Your Carpet: Clean, Fresh, & Looking New

2/6/2018 (Permalink)

Carpets tend to "swallow" everything that falls on them and become dirty before you can notice the dirt. That's why you need professional cleaners.

Your carpet looks cleaner than it is. It’s hard to see the dirt, dust, spills, and other debris that gets trapped in your carpet because it sinks toward the carpet bottom. Carpets act like filters. They tend to “swallow” or entrap whatever falls on them. The good news is that simple actions can keep your carpet clean, fresh, and looking new.

How To Make Your Carpet Last Longer

Just about all carpet manufacturers agree on what you can do between carpet cleanings to increase your carpet’s life span and keep it clean, fresh, and good-looking.

You know that vacuuming is a number one component to proper care and maintenance of your carpet. But carpet manufacturers also recommend:

•    Pilating your carpet (this prevents matting)
•    Removing spots
•    Moving furniture to change traffic patterns and even out carpet wear and tear
•    Using walk-off mats to limit the amount of soil tracked onto your carpet
•    Hiring a professional cleaner every year or so

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield can address moderate and heavy soil conditions in your carpets. How often you’ll need our professional carpet cleaners service depends on soil build-up, traffic, and the type and color of your carpeting. Most people find it wise to professionally clean their carpet every 12 months.

Clean Before You See The Dirt

One tip is to clean your carpet before you can easily notice any dirt or soiling. People who wait until their carpet looks dirty frequently find they can never restore their carpet to its former appearance.

And did you know that dirt builds up in your carpet in layers? When your carpet looks dirty you are only seeing the dirt at the tips of the fibers. Much more dirt is hiding below the surface down near the base of the pile. The deeper the dirt, the more the damage to the carpet. When a carpet is saturated with dirt, the soil has penetrated crevices and has become firmly lodged.

Call 860-461-7194

Call on our SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield’s professional cleaning services. Call us anytime, 24/7 at 860-461-7194. SERVPRO’s carpet cleaners service is among the best cleaning services. We’re trained in the most advanced, thorough, and effective ways to clean up your carpet. We've served businesses, homes, and facilities in Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Coventry, Hebron, Manchester, Mansfield, Storrs, and beyond.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service

7 Dirty Places You Need To But May Not Ever Clean

12/29/2017 (Permalink)

Hidden in plain sight are many of the dirtiest places in your home

1. Trash cans

Your garbage pails and trash cans are where you get rid of the most offensive items: used bandages and tissues, old food containers, spoiled food, dust pan contents, and more. But you’re not perfect, right? All your crumbs, trash, and scraps don’t always make it into the can. And residue may leak from the bag or slip through the sides. Clean your trash cans with disinfectant spray and a solid scrub. If a build-up has accumulated over time, you may need to use hot water, soap, and hard scrubbing.

2. Doorknobs

Think of all the times every day that people touch your doorknobs. Your home’s doorknobs are covered in germs and bacterium. When you touch the doorknob and then something else, you are effectively spreading germs. Start a habit of wiping down your home’s doorknobs with disinfectant. Make it part of your bathroom or kitchen cleaning routine. Washing your hands frequently (about five times a day) will also help keep your doorknobs and the other things you touch clean.

3. Toothbrush holder

We dare you to look inside at the bottom of your toothbrush holder. Most people find leftover water and toothpaste residue has dripped to the bottom of the holder. It often collects in a gunky, maybe even moldy mess. Your toothbrush is millimeters from touching that dirty mess every time you put it back in the toothbrush holder. Wash the toothbrush holder with hot water, soap, and a bristle brush. Or give it a thorough cleaning via the dishwasher if the holder’s top is removable.

4. Mattresses

Do you sleep on a mattress every single night for years without cleaning it? Think about that. Think about the dead skin cells, dirt, and oils that rub off your body. Think sweat, pets jumping up on and napping on the bed, kids with shoes, dust, pollens, the illnesses you battle during the winter months, and stains that make their way through the sheets. Give your mattress a little cleaning attention a few times a year. Vacuum the mattress to get rid of dirt, dead skin cells, crumbs, and other dirty things that are on the surface. Spot clean the stains with a homemade mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap. Spray the treated areas and then blot or rub with a clean towel. An upholstery cleaner with a brush also works great to get out tough stains.

