Archives: May 2017

Carpet Turned Yellow in Long Beach, CA? What is Phenolic Yellow Discoloration Stains & Off Gassing?

When you go out and buy a new rug or a set of couches you want to make some changes to the room. That is a great time to do some rearranging but you might find some unwanted markings. When you have a room set up one particular way for some time and you move the pieces of furniture you may notice high traffic areas. You can also see some stains and you might notice that the carpet under the furniture and existing rugs look different. Some of that can be the sheer fact that the carpet that has been protected under the items and are really just showing you the original color. That can be shocking to see especially if you thought your carpets were clean. This can be alleviated by simply keeping up with your standard professional carpet cleaning. Another phenomena that you might see when you roll up a rug or a piece of furniture is called phenolic yellowing.

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning Explains What Phenolic Yellowing Is & What You Can Do To Help Prevent It

What Are Yellow Stains on Your Carpet: The carpet can cause yellowing on itself. The carpet can have a compound called butylhydroxyltoluene or BHT that is what will cause the reaction. The carpet, padding or glue can have BHT and it needs to be able to breath. When you arrange a room and you cover the carpet with a heavy piece of furniture or rug it stifles the carpet. That means that the BHT that is released has nowhere to go except right back to the carpet. The carpet then starts to change to a yellow color no matter what color the carpet is that you started with. The yellowing should not be confused with the original color of the carpet. It will actually start to show a yellow tint to the carpet itself.
How Can You Stop Phenolic Yellowing: The very first way to help prevent this from happening is to know what carpet you have. You can check to see if your particular carpet has this compound BHT. If it does not you may not be safe. The rugs that you are using in your home can actually have the BHT which will still cause the reaction on the carpet. The best thing you can do if you have BHT in your carpet or rugs is to roll them and move the furniture off. Each time you schedule to have your carpets cleaned you want to move the furniture off and the rugs so that the carpets have some time to breath. When the carpets have time to rest when they are cleaned it can prevent the reaction from occurring.

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning Offers Carpet Cleaning Services IN Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

The problem is that phenolic yellowing is a reaction that has affected the carpet. That means that it cannot be simply be cleaned off. The carpet when it gets to that point will need to be dyed or replaced with new carpet. Contact Steam Green Carpet Cleaning for all your carpet cleaning needs!

Benefits of Spring Air Duct Cleaning in Valley Village, CA; Remove Dust, Hair, Pet Dander, Mold, Mildew & More

Homeowners across the country are making their spring cleaning to do lists. Have you considered adding air duct and vent cleaning to your list? It’s often an overlooked home maintenance task. Considering that 40,000 dust mites can thrive in only one ounce of dust! The EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air and according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), the average six-room house collects 40 pounds of dirt, dust and allergens in its air ducts each year!

Benefits of Having Your Air Ducts Cleaned

The air ducts and vents affect the quality of the air in your home and dirty air ducts cause the air quality in your home to deteriorate. If they are dirty, problems for those who suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems have a harder time breathing. Having the air ducts cleaned in the spring is very important for the health of you family and the way your HVAC system works. When the air ducts and vents are dirty, it will cause layers of dust, pollen, pet dander and mold spores to circulate through the home each time the HVAC system runs. These airborne particles can be eliminated and bring a significant improvement to the air quality of the home with regular cleanings. You should make sure you change the air filters on a regular basis, more so when the cooling or heating system runs. Clean air filters will help with the indoor air quality. When the heating and air conditioning system has to push cool or heated air past layers of dust and debris, it has to work harder. When the air ducts are cleaned, it removes all this dust and debris and makes it easier for the HVAC system to work and reduces the wear and tear. This will lead to less energy consumption which will be good on your wallet too.

