If you have found that all your efforts to clean your carpets, rugs and floors was all in vain, then maybe you should consider contacting a professional for a deep cleaning. While there is no shortage of carpet and floor care professionals, there are differences in work quality, price, and business practices.
There are a few things to look for in a professional carpet cleaner. I believe the thing that matters most is how they run their business. If they run a company based on good ethics, then the quality of their work will reflect that and also their prices. Same goes for companies that have bad ethics. Which would you rather have?
Don't be afraid to go with a small business, they can give you the best work for your dollar, because they every job they do counts. Unlike some big profession carpet cleaning operations that are too large to care about each individual job. Small businesses are what keep this great country of ours rolling. Just be sure that they are insured in case of accidental damage to your property.
One other thing to look at when using a professional carpet cleaner is their professionalism. Are their uniforms pressed and wrinkle free? Do they answer your questions in professional manner? Are they polite and offer great customer service? Do their machines look to be well maintained? Are they knowledgeable about different types of carpets, tiles, and rugs?
These are just a few things to consider when you are ready to use a professional carpet cleaner. Thanks for reading.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
How to Strip Floors
HOW TO STRIP FLOORS
Purpose:
To remove a floor finish (wax) when any of the following occurs:
a. the color changes.
b. the wax begins to build up.
c. mopping, spray buffing or re-waxing does not give the results desired.
Supplies and Equipment:
Dust mop
Broom and dust pan
Putty knife
Wet/dry vacuum
2 mop buckets
Squeegee
Stripping solution
Fresh water (use cool water)
Commercial neutralizer (if not available, use household vinegar in proportion of 1/2 pint vinegar per 2 gallons of water.)
Wet mop
Floor machine
Stripping pads
Wet Floor signs
Procedure:
1. Prepare the area:
a. Place "Floor Hazard" signs in easy-to-see locations at entrances to area being stripped.
b. Move furniture. Work around heavy furniture or equipment that cannot be moved. Tilt file cabinets and mount on blocks.
c. Sweep the floor with a treated dust mop or vacuum the floor.
d. Remove gum and other foreign material with a putty knife.
e. Place stripping pad (either ETC's Boss Hawg or black nylon) on the machine.
f. Set equipment in area where work will begin. In a room start in the farthest corner from the entrance.
2. Follow instructions for using the stripping solution and pour into the bucket. Use cool tap water.
Note:
Hot water can loosen tile adhesive and cause solution to dry too fast.
3. Dip mophead into stripping solution. Wring slightly so the mophead still drips a little. Fan out the mophead on the floor and start applying solution at the edges.
Note:
Most build-up is at the edges.
4. Apply the solution in a 6' to 7' arc or side to side movement to cover the area between the edges. Cover only a 100 to 125 square foot area at a time.
5. Where splashing on the walls and baseboards occurs, wipe off immediately with a damp cloth.
6. Let the solution soak on the floor 4 to 5 minutes.
7. Using the floor machine with stripping pads strip the area that is covered with solution. Overlap the strokes made by the machine.
8. Use the mop and empty bucket or wet/dry vacuum to pick up dirty solution. Do not allow solution to dry on the floor.
9. Rinse area using fresh water and mophead which is slightly wrung out.
10. Clean mophead with water after the first rinsing of the floor is complete.
11. Rinse two more times with fresh water. In the final rinse add commercial neutralizer per the in instructions, if available. If not, use 1/2 pint of household vinegar to 2 gallons of water. A neutralized floor gives a much better bond of the finish to the tile.
12. Allow floor to dry. Restrip any high gloss spots.
13. Allow floor to dry at least one hour after final rinse.
Check floor to be sure it is ready for finish by wiping the hand across a section of the floor. If a white powder comes up, the floor has not been rinsed properly and must be rinsed until no white powder comes up after the floor is dry. When the white powder no longer comes up on the hand, the floor is ready to be finished (waxed).
Accomplishment:
After following this procedure the floor will be free of all sealers, finishes, dirt, grime, gum, other foreign matter and have no powdery residue. The floor is then ready for finish to bond to the floor tile properly.
Purpose:
To remove a floor finish (wax) when any of the following occurs:
a. the color changes.
b. the wax begins to build up.
c. mopping, spray buffing or re-waxing does not give the results desired.
Supplies and Equipment:
Dust mop
Broom and dust pan
Putty knife
Wet/dry vacuum
2 mop buckets
Squeegee
Stripping solution
Fresh water (use cool water)
Commercial neutralizer (if not available, use household vinegar in proportion of 1/2 pint vinegar per 2 gallons of water.)
