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Wood Floor Cleaning

May 11
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Flooring Red Flags a Potential Buyer Will Notice

By Carpet Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Natural Stone Cleaning, Tile and Grout, Wood Floor Cleaning

flooring red flagsOne of the first things potential home buyers notice when going through a house is the condition of the floors. Since the floor is such a large area that will draw the attention of any buyer, if it has cracks, mold, mildew, or other flaws it may cost the realtor a sale. Identify these flooring red flags before a home buyer does.

Seek professional help from a professional hard surface and floor cleaning company to be certain that the floors don’t keep you from making the sale.

  1. Dirt and Filth

Perhaps the most obvious sign of a neglected floor that will turn off any potential buyer is the general filth, grime, and dirt stuck to a floor’s surface. These range from larger and noticeable stains to small pieces of debris stuck in corners or hidden by rugs, or other items. This red flag is particularly noticeable in tile and grout floors, which may require pressure water cleaning to get them in much better shape.

  1. Water Damaged Floors

Another noticeable red flag of poor floor maintenance is water damage. This type of damage manifests in numerous ways, from saggy or marked floors, to the presence of mold, mildew, and even some cracks and damage. Mold and mildew present a health hazard to any potential home buyer. Also, water damage is usually an indication of a larger problem, such as defective plumbing or possible flooding. Once you resolve the plumbing issue in the house, you will need to call a professional floor cleaning service to get rid of these unsightly features and restore the floor to a better condition.

  1. Smelly Carpets

The final significant floor issue that can drive away potential buyers is the odor that comes from soiled carpets. This smell is usually a red flag that the carpet is old and needs to be deep cleaned or, at worst case, replaced. If the carpet is relatively new, it might need a professional cleaning treatment that includes steaming and a special cleaning formula. Even if it doesn’t smell, deep clean clean the carpet anyway, since it can hold on to allergens and other harmful agents that a cleansing can remove.

Prepare the house you are working on for a successful sale by making sure the floors are in pristine condition. The skilled crew at Professional Surface Restoration has the right equipment and years of experience to handle any type of floor situation.

No matter what type of floors are in your home, Professional Surface Restoration has a deep cleaning solution designed to increase the market value of your home without the need for replacement flooring.

Contact us online or call us at (419) 705-8693 to get started with a no-cost demonstration.

Apr 04
Love0

How to Safely Clean Wood Floors This Spring

By Wood Floor Cleaning

clean wood floorsWood flooring is a popular residential choice for several reasons, such as its flexibility and its ability to infuse a natural element into your home. There are several types of wood flooring, and each requires its own type of maintenance. It is important for homeowners to familiarize themselves with the specific type of wood flooring in their home, as well as how to clean wood floors and respective maintenance needs.

Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are made from actual, authentic wood material. If you are unsure if your floor is made from hardwood, look for irregular patterns. In addition, hardwood can incur damages from impact, like scratches and dents. If this damage is common, your floor is probably hardwood.

The best way to clean hardwood floors depends on the floor’s finish.

  • Surface-sealed. If your floor doesn’t smudge easily, it is likely surface-sealed with polyacrylic, polyurethane, or urethane. Simply sweep with a broom and follow up with a mop damp with warm water and dish soap.
  • Penetrating seal or oil. If your floor smudges, it might be treated with these finishes. The broom and damp mop treatment applies, but you must occasionally treat them with paste or liquid wax.
  • Shellac, lacquer, or varnish. These floors also require additional treatment with liquid or paste wax, as well as traditional sweeping and damp mop cleaning.

Cleaning Laminate Floors

Laminate floors are not made from actual wood, but they imitate the texture and colors. Laminate floors have actual patterns and damage less easily, but they are more vulnerable to water. Also, laminate is more common in post-1960s homes.

The following are some general laminate floor cleaning tips.