Air Duct Cleaning & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

To have the best air quality present in your home, it’s recommended by professionals to have the air ducts in your home cleaned every three to five years. Spring is a great time to do it and you might need to have it done more often if you have pets or members of your family suffer from allergies or asthma. The service typically takes about 2 to 4 hours to complete and will depend on the number of air ducts and where they are located, that might lead to additional service needed. Let the professionals tackle the air duct cleaning so you can take on the easier tasks. They have the training and experience to remove harmful contaminants from your home with equipment used can capture debris that’s 1/300th the diameter of a human hair! Professionals have the experience to meet any HVAC needs with professionalism. Give Steam Green Carpet Cleaning a call to find out more about air duct cleaning and any other HVAC services you need. Their services ensure you home will be comfortable, safe and healthy all year round. Call us today.

Why Should You Steam Clean Your Area Rugs During Your Carpet Cleaning Appointment in Los Angeles, CA

When you are ready to start cleaning your home and getting some of the areas that are often overlooked you probably do what other people do and take out what you can. You move your larger items out of the way so that you can clean them off as well as clean what is under them. These items might be tables, chairs and often times area rugs. The area rugs are used for many different purposes and they each are necessary. If you have a room that is hard floors such as hardwood, tile or stone you might want to have a spot for comfort. An area rug is a great way to do that. You can also lay an area rug out in a room that you want to show off more of your own décor and style. The great thing about area rugs is that they can come in many sizes, shapes and color combinations. You can always find one that will suit you and what you want. The rugs are also used to cover an area that is potentially at risk for high traffic. It is a way to protect the carpet and stops the early ruin of the carpet. No matter what you do with your area rugs or how you utilize them you have to be sure that you are taking great care of them. The area rugs are prone to just as much dirt and debris as your carpet and other flooring.

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning Explains Why You Need To Have Your Area Rugs Professionally Cleaned

Area Rugs Get Dirty: You may think that you can just take the rug outside and give it a big shake. This is not a sufficient way to clean the rug. You are just simply taking the rug and removing some of the loose dirt that is found on the surface of the rug. The rug is going to have just as much ground in dirt and debris that your carpets do. They may even have more dirt because they are the first line of defense when you are walking on them. They are on top of the carpeting so you need to be sure that they are cleaned not just shaken out.
Area Rugs Can Have Stains & Odors: If you have a rug and you have a spill it will soak into the rug just like the carpet. The rug is also made of fabric that will stain if a spill is allowed to sit. You have to have a plan to treat these stains and when you schedule the carpet cleaning you should also include the rugs as well. This will help to remove the stains that you may not have been able to remove otherwise.
Area Rugs Can Be Damaged if Left Dirty: The more the rugs are left full of dirt the faster they will be ruined. The dirt will break down the rugs integrity and also damage the colors. The best way to prevent this is to have them professionally cleaned to remove the dirt that may cause the damage.

Area Rug Cleaning Services & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California.

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning offers more than just carpet cleaning! Call us for all your floor and upholstery cleaning needs.

Can You Have Your Carpets Shampooed Around a New Baby in Thousand Oaks, CA; Carpet Cleaning Removes Germs, Bacteria, Pests & More

When it comes to keeping a clean house for your family it is a big deal. You have to go around and clean all the surfaces off, dust the furniture and wash clothes. When you have a new baby it is even more important to have your home clean and sanitized. One area that should never be overlooked is the carpets! They are what you will often times lay the baby on to play. The problem is there is some misinformation about carpet cleaning services and if it is okay to have around a new baby. When carpet cleaning began there was not too much emphasis on being environmentally friendly or green so the chemicals were a bit harsh. The cleaners were thought to cause a baby to get a rash or hives after being exposed to the cleaner after the cleaning process was done. They also would report that their child might get an upset stomach after playing and teething on toys that were left on the carpet. The great thing about professional carpet cleaning is that it has come a long way. The cleaners that are used now are extremely mild and are no harm to anyone including a small baby. The equipment that is used to clean the carpets also has the ability to remove the excess moisture as well as the residue leaving the carpet soft and clean. The opposite is actually true about carpet cleaning around your baby. You want to make sure that your carpets are cleaned professionally.

