How to: Cleaning Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) Orange County, ca

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Vinyl composition tile (VCT) often found in the corridors of offices, schools and hospitals, can be kept shiny day in and day out by utilizing a professional floor cleaning company. Trying to clean VCT without knowing the proper processes and or using the wrong chemicals or cleaning processes can turn VCT floor coverings into a dull and grimy looking surface.

 

For example, it is important to use a neutral cleaner, with a ph of 7, mixed no more than 1 oz per gallon of water for daily maintenance of the floor. Making the mistake of using a high alkaline cleaner or degreaser will dull the finish. It’s also important to know that new VCT floors must be scrubbed and coated with a minimum of 4 coats of floor finish. Keep in mind that entryways, lobbies, and other high traffic areas especially on entrance levels may require more frequent cleaning than lower traffic areas of the building. These types of areas may require additional maintenance or extra coats of protection.

 

It’s also important to know that VCT manufacturers coat their product with one thin coat of an acrylic finish for protection during shipping and storage. Because this coating provides no gloss and minimal protection from foot traffic, your tile must be scrubbed and coated with an generous amount of floor finish. Be sure to take note that newly installed flooring should not be scrubbed for two weeks to allow the mastic adequate time to bond. Cleaning or polishing too early and you risk damaging the flooring.

 

Keep in mind that entryways, lobbies, and other high traffic areas especially on entrance levels may require more frequent cleaning than lower traffic areas of the building. These types of areas may require additional maintenance or extra coats of protection.

 

Between professional cleanings, VCT maintenance is the key to a long, attractive life for commercial VCT flooring. Be sure to utilize walk off mats and keep up with regular maintenance procedures such as: sweeping and mopping to protect not only the floor but the building owners investment.

 

Floor care is not particularly complicated, but it does demand strict adherence to certain procedures. Hiring an experienced professional floor cleaning company that specializes in VCT cleaning can help you avoid undesirable results and keep your floors covering looking shiny and new.

 

Finding a VCT cleaning expert is easy if you’re located in the Los Angeles Area. Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning  is a family owned and operated business who are proud to serve the entire Orange County, Huntington beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine Cities. They are fully insured and are members of the Better Business Bureau, Business Network International and The Orange County Chamber Of Commerce. Pacific  VCT floor Services prides themselves on being on time, providing exceptional service, and doing what they say they will do. All for one price guaranteed.

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Carpet cleaning methods: Steam Carpet Cleaning vs. dry cleaning, Orange County, CA

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The time has come. Despite your best efforts, years of stains, grit and grime have accumulated in your carpet. You finally decided to get it thoroughly cleaned, but how do you know which carpet cleaning method to pick? Steam cleaning a dry cleaning is both popular methods for cleaning carpets, but does one have an advantage over the other?

The myth of the steam clean

In the steam clean versus dry clean debate, it’s important to clear up the myth that “steam” is actually used to clean your carpets. While home and commercial machines use hot water, which gives off some steam, steam itself does not clean your carpet. Instead, a detergent is sprayed onto your carpet. Hot water activates the detergent on the carpet fibers — alkaline for synthetic carpets and acidic for wool or natural fiber carpets. A wet-vac is then used to suck up the bulk of the water on the floor.

Home steam cleaning products

There are many types of steam machines available for home purchase or rent. Home models typically rely on hot tap water to get the job done, while those rented from a hardware or grocery store may have a heating element. Both types operate the same way: You place a cleaning solution in the machine, move it slowly and methodically over your carpet, then suck up and dump out the water. Once cleaned, your carpets are not usable for a period — usually between 12 and 24 hours — while the remaining water dries. One issue with the steam method is the shrinking of the carpet when leftover water dries; however, unless your carpet is made entirely of natural, untreated fibers, this will not be a problem.

The case for commercial steam cleaners

You can also hire professional carpet cleaners to come and steam clean your flooring. They will often use a more highly powered machine or one attached to a vehicle. These systems operate on the same principle as at-home systems but are much more powerful, allowing them to force more detergent into the carpet and suck up more water. They are faster than home systems and have a shorter drying time.

