YOUR CARPETS ARE CONTAGIOUS SO CLEAN THEM!

Clean carpets not only look and smell lovely, they last longer and are healthier for you and your family. 

Your carpets act as filters, trapping harmful and damaging air pollutants such as bacteria, cigarette smoke tars, chemicals, animal dander and dust which you would otherwise breathe in. As with all filters however, they need regular cleaning and maintaining to perform at their best.

Whilst vacuuming will clean the surface, the dirt in and under your carpet can only be removed by deep cleaning. For most carpets the best method is hot water extraction it's the method recommended by most major carpet manufacturers, used by us and most professional carpet cleaning services. Cleaning is advised a minimum of every 12 -18 months, sooner in high traffic areas and if you have pets and children. 

THE DIRTY FACTS ABOUT YOUR CARPETS.

1. The five second rule is a myth. Bacteria such as Noro Virus, Salmonella and Campylobacter can actually live up to, and after 4 weeks on a carpet if not cleaned. These germs can be easily transferred to food.

2. According to Dr Philip Tierno, a microbiologist, your carpet probably contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat!

3. Each year several pounds of soil can accumulate in and under your carpet. One person sheds about 1.5 million skin flakes per hour, most of which ends up embedded  in your carpet. 

4. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments, eating the dead skin you have shed and nesting in your flooring. The residue left behind by the mites can mix with dust, become airborne and may be the reason why you are suffering with various allergies. 

When properly cleaned and maintained carpeting may actually improve the air quality by removing these trapped allergens.

CARPET CARE TIPS.

1. Vacuum at least twice a week and place dirt trapping mats at entrances (or get everyone to take their shoes off!). Place machine washable rugs in high traffic areas. 

2. Treat stains and spills immediately (apart from mud, see 4). The longer you leave them sit, the less likely you are to remove them.This is especially true of pet accidents and red wine!

3. To deodorise your carpet in between cleaning, sprinkle a generous layer of sodium bicarbonate onto it, let sit as long as possible then vacuum.

4. Sprinkle salt onto dried in mud stains.This will remove the  stain and brighten the colour of your carpet.
5. Always use the services of professional carpet cleaners! They have the knowledge, training and the appropriate products and equipment to use. This ensures the best possible results are achieved every time.

For advice on any carpet cleaning issues please feel free to contact us. Don't sweep it under the carpet, CLEAN IT!

   

HOW DO YOU FIND A GOOD CLEANING COMPANY?

If you are thinking of hiring a cleaner for your home or business have you considered using the services of a cleaning company?

You may have to pay a little more per the hourly rate, but the advantages are definitely worth it.

1. No management, employee issues, confrontation or hassle.

2. No NI or PAYE, payroll, employment contracts, HR and H&S to worry about.

3. Holiday, sick, maternity, paternity and any other leave covered. Replacement provided if the
    cleaner leaves, permanently!

4. Ordering/replacement of equipment and cleaning materials dealt with directly by the company.

     (if included.)

5. Full employee, public liability insurance for total peace of mind.

So, now that you've decided that it would be a great idea, how do you go about finding a good cleaning company?

This can be a headache as there are many companies out there and how do you distinguish good from bad? Word of mouth is a good start. You may have a friend, or a friend of a friend, or relative who is already using a cleaning service themselves, either for commercial or domestic purposes.

People generally will not recommend a product or service they are not happy with, we certainly wouldn't.

If not, there  are various online directories that list cleaners and search engines are also obvious choices. Local magazines, newspapers, yellow pages, newsagent and Post Office windows can be good ways of sourcing local companies. Reviews, good or bad can also be helpful when making your decision.

We would be very dubious, however, of hiring any company that has no website, and only lists an email or mobile number as way of contact.

It's a good idea to look for a company that has been established for a good number of years as this can be a sign of an experienced,  reliable, reputable company. You can also check with Companies House to make sure the company actually exists.

A cleaning company local to you, or within a 10 - 25 mile radius is preferably better than one miles and miles away. Problems with your service or equipment need to be dealt with as soon as possible.

The majority of companies offer free, no obligation quotes, so we would always recommend taking advantage of this. Never accept a verbal quote over the telephone (apart from the standard hourly rate) even if you ask for one a good company will always insist on a site visit. Size and condition of property need to be assessed prior to pricing. This is also an excellent opportunity to get a 'feel' for the company representative, manager or if you are lucky owner! 

