This particular post reflects on a common issue we find most homeowners are completely unaware is lurking in your home. Proper maintenance and a little effort on your part as the homeowner can save you thousands of dollars before it is too late. Check out this fantastic write up on how to maintain the health of your home humidifier filter.
Hardwood floor care can seem like a daunting task. Fear not, because, with a few simple steps you will soon be mastering the art of maintaining your hardwood flooring throughout your home. Knowledge is power. Being more knowledgable about the nature of hardwood floor care in-home is key to understanding how to keep your floors looking brand new for many years to come.
You may not realize, however, fine dust and dirt can wear down your beautiful hardwood floor over time. Acting like sandpaper with every step dirt can grind away at the surface of your floors, resulting in a dull and worn out look of your hardwood flooring. We recommend a proper dusting utilizing microfiber mop or cloth as your surefire defensive approach to maintaining and keep your hardwood floor gorgeous for years to come.
In our professional experience, hardwood floor care with homeowners who make dusting their floors to collect micro dirt and debris part of their cleaning routine really reap the rewards. The nature of the microfiber cleaning pad is that it naturally has a buildup of static electricity within in the fibers.
This attraction to static makes dusting he floors a breeze by pulling particulates, hair, and dust bunnies to the fiber and locking on to all the unwanted contaminants lingering on your floors and in crevices. Brooms may be an effective way of collecting dirt and dust into one localized area – however, they do a poor job of trapping dirt. Furthermore, simply sweeping may actually cause microscopic scratches which over time become more and more evident with each time you choose to sweep versus dust properly.
The best way to dust is to have your microfiber pad to the ground surface and avoid erratic swinging or the mop head or lifting the mop until you have fully completed and area. This helps avoid tossing dirt and dust from a freshly cleaned area to another part of your home. In turn, you trap dust where you want it – on the mop head and nowhere else in your home.
A weekly maintenance approach will help you tackle the more difficult areas of the home which daily dusting cannot reach (spaces between wood boards, small crevices, and all the other nooks and crannies). By utilizing your vacuum (with soft brush attachments) and using the appropriate wet cleaning methods you can have your floors spic and span in no time. These tools are most ideal for getting into the deep spaces between floorboards and into all those pesky corners of the rooms.
Be aware that caution should be exercised as to not cause damage to your floors when operating a vacuum on hard surfaces as such. Note, if your vacuum has a beater bar built-in – first ensure that the height setting is optimal for your hardwood floors before you begin. The key here is to set it high enough so as to not to have the beater bar beating on the wood floor as you make your passes during vacuuming. Also, note the condition of the wheels on your vacuum. You may want to consider how this will impact the flooring finish. If you find you have severely rough or hard wheels on your vacuum, consider replacing them or the vacuum for one with more hardwood floor-friendly design in mind.
In regard to mopping your flooring do not forget that water and wood are not allies in any fashion. Bearing this in mind know that you do NOT want to over-wet your flooring. This may cause cupping and even buckling of floorboards over time. The best method is to use A. appropriately designated cleaning product, such as BONA hardwood floor cleaner and B. apply it in the form of a light misting after completing your dusting and vacuuming and it should result in a beautiful clean. Lastly, note that there is no need to be overly aggressive with your mopping technique. As dry soil removal is step one in any and all cleaning processes – mopping should be done gently as the last step to removal of any grime that may be stuck onto the flooring. Easy does it!
Set up a routine where you show your hardwood floors a little extra love once a month – by polishing the hardwood flooring. Polishing floors will help boost the radiance and luster that lives inside your wood floors.
Polishes fill in the microscopic scratches which are highlighted when they are not properly maintained or have been cleaned but not polished. To boast it adds a nice protective finish to your hardwood floors.
Polishing should not be a daunting task; simply after your dusting, vacuuming, mopping and allowing for drying time – mist a fine polish onto your floors and using a clean microfiber pad gently buff the polish onto the floors. Tadaa! Protected and looking beautiful. Look at you, home maintenance superhero!
Call Wiz Team, Inc. or email us for a free in-home consultation for your hardwood floor cleaning and maintenance needs. Or simply call for advice!
