Dirty Office Carpets and Flooring and Illness...

How They Are Linked and What It Means For Employers

Unless businesses have a cleaning crew devoted to regularly scheduled cleaning the odds that the office is not as clean as it should be. Simply having an employee running a vacuum every night does not assure that the carpet is clean. Hidden and ground in dirt and allergens will not only create a dingy atmosphere, but can actually cause the staff to become ill.

The number of allergies which the public suffers from is on the rise. These allergies, which cause respiratory distress, can lead to a compromised immune system and create the perfect environment for communicable illnesses to flourish. Surprisingly much of the contaminants, pollen and irritants reside in the carpet and upholstery of every carpet and office chair throughout the workplace.

Every time an employee sits down or stands up, the fabric of the chair is disturbed which allows any allergens to become airborne. The worst area, however, is the carpeting. During the cooler seasons the risk of illness can increase as well as the dirt. Indoor air pollution is a major contributor to employees missing work.

Vacuums actually do not clean carpets, but merely remove much of the larger debris located at the surface of the carpet fibers. The beater bar on most vacuums is supposed to loosen trapped dirt in order for the vacuum to remove all of the dirt. In truth the vibration of the vacuum motor and the beater bar can actually cause the dust and dirt to be worked in deeper. The best solution is to have a professional cleaning performed.

Allwein's Carpet Cleaning has a variety of methods at their disposal for specific types of carpeting. Berber carpets are very common in commercial, retail or corporate work offices due to the durability and longevity of the carpet compared to a high pile plush carpet. Cleaning methods for one type of weave will not work well on other types of weaves.

A professional floor maintenance company should be able to use the best methods of floor cleaning from deep steam cleaning to using dry chemical applications. The proper industrial cleaning equipment that the cleaning service companies possess are much costlier than the average rug cleaner which can be rented from an assortment of local retailers and will always perform better. The main advantage of utilizing a cleaning service, such as Allwein's Carpet Cleaning, is that the customer does not need to invest in expensive equipment and the maintenance cost which is required to keep that equipment in proper operating condition. In this highly indeterminate economy saving money is one of the high priorities of business.

Visit Allwein's Carpet Cleaning of Annville, PA to receive a free carpet cleaning quote.

Article independently authored by Dan Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allwein's Carpet Cleaning. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Floor and Carpet Cleaning - Different Methods For a Deep Clean of a Variety of Carpets

There are a variety of methods to clean carpets. Some are definitely more effective than others. Among the choices are shampooing, foam cleaning, bonnet cleaning, dry cleaning and steam cleaning; which method will be best for the office will be determined by the amount of available time without customers or employees present. After hours is usually the only option.

Shampooing, foam cleaning and bonnet cleaning are very similar to one another. Each requires the use of a buffer. One major difference is that the bonnet is placed at the end of the buffer and brushes and massages the cleaning solution into the carpet. Once the bonnet has become soiled, rinsing the bonnet off allows the cleaner to continue.

Dry cleaning utilizes a powdered chemical which is deposited over the carpet. Once the powder is worked into the fibers of the carpet with a special applicator, it begins to attract and absorb the dirt. The carpet is then vacuumed extensively in order to remove the powder. Many commercial facilities such as schools or businesses which are open 24 hours per day may exercise this option.

Steam cleaning is by far the most effective carpet cleaning method available. With the high temperature of steam and water, along with the cleaning detergent, dirt and soiled fibers will be loosened and removed easily. This option however, does require a lengthy drying time just as the shampoo and bonnet cleaning methods.

Steam cleaners are available for purchase by the consumer, but the expensive price tag usually does not justify the cost for the average business. Rentals are available at many grocery stores or retail shopping centers. These rentals will do an admirable job for what they are, but the amount of time and effort to pick up these units and transport them is just the beginning. Moving the furniture and any obstructions is a major hassle, very time consuming and can be back breaking work. Many businesses do not have the labor hours or equipment to clean the carpet correctly.

