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Monthly Archives

May 2018

Why to Deep Clean Restrooms in Assisted Living Facilities

By Deep Cleaning

deep clean restroomsWhen looking for a assisted-living facility or nursing home, one of the determining factors of a high-standard facility is the bathrooms. On average, six people will share a bathroom, so it’s essential that each room is pristine. When an assisted-living home does not keep its bathrooms clean, it increases the chances of elderly residents contracting infections and diseases. Several health issues can occur from unsanitary restrooms. Below are 5 reasons to deep clean restrooms at assisted-living facilities.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infections among the elderly. This is because of diabetes and the use of catheters. Symptoms of UTIs in older adults include confusion, discomfort, and urinary incontinence. Antibiotics can usually treat UTIs. Having a clean bathroom is important for nursing home residents, whether they have a catheter or not.

Skin Infections

As skin ages, it becomes more susceptible to cuts and infections. Some infections can be viral, including scabies, pressure ulcers, and shingles. The elderly can also contract bacterial or fungal foot infections. Symptoms to look for are itching or pain. These infections can be treated with medicines or vaccines, but they could be prevented with access to clean bathrooms, proper hygiene, and regular help from nursing home staff to shower and clean their bodies.

Bacterial Pneumonia

Pneumonia continues to be the leading cause of mortality for nursing home residents and occurs because of an increased exposure to diseases in a community setting and a weaker immune system. Symptoms of pneumonia are confusion and delirium. Those suffering can usually treat bacterial pneumonia with antibiotics. A vaccine that helps prevent some types of pneumonia is available, and it is highly recommended that nursing home residents receive it.

Gastrointestinal Infections

Digestion changes due to age and an increase in gastric acid ups the risk of gastrointestinal infections. Two of the most common infections are Helicobacter pylori and Clostridium difficile. Symptoms may include fever, nausea, and upper abdominal pain. A doctor will treat these infections with prescription medications.

Influenza

The flu spreads through breathing, coughing, and sneezing, so a small space shared by many residents in close proximity is a breeding ground for illnesses and increases the chances of contracting diseases. This means nursing homes should always keep the environment as clean as possible to prevent illnesses. Symptoms of influenza may be different for the elderly, but can include coughing, chills, and fever. An annual vaccination can help prevent influenza, but for those who have already contracted the illness, antiviral medication may be the solution.

All these health issues are common in the elderly, especially nursing home residents, because of the compact area that many residents share together. One way that staff can help the elderly prevent these infections and diseases is by deep-cleaning restrooms. There are many places in a bathroom where bacteria can grow, so keeping them clean is vital. It is the staff’s job to ensure residents’ living area are clean, so they are able to practice good hygiene and avoid illnesses.

Have a need for restroom deep cleaning? Give us a call at (419) 705-8693 or click here and we’ll come out and take a look.

What’s That Smell? Dealing With Sneaky Carpet Odors

By Carpet Cleaning, Deep Cleaning

carpet odorsCarpet odors can sneak into your home over time, undetected until someone points them out or you return home after being away. Over time, we become accustomed to smells from pets, cigarettes, mildew, and foods, so it’s difficult to notice them.

Once you discover them, you’ll need to persistently work on removing the odors. Here are several strategies you can use to get those pesky smells out of your carpet and keep them smelling fresh and clean.

Using Carpet Cleaners and Deodorizers

There are an abundance of carpet cleaners and deodorizers on the market today that deliver great results. Some of them use synthetic solvents, but there are also natural cleaners if you want to avoid using harsher chemicals. Using carpet cleaners regularly will help keep your carpets fresh.

Baking Soda

If you want to save money and use natural ingredients as a home remedy, baking soda can help with pet odors and smoke. It works by trapping smells and absorbing moisture. Sprinkling it on your carpet overnight and then vacuuming it up the next morning will help clean and deodorize your rug.

