Recent Cleaning Posts

COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT CAN BE USED FOR OFFICE CLEANING.

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help, call us at 610-506-8919 for a free assessment for office cleaning in West Chester, PA.

Below are a few great cleaning tips and environmentally safe daily products that can be used in your office. These products can be found under the sink, pantry or refrigerator that will work if you have run out of usual cleaner.

Baking soda is commonly available at every grocery store. You can use it to fight odors in the refrigerators and freezers. Sprinkled on a damp cloth, it can be used to clean kitchen counter-tops, sinks, microwaves or on fiberglass surfaces. It can also be a good carpet deodorizer. Use baking soda with vinegar to clean in sink garbage disposals.

White vinegar is good for cleaning windows. Dissolve a few tablespoons in an empty spray jug and use it on windows and mirrors. Add it to your dish water to help remove grease on stubborn pots and pans.

Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide and can be used as an all-purpose cleaner. It can be added to a water tank of your humidifier to keep the water fresh.

Corn starch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture and shampoo carpets and rugs.

Lemon juice can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, close and porcelain.

Cream of tartar can be used to remove stains in the bitter taste from old-fashioned coffee percolators.

Isopropyl alcohol is an effective, inexpensive disinfectant. Use gloves and always keep it away from children.

Maintaining a clean building is extremely important to any productive workplace.

COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT CAN BE USED FOR OFFICE CLEANING.

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help, call us at 610-506-8919 for a free assessment for office cleaning in West Chester, PA.

Below are a few great cleaning tips and environmentally safe daily products that can be used in your office. These products can be found under the sink, pantry or refrigerator that will work if you have run out of usual cleaner.

Baking soda is commonly available at every grocery store. You can use it to fight odors in the refrigerators and freezers. Sprinkled on a damp cloth, it can be used to clean kitchen counter-tops, sinks, microwaves or on fiberglass surfaces. It can also be a good carpet deodorizer. Use baking soda with vinegar to clean in sink garbage disposals.

White vinegar is good for cleaning windows. Dissolve a few tablespoons in an empty spray jug and use it on windows and mirrors. Add it to your dish water to help remove grease on stubborn pots and pans.

Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide and can be used as an all-purpose cleaner. It can be added to a water tank of your humidifier to keep the water fresh.

Corn starch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture and shampoo carpets and rugs.

Lemon juice can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, close and porcelain.

Cream of tartar can be used to remove stains in the bitter taste from old-fashioned coffee percolators.

Isopropyl alcohol is an effective, inexpensive disinfectant. Use gloves and always keep it away from children.

Maintaining a clean building is extremely important to any productive workplace.

COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT CAN BE USED FOR OFFICE CLEANING.

12/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can help, call us at 610-506-8919 for a free assessment for office cleaning in West Chester, PA.

Below are a few great cleaning tips and environmentally safe daily products that can be used in your office. These products can be found under the sink, pantry or refrigerator that will work if you have run out of usual cleaner.

Baking soda is commonly available at every grocery store. You can use it to fight odors in the refrigerators and freezers. Sprinkled on a damp cloth, it can be used to clean kitchen counter-tops, sinks, microwaves or on fiberglass surfaces. It can also be a good carpet deodorizer. Use baking soda with vinegar to clean in sink garbage disposals.

White vinegar is good for cleaning windows. Dissolve a few tablespoons in an empty spray jug and use it on windows and mirrors. Add it to your dish water to help remove grease on stubborn pots and pans.

Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide and can be used as an all-purpose cleaner. It can be added to a water tank of your humidifier to keep the water fresh.

Corn starch can be used to clean windows, polish furniture and shampoo carpets and rugs.

Lemon juice can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, close and porcelain.

Cream of tartar can be used to remove stains in the bitter taste from old-fashioned coffee percolators.

Isopropyl alcohol is an effective, inexpensive disinfectant. Use gloves and always keep it away from children.

Maintaining a clean building is extremely important to any productive workplace.

How an Air Duct Cleaning Can Help You!

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

Let us help you breathe easy!

Are you or another family member suffering from allergies? Dealing with any odors or generally poor air quality in your home or business? Ventilation systems are often the biggest culprit in poor indoor air quality. Make it a priority to inspect the ductwork of your home or business.

If your HVAC has been operating for some time now without attention, it could be circulating one or more of the following:

  • Dust
  • Pollen
  • Odors
  • Dirt and debris
  • Other contaminants

SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County & West Chester Technicians routinely inspect heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units (HVAC).  Keeping them clean can extend the life of the equipment, which can in turn save you money! As well as giving you cleaner air to breathe.

However, duct cleaning is not always necessary. In this case, we will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your system. We are here to help!

The benefits of servicing your HVAC unit include:

  • Helps to restore peak energy efficiency.
  • May help to eliminate offensive odors.
  • Helps reduce the potential for mold growth.

For more information on HVAC and air duct cleaning, call Danielle at 610-506-8919 so that SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County & West Chester can help you breathe easy!

How to remove cigarette smoke from your home

8/14/2018 (Permalink)

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How to Remove Cigarette Smoke Odor in Your House. 

Don’t let the stale odor of cigarette smoke contaminate your indoor air quality. Removing cigarette smoke demands patience – the acidic smoke leaves resins and tars that permeate everything in the vicinity.