It's the norm to obtain at least three quotes and never feel worried to ask for a more detailed one, including a full specification of daily, weekly and monthly tasks, including a full yearly breakdown of costs. Negotiate the price you have been given if you feel it's outside your budget, most companies include materials/equipment in the hourly rate, but if you want to provide these yourself communicate this. It may or may not result in a price reduction. Never be worried to ask questions. This is part of the process.

Always ask for references from existing customers. A good company will offer this anyway, as well as providing a copy of insurance, company registration and relevant H&S documents.

Finally, after choosing your cleaning company, don't sign the contract straight away. Agree an initial trial period, and then when satisfied with the quality of work and service you are receiving sign either the contract, T&Cs, or both.

We hope this information has been of some use to you. If you would like more information or advice on our house cleaning or office cleaning  please feel free to contact us www.elitecleaners2008.co.uk

Written by Julia Poole owner and Elite cleaner

After party cleaning tips.

Cleaning up after a party sometimes is not as straight forward and simple as just removing rubbish, recycling bottles and washing up, although we all wish this was the case!

Sometimes the general clean up can reveal exactly what your guests have been up to, especially when it comes to your carpet.

Unfortunately accidents do happen and if you don't want to call in the professionals, here are some easy kitchen cupboard recipes and tips to help you clean up!

RED WINE STAINS ON CARPETS.

Blot up as much of the wine as you can using kitchen paper towel, DO NOT RUB as this will force the stain deeper into the carpet making it more difficult to clean.

Always work from the outside in as this will prevent the stain from getting any bigger.

Mix 1 tablespoon of dish wash liquid, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 2 cups of warm water in a bowl and use a clean cloth dipped in this solution to blot the stain.  Alternate between blotting with the solution then blotting with a dry, clean cloth or kitchen towel. Repeat this until the wine stain is gone.

Finish by blotting the area with a cloth dipped in cold water to  remove any cleaning solution that remains and blot dry.

 

LIPSTICK STAINS

If you get lipstick on your carpet be sure to scrape away any excess with a thin, blunt knife. With a warm damp cloth blot the area to remove any remaining small particles.

Lipstick is oil based so needs a degreasing solution to clean. Mix a small amount of dish wash liquid or laundry powder with warm water and again use with a clean cloth to blot clean as above.

You can also use this method to clean stains from clothing, use a sponge to blot the solution onto the stain and wash in washing machine as normal.

 

CHEWING GUM

Don't panic if you get chewing gum on your carpet. Either rub an ice cube directly onto the gum (protect your hands) or fill a freezer  food bag with ice cubes and place on top of the chewing gum. Leave or rub the ice for as long as possible, the gum will then become hard and should easily break and pull away from the carpet. Treat the stain with the cleaning solution as above.

If you get gum on your clothes, tablecloths etc simply pop them into the freezer, again for as long as possible and then just pick the gum off, treat with stain removing solution, (as above) and wash in machine as normal.

The freezing method is also ideal for removing candle wax from carpets etc..

As with all stains the sooner you treat them, the more likely you are to remove all traces of them.

Written by Julia Poole owner at Elite Cleaning Ltd.

KITCHEN DEEP CLEANING.

 With new legislation (being enforced over the next eighteen months) making it mandatory for all food establishments to display their food hygiene ratings,it is vital to develop and maintain a regular cleaning schedule. Don't lose customers with bad scores on the doors!

We've put together a Kitchen Deep Clean checklist so you know exactly what to expect from such a clean.

• Walls cleaned,top to bottom,including all splash backs, internal connector (gas,water) pipes.
• Interior/exterior canopy/ducting cleaned.Certificate issued on completion for insurance purposes.
• De greasing/steam cleaning of cooker ranges,chippers, hot plates.
• De greasing, de carbonising of filters,oven racks/shelving,oven trays,griddles,chipper baskets and all other associated kitchen equipment,using non caustic, biodegradable,100% food safe products.
• Stainless steel table tops/legs cleaned.
• Cleaning of white goods,i.e. fridge/freezer, microwave.
• Exterior fan cleaning.
• All appliances moved to clean behind (where applicable).
• Floors degreased and cleaned.

Kitchen Deep Cleaning is a specialist cleaning service and therefore we recommend it only be carried out by experienced, competent, professionals, who can also advise on the frequency of your cleaning plan, in accordance with your kitchen usage. If you would like any advice contact us on 01443 833344,or visit us www.elitecleaners2008.co.uk






   

When Kitchen Deep Cleaning appliances have to be moved,
as grease gets everywhere!