  • Vacuum first before mopping, as it is more effective in getting rid of dust and debris. Use the lightest setting to avoid floor damage.
  • Use a damp mop with either water, a commercial cleaner specialized for laminate, or a homemade cleaner made from vinegar and water.
  • Avoid products like bleach, wax, or acrylic, since they can damage the finish.

General Tips for Wood Floor Cleaning

Whether you are cleaning hardwood or laminate floors, consider the following general cleaning tips.

  • Never use soaking wet mops, as excessive water damages the floors
  • Avoid steam cleaning on any type of wood floor
  • Replace the cleaning water often to avoid dirty water
  • Consult the floor’s manufacturer for recommended cleaning instructions

Are your wood floors in need of professional cleaning and restoration? Professional Surface Restoration can help you with that. Contact us today or call (419) 795-8693 to schedule a FREE, no-obligation demo.

Jan 21
Love0

How a Home’s Flooring Affects Market Value

By Carpet Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Natural Stone Cleaning, Tile and Grout, Upholstery Cleaning, Wood Floor Cleaning

how home's flooring affect market valueIf you’re preparing to sell a home, chances are you’ve already identified several problem areas you’d like to tackle in order to increase the resale value. Drywall, paint, cabinet hardware, and flooring are all common areas for improvement. Flooring, in particular, is an area many realtors suggest deep cleaning or changing before sale to improve the overall market value of the home.

It can be tempting to rip out older carpet and invest in the hardwood that is so popular with today’s home buyers. Often, sellers elect to install cheap, new flooring instead of restoring their existing flooring – and they may do so at a cost they won’t recoup when it’s time to sell the home.

In many cases, it’s more cost effective to deep clean rather than replace.

Carpets

If existing carpet is still serviceable, it is likely better to keep and deep clean it than replace it with other carpeting. Prospective owners like hardwoods, but are often primarily looking for cleanliness and may even be calculating the amount of time left before they’ll need to replace your existing flooring with their own. It can be difficult to recoup the cost of new carpet in a home sale; it is often better to clean the carpet and offer a small allowance if the buyer asks.

Tile

Tile is the preferred flooring in bathrooms and kitchens. It can be expensive and time consuming to remove, particularly if it was installed correctly. After its removal, you also risk installing a flooring prospective buyers plan on tearing out anyway, and you may not recoup the costs of the new flooring.

To make the most of your current tile floor and increase the resale value, make sure it is clean. Invest in a service to deep clean the tile and the surrounding grout, as well as apply a sealant to ensure new stains don’t linger, and you’ll recoup the costs in the sale of your home.

Wood

Hardwood is the preferred choice of most home buyers in today’s market, but the wood needs to be in good condition. Otherwise, buyers will likely see nothing but mounting costs and time in order to refinish it. Instead of undertaking this time-consuming work yourself – or, worse, covering your wood floors with new carpeting – consider hiring a professional wood floor restoration service.

Your existing flooring will be buffed, cleaned, and resealed, and any discolorations or penetrating stains treated. Your floor will now have the look of a new wood floor, increasing the market value of your home without the cost of new flooring.

No matter what type of floors are in your home, Professional Surface Restoration has a deep cleaning solution designed to increase the market value of your home without the need for replacement flooring.

Call (419) 705-8693 to request a consultation and demo.

 

Jul 18
Love0

What to Clean Before Putting Your Home Up for Sale

By Carpet Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Furniture Cleaning, Tile and Grout, Upholstery Cleaning, Wood Floor Cleaning

What to cleanSelling your home takes ample preparation, and not just in thinking about the financial aspects and figuring out where you’ll move to next. As you’re working on vacating your home, someone else will be determining if it is the place they want to move into. You need to make sure that everything looks as appealing to a potential buyer as possible.

You want your house to have vibe appeal – that intangible factor that makes it feel like home to a prospective buyer. Despite not having concrete elements, vibe appeal goes a long way to making a sale. While you don’t want to dig into any massive investments that won’t bring you proportionate payout, little touch-ups can make a big difference in making your home more appealing to its future residents.

