Windows

Every summer, you should clean your outside windows, screens, and shutters. It is necessary to remove the screens before cleaning the screens and windows, but it is not necessary to remove the shutters. Always use a broom to remove spider webs and dirt before using water. Be careful of possible bee, wasp, or hornet nests.

If you have a large number of windows or a two-story house, you should buy a window washing mixture that hooks onto your garden hose and makes the job much easier.

Decks & Driveways

The beginning of summer is a great time to do these once-a-year cleaning jobs. Don’t use a heavy duty power washer. They can be dangerous, and they can destroy your deck and driveway. For outdoor decks, use a diluted mixture of TSP or deck cleaner (available at home improvement stores), then use a push broom or stiff brush to scrub the deck clean. Be sure to rinse the deck well. For asphalt driveways, use 1 scoop of laundry detergent in one gallon of water. For concrete driveways, use 1/4 cup dishwashing detergent to 1 gallon of water. Scrub with a push broom, then rinse thoroughly.

Grease stains can be treated with kitty litter or dry cement left to absorb the stain and then swept away. You can also use a commercial grease remover.

Lawn Mower

At the end of summer, you should completely clean your lawn mower and prepare it for storage. Never turn a lawn mower completely over. Use a block to prop it on its side. Somewhere on the lawnmower, it should tell you in which direction to lean the mower.

Drain any remaining gas and oil from the machine. Some machines have drains, and others have to be tipped to be drained from where you fill the oil or gas. Drain into an approved container for oil or gas, and then take to an oil-change place and ask them to properly dispose of the old oil and/or gas. Spray the underside of the lawn mower with a hose. Let it dry before storage to prevent rust.

Air Conditioning Units

Window units should be thoroughly cleaned at the end of the season. Unplug the unit and take off the front cover (on the inside). You can gently vacuum the coils with a brush vacuum attachment. Clean the filter for the last time of the season.

If you have a central air-conditioning unit, you should turn off the power to the unit, check the outside for any debris, spray it down with a hose, and then cover the unit. Purchase and attach an outside cover to protect the unit from the elements during fall and winter.

The Pantry

It’s time to sort through your pantry (summer and winter), throwing away whatever has gone bad or won’t be used. This doesn’t have to be a big job. Just drag over a big trash can and get started.

Pay attention to “Use By” dates. If the date hasn’t passed but is coming up and you’re not going to use the item, toss it. You should throw away any cans that are dented or are missing labels.

Mattresses

Twice a year (summer and winter), you should clean all of the mattresses in the house to keep dust mites under control.

Vacuum the top of the mattress, move the mattress and vacuum the box springs, then flip the mattress and vacuum the new top of the mattress. For further protection from dust mites, add a hypo-allergenic mattress pad and wash your sheets in hot water.

Luggage

Whether or not you travel in the summer, it’s a good time to clean and air out your luggage. Clean the outside with a diluted mild cleanser (leather should be cleaned with a commercial leather cleaner). If the inside has a musty smell or possible mildew problem, clean it with a vinegar-water solution (1:5). Let it air dry for several days.

It’s a good idea to air out your luggage for a few days whether there’s a musty smell or not. Before putting the luggage away for storage, toss a fabric softener dryer sheet into the closed bag, especially if you don’t use the luggage often.

Water Heater

Once a year, you should drain and flush your water heater. This cleans out all the sediment from the bottom of your water heater. It makes your unit run more efficiently and last longer. This can be a big job, depending on the size of your tank and where it is located in your home.

Because you are dealing with electricity (or gas) and potential flooding, it is worth calling in a professional. If you’re an ambitious do-it-yourselfer, it’s not a difficult job. Remember to turn off the electricity and then turn off the water before you begin. Turn the water back on first when you’re done. The tank should not have electrical current if it is empty.

Vents and Registers

If you have a central air-conditioning unit, you should clean the vents and registers at the end of the season. This means actually removing the registers. You should be able to vacuum both sides. If there’s caked on dirt from condensation mixing with dust, you can use a damp cloth to clean it.

If anyone in your home suffers from allergies, you might also consider using calling Teasdale Fenton for a professional Duct Cleaning.

Courtesy of :  Mrs. Clean

FIRST IF YOUR BASEMENT IS LEAKING REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE CALL US IMMEDIATELY SO THE DAMAGE CAN BE MITAGATED (513) 325-4117!!!

If a leak is the source of your problem, have it fixed first, Teasdale Fenton has a waterproofing division that can solve this problem for you.

If you have standing water on the floor of your basement after a heavy rain then it is likely from a leak in the foundation.

Clean rain gutter and redirect downspout runoff away from the foundation.

