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Author: Martin Sanchez

Tossing in the Towel

Written by Martin Sanchez on . Posted in Carpet Cleaning. No Comments on Tossing in the Towel

It happens all the time in a typical household. You grab a paper towel — or two, or three — to wipe up a mess when something is spilled. That’s what paper towels are for, right?

But something else you might have experienced using paper towels is for polishing your nice granite countertop, rubbing and scrubbing but still seeing streaks on the surface. You keep going until you have exhausted not only your stock of paper towels, but your own energy as well.

And what about the mirrors and windows in your home? Have you ever sprayed them with window cleaner and no matter how much you rubbed and scrubbed with a paper towel, you still saw those little swirly marks?

Of course. Happens all the time!

We have nothing against paper towels. We all use them and need them. But there is a better choice when it comes to cleaning many of the surfaces in your home.

What’s that better choice? A “microfiber” cloth or towel, and it solves all kinds of cleaning challenges.

Microfibers are amazing things. They are normally made from polyester, sometimes with other fibers added, and can be reused again and again and again with normal laundering. (Just don’t use fabric softener as that leaves a residue on the towel.)

The word “micro” is key: Tiny filaments that act like thirsty grime-seeking sponges. Microfibers are soft and eagerly grab dirt, spills and more, leaving the surface sparkling clean. Those shiny surfaces in your home are perfect for microfibers.

Bonus: Anyone who believes in cleaning “green” and recycling should consider using microfibers. They are environmentally a superior choice. You can purchase them from virtually any store that sells cleaning products. Try them out.

So toss in the towel — the paper one, anyway.

Keep ‘Em Fresh!

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Fresh is always best, right? And that’s especially true of something special and valuable in your home — fresh, cut flowers.

Flowers make a great gift and everyone enjoys them. What’s frustrating is how quickly they begin to wilt and look tired and… then they look more like weeds than flowers.

There are a lot of tips and tricks you can try to keep flowers fresh longer. No scientific evidence, but easy things you can try at home.

You know those little packets of powder that comes with fresh cut flowers? The little packet your florist includes for free? It’s basically sugar – so if you don’t have some of those packets, just dump in a tablespoon or so of white sugar. The powdered sugar variety might be best since it will dissolve easier in water. Even cut flowers need a little nourishment, and who doesn’t like sugar?

Keeping the water acidic is also a tip some pros endorse. Acidity is vital to plant growth, so adding an ounce or two of white vinegar might make those flowers look their best longer.

The Clorox company recommends ¼ teaspoon of bleach for each vase of flowers, saying the bleach disinfects and keeps the water clear and free of that smelly slime we all experience after a few days on the counter.

Another way to make flowers look better longer is kind of cheating. Some florists say to use hairspray on the underside of the petals and leaves. Obviously, this keeps them from drooping too much.

No matter which tip, trick or urban legend you use for your flowers, the best advice is simple: Change the water in the vase daily, and enjoy those fresh, cut flowers as long as you can!

A friendly message from your local Carpet cleaners. All Points Carpet Care

Mattress Cleaning Los Angeles

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Mattress Cleaning, Dust Mites and You

No matter who you are, no matter where you live, you never sleep alone.

But don’t panic…those sleeping with you are somewhat peaceful. And not really that noticeable, until the “Welcome” sign goes up and they start inviting a bunch of friends over. Once the invitation goes out, there can be hundreds of thousands that end up sharing your mattress!

Yes, we are speaking of dust mites, those super-tiny eight-legged creatures that live in every house and take up residence in virtually every pillow, mattress and other comfortable abodes in the world.

Commonly called the “house dust mite,” (there are a couple of different types known to inhabit various parts of the world) this little creature feeds on flakes of shed human and animal skin and known to be a cause of asthma and allergic reactions.

Dust mite feces contain a strong digestive enzyme that causes all kinds of breathing problems it’s actually believed to increase asthma symptoms— if there are enough of the creatures in your home.

Some people are very sensitive to dust mites, while others never have a reaction.

What can you do?

First of all, like we already said, don’t panic. Dust mites are everywhere, and there’s nothing you can do about that.

