Do You Breathe Easy at Home?
How to Control Indoor Air Pollution
Pollution. We use the word to describe harmful or poisonous substances introduced into an environment. Water pollution, ground pollution, noise pollution, and air pollution are examples we most commonly relate to the outdoor environment.  So it may surprise you to find that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published reports that indoor air is 2-5 and in some cases up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside.

This article will give you some recommendations to make your indoor air cleaner, healthier and safer. But first, the basics…
What is “Air”?
Air is a mixture of gases that make up Earth’s atmosphere. The part of the atmosphere that contains the right mixture of gases to support life contains nitrogen and oxygen, as well as trace amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, helium, neon and other gases. Air also contains variable amounts of water vapor. We refer to the amount of  suspended water vapor as humidity.
Humidity Plays an Important Role in Indoor Air Quality
The American Society of Heating, refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends maintaining indoor relative humidity levels between 30% and 50% for human health and comfort. Higher humidity can create an
environment where microbes can flourish and create an unsanitary condition.

In addition, higher humidity can result in condensation of water on surfaces.  This can hold soils and organic matter, creating a perfect incubator for mold, which can exacerbate asthma and allergies.
Air Suspends Particles
Most airborne particles are harmless.  However, others can cause problems, particularly for those with asthma, allergies or immune disorders. There are four keys to keeping your indoor air clean and healthy: exclude, capture, clean and control.
Exclude – Keep contaminants out
Keeping contaminants out of the home is challenging because most airborne particles are tiny and can be  everywhere.  Pollen, carbon, mold spores, organic matter, insect matter, car exhaust, and plain old dirt enter the home, transported on air currents, clothing and shoes.

Reduce entry by keeping your doors and windows shut, removing shoes when entering and immediately changing your clothing after dusty activities like yard work.
There are other contaminants that originate from within the home. Pet and human dander, food particles, dust mites
and their feces, cooking gases, sprays, chemicals, cleaning agents and many other particulates combine to reduce overall indoor air quality. Controlling these can be tricky, because they result from every day living activities. Your best defense is to capture, clean and control them.

Capture – filter and contain that which enters
When airborne particles enter your home, they remain suspended for a period of time. Large and dense particles drop out of the air and settle onto surfaces. Smaller, lighter particles remain suspended longer – some nearly indefinitely – and are best removed by air filtration devices and the filter on your home’s HVAC system.
Pay attention to the filters you use.  Use high quality pleated filters. Don’t buy based on price alone. Get filters that are rated MERV 7 or 8. Higher MERV ratings may place excessive restriction on your ventilation system, requiring a change in configuration. Talk to an HVAC professional for more information about how to improve filtration on your ventilation system.
Clean – remove pollutants from surfaces
Eventually, particles settle on surfaces such as floors, furniture, counters, window sills, shelves and walls.  Vacuuming and dusting removes most of the particles, but make sure that your vacuum cleaner has good filtration too.
Hard surfaces can be cleaned with electrostatic dusters or dust cloths that attract and hold particles, or by wiping hard surfaces with a damp cloth and wet mopping floors.  Other surfaces such as carpet, area rugs and upholstery will require periodic professional cleaning to remove accumulated soils and pollutants.
Control – maintain equipment, humidity levels and filters                                                                                                            Proper maintenance is important.  Ensure your vacuum cleaner, AC unit, range hood and other ventilation equipment are working properly.  Clean or replace furnace filters at recommended intervals; usually monthly depending on the type of filter and environmental conditions.

Hansen Steam Way can help you breathe easier indoors with regularly scheduled professional carpet and upholstery cleaning. Call us today to set up your clean and healthy maintenance program.

For customers new and established… we offer you this SPECIAL REPORT.

Problem! Cleaning Raw Plant Material
Jute, sisal, sea grass, coir, and hemp are names associated with floor coverings made from raw plant material. Ranging from mats to wall-to-wall, some with backings, some without, this type of material is in a very raw state. Therefore, an understanding of how the fibers react to every day soiling and how they respond to cleaning is very helpful.
One of the unique characteristics of this type of floor-covering material is the tendency to develop mysterious dark spots when cleaned, regardless of the method used. Generally, efforts to bring a “worn” sisal back to its original state are a lost cause. Also, sisal stains very easily. One of the best things to do is have it protected with a solvent-based fabric protector, providing some resistance against spots that result from any type of spillage. In addition to developing dark spots, sisal may also “lighten” when cleaned. The best way to clean plant material is with a low-moisture approach. The bottom line is that these products are not very spillage, traffic, or cleaning friendly. However, you can’t beat the look.
Place this type of floor covering in non-traffic, non-spillage areas to prevent over use. Have a light, maintenance cleaning done about once a year to remove surface soils, pollen, asphalt, exhaust, and other foreign matter that finds its way into our homes.
A final note about sisal: some wool carpets come in a “sisal style.” These products are made to look like sisal, but are actually an entirely different material.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the natural characteristics of these types of materials our company requires a written consent before proceeding with cleaning.

