Call NOW! Lawrence 785-842-3311 • Topeka 785-266-1133

January 2012
Winter Weather Advisory

Avoid frozen, bursting pipes by keeping your heat on and set no lower than 55 degrees, even if you are going out of town for an extended period of time.

If your pipes do freeze, make sure you know how to shut off the water in case pipes burst.

BEFORE you have an emergency is the best time to educate yourself on how to handle this situation if it arises, NOT while you are standing in flooded carpet! Unfortunately, water emergencies occur every day to someone but the goal is responding quickly to minimize the damage. Here are some steps to take immediately and until help can arrive:

1. AVOID HAZARDS! Electrical shock, falling on wet floors and bacteria are real and common hazards.
2. STOP THE SOURCE! If you haven’t located the source of the water, call us immediately and we will guide you through this.
3. TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION! Call Kansas Carpet Care, anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Time is crucial, we will respond immediately.
4. REMOVE FURNITURE! Wood and rust stains are difficult, if not impossible, to remove. So move the furniture away from any water and elevate it off the floor.

November 2011
Special Tips for Winter

Now that the storm windows are in place, it is time to think about how to maintain good indoor air quality until spring gets here. Following are a few tips to keep your home fresh during the winter months:

1.  Vacuum Frequently - Did you know that the number of times you should vacuum per week is based upon the number of persons in your home (including pets!)? For example, if there are 4 persons and/or pets, you should vacuum 4 times weekly.

2.  Change The Filter On Your Heating Unit On A Monthly Basis - This reduces the number of particles and allergens that are recycled through your vent systems.

3.  Use Throw Rugs At ALL Entry Points To Your Home - It takes 4 full steps to get 95% of the dirt and pollutants off your shoes. The rugs should be a minimum of 6 to 8 feet in length.

September 2011
How To Protect Your Home From Fall Ragweed Allergens

As most of you already know, August is the month that generally kicks off ragweed allergy season. What you may not know are the facts behind how to reduce the long-lasting effects of ragweed related symptoms. According to specialists, ragweed particles are generally in the outdoor air only until the first hard freeze, but they can live from 4 to 6 months in your home. Just imagine, allergy suffers can be affected from now until after New Year’s! You can reduce the number of particles circulating in your home by taking the following steps:

1. Keep your windows closed! It is very tempting to open up when the weather starts to cool down, but until the first hard freeze, allergens are very high.

2. Change the filter on your heating and air conditioning unit on a monthly basis. This reduces the number of allergens that are recycled through your vent systems. Also, as a rule of thumb, your air duct systems should be cleaned at least every 3 to 5 years. Please call our office if you would like an estimate.

3. Vacuum frequently using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filtering system. You can even buy inexpensive, HEPA filtering vacuums at Walmart or Target if you don’t already own one.

4. Have your carpets, upholstery and mattresses professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Vacuuming with a HEPA filter vacuum reduces the number of allergens in the air but does not entirely rid you of the pesky particles. The steam cleaning from a truck-mounted system, the only system the Kansas Carpet Care uses, has a more powerful vacuum system and also uses high heat to further eliminate the source.

July 2011
How to Get More Carpet Cleaning for Your Dollar

Carpet is the best overall floor covering for your home for many reasons. In previous newsletters we have discussed the various reasons why which include cost, safety, sound absorption, insulation and your health. It is also important to protect this investment by getting the carpets cleaned on a regular basis. By cleaning on a regular basis, you also extend the life of your carpet and reduce the chances of having to spend your hard earned money on carpet replacement! Following are a few tips that help you get more value from your carpet cleaning service for your dollar:

1. Point out every spot you are concerned about. Tell the technician what the spot is. When we know what caused a spot, it is more likely that we can remove it.

2. Prepare your carpet to be cleaned. Remove the furnishings. Remove all breakables from the work area. Vacuum and clean the baseboards before we come.

