Natural stone floors add value and create an elegant look and atmosphere to any home. However, what most homeowner’s don’t take into consideration is the upkeep and cleaning of natural stone. Most don’t realize that your typical house cleaning methods actually hurt and decays natural stone floors. This is why Steam Green Carpet Cleaning would like to share what you should avoid when doing your regular house cleaning as well as what should be done to help keep your natural stone floors looking clean, fresh, and help it last forever.
 

Use Correct Cleaners & Cleaning Solutions for Natural Stone Surfaces

One of the common mistakes made when it comes to natural stone upkeep is using improper cleaning materials. Natural stone, even with a sealer, is extremely sensitive to acidic materials. Some people prefer to use natural forms of cleaning agents such as vinegar and lime juice which all contains high levels of acid. Exposure to these cleaners actually erodes natural stone and damages them. When looking for a cleanser to clean natural stone, make sure the label states that it is safe and/or designed to clean natural stone surfaces. It is important for the longevity of the natural stone surface to use the correct cleansers.
 

Don’t Use Harsh Cleaners on Natural Stone

Another common mistake is to use harsh or abrasive cleaning tools. The surface and the sealer of natural stone can be marred easily. When cleaning the floor or any other natural stone surface, do not use hard bristled brushes, steel wool, or copper sponges. Do not use them even to clean the smallest of spills. Instead, always use a soft cloth or mop when cleaning natural stone.
 

Don’t Leave Spills Sitting on Natural Stone Surfaces

One mistake that is made all too often is not cleaning a spill or mess as they occur. The longer a spill from soda, coffee, and other common drinks sits the more harm the acid chemicals cause as they seep deeper into the pores of the stone. We understand you can’t be mopping your floors daily, but if anything falls onto the floor surface, you will want to clean it up right away to help prevent long term erosion.

Natural Stone Needs Professional Cleaning & Sealing

Aside from these mistakes, another one that sometimes occurs is not maintaining the natural stone protective sealer. There will come a time when the sealer will chip or wear off. Sometimes a homeowner will wait too long to reseal the surface of their natural stone floor. This is a long term mistake since erosion can happen really quickly.
 

Avoid Acidic Cleaners & Abrasive Cleaning Tools on Natural Stone

Proper care and maintenance is important if you want your natural stone surfaces to last. Natural stone is expensive and can be a well worth the investment to a home if cared for properly. To sum it all up, avoid using acidic cleaning chemicals and abrasive cleaning tools. Both can mar or scratch the surface leaving the natural stone open to erosion. Additionally, clean up spills as they occur and maintain the natural stone’s protective sealer to improve on the longevity of the floor. You’ll be glad you did.
 

Manmade Tile & Natural Stone Cleaning in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning has top of the line natural stone floor cleaning machines that can help keep your natural stone floor clean and in good condition for years to come. If you find you are in need of assistance in restoring or maintaining your natural stone floor, contact Steam Green Carpet Cleaning today!

Hardwood floors are becoming more desirable and are more common in residential homes today. Hardwood floors bring an elegant look combined with a long lasting durable floor. However exposure to moisture, UV rays, and high traffic calls for even hardwood floors to receive maintenance from time to time. Good maintenance will extend the life of the hardwood floors in your home. Steam Green Carpet Cleaning will explain why it’s important to refinish your hardwood floors and how to protect it from the elements.
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What is Hardwood Floor Refinishing?

Wood has grain and it is porous. This makes it vulnerable to moisture, dirt, and UV damage. Additionally the wear from traffic and abrasions from furniture and use will make a wood floor look old and dirty all the time. Refinishing hardwood floors help to remove all the build up of time by sanding then placing a protective coat that gives the wood a shiny gloss and protection from the elements.
 

How Often Should You Refinish Hardwood Floors?

Many will ask how often you should refinish a hardwood floor. There is no straight answer as it will depend on the amount of exposure the floor has had and to what. Some floors should be refinished as often as every 3 to 5 years. Others can last up to 10 to 20 years before they need refinishing. Some will even refinish the wood just to change the look of the floor and home if they choose to change the color scheme of the room. When it comes to refinishing the floor, you can do it in two basic steps: one sanding, and two refinishing or coating the wood.
 

Sanding of Wood Floors

Over time the wooden surface of the floor may have taken a beating and have some marks, abrasions, or even UV or water damage. By sanding the surface of the wood floor you remove the top coating of the old sealer and then smooth the top of the wood removing the marks, scratches and abrasions. Water and UV damage cause the wood to discolor and warp. Sanding of the wood surface can help erase minor water damage and UV damage as well. However if the wood has been exposed too long to moisture, the affected areas will need to be replaced.
 

Polyurethane Based Sealer for Hardwood Floors

After the wood has been sanded then it will need to be buffed with a machine to help give the wood an even smoother surface before refinishing. After the floor has been sanded and buffed, it will then need to be vacuumed to remove all of the sawdust. This step will prevent it from getting stuck in the protective coating. Occasionally, if the wood is dried out, it may need an oil coat before the finish is put on. In some cases the oil itself can be the last finish that is sometimes used. However using polyurethane provides a thick and better protective coat that helps improve the life span of a hardwood floor. It is recommended by many professionals to use a polyurethane-base sealer for hardwood floors.
 

