Mopping is the primary problem. Yes, mopping and cleaning should be done regularly. But the cleaning has to be done properly. The biggest mistake is using TOO MUCH floor cleaner with no rinse. Believe it or not, too much floor detergent causes a build up that actually makes your floors look dirtier.

Rinse your floor! Every second or third cleaning, you should clean your floors with pure water. Avoid vinegar because vinegar can break down any sealants that may be applied to grout or floor.

What about your dirty grout?
Those little lines between your tile can be difficult, if not near impossible, to mop thoroughly. The grout lines dip down below the tile, which causes your mop to never come in contact with the grout. Using a brush to clean in the grout lines may be required for severe soil build up. However, brushing each grout line can be VERY time consuming. One alternative is using a floor machine that’s designed to brush the tile and extract the dirty water. This can be more beneficial than mopping.
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How to Keep Your Tile and Grout Sparkling Clean
The best preventative measure to help your grout clean up easily is to have a professional grout sealer applied. This is something that “should” be done immediately after installation, however, most tile installers don’t do it for you. The lack of grout sealer and improper grout sealer is a BIG reason why grout gets so dirty.
The important thing is to have your tile and grout deep cleaned BEFORE the sealer is applied so the dirt is NOT trapped under the sealer. When we clean your tile, we use a high-pressure hot water system that completely rinses and extracts the soils into a holding tank in our van. This leaves your grout sparkling clean.
And last, we use a professional solvent-based sealer that penetrates into the grout to prevent soiling. Ideally, this sealer should be reapplied every TWO or THREE YEARS for maximum performance.
You’ll get sparkling clean tile and grout and vinyl floors when we deep clean with our high-pressured extraction system.  Call 330-725-5702 today FREE estimate.

How do you know if your house is flooded? Is it covered through your insurance? For any home owner water damage and flooding can be a scary situation, especially if you are uninsured or do not understand what to do after your house is flooded. Do you need to have flood insurance? Depending on where you live you may be obligated to have flood insurance. Congress has ordered all federal insured lenders to have flood insurance that falls within flood prone areas, but sometimes mortgage lenders require flood insurance upon signing. Always look for the following signs of preexisting water damage when purchasing a home so you can make sure that you are insured for any future possibility.

(Home inspectors commonly overlook and fail to detect previous water damage signs during inspections.) Always look for the following when making your own inspections.

• -Floor effects (Creeks, warped or lifted floorboards)
• -Peeling wallpaper or paint -Light brown or dark brown stains on ceiling or wall
• -Signs of mold growth: Mold can be a variety of colors, white, black, grayish brown or grayish green some have a white and fuzzy appearance and other types grow in Black or purple spotted clusters. Mold growth can hide behind walls under sinks/faucets and under floor boards so it is not always easily visible but always check under sinks in cabinets, floors and carpets, windows and window sills, air conditioning and heating vents, near water heater or furnace, basement and garage.
• -Unpleasant odors (could be mold from pre-existing water damage not treated)
• -Saturated or sagging drywall
• -Dripping water can make noises. Be as quite as possible and try to listen for any dripping sounds/noises.
• -Check the outside of your house, any standing water may indicate signs of flooding or previous flooding

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It is important to note that mold can be hidden in your HVAC system (AIR DUCTS) and can circulate in the air throughout your home. This can make you very sick and unfortunately most people don’t even find out until they are already ill! The Center for Disease Control states that mold can cause illness. For example, having shortness of breath such as chronic wheezing or coughing violently can indicate the possibility of mold within your HVAC system. Mold allergies can even turn into asthma if not treated quickly; in particular children are more susceptible to mold due to the fact that they have a vulnerable immune system. People with chronic lung diseases, sensitive immune systems, or mold allergies can develop serious lung infections. Every person reacts differently to mold, however, if the symptoms are less severe while you are away from home than mold will most likely be the cause.
 
If you have water damage in your home, a mop and bucket will not save your investment. Having a professional company to restore your water damage as quickly as possible is your best option. At Mark’s Cleaning Service, we have IICRC certified water damage technicians that have restored hundreds of homes. We provide reliable and fast water damage services to restore your home to its natural state from water damage. 

We've all heard about bed bugs: the tiny, quarter-inch long pests that lurk in and around your mattress waiting until your fast asleep to feast. These blood-sucking critters have garnered a great deal of attention as of late, in part because of their morbid nature of existence. For this reason, Dust Mites have been largely overlooked. 

The saliva, perspiration, and blood from body contact create an ideal environment for dust mites to congregate. Mattress pads and allergy-proof covers are certainly helpful. If all else fails, consider giving us a call.

At Mark's Cleaning Service, we use a state-of-the-art steam-cleaning process that sanitizes and deodorizes. Our vans come equipped with a truck-mount for superior hot water extraction. Your mattress will look and feel brand new. We clean all types of upholstery at Mark's Cleaning, including mattresses. Give us a call and ask about our cleaning specials: 330-725-5702.

Jennifer's Healthy Home Tips 

Here's a secret little trick I learned from my mother.

