Surprise! So-called “frost proof” water faucets will freeze and split internally if a hose is left attached over the winter. However, this hidden rupture won’t be noticed until AFTER an unsuspecting homeowner hooks his hose up and turns on the faucet. So while the flowers are getting watered outside the home’s lower level is being flooded from the ruptured tubing hidden inside the wall. (Don’t ask me how I learned this!)
Buy a female cap with a rubber hose washer inside that will thread on any faucet bib. After tightening the cap on the hose bib briefly turn on the faucet slightly and listen closely. (You can also keep your hand on  the faucet to feel the vibration of running water.) If you can hear (or feel) running water the faucet has an internal rupture inside the wall. Turn it off right away. |
Bonus TIP: Be very cautious early in the spring time with an outside hose bib that appears to have had a hose attached to it all winter. Very likely it is an “accident waiting to happen”.
I’ve been getting a lot of emails lately on bugs eating rugs – so I thought I’d share some tips for both rug owners and rug cleaners.
Moths ate the wool, left behind the cotton foundation.
The two biggest wool rug culprits are moths and carpet beetles.
Moths: rug enemy #1.
Carpet beetle: rug enemy #2.
For some more extensive ways to get rid of theses critters from your home, visit this site for moths, and this site for carpet beetles.
For rugs, there are several steps you can take to keep the bugs from digesting your oriental rugs.
VACUUM REGULARLY
These bugs like nice, quiet, undisturbed places. You will generally find them doing their dirty work under the corner of your sofa, behind a drape, along the cracks in the planks of your wood floor, or on the back side of a rug hanging up still on your wall.
You do not need to “beat” the rug with your vacuum, just give it a good once over on the front every few weeks, and flip over the corners to see if there is anything to be wary of. Moth larvae looks like sticky lint and they do their damage when they emerge from those cocoons HUNGRY.
I like to run my vacuum upholstery tool over the back of the corners of my rugs, just to be safe, and once a quarter I completely vacuum the back side of my rugs to make enough chaos to have bugs look for another place to feast.
For rugs hanging on the walls, at least once a quarter take them down to vacuum. If they are delicate you can use the upholstery attachment instead of a beater bar or super-sucker type vacuum. Because of this needed maintenance for hanging textiles, this is why we like to suggest using velcro to hang rugs – it makes it easy to take down and put back up.
WASH REGULARLY
Rugs under normal to heavy use should be washed annually.
This means sending them out to be washed in a rug cleaning plant, and NOT having them just surface cleaned in your home. (BIG difference, especially if you are trying to avoid bugs.)
If you have moderate traffic on your rugs, and you vacuum at least every other week, that wash time can be extended to every 18-24 months. But longer than 2 years, you are asking for trouble. Not only from the abrasive grit that gets lodged into the base of the rug fibers (which is what causes areas to wear down faster), but also in regards to insect activity.
Washing helps dislodge bug activity and remove it. And for rugs with a big problem you are looking to solve, and you do not want to soak the rug in pesticide poisons, washing and giving the rug a vinegar rinse will help physically remove the bugs and their problem-causing ways.
FOR STORAGE – ALWAYS WASH BEFORE WRAPPING UP
Rug cleaners rarely offer “mothproofing” these days because those solutions are pesticides that kill things, and for something you may have your kids or pets rolling around on, that’s just not safe.
Even the odorless insect repellent solutions that professional cleaners have available and are not poisons still have some irritation risks. (Always read the MSDS to evaluate whether you want to use a particular product that requires leaving residue behind.)
But if a textile is going into storage for years, it is best to make sure you are not going to open up the package and find a rug disaster, so using a repellent is wise unless you are putting the piece in a cedar chest, or using other items that tend to discourage moths.
When I put something into storage, I don’t want to worry about it, so I use a repellent.
The most important step though is the wash and making sure you are not wrapping the rug up with any unwanted pest guests.
If your rug does have a visible insect problem right now, while it is out to be professionally washed you will need to bring in a professional cleaner to tackle your wall-to-wall carpet or your hard floors, wherever the problem rugs were, so that you can remove the rest of the problem.
Hot water extraction (“steam cleaning”) can take care of the problem in your carpeting – something the EPA lays out guidelines on for how often you should have this done as posted on the IICRC website.
To sum up, rug-eating bugs are kind of like unruly teens. They like to go hide in their space, and they don’t want you to bother them.
So you need to pull open the curtains to let fresh air and sunlight in, clean up their surroundings so they escape the fright of it all, and make a routine of that so you don’t end up with bigger problems down the road.
Your teens will come back (hey, they need to eat…), but the bugs will move on to another place with a less attentive rug owner in charge.
