Why You Should Invest in Carpet Protection

in Carpet

Adding a new carpet to your home can be an exciting time for your family. Carpets provide a nice, cozy atmosphere to a room that often is preferable to hardwood or tiled floors. However, with the addition of a carpet, you also add the potential for stains, dirt and other troublesome carpet problems. In order to prevent these annoying deterrents to a beautiful carpet, you should consider investing in professional protection for your home’s carpet.  We’ve compiled several reasons why getting professional protection for your carpeting or upholstery can be a good choice for your home:

The Benefits

  • Reduces Permanent Stains — Most fibers simply can’t protect against some spills that cause bad stains in your carpet. At least, they can’t by themselves. Overall, getting protection for your carpets cuts down on the amount of stains that plague your home’s carpet.

  • Easier to Clean — Some stains can be a real pain to clean. Yet, getting professional carpet cleaning can make your life a whole lot easier. Most professional carpet protections prevent liquids or dirt from sinking deep into the carpet, instead keeping it at the surface making it easier for a quick clean, and preventing unnecessary calls to the carpet cleaner.clean-carpet-steamers-carpet-care

  • Increases the Lifespan of Your Carpet — Chances are, every day someone in your house is tracking at least some dirt onto your carpet. Dirt and other undesired substances travelling on your shoes can quickly deteriorate the quality of a brand new carpet. With carpet protection installed, your carpet is much more likely to survive longer—meaning no need to go through the painful process of replacing your carpet every few years.

  • Efficiency — Simply put, carpet protection is efficient. When you vacuum your home, it will be easier to remove soil and dirt from the carpets. Likewise, when you get your regular carpet cleaning the results will be much more impressive and effective if your carpet was protected when first installed.

 

If you have more questions about Steamer’s Carpet Care’s carpet protection services you can read more on our website or contact us today!

When and Why Do I Need to Have My Air Ducts Cleaned?

in Air Duct Cleaning

When it comes to air duct cleaning, there are a lot of questions out there, but not a lot of answers. Because of this, many homeowners are unsure when and why it might be necessary to have their air ducts cleaned fully. At Steamer’s Carpet Care, we’ve compiled a list of reasons that experts agree a full air duct cleaning is necessary.

 

  • The Presence of Mold in Your Air Ducts — Mold can be a tricky problem for your home, and once it gets in your air ducts it can cause health issues for your family. An air duct cleaning can help alleviate this stress on your home and family.

  • Ducts Release Dust from Supply Registers — When excessive amounts of dust or debris are released into the air in your home it can cause severe respiratory problems for your family.dirty-air-duct-steamers-carpet-care

  • Saving Energy Costs — The Department of Energy has stated that 25% to 40% of homes consume more energy than necessary. The National Association of Air Duct Cleaners claims that the removal of dust and other debris from an air duct cleaning can make your cooling and heating system run more efficiently and save you money.

  • Indoor Air Quality Issues — The Environmental Protection Agency has noted that indoor air can often be dirtier than outdoor air, with EPA estimates claiming that up to 40 pounds of dirt are collected in air ducts per year. Nevertheless, on the flip side the EPA has likewise stated they are unsure whether this can be harmful. However, it does appear that in some cases when the amount of dust (or allergens) into your home is to a point of excess it can trigger problems such as asthma or allergies for you and your family.

 

Steamer’s Carpet Care encourages all consumers to make their own choice about whether air duct cleaning is right for them and look at information on websites such as the EPA’s or NADCA’s. For further questions about air duct cleaning, visit our website, or contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today.

How to Detect Mold in Your Carpets

in Carpet

One of the biggest fears a homeowner can have when it comes to owning carpet is the presence of mold. In a time where health issues and allergies run rampant, hidden mold can pose an undesirable threat to you and your family’s health. At Steamer’s Carpet Care we’re professionals when it comes to carpets and we can help you with some tips on how to detect mold when it’s hiding:

 

  • Visible Mold Growth on Carpet — A little known fact is that mold will only become apparent in carpets when it reaches its most advanced stages of growth. If you are able to actually see mold growing, you’ve already experienced some severe growth in your household. Additionally, if you are suspicious of the presence of mold, you should check both sides of your carpet both the visible side and the under side—mold often hides in the latter and is undetectable on the surface until it’s too late.TOSHIBA Exif JPEG

  • Mildew-esque Odor — One mode of identifying mold is the presence of a strange musty, damp smelling odor coming from your carpet. If you think this fills the criteria of a household odor you may want to invest in a mold testing kit.

  • Wet or Damp Carpets — If you notice a patch of carpet that is chronically wet or damp, then it’s possible that a leak has sprung somewhere in your piping creating this wet spot. These are perfect environments for the rapid growth of mold in your home.

  • Increased Prevalence of Respiratory Problems — If you or someone in your family begins to start experiencing allergies, asthma, or other respiratory-resembling health issues the source might be a case of hidden mold in your carpets. If so, look into having your home tested for mold.