3. Never be too shy to complain. I want you to rave about me to your friends, so call me with any concerns.

4. Have an open parking space as close as possible to your front door.

5. Sign up for a “Worry-Free” maintenance plan and receive guaranteed savings! Carpet manufacturers recommend our method of carpet cleaning (the truck-mounted hot water extraction system known as “steam cleaning”) be performed every 6 to 12 months to maintain the beauty and life of your investment. Also, one of the biggest things you can do to improve the indoor air quality of your home is to have the carpets cleaned regularly. If you have had your carpets cleaned within the last three months by Kansas Carpet Care and did not set up a 3, 4, 6, 9 or 12 month appointment, you can call our office to set up your next appointment. We will place you on a plan that gives you 10 to 20% off, based upon eligibility – guaranteed! The “Worry-Free” maintenance plan does NOT require that you set up a lengthy contract but gives you discounts for appointments you keep. Plus, you will get the date and premium appointment time you want, no matter how busy we are. We will also send you a postcard 2 to 3 weeks prior to your scheduled service to remind you of the service date and discount you will receive. Call our office TODAY for more information and to start saving!

January 2011
Winter IS The Best Time To Clean Your Carpet!

Did you know that cleaning your carpets in the winter will save you from wasting your money and time. It may also help keep your family from getting sick! Do you realize if you are putting off carpet cleaning until spring that it is still 3 MONTHS AWAY! Three months. That’s a long time to let your carpet go if it needs cleaning right now. I’m sure you won’t be putting off regular dusting until spring, those same particles and others also settle on your carpeting.

FYI: Did you know that a dust mite molts several times during its life, producing 200 times its weight in waste and will lay 300 eggs. Each mite produces 40 to 100 feces pellets per day. The mites’ droppings are coated in an enzymatic slimy substance which after drying becomes mixed with other particles forming household dust. Oh, how I dislike the taste of dust mite feces!

Needless to say, there are many other things that can happen to your precious investment by prolonging a needed cleaning. Damaged traffic lanes, spots becoming permanent, delicate fibers breaking down, soil grinding in, the list goes on and on. But regardless, you may wait and clean in the spring, and until now you may not have had much motivation to do otherwise. So, we have decided to help you save your carpet by educating and motivating you about the reasons why to clean your carpets in the winter. Here are the best reasons:

In the winter, appointments are much more readily available. There’s nothing worse than turning a client away because you’re too busy in the spring to accommodate them. Has this happened to you? Have you been one of our clients who had to wait one week? Two weeks? Or more? While in the winter, my techs may be sitting around looking for things to do for a few hours each day. Clean now and avoid the rush!

Contrary to popular beliefs, your carpet stays cleaner longer in the winter. In the spring and summer dusts, pollens, and pollutants are blown into your home through open windows resulting in a poor, unhealthy indoor environment. Your home is contaminated with pollutants and gets shut tight for the winter, trapping everything inside. If you’re not cleaning carpet in the winter, your carpet’s filtering ability is full so you and your family have been breathing polluted air for a long time. Clean carpet in the winter for your health’s sake! Remember: “A Clean Home is a Healthy Home!”

Quicker drying times are another reason to clean your home in the winter time. Opposite of what most would think, the lack of humidity allows moisture to evaporate quickly making your carpet dry slightly faster. Set the thermostat between 68-70 degrees and see how fast it dries.

You receive great promotions! Because it is a slower time of year, we have to come up with creative promotions to prompt your phone call and make it worth your while. Be sure to check out our current special by clicking on the big red button then call our office to schedule!

November 2010
Steps To Winterizing Your Home Includes Carpet Cleaning, Frozen Pipe Prevention

We have had an unseasonably warm fall so it is hard to see the signs of the upcoming winter season but they will be here soon! Before we know it, the leaves will be falling from the trees and the temperatures will be near freezing at night.

Now is the time we start to think about winterizing our homes. Mainly, we get out the storm windows, make sure the chimney is clear of debris, clear the gutters, and check to make sure that all entryways and windows are air tight. There are a few additional steps that should be taken to winterize your home and protect your carpets during the harsh winter season.

