Professional Carpet Cleaning vs. DIY Vacuuming

For those of us who have carpeting in our homes or offices, cleaning that carpet properly is oftentimes one of the banes of life. Kids, colorful liquids, foods, pets, and the stuff stuck to the bottoms of our shoes can really make a mess of our carpeting and floors. While a cheap department store vacuum may help remove, but mostly displace, your carpeting's surface grit, and a usually overpriced heavy-duty vacuum will likely help you to remove some of the dirt and yuck that has been ground into your carpets, there is a real and legitimate need for professional carpet cleaning services. Regardless of whether you are a homeowner, a renter, or a local business owner, hiring professional carpet cleaners on an occasional basis may help you out in more ways than just making your carpets cleaner for the time being.

Hiring professional carpet cleaners for a home

Your home or apartment is your dwelling place -- you likely spend a lot of time there, and if you have young kids, friends or family members who bring over younger kids, and especially if you pets, your carpeting is likely shamefully dirty at times. Even if your carpeting looks moderately clean on the surface, there's a good chance that there are all kinds of bugs, germs, and crumbs, residing less than an inch from your carpet's surface -- most vacuum cleaners simply do not clean carpets. Furthermore, even if you have a top-of-the-line vacuum, it's unlikely that you have the tools at your disposal to clean your carpets thoroughly. Warm, soapy water and some elbow grease do not constitute a good cleaning, either.

By using a professional carpet cleaning service, you can remove the elements in your carpeting that can do you, and those who visit your home, harm; germs, bacteria, allergens, and even the aesthetic annoyances -- carpet stains -- can be removed through the services of professional carpet cleaners. While you probably do not need to hire a professional cleaning service for each home cleaning, hiring professional carpet cleaners every few months can make a significant difference in the overall cleanliness of your home.

Using professional carpet cleaners for an office

If you're a business owner, you undoubtedly spend a lot of time at your store or office, maybe even more time, technically, than you spend in your own home. The same can be said for your employees -- many of them undoubtedly spend a great deal of time walking your floors, and breathing the air in your office. Especially if you deal directly with the public, or at least partners and potential clients, your business' carpeting is quite important, even on the visual level.

Stained or spotted carpeting reflects poorly on your business, but that's just the beginning. Because you, and your employees, spend so much time on the carpet, which is subject to heavy foot traffic and results in all kinds of outside elements being tracked in throughout your place of business, the hidden elements of soiled carpeting can affect those who work for you and who visit your business. It's unfortunate, but many people these days suffer from airborne sensitivities, and the dust, pollen, allergens, and even mildew that can build up in your carpeting can have a negative impact on you and your employees.

Commercial carpeting is notoriously more difficult to clean than traditional home carpeting, which makes the services provided by a professional carpeting cleaning service even more important and worthwhile. While it may not make sense to hire a professional cleaning company on a weekly basis in many situations, daily vacuuming on your end, and scheduled carpet-cleaning services on a regular basis can make a big difference in the overall cleanliness of your place of business and even the quality of your air. It just makes sense to use professional carpet cleaners on regular basis when so much is riding on your carpeting -- literally.

Your carpets, whether they are in your home, apartment, or place of business, have the potential to hold plenty of unwanted elements that can affect the safety, and health, of those around you. While a quick vacuuming may result in cleaner-looking carpets, you really owe it to yourself, and those around you, to invest in professional carpet cleaning services, at least on an occasional basis. Not only will your carpets look and feel better, they will be safer for you and everybody else who visits you at home or at work.

How to Clean Tile Floors and Grout

If you live in an area with variable weather, such as Michigan, or just have a high-traffic home, it can leave your tile and grout looking dirty, faded and dull over time. Normal scrubbing and wiping are not enough to penetrate the ground in dirt that clings to grout. Unsealed, or untreated, tile and grout needs to be deep cleaned on a regular basis to maintain a fresh appearance. Here are a few ways you can clean your home's tile and grout.

Cleaning Bathroom Tile and Grout

Use a large sponge to wipe down the tile surface with warm water. Dip a stiff bristled toothbrush into the water and scrub the grout. This will remove any loose debris and dirt. Mix ½ cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of warm water. Smear the pasty mixture onto the grout and let it set for a few minutes. Begin scrubbing the grout vigorously with the toothbrush. Use a circular motion to drive the dirt out from the tiny crevices and indents in the grout. Rinse well with clear warm water and give the surface an hour to dry.

Cleaning Kitchen Backsplash Tile and Grout

Kitchen backsplash tile and grout is renowned for harboring minute amounts of cooking grease and oils that attract dirt and dust. Grease removal is a necessary step in cleaning. Mix ½ cup of a liquid dishwashing liquid to one bucket of warm water. Scrub the backsplash wall with a soft scrub sponge soaked in the detergent mix. Allow the soapy water 10 to 15 minutes to soak the grease loose. Mix ½ cup of oxygen bleach power with a bucket of warm water. Scrub the grout and tile with the mixture and rinse with plain water.