Steamer’s Carpet Care always utilizes some of the most powerful air movers in the business to ensure that your carpet won’t be wet and attract mold after a cleaning. If you have more questions regarding mold in your home or would like to schedule an appointment for your home’s carpet cleaning contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today.

Pets Effects on Carpets

in Carpet

 

Most of us love our furry feline and canine friends, but most of us also love our furry carpets, too! Pets are great, but they don’t always cooperate with us in achieving our goals of maintaining a nice, clean carpet. When you have a carpet in your home, it’s important to know the possible ways your pet can affect the cleanliness of your carpet and well-being of your home. Some of these possibilities are below:

 

  • Dirt — If you have a cat or dog that loves to play in the garden or outside, it’s definitely possible that when they come back in they are tracking dirt all over your house. When your cat or dog comes in, you may want to check and wipe their paws. Cats may be less receptive to you cleaning them, but they will also clean themselves frequently.dog-cat-carpet-steamers-carpet-care

  • Accidents Happen — Anyone with a pet knows that accidents happen, with new or sick pets especially. Many stores carry products to treat accidents by pets, but a deep cleaning may be necessary. As long as the smell of urine remains in the carpet, a new or stubborn pet may continue to use that spot as their “bathroom.” Pet urine also can frequently contain bacteria that lingers in carpets and can make you or a family member ill. Sick pets may also throw up on carpets, and sometimes these odors can be difficult to remove. Steamer’s Carpet Care specializes in these sorts of odor removal cases.

  • Pet Dander — Allergies are no fun, especially come allergy season. Likely if you have a pet in your home, no one is severely allergic to any of your pets. However, pet dander can stay in carpets for long periods of time, and when allergic guests come over, this can be a problem. Many products exist to treat this, and a professional cleaning can help in some cases.

 

Regardless of the treatment you choose, ensure that they are safe for the health of your pets.

 

If you have any questions about the potential effects pets can have on your carpet’s cleanliness, or would like to schedule an appointment for a cleaning, contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today.

 

Choosing a Fiber Type for Your New Carpet

in Carpet

Steamers-Carpet-Care-Colors

Moving and buying a new home can be a stressful endeavor, added to that are the stresses that come with choosing and purchasing a new carpet. There are a number of different factors to choose from — the fiber type being just one, and just the prospect of picking a carpet can be dizzying. However, here at Steamer’s Carpet Care we’re carpet experts, so we’ve put together some essential tips to help you choose a quality fiber for your home carpet.

 

Remember Your Budget

The first thing you should keep in mind when purchasing a carpet is your price range. You should always shop around when you’re looking to buy a carpet: Some companies may charge twice as much for the same carpet. Keep in mind too, that usually price is an indication of quality, but this is not always the case. Be sure that you are spending your money on high-quality fiber and not the style of the carpet.

 

Fiber Types

 

  • Wool — Across the board, wool will be by far the most expensive option when it comes to choosing a fiber for your carpet. That being said, wool offers quality. It is durable, soft and cleans easily. It may not stand up to moisture as well as synthetic fibers, though. Keep in mind, just because it’s expensive, it is not necessarily always the best.

  • Nylon — Nylon is among the most durable against normal wear and tear, but is particularly vulnerable to stains. However, many companies offer stain protection for these carpets. This will typically add more to your cost, though. As an added bonus, Nylon usually offers the most color options.

  • Polyester — Similar to Nylon in many ways. Polyester will be more resistant to stains than Nylon when compared side-by-side. Though not as durable, Polyester offers a more luxurious feel.

  • Triexta — Some experts call it “glorified polyester.” This material shares many of the same qualities, but has stronger stain protection.

  • Olefin — Although this material is very stain resistant, olefin is not as soft as most other fiber types. It’s typically not as durable and lacks color selection, but it is on the less expensive end of the carpet spectrum.

 

If you would like to schedule a carpet cleaning, or learn more about our carpet protection for any of these types, contact Steamer’s Carpet Care to schedule an appointment.

May Charity Spotlight: United Way

in Charity Spotlights

United-Way-San-AntonioIt’s the end of the month, which means it’s time for us to put the spotlight on a deserving San Antonio nonprofit organization. This month, we’re recognizing the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.

For years, the United Way has worked to improve the lives of children, families and individuals in the San Antonio community through helping people receive food, clothing, shelter and safety and providing quality programs that solve problems in our community. The United Way works to improve early education for children, refer people to health and human services and safeguard women and children from abuse. The organization partners with dozens of nonprofits in the area to make our community stronger and better, and for that, we’re truly grateful.

If you’re interested in donating to the United Way or becoming a volunteer, visit their website: http://www.unitedwaysatx.org/

We love living and working in the San Antonio area. If you need your carpet cleaned in San Antonio or any of the surrounding communities, we’d be delighted to help you. Contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today to schedule an appointment for one of our teams of technicians to make your carpet look as good as new.

Have a suggestion for next month’s charity spotlight? Leave us a note in the comments and your favorite charity may be the next one we recognize.