First,your carpets and upholstery have taken a beating this summer. Constant traffic and hard use take their toll in excessive wear and tear. Unexpected spills and spots appear as if by magic! Plus, all summer long those nasty creeping critters, like dust mites, have had time to live and breed in your carpet. With all the in-and-out traffic, the outdoor pollutants (pollens, bacteria, cigarette smoke, grease, tar and industrial waste) have been carried into your home and deposited in your carpet.

Now is the time to get your carpets cleaned and protected! Please give Laurie a call at the office to book your appointment. Remember, the Holidays are just around the corner and our schedule fills up quickly, so don’t wait to call. Please look at our Holiday Specials to see if any of the special promotions might work with your carpet and upholstery cleaning needs!

Second,we all too often receive frantic calls in the middle of the night from clients whose pipes have frozen and ruptured. Water is bursting out all over, the floors and walls of their homes are now soggy. We hope this never happens to you, but it does happen to nearly a quarter-million families each year. Here are a few simple steps to take in preparing for winter and in protecting your home from sudden disaster:

1. Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing - typically near outer walls and in the attic. Insulation for this purpose is available.
2. Wrap pipes with heat tape - Be sure to follow instructions precisely since improper usage may cause a fire!
3. Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located.
4. Disconnect all garden hoses.
5. When it is really cold, let water trickle overnight from all faucets, open cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate, and make sure your heat is on and set no lower than 55 degrees.

We hope these suggestions will help you. Happy Holidays!

May 2010
Allergy Season Comes Early This Spring!

Well, it has been all over the news in recent days that allergy season has come early and is in full swing nearly a month ahead of schedule. All the trees and plants bloomed at once! People are suffering more than usual so it is even more important to think about protecting your indoor air environment and keeping it allergen free.

According to the AAFA (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), an estimated 50 to 60 million Americans suffer from allergies and 17 million from asthma. Controlling the symptoms begins at home. Many people with these illnesses stay indoors when outdoor air is full of pollen and spores – what they don’t always realize is the dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores can cause problems indoors.

In order to reduce the affects of asthma and allergies, it is important to remove or reduce the source of the allergens that you are exposed to. So what can you do?

1.  Vacuum frequently. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or special double filter bags if possible (this includes your couches and loveseats!). The rule of thumb is one time per week for each family member and pet!

2.  Prevent or control animal dander. While most people will not get rid of pets to control seasonal allergies, you can keep the pet barred from the bedroom where you spend 1/3 of your time. Animal allergens are sticky, so it is also a good idea to have low pile carpet. You should also cover vents with dense material like cheesecloth.

3.  Control dust mites. Dust mites reproduce at a phenomenal rate. They live in your carpet, your mattresses and pillows, and your upholstery. Furthermore, they are too small to be removed by vacuuming alone. You must keep surfaces in the home clean and uncluttered. Pillows should be washed frequently and/or encased in protective covers. In addition, you should have your carpets, mattresses and upholstery professionally cleaned to extract the dust mites as well as other allergens. Kansas Carpet Care offers these services.

4.  Avoid mold spores. Reduce moisture in the areas of your home that are susceptible by using dehumidifiers. If you sustain water damage from any source, call Kansas Carpet Care to professionally assist you with drying and dehumidifying your home. Mold,  mildew, and other harmful bacteria will start to grow within 24 to 48 hours unless treated. Do-it-yourself methods and residential fans/dehumidifiers are usually inadequate or do not entirely eliminate the problem. 

5.  Clean your air ducts. As a rule of thumb, you should have your air duct system cleaned at least every 3 to 5 years. If your home is new construction, it is also important to have the system cleaned before you move in to eliminate the dust and particles from the construction process.

6.  Remember to control your indoor air quality year round.  What is inside in the Spring is inside in the Fall - unless it is removed! Make sure to professionally clean your carpets, rugs and upholstery every 6 months if you have allergies. Otherwise, they should be cleaned a minimum of once every 9-12 months for health and wear purposes. 

March 2010
April Showers Bring...Flooded Basements?

The Spring rainy season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, it always seems to come in buckets! All too often it overwhelms our sump pumps, window wells and foundations, leaving us with flooded basements and wet belongings.