Assistance for Seniors
If you are a senior citizen, or have an elderly loved one, take a moment to review whether you are getting all of the benefits to which you are entitled. Over five million elderly Americans are not taking advantage of benefits provided by state and federal government programs. These benefits range from health care coverage to supplemental income to help paying utility bills.

Check out benefits checkup.org. This website, sponsored by the National Council on the Aging, offers a way for seniors, their families and their caregivers to access information on over 2,000 federal, state, and private programs. All states are covered and the information is easily accessed over the Internet. You’ll find information on prescription drugs, nutrition, energy assistance, health care, Social Security, housing, transportation, employment, volunteer services, and more.

For customers new and established… we offer you this SPECIAL REPORT.

Problem! Ugly Black Lines Along My Baseboards and Under My Doors
If you have light-colored carpet, you may have experienced dark lines that appear on the carpet. This soiling is called filtration soiling because it comes from air passing through the carpet as it is attempting to get through the crack between the carpet and the baseboard.

As the air passes through the edge of the carpet pile, microscopic soiling is deposited there (hence the term filtration soiling.) This occurs over a significant period of time and is not noticed until a buildup has occurred.

This type of soiling is difficult to remove because the soil particles are so fine that they penetrate deep into the carpet pile, even sometimes into the backing of the carpet. Can filtration soiling be removed? Sometimes. With special products, time, and effort, reasonable results can be achieved.

To help prevent filtration soiling, vacuum and wipe the edges of the carpeting on a regular basis. Be careful around the tack-strip on the edge of the carpeting; it could nick your fingers!

Have you ever wondered why spots return after having your carpet cleaned?

There are two reasons spots return. Here’s the second.

Reason 2: Re-Soiling

Re-soiling is caused by a sticky residue that has been left behind. The residue may be from the spot itself, the cleaner that was used, or both. Some common residue causes are over-the-counter carpet cleaners purchased at the grocery store. Avoid using these cleaners altogether. If you have to use one of these cleaners, or you have to use dish washing detergent, use as little as possible and rinse with water thoroughly.

Other residue causes are oily spots, duct tape, body oils, lotions, and other sticky or oily substances. If the entire oily residue is not removed, it will attract soil as the carpet is walked on. Even quality professional cleaning may not remove all oily residues the first time.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Cheap carpet cleaners use cheap products that are loaded with optical brighteners. Optical brighteners create an illusion of clean that causes the soil or spot to appear to be removed. The spot is still there. The soil is still there. Optical brighteners create a film that reflects light so that the carpet looks incredibly clean. It’s an optical illusion.

A stark illustration of this can be seen at a flea market or home show. Someone will be demonstrating a miracle cleaner on a small rug. The rug is saturated with motor oil. The salesman then scoops off just the foam of the miracle cleaner and presto, the motor oil is gone! This is physically impossible. Notice that the salesman has several bright lights shining on the demo rug to create the illusion.

How to Easily Lose One Pound a Week
It only takes a reduction of 500 calories a day to allow you to lose one pound a week. You can easily achieve this goal with some simple food substitutions.  If you are motivated, you can also add some exercise to your week to make it even easier to lose the weight. Here are some ideas that you can use to cut those daily calories:
Instead of a fast food lunch, which can range from 600 to 1500 calories, opt for any number of frozen entrees that have under 300 calories. Great ones to try are Weight Watchers Smart Ones and the South Beach Diet line.
When having pasta, rice, or potatoes as part of your meal, cut the amount of these carbohydrates in half and substitute some sautéed vegetables.  Add broccoli to your pasta, some onions and red peppers to your rice, and have a smaller serving of those mashed potatoes while adding a tossed salad. You can save 300 to 400 calories in one meal.
Instead of high calorie desserts like ice cream or brownies, choose lowfat yogurt or diet sparkling flavored water to satisfy your sweet tooth. Many ice creams now come in sugar-free varieties as well. You will save another 300 calories this way.
To dress up your sandwich, choose lower calorie condiments instead of high calorie mayonnaise or dressings. Light mayo has only 50 calories per tablespoon. Even lower calorie choices include spicy brown mustard at 5 calories per teaspoon, Tabasco sauce at 0 calories, and relish at only 5 calories per teaspoon.
If you want to walk away the pounds, use these guidelines: A moderate pace of 3-4 miles per hour for one hour will  burn 200-300 calories.

Have you ever wondered why spots return after having your carpet cleaned?

There are two reasons spots return. Here’s the first.

Reason 1: Wicking

Many times, the spot that is being removed has seeped into the backing of the carpet. This is common with pet urine, beverages, and anything spilled in “volume.” The material dries in the backing and in the cushion (pad) of the carpet. When the spot is cleaned, only the material in the “pile” of the carpet is removed. However, moisture is introduced into the backing of the carpet. As the spot dries, the material in the backing of the carpet “wicks” back into the pile of the carpet much like wax into a candlewick.

Even traffic area soil that is embedded can wick back. This is especially common in glued-down carpet that is heavily impacted with soil. When the carpet is cleaned, it looks good. When it dries, the spots and traffic area soil come back.

