Author: rodriguezclean

Return Vents Regulate the Air Pressure in Your Home

Most return vents are larger because you typically have fewer of them compared to regular air vents.

Regular air vents are responsible for bringing fresh air into the home, creating positive pressure by adding air into an open space. The air needs to go somewhere, either outside or back into the system. Return vents create a balance by pulling air in and creating negative pressure.

The balance is achieved when air is pushed out (positive) and air is pulled in (negative).

You May Not Have Enough Return Vents at Home

If you notice a musty smell, it may be due to improper air circulation, which could indicate that you have insufficient return vents. A whistling noise around your furnace or return vents can also suggest a lack of returns, causing the air handler to force air through system holes.

Older homes often have one large return near the furnace. Consider updating your system to improve efficiency. Ideally, installing a return vent in each room allows the system to recirculate air and pull contaminants from the entire house, improving system longevity and indoor air quality.

Return vents in each room also help reduce humidity, control odors, and prevent mold growth. They should be installed in the wall, as cold air tends to stay on the floor, while warm air rises from the top of the walls.

Can You Clean Your Return Vents Yourself?

While you can clean your return vents, dealing with your furnace can be dangerous. We recommend hiring a certified HVAC technician or a professional air duct cleaning company. To clean your return vents yourself, locate them by holding a piece of paper in front of each register to see if it gets pulled inward.

Remove the vent cover and clean it with a vacuum cleaner. Then, change the air filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions, ideally at least once a month.

For better results and to address allergies, consider calling a professional. Rodriguez Cleaning Service is your air duct cleaning company for Louisville, KY.

For a Free Quote or Consultation, Please Call Our Office at 502-365-6779.

Top 10 Reasons Carpets Impact Your Health

Sure, dirty carpets don’t look great, but have you ever thought about how dirty carpets affect your health? Believe it or not, they can have a pretty big impact on your health. That’s why proper carpet cleaning and care are so important. While you can find plenty of great articles (and services!) that go over just what it takes to get your carpet clean and safe, we’ll be discussing the Top 10 Reasons Carpets Impact Your Health.

There is a huge misconception about carpets being good or bad for people with allergies. Your carpet acts as an air filter or dust filter in your home. The fibers catch dust and soil that you bring in or that travels throughout your house. When dust settles on the floor, it gets trapped in the carpet fibers and doesn’t go anywhere unless vacuumed or cleaned. Without carpet, dust on hard surfaces easily becomes airborne again, carrying contaminants that can trigger allergies. So, carpets can actually be beneficial for people with allergies!

Here are some of the risks associated with carpets in your home:

1. Dirt & Grease are a Carpet’s Best Friends

Whether it’s you, your kids, or your pets, anyone who walks across your carpet leaves behind oily residue and dry soil. Over time, body oil, dry soil, and wet spills combine to form a sort of glue, attracting more dirt and grime. This can discolor your carpet and lead to allergy and health issues.

2. Carpet Backing is a Dust Trap

The backing of a carpet, which keeps the fibers together, also traps dust. Dirt can get caught in this netting, making it difficult for your vacuum to remove. Even with regular cleaning, some dirt and grit in the carpet backing may remain.

3. Germs and Bacteria Love to Hang Out in Carpet

Initially, carpets can filter pollutants like residues, tars, cigarette smoke, and pollen. However, once they reach capacity, they hold onto these pollutants, exposing you to toxins unless you maintain professional cleaning services.

4. Dust Mites = More Suffering

Carpets are a haven for dust mites, whose excrement can trigger asthma attacks and other allergies. Dust mites trap proteins that cause rhinitis, eczema, and asthma, leading to flare-ups or resurgence of previously managed conditions.

5. Carpets Get “Swol” with Dirt

Carpets can hold up to four times their weight in dust, dirt, grit, and other contaminants, including insect feces, allergens, mold, and pet dander. Regular vacuuming might not be enough to keep your carpets clean.

6. 5-Second Rule? Try the 4-Week Rule…

Bacteria can live in carpets for up to four weeks, making them a breeding ground for future generations. Avoid eating food dropped on the carpet to reduce the risk of ingesting harmful bacteria.

7. Ditch Your Shoes Before You Walk on Carpet

Wearing shoes on carpet introduces more dirt and grit and grinds existing dirt deeper into the carpet, making spills and stains more difficult to clean.