Wet mop
Floor machine
Stripping pads
Wet Floor signs
Procedure:
1. Prepare the area:
a. Place "Floor Hazard" signs in easy-to-see locations at entrances to area being stripped.
b. Move furniture. Work around heavy furniture or equipment that cannot be moved. Tilt file cabinets and mount on blocks.
c. Sweep the floor with a treated dust mop or vacuum the floor.
d. Remove gum and other foreign material with a putty knife.
e. Place stripping pad (either ETC's Boss Hawg or black nylon) on the machine.
f. Set equipment in area where work will begin. In a room start in the farthest corner from the entrance.
2. Follow instructions for using the stripping solution and pour into the bucket. Use cool tap water.
Note:
Hot water can loosen tile adhesive and cause solution to dry too fast.
3. Dip mophead into stripping solution. Wring slightly so the mophead still drips a little. Fan out the mophead on the floor and start applying solution at the edges.
Note:
Most build-up is at the edges.
4. Apply the solution in a 6' to 7' arc or side to side movement to cover the area between the edges. Cover only a 100 to 125 square foot area at a time.
5. Where splashing on the walls and baseboards occurs, wipe off immediately with a damp cloth.
6. Let the solution soak on the floor 4 to 5 minutes.
7. Using the floor machine with stripping pads strip the area that is covered with solution. Overlap the strokes made by the machine.
8. Use the mop and empty bucket or wet/dry vacuum to pick up dirty solution. Do not allow solution to dry on the floor.
9. Rinse area using fresh water and mophead which is slightly wrung out.
10. Clean mophead with water after the first rinsing of the floor is complete.
11. Rinse two more times with fresh water. In the final rinse add commercial neutralizer per the in instructions, if available. If not, use 1/2 pint of household vinegar to 2 gallons of water. A neutralized floor gives a much better bond of the finish to the tile.
12. Allow floor to dry. Restrip any high gloss spots.
13. Allow floor to dry at least one hour after final rinse.
Check floor to be sure it is ready for finish by wiping the hand across a section of the floor. If a white powder comes up, the floor has not been rinsed properly and must be rinsed until no white powder comes up after the floor is dry. When the white powder no longer comes up on the hand, the floor is ready to be finished (waxed).
Accomplishment:
After following this procedure the floor will be free of all sealers, finishes, dirt, grime, gum, other foreign matter and have no powdery residue. The floor is then ready for finish to bond to the floor tile properly.
Friday, October 5, 2012
HOW TO BUFF/POLISH FLOORS
HOW TO BUFF/POLISH FLOORS
Purpose:
To increase attractiveness of the floor by increasing the gloss or shine.
Supplies and Equipment
Supplies and equipment used for dust mopping damp mopping and buffing.
Procedures:
1.Prepare the area for buffing:
a. Place Wet Floor signs in locations near the entrances near the area being buffed.
b. Take supplies and equipment into area.
c. Dust mop the area you are buffing.
d. Use a damp mop area if necessary.
2. Using the floor machine with a buffing pad, buff the floor area by:
a. Start along the baseboards at the farthest corner from the entrance into the room.
b. Moving backward toward the entrance around 10' at a time. Make sure to buff the room using a side to side motion using overlapping the strokes.
Note: When buffing a hallway, buff 12' along base board at a time on each side of the hallway, then buff the area between those baseboards.
Use a side to side motion in the buffing operation.
3. After buffing the entire floor area, use a clean, treated dust mop to pick up dust left from the buffing operation.
4. Clean your equipment.
Purpose:
To increase attractiveness of the floor by increasing the gloss or shine.
Supplies and Equipment
Supplies and equipment used for dust mopping damp mopping and buffing.
- Wet Floor Signs signs
- Appropriate Buffing Pads
- Floor machine: Burnisher
Procedures:
1.Prepare the area for buffing:
a. Place Wet Floor signs in locations near the entrances near the area being buffed.
b. Take supplies and equipment into area.
c. Dust mop the area you are buffing.
d. Use a damp mop area if necessary.
2. Using the floor machine with a buffing pad, buff the floor area by:
a. Start along the baseboards at the farthest corner from the entrance into the room.
b. Moving backward toward the entrance around 10' at a time. Make sure to buff the room using a side to side motion using overlapping the strokes.
Note: When buffing a hallway, buff 12' along base board at a time on each side of the hallway, then buff the area between those baseboards.
Use a side to side motion in the buffing operation.
3. After buffing the entire floor area, use a clean, treated dust mop to pick up dust left from the buffing operation.
4. Clean your equipment.
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