If you’re focusing on deodorizing, mixing baking soda with ground spices and borax will remove odors and leave your carpets with a pleasant scent. A popular spice to use is cinnamon but avoid it if you have light-colored carpets. You can also add essential oils for a nice scent.

Vinegar and Vodka

Vinegar is another natural solution that removes unpleasant odors from your carpet. It works well on pet odors. White vinegar is recommended, and although it smells at first, the scent disappears once it dries. Spray it evenly onto your carpet and let it dry. You can repeat the process until the odor is completely gone.

Vodka also works well on stubborn odors. It kills bacteria and removes stains. For spot cleaning, apply vodka over a stain for 10 to 15 minutes, then blot the moisture with a paper towel. To deodorize your carpet, spraying it evenly and vacuuming afterward will remove unpleasant odors. You can mix vodka with baking soda to absorb excess moisture before vacuuming if you desire.

Preventing Carpet Odors

Regularly cleaning your carpets will prevent odors from settling into your carpets and keep dirt and residue from building up. Steam cleaners in combination with other cleaning solutions can penetrate deeply into your carpets, forming embedded stains and odors. If you’ve tried several cleaning solutions and none of them work, it may be time to hire a professional to clean your carpets.

Carpet odors are inevitable but taking these steps and consistently caring for your carpet will help keep them cleaner for longer.

Contact our team or call (419) 705-8693 today to schedule a free, no-obligation demonstration of our amazing carpet cleaning system in Toledo for your home or business.

5 Cleaning Tips to Maintain Your Concrete Surfaces

By Concrete Cleaning

concrete surfacesWith summer right around the bend, many homeowners will be pursuing their deep-cleaning plans to prepare their homes for the warmer months. Many homeowners forget to include the cleaning of hard surfaces, such as concrete and natural stone in their cleaning efforts. These surfaces require routine maintenance and cleaning, especially if you want to keep them looking great between professional cleaning and sealing services.

To make sure the concrete surfaces of your patio and around your pool are ready in time for the spring and summer months, check out the following five ways to keep your hard surfaces looking as good as possible:

  1. Use Baking Soda or Vinegar-Based Solutions

Baking soda and vinegar are two great ingredients for cleaning cement and concrete patios. Both are safe and natural options. To remove heavy stains, use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. For a gentler cleaning solution, mix ½ cup baking soda with one gallon of water and 1/8 cup of liquid dishwashing detergent. Simply spray your patio thoroughly, scour, and rinse completely.

  1. Pressure Washing

If your patio is severely stained or mildewed, it might be a good idea to utilize a pressure washer, which can be rented or purchased at a tool rental center or your local home improvement store. Be sure to follow the directions when using the machine and to wear eye protection because these machines send water out in quick, forceful streams.

  1. Protect Stains with Concrete Sealer

When your patio is thoroughly cleaned, you can ensure it is safe from additional stains with the use of a concrete sealer. Always begin at the center of your patio and use a paint roller to spread the sealant out to the corners. When your patio is dry, it will be shiny and clear just in time your first barbecue of the season.

  1. Use Walk Off Mats

Dirt can erode the exterior layer of a hard surface, and it can cause serious damage if it is not kept at bay. If you have concrete flooring inside your home, experts say having at a walk off mat with a length of at least 5 feet can reduce approximately 35 percent of the soil from reaching a hard surface. Even better, a walk off mat of 25 feet can deter nearly all of the soil from getting to and deteriorating your hard surface floor covering.

  1. Conduct Routine Maintenance of Concrete Surfaces

The best way to avoid lasting stains and surface erosion to your hard surface flooring is to reduce the amount of debris and dirt that accumulates on a regular basis. Basic weekly or monthly upkeep means starting with dry maintenance procedures including sweeping, dusting, microfiber mopping, and vacuuming, and then moving on to wet maintenance procedures, such as spot and wet or damp mopping.

For questions about how to maintain your concrete surfaces, call Professional Surface Restoration at (419) 705-8693 today.