be good to go. Always make sure you’re using the correct formulas on your marble! 

It’s Easy to Care For

Our last advantage for you is that marble is relatively easy to care for as long as it’s sealed and polished properly. Just make sure you’re using cleaning formulas that are safe for marble, and you’ll be all set. You can also rely on The Steam Team to clean and polish your marble for you! Isn’t that the easiest option? We certainly think so!

The best news is, you can always call in the professionals. The Steam Team has all of the right products to clean and protect your marble flooring, countertops, vanities, and more. So when it comes to installing marble in your home and making all of the right decisions, don’t sweat it; The Steam Team has your back! Give us a call for all your water damage needs. We have been serving Austin, Texas since 1983!

3 Tips for Caring for Tile and Grout

Let’s face it: caring for tile and grout cleaning isn’t as easy as others may think it is! It’s in the kitchen, the bathroom, your living room floor is tile… on cleaning day, it may seem like it’s everywhere and impossible to keep up with, but that’s not the case! Though grout is difficult to keep clean (just think of all of the use your shower gets) with a little willpower and maybe a professional’s touch, it can be simple to maintain. Below are three tips for doing just that: keeping your tile and grout looking brand new: 

Understand Why Grout is Difficult to Clean

Grout is porous in nature, which means that it easily absorbs moisture, dirt, dust, and many other debris. Sometimes a scrub brush can be all that it takes to remove debris, but other times, more extreme measures should be taken. 

Make Sure Your Grout is Sealed

Sealing your grout provides it with a protective layer against spills, stains, and grime. If your shower is used often enough, you may need to seal it once to twice a year. It’ll help the grout to repel stains, and keep your bathroom looking new for longer!

Call in The Steam Team!

Whatever is lurking in the pores of your grout doesn’t stand a chance against The Steam Team’s high powered, professional-grade steam cleaning equipment! Today, a lot of grout-cleaning products that are on the market contain harsh chemicals that could damage your tile or grout. But a steam cleaner uses nothing but pressurized water and intense heat, making it the ideal option for cleaning! It reaches deep within the pores of grout to extract everything from dirt, to slime and grime! You’ll be thankful that you gave us a call. 

The Top 3 Dangers of Plumbing Overflow

Every homeowner will experience plumbing overflow of one kind or another at some point in their lifetime. That’s why it’s so important to understand plumbing overflow and the potential dangers that come along with it, as well as understanding how to avoid them, and how to combat them when they’ve already happened. Hopefully with this information form The Steam Team, you’ll have a better understanding of what can happen when your plumbing gets out of control.

Mold Growth

One of the possible dangers of any kind of plumbing overflow is mold growing in the home. All that mold needs to start growing is a wet, dark area in the home. As the plumbing overflow sinks through the floors, into the walls, or any other secluded place, it provides the perfect home for mold growth. Left unchecked, the mold will only continue to grow and cause a host of health problems for everyone in the home, especially those who already have allergy problems or respiratory issues.

Damaged Floors

If excessive amounts of water start to build up on any floor due to plumbing overflow, the water will sink into the floor and cause damage to the subfloor, which will then have to be removed. If water sinks into a second story floor, it could leak all the way through and drip down, causing even more damage to your home.

Safety Hazards

Possibly the most alarming threats of plumbing overflow are the immediate safety hazards it can create. Many surfaces will become slippery when wet, and you have to be careful when walking on them or they could cause you to slip and become seriously injured. If water leaks onto any electrical appliance, it could cause electrocution.

How The Steam Team Can Help

With all of this in mind, you can see how dangerous plumbing overflow can really be, and handling it by yourself is certainly not the best option. That’s why we offer plumbing overflow cleanup and water damage restoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information,

3 Reasons to Rid Your Home of Smoke and Ash After a Fire

House fires are devastating all around. You lose possessions, you take on structural damage to your home, and smoke and ash feel nearly impossible to get rid of! But with the help of a professional cleaning and restoration company who really knows what they’re doing, you can have your home back to normal in no time! And you definitely want to be hasty about it; here are three reasons to rid your home of smoke and ash after a fire:

Simply put, smoke and ash cause...

Damage to Your Possessions

Smoke and soot can cling to your possessions, causing discoloration, staining, that stench; ultimately the smoke ruins them. It’s important that you immediately contact the professionals for help with the cleanup! You want to make sure it’s done correctly, in order to protect the health of you and your loved ones.

Damage to Your Home

Smoke clings to walls, countertops, and flooring, too. The evidence of that devastating house fire is everywhere. But let’s get rid of it! The Steam Team can come in and effortless steam clean your walls, countertops, flooring, draperies- almost anything. Contact the professionals, like us, and we’ll be out in no time to help restore your home to its original condition!

Damage to Your Health

Finally, smoke and ash pose a health risk. Not to mention, smoked-damaged property slowly and gradually releases toxic gases and chemicals into the environment- that doesn’t sound good for your health, does it? Contact the professionals for help removing smoke and soot completely from your home.