Dry cleaning carpets

The other option available is dry cleaning. This method of carpet cleaning uses dry chemical compounds that are placed on a carpet and break down whatever soil or particulate matter they find. The name of this cleaning method is also misleading because they use a small amount of moisture in the form of application solutions, which complement the dry compounds used. Dry cleaning offers the advantage of time; floors can be used again almost instantly after cleaning is complete. Dry cleaning compounds are often used in industrial and retail settings for this reason.

Pros and cons

Steam cleaning your carpet yourself means you need only hot water, a rented machine and detergent. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait between 12 and 24 hours to walk on your carpet again. Ground-in stains typically reappear in the first few days after cleaning. Commercial solutions can eliminate some of these problems, but there are certain stains — pet stains or chemical stains, for example — that require multiple treatments or cannot be removed.

Dry cleaning, meanwhile, offers the advantage of almost no drying time and an effective cleaning through chemical agents and application solutions. The chemicals used, however, can often be harsh, and homeowners are advised to speak with a commercial cleaning company about the products they use and any strong odors they may have.

 

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5 tips for upholstery cleaning in Orange County, CA

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If you want to clean your upholstery, you face a variety of options in cleaning methods and products. If you’re not likely to use your own upholstery-cleaning equipment and products at least twice a year, it’s probably a better value to rent equipment or hire a professional. Here’s what to know:

Tags

To find out whether renting or purchasing a steam cleaner is your best option, always check your upholstery tags. Here’s an explanation of what the tag codes mean:

W: Use a water-based detergent.

S: Use a water-free product.

WS: You can use either a water-based cleaner or a water-free cleaner, depending on the type of stain.

X: This upholstery fabric must be professionally cleaned.

Even after you’ve checked upholstery tags, always test a small area of fabric before applying any type of cleanser to the entire piece of furniture.

Stain types

Steam upholstery cleaners work well for stains from organic materials such as dirt, urine, wine and coffee. Though stubborn stains will require repeated cleaning, steam cleaning is effective for theses types of stains. Any others may require specific chemical-based cleaners.

Equipment

When it comes to choosing upholstery cleaning equipment, consider ease of use. Some machines are heavy and require considerable physical effort, but lightweight options are also available. Along with the weight of the machine, review the attachments; many newer machines are fitted with a number of special attachments designed to make cleaning easier.

Cleanser

Be aware of what type of cleanser each machine uses. You may need several bottles for bigger jobs, and some brands can be  expensive, around $200 to $500. Some renters of upholstery cleaning machines will insist their machines only work with (and that you purchase), their own brand of cleaner; others will recommend generic or even homemade cleaning products.

So it’s helpful to note how expensive the cleanser for a particular machine is, and how easy it is to obtain, before you rent or purchase. Consider a non-toxic cleanser if you have allergies or asthma, and especially if there are pets or children in your household.

Cleaning methods

Two factors that determine the best choice of service for your upholstery type and the type of stain you most frequently encounter. While steam cleaning is appropriate for most synthetic fibers, natural materials like leather and suede require a dry-cleaning process with a water-free cleanser. Applying water to these natural fabrics may cause them to shrink.

For more information about cleaning your furniture, see the Upholstey Cleaning pag on www.pacificcarpetcleaning.net

When you want your upholstery cleaned, consider how we can help. You have access to our local costomer reviews on our upholstery cleaning customers

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Cleaning Your Travertine Floors in Orange County, CA

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Cleaning Your Travertine Floors

If you are wondering how to clean travertine floors on your own, you would want to start off by dusting or using a cloth to remove pet hair, dirt, and rocks that you might trail in from the outside.  All of these things can damage the finish of your flooring, therefore is extremely important to remove this debris frequently.

Another way to prevent debris from entering your home is to put down mats or a pretty rug at the entrance of your home and at any door leading to the outside.  You would also want to make sure that when people come into your home they remove their shoes eliminating them from tracking dust, dirt and debris inside your home and scuffing up your floors.

The next step in keeping your travertine floor looking like new is to use a neutralized cleaner especially created for natural stone, that you can either pick up at your local hardware store, or you can get from the contractor that installed your flooring.  Abrasive cleaning products can damage the natural stone tile and ruin whatever finish was on them to protect them.

If you aren’t able to obtain the neutralize cleaner you can take a little bit of liquidity dishwashing detergent and mix it with warm water and use that solution to clean your floors.  But, no matter what you use be sure not to put too much cleaner into the water.  Doing so can create a film over the floor and will make it looked worn and dull.