You can remove blood stains from a mattress by blotting with hydrogen peroxide. Lift the smells out by deodorizing your mattresses (don’t just do your mattress but every mattress in the house) with baking soda. Sprinkle it on the mattress and let it absorb for a couple hours before coming back and vacuuming it off. Give it fresh air by opening a window after you’ve taken the sheets off. That will help with naturally deodorizing as well as eliminating bacteria. And consider using a mattress protector and cover to preserve the life of the mattresses in your home.

5. Keyboards

Most of us spend a lot of time with our fingers on a desktop or laptop computer keyboard. And considering that many of us snack or take lunch at our desks, drink over our computers, or even spill beverages on them, you can imagine the gross, grimy world living just below those keys. High-touch surfaces like keyboards do harbor and grow harmful bacteria if they're not cleaned. Try flipping the keyboard upside down and shake the debris out. Or use a small hand-held vacuum cleaner or can of compressed air to pull or blow unwanted objects out of the keyboards in your house. Then quickly wipe each keyboard down with cleaning wipes, cotton swabs, or a moistened microfiber cloth.

6. Remotes and controllers

These are items that may get even more use than your doorknobs. Greater use means more germs. You may have remotes for everything from your television, sound system, home entertainment system, game controllers, and more. Every remote and controller collects germs and dirt quickly, just like doorknobs. To clean remotes and controllers don’t use any spray that has too much of a water base. Heavy water-based sprays can get into the devices and ruin them. Instead use a cloth blotted with rubbing alcohol and wipe down your remotes regularly. Lysol wipes are also a great solution.

7. Smartphones

You talk on your phone when you’re sick. You handle your phone with dirty hands many times throughout the day. One study by Stanford students concluded that the average personal phone is 18 times dirtier than the handle of a toilet. To clean your mobile phone use a piece of fabric, a cotton ball, or tissue. Mix a small amount of water and a little of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in a shallow dish.

Use enough sanitizer to make sure what you choose to wipe your phone down with is damp, but not soaking and dripping wet. Excess water can ruin your phone. Wipe your phone down, front and back without the case on.

Safety, Disaster, And Cleaning Information

Every month on the SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield blog we publish educational articles on how to prevent disasters, deal with them quickly and effectively, or keep your home safer and cleaner. Here are a few you might find helpful:

Cleaning For Businesses

Here For You

The team at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire damage restoration services, mold remediation, commercial services, professional cleaning, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (461-7194) anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service

Resolve Cleanup & Restoration Problems With The Right Equipment & Expertise

12/12/2017 (Permalink)

For a major cleanup use the professionals who have the expertise and the equipment

Fire destroys your kitchen. Snow collapses your roof. A water leak destroys everything in your basement. When you face a cleanup or restoration after a disaster you want to be certain the company you hire has the right expertise and equipment. That can be tough because the technology advancements in the restoration industry are happening at a faster and faster pace. Your answer should be using SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield because we keep up with the latest in cleanup and restoration advancements. SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield can get your home or business back to preloss condition quickly, reliably, and effectively. We use modern equipment and up-to-date expertise to find the best way to do a quality job while saving you money.  Among the modern technology and advanced equipment you can access through SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield are:   

Water Extraction Technology
Our advanced and powerful water extraction equipment speeds the drying process. Our equipment lets us quickly removes the bulk of the water from your home or business after a flood, water leak, or other water issue. And getting the water out fast helps prevent further damage. SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield uses submersible and gas-powered pumps for continuous pumping of high-level water. A SERVPRO® truck-mounted or a portable extraction unit performs efficient water removal. 

Moisture Detection and Measurement Equipment
Too often people think they’ve removed all the water from a flood or water event and repaired the damage when they have actually missed critical steps in cleaning their business or home. The highly trained crews at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield strictly adhere to the restoration and cleaning standards of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). We follow the IICRC S500 Water Damage Guide, a specific set of practical standards and techniques that incorporates the advanced field of psychometry. Psychometry is the manipulation of temperature and relative humidity to remove moisture and dry a property quickly and effectively. What looks dry to you and feels dry to your hand is often still holding enough moisture to create mold and to further damage your property. Please don’t let that additional damage happen to you.  Our SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield crews are trained in advanced scientific drying principles. We can detect, measure, and monitor your property’s moisture levels. Advances, like infrared cameras, help us detect water through a wall, ceiling, or floor. We also use sensitive moisture detectors, hygrometers, and other meters to precisely measure the extent of moisture saturation.  

