What to Do When Your Beloved Pet’s Dander is Making You Sick
Sadly, sometimes our beloved pets, who are like members of the family, also make us ill.
While they make us laugh, provide comfort, prevent loneliness, and so much more, they also leave their fur and dander wherever they go, and if you or someone in your family is allergic to cats, this may be a problem. Many people suffer from a variety of health issues and severe allergies related to pet dander. Michael, owner/operator of All Steamed Up Carpet Cleaning, is severely allergic to cats and lives with several, so he can certainly relate!
If you are one of these pet owners, these tips for removing their dander from your home are sure to keep your allergy issues under control so you can get back to a healthy and happy cohabitant relationship with your critter.
Easy Tips for Removing Your Pet’s Dander from Your Home
Pet dander is a stubborn and clingy protein that makes itself comfortable in the nooks and crannies of your home. It may be impossible to get rid of all of it, but removing even a percentage can significantly help with your allergies or health concerns. Fortunately, it’s much easier than you might think to rid your home of pet dander.
Here are a few simple tips to help you:
Wipe Down Surfaces
Dip a clean cloth or towel in a mixture of hot water and multipurpose cleaner and thoroughly wipe down as many surfaces in your home as possible, including the walls and baseboards. Focus on areas that your furry friend primarily likes to relax, such as a tabletop, favorite corner, behind the sofa, or certain room of the house. Avoid dry dusting as much as you can as this only sends the dander particles airborne, spreading them to new places.
Clean Furniture and Curtains
Some pets love to lounge on your furniture, and so does their dander! If you have upholstered furniture, if possible, temporarily remove it from the furniture piece and shampoo it in hot water – or better yet, have it professionally cleaned by Michael at All Steamed Up! If the furnishings are not upholstered, use lint brushes and rollers designed specifically for removing dander. Your curtains are also a popular spot for dander to hide. Launder them at the highest recommended temperature in order to safely remove the dander or take them to a dry cleaner (check your warranty for specific instructions on washing).
How to Remove Pet Dander from Clothes
As much as we love to show love to our pets, allowing your four-legged buddy to lie in your lap, nuzzle your neck, or receive hugs can transfer dander straight into your clothes. Use a lint brush to remove all visible pet hair from your clothing, then wipe them down with hypo-allergenic pet wipes to neutralize the allergens. This method may leave a stain on light clothing, so be sure to ttest a small spot in the beginning to see if it’s safe. If it’s not worth the risk, you can also use a vacuum hose to remove the dander.
How to Get Rid of Dander on Your Pet
One of the best ways to remove pet dander is to stop it at its source! For pets that can tolerate it, you can do this by regularly bathing them with a gentle shampoo and brushing them. Not all pets enjoy bath time, but it is completely necessary in preventing dander. Improving their diet is also a great way to ensure they have healthy skin, meaning less dander and a happier pet! For cats, make sure your furry feline friend is receiving plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids in their food. You can talk with your vet for their food and bathing recommendations.
If you have a less common pet, please check with your vet to determine whether they can tolerate bathing, as some animals, like rabbits, should never be bathed.
Need Help Removing Pet Dander from Your Home? Rely on All Steamed Up Carpet Cleaning and Vacuum Carpets Regularly.
If you have carpet in your home, there is most likely plenty of dander hiding right beneath your feet. Vacuum your carpet and rugs using a double or micro filter High Efficiency Particulate Arrestin bag. These keep the dander from being released back into the air. You can also have your carpeted floors professionally cleaned as an effective method for removing pet dander from your home.
Whether you just don’t have the time or the desire to clean your home, we’ll be happy to do it for you! Our renowned RotoVac Carpet Deep Cleaning System is perfect for removing pet dander and leaving your home looking and smelling clean and fresh. Contact us today for a free, no obligation estimate and let us know what we can do for you today!
Pet Odor Control – Pet Stain and Odor Removal
Pet urine can produce damage to your carpets, rugs, upholstery, mattresses and drapery. Thank goodness for Michael at All Steamed Up Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning. When it comes to pet stains and odor we first focus directly on the odor and stain and work extremely hard to remove it thoroughly. Let ’s face it, your pet will have accidents now and then but when that does happen you want a cleaner that removes it right then and there. That is exactly what we do.