Whatever the issue may be, The Steam Team has your back! From general cleanup and restoration to cleaning up after a house fire, we know exactly what to do! We also have top-notch equipment that we like to bring along; you’ll be shocked at our results!

Steam Team: How to Properly Remove Smoke After Fire & Water Damage

steam clean austin

After a fire on your property, you’re going to want to take precautions to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. A fire can be a truly traumatic experience, so it’s important to take the necessary time to process, and heal, and think clearly. Also sometimes you have extensive water damage so taking immediate action action is necessary. 

First Things First

Once you’ve processed and you’re ready to take action, call your insurance company ASA! Inform them of the event and find out how they will want to proceed. Next, you’ll need to hire a fire-restoration company to help clean up and salvage your property. Since time is of the essence, restoration companies such as our restoration team here at Steam Team are available around the clock to get to work as fast as we can! We’ve covered some tips here on how to handle smoke damage after a fire. Before you do any of it, though, check with your restoration company first.

Ventilate Using Box Fans

Bring several box fans with you, and place them in all open windows to blow the air out of the room (instead of circulating it around your home).  You might need to double-check your window measurements beforehand, just in case they won’t fit. Once you’re all set, leave the fans running during all hours to ensure that you’re clearing out as much dust, dirt, debris and contamination as possible.    

Wear a Safety Mask

Don’t forget to purchase dust respirators (such as these by 3M) while you’re out getting box fans. They will guard you from breathing in contaminants at the scene.

Use the Appropriate Equipment

If you are going to tackle any vacuuming of furniture, carpet, or drapery yourself, use a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. Have several filters on hand and change them often.

A dry cleaning soot sponge helps remove loose soot contamination. Note that discoloration of porous materials is permanent. You can find these sponges online or at a hardware store.

Caring for Floors in Your New Home

Luxury Home Cleaning

Alas- after much anticipation, preparation, and hard work, you’re all moved into your brand new home. And you stand in the entryway, marveling at its immaculate state, you wonder… How am I supposed to keep my house this clean?

While we can assure you that this task is totally doable without the acquisition of superhero strength, there are still a few tools of the trade that we think you should know!

Hardwood

Well Friends, there’s no easy way around it: you’re going to be doing a ton of vacuuming. On the bright side, this is more efficient than sweeping, and isn’t as demanding on the body. You can use an attachment to reach dusty corners, or those creepy dark spaces beneath appliances. After the dust and dirt has been removed, use a spray mop to finish it off! Spray mops are typically lightweight and very simple to use.

Carpet

In addition to frequent vacuuming and spot treating, we recommend hiring a professional steam cleaning company. Occasionally, carpet collects enough dust, dirt, and general wear that it needs a professional’s touch: this includes expert technique, and professional-grade equipment!

Tile

Tile flooring should be periodically mopped with warm water and a cleansing solution, but in the interim, a dry dusting mop will be your secret weapon.

Marble

To maintain that new, spotless look in your marble flooring, you’ll need only two things: a soft sponge, and a cleanser that is specially formulated for marble/stone. With warm water, sponge away spills immediately after you discover them. With this habit in place, and frequent dust mopping, your floors should sparkle!

Don’t dwell on all of the accidents, spills, scrapes, chips, and scrubs that will inevitably take place all over the flooring in your new home. Instead, gear up to establish a thorough, effective cleaning routine to keep your home looking like the day you moved in. And of course, for a professional’s advice and expertise, contact The Steam Team today!

3 Tips to Maintain Your Flooring Through the Winter

Water And Fire Damage 

The holidays are a hectic time of year for most people! We’re exhausted from working long hours, tying up the year. We’re frazzled, running on fumes, and full of doubts like “Does Timmy already have this set of Legos? Are gift cards still a ‘thing?’” In the middle of preparing for family gatherings and a season spent indoors, it’s difficult to keep up with cleaning routines! But with the right amount of focus in the correct areas of your home, you can keep your flooring in great condition throughout the winter.

1. Prepare for Increased Foot Traffic

During the winter time, it’s likely that our pets will be spending more time indoors, cuddling up next to us on the couch or beside the fireplace. Wherever their spot is, they’re bound to leave a mess behind.

Having more people in our homes means more foot traffic, and thus more dust and dirt to clean up at the end of the day! Keep the necessary supplies on hand for your convenience, or add a couple of area rugs to your living room.

1. Vacuum, Instead of Dust Mopping/Sweeping

Dust mopping and sweeping both have a way of merely pushing dust and dirt around the room, instead of collecting it. Vacuums are more effective, efficient, and will save you frustration this winter as you’ll be cleaning up more frequently.

1. Have Your Carpet, Tile, or Hardwood Flooring Regularly Cleaned by a Professional Steam Cleaning Company

Having a professional tend to your flooring is a wonderful way to optimize its condition. Whether you have carpet, tile, hardwood, or concrete flooring, a professional cleaning and restoration company has the right equipment to get the job done.

For professional results, you’ll need a professional’s experience and expertise. Give The Steam Team a call today; we’ll have your flooring looking like new, just in time for the holidays!