Modern Drying Equipment
We educate customers on critical information like the fact that you need to dry anything that’s been partially saturated by water. The best drying method is to use industrial strength air movers and dehumidifiers like ours. Don’t depend on the typical drying technology offered by some restoration and cleanup professionals. They often use equipment that isn’t powerful enough for big jobs. SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield’s advanced drying equipment removes often undetected moisture from ceiling, walls, and floors. Without modern drying equipment your home or business may suffer swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture.  

Deodorizing And Sanitizing Technology
Water, chemical, fire, or other natural disasters often cause powerful odors that are unhealthy and unsafe. We use air scrubbers, thermal foggers, deodorizing agents, and other technology to remove airborne contaminants and restore air quality as if the disaster never happened.
We’re talking about more than just cleaning. SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield cleans, disinfects, and sanitizes. We only use OSHA-approved cleaning agents. Our deodorization products control odors caused by excessive moisture. Our disinfection products remove and help prevent bacteria, fungi, mildew, and other harmful microorganisms.  

Sewage And Biohazard Cleanup

Our technology, equipment, and expertise extend to the cleanup of sewage and other biohazard materials. SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield can provide deep cleaning services for your home or business. 

Call On Us
We’re here to help you. The team at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield has specialized training and experience in virtually all aspects of restoring your home or business after water, sewer, fire, smoke, wind, chemical, or other natural disasters.

Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at (860.461-7194) anytime, 24/7.

We protect businesses, homes, and facilities in many towns including:
Andover Hebron
Bolton Manchester
Columbia Mansfield
Coventry Storrs

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service

Fighting Mold With Bleach

8/31/2017 (Permalink)

Bleach can kill many types of mold but you must handle it with care

Bleach can kill virtually every species of indoor mold, along with its spores, leaving a surface sanitized and resistant to future mold growth. Unfortunately, bleach is only effective if the mold is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, bathtubs, glass, and counter tops. Bleach cannot penetrate into porous materials and so it does not come into contact with mold growing beneath the surface of materials such as wood and drywall.

Be Careful

If you use bleach to kill mold be careful.  When you use bleach you may be exposed to harsh fumes. Ventilate the area well before you start. Open nearby windows and doors and use a fan to provide fresh air. Bleach is also harsh to your skin and body. Protect your hands and arms with long sleeve waterproof gloves.  Use eye protection.

Don’t Use Bleach At Full Strength

For maximum effectiveness and safety, dilute the bleach in water (one part bleach to 10 parts water.)  When you’re cleaning mold with bleach don’t mix the bleach with ammonia or any other household cleaner. Apply the solution to non-porous surfaces. Non-porous means the surface doesn’t allow water or other fluids to sink in. Metals are nonporous; paper is not.

Use Extra Care Around Kids, Pets, And Food

If you will use the surface you are cleaning for food preparation or if children or pets may be exposed to the surface, rinse well after the cleaning. You don’t want any part of the bleach solution to still be present when you start reusing the surface.

If food, children, and/or pets will not be near the now mold-free surface, you don’t need to rinse afterwards.  By not rinsing, the bleach will inhibit mold growing in the future.

Larger Jobs Best Left To Mold Remediation Pros

If you need to clean more than 10 square feet, check with a commercial mold remediation company like SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield.

Hire With Care. Avoid This Fallacy.

Bringing in the professionals is smart, but do hire carefully. SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield is a commercial mold remediation company. We’re experts in mold spore removal.  Some commercial mold restoration companies advertise, “mold removal” and may even guarantee to remove all mold. This is a fallacy.

Removing all molds from a house or business is impossible because microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors.

Help From Other Blog Posts   
Every month SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield publishes educational blog posts on how Manchester and Mansfield area businesses and residents can protect themselves from disasters or clean up after them. We want to help educate you on how to deal with mold, fire, water, sewage, storm, and other damage. Here are a few additional blog posts that you might find helpful:  

Chemical Spill Safety
Cleaning Up Chemicals Or Biohazards
Cleaning Your Home After Fire And Smoke Damage
Your Home’s Dirty Places You Don’t Know About

You might also want to explore the educational information on our sister franchise’s SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield’s blog.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service

Your Home's Dirty Places You Don't Know About

2/16/2017 (Permalink)

Looks innocent. May hide 2 million bacterial cells.