Finding the best way to clean hardwood floors can be difficult. But with some time and patience along with the proper tools and proven techniques, you’ll be able to keep your floors looking their best, longer. Remember that the time you spend maintaining your floors pales in comparison to how much time you’ll spend making memories with your floors beneath you, every step of the way.
If you are new to the world of upholstery, choosing the right fabric may seem like an arduous process. With all the fabrics (not to mention the colors and designs) available, how do you choose the one which is right for you? Here is some information on various fabric to help you select the right fabric for your furniture.
You may hire a designer to make these choices for you based on your lifestyle, home traffic, and desired design inspirations – however, as they say – knowledge is power! Knowing a little more about the various fabric types and combinations thereof will truly help you in your decision making process.
Some things to consider before we jump in: How easy is it to maintain? Is it dry or wet clean only? How long will it last? These are just some baseline points to consider before re-upholstering every piece in your home! Some fabrics are gorgeous to look at and touch, however, they are notorious for being very difficult to clean and maintain. The more difficult to clean, the more expensive they are to maintain (think art silk, silk, viscose, velvet, and suede).
Let’s Jump in!
If you are planning to upholster something that will experience everyday wear and tear, durability is important to consider. Upholstery fabric’s durability is determined by how it rates on the manufacturer-administered double rub test, which is a back and forth motion that mimics the wear and tear of someone sitting on an upholstered seat over time. The higher the number of double rubs, (for example 100,000 vs 10,000) the better the indicator of quality and durability. In addition to higher double rubs, look for upholstery fabrics treated for performance, like stain resistance, water repellant, or UV resistance.
For upholstery projects that will not be used every day, like decorative or heirloom pieces, performance characteristics might not be as important, which opens up a wider variety including silk, wool, linen, cotton duck, embellished fabrics and more!
Upholstery fabric is often not suitable for traditional washing or dry cleaning once applied to furniture; therefore, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions and look for stain repellent fabrics for heavier-use pieces. Remember that over time protective finishes do wear down, so be sure to re-apply them during professional cleaning of your furniture. Our recommendation for dry-cleaning is intended prior to upholstering if cleaning before use is desired. Once upholstered, use spot cleaners intended for upholstery fabric, or upholstery cleaning services. Using a fabric protectant application over your completed project is recommended for enhanced stain resistance. Be sure to hire a certified upholstery cleaning professional service.
These common, upholstery fabrics come in a variety of weights, colors, fibers, and treatments to ensure you get the fabric you need for your project.
These are common fibers used in upholstery fabrics. They can be 100% or blended with other fibers to join characteristics. These fibers can be made up into a variety of fabric types, which also have an effect on their performance:
Your color choice is also dependent upon the type of use your furniture will see. Natural beige color is a popular choice for hiding dirt as well as being a neutral that can go with many different décor styles.
Consider lighter solid colors to create an airy, inviting mood in a space. Darker colors or patterns are better for hiding dirt and wear. Or you can always select a bright color or a fun, bold pattern to make a statement in your space!
When considering a professional for your upholstery cleaning and protection – call Wiz Team, Inc. for your free in-home consultation and we can discuss the best methodological approach to handling your beautiful textiles and ensuring a long life for your upholstered home furnishings.
Most people know that a clean environment is better for your health. While you can’t always control the cleanliness of public spaces you interact with, you can make sure that your home is fostering the healthiest environment possible.
Especially before cold and flu season is back in full swing, take the time to protect your family by making sure your carpet isn’t making you sick. Although your carpets appear clean, they can be a host for bacteria, microbes, and other irritants. Below you will find the common list of health issues that could be coming from or made worse by dirty carpet.
Respiratory Issues
Mold, pet hair, old skin, dust, and dirt can all get trapped in your carpets. Daily activity such as walking or vacuuming can free these particles from the carpet and spread them into the air. Can dirty carpets make you sick? This movement of pollutants can lead to respiratory issues such as coughing or difficulty breathing. Individuals who suffer from asthma can feel these symptoms even more intensely, as they’re more vulnerable to such airborne toxins. The American Lung Association advises that pets, as well as children who spend more time on the floor and touch their hands to their mouths, are more at risk of being affected by toxic particles in your carpet. Only proper maintenance and professional cleaning methods can successfully remove these toxic particulates which lay dormant in your carpeting.