Hardwood Floor Refinishing & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

For homes with old or newer hardwood floors, Steam Green Carpet Cleaning can help refinish and refresh the look of your hardwood floor. If your wood is in need of repair or refinishing, or you simply want to change the overall look of your home, contact Steam Green Carpet Cleaning to schedule your hardwood floor makeover today.

Mold needs moisture, oxygen, a source of food and a surface. Mold spores are naturally found in the air and when these spores land on damp or wet surfaces that harbor dust for them to feed on, the growth of mold won’t be far behind. Carpets are high risk for mold development. Mold produces allergens. Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions, irritants and possibly potentially toxic substances. When mold is inhaled or touched, the spores can cause allergic reactions. Symptoms can include fever-like symptoms like red eyes, sneezing, runny nose and skin rashes. Reactions to mold are common and can be immediate or delayed. Not being able to see mold doesn’t mean it’s not there. Only severe cases of mold in carpet is visible, like in the case of flood damaged carpet that has remained wet for too long.
 

Signs you Might Have Carpet Mold

1. Appearance of mold growth. Again, this is rare unless the mold growth is very bad. If this occurs, the carpet is almost always unsalvageable and needs to be replaced. You might not see it on the surface as it might be happening in the fibers where it’s hard to see. If you suspect mold growth in your carpet, it needs to be examined on both sides.
2. Mildew in carpet. Odor or discoloration on carpet is sometimes referred to as mildew, is most likely a case of mold.
3. Water damaged & flooded carpet. Carpet that has been subjected to flooding or standing water will almost always need to be thrown away because in these conditions mold has all it needs to thrive. Mold development is highly likely unless the carpet is taken care of immediately. It needs to be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours and even this will not guarantee mold prevention.
4. Wet carpet padding. Padding can become wet and can happen through condensation making it at risk for mold development. This means that not only will the carpet need to be replaced, but the padding too.
5. Mold stains and odors. Lots of things can cause stains and odors. If you think you might have mold in your carpet, you need to have samples taken and sent for testing to figure out if mold is in fact the culprit.
 

How to Prevent Mold in Carpet

When dealing with mold, it’s best to prevent it from growing in the first place. Select high quality carpet padding by choosing solid, rubber-slab carpet padding that has anti-microbial properties. It’s a little more expensive, but helps in preventing the growth of mold. It’s a better option in climates where high periods of humidity exist. Reduce humidity levels by using dehumidifiers to control moisture levels as it will prevent mold spores from getting the moisture they need. Prevent standing water because it can ruin carpets quickly and use professionals to clean carpets. The equipment they use is better and stronger and will have your carpets drier faster.
 

Professional Carpet & Water Damage Cleaning in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

Wet carpet can start growing mold in just 24 hours so it’s imperative to move quickly after a water disaster. Steam Green Carpet Cleaning is prepared to get your carpets clean and dry to prevent any problems with mold development. We offer water extraction and structural drying as well as carpet cleaning and deodorizing. Contact us today!

The carpet in your home is installed and probably looks amazing. The work starts immediately to protect the carpet and keep it looking clean from stains. The work seems to be never ending. You have to do a daily routine that includes vacuuming to remove small amounts of dirt and debris. This can help keep the debris from getting too deep in the fibers. Another way to treat your carpets is to clean off any spills that end up on your carpets. Any spill should be treated right away to better your chances of removing the stain completely. Be sure that if you treat the stain or spill with the right treatment. You want to pretest any cleaner that you use on your carpet to make sure that it does not cause damage. One thing about carpet is that there is usually a protector on the carpet from the factory. The protector will help keep the carpet safe from some stains. You can also have a secondary protector added to your carpet as well.
 

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning Explains What Carpet Protector Is & How It Works To Protect Your Carpet

What is Carpet Protector?: When you look into what a carpet protector is you will find some information on what brands there are. Generally a carpet protector no matter what brand works to repel spills that may be dropped on your carpet. The carpet repellent is something that can come on the carpet from the factory. When you purchase new carpet you can ask what is on the carpet and if there is a recommendation to add a secondary one. If you want to add more protector to your carpet you can have it added by a carpet care specialist. There are aftermarket brands that can be applied and many people choose to have it done.
How Does Carpet Protector Work?: The carpet is basically made up of some type of fabric. It can be wool, nylon and cotton all of which can easily absorb moisture. The fibers are the individual pieces that are attached to the backing and that is what makes the floor comfortable. When a protector is added to the carpet is encases each piece of carpet so that it is able to repel a spill that may be dropped. The water or juice will pool away from the fiber rather than soak into it. This makes clean up quite a bit easier but you still need to get to it as soon as possible.
Is Carpet Repellent Worth It: You may be wondering is adding a carpet repellent is worth the cost for you. You should consider the traffic and accidents that you find throughout your home. The more you are chasing down spills the better the chance is that you should have a carpet protectant added. You want to protect your carpet so that it will last a long time and you are not prematurely replacing it.
 

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning offers Carpet Cleaning In Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California.