8. Food Poisoning from Your Carpet?

The Norovirus, which can cause severe stomach problems similar to food poisoning, can survive in carpets for up to six weeks. Every step across the carpet can spread the virus, putting you at risk.

9. Carpet or Toilet: Which is Cleaner?

Carpet can be up to 4,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat, making it a significant source of germs and dirt if not properly cleaned.

10. Clean it Like Your Wardrobe

We regularly clean many items in our homes. Treat your carpet with the same level of care. Clean it regularly and after sickness. While DIY cleaning is an option, professional cleaning is essential for maintaining carpet health.

How Often Should I Vacuum My Carpets?

Don’t wait until you see dirt. Vacuum your carpets regularly, ideally every Wednesday and Saturday. Even areas you seldom use should be vacuumed once or twice a week.

How Often Should You Clean Your Carpets Professionally?

Most manufacturers recommend professional cleaning every 18 months. However, if you have kids, pets, or frequent visitors, you might need to schedule professional cleaning more often. Ensure you hire a company with IICRC certification and use approved cleaning methods.

6 Tips to Maintaining and Extending the Life of Your VCT Flooring (Vinyl Composition Tile)

If you own a commercial building or are responsible for its maintenance, you might find that keeping your VCT flooring clean and in excellent condition can be challenging. At Rodriguez Cleaning and Restoration Services, our goal is to educate you, provide you with the tools, and assist you with your flooring maintenance. This may also extend to the building as well.

Here are 6 tips that will help you maintain your VCT flooring:

1. Hire a Professional Floor Installer. Knowing the exact amount of glue needed can be tricky. If too much glue is used, it may seep between the cracks, making it very hard to remove. Trying to install or repair flooring yourself could end up costing more in cleanup than hiring a professional.
2. Use Floor Mats. Place mats around doorways, especially at entrances and exits. These mats will collect dust and dry soil that can scratch your flooring. Remember to vacuum the mats regularly to keep them clean.
3. Dust Mop Daily. Dust mopping daily will help collect dry soil that acts like sandpaper, potentially damaging the tile. Regular dusting helps extend the life of your flooring.
4. Wet Mop Regularly. Ideally, wet mop every day. If daily mopping isn’t feasible, aim to do it at least twice a week. Clean up spills immediately to prevent staining.
5. Burnish Weekly. To maintain your floor’s shine, burnish it once a week using a high-speed floor scrubber with a white pad. Lower-speed machines are for stripping and waxing. Using a white pad is crucial to avoid scratching the flooring.
6. Strip and Wax Periodically. Stripping removes old wax buildup. Let the stripping solution sit for 20 minutes before mopping it up with a clean mop and water. Once the floor is dry, apply wax. We recommend 3-5 coats of wax, depending on traffic. More coats are needed for high-traffic areas.

We hope these tips help you maintain your VCT flooring. For any assistance with maintenance, remember you can count on Rodriguez Cleaning and Restoration for all your flooring cleaning needs.

Why does my basement smell musty? I pull my clothing out of the washing machine and they smell musty! These are common questions. A musty smell can become unbearable and uncomfortable for most people at home.

First, let’s clarify that bad odors don’t necessarily mean you have a huge issue, but they could be signs of mold growth or other problems.

Before learning how to remove bad odors at home, it’s essential to understand the principles of odor decontamination as outlined by the IICRC. These principles apply to any odor decontamination process and will help you customize your plan of action.

Deodorization and Odor Control Principles

1. Identification and Removal of Source as possible.
2. Cleaning of contamination from surfaces.
3. Recreate the conditions of penetration.
4. Seal (Encapsulate).

Identification and Odor Source Removal

Now that you understand the four principles, it’s time to find the source of the odor. Start by identifying areas with high humidity, as moisture is a key factor in producing bad smells. Look for water leaks, condensation, or poor ventilation, which can create high humidity levels.

High temperatures can also contribute to odors. Check for warm areas, which may not be immediately noticeable. You might have hidden water leaks between walls that require a thermal camera to detect.

If you’re struggling to find the source, consider hiring a professional for an inspection.

How to Find Growing Mold

Concerned about odors from mold? Mold needs three things to grow: water, food, and temperature.

Water means high humidity. Look for sources of moisture in your home.

Food for mold includes organic materials like cotton, wool, paper, leather, wood, or surfaces coated with organic matter such as food, grease, and soil.

Mold often grows in unexpected places, such as perimeter walls due to water intrusion from the outside or bathrooms around showers. Use your nose to help locate mold.