We cannot stress the fact enough that attempting to save money and removing any pet stain or odor yourself is never recommended because you can end up doing more harm than good. The DIY or Do-It-Yourself cleaning agents are not always reliable and most of them do not work well with certain fabrics, but sadly, you would not know until the damage is already done!
Urine smell will become much more noticeable when the level of moisture rises. After the urine dries, there will be salt left behind, which will draw in moisture as well. When the wetness evaporates, it will set off an odorous gas. We have the ability to get the urine smell and odor removed, the urine smell and stain would need to be removed by spot cleaning and then deep cleaning. This holds true for upholstery and carpet alike. When cleaning only the surface of the stain to eliminate the odor, this will not work. The fibers need to be spot cleaned and then deep cleaned.
What We Clean – Pet Stain and Odor Removal
We spot clean and deep clean pet stains and odors from: Carpets, Hallways, Stairs, Rugs, Runners, Upholstered Furniture, and Mattresses that may have suffered from pet stains and odors. When you smell urine odor the chances are that you are smelling the gasses that are made of the germs feeding on the urine. We use high-intensity ultra violet lighting in order to locate the spot.
When we have located the issue place we will then have the ability to spot the best method to attack the source and remedy the problem. It takes time to get the stain and odor out, but with All Steamed Up, it is possible!
What Kind Of Cleaners We Use – Pet Stain and Odor Removal
From day one, we at All Steamed Up Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning have been determined to offer our clients only safe cleaning products.
Most of our cleaning products are plant based and pleasant-smelling. Many people ask us why we do not offer dry cleaning chemicals. I always explain to them it’s the same as breathing in toxic fluids, no one wants to be around that sort of smell. Then they understand.
When it comes to wall to wall carpets, we use the world’s #1 rated RotoVac Carpet Cleaning System, a high-powered cleaning and suction machine to eliminate the odor and stains. Your carpets will smell amazing!
So, if you have pet stains and odors, don’t worry; be happy with the best deep cleaning from Michael at All Steamed Up Carpet, Upholstery, and Tile & Grout Cleaning! Call today! (850) 728-9131
UPHOLSTERY CLEANING INFO:
Spring has sprung, and one of the best investments you can make this season is showing a little love for your upholstery. Whether it’s your sofa, upholstered headboard, or any other piece of upholstered furniture, these pieces need regular cleaning in order for them to look their best all year round. And there’s no better time than spring to tackle some deep upholstery cleaning!
Wouldn’t it be great if you could just put your couch in the washing machine? Your couch needs to be cleaned just like everything else, but upholstery cleaning isn’t that simple. The vacuum cleaner isn’t always enough, and spot-cleaning only reaches the surface. In fact, spot cleaning only pushes the dirt (whether that’s urine from your pup having an accident or any of the many other stains that can happen) down into the fabric. Your couch and the rest of your upholstery deserves a deep clean. Having your upholstery cleaned is a big step toward creating a healthy environment. So, what do you do when you need upholstery cleaning in Tallahassee? (Call All Steamed Up, of course!) How do you clean a sofa? Where do you even start?
Here, we’re answering the top questions and dishing our best upholstery cleaning tips along the way.
Make Vacuuming A Habit
Upholstered furniture are magnets for dirt and dust and other airborne spores—just because you can’t see the dust, doesn’t mean that it’s not there! Are the colors on your upholstery not as brilliant as they should be? It’s likely dirt and dust dulling your beautiful furniture.
This is especially true if you have an upholstered bed or headboard. It might not be obvious but hair and dust have a tendency to collect quickly on these pieces even if they’re not easily visible. And you definitely don’t want to be sleeping with dust around, so make sure to vacuum these pieces. And while upkeep might sound tedious, there are actually a lot of pros for having an upholstered headboard.