The best solution is to contract with a professional carpet cleaning agency to come into the business and perform a thorough cleaning at regular intervals. Many companies will provide the man power to move the furniture in order to provide a proper and thorough cleaning. If the carpet cleaning company is to perform the work after hours without the supervision of the business customer it is important to verify that the cleaning company is bonded and insured

For more information on carpet cleaning and flooring in Central Pennsylvania please call 717-867-4100 or click and visit Allwein's Carpet Cleaning today!

Article independently authored by Daniel P. Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allwein's Carpet Cleaning. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Carpet Cleaning and Tile or Hardwood

Best Methods for Ensuring Effective Long-Term Cleanliness

Every office or commercial business has different needs for maintenance; especially floor maintenance. Floor tile or carpet cleaning is not the same from one area to the next. Different regions have to deal with specific problems. In the southern states sand, mud and pollen wreak havoc on carpet. On the West coast similar challenges exist due to the overall climate conditions. Pennsylvania and New England have additional condition with which to contend: salt, sand, water, mildew, pollen. The list is never ending.

The best solution for keep the carpet or tile clean is to contract with a professional carpet and floor cleaning company to perform deep cleans a few times per year. Depending upon the volume of traffic, the carpet and other floor surfaces may require more frequent attention. The alternatives can be surprising and quite expensive.

Normal dirt from day to day operations is expected. When sand and salt are thrown into the mix wear and tear on carpets and hard floor surfaces can cause the flooring to degrade very quickly. Salt and sand will act as scouring agents and will dull and etch tiles and hardwood floors. Carpets will be detrimentally affected as well. The sand and salt will sift down into the carpet and dull the color and texture and weaken the fabric.

With regards to tile and hardwood flooring, it is important to regularly maintain the wax finish coat or other type of protective sealant. Sand and other granulated materials can weaken and erode grout joints encouraging the joints to crack and crumble. Carpeting requires regular vacuuming. Surprisingly, vacuum beater bars can actually cause dirt and other contaminants to recede further down into the carpet fibers, which cause the carpet to fray.

The best way to combat the negative effects of these and other contaminants is for tile and hard floor surfaces to be stripped periodically. Stripping a floor requires specialized equipment to do it efficiently. After the floor finish has been stripped the stripping chemical must be removed and neutralized. Because of this labor intensive process, it does not make sense for most companies to service their own flooring.

Carpeting requires deep steam cleaning to remove embedded soil, pollen and other contaminants. Steam helps to relax the fibers of the carpet and loosen the embedded debris. Once this has been achieved it becomes easier to remove the dirt and restore the carpeting to a brighter and cleaner look.

In certain situations steam cleaning carpets or stripping a tile floor may not be a viable option. There are other methods to clean flooring. The professional carpet cleaning company will be able to recommend the best solution for the specific carpet and environment.

For additional information on the topic of carpet cleaning and floor maintenance visit Allwein's Carpet Cleaning.

Article independently authored by Daniel P. Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allwein's Carpet Cleaning. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Regular Floor Care and Carpet Cleaning is a Good Alternative to Spending Tens of Thousands

As the price of everything else increases, so does the cost of carpet. Many office complexes with carpeting fail to have a regularly scheduled professional cleaning performed every 6 months at the least. Saving money on expenses is extremely important to every individual and especially to businesses, but cheating the company by not maintaining the existing carpet will end up costing more with the long haul in mind.

Depending upon the location of the company, the cost to replace an existing carpet can be as much as $36 per square yard. What this means is an office area in the neighborhood of 1,700 to 2,000 square feet would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $22,000. How can it possibly cost this exorbitant amount of money to lay new carpet?

Carpet installation is not as simple as making a few cuts and dropping the carpet in place. If there is an existing carpet which needs to be removed, the amount of labor necessary to remove the old carpet and prepare the floor to receive the new one more than doubles. Depending upon how the original carpet was secured to the floor will also greatly affect the cost for new carpet.

Additional hidden costs which the customer will not see itemized generally are discard fees for landfills, costs for transporting the carpeting and the cost of downtime for the business having the carpet installed. All costs, but the last one are usually lumped in with the labor charges or built into the cost of the carpet. The cost of $22,000 is just for an area of approximately $2,000. If the property is a zoned office complex, the square footage can easily approach 15,000 square feet or more. That minimum cost for installation would jump to at least $180,000.