Mold thrives in temperatures between 77 to 86 degrees. This temperature range indicates ideal conditions for mold growth.

Professional help may be needed for detecting and removing mold, as improper removal can lead to health risks.

Most Common Places for Sources of Odors

Bathrooms: Around the shower, under the sink, around the toilet, tile floors, and corners.

Kitchens: Check under the sink, around the refrigerator, trash can, and water dispenser machine.

Laundry Room: Around the washer, inside the washer, and under any sink. Inspect the washer door seals.

Utility Closet: Check around the water heater, sink, any water lines, and the furnace.

Basement: Examine perimeter walls and ceilings for watermarks, a common sign of mold.

Attic and Crawlspace: Inspect water lines and most surfaces.

Windows: Check window seals for condensation and framing for water leaks.

These are common areas to check, but also follow your nose as mentioned earlier.

Get Rid of the Bad Odor Source

Sometimes the easiest way to eliminate bad odors is by fixing water leaks. Once you address the water source, the odor usually dissipates.

Be cautious when removing the source of the odor, as it might be best to let a professional handle the cleaning.

High humidity creates a musty smell. Using a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity levels in your home. Check out this recommended dehumidifier:

https://amzn.to/2BM3b7p

Cleaning the Surface

Cleaning methods vary depending on where the odor originates. For wooden surfaces, use a wood cleaner and follow label instructions. Avoid aggressive cleaners that may damage the finish.

Cleaning Finished Wood

Use a wood cleaner rather than a multipurpose cleaner to avoid damaging the wood. We recommend this wood cleaner from Amazon:

https://amzn.to/2RoIqIL

Green Cleaning Method

For a green cleaning method, use distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and apply it to the affected area. Let it sit for 30 minutes to penetrate. You can also use baking soda to neutralize the surface and accelerate odor removal. After applying either, wipe the surface with a terry towel. If needed, use liquid dish soap and a sponge for deeper cleaning. Rinse with clean water and dry the area by opening windows or using a fan or portable heater.

Cleaning Mold

Mold cleaning should be done by a professional to avoid improper handling and cross-contamination. The EPA recommends hiring a specialist if:

• The moldy area is more than 10 square feet.
• Your HVAC system has mold.
• The mold growth is on walls, floors, or ceilings.
• You have health issues that could be worsened by mold exposure.

If you choose to clean mold yourself, follow these steps, but professional help is still recommended:

• Wear a full face mask with the proper cartridges for mold.
• Wear a full-body suit and dispose of it afterward.
• Seal any vents in the cleaning area to prevent cross-contamination.
• Create a containment zone with plastic to reduce exposed areas.
• Rent a HEPA Filter air scrubber and create a negative pressure system.
• Duct clean air from the air scrubber out of the containment area to capture mold spores in the HEPA filter.
• Vacuum the affected area with a HEPA Filter vacuum cleaner.
• Scrub and wipe down the affected area.
• Dispose of any porous materials in a sealed bag.
• Wipe down before removing the containment area to avoid cross-contamination.

Recreate the Conditions of Penetration

After cleaning, ventilate the area to bring in fresh air. Natural ventilation is the easiest way to achieve this. For severe odor issues, consider additional steps and principles for odor removal.

Combining all the principles will help you completely remove the musty smell. Odors can penetrate surfaces, so addressing the source is crucial.

• Masking – Using pleasant fragrances or odorizers to mask the smell.
• Pairing – Combining with malodors to produce a non-odorous substance.
• Oxidizers – (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) destroy odors.
• Oxidizing gas – (e.g., ozone) destroys odors through ozone O3 for permanent results.

Carpet in your home needs to be kept clean at all times. This will allow you to have a cleaner home with less dust and dander. Carpets are expensive, and you will want to make sure that your carpet stands up for a long time. At least that is our goal at Rodriguez Carpet Cleaning Services, we need to make sure your carpets last and stay clean much longer than what you expect.

To maintain your carpet, you will want to make sure that you vacuum frequently and have it cleaned at least every year. If you have high traffic in your home, you may want to consider having your carpet cleaned professionally at six-month intervals. This will all depend on your lifestyle and what you prefer. Here are 10 questions you should ask when thinking about how often you should clean your carpets. This will help you determine at what frequency you should have your carpets cleaned.