Should you accidentally use abrasive cleaner, or a product containing bleach, you will definitely need to seek professional help.  The damage done by these cleaners cannot be scrubbed away. It would be a travesty to mar the beauty of your floor with these cleaners.

Learning how to clean travertine tiles takes a bit of extra time but most consumers quickly learn what the proper procedure is and they are able to enjoy their stone tiles for many decades.

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Most cost effective Cleaning & Marble Polishing in Orange County, CA

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The Most cost effective Cleaning & Marble Polishing in Orange County, CA

At  $1.00 per Square Foot, Marble Floor Polishing can be performed using many methods and procedures. But there is only one method that will make a polish last and is safe for your floor. Advanced Stone Restoration uses the most advanced method of natural polishing. We do not use waxes, topical coatings, crystallization, or vitrification methods.

In order to polish any natural stone, an evaluation is needed to determine the proper procedure. Most marble floors lose their shine by abrasion (i.e. foot traffic, dirt, debris, etc.), etching (i.e. acidic spills – from fruit drinks, vinegar, shoyu, pasta sauce, etc.), and scratches (i.e. moving furniture, equipment, and so forth).

Upon evaluation of the damage or wear, our stone specialist can determine what starting grit for resurfacing is needed before polishing. The more damage which needs to be rectified, the more steps are needed to attain a high shine with excellent clarity. Naturally, this reflects on the price to perform work.

Beware of companies that claim they can polish floors at a cheap price. Most times they do not resurface before polishing or are using an unsafe method which does not last. Their customers end up with shiny scratches and stains or a topical coating. Not to mention an uneven shine with bad clarity. Floors not properly refinished collect more dust & debris which causes abrasion. This leads to a polish that does not last.

Only an experienced stone specialist is able to identify problems and have corrective answers. So ask as many questions as possible during the evaluation of your natural stone investment.

This case study displays a marble floor before, during, and after showing professional resurfacing and highly polished floor with a brilliant mirror-like shine.

To get your floors scratch & etch free – nice & shiny, give us a call to make an appointment for evaluation.

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Most cost effective Cleaning & Marble Polishing in Orange County, CA

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The Most cost effective Cleaning & Marble Polishing in Orange County, CA

At  $1.00 per Square Foot, Marble Floor Polishing can be performed using many methods and procedures. But there is only one method that will make a polish last and is safe for your floor. Advanced Stone Restoration uses the most advanced method of natural polishing. We do not use waxes, topical coatings, crystallization, or vitrification methods.

In order to polish any natural stone, an evaluation is needed to determine the proper procedure. Most marble floors lose their shine by abrasion (i.e. foot traffic, dirt, debris, etc.), etching (i.e. acidic spills – from fruit drinks, vinegar, shoyu, pasta sauce, etc.), and scratches (i.e. moving furniture, equipment, and so forth).

Upon evaluation of the damage or wear, our stone specialist can determine what starting grit for resurfacing is needed before polishing. The more damage which needs to be rectified, the more steps are needed to attain a high shine with excellent clarity. Naturally, this reflects on the price to perform work.

Beware of companies that claim they can polish floors at a cheap price. Most times they do not resurface before polishing or are using an unsafe method which does not last. Their customers end up with shiny scratches and stains or a topical coating. Not to mention an uneven shine with bad clarity. Floors not properly refinished collect more dust & debris which causes abrasion. This leads to a polish that does not last.

Only an experienced stone specialist is able to identify problems and have corrective answers. So ask as many questions as possible during the evaluation of your natural stone investment.

This case study displays a marble floor before, during, and after showing professional resurfacing and highly polished floor with a brilliant mirror-like shine.

To get your floors scratch & etch free – nice & shiny, give us a call to make an appointment for evaluation.

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The Most Affordable Commercial Carpet Cleaning in Orange County, CA

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The Most Affordable Commercial Carpet Cleaning in Orange County, CA

·  4-Step Process

We achieve the truest deep clean with our 4-step process: pre-spray, agitate, re-spray and rinse.

·  Quick Dry

Our powerful extraction system allows carpet to dry within a couple of hours, not days.

