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Keep Your Floors Clean for Barefoot Summer Traffic

With summer fast approaching it makes sense to start thinking about how to keep your floors clean during this high traffic, barefoot time of year. You know the time when the kids are running inside and out dripping wet from the pool, and when the picnic guests are trotting through the hallways to use the bathroom. It can put a lot of wear tear, dirt and debris onto your floors.

Keeping the Floors Clean in Summer

Whether you have carpet, tiles, wood flooring or vinyl, the fact remains that you want to keep your home clean and hygienic at all times. Especially if there are little ones crawling around and to ensure no one gets a rock or other debris stuck under their foot walking through your house.

While chasing behind everyone with a mop as they enter and leave might help, it’s no way to spend your weekends.

Opt for a deep cleaning session with professionals.

Calling in a team of professionals is the best way to get your floors ready for the barefoot season and to keep them clean throughout the warmer months. A professional carpet cleaning will get much deeper into the fibers and not just pick up loose debris but actually wash, agitate and soften up your carpets so they’re fresh, soft to walk on and odor free. Have hardwood? Professional cleaning is going to do more than push around the dirt, it’s going to lift up the dirt and clean the surface without damaging or changing the appearance.

Hire Always Clean

We don’t just offer the highest quality work at each visit, our technicians are also certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) for carpet cleaning, commercial maintenance, upholstery and fabric cleaning, and water damage restoration. We’re here to help you with all your cleaning needs! Contact us today.

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Get Your Rugs Professionally Cleaned before Summer So You Can Start Fresh

Floor coverings are the furnishings that are the most used and that experience the most wear and tear. Area and Oriental rugs can accumulate dirt, dust, pollen, pet hair, and other allergens that can make them appear dull and dingy and can affect people’s health. Even with regular vacuuming, much of that debris can remain.

Many homeowners have no idea how dirty their rugs are until they have them professionally cleaned and see the dramatic difference. With summer coming up soon, now is the perfect time to have your rugs cleaned so your house will have a fresh look when you invite guests for summer picnics and barbecues.

Benefits of Professional Rug Cleaning

Dirt and debris can build up over time and become embedded in rug fibers, which can cause the fibers to eventually split. Professional rug cleaners use hot water and commercial cleaning products to remove debris from inside the fibers. This can prevent damage and extend the life of the floor covering.

In high-traffic areas, such as the living room, bedrooms, and hallways, areas where people tend to walk the most can become dirty and wear out faster than others, which can detract from the appearance of the entire room. Professional carpet cleaning can remove dirt from those areas so the entire rug looks like new.

Rugs often become stained by spills. Some things, such as wine and juice, can be difficult to remove with typical household cleaning products. Even after several attempts at cleaning, a rug may remain discolored. If you have kids, your rugs may have several stains, and you may not be able to conceal them all with furniture. Having your rugs cleaned by professionals can allow you to entertain family and friends without worrying about feeling embarrassed if they see stains on the rug.

Professional rug cleaning can contribute to a healthier indoor environment. Removing dust and allergens can be beneficial for residents and guests who have allergies or asthma. Cleaning your rugs can also remove bacteria that cause unpleasant odors.

Clean Your Rugs to Prepare for Summer Gatherings

Even with weekly vacuuming, rugs can accumulate a lot of dirt and allergens. If you enjoy entertaining in the summer, now is the ideal time to have your rugs cleaned so your home will be ready for guests. Always Clean can professionally clean your rugs and restore them to like-new condition. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for rug cleaning in Connecticut.

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What Stains Can Professional Upholstery Cleaning Lift Out?

If you’ve ever tried to keep your new couches clean and stain free and have a house full of people, you know how impossible this can be. You might splurge for the protection package when you first buy it or choose a material that’s less likely show dirt but in the end, it’s a constant battle for anyone who cleans the home to deal with.

Food smudges, debris from soiled work clothing and pen marks. There really isn’t a stain you haven’t seen or tried to clean before on your couch if you’ve had it for a while. The good news is that it doesn’t take more elbow grease or baking soda to get this out. It involves less work on your part. Hire a professional cleaning company that has the tools and skills to get your pricey sofa back to amazing condition.