NOW is the time to check your sump pump to make sure it is functioning correctly. We recommend that your sump pump has a working battery back-up in case of a power loss. Check your foundation for any cracks and your window wells. Check your gutters for anything that could potentially clog them i.e. fallen leaves and branches and have the debris removed. Also, check with your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate coverage in case you do sustain water damage of any type. You should maintain coverage for sump pump failure (if applicable) and also the maximum sewer back-up cap allowable. Damage from sewer back-ups is typically much more costly due to the hazard posed to clean-up personnel, the structure itself and your belongings.

Did you know that water damage sustained by heavy rain water entering your home through the foundation, window wells and doors is generally not covered by the basic home owner policy? Be sure to check with your agent to see if he/she offers the national flood insurance program that can potentially cover such a loss.

Finally, there are a few important steps to take immediately if you have water damage. First, avoid any hazards. Electrical shock, falling on wet floors, and bacteria in sewer water are all real and common dangers. Second, stop the source. If you haven’t located the source of water, call us immediately and we’ll guide you through this. Third, take immediate action. Call Kansas Carpet Care any time. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day! Finally, begin removing furniture and items from the wet areas or elevate them off the floor. Remove all rugs, as the color will bleed easily onto your carpets. And remember, help is on the way!

January 2010
Did Your Carpet and Upholstery Take A Beating During The Holidays?

The Holidays are a difficult time for your carpet and upholstery. Constant traffic and hard use take their toll in excessive wear and tear on your furnishings. Unexpected spills, spots appearing as if by magic, PLUS...living creatures such as dust mites have been living and breeding in your couches, rugs and carpets since Summer. Don’t just take it from me though, here are some important facts you should know about what happens to your home, carpets and upholstery during the winter months:

FACT ONE: Sand brought in from the frigid outdoors is scratching your carpet and valuable rugs. Each day I pull pounds and pounds of sandy soil out of the base of clients’ carpets. It’s in yours too! Spread the yarns apart and look deep. It’s grinding your expensive yarns into worthless fibers that fill up your vacuum bag. Every moment you wait for cleaning, your carpet wears out faster!

FACT TWO: How do the traffic lanes feel? Oily residues from the street and air are drying to the carpet. Slightly sticky, they grab dirt and lock it on. Soils bond with the carpet through a process called “oxidation,” causing color change, and becoming permanently attached. If you wait too long, you are throwing away the key to unlocking dirt and oil from traffic lanes. The longer you wait between cleaning the more soil becomes permanent. Clean before traffic lanes show up!

FACT THREE: Is the air starting to smell stale? Great news! Pollutants in the air are filtered through your carpet. The carpet and rugs traps them so you don’t breathe them over and over. What happens when that trap gets full? Your family starts breathing dust mite debris, pollens, pollutants, fungus, spores, bacteria and a long list of other really gross stuff. Once your carpets natural filtering ability is full, it’s time for a thorough cleaning for your health’s sake.

It’s important to note that the sand, residues from the street and pollutants in the air also filter through your upholstery and mattresses. YUK! I know most everyone spends time on the couch watching college basketball and new releases from Red Box in the winter so I’d bet you don’t want to know exactly what we’re inhaling and the damage we’re doing  to our upholstery just by sitting down with family and friends!

FACT FOUR: Clean during the winter and summer (every six months) and you’ll breathe easier. The fact is, clean your carpets frequently, when traffic lanes first start to appear. They will last longer, look better, and protect your family’s health.

Be sure to check out our current specials to make your home a healthier home during these winter months!

November 2009
Knowing How To Treat Spots Prevents Stains, Frustration

There’s nothing more frustrating than a big spill or spot on your carpet at the most inopportune time! Worse even is the recurring spot (this is the spot that goes away after your carpets are cleaned, then mysteriously comes back in a few days or over the course of a few months). There are, however, several ways to treat or prevent these spots from becoming stains or popping up after you work on them.