·  Trained Technicians

Certified in approved methods of cleaning and revitalizing commercial flooring.

·  80 % Commercial Only

Locally recognized service provider that focuses 80% on commercial/Retail accounts.

·  24-Hour Follow-up

We make contact within 24 hours after service to ensure satisfaction.

 

Experience the benefits of advanced floor cleaning technology.

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How To Clean Marble Floors in Orange County, Ca

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How To Clean Marble Floors

Cleaning marble and travertine floors is not as complicated as some make it out to be. The article referenced below apparently has been composed by someone that truly has not much experience with cleaning marble and travertine floors. For purposes of this article we can forgo the composition of the stone.

The first major error in the article is where the instruct you to clean with a “non-abrasive industrial detergents.” True the stone cleaner should be non-abrasive but that is not the whole story. Improper routine maintenance in cleaning marble and travertine floors is the single greatest cause of marble and travertine degradation. More marble and travertine is damaged by improper care and maintenance than any other influencing factor, including stone quality. These maintenance oversights include:

Wet Mopping – Wet mopping is the single largest cause of “fill” loss, spalling (physical deterioration and pitting of the stone caused by water), and microbial growth (dark discoloration in pits, crevasses, and grout lines). Marble floors should NEVER be wet mopped with a string mop (or any other type, for that matter) – they should be swept frequently and thoroughly and damp-mopped with a sponge or microfiber mop, only.

Every time moisture penetrates the surface of your marble, it has both a physical and chemical affect on the stone – both are negative. Wet stone expands, drying stone contracts. Multiple cycles of expansion and contraction weaken both stone and fill areas, resulting in pitting and fill loss. Do you remember when your teacher called water the “universal solvent”? Enough said.

Use of Improper Cleaning Chemicals – I never cease to be amazed at the varied number and types of cleaning chemicals people (and their professional cleaning personnel) use on their marble floors. I’ve seen everything from vinegar and water (”that’s what my grandmother used”), to heavy-duty stone cleaners (”guy at the tile store said this was the strongest stuff they had”), and just about everything else in between. Recently we even had a client inform us that she read on the Internet that “cheap vodka” is a favored method of cleaning stone floors. WOW!

Rather than providing you a list of things you shouldn’t use in cleaning  travertine and marble floors (it’s a very large list), for the sake of brevity I give you the one solution you should use to routinely clean your travertine: a pH-neutral (-7), non-chelated cleaner specifically designed for natural stone. Nothing else. Ever. Period. (Yes, “nothing else” includes Swifters and Windex!) For those of you not familiar with chelates (pronounced kee’-lates), they are chemicals added to detergents and cleaners (including many routine stone cleaners) to “soften” the water by sequestering “hard water” minerals (such as calcium) from the detergent so it can clean more effectively. Sounds good, right? Wrong! Remember what your travertine is primarily composed of – calcium! Floors cleaned with chelated products look dull, drab, and lifeless. We highly recommend any pH-neutral (-7) cleaner.

The article also suggests you may apply a thin layer of wax for maximum protection. This is some of the very worst advice you could follow. The article cited is replete with bad information and just a sample of the misinformation that is on the Internet. In addition if you were to apply a wax coating or topical sealer stripping it off can become very costly. If your travertine or marble floor cleaning process is not effective you are bound to require some level of resurfacing performed by a competent professional.

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7 Tips on how to Protecting and Cleaning Travertine Stone Floors, Orange County, ca

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7 Tips on how to Protect and Clean & Polish Travertine Stone

 

 

Travertine, marble and limestone are all very similar in physical and chemical composition, so cleaning and care procedures are practically the same for all three types of stone. Let’s focus on travertine for a moment. Travertine is less dense, than granite for example, and is sensitive to acidic liquids such as wine, juice and coffee.A lot depends on the type of finish applied to the travertine. When a honed or tumbled finish is used, it is more susceptible to staining and dulling by “etching.” Because of its porosity it needs a sealer to guard against staining. Polished travertine is practically stain-resistant.