What you can do is keep things clean. Dust mites reproduce quickly in mattresses, beddings, pillows and other areas because these absorbent items take up moisture, such as saliva, perspiration and blood, from body contact. Dust mites prefer those warm, moist environments created by sleeping bodies.

Besides moisture, they need food. Dust mites are like any living creature. They need to eat. The skin flakes, dander and other protein sources are food for dust mites, so regular vacuuming is smart, especially using one with HEPA filtering. And running an air cleaner in your home with HEPA filtering will help, too.

Professional carpet cleaning and mattress cleaning is a good investment for your home. Especially if you have had allergies. Deep cleaning all fabrics on a regular basis means you are taking food away from these unwanted guests. Logically, this equates to fewer dust mites coming over to party at your house.

So be a smart homeowner. Provide a healthier living for you and your family. Keep things clean and keep some of the pests away! Call us today, we are a mattress cleaning and professional carpet cleaning company. We can help.

Preventing Water Damage

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DID YOU KNOW that a nice vacation is one of the most desired, relaxing events you can experience? That’s right… a relaxing time in a beautiful location, enjoying time with family and friends… it can’t be beat.

But that nice vacation becomes a catastrophe with all kinds of regrets if the family arrives home to a house saturated with water!

It is one of the absolute worst events in life. You didn’t want to come home. You wanted to extend your vacation, but you know you have to go to work on Monday. So you arrive home late Sunday night, and when you walk in the door, instead of nice, plush carpet awaiting your footsteps, you discover a squishy experience, and the first thing you hear is the sound of a pipe spewing water all over the place in another room.

Oh, if only you had been home when that pipe broke! If you had been home, you could have quickly shut off the main water supply and cleaned up the small mess. But Murphy’s Law says that if the worst can happen, it will. Pipes seem to break when no one is home. Sump pumps seem to fail when no one is home. The list goes on and on and it always happens when none is home.

So how can you prevent this from happening?

Here are some tips homeowners can use to ensure water damage does not occur:

1.    Secure all windows and doors. Remember that a storm can drive water into your home if there is any type of opening, even a small one at a window.

2.    Don’t turn off the heat! Keep the thermostat set at a level that ensures nothing inside will freeze. In winter months, you never know how cold it may get when you are on vacation.

3.    Some hot water heaters have a vacation setting. Play it safe and take advantage of it.

4.    This one is really important! Shut off all water supply sources to anything that might leak, like the washing machine. Even better? If appropriate, shut off the main water supply to the home, but leave instructions if anyone is going to visit or stay at your home while you are away.

5.    Make sure your sump pump is in good working order. A failed sump pump means ground water is going to intrude and create damage in your home.

So enjoy your next vacation, but don’t let coming home be a disaster. Follow these tips to make sure you don’t suffer from a water damage disaster.

(But if you do, give us a call we are experts at bailing people out of this tragedies).

5 Reasons for Professional Carpet Cleaning

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You probably know that carpet cleaning is recommended every 12 months, even if the carpet doesn’t look like it needs to be cleaned. But should you call an experienced, professional carpet cleaning company?

YES, and here are 5 reasons to do so:

  1.  Your carpet warranty.
    Most carpet warranties state “have professional carpet cleaning every 12 months”. If you need to hold your manufacturer responsible for the quality of your carpet for whatever reason, your carpet warranty can actually become void if you haven’t maintained your carpet properly.
  2. The beauty of your carpet
    Dirt is very abrasive. It acts just like sandpaper and can damage the fibers of your carpets, causing your carpets to look worn out and dull.

    Regular vacuuming is an important part of your daily carpet maintenance, but vacuuming alone cannot remove the dirt that is deeply embedded and breaks down the carpet fibers. Only professional carpet cleaning can remove this dirt and prevent your carpet from looking worn. But the longer you wait to have your carpets professionally cleaned, the more damage you do to your carpets.

