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Feb 19
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5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Professional Natural Stone Cleaning Service

By Natural Stone Cleaning

natural stone cleaningNatural stone flooring needs extra care. When you hire someone to clean your natural stone, you want to know that they are qualified. You may not be an expert in the proper care of natural stone but asking the right questions can ensure you are hiring the best natural stone cleaning service.

Here are five questions to ask to get you started….

What Is Your Specialty?

Whenever you are hiring a professional to work on your home, you want to be sure they can handle the job. Many contractors do side jobs that are not their particular focus area, but this isn’t the type of job for a general cleaner. Natural stone flooring and its care requires knowledge that you should only trust to a company that specializes in natural stone cleaning and restoration.

RELATED ARTICLE: 7 Facts to Know About Natural Stone Cleaning

What Are Your Credentials?

One way to make sure your natural stone cleaning service is qualified to handle your project is to ask about their credentials. Anyone can claim that they are skilled in a particular area, but you want to ensure that they can back up their claims. A reputable professional will be glad to share their credentials with you before tackling the job.

How Many Years of Experience Do You Have?

Even if a natural stone cleaning service has the proper training and accreditation, it’s still important to know how much field experience they have. It is essential to hire stone experts who know the individual needs of natural stone varieties. Also, ask how long they have been working in your area. Specifics of climate and weather elements have a major impact on natural stone.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Choose a Tile and Grout Cleaning Professional

What Materials Will You Use?

Your cleaning service should be able to explain their entire process to you, including what products they use and how they affect your natural stone. You want to be sure they aren’t going to be using anything that is too harsh on your natural stone or on the environment. A quality cleaning service will use cleaning solutions that are EPA and environmentally-friendly.

How Will You Clean Up After the Process Is Finished?

While your stone flooring needs exceptional care, you don’t want to be left with a mess to clean up after someone has cleaned the floors. Discuss all stages of the cleaning process with the potential team and ask whether they will be responsible cleaning up after the floors have been taken care of.

Having a reputable cleaning service that you can trust is essential. If you are looking for an experienced team of natural stone cleaning professionals with a reputation for excellence, call Professional Surface Restoration today at (419) 705-8693.

Feb 04
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7 Facts to Know About Natural Stone Cleaning

By Natural Stone Cleaning

natural stone cleaningNatural stone is a beautiful design element that we use in our homes, both in exterior and interior applications. Stone flooring tiles offer an array of colors and pattern options and are unique because of natural variations in the stone itself. Natural stone requires care and regular maintenance to maintain its polished look.

Professional natural stone cleaning is always the way to go with natural stone. Hiring stone experts who know the individual needs of various types of natural stone will keep it shining for years to come. There are some fascinating things you may not know about natural stone.

  • Stone’s shine is not created by a sealant. Sealants used on natural stone only serve to protect its surface. They don’t add any coloring to the stone, nor do they make it shine.
  • Natural stone tiles stain easily. For this reason, your stone flooring needs to be properly sealed. Sealing covers the stone’s porous surface and makes it more stain resistant. You should have a professional reseal your stone floors every year or two.
  • Shades and colors of natural stone vary. Since natural stone is not produced in a factory, it does have natural variations in color. You should always purchase a little more than you need in case there are any pieces that you don’t like the look of, and in case you need it for repairs later.

RELATED ARTICLE: Natural Stone Cleaning Dos and Don’ts

  • Dull stone can be polished. If your natural stone flooring has lost its beautiful shine, professional restoring companies can restore its natural beauty.
  • Restoring stone is a wet process. There is no dust created in stone restoration. Technicians use a wet process to bring out the stone’s unique qualities.
  • Restoring is smarter than replacing. Replacing an entire marble floor can be an expensive undertaking but restoring the surface can make it look brand new again.
  • Different types of stone suit different purposes. The natural qualities of stone make different types ideal for varying uses in the home. Travertine, limestone, and marble are better for floors than countertops, because their very porous surface can harbor food bacteria. Granite is great in all applications, as it is the least porous, and slate is wonderful for outdoor use, because it weathers well in all climates.