Allergies
The same mold and dust mites that can inflame your lungs can also give you red eyes or a runny nose if you suffer from allergies. The buildup in your carpet can easily trigger an allergy attack or make your day-to-day life just a little more unpleasant. If you frequently wake up with drainage or allergy-like symptoms, your carpets should be one of the first places you look to eliminate bacteria and dust mites. (Pro-Tip: The second place is to check your air duct system and if it needs to be cleaned.) Now that fall is here, you might be experiencing sneezing and skin irritation thanks to ragweed and mold. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology warns that these irritants can build up in your carpet and that your symptoms can flare up in the immediate hours after vacuuming. This buildup can occur due to the fact that we keep our homes more closed up during the colder months which allows irritants to settle in the carpeting and consistently recirculate in the air when the heating systems kick in.
Skin Irritation
Itchy skin, rashes, athlete’s foot, and eczema are all dirty carpet dangers that can be triggered or made worse by dust mites in the unclean carpet. Even if you maintain a regular cleaning schedule, dust mites are small enough to evade the most diligent home cleaners. Utilizing technologies such as home humidifiers and having the carpeting cleaned on a regular schedule can help in significantly reducing presence of dust mites.
Weakened Immune System
Your body works hard to keep you healthy! Whether you’re at home or at the office, your immune system is constantly fighting off germs and toxins. When you live in an unclean environment, your body is working overtime to fight against bacteria and keep you healthy. It makes sense that your immune system can start to get tired when you’re living in a home where there’s a buildup of germs and toxins in dirty carpets. Babies have developing immunes systems and are frequently in contact with floors, which puts them at a greater risk of getting sick from your carpet. If you have a home with toddlers and small children, frequent vacuuming and professional cleaning are important for keeping your kids healthy.
Pet Germs
If you have animals, keeping your carpets clean is even more important for disease prevention. Animal urine and feces can cause a host of issues in your carpet. From carrying bacteria to creating smells like ammonia that can cause nose and lung irritation, pet waste can be particularly dangerous for small children who are in frequent contact with dirty carpet. The dampness can also increase the risk of mold growth, so immediately treating affected areas is crucial. Especially with cats and dogs that spend time inside and outside of the house, diseases and germs can be easily spread. Fleas and ticks can find their way into your home if you’re not regularly cleaning your pets and your carpets. These pests often cannot be eliminated by cleaning alone, often extreme heat or chemical treatments are required to free your home of these unwanted visitors. As much as we love our pets ensuring we take every necessary precaution to have a clean environment should be at the top of our list.
Stomach Illness
Nothing good comes from wet carpet. But you may not realize just how bad damp carpet can be for your health. The presence of mold can cause a variety of health issues, but the presence of mycotoxins cause severe stomach irritation and infection. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, mold can go unseen and is even more common in basement carpeting. Your carpet could even be a host for salmonella. While you may think of salmonella as a foodborne disease, this pathogen can be tracked into your home, putting your household, especially children, at risk.
Mental Anguish
Along with the host of physical illnesses that can result from dirty carpet, your mental health can also be affected. Ridding your home of a flea infestation or taking care of sick child is a lot of stress. The American Psychological Association has confirmed that stress produces physical symptoms and leads to a weakened and immune system. So clean carpets won’t just help you stay healthy. They’ll help you stay happy, too. So how do you protect yourself and your family against the health risks of dirty carpet? Regular vacuuming and cleaning does help. However, dirty carpets can also mean a dirty vacuum. To prevent spreading any carpet problems, make sure you are using a vacuum with a true HEPA filter that’s frequently cleaned and regularly change full bags.
Basic cleaning measures alone aren’t enough to ensure that your carpets aren’t a host to pollutants and toxins. It is recommended to have your carpets cleaned professionally every 12 to 18 months to protect against allergens and bacteria. This will ensure that your home is as clean and healthy as possible! Learn more about our Wiz Team, Inc. Cleaning & Restoration Specialists.
Master Certification: Carpet cleaning (basic) IICRC Certification is just the start. Think of Master Certifications as the “graduate degrees” of our industry. With the additional requirement of experience, beyond classroom learning, Master Certifications communicate a higher level of experience, expertise, efficiency and credibility, not to mention the confidence.
