Category Archives: Updates

How to Best Utilise Office Cleaning

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Routine office cleaning is essential to maintaining a clean and healthy work environment. Furthermore, a clean office can attract new customers and ensure the productivity of your employees. Here are some ways in which you can best utilise a professional office cleaning service:

Know your needs – take the time to work out what level or frequency of cleaning your office requires. Research your options and make comparisons. You don’t want to waste money or time on extras you don’t need. Ask if an office cleaning service can be tailored to your requirements.

Get your employees to help – ask your employees to contribute their efforts to keeping the office space clean. This will reduce the amount of time a professional office cleaning service will take to perform their tasks, and it will allow you to make the best use of their services. Put in place recycling programs, ask your employees to maintain a neat workspace and to clean up after themselves. Small tasks shared by many will help to maintain a clean and hygienic environment, while professional cleaners can take care of bigger jobs.

Go for a regular, scheduled clean – irregular cleaning can be more costly. Arrange a routine cleaning schedule with a professional office cleaning service. This means that office cleaning will become a more simple issue of maintenance, rather than requiring more intensive and expensive cleaning processes due to neglect.

Take advantage of daytime cleaning – it doesn’t need to be as disruptive as you might imagine. You will still pay the same fee, however cleaning during daylight and operating hours will reduce the costs of heating and lighting for a crew to come during the night. Most office cleaning services are able to arrange the cleaning schedule alongside you to ensure that your employees and their work will not be disrupted.

Get more than one job done – make the most of having a professional crew come out to your office by getting them to perform multiple services (for example, carpet cleaning, garden maintenance, tile cleaning etc).

For more information, or to make use of our office cleaning services, contact us today!

How to Handle Flood Emergencies

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Flood emergencies can happen in and around the home at anytime and anywhere, be it from flash flooding or drainage failure. It’s important to know how to handle these situations so that you can be prepared to minimise or prevent damage, and protect your property and belongings. There are many things you can do to prepare your property in anticipation of a possible disaster; however, this article will deal with what you can do to restore your property after flooding has occurred. Here are some strategies and tips on how to handle flood emergencies:

Safety comes first – before returning to your property after a flood to inspect the damage, make sure it is safe to do so. Enter with caution and look for hazards such as foundation cracks, leaking chemicals, and gas leaks or exposed electrical wiring. Wear protective gear when removing water from your house, as this will prevent exposure to harmful bacteria. Don’t drink or cook with tap water unless you know it is safe to do so.

Turn off gas and electricity – make sure your home power and gas supplies are disconnected while you are working in flooded areas. When it is time for these to be turned back on, seek professional help. They can relight pilot lights, check wiring, and do a final check of the systems. Even if you have turned off your electricity, be careful of appliances which may still store electricity even when turned off – read the warning labels.

Contact your Insurance Company – and let them guide you through the process of filing a claim.

Start listing damage – take photos, video or write down the damage caused to your property for insurance purposes.

Remove wet contents – immediately. Mould will begin to grow on wet carpets or furniture and other moisture-retaining items within 24-48 hours. Remove these items from the property and clean them thoroughly. Make sure they are completely dry and free of fungus before taking them inside. Also, rescue your most valuable items first (for example, passports, insurance papers, etc).

Remove debris – clear out trash or outside matter that has come into your property during flooding. Throw out any food that has come in contact with flood waters, even canned food. As you clean, do not just leave this stuff out the front of your property, as it will attract mosquitoes etc. Have it removed as soon as possible.

Make repairs – patch up holes in roof, walls or windows with plastic sheeting or boards. This prevents further rain causing more water damage.

Ventilate the area – during dry weather, open the windows and doors to ventilate and help dry out the inside of your home. There is some heavy-duty equipment, like dryers and air movers or water pumps, which can assist this process. Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. This will help speed up the drying process and eliminate odours. Air purifiers can filter the air of allergens, mould particles and odours.

Clean and disinfect – all surfaces and areas touched by floodwater. This prevents the spread of bacteria and disease. Steam cleaning can disinfect and sanitise areas without the use of chemicals, if you are sensitive to these. Get rid of anything that cannot be disinfected.

Drain underground areas carefully – if you have a cellar, be careful about how you remove the water. The force of the water soaked ground outside this area could be enough to make the walls buckle or cave in.

Devise a flood response plan – to handle flood emergencies in case it occurs again. Consider flood proofing your house through elevating or reinforcing the property.

Seek professional help – to drain water from your ceilings and walls, or for any general restoration assistance.

For more information on handling flood emergencies, or to make use of our flood restoration services, contact us today.

Carpet Stain Removal Tips

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We’ve already discussed carpet stain removal briefly in terms of pet and wine stains. However, here is a more in-depth and exhaustive look at general carpet care and the removal of a variety of other common stains.

Firstly, the stain removal process:

This is the general stain removal process.

To remove a stain, blot the stained area or spot, and dry it by working from the outside in. Rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean water and then blot it dry again. NEVER scrub the carpet, or you will risk ruining the fibres or letting the spill soak in deeper. If you are planning to use a spot remover, before you try it out test it on an inconspicuous area of your carpet to make sure it won’t leave it discoloured. When the carpet is dry, vacuum to restore the texture and appearance.

Specific stain removal treatments:

Water-soluble stains

These stains include alcoholic beverages, soft drink, food dyes, milk, mud, ice cream, washable ink, latex paint, excrement etc.