If you are looking to add the natural beauty of stone to your home, or if you have stonework that needs to be cleaned or serviced, Professional Surface Restoration has the expertise you are seeking.

We have a reputation for excellence, and the knowledge to get your dull stone floors looking shiny and new again. Call us today at (419) 705-8693 to speak with one of our restoration professionals.

Jan 23
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How to Choose a Tile and Grout Cleaning Professional

By Deep Cleaning, Tile and Grout

tile and grout cleaning professionalTile is an excellent choice for many home and business owners due to its beauty, resiliency, and relatively low-maintenance characteristics. While individual scrubbing and mopping does the job on an everyday basis, hiring a tile and grout cleaning company can help you provide routine maintenance to newer floors or even restore old, dull, and dirty floors to their original glory. However, it is important to ensure you’re hiring a trustworthy tile and grout cleaning professional.

How do you go about choosing the right tile and grout cleaning company? First, you’ll need to Google “tile and grout cleaning near me” then, isolate the best with the following techniques

Ask the Right Questions

Before you contact a tile and grout cleaning company, prepare a list of all the necessary questions. Questions should include:

  • How many years of experience do you have? While some newer companies provide a great cleaning service, when it comes to more expensive or delicate tile, you’ll likely want an experienced company to handle your cleaning needs.
  • Are you insured and bonded? Insurance and bonding ensures the cleaning company will be responsible for any property damage caused and that you won’t be held liable in the event of an accident on your property.
  • Are you licensed? Licensing is especially important for commercial properties and ensures your tile and grout cleaning company is up to date on the most current procedures in the industry.
  • Can you handle my specific needs? Inform the company regarding any special considerations such as foot traffic and the material of your tile to ensure the proper cleaning and restoration techniques are available.

RELATED ARTICLE: What to Expect from Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning

Request a Free Estimate

The best tile and grout cleaning companies will perform a free estimate for any work done on your property before beginning. In many cases, this involves cleaning a sample tile to demonstrate how clean you should expect your tile and grout to become, how long the entire job should take, and what methods are preferable. A free estimate also allows you to adjust your expectations for the job before it begins.

Always Read the Reviews

In this digital age, any trustworthy tile and grout cleaning company should have an online presence. For most, this includes a business website as well as reviews on sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, and the BBB or on a Google My Business result. In addition, be sure to ask friends and colleagues for referrals and recommendations for local businesses they’ve utilized in the past.

If you’re searching for tile and grout cleaning companies near Toledo, Ohio, Professional Surface Restoration offers specialized cleaning equipment and best in the business techniques. We’ll eliminate all dirt and bacteria from your hard surfaces, and finish with a water based sealer to keep tile looking fresh.

For a free estimate, call (419) 705-8693 or submit an online estimate request today.

Jan 06
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What to Expect with a Professional Tile and Grout Cleaning

By Tile and Grout

professional tile and grout cleaningSpring cleaning and fall upkeep are crucial, but they’re usually just the beginning of getting a home clean. Even in the deepest of home cleanings, some areas of the house get missed. One of these places is often your tile and grout. Though you may keep your floors looking sharp with regular cleaning and sanitization, your grout can often look dull, dingy, and detract from the beauty of your flooring. A professional tile and grout cleaning can do wonders for your flooring, making it appear cleaner and the rest of your home with it.

Here is what you can expect from the process.

Tile and Grout Cleaning Tools

At Professional Surface Restoration, we use specialized cleaning equipment that combines several different processes, such as heat, high pressure, vacuum extraction, and emulsification to remove dirt from the toughest of spaces and keep your floors looking their best. To begin the process, we use a detergent to pre-spray your surface. Then we use high pressure multi jet rotating steam tool to continuously extract dirt and water from your floors. The temperature of the water is between 180-270 degrees, effectively sanitizing the floor as it cleans.

RELATED ARTICLE: 3 Signs It’s Time for Tile and Grout Cleaning

After the floor surface is clean, we close the pores in your grout, which helps keep the dirt from penetrating again. Water based sealant is both safe and effective; it will not change the look of your tile or its longevity.

Why Schedule a Tile and Grout Cleaning?