First, as a preventative measure, apply a good carpet protector (like scotchguard). A good carpet protector will repel spots and keep the fibers from absorbing what is spilled, giving you time to remove the spot before it becomes a problem.

Second, use the right spotter. Kansas Carpet Care provides you with a product called Spot-Out with each service that works for many spots that occur at home. This spotter is a low-residue product that does not leave a soapy residue to attract soil or bleach your carpet. The same cannot be said for products like Resolve or Oxy-Clean.

Don’t over-wet the spot! This can make your spot even bigger than it was to start with. Try the Spot-Out on a small area first to be sure it will work before becoming too aggressive.

Never “scrub” the spot. Always pat or twist with your white spotting towel after you have applied the Spot-out.

If the spotter doesn’t make the spot budge, don’t continue. There are some spots, like coffee, tea, ink and grease that require special spotters that should be applied professionally in order to have success and not permanently stain your carpet. A service call is much less expensive than new carpet! Don’t hesitate to make that call.

September 2009
Initial Steps To Winterizing Your Home Should Include Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Traditionally, fall is the time when we start to think about winterizing our home, mainly getting storm windows out of storage and making sure our chimneys are clear of debris, BUT our carpets and upholstery have taken a beating this summer as well. Constant traffic and hard use take their toll in excessive wear and tear on your furnishings. Unexpected spills, spots appearing as if by magic, PLUS...all summer long those nasty creeping critters, like dust mites, have had time to live and breed in your carpet and couches. With all the in-and-out traffic, the outdoor pollutants we always talk about (pollens, bacteria, cigarette smoke, grease, tar and industrial waste) have been carried into your home and deposited in your carpet and on your furnishing.

Somehow, kicking back and relaxing indoors doesn’t sound as appealing when you think about the quality of your indoor air environment now, does it? SOLUTION: Include carpet and upholstery in your early fall winterizing steps by getting them cleaned and refreshed now!

Be sure to check out the current specials and then call our office to schedule your appointment or to let us know if you have any questions.

July 2009
How to Select a Cleaning Professional

It’s amazing how hard it can be to choose the right carpet cleaning professional. I had to learn just like you, but I get experience every day, here are some pointers learned from trial and error.

TIP ONE: Choosing a company solely by price doesn’t work. The truth is, when we invest wisely, we get what we pay for.

Call the cheapest company you can find, and I’ll wager you get a big sales pitch with a little bit of cleaning.

It only makes sense that the cheapest company has to cut costs by using cheap cleaning agents, cheap cleaning equipment, and cheap personnel spending as little time as possible cleaning your carpet.

Is that really going to remove all the contaminants, oils, dirt and sand from the carpet? If not, then the lowest price company really isn’t a bargain at all.

TIP TWO: Which method is better? Many professionals claim to have an exclusive methods. Only they can use this method, and it is the only method you should allow to be used in your home. Doesn’t this sound like a trap to lure you into paying for a gimmick?

Consider this: If I had just invented the world’s best cleaning machine, I would sell it to more than one cleaner in each city, I would sell it to every carpet cleaner in the world. That way, I would make the most money, and do the most good.

So whenever someone tells me they have an exclusive method, I become suspicious. If nobody else has the cleaning method, it might be that nobody else wants it.

Every cleaning method has strengths and weaknesses. My company uses truck mounted steam cleaning, the method recommended by the world’s largest carpet manufacturers. Wouldn’t you want to use the type of cleaning method the makers of your carpet suggest? In fact, 95% of all carpet cleaners use this preferred method for that very reason.

TIP THREE: Cleaning the carpet yourself is a waste of money and time. Sure you can rent a machine or buy one, but how much of those contaminants do you think it’ll really get out? Can it pull sand from deep within the carpet and clean off both the oil and water soluble soils?

If those machines cleaned one tenth as good as my $30,000.00 state of the art system, I would never have spent that money. Furthermore, when you consider the value of your time, you stand to lose more money than you could allegedly save, especially if you get hurt and miss work.

TIP FOUR:How to get more cleaning for your dollar. This is really a four-step process. First, point out every spot you are concerned about. Tell the technician what the spot is. When we know what caused a spot, it is more likely we can remove it.