The good news is if a spot actually wicks back, it can be removed. When you spot clean, place a folded white terry cloth towel over the spot just after you clean it while the spot is still moist. Place a heavy object on top of the cloth. Be sure to use a non-porous object that won’t transfer color onto the carpet. For example, a paper book cover could transfer color. Use a brick, a planting pot, or something like that.

When you have your carpet cleaned professionally, be sure to point out spots that have wicked back in the past, so they can be treated properly.

Stay tuned for the second reason you can’t beat always those spots!

Plant Your Garden This Fall
It is a wonderful sign of spring when flowers planted in the fall begin to finally poke through the soil. The key to  having a colorful, early spring garden is to properly plant bulbs in the fall. These types of flowers are called  perennials, and they will keep blooming year after year.

To ensure the best results, choose a good place to plant your bulbs. They should be at least five feet from the foundation of your home, in soil that is well-drained and with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Each bulb should be
placed in its own hole, along with some bulb fertilizer. If your soil has clay in it, you will also need to add in some organic material or mulch.  Each bulb type should be planted at a specific depth. The packaging that your bulbs come in will specify how deep they should be planted. All bulbs should be planted with the pointed end facing upwards.

Different flowers will bloom at different times during the spring. To get a garden full of color for several months in a row, choose bulbs that bloom at different times. For example, plant crocus in the same bed as daffodils, along with some tulip bulbs.  You will have flowers from early spring to early summer.

Bulbs should be planted after the first frost, which varies depending on where you live. Your local nursery cantell you the best time to plant.

School is Never Out for the True Professional Cleaner
As kids return back to school, we are reminded of the importance of a good education. School doesn’t just teach facts and figures. You learn skills that allow you to accomplish many basic tasks. Math, reading, problem-solving and learning to work with others are skills that most of us learned in school.

Perhaps the most important skill that school teaches us is how to learn. We learn to read, ask questions, test theories and discuss ideas as a means of expanding our
knowledge. Imagine what would happen if a child was never taught these basic skills. It would be difficult to learn to drive, fill out a job application, read a menu, count money, use a computer or smart phone, travel abroad or shop without acquiring the skills you learn in school.

But learning doesn’t stop when you graduate from high school or college. You still need to acquire specific skills and knowledge in your chosen field of endeavor
in order to achieve excellence. That is when specialized training is needed. Can you imagine hiring a surgeon who only received on-the-job-training? What about an
automobile mechanic who watched some online videos to learn how to fix your car?  Professions like cosmetology, plumbing, home building, childcare and many others
require training, certification and in some cases, licensing. It should come as no surprise that training and certification are available for professional carpet and upholstery cleaners, too. This training and certification come from an organization called the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification or IICRC.

Unlike those other professions, however, training and certification are not legal requirements for carpet and upholstery cleaners. That is why most professional carpet cleaning companies never invest the money and time in their employees to get this valuable training.

Hansen Steam Way technicians are different. We believe in the value of classroom learning in addition to our field training. In the classroom, technicians learn to identify the type of fibers they are cleaning. This is important so that they select the proper cleaning agents to assure safe, effective cleaning. They learn cleaning chemistry so they can choose the right products based on the type of soil and stains they are working on. They learn how fibers are dyed and how carpet and upholstery are manufactured.

In a typical 2- or 3-day IICRC course, our technicians get practical hands on demonstrations by a seasoned instructor with many years in the industry. This allows the students to reap the benefits of decades of experience without the risk of problems on the job.

There are separate courses for certification in each of several cleaning categories including: carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, leather cleaning, color repair, odor control, ceramic and stone tile cleaning as well as carpet repair and reinstallation.  Once the course is completed, our Technicians must pass a monitored 150-question exam to qualify for certification in that discipline.

But that is not the end of it. The IICRC requires ongoing education to maintain certification. So our Technicians keep learning even afterthey have achieved certification. This assures you, our valued clients that we are up to date on the latest in the cleaning industry.

As you can probably imagine, education is not free. It requires a significant investment of time and money to keep our team at the top of our profession. At Hansen Steam Way we believe you are worth it.

A good carpet cleaning company will give its customers that insider advice to keep their carpets clean and attractive. Here’s a little something you’ve always wanted to know!

How to Clean Up a Spill

STEP 1
Cover spill with a WHITE napkin or paper towels. DO NOT use colored paper! It might transfer onto the carpet. Be sure to use a THICK stack to absorb as much of the spot as possible.

STEP 2
Blot by stepping on stack of towels.
REPEAT THIS PROCESS UNTIL NO TRANSFER TAKES PLACE. DO NOT RUB!!!

STEP 3
Apply spotting agent. Warning: Do not use over-the-counter spot removers! They can leave a sticky residue that attracts soil and may discolor your textiles. Instead, call us to find out what spotters we recommend.

STEP 4
REPEAT steps 1 and 2. If the spot does not come out, do NOT attempt any further action, as you may set the spot and/or damage your textiles. Instead, give us a call.

Do not over-wet the spot. Keep blotting until dry to the touch.