Microfibers made from polyester or nylon are vastly superior to nubuck leather, as well as rayon velvets and chenilles, all of which feel soft, but have terrible problems in retaining their soft texture after moderate use and cleaning with any water-based solutions. Nevertheless, microfibers will flatten out and become permanently distorted in heavy usage areas. As with any fine fabrics used in furniture coverings, they need to be maintained by a professional cleaning company that has the solutions, skills and tools to clean and restore those pieces of furniture. Please call Eco Clean @ 865-691-5556 to clean your microfiber furniture and keep it looking fresh and new.
Please visit our website at www.knoxclean.com
Rx For Upholstery
One of the most expensive investments in your home’s interior is the upholstered furniture. Proper care and maintenance can extend the appearance and overall life of an upholstered piece two to three times longer than just “letting it go” This will save you thousands of dollars and a lot of shopping grief. Having a piece reupholstered can be even more expensive than replacing it, not to mention that you’ll probably be without it entirely for a couple of months while the work is being done!
Proper maintenance of upholstery requires:
1) Periodic dry vacuuming
2) Professional cleaning
3) Restoration of fabric protector
Dry Vacuuming: Most fabrics have a natural ability to hide soil and dust allowing us to pretend it is not there. Unfortunately, vacuuming the furniture is easily forgotten and not done nearly enough.
Think how much dust would accumulate on the coffee table if no one dusted it for a year. At least that much is deposited on upholstered furniture. Then people sit on it and grind it deeper into the fabric. This results in an even overall soiling that gradually dulls the appearance and vibrancy of the fabric’s colors.
A thorough dry vacuuming monthly (if rarely used, quarterly) will go a long way towards protecting your fabrics.
Professional Cleaning: You don’t usually wait until you have a spill or a spot on your clothes before having them laundered. A lot of soil and odors can accumulate in fabrics before they become visible. They need to be cleaned out before they create permanent damage. In the same way upholstered furniture needs to be professionally cleaned.
Frequently used upholstery (according to internationally accepted cleaning standards) need to be cleaned on an annual basis. Pieces that are rarely used will still benefit enormously from being cleaned at least every four to five years. Professional cleaning removes the soil and contaminates that dry vacuuming can’t remove; resulting in more vibrant colors and fabric that feels clean and soft and smells fresh.
Restoration of Fabric Protector: Hopefully your upholstery had a fabric protector applied when you purchased it. Be sure to ask for it when purchasing new pieces.
Protector can literally save an upholstered piece by preventing liquid spills from penetrating the fabric where it can cause a permanent stain or watermark. It only takes one “oops!” to destroy unprotected fabric. The protector does not wash off, but it is a topical coating that will be rubbed off and should be periodically restored to the more heavily used areas.
Proper care and maintenance of your upholstered furniture will result in a good return on your investment of both time and money.
Proper Care Tips for Tile & Grout…
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DO’S |
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We do not recommend using soap-based cleaners on tiles. It leaves a film, dulls the surface, and promotes mildew.
You should not use acid- or ammonia-based cleaners because it could affect the color of the grout.
Acid-based cleaners can cause etching and dull polished marble tiles. Do not use a vinegar and water mixture because vinegar is an acid.
Do not use steel wool or other abrasives on tile or stone. These can scratch and dull the surface.
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Vacuum your floor frequently to remove loose dirt and dust.
Apply pH-Neutral Soap-less Floor Cleaner liberally to your tile and grout and let soak for 5 minutes… then mop as usual.
Where soil is more concentrated or has accumulated, use cleaner undiluted. IMPORTANT: always dry with a towel or terry cloth to remove dirty water/cleaner residue that settles down into the concave grout lines. Otherwise, once the liquid residue evaporates, dirt will be left behind.
Shower stall and tub enclosures should be well-ventilated. Stagnant water breeds stain-causing mildew as well as other fungi. All vertical and horizontal joints/corners should be caulked with mildew-resistant caulk.
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Keep a Watchful Eye
Settling and other everyday stresses in the building frame of your home may eventually cause tiles and grout joints to crack, split, or even become crushed. Cracks in wet areas (kitchen back splashes, tub & shower joints) eventually lead to water damage. Water seeps under the tile and begins to rot the supporting wall or sub-floor. In extreme cases, a total tear-out and replacement is necessary. We often find that we need to re-caulk these areas to help keep your grout and tile properly sealed. Don’t wait until it’s too late and avoid expensive remodeling. Inspect your joints regularly and be on the lookout for mold and mildew.
What You Should Know About Restoring Ceramic Tile Grout
Sanded grout is a porous material and even under the best conditions will become soiled and stained. Eco Clean can eliminate this problem by “ColorSealing” your grout. Our sealer not only guarantees that you will have beautifully consistent colored grout but it will resist stains from food, drinks, and dirt.