Master Certified Technicians exhibit higher productivity, increased technical competency, lower error rate and higher level of client satisfaction.
IICRC Certified Firms: Certification of a firm provides concrete evidence to clients that the company is staffed with people who know what they are doing and that the firm conducts business to an IICRC-prescribed set of ethical business practices and standards. IICRC stands for the highest standard of excellence in certification.
Although a lot of technicians become IICRC certified in basic techniques and stop there, three master certification paths – textile cleaning, fire and smoke restoration and water restoration – journeyman and master designations are reserved for those who truly developed their skills.
Master Water Restorer, Master Textile Cleaner and Master Fire & Smoke Restorer are highest “graduate degrees” in our industry.
All master certifications must be achieved over a minimum of three years so classroom learning and certification is combined with real-world work. The IICRC Master status is the highest technical certification in the cleaning industry.
Just as certified accountants, electricians, plumbers and mechanics project a higher level of competency in their fields, and just as members of the American Medical Association and American Bar Association set themselves apart through training, experience and comprehensive examination, IICRC certification helps to immediately identify the cleaning, restoration and inspection industries’ most skilled and dedicated technicians and businesses.
However, unlike electricians, plumbers, accountants, doctors and lawyers, the cleaning, restoration and inspection industry does not require a technician or the firm to be certified in order to perform these services. Certification matters because outstanding service means consecutively correct service, every time.
Being certified is voluntarily, therefore it is important to check if you’re cleaning and restoration service provider is in fact certified.
Wiz Team, Inc. is keeping up with the latest education and training, techniques and technologies. We are staffed with experienced and educated, well-trained, satisfied employees who are the key to our satisfied clients.
The history of cleaning and restoration certification is long, but for us it all started from – a deceptively simple question: What works best for our clients?
It has driven us to research chemistry, extraction techniques, fiber identification, airflow and many other subjects.
Thanks to the strength of the schools and instructors, our technicians have knowledge and skills to achieve education on cleaning and restoration – improving their skills and serving our clients with best practices.
In the end, certification matters because we all work in service industry – and outstanding service means consecutively correct service, every time.
We obtain science-based information for best practices and build technical and scientific knowledge in the restoration and cleaning industry in order to provide the most outstanding service experience ever to our clients.
Wiz Team, Inc. is the ONLY cleaning and restoration firm in Chicagoland holding quadruplet Master Certifications designations.
We are certified as: Master Water Restorer, Master Textile Cleaner, Master Fire & Smoke Restorer and Master Rug Cleaner. So, before you call a company whose technicians have only basic or worse yet have no certification, call the Wiz Team, Inc. – true Cleaning and Restoration Specialists – best in the industry.
Imagine…
You are shopping for new carpet, perhaps just a few rooms. Two of the rooms are bedrooms, which don’t get as much foot traffic as the entryway, living room and hallway you also need to replace. It’s been nearly 10 years since you had new carpet.
You go to a local carpet retail store. The carpet salesman has a great deal for you: A virtually stain-proof carpet with vibrant colors and also soft to the touch. You put your fingers into the carpet pile and love how it feels. You order the carpet for all the rooms you need to replace.
In a week or two, on the scheduled installation day, you remove all the furniture from the rooms and the installation pros show up and remove the old carpet and pad and put in the new.
It looks great!
A year later, when you decide it’s time to have the carpet cleaned, your carpet cleaning pros show up and do a great job removing the dirt. Even the spots come right out! However, there is a “worn” area in the living room and down the hallway, but not in the bedrooms. You ask your carpet cleaning pro why that is. He performs a fiber identification test and informs you that you purchased polyester carpet, which tends to matt down and look somewhat soiled just because of wear. He then kindly informs you that if you had purchased nylon, a more durable carpet fiber, this likely wouldn’t have happened.
You are upset. Don’t you hate it when you purchase something and it doesn’t perform as promised? Keep in mind – carpet salespeople may not be your best consultant when it comes to fibers.
