December 21st, 2015 · Comments Off on 7 Rules for Carpet Cleaning in Your Greensburg, PA Home
Your carpet is the centerpiece of your home. The quality of your carpet represents the cleanliness of your household.
When you have visitors, they should feel welcomed into an inviting atmosphere. A great way to create this feeling is to have a clean, fresh-scented carpet.
The carpet cleaning experts at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Greensburg, PA know how hard it is to maintain a luxurious and immaculate carpet. Today we’re going to give you some helpful tips to ensure that your carpet looks how it was intended to—beautiful.
Here are the 7 rules of carpet cleaning:
- Vacuum regularly – Vacuuming on a regular basis is of the upmost importance. Dirt and oil are major contributors to the wear and tear of your carpet. Vacuum often to remove these pernicious materials.
- Act quickly – Time is of the essence when it comes to dealing with a spill or stain. The longer the stain remains, the harder it is to remove.
- Test – Make sure to test your carpet before jumping into scrubbing, extracting, or spotting. Your carpet can react differently to certain chemicals found in carpet cleaning solutions.
- Use appropriate spotters – It’s best to start with a milder spotter before trying something stronger. Use a harsh spotting agent only as a last resort.
- Don’t dig or brush spots – Blotting is often the best method to deal with stains. Aggressive brushing and digging motions can actually push the stain deeper into the carpet.
- Be careful with shampoo and detergents – Using too much of these substances can leave residual material that won’t be removed by vacuuming and will therefore sit in your carpet.
- Call a professional – While it’s great to use certain carpet cleaning techniques on your own, the best way to bring your carpet back to its original state is to hire the professional carpet cleaning experts at ServiceMaster by Stiffey.
Give your carpet the tender love and care it deserves. Contact the professionals at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Greensburg, PA to learn more or to schedule an appointment!
Tags: Carpet Cleaning ·
December 7th, 2015 · Comments Off on Before Fire Restoration – A Fire Safety Checklist for Your Pittsburgh, PA Home
You never expect your home to catch on fire. You know that it’s a possibility and you know that you should be prepared, but it’s all too easy to put off preparations because the chances of a fire are so slim.
Then the unexpected happens. When it does, being prepared can be the difference between life and death. Teaching your Pittsburgh, PA family about fire safety might be the key to their survival.
The fire restoration experts at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey want to educate you and your family about fire safety.
Damage to your home can be fixed. We want you to protect what matters most: the people closest to you.
Use this fire safety checklist to help your family be prepared if an unfortunate fire does occur:
- Make sure there are smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom of your home. You should also make sure that there’s an alarm on every floor of your house, including the basement. Check them routinely and make sure the batteries are changed once per year at minimum.
- Use the test button on your alarms to make sure they’re working properly. This should be done at least once a month.
- Make sure the fire extinguisher is accessible and that everyone in your home knows how remove it from its mounted position.
- Teach everyone in your home the “stop, drop, and roll” technique.
- Plan two escape routes from every room in your home. Develop an escape plan with your family and run through potential scenarios so that everyone is prepared.
- In the event of a fire, never try to exit a room if the doorknob or the door itself is hot. Use your secondary escape route.
Your family should have a designated meeting place to go in the event of a fire. The next step is to call 911 for help, and to stick together. Your family comes first, and the fire restoration process can begin later.
The aftermath of a fire may lead to a necessity for the assistance of a fire restoration expert. If you experience a home fire or any similar disaster, contact the professionals at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Pittsburgh, PA and let us take care of the situation for you.
Tags: Fire Damage · ServiceMaster by Stiffey ·
November 29th, 2015 · Comments Off on How to Keep Your Greensburg, PA Home Clean Between Cleaning Service Visits
If you’ve ever had the experience of walking around your home after using a professional cleaning service, then you know how amazing it feels. Your surroundings are pristine, the rooms in your home are immaculate, and for a brief moment you can revel in the heavenly atmosphere.
That feeling can be short lived.
Your home stays clean for a little while, but soon thereafter, life starts to take its toll, and your once spotless residence begins to get a little bit messier day by day.
How do you keep your home clean between professional cleaning service visits?
Here are a few easy tips for keeping your home looking great and maintaining the ambiance of a professionally cleaned home:
- Focus on the Main Rooms – If you have a family, you’re simply too busy to pay attention to every single detail when it comes to your home. You should focus your efforts on the main rooms of your home such as the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. These are the areas guests will most likely see.