Here are some of the types of stains professionals have been known to get out of upholstery.

  • Pet dander & stains
  • Other household allergens and airborne bacteria
  • Small juice and food stains
  • Crusty unknown substances

When a professional cleaning company is called in to help with your upholstery cleaning they’re going to assess the type of fabric and any potential damage or issues that could occur when trying to clean the surface.

Once they’ve understood the required process, they will vacuum the fabric, condition, rinse, and dry it. In some instances, they might also use a process called hot-water extraction or “steam cleaning” as a method to try to lift a stain out.

All of this is done using specialized equipment and processes. It’s not something that you should attempt as a DIY project if you’re unsure of the end result which could exacerbate the stains.

Always Clean’s trained professionals are certified to clean your upholstery so the ultimate care is given to delicate fabrics. Post-inspections with clients ensure you’re satisfied with the completed outcome – even for those stains that simply will never come out.

Schedule a free in-home inspection and cleaning consult today!

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Tips for Maintaining Beautiful Hardwood Floors

You’re proud of your home’s hardwood floors, and rightfully so: they cost you a lot, and they’re one of your home’s most attractive features. To keep them in tip-top shape, however, you need to maintain them. While hardwood floors do occasionally need to be re-sanded and refinished, you can avoid having to do this too frequently by engaging in regular maintenance.

Here are some tips for keeping your hardwood floors beautiful!

Regular sweeping and debris removal. Nothing will tarnish the beauty of hardwood faster than dirt, grit, sand, and salt (for winter ice). Ensure you regularly sweep the floors to remove debris that could corrode the finish and the wood.

Washing with the right cleaner. Detergents you might use on tile floors aren’t suitable for hardwood. They main contain ammonia, bleach and other substances that can ruin the beauty of the wood. Even soap can harm some finishes. Ensure you’re using a cleaner made for wood floors, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap. Avoid using mops or sponges with gritty, abrasive surfaces. A gentle mopping or vacuuming on the bare floor setting is all it needs. Remove more stubborn sticky or dirty spots with a soft cloth and a bit of elbow grease.

Shoes off! Americans are some of the only people in the world who wear their shoes inside their homes. Place a rubber shoe and boot tray inside each of your home’s entrances and make a new rule: nothing but socks, soft slippers or bare feet in the house. You’ll save yourself exposure to a lot of bacteria and viruses that can be tracked in from outside with this rule, too. (The average shoe sole is covered with 421,000 bacteria!)

Clean spills immediately. While your hardwood floors are coated to protect them, leaving water or other liquids in place can eventually cause damage. Ensure all wet spots are dried immediately and put the dog or cat’s water bowls on tiled areas or protective rubber mats.

Use area rugs. Area rugs on high-traffic areas can save a lot of wear and tear on hardwood floors. Consider using rugs that can be regularly washed and dried to keep them looking clean and fresh.

Hire a professional hardwood floor cleaner. While there is a great deal you can do yourself to maintain your hardwood floors, it’s worthwhile to occasionally hire a professional company like Connecticut-based Always Clean to give your hardwood an in-depth cleaning to preserve its beauty and extend its life. Do-it-yourself steam cleaning can inadvertently harm hardwood floors if done incorrectly.

Always Clean services customers in New London, Middlesex, and New Haven counties. Call 203-868-9814 to learn more about our hardwood floor cleaning methods and for an estimate.

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Keeping Your Floors Safe for Crawling Toddlers

Here at Always Clean, we understand how important it is to keep the floors in your home clean and refreshed. There’s more to it than a shiny surface. Clean floors also protect your loved ones and provide a safe environment for pets and even those still using the floor to learn to walk. If your home has a crawling toddler, you’ve probably been chasing behind them hoping they don’t pick up any debris or get dirty as they scuttle around.

Here are some things you can do in-between any major cleanings to keep your floors clean and safe for crawling toddlers.