There are two alternatives. Either do not own any investment property which will need some kind of floor maintenance regardless of whether it is carpeting, tile or wood, or regularly maintain the carpet with professional cleaning services. With proper maintenance of the existing floor covering, the expectant lifespan of flooring can double.

Nightly vacuuming or sweeping and mopping will of course keep the flooring presentable for a few months. Over time the dinginess will gradually develop and even though people may not consciously be aware of it, the poor condition of the carpet will cast a pallor over the face of day to day business. Every 6 months is an average length of time to let pass between each professional carpet cleaning. Should the floor receive high traffic everyday, the frequency of carpet cleaning may need to be increased.

For more information on floor coverings and carpet cleaning visit http://www.allweinscarpetcleaning.com.

Article is independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allweins Carpet Cleaning.

Carpet Cleaning Tips - How Dirty Carpets and Upholstery Endanger the Health of Employees and Can Damage Business As Well

Floor tile and wood flooring can be a simple material to remove surface dirt, depending on the texture and color. Removing dirt and grime from the grout or joints is a different story entirely. Much like carpet and upholstery, tile, grout and wood floors will collect a surprising amount of dirt and stains within a month at a business or commercial venue. Home owner's residences will take a longer period of time to build up the same amount of dirt without the home owner even being consciously aware due to less traffic in a residence.

Even though mopping or dry sweeping will remove the surface dust and debris from a tile or hardwood floor, it does nothing but pack the dirt into the grout or crevices. The joints between floor boards will also darken with dirt and grime as time elapses. A clear view of this can be seen by examining the baseboard or the edge of the floor where it meets the wall. There will be a stark difference between the shading and color of the grout lines at these points than the rest of the grout lines along the floor and packed gummy dirt or residue at the bottom of the baseboard. Customer's perception of the business will be negatively affected even though the floor is "cleaned" every evening.

The effects of dirt on carpet and upholstery are a little different and can usually present additional issues. Carpet and upholstery is not as durable as tile or wood flooring can be. Using a traditional vacuum to clean a carpet and upholstery, while removing surface debris, can actually cause greater wear and tear on the material being cleaned and intensify serious health issues.

Because of the use of beater bars in a vacuum, much of the pollen, dust and other allergens are embedded deep within the fabric fibers. Despite most vacuums having a HEPA filter, much of these contaminants will still become airborne thereby lowering the air quality at the work place. Individuals will spend as much as 90% of their time indoors. What this means is worsening health as the individual has greater exposure to airborne contaminants and irritants. To support this claim, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recorded that in the past several years, as people are spending more and more time at work, the frequency of illnesses and conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, headaches and other respiratory ailments are increasing. Every individual's health can be adversely affected causing increased call-outs from work which leads to a less productive person, both in their personal life and as an employee.

While opening windows will help usher in fresh air and remove the stagnant air containing irritants, the majority of businesses do not have windows which are able to be opened. A good method to improve indoor air quality and overall cleanliness is to employ a professional cleaning regimen. A professional cleaning company should help to improve the work or home environment while at the same time improve the attitudes and perceptions of customers and employees, personally and professionally

Learn more about floor maintenance and carpet cleaning by visiting http://www.allweinscarpetcleaning.com.

Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allweinscarpetcleaning.com.

Carpet Cleaning - Vacuums Do Not Work As Expected, But There Are Excellent Alternatives

Whether it is a residence or office building, vacuuming is rarely an enjoyable task. It certainly is not a favorite among home owners. Of course, chores are exactly that; chores. While enjoying a clean residence or office is more relaxing, achieving that utopia can not be accomplished by mere vacuum alone. Periodic professional carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning is recommended to help maintain the condition of the carpets and improve the overall cleanliness of the surrounding environs.

There is quite frequently at least one person in every family or office who suffers from allergies. Allergen filters and air cleaners work to clean the air in theory; however, the location is only as clean as the dirtiest area. For most buildings that would be the carpet. Dust, pollen and other contaminants are churned up with every step an individual takes.