1. Do you vacuum at least every other day?

Vacuuming your carpet every day will help your carpet to last longer. When you vacuum, you remove dirt and debris. The longer these settle into your carpet, the more cleaning that you will need. However, even if you vacuum every day, the dirt and debris will sink down into your carpets, and you will need to hire a professional carpet cleaning service. If you rarely vacuum your carpet, you need to schedule a carpet cleaning immediately.

When vacuuming, make sure you use a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. This vacuum cleaner will also help with allergies. We recommend the Shark Vacuum Cleaner, which you can find at Amazon here.

2. Do you have friends and family over often?

If you have friends and family over often, you will find that your carpet will get dirtier more frequently. This is because people have a tendency to track debris into your home. If you have visitors frequently, you will want to increase the number of times you have your carpet cleaned.

3. Do you live in an area with frequent weather issues?

If you live in an area where it rains or snows frequently, you may have a tendency to track more debris into your home. No matter how well you think you have cleaned your shoes, the chances are that you have tracked debris into your home. If you live in a rainy or snowy area, consider cleaning your carpet at more frequent intervals.

4. Do you allow shoes in your home?

Shoes will bring in small particles of grit as well as dirt. When people walk across your carpet with shoes, it can not only put dirt into your carpet, but it can also cause the fibers of the carpet to wear down. If you do not have the carpet cleaned, it will wear down and put a pattern into your carpet. Dry soil works like sandpaper on the fiber, effectively sanding down each individual yarn of your carpets.

5. What type of heat do you use?

This might not seem like it would affect your carpet, but some forms of heat can cause debris to get into your carpet. If you use wood heat, small particles of ash and wood debris can settle on your carpet. Even if your wood heater is in another room, you could still get debris in your carpet. If you use wood heat, it is a good idea to have your carpets cleaned regularly.

6. Do you or a loved one have allergies?

If someone in your home suffers from allergies, you will want to have your carpet cleaned frequently. This is because the carpet has a tendency to attract allergens and dust. These particles build up on the carpet fibers. Over time, these particles will build up, and when someone walks across the floor, these allergens will be released. Vacuuming will not be enough to get these allergens out of the carpet. If you or a loved one suffers from frequent allergy attacks, you will need to make sure that the carpets are cleaned often to help alleviate symptoms.

7. What is the color of your carpet?

If you have light-colored carpets, you will need to get them cleaned at a more frequent rate. Light-colored carpets have a tendency to show dirt and debris more than other carpet colors. You do not want to have people coming over to a messy, dingy carpet. It is always best to have your light-colored carpets cleaned as frequently as possible.

8. What kind of warranty do you have on your carpet?

In some cases, when you bought your carpet it came with a warranty. This warranty will state that you must have your carpet cleaned. In some cases, this will be at least once a year. You will need to keep your receipts to prove that you have kept your carpet cleaned. Failure to do this may lead to you voiding your warranty, and if something happens to your carpet, you will be responsible for it.

Shaw Carpet Mills is one of the leaders in carpet manufacturing, and their recommendations are to have your carpets cleaned within 18 months after purchase. Check their site for more information about how to maintain and how often to clean your carpets.

9. Do you allow pets in your home?

If you allow pets in your home, your carpet will benefit from regular cleanings. No matter how well-trained your pet is, at some point, they will have an accident. Over time, if you do not clean the carpet properly, these smells can build up. Your pet can also track dirt and debris onto your carpet. Pet dander is also an issue when you allow pets in the home. If you have pets in your home, it is a good idea to have your carpets professionally cleaned often.

10. Do you have children?

If you have children, you know how frequently they can cause a mess. They have a tendency to spill things and create messes. It can be difficult to keep up with all that a child might spill into your carpet. Before you know it, you have unexplained stains all over your carpet.

To avoid this, have your carpets cleaned frequently. You will want to make sure that the carpet is cleaned with a cleaning agent that is safe for young children so that your child can get back to their playing routine.

Getting your carpets professionally cleaned will help to give you a cleaner home. It will reduce allergens and help your home look amazing. Take the time to consider how often you should clean your carpets. Remember, if you have a high traffic area, you should get your carpet cleaned at least every six months. You can never over-clean your carpet. Your carpet will benefit from frequent cleanings as will your health.

What is the recommended Cleaning Process for my Carpets?

Remember, renting a carpet shampooing machine from Walmart will help you with spot cleaning and just making your carpets look okay, but true cleaning is hiring a professional IICRC Carpet Cleaning Certified Technician to do a hot water extraction cleaning in your carpets.

