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!

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!

When the Pipes Break: Cleaning Up After Water Damage

Cleaners Austin

Water damage can be caused by anything from an old pipe breaking, to leaky appliances, to a tragic house fire. But whatever its cause may be, water damage always seems to strike us at the wrong time. It can destroy our furniture, parts of our home, and empty our wallets. We know it’s not easy, but we encourage you to take the cleaning and restoration process one step at a time, and allow us to help you get off to the right start.

1. Dry Out All Affected Areas

After the damage has been discovered, it’s imperative that you act as quickly as possible to thoroughly dry out all areas affected by the water. Water has a way of seeping into everything and if you’re not careful, you could have a mold infestation to deal with in the near future. Use towels, sponges, anything that is absorbent. Using a dehumidifier will help extract any remaining moisture from the room.

1. Disinfect

Once everything has dried out (including walls and carpet padding) it’s important to disinfect the affected area to protect against bacteria. Your walls, counters, floors, and other surfaces will likely need professional treatment to prevent odors and stains.

1. Stop the Spread of Mold

As we’ve warned you many times before, mold only needs twenty four hours to grow and begin the horrific process of taking over your home, so stop it in its tracks! As soon as you notice a mold issue, follow the previous steps and call a professional cleaning and restoration company to thoroughly inspect and treat your home.

1. Call Your Local Cleaning & Restoration Company

Professional cleaning and restoration companies, like The Steam Team, have all of the expertise and equipment needed to tackle your water-damaged property. Don’t wait! Call The Steam Team today! No matter the severity of the damage, we can make any home look brand new again!

Indoor vs Outdoor Air: Which is More Polluted?

Steam Team Marketing Team at Trade Show

It may be difficult to believe that the air you breathe indoors may be more polluted than the air you’d encounter outdoors. This fact is absurd, and only grows more unsettling as we consider that the amount of time we spend indoors versus outdoors is only increasing. All of this may leave us wondering where we can escape to, or at least what can be done to increase air quality. But first, let’s take a glance at a handful of causes to these indoor air pollutants!

What’s Polluting Indoor Air?

1. Tobacco Smoke

Tobacco smoke is a major pollutant, and its second hand smoke lingers in the air far longer, only to settle onto every surface present.  

2. Mold

Mold grows in lickity split and spreads even more rapidly. If you notice a mold issue in your home you’ll need to act quickly! It’s a good idea to call in a professional cleaning and restoration service to ensure that your home is thoroughly treated.

3. Poor Ventilation

Inadequate ventilation is one of the most common causes of indoor pollution. This also explains why you may feel worse in humid climates, or in the winter when the air conditioning isn’t running as frequently. Be sure to properly ventilate your home by utilizing kitchen fans or other exhaust fans, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, etc.

What Can Be Done?

Indoor pollutants can put our health at risk by causing irritated mucous membranes in our eyes, nose, or throat, and an array of other medical conditions. Symptoms are often masked by colds, flus, and other illnesses.  The best thing you can do for indoor pollutants is to eliminate the source(s), and thoroughly ventilate your home.

For a professional touch, consider hiring The Steam Team to thoroughly clean your home and reduce indoor air pollutants!. In no time at all, we’ll have your home looking and feeling pristine and, most importantly, healthy.

5 Tips for Making Sure Your Home is Free of Mold

Certified Mold Remediation Austin, Texas

Mold can easily spread to take over our homes, compromise our health, and strain our budget. It’s worse for those of us who have allergies, asthma, or financial restrictions. The very last thing you want for your home and health is for mold to go undetected. But don’t worry; today the professionals have a few tips to help you detect and prevent mold growth within your home.

1. Monitor Humidity Levels

Mold likes to set up camp in wet, humid environments. It thrives and spreads the fastest in moisture. You may have a humidity problem if you notice condensation collecting on windows or walls. Dry these areas immediately and address any problems that may be causing them!

2. Check for Broken Appliances & Other Issues

It’s important to check your home for broken pipes, malfunctioning appliances, or puddles/damp areas. All of these could be creating excess moisture in your environment.

3. Dry Spills & Damp Areas Immediately

We don’t want to alarm you, but keep in mind that mold only requires 24 hours to grow! This means that all spills and wet areas should be tended to immediately.

4. Run Exhaust Fans While Showering

This is a very simple routine you can add to your day. Exhaust fans are installed in our bathrooms and kitchens to prevent moisture from lingering too long, so be sure to run them while you shower. Also make sure your shower curtain is adequate and not causing any water to spray onto the floor.

5. Call in the Professionals

Mold isn’t something to play around with. If you notice a growing problem in your home, don’t hesitate to call in the experts! That’s us, The Steam Team! We’re confident that we can defeat any mold infestation, no matter its severity.

3 Reasons to Clean Your Drapery

Window treatments certainly add an incredible appeal to your home wherever they are - there’s no doubt about that. However, they are also one of the most neglected areas when it comes to cleaning in the home. No matter the material of your drapes, you can guarantee that allergens (like dust and pet dander) are going to be drawn to them. That’s why it’s imperative to take regular care of your drapery. Well, that’s one reason at least - the others are to protect their lifetime and, of course, to keep them aesthetically appealing. So, let’s explore these a bit further!

Eliminate Allergens

Those allergens that we just talked about will only collect as long as you let them. So, put a stop to them! Keeping your drapery clean prevents any buildup of allergens and enhances the fabric to be vibrant and fresh.

Elongate Lifetime

Drapery and other window treatments typically have a certain sentimental value along with them. Whether they be family heirlooms, a steep investment, or anything else - it’s important that they last as long as they can, right?

Consistently keeping up with cleaning helps to prevent damage and eliminate buildup of grime. This ensures that the drapery will last longer and keeps it in better condition throughout it’s elongated lifetime.

Maintain Appearance

Lastly, but certainly not least - the aesthetic appeal of window treatments is one of the main (if not, the main) reason homeowners decorate with them. That’s why maintaining their appearance is almost always high on the priority list for drapes. The best way to do this? Schedule a regular cleaning!

There you have it, folks. Don’t ignore your drapes! Give The Steam Team a call today to schedule your next cleaning.