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning Explains Why You Need to Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaning Company When You Have a New Baby at Home

Professional Carpet Cleaning Removes Germs That Cause The Cold & Flu: What is the first thing that you ask people to do before they hold your baby? Wash your hands! That is because your hands have germs and dirt. The problem is that your hands are not the only surface with these germs. The carpet in your home can actually keep alive the germs and bacteria that cause the cold or flu. The cold and flu are extremely dangerous to a young baby and you should do all that you can to keep them away from your child. The carpet cleaning professional will use hot or warm water to treat the carpet. That will be part of what will kill the bacteria as well as the cleaning products that are used. You want to have them clean the carpets to remove the potential germs so you can feel good about laying your baby down on the carpet.
Your Carpet Could Have Beetles, Mites & Other Pests: If you have a baby you would not lay them somewhere you knew there were bugs or insects crawling around. If you skip having your carpets cleaned you could potentially be doing just that. Your carpet is home to dust mites and carpet beetles that could cause a breathing risk to anyone that has asthma or allergies. A carpet cleaning company can use ourr commercial cleaning equipment to remove these microscopic pests.

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

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning offers professional carpet and other quality cleaning services. Contact us today to learn more!

Signs Your Dryer Vent is Dirty, Blocked & Needs Cleaning in Beverly Hills, CA; Hot on Outside, Burning Smell, Visible Lint & More

Maintaining your dryer means more than just cleaning the lint trap every once and a while. It’s inevitable that lint will build up over time. When this happens, it can cause the dryer the overheat and the lint is very combustible. What happens when your dryer vent is blocked? There is a possibility of fires when this happens. If it’s a gas dryer there’s the potential for carbon monoxide intrusion. When the exhaust duct in a gas dryer is blocked by lint or other debris or there’s a possibility that it’s vented incorrectly, it can cause carbon monoxide to be forced into your home. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has reported that 15,520 fires were caused by dryers between 2006-2010. Most of these fires were a result of dirty dryer vents.

Signs Your Dryer Vent is Dirty & Blocked

1. Is the dryer hot on the outside? When the vent doesn’t exhaust the air correctly, the dryer will feel hot when you touch it after a normal cycle.
2. Do you smell a burning smell when the dryer is running? If you can smell burning when your dryer is running, it’s most likely due to dryer lint that is flammable. If you smell this, you’ll need to stop the dryer right away and have it looked at immediately.
3. Is it taking longer to dry your clothes? There’s no question that your dryer vent needs to be cleaned if you notice how long it’s taking to dry your clothes during a normal cycle. The dryer vents job is to push out hot, moist air so the dryer can pull more dry air in to continue the drying process. When the dryer vent is clogged with lint, the moist air can’t escape and will remain in the dryer, making it hard to get your clothes dry. Not only can it cause the dryer to overheat, it can make your energy bill higher and cause more wear and tear on the dryer meaning you may have to replace it sooner than you’d like.
4. Can you see lint coming out the outside vent opening? There’s a vent on the outside of your home where the air that’s in your dryer will come out. If you notice lint at the opening of this vent, you will need to have the system cleaned.
5. When was the last time your dryer vent was cleaned? If you can’t remember, it’s time! It should be inspected and cleaned once a year. You can do it yourself by purchasing a kit or hire the pros to do it for you.

Air Duct, Dryer Vent Cleaning & More, in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

It’s best to hire professionals to clean your dryer vent. Professionals use special dryer vent cleaning tools and equipment. They use powerful gas vacuums with special HEPA negative air machines. They work with all makes and models of dryers and can handle long lengths of ductwork that DIY kits can’t. If the brush kit you purchase can’t get around the bends effectively or the entire lengths, it can make the clog worse. Flexible tubes can be damaged if cleaned incorrectly and you might even lose a brush in there if you’re not careful! Contact Steam Green Carpet Cleaning for any questions you might have about dryer vent cleaning or to schedule an appointment.