The hot water extraction cleaning process is mostly known on the streets as steam cleaning. Yes, we know it costs more money than just renting the machine, but when you call a professional carpet cleaning company, your carpets will stay clean much longer than the cleaning you will be able to do using the rental. Most carpet mills request to have your carpets cleaned by a professional carpet cleaner with hot water extraction to avoid voiding the warranty.

Rodriguez Cleaning and Restoration Services

If you have any additional questions or comments, please contact us at (502) 837-9011 or learn more about our services here.

Top 7 Reasons for Air Duct Cleaning

No matter your age, health, or living conditions, if your ducts are dirty, it’s only a matter of time before you start having allergies, sneezing, or equipment breakdowns. You may need some air duct cleaning done.

It is very important to keep all air ducts throughout your home clean because each air duct is the main circulation source leading to and from your heating and cooling system, allowing each room continuous airflow. This will help you have cleaner air regardless of the conditions outside.

Having clean air ducts in your home year-round is highly important, especially if anyone in the family may have allergies. All the air within your home recycles numerous times throughout the day, which is the same air that fills your entire living space.

Reasons to have your Air Ducts professionally cleaned:

1. Promotes a healthier living environment

   Sometimes we drop food in our ducts or, by accident, our kids or pets drop something that you didn’t know about, and if it has been decomposing for days, bacteria start growing. What do you think is happening now? You are blowing that contamination throughout the house.

   When having your air ducts cleaned, it improves the air quality circulating throughout the home and promotes a healthier environment by removing dust, food, toys, and buildup.

   

2. Ensures the reduction of Allergens and/or potential Irritants

   Dust, especially dust mites, is a major cause of allergies in Louisville, KY, and most of the United States. Removing dust and contaminants such as microorganisms, pet dander, bacteria, mold spores, mildew, dust mites, and pollen benefits everyone, especially those prone to allergies or respiratory problems.

3. Breathing becomes much easier and cleaner

   Ask yourself this: Would you prefer to breathe clean, fresh air or dusty, contaminated air? When contamination gets into our airways, it irritates and creates infections in our lungs, leading to breathing issues.

   When dust and pollutants enter our nose and lungs, we have a higher chance of getting bronchial congestion and sinus issues.

4. Improves Smells and Odors

   

   Have you ever checked your air duct returns in your home? If you have, you’ve likely noticed a lot of dust on them. They are designed to pull in all the air coming out of your vents. If you have pets or a dusty home, all this hair and soil is getting pulled into the system.

   Odors in the home, such as pet odor, tobacco use, cleaning agents, food, and soiled linens, will continue to circulate throughout the home every time air or heat kicks on. Cleaning your air ducts will help tremendously and allow your home to smell fresh once again.

5. Your House Lasts Clean Longer

   You just dusted off your coffee table and TV stand, but a week later, the unwanted dust is back. Yes, it’s frustrating when dust doesn’t go away.

   Clean air ducts prevent dust from spreading throughout the house and settling on your furniture. The cleaner the unit, the more air it pulls in that will be filtered through your filter and come out clean.

6. Efficiently Improve Air Flow

   Summer or winter, no matter the season, it can feel like your AC or heat isn’t working efficiently. Poor maintenance and lack of cleaning make your unit work less effectively.

   Air duct cleaning helps your furnace and air conditioning work more efficiently and be more cost-effective. Your system will not have to work as hard because all the buildup has been removed.

7. Money Saving

   When was the last time you quoted a new air conditioning system? We’re talking about a few thousand dollars.

   Clogged air vents mean your furnace has to work harder and consume more energy. Less air will come out, and it will take longer for each room to reach your desired temperature. The thermostat won’t shut off the unit, leading to extra energy costs.

   Your furnace will work twice as hard as it should, reducing the life of your unit and increasing your energy bills.

Air Duct Cleaning Conclusion

Air duct cleaning consists of removing any dust, debris, and contaminants that have built up within the ductwork.

A powerful vacuum system will remove everything that has built up in the ductwork, in combination with pressurized air coming out of a commercial air compressor at 150 psi pressure.

It is extremely important to have the air you’re breathing inside your home as clean as possible! For more information about air duct cleaning, check NADCA.

If you need help with Professional Air Duct Cleaning Louisville KY, you can contact Rodriguez Air Duct Cleaning at 502-365-6779.

How to Maintain and extend the life of your carpets is the most common question we get every day when we are out there cleaning carpets. This 12 proven tips will ensure your flooring investment is taken care of. Just Follow this tips and your carpets will last over 10 years.