Remove Shoes

While this rule may already apply in some households, if you have a crawling toddler, it’s time to make it mandatory. Taking shoes off at the door before walking on any other surface in the home will prevent anything the sole of the shoe picked up outdoors from being tracked through the home (think pesticides, grass, dirt and maybe even some dog poop).

Sweep, Vacuum, Mop Often

You may have a weekly routine you’ve grown accustomed to – like doing laundry on Wednesdays and saving the vacuuming and mopping for Saturdays, but you’ll need to increase the frequency of those floor cleanings now. In particular, if you have pets or others with long hair in the home that shed and add to the dander on the floor. The last thing you want is your toddler crawling through tumbleweeds of hair or even putting it into their curious mouths.

Use a Floor Blanket

If you’ll be spending some tummy time on the floor as your baby gets accustomed to crawling, then consider using a special blanket that you lay out on the ground solely for this purpose.  Choose one that covers ample space and be sure to pick it up and shake it off immediately after they’re done playing.

Whether you have tiles, hardwood or carpeting in your home, professional cleaning is the best way to sanitize your floors and get them looking brand new again. From weekly cleanings to monthly appointments, Always Clean offers a convenient, cost-effective package that’s bound to work for you. Get in touch today!

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3 Carpet Cleaning Tricks Straight from the Pros

Keeping your carpets clean can seem like a full-time job. Especially if your home typically has high traffic moving through it or if you have children or pets who are less than careful about spills and cleaning up after themselves. If you know this story all too well and you’re tired of chasing around a vacuum twice a day, or have no time in your busy life to do it, we’ve got some tips for keeping your carpets clean no matter how extreme your situation is.

Here are our top 3 tips for carpet cleaning.

1.      Vacuum on the Correct Setting

Regardless of the type and brand of vacuum, you have at home, you can get far better use out of the cleaning tool by using it in the right setting. If the carpet you’re trying to clean is thick with long fibers, be sure to turn the device to that setting. Rollerballs will activate and the bristles will lower to allow for better trapping and sucking up of particles on that style of rug. Low pile rug? Switch to the low or floor setting so the brush roll sits higher and you’re able to suck up loose dirt and debris. The same is true about your speed when using the vacuum. You don’t want to rush and pass over everything too quickly. Chances are you’ll miss dirt. Instead, go slow and allow at least 2 pass overs of the area to clean it properly.

2.      Don’t Get too Lax with Cleaning

As with cleaning anything in your home, the longer you let it go, the worse it will get. If you noticed your dog had an accident or saw gum trapped earlier in the day on the floor, don’t let it sit for long. The sooner you can get to it, rub and blot it out and put a cleaner over the stain, the easier it will be to get it off the floor when it comes time for your carpets to be presentable for guests.

3.      Leave the Hard Stuff to Us

Sometimes you just don’t have the time, patience or desire to clean up. We get that. After the 15th time mopping up the juice and ten times you told a toddler not to drop the peanut butter, it’s easy to just be “over it”. In these situations, a professional cleaning company like Always Clean can be your solace.

We offer a variety of meticulous cleaning services designed to suit your needs at competitive rates and with convenient appointment times. Gain access to our licensed and insured cleaning professionals. Get in touch today!

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Tips for Keeping Thanksgiving Dinner Off the Floor

Hosting a dinner gathering for Thanksgiving is equally bold and rewarding. This is the meal everyone looks forward to all year long. Its comfort foods, time spent with gratitude, and it’s the kick off to the holiday season.

As the host, you’ve got a lot to prepare. From planning the courses to cooking the bird just right and all those desserts. Then there’s the cleaning up your home for guests and setting the table and centerpiece décor. As we enter the month of November this is probably exactly what your list looks like.

The good news is that party planning in advance will help you to be relaxed and allow all of your guests to enjoy the day before they head out stuffed and ready to do some Black Friday shopping.

But what about the aftermath? Packing up all those leftovers, cleaning all the plates and then the floors.

…The carpets stained with pumpkin pie globs, the gravy dribbles or the soda that was spilled by an unattended toddler…

We’ve got you covered with tips for keeping Thanksgiving dinner off the floor.

