QC Newsletter April 2012 - Spring into Cleaning

Spring Cleaning Special!

Clean 3 Rooms and Get a Chair Upholstery Cleaning* Free!

*$45.00 Value

*One offer per household, not valid on commercial/rental properties, not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 4/30/12

QC Newsletter April 2012 - Trivia Spot

Trivia Spot

1. In Tokyo you can buy this for your dog, usually it’s for men.

2. When Americans cook at home, they cook THIS.

3. Having this at the dinner table reduces hostile talk.

4. 26% of adults never did this when they were teens. What is it?

5. A recent study shows the more of this you have, the smarter your are. What is it?

6. Every big lottery winner has reportedly done this.

7. 4 of 10 people can’t do this. What is it?

8. This object weighs twice as much as it did when you bought it 10 years ago. What is it?

9. 50% of couples do THIS separately. What is it?

10. One million of THESE are consumed every hour.

11. Average person does THIS 200 times a year.

12. 17% of kids do this, only 4% of adults do.

13. More women than men are now legally able to do this.

14. Average Americans ate 11 pounds of THESE last year.

15. Survey says 12% of employees are brave enough to do THIS at work.

Answers:

1. A toupee 2. Spaghetti 3. Garlic 4. Attend a school dance 5. Body hair 6. Gained significant weight 7. Touch their toes while standing 8. Your mattress 9. Laundry 10. Pain killers 11. Sneeze 12. Sleepwalk 13. Drive 14. Carrots 15. Tell boss his/her outfit is inappropriate.

QC Newsletter April 2012 - Spring into Cleaning

Spring into Cleaning

With April showers and May flowers come dust and pollen that can leave your home in desperate need of a seasonal makeover. Spring cleaning may not be one’s idea of fun in the sun, but the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has a few tips to make cleaning a breeze.

HVAC filters - Use quality electrostatic filters that attract particles to the filter. To keep filters in top shape, clean once per month.

Control moisture and humidity - Maintaining humidity at 50 percent or below prevents the growth of mold and the infestation of dust mites; two of the most common allergens.

Increase vacuum frequency - Since about 75% of carpet soil is dry particulate, vacuuming more often prevents soil from embedding deep into carpets. Vacuum heavy-traffic areas slowly and repeatedly.

Use high efficiency filter bags - High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) double-lined vacuum filter bags filter out 99% of particles that cause respiratory irritation.

For professional cleaning jobs, look for an IICRC-Certified Firm - Confirm their technician’s training and certification in the type of work to be performed and always obtain a written estimate.

For more information and helpful tips go to http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/ts_springCleaning.shtml

QC Newsletter April 2012 - 2012 Connections Conference & Exhibiltion

2012 Connections Confernece & Exhibition

May 2th - 5th

Clearwater Florida

Ongoing education is the key to giving our customers superior carpet cleaning. This year we will be attending Connections Conference and Exhibition in May. We will be learning about new cleaning techniques, cleaning solutions and products plus the latest trends in carpet cleaning.

In addition, we will discover new research, the most up-to-date information, and the best tools available in the carpet cleaning industry today. This will enable us to provide our customers with the best cleaning service possible.

Being an IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) Certified Firm means keeping up on education. All of our technicians are required to be certified in carpet cleaning. They have to take continuing education classes in order to keep their certification. This allows them to have the knowledge needed to properly clean and repair your carpet.

Following is a list of certifications that our technicians hold:

Carpet Cleaning

Odor Control

Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning

Carpet Repair and Reinstallation

Journey Textile Cleaner

Commercial Carpet Maintenance

Color Repair

Education is the key to successful cleaning; the Connections Conference is one way to ensure this happens. We look forward to returning with knowledge to better serve our customers!

QC Newsletter March 2012 - St Paddy's Day Cookie Pops

St Paddy’s Day Cookie Pops

If you are looking for a fun and easy recipe to do with the kids, try these deliciously simple St. Patrick's Day Cookie Pops. The kids will smile and giggle while making these treats, and will have something fun to give to family, friends, and classmates!

Supplies

20 vanilla wafer cookies

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 12-ounce bag white chocolate chips

green and yellow gumdrops

green Dots

green and yellow Nerd candies

Cake decorating writer gel in

green, yellow, red, orange, and black

1 tube of green cake decorator frosting with tip

green and yellow decorator sugar

green food coloring

ice cream or lollipop sticks

wax paper or paper plates

Instructions:

Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies. Place an ice cream stick into the peanut butter on half the cookies. Top with another cookie so the stick is sandwiched between the two cookies.

Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, one minute, then in 20 second increments, stirring until smooth. Before melting, seperate the white chips into two bowls. After melting, add a few drops of green food coloring to one of the bowls of white chips to make green chocolate.

Dip cookie pops in the melted chips, covering completely. Sprinkle with green and yellow sugar and lay or stand on waxed paper or paper plates. Place in refrigerator to chill.

QC Newsletter March 2012 - Three Keys to Successful Spot Cleaning

Three Keys to Successful Spot Cleaning

Here are a few things to keep in mind when spotting your own carpet:

1. All spots are not created equal. All spots should not be cleaned with the same product.

For example, urine spots that are dried should be cleaned with an “acid side” spotter due to the fact that the pH of urine changes with hours of drying. Oil or grease spots require a solvent-based spotter and do-it yourself traffic area cleaning is best approached with a dry compound material, leaving just food and general spots for the general spotter.

2. Using the wrong product can actually cause a permanent stain. Many over-the-counter products are high in alkaline content and can actually “set” the stain. In addition, some tend to leave heavy residues that cause spots to re-soil quickly.

3. Spot cleaning is not a substitute for professional traffic area cleaning. Leaving traffic areas without professional attention for long periods of time will allow abrasive soils to damage carpet beyond repair. If you don’t know how long it’s been since you have cleaned your carpets, then it’s time!

QC Newsletter March 2012 - Bait and Switch Carpet Cleaners!

Beware of Bait and Switch Carpet Cleaners!

You know the type – they “bait” you with a low price, then “switch” you to their “dual scrub” or “deep clean” system. They proceed to soak your carpet and leave a soapy residue behind.

Beware of low priced carpet cleaning. If their price is truly low, you should be concerned about their quality. How can you pay technicians a decent wage and have the best products and equipment at the lowest price? You can’t.

Some companies advertise a low price, then charge you more when they get there. Be clear about what is included and what is not. Even if you held them to the $49, you would get a very poor cleaning.

Here are some questions to ask every carpet cleaner about their cleaning…

1. What method do you use?

2. Do you pre-spot urine and other spots?

3. Do you pre-spray the carpet?

4. Do you pre-groom the carpet?

5. Do you neutralize the carpet?

6. Do you use air movers to speed dry the carpet?

7. Is all spot cleaning included in the price?

8. Do you give a free bottle of spot remover?

9. Do you give a free pair of booties?

Questions to ask about their company…

1. Do you have recent references?

2. How long have you been in business?

3. Are you certified by the IICRC?

4. Do you use sub-contractors or employees?

5. Do you have liability insurance?

A low priced carpet cleaning company simply cannot provide the most advanced, guaranteed cleaning technology at a low, low price. Something has to be cut from their service. Our Company obviously offers all of these benefits and more.