  3. The health of your home. Each time you or someone else enters your home, you’re carrying bacteria, fungus, pollens, air pollution, car exhaust, and hundreds of other pollutants on your skin, clothing, and shoes. Most of those unhealthy particles from the outside end up in your carpet where they can build up. Yuck! Only a regular professional carpet cleaning deeply sanitizes the carpets, reduces allergens, and keeps your carpets clean and healthy.
  4. You save time. Annual professional carpet cleaning allows for an easier, time-saving day-to-day carpet cleaning routine.
  5. You save money. Installing new carpets in your house is a major investment. If you’re not hiring an experienced carpet cleaning company at least every 12 months, you are putting one of your home’s most expensive investments at risk.

In addition to removing dirt and protecting your carpet’s beauty, another significant reason for a regular professional cleaning is to improve the health of your home.

 At All Points Carpet Care we offer a proven 100% natural method of cleaning carpets and upholstery to be sure we don’t leave any residue or unsafe products in your carpet after cleaning. AND, our 200% Money Back Guarantee shows our commitment to providing a quality service.

Contact All Points Carpet Care, your professional carpet cleaning service.

4 Signs it’s Time for Annual Carpet Cleaning

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To clean or not to clean, that is the question!

When your carpets are new, all you need is regular vacuuming to make them look fresh and clean again. But after a while, your carpets lose beauty and luster, and you might wonder what you could do about it. This is the moment when you should consider hiring a certified, experienced, and well-trained carpet cleaner. Remember: you have made a major investment in your carpets, and hiring the wrong company can be a costly mistake.

But how do you know your carpet needs to be cleaned – beyond the obvious? Here are four reasons to schedule a professional carpet cleaning every 12 months.

1.  You are missing that “brand new carpet look”

Does your carpet look dull and lackluster? Are you missing that fresh and shiny look of a brand new carpet? You can recreate that fresh carpet appearance by hiring a professional carpet cleaning service that will get rid of the particles, dust, and dirt that are causing your carpet to appear worn and discolored. An experienced carpet cleaner knows how to get back that clean and fresh feeling that your home had when the new carpeting was installed.

2.  You have children and pets
If you’re a parent, you know that no matter how often you clean up after your kids and ask them to be careful, spills and dirt tracks magically find their way into your carpet, especially in high traffic areas. And if you own a pet, you’re probably pretty familiar with mud, dirt, and, um, “little surprises”. Vacuuming alone won’t let you win that battle. Leave it to a professional carpet cleaner who has exactly the right carpet cleaning weapons.

3.  Your want to minimize/prevent allergies
Did you know that carpets are one of the places in your home where bacteria, pollen, dust, and mites love to hang out? It might sound scary, but carpets are one of the main causes in children’s major allergic reactions to dust and asthma related illnesses. There are billions of microscopic insects and bacteria having a big party in your carpet, living on the particles that your vacuum cleaner leaves behind – even if you have the best vacuum cleaner in the world. The only way to get rid of these unwanted “guests” is a professional carpet cleaning with an effective, 100% natural method of cleaning.

4.  You want your carpet to last
Annual carpet cleaning (with spot cleaning as necessary) keeps your carpet looking and feeling great much longer than simply vacuuming. It also allows for easier maintenance on a regular day-to-day basis, which means less time for your carpet cleaning routine and more time for relaxation… how does that sound?

Experts agree

Dirt, stains, mold, and bacteria can spoil the beauty and health of your carpet. All Points Carpet Care has the skills, training, and equipment to keep your carpets in the best shape possible during the life of your investment. Ask your contractor, interior designer, or carpet maker… they will recommend annual professional carpet cleaning as well.

Contact All Points Carpet Care today to schedule your professional carpet cleaning.

5 Ways to Keep Carpet Looking New Between Cleanings

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Carpets keep their beauty longest if professionally deep cleaned at least once a year. It pays to hire an experienced carpet cleaning service to keep carpet looking new. We are trained and know exactly what to do, we have the equipment to do the job correctly, and we have decades of experience.

Between professional cleanings, however, there are some simple care routines that can keep your carpets looking fresh and new. Prolong the life of your carpet by using these 5 tips for an effective do-it-yourself maintenance.

1. Be proactive.

The easiest thing you can do is “wipe your feet”! Be proactive by placing doormats at each of your home’s entry doors to reduce dirt on your carpets, or have people remove their shoes when entering the room.