The Hidden Dangers in Your Carpet

in Carpet

Salmonella-Bacteria-Steamers-Carpet-CareThough on first glance our carpets might seem relatively safe and clean, in reality an unclean carpet can harbor all sorts of dangers and risks for you and your family. Every square inch of your carpet could contain up to nearly 200,000 bacteria and several viruses just waiting to infect your family. Without proper maintenance and care of your carpet it could be harboring any of the following:

 

  • Norovirus: This virus can survive for over a month to a month and a half and can cause ailments such as the stomach flu.

  • Salmonella: The infamous bacteria that exists in uncooked meat can live in your carpet too — brought in by dirty shoes, pets and pieces of food that have fallen on the floor.

  • Dust mites and Other Insects: Dust mites feed on dead skin cells and pet dander while bringing the possibility of inducing allergies, eczema and asthma. Bedbugs, fleas and ticks, too, find your dirty carpets a nice place to call home.

  • Pollen & Pet Dander: With allergy season, the build-up of these two instigators in your carpet also means that you and your family are more at risk of runny noses, sneezing and other unpleasant allergy symptoms.

  • Mold & Other Fungi: Nobody likes mold, and mold in your carpets puts you and your family at increased levels of exposure to mycotoxins and other allergens.

 

All of these can pose potential threats to the health and well-being of your household, so it is important to prevent them in any way possible. While vacuuming can be useful to keep your carpets clean, a professional cleaning is truly necessary in order to provide an effective defense against these and the other menaces that hide in your carpets. Steamer’s Carpet Care takes all the preventative measures to combat the hidden dangers in your carpet. Contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today to schedule your next cleaning and rid your home of these undesirables.

What Are the Pros and Cons of a Whole House Vacuum System?

in Carpet Cleaning

central-vacuum-system-Steamers-Carpet-CareEver thought of installing a whole-home vacuum system in your house? The claims of vacuum system manufacturers seem pretty attractive: more power, no more hauling around a vacuum, etc. But is a whole-home vacuum system really a good choice?

The argument for a whole-home vacuum system:

  • It’s much quieter than a regular vacuum.
  • You won’t have to lug a huge vacuum up the stairs or across the house.
  • You’ll have cleaner air and fewer allergens with the vacuum being in a central location (usually the garage or basement).
  • Whole-home vacuums last a long time and add value to your property.

The argument against:

  • They’re very expensive and can use more electricity than a regular vacuum.
  • It can be incredibly difficult to install a system if your house has already been built.
  • If the pipe gets clogged (which is rare if the vacuum is installed correctly), it could require you to open up a wall to unclog it, which can be incredibly expensive.

If you need a deeper clean than your vacuum can provide, contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today. Our trained technicians use some of the most powerful equipment available and will treat your carpet as if it were their own.

Should I Use Carpet Glue?

in Carpet Cleaning

carpet cleaning san antonioIf you’re having new carpet installed in your home, someone may have asked you if you want the installers to use carpet adhesive. If you’re like most people, this is one part of carpet installation you’ve never thought about, but it’s an important part.

Surprisingly enough, carpet doesn’t actually have to be glued down when it’s installed (carpet tacks will typically do just fine), but carpet adhesive can improve the quality and lifespan of your carpet by keeping the carpet in place over time. Carpet glue is also necessary for stairs because carpet tacks won’t hold up for long on stairs.

You might not want to use carpet glue for a couple of reasons, though:

  • If you’re carpeting a hardwood floor and believe that you might go back to just the hardwood floor one day, skip the glue. It’s very difficult (not to mention messy!) to remove carpet glue, so plan ahead.
  • Carpet glue can stink up a room for a couple of days, so if you or someone you live with is particularly sensitive to strong scents, you might want to pass on the glue.

If you need your carpet cleaned, contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today to schedule an appointment. Our skilled technicians promise to treat your home as if it were their own and cannot wait to make your carpet look as good as new.

Tile That (Really) Looks Like Wood

in Tile and Grout Cleaning

tile cleaning san antonioWe saw something fascinating recently, and we just have to tell our readers about it: Porcelain tile that looks just like wood. Until this discovery, our only experience with fake wood floors had been with laminates (which are beginning to look close enough to wood that almost no one can tell the difference, by the way), but it seems there are a lot of companies producing this faux-wood flooring.

We did a little bit of research and found that the prices varied, but they seemed to be on par with carpet or other flooring, between $2-$5 per square foot — considerably cheaper than hardwood flooring, which can cost around $10 per square foot, installed. Additionally, porcelain tile is more durable than hardwood flooring — less likely to get those scratches, nicks and chips that plagues owners of hardwood floors.

Need your tile cleaned? Contact Steamer’s Carpet Care today. Our trained technicians use powerful, truck-mounted equipment to get your tile looking as good as new. We also offer grout sealing so that just-cleaned look can last much longer.

Do you have wood tile in your home? What do you think about this kind of flooring? We’re dying to know, so leave us a comment.