Tile and grout cleaning is an essential aspect of keeping your floors sanitized. Over time, grout can get very dirty because it is naturally porous. If a contractor does not seal the grout correctly, it can happen sooner than it should. Grout absorbs bacteria, grease, mildew, dirt and other particles that are not only unpleasant to look at but can also affect the indoor air quality of your home. Left unchecked, it can begin to emit a foul odor.

Regular tile and grout cleanings help control odor, fight bacteria, and keep your tile and grout looking new. But how often should you schedule cleanings? The answer will depend on the amount of time you spend in the space. Higher traffic floors, like a kitchen, will require more frequent cleanings than a less used room. In general, plan for a good professional cleaning every 2 to 5 years.

A professional tile and grout cleaning is a must to keep your floors and family healthy. Professional Surface Restoration offers professional tile and grout cleanings for homes and businesses all over metro Toledo. Contact us for more information or to schedule a free demo.

Dec 10
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3 Signs It’s Time for Tile and Grout Cleaning

By Tile and Grout

Tile and Grout CleaningThe tile and grout in your kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring requires attention during cold and flu season. Tile and grout cleaning may be part of your typical household cleaning routine, but it’s especially important to address during the winter to keep your home as free of bacteria and germs as possible.

Look for the warning signs below to determine when it’s time to clean your tile and grout.

Your Tile and Grout Is Stained or Discolored

Stains and discoloration on your tiles or in your grout lines aren’t just unpleasant to look at; they are also signs of bacteria accumulation, mildew formation, or even mold growth. Dark green or black stains require immediate attention. The surfaces in your kitchen and bathrooms likely face more moisture exposure than the other rooms of your home, so this makes them prime breeding grounds for mold and other hazardous substances. If you notice any discoloration or stains on your tile and grout, it’s time to clean them thoroughly.

Grout Does Not Appear to Come Clean With Standard Cleanings

Most homeowners have conventional cleaning tools and cleansers that can handle mild to moderate grime, but for serious stains and messes, it’s important to use the right deep cleaning products. If your tile or grout does not come clean with standard cleaning tools and methods, then this is a sign your tile and grout need more attention. If moisture gets under your grout, you’ll start noticing serious issues like cracked tiles or even water damage if it goes unchecked for too long.

RELATED ARTICLE: Ceramic Tile Cleaning 101

Your Grout Is Unsealed

Perhaps you installed your grout yourself and forgot to seal it, or the contractor you paid to complete a grouting job never returned to seal it after it dried. In either case, unsealed grout is especially vulnerable to mold and mildew growth. Unchecked exposure allows cracks to form in the grout, which can lead to deep-rooted problems later. If your grout is unsealed and has been for some time, it’s essential to arrange a thorough cleaning before sealing it and preventing further damage. Properly sealed grout will be much easier to maintain and will last much longer than unsealed grout.

RELATED ARTICLE: How a Home’s Flooring Affects Market Value

Professional Surface Restoration specializes in hard surface restoration. We have the tools and experience to handle all types of deep cleaning jobs, including stubborn stains on tile and grout that won’t wash away with conventional store-bought cleaning products.

If you think your tile and grout are in need of professional attention or if your cleaning efforts have seemed to prove fruitless, contact Professional Surface Restoration today to schedule a professional tile and grout cleaning for your property.

Nov 22
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How Often Should I Get My Upholstery Cleaned?

By Deep Cleaning, Furniture Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning

How Often Should I Get My Upholstery CleanedKids, pets, or simply everyday use can take a toll on your entire house, including your upholstered furniture. Cleaning your upholstery regularly can help protect it against the wear and tear of daily life, keeping it looking great and preserving for years to come. How often you should have your upholstery cleaned depends on a few factors.

Determining Your Upholstery Cleaning Schedule

Upholstery absorbs a great deal of bacteria, dust, pollen, mold spores, and lots of other allergens and irritants that accumulate over time. Depending on where you live, these substances can accrue very quickly. For example, if you live in a very warm, arid area that sees little precipitation and you have very little vegetation around your home, your upholstery won’t accumulate as many irritants as fast as upholstery in a home in a damp, wooded area.