Use a simple cleaning solution made from ¼ teaspoon white vinegar (or non-bleach detergent) mixed with about a litre of water.

Other water-soluble stains

These include blood, chocolate, coffee, tea, vomit and wine.

Use 1 tablespoon ammonia mixed with a cup of water. On wool or wool-blend carpet, instead use mild detergent and water.

Fat, oil and wax stains

Put paper towel over the stained area and iron over it on a warm setting. The fatty substance should stick to the paper towel.

Cigarette burns

Remove by gently rubbing area with the edge of a hard and flat surface (for example, a dull knife).

Glue

Moisten a cotton ball with methylated spirits and press it on the stained area. Once the residue is moistened thoroughly, gently wipe it off and repeat the process until the carpet is clean.

Wax or gum

Use ice to freeze the stain, and then shatter it with a blunt object (for example, a spoon). Vacuum up the pieces before they soften and then blot the carpet using the general stain removal process.

Nail polish

Blot the area with a cloth dipped in nail polish remover.

Urine

Absorb as much of the stain as possible with white towels, then blot with a damp cloth. Then, spray the area with a vinegar and water solution. Finally, apply a mild, non-bleach detergent and water solution to the area and blot dry. If the urine stain was left by a house pet, consider pet products which act as deterrents to these incidents (for example, Urine-Off is a product available from most pet stores or veterinary clinics that aims to prevent the recurrence of indoor urination).

Apart from performing stain removal as it is required, it is also wise to undertake ongoing maintenance of your carpet by having it regularly cleaned every year or so.

For more information, or to make use of our carpet cleaning services, contact us today!

Carpet Stain Removal

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Do-It-Yourself Carpet Stain Removal 

Almost all of us have experienced frustration and apprehension when it comes to carpet or fabric staining and the removal process.  Well, worry no more!  Here are some stain removal tips to help you in emergencies:

1. If possible treat stains immediately: blot the spill with a clean, dry white cloth to remove most of the liquid.  Do not rub, as this will distribute the liquid and embed it into the carpet fibres.

2. Try to prevent the liquid from saturating the carpet backing and padding: using another clean white cloth lay it over the stain, then use a weight to put on top of the cloth and leave it.  This will absorb any liquid trapped under the carpet.

RED WINE STAIN REMOVAL

For red wine stains the removal process is similar. However, once you have removed as much of the moisture as possible sprinkle salt over the spill and wait a few moments.  Salt absorbs the moisture and may turn pink while absorption continues.  Vacuum the salt and the stain should be gone!

If staining is still visible, mix sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a cup of water and pour over the stain.  Blot with a sponge to start with, followed by a clean, dry white cloth and apply weight to the top of the cloth so that it will absorb excess moisture.

Cleaning agents are not recommended as this may damage carpet further or have a negative reaction when professionally cleaned.  If in doubt, contact us for professional advice

PET STAINS AND ODOURS

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Pet stains and odours (e.g. from urine) are some of the most difficult stains to remove from carpets and upholstery. If not treated immediately these stains can pet stainsbecome an invitation to your pet to use that same spot again.

Here are some tips to remove pet stains and odours from your carpet:

1. If the urine is fresh, spray the spot with cool water (without overly wetting the area).

2. Using a clean white cloth or towel, blot excess liquid until moisture and stain is removed.

3. Then, place a clean dry towel over the area, weighted down to increase absorption of liquid and moisture.

Remember: before applying any chemicals or cleaners, ensure you consult a professional to avoid damage to your carpet.

Australian Carpet Cleaning Services technicians have the expertise and experience to help you with your pet stain removal and cleaning requirements.  Our certified technicians use applicable products and cleaning methods to neutralise the toughest urine and pet odours, leaving your carpet/upholstery stain free, fresh and clean!

For more information on how to get rid of pet stains and odours, or to make use of our carpet cleaning services, contact us today!

Why use an IICRC qualified carpet cleaner?

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When selecting a carpet cleaning service it is important to ensure you choose an IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) technician.

Why? because these certified technicians are qualified by completion of study, examinations and experience in the inspection, cleaning and restoration industry.

Choosing an UNQUALIFIED carpet cleaner, you can run the risk of having your valuable carpets poorly cleaned or permanently damaged, costing you a lot more in the long run.

At Australian Carpet Cleaning Services all our professional technicians are IICRC certified and undergo continuous training, ensuring correct knowledge to provide the highest quality service.

Our team is also certified in other areas such as:

  • Carpet Restoration
  • Odour Control
  • Health and Safety
  • Water Damage Restoration
  • Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning

For more information, or to make use of our services, contact us today!

REGULAR CARPET CLEANING

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Why should you undertake regular carpet cleaning?

Regular carpet cleaning will add longevity to your carpet.  By removing all foreign soils from the pile of your carpet, will ensure you get the best wear from your carpet,  not to mention the cleanliness of your carpet after your carpets are professionally cleaned.

Australian Carpet Cleaning Services can perform regular carpet cleaning for you! By following our step by step cleaning process we can guarantee a professional job every time. We will remove the build up of dirt and dust, thereby leaving your carpet smelling and looking fresh and clean. Regular carpet cleaning ensures a maintained and optimal appearance of your carpeted areas.

For more information, or to make use of our carpet cleaning services, contact us today!

Regular Carpet Cleaning