Make sure the ground around the house slopes down away from the foundation. If necessary, re-grade so the ground does slopes away.

If you have a sump pump, make sure it is working properly.

If you have water stains on the ceiling or wall under or near a bathroom it could be a leak from a water pipe, toilet, bathtub or shower. Hire a plumber to repair the leak.

If the leak has caused substantial water damage or mold you will want to call Teasdale Fenton as we specialize in mold remediation and water damage repairs.

The main thing is don’t wait!  The problem will only get worse!  (513) 325-4117

Did you know:  St. Patrick was not Irish! His dad was Italian, his mother was Scottish and he was born in Scotland.  On the average day, 5.5 million pints of Guinness are consumed around the world.  That number more than doubles on St. Patrick’s Day, with more than 13 million pints going down the hatch.  The beloved McDonald’s Shamrock Shake, introduced in 1970, is not available nationwide.

You can see great results anywhere in your home: bathroom floors, showers and tubs, kitchen floors, entryways, tiled halls, sunrooms, countertops, and more. Build up from shampoos, soap and dirt tend to stick like glue to tiled surfaces.

Because tiles are typically used in spaces that are steamy, wet or moist the majority of the time, mold and mildew are also a common problem. Our technicians can get rid of most of these problems.

We recommend getting your grout sealed after it has been cleaned. This provides extra protection on your grout that will make it resistant to spills, stains, and keeping the grout and the surface looking clean longer.

Whether your tile is in your kitchen, bathroom, or some other area of your home, those stubborn stains, embedded bacteria, and germs don’t stand a chance. Your tile and grout will look very much as it did the day it was installed.

To schedule an appointment or for more information give us a call  Cincinnati:  513.797.0900  Dayton:  937.434.4800

Now after the tree is taken down and the kids are back in school, you realize that you are a proud owner of a dog. With that realization, as you ready know, that dog will never be able to clean up after itself.

General Rule of Thumb with pet cleaning
A cleaner pet means a cleaner house. Bath and brush your pets regularly to minimize the amount of pet hair and pet dander, and to help with stinky dog smells.

Removing pet hair
On carpeting, use a vacuum with a good beater brush or brush roll. Plain vacuums don’t generate sufficient lift to pick up all the pet hair from the floor.
Invest in a “pet rake”, a brush with crimped nylon bristles, for speedier removal of pet hair from fabrics and upholstery.

Lifting stains
You have already experienced that the bundle of joy is going to pee and poop everywhere. To remove a pet urine stain, dilute the spot using a cloth dampened with water. Then, clean the area with an acid solution consisting of one quart water mixed with one teaspoon white vinegar.

Stomach trouble
What happens when your new pet digs in the garbage and starts to throw up? This cleanup may be trickier. The extremely acidic nature of vomit can cause the acid dyes in the carpet to move, permanently damaging the carpet. That’s why it’s essential to neutralize or at least dilute the acid as quickly as possible to minimize damage. To bring the carpet back to a neutral pH:
• Treat the affected area using a professional carpet detergent.
• Rinse the area with clean hot water.
• Extract the soiled solutions away from the carpet.

Short term
For most of us these are short-term problems. Eventually your dog will get potty trained and you will only have to deal with the occasional accident, when you don’t let him out.

Long term
For pet owners, we suggest that you get your carpets professionally cleaned at least twice a year. This will keep your carpets clean from dirty paws and general wear and tear caused by pets.

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There’s a practical reason for cleaning your furniture. Keeping upholstered furniture clean will increase the life of the fabrics, in addition, the steam and hot water kills dust mites and many common allergens that may be trapped in your furniture.

Almost all of our customers marvel over how Teasdale Fenton upholstery cleaning service restores the beauty and vibrant colors of the furniture pieces. “I forgot that was the color of that chair,” is a typical response.

It’s not quite as easy to clean your furniture as it is your carpet. Upholstered furniture uses more varied materials and methods of manufacture than carpet. One upholstery cleaning process will not work to clean all upholstered furniture. Special characteristics such as color fastness and dimensional stability of the fabric must be considered. For some items steam cleaning is best, while others require dry cleaning methods. At Teasdale Fenton, we will provide the cleaning process that’s right for your particular upholstered surface, whether fabric or leather. In all cases Teasdale Fenton gets your upholstery deep down clean and fresh.

We are confident that you will be thrilled with the results, but we don’t stop there, Teasdale Fenton’s upholstery cleaning and deodorizing service comes with a full satisfaction guarantee.

As you unpack them, it is time to throw away those old brown cardboard boxes from 1989.  This is especially important if you are storing the boxes in a place where moisture can get to them, like an attic or basement.