Our cleaning and ColorSealing process restores your soiled grout lines to a beautiful “like new” appearance. They can protect new and old installations alike. In the long run, this process saves you time, money, and the effort of scrubbing your tile grout on your hands and knees.
Avoid expensive re-grouting . Let Eco Clean restore your grout lines to “like new” condition.
- Is ColorSeal hard to apply?
We always recommend our trained technicians for this type of work. It takes knowledge of what types of grout are sealable and, of course, takes plenty of patience and a steady hand.
- Can you match the existing color of my grout?
Yes. We have numerous ColorSealers for sanded type grout. You can have any color you wish. Even under the best conditions, grout (even new grout) has different shades. We simply match the color you desire to insure a consistent shade of grout color. Our ColorSeal absorbs into the pores of your grout for a long lasting/uniform finish.
- What is the dry time?
You can walk on it in 30 to 45 minutes, however it takes 48 hours to fully cure. Keep sealed areas dry for 48 hours to ensure best results.
- How often do you have to clean the grout once restored?
Experts agree, you should clean your floor once a week using a pH-neutral/soap-less Maintenance Cleaner. When cleaning the floor, it’s important to change your mop water when it appears dirty. Always use a mop to agitate cleaning agent on grout surface. Dry grout with towel or terry cloth. Should any area have dried up surface stains, simply spot clean with straight Maintenance Cleaner.
- How often do you have to reseal the grout after the first application?
Depending on conditions, with proper maintenance, a floor can last for years.
- How much does it cost to have my grout cleaned and ColorSealed?
Pricing is a function of total square feet, size, and type of tile. We’ll come to visit and give you a free written estimate.
- Why did my kitchen grout become so soiled in the first place… it’s only a few years old?
Rarely do tile installers seal grout. New grout needs to cure for several days before it can be sealed. Meantime, dirty mop water finds its way into the grout pores.
Thanks for checking in,
David Gargan
Eco Clean Carpet Solutions
www.knoxclean.com
Karastan rugs.
Karastan has always been known as a provider of high-quality machine woven wool rugs that replicate many classic Persian oriental rug designs.
Woven in America, made of high quality materials and construction. I’ve seen Karastans from the 1930′s still in very good condition. In fact, we had an older one come through our shop a few weeks ago, and it had an interesting – and outdated – care tag on the back. Right here:
Karastan rug care tag – be careful!
Here’s a blog post fro Lisa Wagner San Diego Rug Cleaning Company rug repair blog - with a point by point blow of the tag in question.
As Karastan has begun importing product from China, you can no longer say that it represents high quality in machine made product. For some unknown reason they have decided to create some blended rugs with wool and viscose, and as all frequent readers of The Rug Chick blog know – viscose is the worst rug fiber to ever choose for your home.
Karastan has only imported some of their studio collection from India over the last few years, but its still only a very small percentage of their sales. With the exception of a beligium wiltons and a few other Novelty rugs imported, Karastan’s sales remain strong on their orginal Spooler Axeminster style rugs and those will always be made here in the USA. Mohawk’s purchase of Karastan had forced some profit oriented changes like the studio series exeriement but with some new changes in Mohawk Management, Karastan has recommited in 2010 to only producing products in the USA, over the next year you will see any Karastan Imported products slowly phased out and the tried and true woven broadlooms and Axeminster will continue to dominate the total sales for Karastan rugs.
Here are two pictures of a tile & grout cleaning demo we did in a commercial building in Knoxville. The owner thought it was a lost cause but as you can see it is cleaning up great! I will post more pictures when the job is complete.
- tile cleaning demo
Please make sure to check back later to see more pictures.
David Gargan
Eco Clean Carpet Solutions
Tags: Tile cleaning Knoxville
How to Care for Your Ceramic Tile Floors
- Purchase a good quality dust mop and sweep your ceramic tile floors daily. This is especially important in new installations where the grout has not fully cured. Dirt, mud, and sand tend to ground into the grout mortar from heavy foot traffic.
- Dirt collecting carpet mats should be placed in frequently used entrances and shaken out weekly.
- We do not recommend the use of floor waxes as they can be difficult to remove from ceramic tile floors. As long as your floor is properly sealed and maintained, you should find no need for these products.
- Shower stall and tub enclosures should have proper ventilation. Stagnant water breeds stain causing mildew as well as other fungi.
- Many tile cleaners are acid based and their use should be limited. Always read the manufacturers label to find out. All acids, no matter how weak, will etch marble surfaces. Natural marble is commonly installed as thresholds in doorways and is also installed in window sills and shower curbs. In addition, avoid any cleaner that contains harsh abrasives.
- Mop or sponge your tile down 2 to 3 times weekly. Mix 1 capful of dishwashing liquid per gallon of hot water. Mop up excess water and allow to dry. Buffing with a dry towel will help to reduce spotting.
Get more information on tile and natural stone cleaning here.