 

Following are 7 tips to help clean and protect your travertine architectural stone:

1. Test and seal the stone — If your home has travertine installed in the bath, kitchen, dining room, etc., and it has a honed or tumbled finish, check with your designer to make sure the stone was sealed. This will help in the event of a spill of red wine, cranberry juice or another aggressive agent, especially on countertops and floors.2. Wipe-up spills immediately — The stone is sensitive to things like tomato sauce, ketchup and certain carbonated beverages. It is best to clean up quickly using hot water and a stone cleaning product. Do not use vinegar, lemon or orange cleaning agents, bleach, ammonia or store-bought products that contain acids, alkalis or other chemicals when cleaning travertine stone.3. Dust mop a travertine floor — Use a clean non-treated, dry dust mop regularly and then once a week use a wet mop with hot water and a specially formulated stone cleaning agent. It is best not to vacuum stone flooring as the machine can create chips and cracks.4. Protect and cover — Door mats and carpet runners should be used to help keep foot traffic from bringing in dirt and elements that will damage the travertine. For countertops and baths, use coasters for all drinks and decorative trays to protect the travertine from cosmetics and bath products like colognes, perfumes, oils, soaps and other toiletries. Prevention is the best remedy when it comes to maintaining travertine stone.

 

5. Poultices for stubborn stains — If the travertine gets stained and you can’t fix the problem through the normal cleaning procedures; a poultice may be the solution. Create a paste by combining a formulated stone cleaner with baking powder. Smooth this over the stain and cove with a clear plastic wrap. Let it stand for several days and the poultice will slowly draw the stain out. Remove the poultice with warm water and buff with a cotton cloth or chamois.6. Deep stains — In the case of a serious stain that has penetrated the stone and remains evident even after every cleaning process has been attempted, an alkaline cleaner may need to be administered. This type of cleanser can be found in most tile and stone supply stores. It should be the last resort for cleaning travertine stone.7. Ask a professional — Travertine is an excellent choice of stone for bathrooms, kitchens and dining areas and it’s luxurious appeal is a popular selling point for real estate agents. When you decide to incorporate this stone into your design plan always ask a professional the limitations and performance of this type of stone — they will also have the answers for its proper care and how to avoid damage, etching and staining.

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Pet Stain Removal from Carpets in NewPort Beach CA

How you can Get rid of Pet Stains from Carpet

 

Pets are usually treated as family members by the majority of people that is why they are allowed to stay inside the house. Whether you want it or not, they do not do what the majority of family members do which would be to make use of the comfort room when needed. Pet stains are quite common in most homes specifically in the carpets. Maintaining your carpet clean and stain free all the time must be among your concerns due to a number of good reasons. Among these is the simple fact that it helps keep your house clean and healthy. Maintaining your carpet clean brings plenty of advantages to you and your family.

 

Pet odors and stains which aren’t properly tackled often linger throughout the house for an extended time period. Apart from the foul smell, bacteria will quickly set in and multiply once proper carpet cleaning procedure hasn’t been used. As being the owner of the house, it is your obligation to keep every thing inside the shelter clean and free from bacteria. The majority of pet lovers would rather go through lots of hardships simply to keep their animals with them inside the house. Of these include the constant need of eliminating pet stains from the carpet.

 

There are numerous methods on how you can get rid of pet stains from your carpet in Orange County, CA. The majority of these are DIY or do-it-yourself procedures in most households. You can purchase all of the needed cleaning products on the nearest shop to get started with the stain elimination job. In case you are financially constricted, there is a cheaper alternative to most of the conventional cleaning products. You could find a number of household products which can be used successfully as cleansers. Lemons are great examples of efficient alternatives. You should be cautious on where you use them though as they can as well leave some damages.

 

When you’re someone that does not love doing the dirty works, you could always search for companies who could do the job for you. Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning is a firm that provides quality carpet cleaning services in Orange County, CA. Services are typically accomplished with flying colors due to the fact that they are utilizing the very best equipments for cleaning purposes. Whether you’re the owner of the house or perhaps a renter, the elimination of pet stains from the carpet must be done as soon as possible.

 

Pets could always be taught on where to leave their stains and waste. However, the majority of us don’t have the freedom of teaching our pets. Some of us likewise don’t have the money to get a trainer to teach our precious animals. If it is the case, the ideal thing to do is to either train yourself how to eliminate pet stains or save for carpet cleaning services. Whether you like it or not, pet stains are part of our lives as pet lovers.

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