Another factor is who lives in your home. If you have young children and pets that use your upholstered furniture every day, that furniture will require more frequent cleanings. Spot cleaning should ideally happen as soon as messes occur. Spot cleaning is important, just make sure you use the appropriate cleaner for the type of upholstery to avoid permanent stains and discoloration.

RELATED ARTICLE: What to Know Before Cleaning Upholstery

You will also need to regularly vacuum upholstery to remove allergens, dust, dirt, and bacteria. You may need to vacuum more often if you have cats or dogs, but regardless of pets, it’s a good idea to vacuum your upholstery regularly to remove skin dander and dust. Vacuuming is only possible on furniture upholstered with fabric. Leather upholstery requires different cleaning techniques, but high-quality leather will not allow irritants to penetrate the leather surface very much and you may only need a cleaning brush to bring all the dirt and other irritants to the surface.

Schedule Professional Deep Cleaning Regularly

For most homes, it’s only necessary to spot clean as needed and vacuum upholstery once every month. If your upholstered furniture receives lots of daily rough use from pets and children, vacuuming every other week makes sense. When it comes to deep cleaning, it is typically best to leave this task to professionals. When you hire a professional upholstery cleaning service, they will use the right tools and cleaning agents to ensure a full deep clean without damaging your upholstery. Ideally, you should aim for a professional deep cleaning of all your upholstered furniture at least once per year.

Professional Surface Restoration offers a full range of residential cleaning services, including professional deep cleaning for your upholstered furniture.

If you’re not sure when you last deep cleaned your upholstery, contact Professional Surface Restoration today to learn more about our professional upholstery cleaning services.

Oct 16
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The (Real) Nightmare before Christmas: How to Clean Carpet Stains Before a Party

By Carpet Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Furniture Cleaning, Holiday Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning

carpet cleaning before holiday partyThe late fall and winter seasons bring with them the joys of the holidays, and you’ve done an immense amount of work to prepare your home for the impending onslaught of guests. You’ve dug out the festive decorations, purchased enough food and supplies to house an army, and prepped all the guest rooms to ensure everyone has a pleasant and comfortable stay.

Until, you notice one thing…

Your carpets are dingy and full of mysterious stains.

If this sounds familiar keep reading.

Luckily for you, the right professional carpet cleaner can get the job done before your first guests arrive. However, during the holiday season, it is important to consider just how important keeping your carpets clean really is.

Prep Your Carpets Now for Your Holiday Plans

Your carpet does more for your home than you may realize. Besides improving the appearance of your home, it also provides a warm, comforting vibe for your guests and provides extra warmth during the cooler fall and winter months. Therefore, it is essential to keep it clean and maintained, especially during the season’s festivities.

Proper carpet maintenance during these high-traffic holiday months includes:

  • Regular Vacuuming. Prevent excess outside dirt, holiday crumb, and dust buildup on your carpets by regularly vacuuming. Even if your carpet appears clean on the surface, it is important to remove any particles that have settled into the pile.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why Vacuuming Isn’t the Same as Carpet Cleaning

  • Mat Placement. With this season’s heavy guest traffic and uncertain outdoor weather, it is more important than ever to have entry mats readily available. Removing the majority of outside dirt and water – or even removing shoes altogether – will help preserve the appearance and cleanliness of your carpet.
  • Timely Stain Treatment. When the worst happens – such as a wine spill on your light-colored carpeting – do your best to remove as much of the excess spill as possible. However, be sure to test any spot remover on a hidden area first, and blot – don’t rub – to ensure you’re not forcing the stain further into the pile.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Service

While maintenance this season is important, there’s really no substitute for a professional carpet cleaning service.

Before your guests arrive, as well as after the extended traffic of the holiday season, get your carpets in the best shape possible. Scheduling professional carpet cleaning services improves the appearance of your home and ensures your guests will be warm and comfortable throughout the holiday season.