Most of our work involves major cleanups and restorations like you need after storm, fire, or water damage. So people who haven’t experienced a natural storm disaster restoration often think SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield may not have words of wisdom for them. Today we’d like to disprove that myth. Here’s some information on general cleaning issues that affect us all.

Even neat and clean freaks have hidden places in their homes that are not neat and clean. You may be surprised by where the most disgusting places in homes tend to be and how to make them shine.

Most Overlooked Dirty Place In Many Homes
In a 2015 survey conducted by cleaning services startup, Handy of its 500 top-ranked pros, 37 percent of the professional cleaners rated shower curtains as the most overlooked dirty place in clients' homes. How important is this? Well, it's worth noting that in rare cases, mold, mildew, and soap scum buildup can cause serious infections.

How To Clean Those Nasty Shower Curtains
You can eliminate grime and germs on a fabric, plastic, or vinyl curtain by putting it in the washing machine along with a few towels to keep the curtain from wrinkling. Wash in warm water. Use a 1/2 cup bleach and 1/4 cup of laundry detergent. Then immediately hang dry the curtain.

Need Cleaning Help? Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At 860-461-7194

Clean Here First
Of course, the first place to clean is the bathroom, but did you know that in the bathroom one of the best things you can quickly do is wipe down the sink? That’s what Becky Rapinchuk, Clean Mama blogger and author of The Organically Clean Home book, recommends.

Your Own Cheap Disinfecting Spray
You can easily put together Becky’s inexpensive chemical-free disinfecting spray. Just combine  ½ cup vodka (for germ-killing properties), ½ cup white vinegar, 10 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops lemon essential oil and 1½ cups water (distilled or boiled and cooled). Spritz your sink and other bathroom areas. Come back in 10 minutes to rub down surfaces. If you have a pedestal sink wipe down the front and sides, all the way to the floor. Now that’s something not all of us do.

Toilet Areas We Often Fail To Clean
If you meticulously scrub the toilet bowl and toilet seat weekly and there's a lingering musty smell, the next order of business is to clean two parts you're likely missing: toilet seat hinges and the base of the bowl. If you don't have a toilet seat with hinges that lift, you'll need a Phillips-head screwdriver to unscrew the hinges to remove the seat completely. Once that's done, spray the hinges and cover them completely with disinfectant. If the hinges are smelly or stained, Becky Rapinchuk suggests sprinkling a bit of baking soda on the hinges and letting that sit. That will take that odor away. Then rinse it and wipe it down. To tackle another possible source of odor, spray the outside of the bowl and behind the toilet, let it sit, and wipe up with a microfiber cloth (or paper towels if really grimy).

Need Cleaning Help? Call SERVPRO Of Manchester/Mansfield At 860-461-7194

Toothbrush Holders Home To Millions Of Germs
The benign-seeming toothbrush holding cup is one of the germiest spots in anyone’s house. Some experts say the average toothbrush holder is holding more than 2 million bacteria cells. Use one that’s dishwasher safe-- brushed stainless steel or plastic, and clean it once or twice a week.

Sponges Often Contain E. Coli
Sponges can be a breeding ground for bacteria. It's likely that the one near your sink contains E. coli and salmonella bacteria. A two-minute turn in the microwave can kill most of the viruses, parasites, and spores that grow on sponges. Still you should change your sponges every two weeks or so.

Bathtub And Shower Bacteria
About one in four bathtubs and showers harbored the bacteria known as staphylococci. That bacteria can cause problems with superficial skin lesions and urinary tract infections. Keep these germs at bay by using a mild shower spray daily. Do avoid abrasive cleaners.

For More Information
You’ll find disaster preparation, cleanup, restoration, and other information on this site and our sister site, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield. 

Your Natural Disaster Cleanup and Restoration Service
Again, our expertise is more in natural disaster preparation, cleanup, and restoration. But we hope these cleaning tips are helpful to you. If you suffer fire, water, mold, chemical, or storm damage, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860-461-7194) anytime.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service