We recommend you vacuum your furniture at least once every other week, so make it a point to do routine upholstery cleaning in your home. For quick and easy cleaning on the regular, use the narrow parts of your vacuum to get into the nooks and crannies of your sofas and chairs where dust and dirt tend to collect. Then, once or twice a year, depending upon your particular needs, call Michael at All Steamed Up for a deep upholstery cleaning, removing soiled spots, and deep cleaning your pieces.
Deodorizing:
Part of upholstery cleaning is keeping your pieces looking, feeling, and smelling fresh. If you’ve ever caught a whiff of odor from your upholstery, you’re not alone. This is especially true if you have pets! From daily clothes to pets rubbing up on the fabric, odors, like stains, are bound to develop over time.
To tackle upholstery odors in between having Michael at All Steamed Up come in for your deep cleanings, you can use baking soda to help lift any odors and oils from your upholstery. Simply sprinkle and pat it into the upholstery and let it sit for a few hours. It will absorb any odors and oils during that time. Then just thoroughly vacuum it up after – don’t leave it in, as that will attract dirt.
A Few Good Rules of Thumb:
Avoid harsh chemicals. Spraying strong cleaning chemicals directly onto your furniture such as Lysol is not a good idea, especially in bedrooms. While this solution may be tempting, you don’t want to be sleeping with chemicals in the air and under your pillow.
Keep dampness at bay. Avoid sitting or leaning on your upholstered pieces with a wet head or wet towel. Water is a huge cause of bacterial growth and a big reason for stains and discoloration in upholstered furnishings.
Consider synthetic fabrics. When purchasing upholstered furniture, look for performance fabrics made with synthetic materials that are naturally stain and mildew-resistant. This will make all your upholstery cleaning much easier, especially if you’re leaning towards upholstered pieces in lighter colors!
Know when to call the pros. If you’re not sure how to tackle a stain that’s too large or serious, you’ll be much better off seeking professional cleaning help from Michael at All Steamed Up. While spot treating small stains can easily be done at home yourself, large stains that aren’t dealt with properly can end up ruining your piece, so it’s safest to call in the pros.
CARPET CLEANING INFO:
The beauty and life of your carpet depends on the care it receives. Proper cleaning will keep it looking great for its full lifetime, help improve your indoor air quality, and keep your carpet’s warranty intact.
Carpet cleaning can actually have a significant impact on indoor air quality in North Florida and South Georgia. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of carpet cleaning for improving indoor air quality.
There are a number of different things that can affect indoor air quality, including particles that get trapped inside carpet fibers. Foot traffic can disrupt the particles trapped in carpet fibers and contribute to indoor air pollution.
With all of the above in mind, it’s a good idea to consider some of the ways in which homeowners can keep their carpeting as clean as possible to promote better indoor air quality. Keep your air cleaner by following some of these tips:
Regularly vacuuming floors is a great way to keep dust, allergens and pollutants to a minimum. For the best results, commit to vacuuming on a weekly basis—especially if your home has small children and pets that are more likely to track in dirt and pollutants from outside. Invest in a quality vacuum cleaner to get rid of dust, dirt and allergens from carpet fibers.
Get professional spring carpet cleaning from All Steamed Up Carpet Cleaning, Inc. Since 2010, our family owned and operated business has been committed to providing customers with the best carpet cleaning services available. Find out more about what we have to offer and get started with a consultation and quote by giving us a call today.
STAIN REMOVAL – AN OLD-FASHIONED REMEDY:
No carpet is completely stain proof, but if you, the homeowner or tenant, act quickly following these instructions, you can help keep a stain from setting.
- Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or plain, white paper towels (no prints or colors). Using a printed or colored material may transfer ink or dye to your damp carpet. Continue until the area is barely damp.
- Do not scrub or use a brush! Bristles and scrubbing can damage the carpet. Fraying and texture change are the likely results.
- Take regular table salt and pour it generously over the entire stain, making sure it’s at least a half an inch thick.
- Let it dry thoroughly, and then vacuum it up.
- This gives a professional carpet cleaner, like Michael at All Steamed Up, a far better chance of getting out whatever remnants of the stain are left.