2. Protect your carpet.

Use nice rugs and runners in high-traffic areas on your carpet. This will minimize carpet soiling and carpet crushing.All Points Carpet Care says vacuum once a week

3. Vacuum carpet regularly.

Vacuuming on a regular basis will keep your carpets looking fresh. Vacuuming eliminates dirt in the carpet fibers, and prolongs carpet life. That dirt or dust can damage the carpet fibers and changes the way the carpet reflects light so that your carpet appears dull. (Don’t forget to vacuum the carpet underneath rugs occasionally.)

4. Avoid carpet powder products.

Carpet powders are very popular to eliminate odor in your carpets. But they can leave nests of powder residue in the carpets that you may not see until the next time you have your carpet steam cleaned and the residue appears as an ugly film on top of your carpet.

5. Remove stains on carpet immediately.

Once set and dried, stains can be difficult to remove, and nothing will ruin your carpet’s beauty faster than a bunch of stains. Use a mild carpet cleaning solution immediately and rinse it thoroughly.

Carpet Manufacturers Know Best

According to many carpet manufacturers, a professional carpet cleaning is recommended at least every 12 months, even if your carpet doesn’t look like it needs to be cleaned. So go ahead and give your carpet some TLC. It will last longer and look beautiful for many, many years.

Contact All Points Carpet Care today to schedule your service. We have hundreds of satisfied customers plus we have a 200% satisfaction guarantee. We keep carpet looking new.  Call us today!

6 Ways to Keep Showers Clean & Sanitary

Written by Martin Sanchez on . Posted in Tile Cleaning. No Comments on 6 Ways to Keep Showers Clean & Sanitary

Cleaning your shower might not be one of your most favorite tasks, but you can make it less overwhelming and time-consuming by following a few simple tips. Here are six simple and time-saving techniques to keep showers clean and sanitary.

1.  Go with a Pro regularly

Having your bathroom and shower tiles professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months sets you up for a clean and sanitary bathroom all year long.

Between professional cleanings do the following:

2.  Make a squeegee your best friend

Just after you finish your shower and the water is turned off, take a squeegee and wipe the water and any residue off the surfaces and wash it down the drain. It will only take a minute and keeps your shower sparkling. If you have a little extra time, dry the shower walls, shower floor and chrome with a clean rag or yesterday’s bath towel.

If you have a shower curtain, wipe it down. Pay special attention to the shower curtain’s bottom, as this is the area where it gets mildewed.

3.  Keep mildew from taking hold

To allow air to circulate, leave the shower door slightly open when not in use and pull shower curtains closed so water can’t hang out in the folds. If mildew is a problem in your shower area, regularly spray it with disinfectant.

For a more eco-friendly solution, citrus fruits such as lemon, lime and grapefruit can be used as a natural mildew remover.

4.  Remove soap scum

Use an acidic cleaner to clean soap scum from the tiles and glass. A great natural cleaning solution is distilled white vinegar. Mix it with water and use sparingly to cut through the residue. Rinse completely afterward.

5.  Keep cleaning supplies handy

Store your cleaning supplies right where you need them. You’re more likely to clean up directly after you finished your shower when you don’t have to leave the bathroom to search for the spray bottle and a clean rag.

A fast and easy routine like regularly spraying your shower with a mild cleaning solution will help tremendously in cutting down on the build-up of soap scrum, and will keep your shower clean and sparkling.

6. Do it daily

The key is to clean your shower every day. This will prevent soap and grout from building up. It only takes about a minute to use a squeegee, but will save you time and elbow grease in the long run.

A clean, sanitary bathroom bathroom helps to prevents illness.  Regular professional cleaning along with daily “maintenance” will help keep your family healthy and will assure that your guests feel welcome.

Contact All Points today to learn about our tile cleaning services.

Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner

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Want to clean your toilets without spending a lot of money?  Try this natural toilet bowl cleaner…it’s incredibly effective and uses ingredients you already have on hand.

Just put 1/4 of a cup of borax or baking soda and 1 cup vinegar into the toilet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or longer, if necessary), scrub, and flush.

Enjoy your clean toilet without the use of harsh chemicals.  This “solution” is safe for the environment and costs just pennies.