So before you go looking for new carpet or furniture, give your carpet and furniture cleaning pro a call. Ask which fiber is best for each application in your home. Yes, polyester may be soft and colorful, but it may be best to keep it in the bedrooms and use durable fibers, like nylon and wool (which is expensive), in the high trafficked areas of your home. The point of our write up is to inform you how, even though, carpeting can all seem the same – they are not all constructed the same and do not wear and tear similarly over time. When choosing your next carpeting, be sure to give us a call, we are always here to help, assist, and consult you on all your in home textile needs! Choose the right fabrics for your lifestyle and not based on what a well-spoken sales person may recommend.
As you begin reading this, let’s do a simple exercise together.
Breathe in, really deep… go ahead, and really fill those lungs.
Feels refreshing, right? That is the magic effect of clean air and oxygen coursing through your blood vessels!
Taking a deep breath of air, especially outdoors after a recent thunderstorm or when the air is fresh, crisp and clean, smells and feels good. It can be surprisingly rejuvenating!
Unfortunately, taking a deep breath of air indoors, such as in your home or office work space, can be a different matter altogether.
The air you breathe, you innocently assume, is clean and healthy. That may not necessarily be the case, as countless reports of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) prove that not every indoor environment can be considered healthy. Often times scientific research finds that, indoor air quality can be 2 to 5 times more concentrated with pollutants than outdoor air. YIKES!
This is due to the fact that we spend most of our time indoors (90% to be exact) and the environment is almost hermetically sealed with all our advances in building and material quality. However, as great as this may be for overall energy efficiency – it can wreak havoc on our health.
Research points to some common household factors which contribute to the poor air quality: combustion by-products (cooking) create carbon monoxide and particulate matter suspended into the air, other substances from natural sources such as, dander, radon, and mold, as well as pesticides, lead, and asbestos. These materials may all be contaminating your homes indoor air.
When indoor air quality is poor, there can be issues for many people, especially those who suffer from allergies, asthma, and respiratory illnesses, among others. The list can be quite extensive. Typically poor air quality can afflict the elderly, young children, and allergy sufferers at its onset.
Poor indoor air quality doesn’t mean just “stuffy” air, the type that can build up in a home that doesn’t have sufficient air exchanges during the day. Although that can contribute to poor health for some individuals, what really causes health concerns are the various pollutants we mentioned above. While these pollutants are often indoors, they can also be outdoors, and you must recognize the affect they have on your health. For instance, you may decide to stay indoors when you hear of an outdoor poor air quality report on the news.
What you can control, though, at least to some degree, is the indoor air quality in your home.
What can you do? It’s simple. Keep things clean. Change your furnace and air conditioning filter on a regular basis, according to the manufacturer. We often recommend American made filters through FilterBuy.com, which makes replacement easy and simple – and they can custom make any filter to suit your HVAC systems requirements!
Use a quality vacuum for your carpet and furniture and use it weekly, and more often if you have a busy household. (Pro Tip: Do not forget to empty and clean out your vacuum before your next use. Poor maintenance of your vacuum may cause for re-contamination of the air.)
Beautiful hard floors? They need to be cleaned as well, as dust can easily build up and become airborne from hard surfaces. When you dust surfaces, such as shelves or countertops, use a microfiber cloth towel that will hold the dust instead of pushing it off onto the floor.
And, of course, have your carpet and furniture cleaned based on the recommendation of your favorite cleaning company (and manufacturer). In fact, isn’t it time you had your carpet and furniture cleaned… right now?
Do the best thing for your families well being and yours – make the call today for your free estimate. After all, you deserve the most outstanding service experience ever!
You would be hard pressed not to find this noisy, electrical and often-underused mechanical device in any home, apartment or business.
What is it? The vacuum cleaner. You know, that silent sentinel in your closet that comes to life when you plug it in and push the power button, and it buzzes all over the carpet as you chase it around the house.
The problem with the vacuum cleaner is we trust it too much. No, we’re not saying you shouldn’t vacuum your carpet. You should vacuum once per week per occupant, on average, for the main areas. You might vacuum the bedrooms less frequently. We all know that proper vacuuming is important in caring for the carpet.
But some feel that vacuuming the carpet is equal to carpet cleaning. That’s a myth and it is simply not true. Professional carpet cleaning removes so much more than a vacuum can remove. Yet it has been reported that consumers feel that frequent vacuuming removes the dust and grime from their floors and they can either skip or prolong regular carpet cleaning.