- One Area at a Time – Your home has just been professionally cleaned, so you don’t have to do a ton of work to maintain it. A great strategy is to focus on one area of the house each day and make sure that it’s spotless. This will keep your home as fresh as it was when professionals cleaned it.
- Make Sure Everything Has a Place – A great way to keep your home clean after using a professional cleaning service is to designate areas for different items in your home. Things are nice and tidy now, which makes it the perfect time to establish an organized space. For example, instead of letting your mail pile up on the kitchen table, set up a mail organization spot for all of your letters and bills. Maintenance is the key.
We want to make sure that Greensburg, PA homeowners are able to be proud of the inside appearance of their homes. Our professional cleaning services will ensure that your home is warm, vibrant, and inviting. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or for more information about professional cleaning services!
Tags: cleaning services ·
November 22nd, 2015 · Comments Off on Consider Carpet Cleaning for the Holiday Season in McKeesport, PA
The holiday season is upon us. In just a few short weeks, family and friends will be gathering for their annual Thanksgiving feasts. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years, if you’re the host of this year’s festivities, you probably have several different tasks you need to take care of. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the laborious chore of carpet cleaning performed by experts instead of hassling with it yourself?
If you’re a homeowner in McKeesport, PA, hire the professionals at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey. We can provide carpet cleaning services before and after the holidays to help your home maintain a beautiful appearance during the events you host at your home as well as after the holiday season has concluded. Here are a few reasons why:
- You want to impress your guests – You may not have entertained a ton of company previous to the holidays, but you certainly will come holiday time. Don’t you want your home to have a clean and inviting ambience for all of your guests when they come to your home?
- High traffic during the holidays – Hosting holiday events at your home usually means having a bunch of guests. High traffic in your home may lead to potential stains in your carpet, especially during the wintertime where salt and mud can be tracked into your home.
- Spills and stains – Large meals are usually prepared for holiday events, which can lead to spills and stains on your carpet. The drinks might be flowing as well, and the last thing you want is spilled wine on your floor, but it can happen. Your holiday party might lead to stains that will need to be removed with professional carpet cleaning.
You can utilize the help of professional carpet cleaning before the holidays and after. Do it beforehand to impress your guests when they arrive, and afterward when their presence has left its mark(s) on your carpets.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment at your McKeesport, PA home or to learn more about the professional carpet cleaning services offered by ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey.
Tags: Carpet Cleaning · ServiceMaster by Stiffey ·
November 16th, 2015 · Comments Off on Fire Restoration in Pittsburgh, PA: Five Ways to Prevent Electrical Fires
The fire restoration experts at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Pittsburgh, PA will always be there to aid you in the stressful process of recovering from a disastrous situation. We also like to share helpful tips so that you hopefully never have to deal with the damaging effects of a fire in your home. Today we’re going to talk specifically about electrical fires and ways to prevent them from happening.
- Inspect electrical wiring – A great way to avoid having to deal with a fire restoration effort is to prevent one in the first place. A common cause of electrical fires is worn electric wiring. Make sure to have your electrical wiring checked if your home is more than ten years old.
- Check the plugs on electrical appliances – The plugs on your electrical appliances can fray and rip over long periods of time. These broken plugs can cause shocks that can spark and overheat to start an electrical fire.
- Don’t use too many outlets – Using excessive outlets and having too many power strips in your home can spell disaster. Your home’s electrical circuits can only supply a certain amount of electricity to each outlet and one time and overloading an outlet can cause a spark, which can lead to an electrical fire.
- Purchase surge protectors – Surge protectors protect your appliances and anything plugged into an outlet from power surges. Power surges can overload the outlet and lead to a fire.
- Be wary of certain appliances – If your appliance blows a fuse, trips a circuit, or sparks during use, unplug the appliance and consider if it needs to be repaired of replaced.
It’s our sincere hope that these tips help you to prevent an electrical fire in your home. If you do happen to have a fire in your home, contact the fire restoration experts at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Pittsburgh, PA and we’ll be right by your side to help every step of the way.