For more information about our process, to request a quote, or to schedule your holiday carpet cleaning services, contact Professional Service Restoration today. We’ll restore your carpets to their original beauty just in time for the arrival of all your holiday guests.

carpet cleaning special

Oct 04
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Pros and Cons of Epoxy Floors

By Epoxy Floors

epoxy flooEpoxy is a floor coating that consists of an epoxide resin, hardener, and other stabilizing ingredients that, when mixed, trigger a chemical reaction. Concrete floors coated with an epoxy finish are sealed and cured, giving the floor additional durable qualities. This short guide to the pros and cons of epoxy floors can help you determine if they are the right choice for you.

Pro of Epoxy Floors

Epoxy flooring has a number of pros, making it one of the most popular types of commercial flooring. Pros include:

  • Durability. Perhaps the most commonly discussed characteristic of epoxy flooring is its ability to withstand foot and machine traffic. Epoxy also has an excellent lifespan and can last decades without cracking, pebbling, or needing replaced.
  • Resistance. Unlike many other types of floors, epoxy can resist nearly everything you might find in a commercial space, including shock, heat, oil products, chemical cleaners, water, and more. Epoxy is impervious to stains from these products and resists viruses and bacteria, making it easy to sanitize.
  • Affordability. Epoxy flooring can be applied directly over a bare concrete floor, drastically cutting installation costs compared to other types of flooring. In addition, the cost of the epoxy coating itself is much lower than other commercial flooring types.
  • Appearance. Compared to other types of commercial flooring, epoxy has a bright, clean appearance that can be customized with various color or texture additives. Spill and stain resistant properties ensure an attractive appearance remains over its lifespan.

RELATED ARTICLE: Concrete Densifier Explained

Cons of Epoxy Flooring

Although excellent for nearly all commercial applications, epoxy does have a few cons, as does every other type of flooring. Cons include:

  • Slip. Some types of oil-resistant epoxy flooring are more slippery than others. However, most epoxy floors are relatively skid-resistant under the proper conditions. Many business owners choose to add slip-resistant aggregate to their epoxy floor applications to combat slip.
  • Preparation. Preparing concrete floors for quality epoxy application can be time-consuming and intensive. The floor must be cleaned and thoroughly dried before application. Special care must be taken to ensure no remaining dirt or moisture affects the integrity of the epoxy coating.
  • Difficult Removal. If the epoxy coating is not applied correctly or you wish to change flooring types, epoxy removal can present a significant hurdle. Epoxy is difficult to remove and quite labor-intensive. Fortunately, most epoxy flooring owners never experience issues leading to removal.

RELATED: Concrete Cleaning and Sealing

Epoxy floors remain one of the most popular commercial flooring types for a reason – the list of pros truly outweigh any cons involved for most businesses. What’s more, Professional Surface Restoration has the professional techniques and equipment necessary to help you keep your epoxy floors in top condition.

If you’re ready to learn more about our commercial floor cleaning services, contact us today.

Sep 12
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Concrete Densifier Explained

By Concrete Cleaning, Concrete Densifier, Concrete Sealing

Concrete DensifierConcrete densifier is often promoted as one of the top advancements in concrete technology today. However, the nature of the product can be confusing to those without a deep knowledge of the concrete industry. What is densifier? How does it work? How might it affect the life of your flooring?

Here is a brief FAQ regarding these questions and more.

What Is Concrete Densifier?

Concrete densifier is a chemical product applied to the surface of a concrete floor to provide more density to the concrete. Once applied, the densifier fills in the pores near the surface of the concrete, providing a denser product and a harder surface. Building owners utilize concrete densifiers to produce a finish that is more resistant to wear and staining.

What Is Concrete Densifier Made Of?

Although chemical components may differ slightly across brands, most concrete densifiers are similarly composed. Typically, densifiers are water-based and made up of chemicals that react with the concrete to fill its pores. Most often, these chemicals include sodium, potassium, or lithium silicates.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Winterize Your Concrete Floor 

How Does It Work?

As concrete cures, it produces calcium carbonate as a byproduct – also known as free lime or concrete dust. After concrete densifier is applied, its chemicals react with this concrete dust to form a calcium silicate hydrate gel. The gel fills the pores near the surface of the concrete, eventually crystallizing and tightening the pores to provide more density and hardness to the concrete.

When Is It Applied?