The process for eliminating smoke odor in your house depends on the severity of contamination. If someone smoked inside for a decade, restoration may require a more invasive approach, such as throwing items out or even replacing the drywall and carpet. If the room smells like an ashtray, consider throwing out items that don’t have sentimental value – sometimes that overstuffed couch is just too smelly and not worth the time and money you would spend on restoring it.

SERVPRO has a few suggestions to show you how to remove cigarette smoke smell from your house. You might be able to eliminate the smoke smell with just a few of these tips, or the job may require a combination of several methods (and repetition) to remove the odor entirely. 

Start with Hard Surfaces

Begin by opening all windows and doors to provide ventilation while you clean. Use a spray bottle and a rag to wipe down all hard surfaces with a 50 / 50 solution of white vinegar and hot water. You may also wash the walls and ceiling with a mixture of 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda and a gallon of hot water.

Leave no surface untouched: Clean walls, doors, knobs, light fixtures (bulbs too), ceilings, fan blades, and anything the smoke came in contact with. Wipe down all knickknacks, photo frames and decorations as well. Consider throwing out items such as lampshades and throw pillows that absorb odors well and are easy to replace. To reach high spots, use a ladder or an extension pole with a rag clamp.

Wash Fabrics

Next, focus on fabric, carpet and upholstery – beginning with what you can’t throw in the washing machine. Sprinkle everything with baking soda, and let it sit for a few days. Once the baking soda has had a chance to absorb the odor, vacuum it all up and repeat as necessary. Then steam clean the carpets. If you don’t have a steam cleaner, you can buy or rent one at your local hardware store. If your steam cleaner has an upholstery attachment, use this to clean drapes or upholstered furniture too.

Wash your laundry-safe fabrics (couch-cushion covers, some drapes and curtains) in the machine with 1/2 cup vinegar instead of detergent. Follow up with another wash cycle with your preferred detergent. It’s best to let these items air-dry outside to prevent shrinkage. 

Air Circulation & Purification

If weather permits, keep windows and doors open for as long as is practical. Use fans to encourage air circulation – have one fan blowing air from outside on one side of the room, and put another fan across the room to exhaust the air outside. An air purifier with a HEPA filter can help remove odor-causing molecules. If the odor remains after you air out your home, place activated charcoal or bowls of white vinegar (or even apple cider vinegar) around the rooms to absorb odors. Replace the charcoal or vinegar every few days. Be wary of scented “odor removal” products, which may just mask the smell instead of removing it. 

Homeowners should also replace HVAC air filters. Your home’s air filters help remove odor-causing molecules, and they work best if they’re replaced every two to three months. Consult with the furnace or AC unit manufacturer to find a filter that may help with odor removal (e.g., charcoal or HEPA filters). You should also inspect your ducts for any dust or debris that may contain smoke molecules; this may be contaminating the fresh air in your home as it travels down your ducts. If you see buildup, hire SERVPRO to clean your ducts. 

Ozone Generator

If smoke odor still lingers after you complete all these steps, an ozone generator is your next best option. Ozone is a powerful cleanser and is very effective at eliminating odors. Ozone generators create activated oxygen. By oxidizing the smoke molecules, they can eliminate the smoke smell entirely (if used properly). We SERVPRO can place  ozone generators in your home for you. Which usually involve leaving the machine running in a closed room for a specific period of time. 

Call the Experts

Removing the smell of cigarette smoke can be a frustrating process. If you’re too busy to scrub walls or you just can’t seem to remove that stale odor, SERVPRO of West Chester can help. We utilize state-of-the-art t-tools and techniques for professional odor removal. Our experts are certified they are leaders in professional odor removal . Just call us at 610-692-8884

PLACES TO CHECK FOR MOLD GROWTH IN YOUR HOME

7/6/2018 (Permalink)

Do you know where to look for Mold? Just hearing the word can cause us all to cringe. It’s odorous, unsightly, and may cause health effects. And it can show up so fast that it can be shocking! The top three places to look and check regularly are the Bathrooms, Kitchen and Laundry Area. Please practice preventive measures, it can help avoid mold and give you a peace of mind.

The bathroom. Since we all know that mold likes water. Water is everywhere in a bath area. Most bathrooms are cleaned thoroughly at least once a week, and these times are great for checking for mold. Look in the least traveled areas, such as corners of the linen closet, behind the toilet, under the sink. If there are, or have been, any leaks in these places in the past, these areas are in danger until they are fully dry. You can invest in a dehumidifier for your bathroom, and that can be a great help.

The kitchen. Another area of your home that has a lot of water, and it is used more than any other area in the house besides the bath. Keep an eye out for spills and leaks and clean them up immediately to ensure that they are not attracting mold spores, which are always in our air and cannot be removed. The trick is not giving them a place to land and settle!

The laundry room. This room, since it has large appliances, also has nooks and crannies that are not cleaned as often, since no one ever sees them. Add to that the humidity in the air and possible unseen leaks or drips, and you have a recipe for the establishment of a mold colony. Get help to pull the washer and dryer out from the wall regularly, and make sure the areas behind them are clean, dry, and disinfected. Make sure spills are cleaned and dried right away, as well.

Other areas to keep an eye on: hall closets, your garage, and/or basement.