Tags: Fire Damage · ServiceMaster by Stiffey · Uncategorized ·
October 27th, 2015 · Comments Off on The Many Benefits of a Professional Cleaning Service in Greensburg, PA
For many of us, purchasing a home is the biggest investment we make in our lives. As such, keeping the house properly cleaned and maintained is an important part of building upon that investment. However many also work full-time jobs in addition to having kids, so while you can handle the day-to-day cleaning, a deep whole house cleaning requires more time and energy than you can spare. That’s where the professionals at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Greensburg, PA come in. We believe that utilizing our cleaning services is a great way to protect your investment in a home and leave you with more time to spend with your family.
Here are some of the benefits of residential cleaning services:
- You can maintain it easily – Your day-to-day cleaning tasks will be easier, faster and more effective after a team of professionals take care of deep cleaning dirt and dust from carpets, walls, windows and other areas throughout your house.
- You’ll save money in the long run – While you might be able to save some money upfront on DIY cleaning solutions, you might also unwittingly cause damage to your carpets or hard floors. Professionals use the right equipment and techniques to extend the life your carpets and hard floors, ultimately saving you unnecessary and costly replacements.
- Your brain will feel better – It has been said that a messy environment leads to a messy brain. You will be more at peace with a freshly cleaned home and your mind will be free of worry about the way that your home looks.
Cleaning services can also be a valuable resource for your commercial building or office space. The appearance of your business or workplace is a signal to customers, clients, and visitors about your level of professionalism. Using cleaning services regularly will help your office building maintain its appeal.
If you’re a business owner in Greensburg, PA who is not using a cleaning service, you likely have to worry about maintaining the appearance of your place of business in addition to the day-to-day operations of your business, and who needs the extra headache?
Improper cleaning in office buildings can also lead to the spread of illness during the cold and flu season, so it’s in your best interest to employ a professional cleaning service to perform a detailed cleaning.
Whether you’re a homeowner or you run your own business, you can surely see the value of using a professional cleaning service like the one provided by ServiceMaster by Stiffey in Greensburg, PA. Contact us today for more information!
Tags: cleaning services ·
October 15th, 2015 · Comments Off on 5 Reasons Why You Need Professional Carpet Cleaning Services in McKeesport, PA
Your carpeting is a key component to the ambience of your home. You should want your carpet to look beautiful in an effort to maintain an inviting and clean atmosphere for your guests.
Perhaps you’re wondering if you need professional carpet cleaning services. Maybe you think that a do-it-yourself approach is the best way to go.
Although you can certainly take care of your some of your carpet cleaning needs on your own, the professionals at ServiceMaster by Stiffey in McKeesport, PA would like to share some reasons why you will benefit from using a professional carpet cleaning service to spruce up your home:
- You have children – Children are precious, cute, and fun. They can also be messy and destructive. If you’re a parent, you know all too well the damage a child can do, and you may have carpet stains that can only be eliminated by a professional carpet cleaning service.
- You have pets – Similar to children, pets can track a host of materials onto your carpet that can cause stains and damage.
- You have tough stains – If you have stains that you just can’t seem to get rid of, no matter how hard you try, it’s time to call a professional carpet cleaning service to eradicate those deep, seemingly impossible-to-remove blemishes.
- You haven’t had professional carpet cleaning done in a year or more – It’s best to utilize professional carpet cleaning services regularly to ensure that your carpet remains healthy and beautiful.
- You want your carpets to look and feel brand new again – You probably remember how you felt after having brand new carpet installed in your home; the way it looked, smelled, and how softly it luxuriously caressed your feet. With the help of a professional carpet cleaning service you can recapture that joy.
If you’ve decided that you need your carpets professionally cleaned, or even if you just have some questions, please contact us! We provide professional carpet cleaning in McKeesport, PA and can help you with anything you may need.
Tags: Carpet Cleaning ·
October 13th, 2015 · Comments Off on 5 Lesser-Known Causes of Fire in the Home: Fire Restoration in Pittsburgh, PA
There are many different causes of house fires. Some of them are more common, whereas others are not as well known. Typical causes for fires include malfunctions in appliances, chemicals, gases, and electricity. However, there are lesser-known potential causes for fires that can have an equally devastating impact on your home and on your life. Here are some not-so-common causes for fires that the ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey’s fire restoration team in Pittsburgh, PA would like to share with you:
- 9-volt Batteries – Improper disposal of 9-volt batteries can lead to a fire. The terminals of two batteries touching each other can cause a fire that can quickly engulf your home. Make sure to cover the terminals with duct tape when you dispose of them.