Most home owners would use a vacuum and the occasional rental carpet shampooer with the expectations that the carpeting and home will be sufficiently cleaned. Many offices completely overlook shampooing altogether. Traditionally canister vacuums have performed better than upright vacuum cleaners, but there are several problems and limitations with relying on these methods alone.

The first major problem is actually the vacuum itself. The majority of vacuums, like carpet sweepers, do a passable job at removing much of the surface debris that can accumulate. Where the vacuum is lacking is the ability to reach deep down into the fibers of most carpets and upholstery to remove the embedded dirt. Rental shampooers are slightly better; however, the abuse and heavy use these units have sustained can often lead to an ineffective carpet cleaner.

Depending upon the particulars of the area, such as a dirty and dusty building exterior or a plethora of animals at a home, little can be done from preventing these irritants from getting inside. The key is to have a professional carpet cleaning company with years of experience to periodically clean the carpets, upholstery and even hardwood or tile flooring.

The advantages of relying on professional carpet cleaners are two-fold. By removing the embedded dirt and contaminants from the carpeting and upholstery, maintaining the cleanliness of the carpet will be easier using a standard vacuum. The added bonus will be that less pollen, dander and dust will be churned up, leaving behind a cleaner atmosphere which family or employees and customers will take notice. Fewer irritants mean easier breathing and better overall health.

For more information on carpet and floor cleaning visit www.allweinscarpetcleaning.com.

Article independently authored by Daniel P Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflec the views and opinions of Allweins Carpet Cleaning.

Carpet Cleaning and Floor Maintenance - Improve Customer Perception and Increase Sales and Revenue

The average individual spends more time at work than at home, but few staff members or management stop to think of how clean the work place really is. Indoor pollutants can contribute to increased health risks more than the air people breathe outdoors. Air cleaners only go so far. The best solution covers a wide range of cleaning and care requirements and just so happens to be the proper one for health concerns, image presentation and actually saving money.

There is no such thing as a maintenance-free anything. This is especially true of flooring. Some flooring materials, such as tile or hardwood floors, can be more durable than carpets and rugs, however even these types of flooring need cleaning and care specific to the type of material. There are several different types of tile flooring.

Ceramic or porcelain tiles are quite common in a variety of business from lobbies and luxury service establishments to welcome centers and restaurants. Over time the grout and tile itself will become dingy and darken with dirt. Proper cleaning will involve either scrubbing the grout line by hand with a brush and cleaning solution or hiring a professional carpet cleaner or floor care company. The latter is obviously the better of the two options in order to save time which translates to saving money.

Another extremely common floor tile is vinyl composition tile or VCT. VCT is extremely durable and commonly used in hundreds of thousands of high traffic areas. The local brick-and-mortar super center marts, schools, offices and retail stores are just a few places where vinyl tiling is utilized. Again, with moderate traffic, the gloss or waxed surface will dull and become dingy. When this occurs not many people will consciously be aware of this, but the unclean "feeling" can tarnish the customer's view of the business image and drive down sales.

Carpeting is similar in many ways. Dirty carpets may not reveal all of the marks and dirt, but will become worn down and house dust mites, odors and other irritants. For many employees and customers alike, this may not be readily apparent, but the overall perception will be a negative one.

Routine carpet cleaning and scheduled tile stripping and waxing can have a remarkable effect on how a customer perceives a business. Employee demeanor, surprisingly, can also be improved just by having the office floor and carpet cleaned regularly. If nothing else, the flooring will last longer when maintained properly and will save a business the extra expense of replacing the carpet or tile with more frequency.

For more information on floor maintenance and carpet cleaning visit www.allweinscarpetcleaning.com.

Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allweins Carpet Cleaning.

New Website for Allwein's Carpet Cleaning

Allwein's Carpet Cleaning announces new website!

Allwein's Carpet Cleaning is a professional, full-service carpet, floor, fabric care company serving Lebanon Valley and surrounding areas including Hershey, Hummelstown and Palmyra.

Visit http://www.allweinscarpetcleaning.com to see all of our services available!


Article independently authored by Matthew Eddington The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Allwein's Carpet Cleaning.