Winter Cleaning Tips

1/25/2019 (Permalink)

When the temperature drops, we tend to spend more time indoors. Because this occurs, why not take the extra step to make sure you have a home you enjoy spending time in. 

Here are a few small cleaning projects that you can undertake during the winter months to ensure that your home is both safe and cozy for the winter months.

Empty dryer vents - Pull the dryer out from the wall and disconnect the hose from the back of the appliance.  Use a vacuum to suck any loose lint from the exhaust hose.  Not only is this a step to take for safety measures, this will lead to a more efficient dryer performance. This can lower electricity bills a small amount.

Steam carpets and couches - Sometimes vacuuming doesn't get the whole job done. Even if your carpets look clean, carpets should be deep cleaned by a professional to eliminate any harmful and gross materials that a vacuum might miss.

Cleaning Mold from Tiles & Grout

2/2/2018 (Permalink)

Removing mold from tiles and grout can be a lengthy process, but SERVPRO of Stamford does our best to get it taken care of in the proper steps.

First, begin by scrubbing the mold off the tiles and grout. You should use a scrubbing brush along with a household cleaning product or mold killing product. There are also commercial tile or grout cleaners you can buy.

After this you'll probably find there is still mold stains left on the grout. You can use bleach to fade these stains away. Before you use the bleach you should spot test it to make sure that it won't discolor your tiles. You should also wear gloves to protect your hands from the bleach.

Apply the bleach to the grout and leave it sit for about 10 minutes. Instead of chlorine bleach you can use hydrogen peroxide if you like. Another alternative is to use baking soda. Mix it with water to create a paste and then use a toothbrush to scrub it onto the grout.

If you find the stain remains on the grout after bleaching then repeat the process. Give it some time and this should fade away the mold stains on the grout.

Tis' The Season For Power Washing

5/12/2017 (Permalink)

As spring time rolls into the summer we begin to shed off our winter coats and stow them away for the next chilly season. Unfortunately, after time, your houses bares its coat until a little assistance is provided. You may find that the exterior of your house may begin to gather algae, moss, mildew or dinge and be puzzled as to why this happened and how to counteract it.

Pressure washing is a simple solution and SERVPRO of Stamford would be happy to help! This method of cleaning requires power washing machinery that uses high pressured water spray to remove anything from grime to chewing gum and is incredibly effective. This equipment can be dangerous to use and is recommended that you contact a professional for your cleaning needs. Another bonus of using this tool is that its cleaning abilities are not limited to the exterior of residential houses, but also is effective on things such as commercial buildings, vehicles, and concrete and wood surfaces. SERVPRO has experts that can find the fitting pressure washer for each surface and evaluate how much it will take to thoroughly clean whatever it may be. This is incredibly important because, when used incorrectly, a pressure washer can damage surfaces due to its power and intensity.SERVPRO of Stamford promises to perform this task in a professional manner, making sure to leave no damage to your home and a spotless shine that would make you think it's brand new.

What is a Puffback?

1/30/2017 (Permalink)

Among the unfortunate occurrences of mishaps such as frozen pipes, air leaks and ice dams during the winter months, there is also the haywire messes caused by puff backs. A puff back is the result of an oil burner’s hinderance of ignition allowing fumes to accumulate and causes an eruption of debris to travel through a furnace’s exhaust system and into your home. This incident can cause soot to damage multiple areas of your home, especially if you have a heating installation that would allow it to travel by the means of air vents. The emission of soot signifies a problem rooted within the heating system. Although, this does not indicate that there is a need to replace the system entirely.

If a puff back has transpired, you may experience large areas of discoloration on walls, cabinets, curtains, bedding, windows and other areas, as well as an evident, strong and smoke like odor. Unfortunately the soot produced is not an easy mess to eradicate because it will withhold oil from the furnace making it diverse from soot’s common powdery form.

Most puff back cleanups are covered by insurance.  Don’t attempt to clean up the puffback residue without contacting us here at SERVPRO of Stamford first.  We will assess the damage and necessary restoration process. This should be done immediately to ensure the removal of the residue and chemicals is safe and efficient for both you and our staff.  A repair company should also be contacted to locate and correct the problem with your furnace.

In terms of preventing puff backs it may be helpful to inspect your furnace every so often to eliminate the buildup of debris and/or contact your heating company if you begin to experience any sign of soot in proximity to your furnace.

If you experience a puffback, call SERVPRO of Stamford 24/7.

203.324.1642