Advantages of Using the RotoVac Hot Water Extraction Cleaning System:
Deeper Cleaning
The RotoVac hot water extraction provides a deeper cleaning than other methods. Shampooing the carpet by using a rented carpet cleaner will clean the surface, but it usually does not penetrate the fabric. The deep cleaning provided with hot water extraction is also more effective at removing odors, smells, and stains.
Environmentally Friendly
RotoVac’s hot water extraction method uses hot water instead of toxic cleaning agents. You don’t have to worry about letting the kids or pets play on the carpet afterwards. People usually don’t notice the harmful effects of toxic cleaning chemicals. Kids and pets are the most affected because they spend more time playing on the carpet.
No Residue
With the RotoVac’s hot water extraction method, you don’t have to worry about any residue being left in or on your carpet at all, whereas shampooing your carpet leaves some residue even after the carpet has dried.
It’s a good idea to schedule regular carpet cleanings with All Steamed Up Carpet Cleaning, Inc., every 6 – 12 months, depending on your carpet’s warranty and how much traffic it sees. You’ll appreciate the removal of stains and odors that you haven’t been able to get out yourself. Instead of using a rented or store-bought carpet shampooer, hire a professional carpet cleaner to use hot water extraction for the job.
Carpet Cleaning Tallahassee – Upholstery Cleaning Tallahassee
REASONS TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TILE & GROUT CLEANER:
Tile flooring can be a beautiful addition to any home. However, having tiles means you have to deal with tile & grout as well. Unfortunately, tile & grout are known to be difficult to clean, as they’re prone to developing a build-up of germs and dirt.
Luckily, you can hire All Steamed Up to get to the bottom of your tile-and-grout-related issues and give your tile and grout a new sheen again.
No Damage
If you’ve been cleaning your grout yourself, you’ve likely noticed that it’s necessary to use a number of different cleaning solutions and tools to get the job done. You’ve probably also spent a fortune on said supplies just to find that some of them damage your flooring don’t work.
Professionals have the proper tools to clean your tile & grout without causing any cosmetic or structural damage. They know how to effectively clean even the most stubborn areas without leaving a mark.
Cost Efficient
Another great reason to hire a professional is that doing so will save you a lot of money. This is because buying the equipment to clean your own tile and grout is expensive. You often have to buy more than one product to find the one that works for you and, if you don’t know how to use the product, you’ll spend even more money to buy another bottle in hopes that it will work this time.
Hiring a professional saves you the cost of buying your own supplies and potentially wasting them, throwing your money down the drain.
Improves The Appearance of Your Home
Nothing ruins a perfectly cleaned home like dirty grout, which is why it’s never a bad idea to hire a professional tile & grout cleaner to tackle that exceedingly frustrating job.
After a good deep clean by a professional, your tile & grout (and your home) will be left looking clean and fresh again.
Does Away With Bacteria
Store-bought cleaning products are great for tackling common, everyday messes and dirt. However, you might need a professional tile & grout cleaner in order to rid your floors of bacteria and debris that has developed a resistance to classic household cleaners and natural methods.
The chemicals that professionals have access to are far better than the ones available in stores in both quantity and strength, effectively knocking bacteria out thoroughly.
Saves Time
The last benefit we’re going to cover is saving time. Given that you’re busy with work, chores and everything else in daily life, cleaning your tile & grout is a job that you’d likely rather not have to deal with.
Conclusion
Professional tile & grout cleaning is an amazing service that you should be open to considering. If you are still on the fence about whether to hire a professional, keep in mind that you’ll be saving a lot of money and time, while getting rid of stubborn germs, and restoring your floor to its former glory, all at the same time. And as professional tile & grout (or carpet and upholstery) cleaners go, Michael at All Steamed Up is second to none.
Though most carpets come with anti-stain treatment, some body fluids, like blood stains, along with cosmetics, beverages, and foods, might leave stains that just keep annoying you. In most cases, it’s easy to get blood out of carpets and completely remove the blood stain if you use the correct materials and methods.
