Smoke damage to your home: Carpet

Fire, smoke.....all leads to damage.

Depending on how bad the smoke damage is will determine the what you need to do.

The most prevalent sign of smoke damage is the smell....but the smell won't tell you how serious the problem is.  We talked about furniture earlier and this one is going to focus on your carpet. 

You can do this yourself but I strongly recommend hiring a professional to check for you.

First you need to ventilate the home:  Open windows and doors.

Lift the carpet up to determine if the smoke damage penetrated the carpet padding.  If it has than it is recommended that you replace your carpet and padding as soon as possible.  Hiring a reputable carpet cleaner will help you with this decision.  A reputable carpet cleaner wants you safe and will let you know if it can be cleaned or if it needs to be replaced.

I said in the furniture blog that smoke damage can be toxic to your health depending on what burned and how bad the smoke damage is.  Remember, it is your babies and pets who are closest to the carpets at all times......Being safe is essential at this time.

I have met many carpet cleaners in my lifetime (I have pets) and some were not so reputable and would rather keep "cleaning" and getting the money versus being honest with you about replacing the carpet and padding.

To find a reputable carpet cleaner you need to ask!  Ask your friends who they use. There is no better reference than someone you trust.  This works in your favor two ways:  

• The first way is there is an inherent trust because your friend trust them 
• AND the carpet cleaner wants to keep your friends trust, earn your trust and possibly get future business from you. 

I know if I was ever in this situation and a carpet cleaner told me (at the loss of the job) that I needed to replace my carpet and pad...I would remember in the future when I needed the carpets cleaned.

Please like Trujillo's Cleaning Company (Formally Trujillo's Steam King) on Facebook or visit their website.

When snow ruins your day

Picture from amazingdata.com

Good morning....well it was until you let the dog out and you see that it has snowed.  At this time many things are going through your head; muddy footprints, driving to work on the ice so you know that you are going to have to skip the relaxing cup of coffee because you are going to be busy.






You wait by the door with a wet towel to wipe Fido's feet before he comes in. You wait, you wait some more and as soon as you turn your head....Fido's in.  Fido is not only in but he's on your couch....with muddy feet.  You quickly grab the towel, wipe his feet (and his belly, face, tail, etc.) down and you look at your furniture shaking your head....You have company coming for the holidays.  

You remember the snow....not that you truly forgot about it because you have a reminder on your couch but you remember you have to leave early to get to work on time.

Please read these tips on driving safe on the the ice:

If you do not have a garage and your car is parked outside:

• It snows.  Ready for this odd tip:  Turn your temperature to hot, turn on your air conditioner (fresh air option) and set it on defrost.  This will help remove any condensation from the interior of your windshield.
• Remove snow from your head and taillights.  Those are there for your safety and they won't help you if they are covered with snow.

You are driving on ice:

• For those of use who grew up with antilock breaks we learned to pump our breaks.  Now cars do it for us.  When you are sliding and you press your antilock breaks you will feel the brake system pump for you.  This only works if you "stomp" on the break and gradually ease up on the break.
• The dreaded "black ice."  Keep this in mind:  if it looks slick chances are it probably is.  It is better to be prepared for black ice and not have it than have it and not be ready.
• Know where you are driving.  You drive to work, school, store all the time.  Pay attention.  Know where the areas on these roads tend to be worse than others and avoid those areas. 
• If you do start to slide do not overturn.  Remember if you are sliding your tires do not have control so over turning will just face the car into the direction the tires are facing....which in a panic situation could be oncoming traffic.  Stay calm and don't overturn.  Slowly turn your wheels in the direction in which you want to go.
• If you have a four wheel drive....understand that your four wheel drive is no safer on the ice than any other vehicle.  Think about it...you slide because your tires do not have control.  All wheel drive, four wheel drive will often give the driver a sense of "security" which will often lead to an accident.  

Every vehicle has someone in there that is loved.  When each of us drives safely than we are doing our part to keep loved ones with us.  




For those muddy prints on your furniture and/or carpet call Larry Trujillo:  Please like Trujillo's Cleaning Company (Formally Trujillo's Steam King) on Facebook 

Holiday Company

Preparing for company:

I don't know about you but having company over causes stress.  Is the house "clean" enough.  Will they open the drawer I threw everything in from the counter?  And let's not talk about the "other" room that I have been throwing stuff in since this summer that I didn't want to find a place for.

Family can be your toughest critic.  The holiday's...It's a stressful time.

When you have pets....lets double, no triple, that stress.  

Dog hair......everywhere
Cat hair.......everywhere
and any accidents they may have had......who knows could be anywhere.

I consider myself a clean person....a bit cluttered at times....but clean.  I cannot help but have dog and cat hair.....I have dogs and cats.  I cannot help that one of my little "angels" have an accident.....I have dogs and cats.

Okay so let's break this down.

Your company for the holidays actually sit on the furniture.  Your company for the holidays actually sit on the carpet to play with the kids and/or pets.

First take a deep breath and together we will get through this.  (hopefully before your family comes a knocking).

We have time even if your family is coming for Thanksgiving which is (oops) NINE days away.

Here's the plan. Call to get your carpets and/or upholstery professionally done.  Always have this done at least three days before the big event.  While you have them on the phone ask if they clean tile.  

Now......how many rooms need to be cleaned? (You may have to quit your job, just kidding).





Okay we have these rooms as MUST HAVE CLEAN:

• Living Room
• Kitchen
• Dining Room
• Guest Bath
• Master Bath (because the one time you don't want anyone in there will be the time two bathrooms are needed)
• Sitting area(s)

These rooms should be cleaned but only if we have enough time and energy.

• Everything else

Since we are all busy; job, kids, pets, spouses, etc. we are going to have to tackle this a little bit every day.  This is the best way because you won't give up a full day off to do it.

Clean the one you use the least FIRST.  This should be the cleanest and since you don't use it chances are it won't get messy quickly.

If you are cooking a meal, clean the kitchen last.

Any rooms that do not have carpet....clean while your carpets are being cleaned.

Okay so on the MUST HAVE CLEAN list you have two rooms, maybe three, left:  It's not so overwhelming now is it.  Clean one room a day.  

Tackle the rooms that should be cleaned but you have put off.  Trust me once you get started and get them cleaned you will enjoy the holidays much more.  

Your carpet guy is here.  While he's doing the carpet you clean the rooms that don't have carpet.  Hopefully he does tile also so you don't have to.  You have to be there anyway so why not use the time.

Your house is clean.  Your carpets are clean.  Your Upholstery is clean.  Now open a bottle of wine, call you family to cancel because you want to enjoy your clean home.

If you are in the Pueblo County area I highly suggest Trujillo's cleaning company (Formally Trujillo's Steam King) for your carpets, upholstery AND tile. 

Please like Trujillo's Cleaning Company on Facebook
or visit their website