Be Mindful During the Event

Small steps to clean up while the party is happening can go a long way in keeping things neat and no surprise messes on the floors. It’s not polite to just clean while everyone else is eating and enjoying conversation but it’s easy enough to clear away dirty plates quickly to the kitchen or remove glasses and other spill-friendly items if they are no longer being used. When an accident does occur or you witness something falling to the floor don’t brush it off and say “I’ll get it later.” Stains may set in and the high traffic throughout the day can embed the debris further into the flooring and cause damage. Instead, head over with a damp cloth or dustpan and quickly clean it up and go on with the day. You’ll thank yourself later.

Don’t Leave the Mess for Tomorrow

After a long day of cooking and entertaining you’ll likely want to crawl straight into bed once everyone leaves and worry about the mess in the morning. Not only will you wake up upset that you’ll now need to dedicate more of your time to a party that’s long ended, but you may miss important spills or other clean-up needs if you don’t at least clear away the dishes and sweep underneath the table. Plus you can sleep in and do what you’d like the following day.

Call in the Professionals

Even if you did everything right. You planned ahead, cooked the turkey to just the right moist texture and your homemade apple pie was a hit, and you cleaned up the night before, you might still realize someone managed to track in an unknown substance under their shoes and smear it into your floor. Or the coffee you quickly cleaned up following an accidental spill still seems to have left a visible mark, there is something you can do.  Professional carpet cleaners armed with tools and expertise to bring your flooring back to life can come in and assist so your home is looking great again before the next holiday party you host.

Always Clean offers weekly cleanings or monthly appointments to help homeowners and businesses in Connecticut maintain an immaculately clean space.  We steam clean carpets, deep clean hardwood floors, clean tile and grout as well as upholstery and so much more!

Schedule your pre- or post-holiday cleaning service now!

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3 Reasons to Get a Professional Carpet Cleaning Before the Holidays

The holiday season is fast approaching and for many homeowners that can evoke a mixed bag of emotions.

On one hand, you may love celebrating with guests at your home and cooking a meal for everyone to enjoy. Plus watching children open gifts will warm any heart. But then there’s the other side of the coin. The preparations. The cleaning and hosting side of things that, depending on how polite your mother is, may be closely monitored for perfectionism.

If your hosting holiday gatherings at your home this year you’ve likely started to clear out the guest rooms, prepare the bathrooms and slowly make your way through the messes that seem to have piled over the summer months. Even if you tidy up all the rooms and put out fresh linens and towels, there is an important step missing to get your home absolutely fresh and clean for guests: Clean floors.

Here are 3 reasons to get a professional carpet cleaning done before the holidays.

Lift Stains and Clean Buildup

You may think a quick sweep with a broom or light vacuum and pass over with the mop is enough to keep your home clean but its holiday season and that method just won’t cut it. In fact, there’s likely lots of loose debris, pet hair and other allergens laying right on your rugs, carpets and in the nooks and crannies of your flooring that you don’t even see.

A professional cleaning service is going to use special tools and techniques to lift out the stains you overlooked months ago and leave you with a floor that will make your mother-in-law proud.

Keep Allergies in Check

If you have guests with allergies, cleaning your floors is a terrific gesture to ensure they’re comfortable for their stay rather than sneezing and dealing with watery eyes the entire time.

Keep allergens at bay by regularly vacuuming, shampooing, and/or steam-cleaning carpets. You should also invest in a HEPA filter for your regular cleanings to trap allergens. A professional vapor steam that uses 221-degree water can kill bacteria in the carpet. As an added bonus you’ll also get rid of odors.

Wow Your Guests

Then there’s the simple fact that you want to wow guests and have them come to your home feeling terrific about the overall experience. A clean home that’s sparkling and pristine is going to give off that vibe no matter what.

Even if you don’t have carpets in your home and your floors are looking dull, scuffed or not as sparkling clean as you’d like, contact Always Clean for cleaning services that get the job done right.