Second, prepare your carpet to be cleaned. Remove the furnishings. Remove all breakables from the work area. Vacuum and clean the baseboards before we come. Remember, the better prepared you are, the fewer obstacles to distract us from doing the best job ever.

Third, never be too shy to complain. I want you to rave about me to your friends. So after we leave, if you discover anything more we can do, please, please, please call me!

Finally, have an open parking space as close as possible to your front door.

May 2008 Feature
Water Damage Q&A!

Water is the single most powerful, destructive substance in the indoor environment. In home or office, it ruins carpeting, furniture and fabric, seeps through and under floors, rots wood, actually destroys the structural integrity and the building itself, and even lingering dampness can foster mold, mildew and a plethora of unhealthy microorganism growth.

Be Smart, Call A Specialist - Don’t Risk Your Home, Business And Furnishings With Do-It-Yourself Efforts Or  With Amateurs Who Do Damage Restoration As A “Sideline”...Too much can go wrong. Using improper drying techniques, temperature and humidity controls or equipment can ruin carpets and furniture, leave hidden dampness in place and cause costly secondary water damage, and lead to expensive replacement instead of restoration.

What Does A Water Damage Restoration Specialist Do?

1.  Responds to emergency calls immediately. We answer our phones live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! 2.  Instantly acts to stop the spread of water damage. Water damage spreads in all directions, outward in an ever-widening circle, down through materials, even up by soaking into fabrics. Containment of damage is the most important step to minimizing costs and minimizing the total time required to restore the entire site to its original condition.

3.  Acts quickly to eliminate safety and health hazards. A water damaged environment puts forth a variety of hazards, from electrical fires and slip-‘n-fall injuries to the spread of contagious viruses and disease.

4.  Extracts water, damaged materials and debris safely, economically and efficiently. The last thing you want at a water damage site is “amateur” bumbling around creating more damage while trying to remove goods and materials!

5.  Dries out the entire environment and the materials in the environment, with professional equipment. During the drying process, the site is monitored to maintain a proper balance of temperature and humidity. Proper drying techniques get the job done as quickly as possible without shrinking fabrics, other damage, leaving damp areas, etc.

6.  Restoration, combining comprehensive cleaning, stain and odor removal, fungus eradication, assists with coordinating reconstruction and replacement as needed.

What Happens When Water Damage Occurs?

As just MINUTES tick away on the clock…..the water contamination spreads in all directions. Paper goods, food on cupboard floors, etc. are all ruined as they absorb the moisture. Stains and dyes released from furniture stain carpet.

As HOURS tick away on the clock…..Furniture in direct contact with water soaks up water, swells, cracks, de-laminates and splits. Fabrics and carpets are stained. Sheetrock swells and comes apart. Bacterial-caused odors develop and infest all materials in the environment. Both the costs and complexity of resolving the damage rise as hours tick away.

If DAYS go by without an expert, comprehensive assault on the damage…..door and window casings swell, bow and delaminate. Moisture penetrates into floors and walls, pianos and organs, electronic devices. Metal begins to rust. Mildew and fungus begin growing. Musty and sour odors become permanently integrated with fabric fibers.

What Is “Secondary” Water Damage?

If restoration work is delayed or performed by inadequately trained people, the risk of costly secondary water damage is quite high! Secondary water damage can be hidden to the eye for weeks or months, but can continue to destroy the walls, floors or structural integrity of a building, foster microorganism growth unhealthy for humans and attractive to insects and other pests, and cause many other long-term problems.

Why is Professional Drying & Fast Response So Important?

Most indoor carpet, furniture, building materials such as plywood and drywall, etc. are designed for tolerance of “normal” indoor humidity…40% to 60% relative humidity. A flooded site, however, may have 90% relative humidity for days. Only through use of high velocity air movers, industrial size dehumidifiers and monitoring equipment, properly deployed by knowledgeable professionals, can this humidity be rapidly and safely reduced, substantially reducing damage and need for costly reconstruction or replacements.

Contact us