The Inevitable Thanksgiving Carpet Mess, And The Solution!

It is inevitable that during Thanksgiving someone, probably Uncle Eddie, will spill some wine on your carpet or furniture. There are some stains you hardly have to worry about right away and then there are those that need to be taken care of right away. Red wine stains would be in the latter category.

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!

Thanksgiving Is Here!

Thanksgiving is already next week. The summer months have wound down, vacations are but a memory and the kids are getting ready for snow. If you have been procrastinating with home projects because we have had such nice weather, it’s time to get back to work, beginning with preparing your house for the colder fall weather. Trust me it’s coming.  The following tasks should definitely go on your fall to-do list.

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!

Learning To Clean Efficiently!

Learn how to clean efficiently! Check out the Clean House Guide for more information on how to clean fast and furious.

• 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.

Keeping Your Carpet (And House) Clean With Kids

When you have children, it can be hard to keep the house clean, but one part of the house that takes a direct hit is the carpet.

Kids are notorious for tracking in a variety of messes and the carpet – no matter its color or previous condition – suffers because of it. But there are some things you can do to help kids and clean carpets live in harmony.

First, have a no-shoes policy. It’s become more and more common for people to take their shoes off as soon as they enter someone’s house, or even before. Don’t worry about what people will think. Be firm about this rule, and apply it evenly to adults and children so you don’t discriminate.

By making sure shoes aren’t worn in the house, you are also ensuring that the carpets get spared from whatever might be on someone’s shoes, like oil, dirt or grass. If you feel uncomfortable asking guests to remove shoes, you can offer them a pair of slippers from a basket near your door.

Second, don’t assume that if the kids are running around the house in socks, that’s fine for the carpets. Some kids will run outside in their socks, and then come back in house. Their socks are now as dirty as a shoe might be. Check the bottoms of the kid’s socks periodically and if they are dirty, make them change their socks.

Vacuum often, as in just about every day. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, vacuuming does not wear down the carpet, but actually benefits the carpet. Do it often to keep the dirt from soaking into the fibers (making it very hard to get clean). If there are stains on the carpet, you’re more likely to see them when vacuuming the carpet (when you’re looking directly at it) than when you’re walking all over it. Then you can deal with the stains as you see them and before they become harder to get out.

Finally, get your carpets cleaned regularly. Many people wait until they see dirt and stains to clean their carpets, but cleaning them before you see the dirt is a better idea. Your carpet, which is a big investment, will last longer. Experts recommend getting carpets cleaned about every 6 months, when you do your regular heavy cleaning.
If you follow these steps, you can have light colored carpet, pets and children and all can live peacefully together.

Emergency Services

In the event of an emergency, our response crews can be on site in less than an hour to mitigate further damage, whether it is from fire, wind, flood or smoke. We Answer Our Phones 24/7. Emergencies don’t just happen during normal work hours. No matter if you are a fire department, a glass company, an insurance claim adjuster, or property owner – when disaster strikes you can trust Teasdale Fenton with your emergency needs. The last thing an owner needs in a tragedy is more hassle, headaches and confusion, which is why we bill the insurance company directly – completely removing any financial worries for the owner. We have approved pricing from insurance companies and know how to work symbiotically with insurance agents and claims adjusters to achieve a positive result for the owner. When it comes to fire damage and water damage restoration, Teasdale Fenton is the name to trust.

We Provide:

• Emergency Board Up
• Emergency Water Removal
• Temporary Roofing
• Structural Stabilization
• Structural Drying
• Temporary Fencing
• Winterization
• Generators
• Fire Related Electrical
• Fire Related Plumbing

Carpet Cleaning

Whether your carpet and upholstery cleaning needs are residential or commercial, Teasdale Fenton assures you of the highest quality standards in the industry. Our uniformed, trained technicians will use the best cleaning process for your particular carpet. They will effectively remove soil without over wetting, while treating your possessions with the utmost care. Our IICRC certified firm and technicians have many years experience. They will do their best to clean your carpets and fabrics, eliminate your pet odors, or handle your water damage.

Teasdale Fenton is locally owned and operated and uses the most advanced cleaning methods available, giving us the ability to pass on greater savings to you, while exceeding expectations on every visit. Teasdale Fenton is your full service carpet cleaning and water restoration service. Our technicians are employees, NOT contractors; they are trained and properly marked with Teasdale Fenton Carpet Cleaning and Restoration vehicles and uniforms.

carpet cleaning truckWe are the area’s top choice in professional steam cleaning. Our highly trained technicians understand that every carpet is different – so we know the perfect solution to your unique carpet problems. We’ll take a walk-through with you of the parts of your home or business that you’d like cleaned, and make sure we know where the high-traffic areas are and any other information you need for us to know.