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.

Smoke damage to your home. Furniture

It seems that 2012 was the year for fires and many homes were destroyed.  My heart goes out to all that were affected by the fires.

I want to talk about what happens after a fire; when you don't lose your home to the flames but the smoke causes damages.


Whether it is large fires like we have seen lately or a small fire contained in your home....you cannot stop the smoke.  Smoke is a beast all by itself. 

So what happens when your furniture; couch, mattress, etc. has smoke damage but isn't destroyed.  

Fire and smoke restoration is a specialists job and removal of all debris from the site may be injurious to the environment and may incite health complications due to their toxic nature. For example, a fire in the kitchen burns rubber, different food products, solutions and many other items which produce unhealthy toxins. This is more dangerous for the environment over the damage and loss of properties. You need top quality professionals to take care of the situation and perform the work of cleaning to keep the environment clean so that human health is not affected.  
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When a large fire breaks out and your home is spared from the flames there is a sense of relief....until we realize the damage that the smoke caused our homes.  It's not just the discoloration of our furniture...it's the dangers that are in our furniture that should be our main concern.

Insurance:  It is a wonderful thing until we learn what we need isn't covered.  Now would be a good time to find out exactly what your policy covers.  

What if you don't have the insurance to replace what has been damaged?  Can you afford to replace your entire household furniture?

Another option is to find a professional who specializes in removing smoke from furniture.  Fires are very damaging and they can be very costly.  Know what your insurance will cover and know how to protect yourself after a fire.





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