Secrets to Make Your House Smell Good

5/21/2019 (Permalink)

As a homeowner, you know the importance of maintaining you home. Along with structural repairs and updates, cleaning is also a valuable aspect of a well-maintained home. However, cleaning is not always about being tidy. Sometimes, you need to go beyond what you can see and consider the way your home smells. Your home’s smell makes a big first impression on anyone who visits you. Even if you think it smells just fine, it’s helpful to freshen things up. These tips can help you to do that.

Start with the Cleaning

The first step is always to focus on cleaning. Areas contributing to a less-than-fresh scent to consider include the following:

• Look for and clean up areas of mildew spots.
• Your carpets generally harbor scents. Vacuum them thoroughly to remove as much debris as possible.
• Minimize humidity and moisture in the air by using a dehumidifier when possible.
• If you have pets, clean up the areas they spend a lot of time in, such as litter boxes and dog beds. These hold onto scents long-term.
• Keep the trash cans empty – and don’t forget to also tackle washing out the trash occasionally so no odors linger within it.
• Clean the refrigerator inside and out. Get rid of old food inside and be sure to move the fridge to check for any type of spills or food particles that may have slid under or behind it.
• Keep your linens fresh. This includes cleaning throw-blankets and pillows located around your home.
• Keep your pets clean, too. Routine baths help with the shedding of fur.
• Wash the washing machine. Mildew can build up around the door and the rubber gaskets. You may not realize the scent that lingers on your clothes from mold build-up in your washing machine.

Add Scent

The next step is to add scents that you like. You don’t have to overdo this, but consider these options for ways to add subtle fragrances to your home:

• Put baking soda and citrus into the garbage disposable.
• Simmer your favorite spices on the stove for a few minutes.
• Add eucalyptus leaves to your bath and shower.
• Purchase a room spray.
• Add a dryer sheet to the opposite side of the heating and cooling vent.
• Add scented candles throughout your home.
• Add tea leaves to litter boxes to absorb some of the odors.

Extra Tips

Now, consider a few ways to get instant improvement. Open the windows and allow fresh air to come into your home. Bake some cookies or bread for a warm, cozy scent. You may even want to use more indoor plants that can actually absorb some of those scents.

Don’t Feel Like Spending Your Time Cleaning?

That’s where our team comes in. Contact SERVPRO of Vigo County for residential cleaning services and enjoy a fresh, clean-smelling home without all of the work.

How to Fight Pollen in Your Home

4/1/2019 (Permalink)

Pollen strikes each spring, leaving you coughing, sneezing, and wheezing. As your car starts to get covered with the yellow stuff and your sinuses get backed up, it’s time to make a plan to keep your home pollen-free. These tips can help you minimize the risks.

Minimize Exposure of Your Car

When possible, park your car in the garage. This helps minimize the amount of pollen it’s exposed to during the day. If you can’t do this because you don’t have a garage, drive through the car wash as often as possible.

Keep the Shoes Outside

Anything with pollen on it should remain in the garage or outside of your home. You don’t want to bring it in on your shoes. Take off your coat or anything else with pollen on it in the doorway to avoid exposing the whole home.

Take a Shower

If you’ve spent enough time outdoors to attract a significant amount of pollen, assume it’s in your hair and on your skin. Take a shower, if possible, to get rid of as much of it as possible.

Avoid Getting It in Your Bedding

Pollen on your bed and pillows can be harmful to you because you’ll breathe it in for hours at a time. Wash your hair prior to going to bed, and take a shower if you have not done so previously.

Manage Your Pets, Too

Your pets are likely to bring in just as much pollen as you do. For that reason, you’ll want to keep them washed whenever they are spending time outdoors.

Minimize Interior Air Exposure

Keep the doors and windows closed, especially on high pollen days. You’ll want to minimize the amount of exposure to pollen.

Keep Surfaces Clean

Be sure to vacuum your home routinely. Empty the vacuum outside to minimize the spread of pollen again. You’ll also want to keep your porch areas clean to limit the amount of pollen brought into the home.

Avoid Bad Days

When the pollen count is high, stay inside. This is important if you are at a high risk for respiratory concerns.

Need Help Keeping Your Home Clean?

Pollen isn’t easy to clean, but we can help. SERVPRO of Vigo County  & Clay, Parke, Sullivan, & Vermillion Counties can help you keep your home clean with our residential cleaning services. We ease the burden of the constant cleaning and maintenance of your home, so you have a safe, clean, and comfortable living environment. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

How to Get Stains Off Walls

2/14/2019 (Permalink)

Stains or marks on a painted wall can make it look dirty and worn. Unfortunately, removing stains from a wall is not always easy. Some items do not easily lift from the wall, or worse, the paint may peel or flake off as you try to remove the stains. Here are four common items that may be on your walls – and the best way to get them off.

Dirt

Dirt is the most common item to be found on a wall. If your walls are looking dull or drab, you may want to thoroughly clean them to remove dirt. Fill a bucket with warm water and a squirt of liquid dish soap and grab a soft cloth. Wipe your walls down to remove dirt. If you simply have one dirty patch on your wall, a Magic Eraser can help you wipe away that dirt smear or spot.

Crayons

Kids do not always color where they should. They may see a wall as a giant canvas. Unfortunately, the wax in crayons makes it tough to remove. Luckily, toothpaste can cut through the wax and lift the color. Grab a white paste toothpaste and rub it into the crayon marks. As you do so, the crayon should lift away.

Kitchen Grease

Grease is common on kitchen walls. The easiest way to remove kitchen grease is to fill a bowl with warm water and a squirt of a grease-fighting liquid dish soap. Grab a soft cloth and dab at the spot with the soapy water. The soap should help to cut the grease, ultimately helping to remove the stain.

Permanent Marker

Permanent marker doesn’t have to be permanent on your walls. To remove permanent marker from a wall, dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and then dab at the ink spot until all of the stain has lifted. You may have to use multiple cotton balls to remove the stain.

Your walls should be routinely cleaned to remove dirt, dust, allergens and stains. But most people do not have the time to properly clean their walls. Here at SERVPRO of Vigo County, we can help you with your wall cleaning. Whether you have painted walls or wallpaper, we can properly clean your walls ensure they always look their best and are free of dirt and dust. Call us now at (812) 242-9611 to get started.

IICRC

3/9/2018 (Permalink)

IICRC CERTIFIED SERVPRO Of Vigo County

SERVPRO of Vigo County is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of VIGO County

SERVPRO of Vigo County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.