Knowing what Kind of Carpets You Have.

The first tip for you is to know what kind of carpets you have at home. Let me explain to you what I mean with this. Let’s say you have wool carpet. Wool carpet lasts much longer than some other ones. But if you spill something, there is a good chance that wool will absorb that spill, and it will be a little harder to clean. If you have nylon carpeting, it will resist a lot more wear and tear, and you can have it in the living room, places where you will have a lot of traffic. That’s the reason you need to know what kind of carpeting you have.

Use Outdoor Floor Mats

My other tip will be floor mats. I recommend all my clients to have outdoor floor mats in front of all their entryway doors. And here’s the reason. When we’re coming from the outside, our shoes are full of dirt and soil. Having floor mats help us to collect all that dust and contamination. That way, we’re not bringing in the dust.

The other tip will be, if you don’t want to have those floor mats or if you do but you want to go an extra step, to go ahead and take your shoes off. Do I do it? No, I don’t. But when I’m in those homes and I see that they’re leaving the shoes by the door, usually those carpets last clean much longer, and the life of the carpet is way up there, 10, 15 years.

Use Area Rugs indoors for High Traffic Areas

Your Next tip will be to have area rugs on your traffic areas or where you seat the most. What I mean with this, let’s say in a hallway, I’ve seen many times people having runners. Having Runners and Area Rugs where you walk most of the time, will help to reduces the wear and tear of your fiber. We don’t see it but walking on top of soiled areas will destroy your carpets.

Also Having this area rugs in those rooms where we spend most of the time seating or walking through will help to reduce the wear and tear of your carpets. Sometimes is easier to replace an area rug the regular wall to wall carpeting.

Rotate your Furniture

The other tip will be to rotate your furniture. Usually, I see issues in living rooms where we have the couch right in front of the TV. That area will wear out pretty quick. Moving and rotating the couch, the chair that you love, the one where you sit every day to watch TV will help to extend the life of that area. Of course, you don’t like to move that chair because you are used to be on that spot, but if you want to extend the life of your carpet, you should rotate your furniture plus every time you rotate the furniture, it looks like you have a new design. And then it will make you feel better.

Spot and Spill Cleaning

My other tip for you will be spot and spills cleaning. When you spill juice, wine, or anything else, please run to the spot and clean it right away. If you’re leaving a spot there for a day or two, it will be harder to clean. Plus, I seen it many time, and I have done it. Sometimes we get busy and we forget to come back and clean it. If you’re leaving a spot for a long time, there’s a good chance that that spot will become a stain. A stain is something that many professionals can not remove including ourselves. We clean the spots but not the stains.

If the spot you need to clean got hard because you could get to it when it happened, you need to wet it that way it will get soft and you can work on it.

Vacuuming more Frequently

Next tip for you will be vacuuming more frequently. As always, we’re busy and we have a lot of things to do in our life. We forget to vacuum our carpets. We should vacuum our carpets at least twice a week. When you’re vacuuming, please don’t forget to vacuum the edges of your carpeting, if you don’t do it, you will end up with filtration lines.

I have another video and article where I explain what are those filtration lines and how you can avoid them. One of the steps will be vacuuming the edges of your carpeting. When you’re vacuuming, please don’t forget to vacuum the steps of your stairway. Ask yourself when was the last time you vacuumed your steps?

When we go into a home or if you look at yours, you will see that your steps are wearing out very quickly. One of the reason is because we don’t vacuum enough. Dry soil, the dust work as sandpaper. It will cut down the fibers of your, uh, carpeting. Make sure you vacuum enough that you pick up a lot of dust.

Knowing what Kind of Pets you have?

My other tip is knowing what kind of pets you have or if you’re getting one, you need to know if they have short hair or long hair. If they have long hair, there’s a good chance that you have to vacuum your carpets more often to pick up that hair that is in the carpeting.

Also, when you have pets, make sure you train them, that you take them out often and give them plenty of time to be outside and do their necessity. That way they don’t come back and have an accident on your carpeting.

Supplemental Cleaning Tools

My other tip for you will a supplemental cleaning tool. What do I mean with this? Sometimes we don’t have time, and there are tools out there that you can buy. And I’m talking about those automatic vacuum cleaners that you can just push a button, and it goes out, it vacuums everything, it rotates around the house, and it comes back to recharge. Also, if you have kids, you know that no matter what, they will spill something. Go ahead and go out and buy a shampooer, you will need to do a spot cleaning more often than some other people. You need to be proactive when you are taking care of your flooring, when you’re taking care of your home.

Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaner

My other tip for you will be to hire a professional to clean your carpets within 18 months. Most of the carpet manufacturers recommend hiring a Carpet Cleaning Company that is IICRC certified because they know how to clean your carpets professionally. IICRC Certified Carpet cleaning technician is trained and educated in carpet cleaning techniques. They know how to do professional spot cleaning as well as cleaning.

We’re certified, and it takes around a week to go through the training and learn what to do. When You have a Professional Carpet Cleaning Company at home you should also ask the if they have training on area rugs. If they do also have them to clean your area rugs.

If they don’t Hire a Professional Oriental Rug Cleaning Company to clean those area rugs you have on your high traffic areas.

Also, when you hire a professional, I always recommend to go ahead and get fiber protector. That’s our other tip for you. Having protector, it makes your carpet last longer, it cleans much easier the next time when you’re vacuuming, it’s much easier ’cause the protector works as an invisible shield that it gets around your fibers and the soil won’t embed into the fibers.

Change You Furnace Air Filter

It’s important to remember that you have to change the air filters in your furnace. Why do you need to change the air filters? Very simple. The dust that is in your house, it goes through and returns back through the vents. The Air filter is the tool in between. It’s, it’s what collects all the dust. Having good and clean filters, it helps to collet all that dust that you have everywhere. Dust, as I mentioned, work as sandpaper on the carpeting. It sands down.

When you walk on dusty hardwood floors or tile, you can feel, and many times you hear how it’s scratching your floors. Having a clean home, it helps to extend the life of your carpeting.

I hope my tips help you to extend and maintain your carpets. And if you have any questions, please leave a comment on this video or article. If you need any assistance with the maintenance of your flooring you can contact us at 502-365-6779 for a Free Consultation and Quote.

Keeping up with your Indoor Air Quality could be a challenge. The Air Quality inside of your home can be between two and five times more polluted than the outdoor air. If you add that we spend mostly 90% of our time in our homes, that makes Indoor Air Quality a major concern for many of our customers. Everyday we receive questions like: How can I improve the indoor air quality in my home? How can I reduce the pollution in my home? What do you recommend to reduce allergies?

To keep your family healthy and reduce the pollution inside of your home, there are many things you can do. You need to make sure your house is well ventilated. These eleven tips are only a few simple steps you can follow that will help you.

Tips to improve indoor air quality and allergies.

• First, if you are a smoker, we recommend lighting up your cigar outside. Cigars are very harmful; never allow anybody to smoke inside your house. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke, which means the cigar smoke will affect you the same as if you smoke. What happens when you smoke inside is that nicotine odor gets stuck on your walls, causing a strong odor which is one of the biggest causes of poor indoor air quality. If someone in your house suffers from asthma or allergies, this odor will only make everything worse for them. That is why we recommend not smoking inside.
• Another important tip is to change your air filter. We all know we have to change the air filter every two or three months, but sometimes we just forget to do it. If you change the air filter monthly, this will help keep your air ducts clean, and the air will be cleaner. Also, because the filters are clean, the unit will work more efficiently and last longer. We recommend checking your air filter every month, and if you see there is a lot of dust, go ahead and change it. You will notice the difference.
• Air duct cleaning is something that you should not overlook. The air ducts can trap a lot of dust and dirt. If your house is older than 10 years, we recommend you call a professional air duct cleaning company, like ours, to inspect your vents and do the cleaning. If you want to know what signs to look for, go to your return vents, which are the longest and usually placed on the bottom close to the floors. If they are dusty, you should call a professional to inspect and clean them.
• Next, get an air purifier if you have allergies. The Air Purifier or (Air Scrubber) is designed to pull in the air in your house, and this machine has a HEPA filter that will completely trap dust and pollutants in the air, expelling only clean air. The air will be purified, and you will be breathing fresh and clean air.
• HEPA filters for your vacuum and air scrubber are another important tip, especially if you have allergies. The HEPA filter is the most powerful filter to trap pollutants, dust, pet dander, etc. If you are concerned about your allergies, before purchasing a vacuum cleaner, make sure it comes with a HEPA filter; this will help you clean more of the air.
• Another tip is to vacuum more often, at least twice a week. In carpet construction, we have the backing of the carpet and the fibers. Fibers on the carpet work as a filter. They trap all the dust, and by vacuuming, you are removing all the dust and pet dander from your carpet. Sometimes we think hardwood floors are better for people with allergies. Unfortunately, that is not accurate. Hard surfaces don’t help with allergies because all the dust is in the air; hard surfaces cannot trap dust, so you will end up breathing that dust.
• Hire a professional carpet cleaning service and have your carpet cleaned professionally within 18 months.
• Do a spring or fall cleaning: Regular cleaning keeps your house in good shape but is not as deep as a spring or fall cleaning. We recommend doing one of those. By doing so, you collect all the dust that is deposited every day on areas that are not cleaned regularly. If you move your furniture, you will see what we are talking about. Move the furniture, clean baseboards, and you will be impressed with all the dust you will find.
• Bathe your pets. This is another very important tip. Pets, like humans, have dead cells in their skin. By giving your pets a bath or brushing them, you are removing pet dander. Controlling pet dander will help reduce asthma and allergies too.
• Keep the humidity low. By keeping the humidity level between 30 and 50 percent, you will help improve indoor air quality. If the humidity goes above 50 percent, there is a good chance that mold will grow in dark places. Having low humidity will keep the risk of mold low. Try to keep it down; a dehumidifier can help.
• Our last tip is to open your windows. If you think the air quality outside is worse than the air inside, it probably isn’t. We recommend checking the weather and air quality in your area and opening windows and doors. If you are painting, opening windows and doors will be the only way to remove that strong odor.