Baking soda naturally absorbs odors. Due to its alkaline nature, it actually neutralizes acidic odors in particular. However, a box of baking soda doesn't do a great job on its own because there is such a small surface area within the box. Try spreading the baking soda on a sheet pan. That should do the trick.

​Better yet, activated charcoal absorbs odors extremely well. You can purchase this at any pet store, and it is already broken up into small bits to increase surface area. Everyone can appreciate a clean fridge! 

​Cleaning chores around the house have been a sacred practice ever since the Home was invented. Usually not much thought goes into this process, other than the age old mantra of homeowners: it just needs done. There are certain household tasks, however, that require a more specialized approach. Here are a few things to keep in mind when performing household chores.

Spot Removal
Our technicians at Mark’s Cleaning have noticed a couple of mistakes people often make when cleaning spots on their carpet. The first is the tendency to put way too much cleaning solution on the spot, which saturates it and can even get the padding wet. This often spreads the spot, which causes problems in the future. The second is that people often scrub way too long and way too hard, causing the fibers in the carpet to fray. Remember: If you’re cleaning a spot, put some solution on a white towel and blot. Never scrub or rub.
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Pet Odor Removal
What about the best method for removing pet urine and odor? The most important thing is to address it right away. Urine can penetrate into the carpet, the padding, and even the subfloor. Over time it dries and becomes sticky and smelly. DO NOT use powdered carpet deodorizers on these areas. These solutions tend to gum up and create a residue that is very difficult to remove. Once again, our technicians have found that blotting the area quickly with a white towel is usually the best remedy.

​Hopefully you’ll remember these tips the next time you’re doing chores around the house. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at 330-725-5702. We’d be happy to answer any questions or assess any damage that has been done to your carpet. 

​No matter who you are, no matter where you live, you never sleep alone.

But don't panic...those sleeping with you are somewhat peaceful. And not really all that noticeable, until the "Welcome" sign goes up and they start inviting a bunch of guests over. Once the invitation goes out, there can be millions that end up in one mattress alone!

Yes, we are speaking of dust mites, those super-tiny eight-legged creatures that live in every house and take up residence in virtually every pillow, mattress and other comfortable abodes in the world.

Commonly called the "house dust mite," (there are a couple different types known to inhabit various parts of the world) this little creature feeds on the flakes of shed human and animal skin and is known to be a cause of asthma and allergic reactions.

Dust mite feces contain a powerful digestive enzyme that causes all kinds of breathing problems--if there are enough of the creatures in your home.

Some people are highly sensitive to dust mites, while others never have a reaction. 

What can you do?

First of all, like we already said, don't panic. Dust mites are everywhere, and there's nothing you can do about that. 

What you can do is keep things clean. Dust mites reproduce quickly in mattresses, beddings, pillows, and other areas because these absorbent items take up moisture, such as saliva, perspiration and blood, from body contact. Dust mites prefer those warm, moist environments created by sleeping bodies.

Besides moisture, they need food. Dust mites are like any living creature. They need to eat. The skin flakes, dander, and other protein sources are food for dust mites, so regular vacuuming is smart, especially using one with HEPA filtering. And running an air cleaner in your home with HEPA filtering will help, too. 

Professional cleaning is a good investment for your home. Deep cleaning all fabrics on a regular basis means you are taking food away from these unwanted tenants. Logically, this equates to fewer dust mites coming over to party at your house. 

Finally, clean your ducts. Don't let dust multiply in your home's HVAC system. They, along with other contaminants, can circulate through your home 5-7 times a day if your ducts are not cleaned properly. 

So be a smart homeowner. Keep things clean and keep some of the pests away! Call Mark's Cleaning Service today!

Experts at the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) have some surprising news. Everyone lives in a flood zone. Yes, you read that right. 

Now if you're perched on a peak in the Rocky Mountains, you are probably at low risk from flooding. However, lower elevations bring higher risk. 

How frequently do floods occur? In the past 5 years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. As you know, homeowner's insurance doesn't cover flood damage. You need special flood insurance for that.

To protect yourself, you need some flood facts to help recognize the risks. This knowledge will also help you choose the proper flood insurance for your home and risk level. 

Flood Facts from the NFIP

1. A few inches of water can cost thousands to repair. Without insurance, this comes out of your pocket.
2. Flash floods can bring walls of water as high as 15 feet. 
3. Two feet of rushing water can lift a vehicle and carry it away. 
4. New land development often increases flood risk.
5. Floods are caused by many different sources, including winter storms and snow melt, which have been particularly problematic the past couple years. 
6. Since 1978, the NFIP has paid nearly $50 billion for flood insurance claims and related costs.

The list goes on, but the most important thing is to protect yourself and your family. If any type of flooding happens to you, make sure you have Mark's Cleaning Service on speed dial. We're water damage professionals, and we're here to help.

Our 24 hour emergency water removal number is 330-350-1293. Our emergency crews are ready to respond within one hour of any phone call. Stay safe!

-Mark