We recommend hiring a professional carpet cleaner like Michael at All Steamed Up to remove blood stains from your carpet, but we also know that sometimes folks prefer to try to get stains out themselves. If you’re one of these people, whatever you do, never use chlorinated agents or bleaching agents to get blood out of carpets, as these might discolor your carpet. The following is a guide for those DIY-ers, but please remember, if all else fails, Michael is here for you!
When it comes to getting blood out of carpets – or removing any kind of stain from a carpet for that matter – the key thing to remember is that the sooner you act, the better the result you’re likely to get.
If you’re unsure how to get the blood out of your carpet, you should follow these steps as the very first thing when discovering your stain of fresh or dried blood. Again, the faster you take action, the greater the chances of removing the blood stain from your carpet.
When you’re cleaning the blood stains from the carpet, remember to always work from the edge of the blood stain towards the center. To prevent the cleaned area from quickly becoming soiled again after treatment, it is important to rinse off and blot up the remaining stain-removing agent.
If the bloodstain on the carpet is fresh, first wipe up the blood with a clean, colorless, dry cloth or non-dyed absorbent paper. You can, for instance, use kitchen paper towels to gently dab or blot the blood stain.
DO NOT RUB as this might increase the blood stain. Instead, the stain should be blotted off and then you’re ready for the next step in our guide to removing blood from a carpet.
The next step when you want to get blood out of carpets is to apply cold water to the blood stain (without soap, washing powder, liquid detergent or any similar agents). It is important to use cold water to remove blood from carpets because warm water follows that blood clots faster and makes the stain removal more tricky. Dab the area gently with a damp cloth, and then absorb as much of the liquid as possible by blotting with a dry, white cloth.
After you’ve dissolved the blood stain on your carpet, you should drizzle potato starch on the stain and leave it to dry for 24 hours before vacuuming the carpet.
More often than not, the first three steps in this guide will be enough to get the blood out of the carpet, but if you’re still not happy with the result, continue on below for one last trick on how to remove blood from your carpet.
Dab with a cloth dipped in a solution of cold water and salt (2 tablespoons of salt per liter of water). Keep dabbing until the blood comes loose of the carpet fiber and make sure to use as little water and salt solution as possible.
If none of the preceding steps gets the blood out of the carpet, the blood stain must be treated using a special stain-removing agent. In general, the use and dosage instructions must be followed closely, and treatment should not take place on moist areas. Instead, the area should be left to dry before the special agent is applied to the blood stain(s).
If the treatment leaves a mark, this may indicate that the carpet is generally soiled and needs to be cleaned. If the stain reappears after treatment, this is usually because there is still some stain-removing agent or stain residue left in the carpet. In this case, the area should be treated again according to the guidelines described in step 3.
The first time a new cleaning agent or stain remover is used on the carpet, you should check whether the agent may damage the carpet. Damage occurs from color bleed, discoloration, bleaching, or dissolution. To avoid this, test both cleaning agent and stain remover on an area the size of a postage stamp, preferably in a corner, under furniture, or in a similar area.
If you still didn’t get the blood out of the carpet, there are a few more ways to remove the blood stain, however, please remember that WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THESE METHODS, AS THEY CAN AND OFTEN WILL DAMAGE YOUR CARPET BEYOND REPAIR, as these are harsher methods. If you do try these, please remember to always test a small area before applying the solutions to the blood stain.
Using a mixture of water and ammonia can be an effective way to remove blood stains from a carpet but remember to never use ammonia on woolen carpets. For this method, mix 1-2 teaspoons of ammonia with water and apply the solution to the carpet. Let the solution work for 5-10 minutes before blotting the spot with a clean cloth.
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in cases where the blood stain on the carpet is particularly persistent. Add a small portion of hydrogen peroxide to the blood stain and let it work for 1-2 hours. Then, blot the carpet clean and repeat the procedure if you’re still not happy with the results.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, CALL MICHAEL @ ALL STEAMED UP CARPET CLEANING!
Carpet Cleaning Tallahassee – Upholstery Cleaning Tallahassee