Improving air quality can be frustrating if you don’t know what to do, but if you follow these simple tips, you will notice the difference. Your house will be less dusty, and your lungs will feel much better. We hope this helps, and if you have any questions about our Air Duct Cleaning Service, give us a call at 502-365-6779.

You can contact Rodriguez Cleaning and Restoration if you need any cleaning service.

Rugs are Valuable Pieces of Art

Rugs are valuable pieces of art that we live on, and to keep them looking good and lasting for many years, proper maintenance and care are essential. Proper care ensures your investment in oriental area rugs is protected.

Do You Need Padding for Your Oriental Area Rugs?

If you are purchasing new rugs or have existing ones, it’s essential to use a pad underneath them. A pad prevents your rug from sliding around, which can cause premature wear and wrinkles that damage its appearance. Using a pad helps your rug retain its original and new look for much longer.

Regular Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your oriental area rug involves a few simple steps:

Rotate Your Oriental Area Rugs Regularly

Over time, traffic patterns or sunlight can cause fading or uneven wear on your rug. To prevent this, rotate the rug every 4 to 6 months. This ensures even wear and fading.

Vacuuming Your Area Rugs and Carpets

Vacuuming is the best way to remove dry soil and dirt from your rugs. During the first year, vacuum your rugs two to three times a week to remove excess fuzz, a normal byproduct of the weaving process. After the first year, adjust vacuuming frequency based on traffic. For high traffic or homes with pets, vacuum daily. Be cautious with the fringe areas to avoid damage.

Spot Clean Any Spills on Your Oriental Area Rugs

Address spills immediately. Avoid rubbing the spot as it can cause the fibers to absorb the liquid, leading to staining. Instead, blot with a white paper towel, applying pressure to absorb the liquid. Never walk on a damp area as it can distort the pile. Speed up drying with a fan or hair dryer if needed.

Professional Oriental Area Rug Cleaning

Professional cleaning is essential to maintain your rug’s warranty and extend its life. Professionals can dust off dry soil and remove spots effectively. Their equipment and solutions restore and enhance the rug’s color.

How Often Should I Clean My Area Rugs?

According to the IICRC, cleaning frequency depends on usage:

• Light Soil Rug: Vacuumed weekly, minimal traffic. Clean every two years or as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Normal Soil Rug: Moderate traffic, vacuumed weekly. Clean annually for restorative care.
• Heavy Soil Rug: High traffic or homes with pets. Vacuumed multiple times a week. Clean twice a year.

How to Find a Professional Area Rug Cleaning Company?

Choose a reputable cleaning company knowledgeable about different rug fibers and appropriate solutions. Avoid in-home cleaning to prevent damage. Ask questions and ensure the company explains their process. Remember, quality service is worth the investment.

By following these tips, you can keep your rugs looking their best for many years. For assistance with rug cleaning, contact us.

Call Rodriguez For a Free Estimate: 502-365-6779