- Chimneys – Improper maintenance of a chimney, appliance, pipe, or connector can lead to a chemical reaction known as pyrolysis, which can cause a fire due to the mixture of combustible materials.
- Candles – Forgetting to blow out your candles before bedtime can lead to disastrous results. A major catastrophe can occur due to forgetting this simple preventative measure.
- Dryers – Something as simple as neglecting to clean out the lint tray in your dryer can cause a fire to start. Improper dryer venting can start a fire as well.
- Christmas Trees – The combination of a dry Christmas tree and the lights wrapped around it can cause a fire. It may be a good idea to leave the lights off if you are going to be out of the house for an extended period of time.
]We hope that you will never have to experience the devastating impact of a fire in your home, but the fire restoration team at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey is ready in case the unfortunate circumstance of a fire occurs in your home. If you ever have to deal with the process of fire restoration in Pittsburgh, PA please give us a call. We understand how stressful a situation like that can be and we will do everything we can to make the process as painless as possible.
Tags: Fire Damage ·
September 24th, 2015 · Comments Off on Greensburg Carpet Cleaning: How to Choose the Right Vacuum
The carpet cleaning team at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey in Greensburg, PA recognizes the importance of protecting your carpeting investment. Carpet cleaning is always important, and a routine vacuuming is needed to keep your living room and other areas of your home in order. How do you know which vacuum will do the best job or save you the most money? What’s important for proper carpet cleaning, and how do you determine what’s going to keep your carpets fresh and revitalized longer?
There are many factors that play into determining the kind of vacuum you should purchase:
- Robotic vacuums can be handy for automatic cleaning when you don’t want to do the work, but don’t expect as intense of a carpet cleaning as a regular vacuum.
- There are definite pros and cons of using a bagless vacuum, and it just depends on what’s right for you. Do your research before rushing into a purchase!
- From Dyson to Kenmore to Dirt Devil and more, there are a variety of brands that can fit your lifestyle and price range. If you think you’ll be vacuuming a lot (i.e., if your home is also home to some shedding pets), you should consider getting a more powerful and possibly more expensive vacuum.
- If you have a home with tighter corners or small spaces, looking for a smaller, more compact hand vacuum may be a good purchase.
One of the most important things to remember about vacuuming is that it’s a surface cleaner. While choosing the right vacuum can do wonders for your carpets, don’t try to solve your stains and deep carpet messes with it. A professional carpet cleaning is a good solution for these messes and should be handled by an expert team like ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey in Greensburg, PA. Call us today.
For more tips and buying guides on vacuums, check out the Consumer Reports Vacuum Cleaner Buying Guide!
Tags: Carpet Cleaning ·
September 17th, 2015 · Comments Off on Focus on New Beginnings Not Carpet Cleaning When Moving into Your New Home in McKeesport
Moving into a new home is supposed to be an exciting time in life. It’s the thrill of being able to walk into a place that is finally yours, and the ability to move all of your things in and put them where you want them that makes owning your first home or renting your first apartment a special day. However, this special day can be ruined when you walk into your new place to find something you’ve always dreaded: a leaky pipe dripping onto the carpets, a new stain from maintenance tracking their feet in, or a mess on your carpets that you hadn’t noticed before. This is the time to have your ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey carpet cleaning team in McKeesport on speed dial, and we’ll be right at your service when you need us.
The carpet cleaning team at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey understands how moving into your first home can be a monumental moment, and it shouldn’t be ruined by pesky leaks or stains. If you see something the minute you walk in the door, don’t panic. Your worries should be about moving in; let our expert team deal with your carpets so they are clean and safe for your move-in.
If you’re moving into an apartment, you will probably need to call the maintenance crew to see what the problem is. It’s very handy when they are able to come fix whatever it may be, especially a leak, but it seems you are always left with a mess afterward. Sure, the leak is fixed, but the carpets are soaked and the ceiling bits are all over the floor!
If this happens to you, call the McKeesport carpet cleaning experts. Our carpet cleaning specialists know how to tackle mold, stains, and water damage to your carpets. Calling us quickly is a must, because the sooner our carpet cleaning team gets to work, the less likely you are to end up with a mold infestation, lasting stains, or long-term damage.
Tags: Carpet Cleaning ·