A good vacuum, no matter how powerful or advanced, removes only dry soil. The stuff that is tracked in every day and should be removed every day, as well. Vacuums don’t remove the sticky, greasy soil stuck to the carpet fibers. You need professional cleaning to remove those soils.
Compare this to washing your car with a dry rag… or brushing your hair and skipping the shower and shampoo… or — well, you get the point. You need quality cleaning, deep carpet cleaning, to get your carpet thoroughly cleaned.
Do yourself a favor. Keep that vacuum cleaner working, use it all the time, but also use your professional carpet cleaning pro. We know what it takes to remove ALL the dirt!
Nowadays we are all concerned about better health. We take vitamins and shop for healthy foods. Visit our doctor on a regular basis, we drink filtered water… What we might not appreciate is the value of filtered air.
How can you effectively filter the air in your home? You do it by changing the filters in your HVAC furnace system on a regular, scheduled basis. If you wait too long, you know the filter is going to be dirty. So you should change it often, and maybe you want to even put it on your smartphone or wall calendar so you don’t forget. You might even want to pick up a better quality filter.
But what about the biggest filter in your home? Are you wonder what it is? Just look down… if you have carpet, that’s the filter that often gets ignored. If you don’t have much carpet, odds are you have area rugs covering those hard floors. Those area rugs are filters, too.
Remember, allergens are very light and float in the air, and are respiratory concerns, especially for allergy and asthma sufferers. Carpet helps to keep those particulates to a minimum.
Carpet in a home is a protection for you, because it traps all kinds of allergens that can be the bane of asthma sufferers. Carpet is a filter and, like all filters, has to be either changed or cleaned. It’s not practical to change your carpet every year or so (heck, no one could afford that!) but you can – and should – have it cleaned.
There are many documented studies about how homes and facilities, such as schools, are healthier because of carpet and regular cleaning schedules.
So enjoy your carpet and clean air in your home – have it cleaned by your favorite carpet cleaning pro!
If you prefer we can put it into our calendar and remind you so you don’t forget it. Call Wiz Team, Inc. to schedule your carpet cleaning (847) 526-6060
When you have way too much stuff and no system of organization, you end up with a house full of clutter. It starts to choke you and drain your energy. Only a person who lives with clutter can understand why somebody would hoard their possessions, or even their “junk”. A common feeling among people, who have a cluttered house, is that they know where everything is located, and many times, they actually do! What may look like a mess to someone else seems organized to the one living that way. It is actually difficult for some people to get rid of things and they tell a friend, “On my next vacation (or days off), “I’ll help you if you help me”. It seems like such a desperate job that it looks impossible.
When your children are growing up, you tend to save things for them but usually in a more organized manner than when they grow up and move out. You are left your stuff and their stuff and lots of stuff that doesn’t get used any more. I am going to use this article as a blueprint for the way I attack my spare bedroom. I have decided that I am going to pretend to be moving and I only want to pack the “good, usable and necessary” stuff for my “new place”. That is going to be my motive and seems to be a great way to think about the extra stuff in your house once you decide to get rid of the clutter.
Do you know how to separate clutter from what is actually valuable? There are shows on television and books that have been written, that try to help people determine what they should keep and what they should discard. The television shows are interesting to me, for a number of reasons like, there are many people to help you with the process of doing and deciding and there is a monetary gain to receive once the clutter is gone. In case you have never seen the show, the television people will add new pieces of furniture that will help retain the order and the organization of the home. They strive to organize things in ways that will be easy for people to maintain.
If you are wondering how to start the whole process, you will need to remove EVERYTHING from a room, including clothing in the closets and furniture. The professionals give advice on how to sort all the stuff in your house. They say to separate all the stuff in 3 large areas designated to donate or sale, discard and keep. It is difficult for people to get rid of things that they have been “collecting” for years, especially if those items are attached to a lot of memories. There has to be a limit on each thing that you handle so you won’t get bogged down in emotional memories. Then start the difficult but rewarding process of choosing which pile your item will go in. As you work diligently through this process you will see your clutter disappear.
If you need some help getting started give us a call and we will be glad to join you!