Don’t let yourself get into a frantic rush before one of the happiest seasons of the year, rely on the expert and professional care needed to get your home and your carpets cleaned and looking terrific before your guests arrive.

Get in touch today!

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Sell Your Home Faster: Clean Those Floors!

The decision to sell your home is likely not one you made hastily. Whether you’re moving to a bigger space or ready to downsize, getting the best return on your investment is key. To do so you’ll need to prep, clean and fix the home to undo years of use and wear.

Decluttered rooms, a fresh coat of paint and updated appliances and fixtures can all easily help increase the value of your home. However what good is moving furniture, updating the bathroom and staging the home for sale if the floors still look messy?

Here are just a few reasons to opt for a professional floor cleaning as you prepare your home for sale.

Assessing the Damage

The first thing you want to do before taking action is to assess the damage to your floors. Do you have beautiful hardwood that’s become dull and dingy? Is the grout in your bathroom tiles a sore sight? What about the carpets in the living room or bedroom? Do they have stains from years ago you didn’t even realize were still there? These factors are key considerations in how to move forward with floor cleaning. If the damage is beyond repair you may be looking at new flooring installation. But if you can avoid that cost, you may be able to get your floors looking brand new again with a professional cleaning.

Stick to Professionals

It’s important once you make the decision to have your floors cleaned that you choose a professional cleaning service. These companies are experienced not just in dealing with and treating stains but they also know the types of detergents, cleaners and methods to lift, brighten and add shine to floors and carpets without harming the textiles. As an added bonus, removal or old stains and set in odors will leave your home fresh for potential buyers who will feel like the investment in purchasing your home is worth it.

Always Clean offers cleaning services that leave homes and offices across Connecticut immaculately clean. We offer weekly cleanings and monthly appointments and have convenient, cost-effective packages to fit varied needs.  Contact us today!

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Does Carpet Cleaning Help Reduce Allergy Symptoms?

Ask any allergist, and they’ll tell you: rugs and carpets are magnets for allergens like dust mites, pet dander, mold spores and other triggers.

Allergens are substances that provoke allergic reactions such as sneezing, coughing and wheezing in people with hypersensitive immune systems. Not everyone, however, wants to live in a home with bare floors, so how do you cope with allergies and carpets at the same time? For starters, buy the right type of rugs.

What Are the Best Rugs and Carpets for Allergy Sufferers?

When it comes to rugs and carpets, synthetic is better for allergy sufferers. Luckily, most fibers used in mass-produced rugs and carpets today are manmade materials like polyester and nylon. These synthetic blends are constructed out of lab-developed fibers that repel allergens, largely because they are nonorganic and offer an inhospitable climate for microscopic life forms like dust mites and mold. Nylon is the most effective allergy-controlling carpet fiber, while wool (which IS a good host for allergy-causing life forms) is the least optimal. Also be sure to choose carpets with tightly woven strands for the same reason.

Look for rugs and carpets that have been treated with special chemicals to neutralize or repel offending particles. Carpet labeled “low VOC” (volatile organic compound) is good: it limits the use of substances such as formaldehyde and benzene, which can “off-gas” over time and affect indoor air quality and exacerbate allergies. Also, remember to ask about allergy-reducing carpet pads.

Clean the Carpets Regularly

Even with manmade materials, some allergens will get trapped, so it’s important to get rid of them. Be sure to vacuum regularly, shampoo, and/or steam-clean carpets. Use a deep-cleaning vacuum or invest in a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which traps allergens. (Some vacuums are even equipped with them.)

Use a Professional

The best mode for cleaning your whole carpet to reduce allergens is getting it vapor steamed, which heats the water to 221 degrees, destroying allergens and bacteria in the carpet. It’s necessary to do this frequently, as mold can begin to grow again very quickly.

Hire a professional company like Connecticut-based Always Clean to clean the carpets at least twice a year to keep them fresh, extend their lives, and protect their beauty. Located in Essex, Always Clean services customers in New London, Middlesex, and New Haven counties. Call 203-868-9814 for an estimate.

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