Cleaning Floor Tile and Grout

Floor tile and grout will typically be the toughest areas to clean. Sweep the floor with a broom to remove all loose dirt. Divide the floor into small sections and damp mop one section at a time. Scrub the grout with a small stiff cleaning brush and warm water. Mix ½ cup of oxygen bleach powder into a bucket of warm water. Use the small brush to scrub the floor grout and tile. Continue using a circular scrubbing motion to release the dirt and grime that burrows into the grout. Wear safety glasses to avoid splashing the cleaner into your eyes.

Making the Job Easier

Cleaning tile and grout is a physically demanding job, and for some people, it can quickly become overwhelming. When cleaning, you should take frequent breaks to minimize the possibility of back or other muscle strain. If you want to make future cleanings easier, consider hiring a professional cleaning company to come in and clean your tile and grout for you. Professionals with professional-grade tools can oftentimes do a better job on your tile floors and countertops, and some companies will apply a sealant to your grout, which will make future cleanings for you as simple as running a damp mop or cloth over your tile floors and counters.



Saniglow provides cleaning services in Howell and specializes in professional grout cleaning for residents of Pickeney, Hamburg, and South Lyon.

Choosing a Commercial Carpet Cleaning Company in Michigan

No matter what kind of building you have, if it has carpet, keeping that carpet clean is quite important. Your staff, partners, clients, and potential customers will likely see this, and poor carpeting can reflect poorly on your business. Plus, dirty and odorous carpeting may actually cause health concerns if you have kids come into your place of business, or may cause problems for people with olfactory sensitivities who visit or work at your location.

While all of the above applies to businesses everywhere, these points are even more important in Michigan due to the variable weather and the fact that snow, mud, and plant dander will inevitably find its way into your business. Because of the amount of 'abuse' that your carpet must endure due to Michigan's dramatic seasonal changes, you need a professional carpet cleaning company to help you keep your carpeting in good condition to maintain worker satisfaction, and to present your company in a positive light to your incoming guests. Here are a couple of ways to help you narrow your choices down for a commercial cleaning service in Michigan.

Look at years in business

When a cleaning company has been in business for many years, like 10 or 15 years or more, there's a good chance that they've stayed in business for a reason. Plus, a long-term carpet cleaning company almost assuredly has cleaning carpets down to a science. Effectively cleaning a carpet isn't about running a vacuum cleaner over it, and spot removal isn't as simple as using hot, soapy water and a wash cloth to clean it up. Seasoned carpet cleaners will be able to clean your carpets effectively, and thoroughly, because they have the right tools to do the job, and they've had the years of experience to see how to best clean a carpet.

Look at range of services

Some carpet cleaning companies do just that -- they clean carpets. Other companies, such as those who offer a wider range of services, will be able to help you with a variety of your janitorial needs. Some commercial cleaning companies will actually clean your carpets, clean your in-store furnishings, tile and grout, blinds, and even your building's exterior and parking lot. If you have a small office with small needs, a simple carpet cleaning service will likely do, but if you have a larger office with a variety of janitorial needs, you should consider hiring a cleaning company to help you on a larger scale.

These two elements alone: years in business and range of services, can help you to narrow down your choices for a commercial carpet cleaning company in Michigan. Clean carpeting is more than just about appearance, though -- dirty carpeting can have health ramifications, and due to the minimal cost and high preventative value, it's certainly worth it for you to find the right cleaning company that will meet your business' carpet cleaning needs.

Saniglow is a commercial and residential cleaning company offering carpet cleaning in Howell, South Lyon, and Pinckney. Visit Saniglow Cleaners for more information on their services.

Thermal Energy Analysis For Home Energy Savings

Anybody who lives in Michigan can attest to the fact that Michigan winters are cold. While some winters are colder than others, every year, at some point, you are almost guaranteed weeks of sub-zero temperatures and nasty windchill temperatures to boot. It doesn't really matter how you heat your home -- a log-burning wood stove, natural gas, or electricity -- when it's cold outside, especially if you have a larger home, you have to use more resources to keep your home warm. This is where a thermal energy analysis can help you to save some money this year on your home heating bills.

Also known as infrared thermography, or thermal imaging, thermal energy analysis allows you to view unseen parts of your home -- in terms of energy savings, this type of analysis allows you to see cold and hot air 'leaks' coming into, and leaving, your house. So, if you can see where your heated air is escaping your home, or where cold air drafts are coming in heavily, you can fix those problem spots, keep your home warmer in the winter while spending less money on heating your home.

Saniglow of Brighton, Michigan offers home thermal imaging services that can help you to pinpoint hot and cold air leaks in your home. Alongside showing you home energy leaks, however, Saniglow's thermography services:

• Can pinpoint electrical 'hotspots' that may post a fire hazard
• Identify moisture buildup that can cause dangerous mold inside your home
• Highlight areas of low or missing insulation within your home's walls

If you own a home and you live in Brighton, Howell, South Lyon, or anywhere in Livingston County, Saniglow's thermography services are a must for homeowners who want to not only protect their investment, but to keep their home heating costs low, especially during Michigan's harsh winters.

Visit the Saniglow cleaning services website for more information on their cleaning, flood repair, and thermography services.