Concrete densifier can be applied to multiple types of newly placed concrete floors, including high traffic areas like loading docks and warehouses, as well as large, flat areas for commercial spaces that will eventually receive polish. In fact, polished floors should always receive a densifier treatment during the refinement process to increase resistance to staining, abrasion, and dusting. The stage in the refinement process at which the densifier is applied can vary based on the nature of the concrete used and may occur after the initial metal grinding or as a final step.

RELATED ARTICLE: Concrete Floor Maintenance Tips

Why Should You Use Densifier?

Densifier does not replace sealers or epoxy coatings, both of which provide a truly sealed surface that repels stains. In addition, epoxy provides an additional layer of protection, which absorbs some of the wear and tear normally experienced by the concrete. However, for natural or polished concrete floors, densifiers provide oil and chemical resistance, minimal dusting, and increased durability against abrasion and other forms of wear.

Contact Professional Surface Restoration for more information about concrete densifiers and how to incorporate our commercial concrete cleaning services. Our in-depth knowledge of concrete surfaces ensures your floor will receive the best cleaning, sealant and aftercare in the business. We guarantee the work we do for all our clients, tailored to the exact specifications of your floor.

If you’re not sure how much difference professional cleaning and sealing might make for your concrete surfaces, why not see an expert demonstration? Professional Surface Restoration offers free estimates with no obligation. Contact us to set up an appointment.

Aug 29
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Protect Your Floor from Seasonal Allergens

By Carpet Cleaning, Commercial Floors, Upholstery Cleaning

pollen and other seasonal allergensAre allergens in your business location making your patrons uncomfortable? Many businesses don’t even realize the answer is yes. Seasonal allergens can affect your customers in surprising ways – from scratchy skin to sneezing. Professional Surface Restoration’s cleaning services can help you provide a better experience for them that can mean more business for you.

How Do Allergens Affect Your Business?

For many people, seasonal allergies are an unfortunate side effect of the beautiful greenery the area experiences. Pollen consists of millions of tiny grains, often visible as a yellow dusting on outdoor surfaces such as vehicles, buildings, and sidewalks. A person allergic to pollen has an immune reaction to pollen grains, with their bodies treating intruding pollen as an invader, releasing histamines that cause runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and more.

Many assume that allergy sufferers can escape indoors. Dust is a serious one for many. Unfortunately, common allergens can sneak into even climate-controlled buildings, making allergy sufferers uncomfortable. If your patrons or employees experience discomfort while in your place of business, allergens could be hurting your bottom line.

RELATED ARTICLE: What Your Commercial Floors Say about Your Brand

How Can You Prevent Allergens From Affecting Your Business?

You may think that maintaining an excellent HVAC system means that allergens are not entering your business. Although climate control is one means of preventing allergens from circulating in your building, most pollen enters your business through one means of transportation – your customers’ and employees’ shoes. From there, pollen can embed itself into carpet fibers or form a fine layer on hard-surface floors, affecting allergy sufferers long after pollen season is over.

At home, many people rely on residential carpet sprays, chemicals, and shoe-removal rules to prevent and treat the tracking in of pollen and other allergens. However, in the business world, asking patrons to remove their shoes is simply unfeasible, and the use of heavily perfumed cleaners can actually make allergies worse.

In the end, regular carpet cleaning and hard-surface floor maintenance from PSR is the best way to remove allergens from your business’s floors and ensure your space is comfortable for patrons and employees alike.

Our Allergy-Free Guarantee

PSR’s environmentally friendly, EPA-approved carpet and hard floor cleaning techniques remove the dust, grime, and allergens that build up on your floors without the use of harsh chemicals that can affect allergy sufferers.

Our commercial dust removal systems incorporate HEPA filters to prevent allergens from being released back into the air and remaining in your space, and our outdoor treatments for brick, concrete, and stucco can help clear the areas outside your business to minimize the amount of pollen that can enter the building.

Finally, regularly scheduled cleanings – especially during peak pollen season between February and May – prevent the buildup of allergens to begin with, while keeping your business looking sparkling clean.

Contact Professional Surface Restoration for more information about pollen and other allergen prevention for all your business’s surfaces or to schedule a demonstration, cleaning, or regular cleaning program.

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