Moisture poses the biggest threat to ruining items that you store seasonally. After cleaning 1000’s of water emergencies, the one thing we know about water is it will find exactly what you don’t want it to find, like your valuables.  Paper boxes offer no resistance to this moisture.

We suggest that you do the following steps for storing seasonal items, important papers, and valuables.  Put items in waterproof plastic bins and totes.  Place packets of silica gel desiccant in the bins to further absorb moisture if storing in the basement and attic. Lastly, raise items off the floor with wooden pallets or plastic crates.

Your Holiday decorations deserve more than tattered boxes, go get some plastic totes for when you pack them back up in January.  Hopefully this will help preserve them for generations to come.

Things you’ll need to clean a red wine stain:

• Landry detergent, laundry pretreatment or dish soap
• Clean sponge
• Washing machine
• Paper towels
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Towel or washcloth

Rules of Thumb:

1. Blot the stain immediately with paper towels, be sure use white paper towels so it does not cause more stains. DO NOT RUB THE STAIN IT MAY MAKE IT WORSE!
2. Combine 1 teaspoon laundry soap or pretreatment (or dish soap, like Dawn) and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Soak a clean sponge in the mixture, squeeze it halfway dry, and then gently blot the stain.
3. If possible place a dry towel or washcloth between where the stain has not penetrated through to the back of the fabric. This will prevent staining on the back of the material.
4. Review the washing instructions on the label of the fabric. Heed any special care instructions. They are NOT KIDDING.
5. If no instructions a good rule of thumb is to wash in cool water and air dry if the fabric is machine-washable.
6. Wash gently in the sink with a mild detergent if the fabric is hand-wash only.
   Remember Teasdale Fenton is always here to help!

Teasdale Fenton’s 7-steps for Fall House Prep

1.       Climb your ladder to see what’s in your gutters. Check your gutters for leaves and debris that have collected over the past few months. You should do this job periodically throughout the fall season, since now is the time when all your beautiful trees are shedding their leaves.
2.       Replace your screens. With the weather becoming cooler, you need to remove your screens from all windows and doors and replace them with storm windows. By taking the time to do this simple job, you cut your heating costs significantly by preventing cool breezes and cold drafts from entering your home.
3.       Call out the heating professionals. It may not seem necessary to you because your heating system is working well, but every year, a heating professional should check your furnace. By taking this preventative measure and making minor fixes now, you can avoid expensive repair jobs in the future.
4.       Change the furnace filter. This very important job helps maximize the efficiency with which your furnace runs. You can do this periodically throughout the year as well.
5.       Schedule an appointment with the chimney sweep. If you’re in the habit of taking advantage of cozy fires during the winter, you need to have your chimney cleaned by a certified professional every year. Not having your chimney clean  before winter use increases the chance of chimney fires due to the buildup of creosote and soot.
6.       Add weather stripping where necessary. After you install all of your storm windows, do your own inspection of all windows and doors to check for problem areas. Repair any damage and apply weather stripping or caulk to seal up any gaps.
7.       Pest-proof your house. Take the time to thoroughly check the outside of your house for any areas that provide entry for mice, raccoons and the like. These little guys are looking for a warm place to bunk this winter, and unless you plan on charging them rent, you don’t want them in your house.
8.       Clean your carpets to get ready for the holidays!

• Focus on public rooms: living room, family room, entryway, guest bath.
• Clean from top to bottom. Vacuum drapes and window treatments. Clean window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards and corners.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it.
• Wash interior windows.
• Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
• Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters. Tuck the family into a warm and cozy winter bed.
• Schedule professional carpet cleaning early this month! Warm October afternoons speed carpet drying. Carpet cleaning firms get busy by the end of October, so schedule now for best service.
• Prepare the kitchen for holiday cooking. Clean and organized kitchen cabinets, paying particular attention to baking supplies, pans and equipment.
• Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not used within the last week. Clear counters look cleaner–and provide more room for holiday cooking.
• Pull refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.
• Wash light-diffusing bowls from light fixtures.
• Inspect each appliance. Does it need supplies? Stock up on softener salt now, and avoid staggering over icy sidewalks with heavy bags.
• Check and empty the central vacuum’s collection area.
• Clean electronic air cleaner elements monthly for most efficient operation. Wash them in an empty dishwasher (consult manual for specific product recommendations).
• Clean or replace humidifier elements before the heating season begins.
• Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
• Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds’ nests! Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
• Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don’t wait for the first cold night!
• Buy a winter’s supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings and indoor comfort. When the right filter is on hand, it’s an easy job!
• Drain sediment from hot water heaters.