Surface Cleaning

A clean home is easily one of the major components of vibe appeal, and thorough cleaning means your house will look as attractive to potential buyers as possible. Cleaning up any dust, polishing metals, and wiping down the windows can make a big impression on visitors.

Carpet

You don’t just want to stop at surface cleaning, however. Beyond general tidiness, give your carpets a thorough once-over. Don’t just stop at vacuuming; get your carpets professionally cleaned so they look and feel the best they can.

Tile and Grout

Tiles make for a great stylistic choice, but grout has the unfortunate tendency to show staining, even with regular cleaning. A full-scale deep cleaning of grout can make your tile look tip-top, giving the impression of newer tiles.

While all tiles are important, you want to take special care when tending to your bathroom. A dirty bathroom can give the impression that the whole home is dirty. Eliminating any traces of dirty grout will help your restroom contribute to the sale of your home instead of driving potential buyers away.

Front Lawn and Driveway

The adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” unfortunately does not apply to homebuyers. Before they even consider taking a tour, potential buyers will decide if they want to buy your house based on the front exterior. You need to do a little more than stick a “for sale” sign in your driveway to make people want to step inside.

Make sure you’ve tended to your front lawn. Adding a few plants and flowers helps make your house look attractive to others. If you have a driveway, keeping that in shape is essential, as well. Tend to any potential cracks and power wash the concrete.

Removing Clutter

There’s a chance your house has been your home for a substantial amount of time, and it’s filled with your belongings and memories. You need to remove as much mess as possible. Clean up any clutter for showings, so potential buyers can feel they have enough space and imagine themselves at home. For areas such as closets, removing at least half of your clothes can make the space seem roomier.

Cleaning is easily one of the most critical parts in successfully selling your home. Be as thorough as possible and watch your vibe appeal increase as a result.

Thinking about putting your home up for sale? Call us today at (419) 705-8693 to request a FREE demo.

Jan 05
Love0

5 Dos and Don’ts of Cleaning Wood Floors

By Wood Floor Cleaning

cleaning wood floorsHardwood floors are a sought-after feature in any home. They’re beautiful, classic, and add value to a property. However, they can also be difficult to clean. Proper maintenance and upkeep of your wood floors can make all the difference in how long they look like new. Below are the best ways for cleaning wood floors to keep them shining bright for life.

  1. Do: Clean Floors Yourself

It may come as a surprise, but the best thing you can do for your wood floors is DIY (do-it-yourself) cleanings in-between professional sessions. Cleaning your floors, yourself, periodically can work wonders on how they keep up over the years. Cleaning your floors with the right products and techniques can prevent dirt from scratching the wood and making your floors look dingy.

  1. Don’t: Use a Standard Vacuum

When you DIY your wood floor cleaning, start with selecting the right vacuum. Ordinary vacuums won’t work on wood floors. The bristles (meant for carpet) can scratch the wood and scatter dirt. Plastic wheels are also risks to your wood surfaces. Instead, purchase a special hardwood floor vacuum that has padding, rubber wheels, great suction, and no rolling brushes. If you vacuum your wood floors regularly, you won’t have to clean them as frequently.

  1. Do: Use the Right Cleaning Products

About once per week, deeper clean your wood floors. Use a solution of plant-based liquid soap, distilled white vinegar, and water, or purchase a store-bought cleaner specifically for wood floors. Use a damp but not saturated sponge to wash your floors first with clean, warm water. Then, use a hardwood floor mop to spread the solution. Don’t use too much, as moisture can damage wood floors. Mop in a circular direction to lift dirt and stains.

  1. Don’t: Forget to Let Floors Dry

Once you finish mopping your wood floors with the solution of your choice, don’t replace rugs or furniture until the wood dries completely. Placing rugs on wet wooden floors can trap the moisture underneath and increase the risk of water damage. Avoid walking on wet floors, as well, as this can leave dirt and footprints. Let your floors air dry completely before allowing traffic to come through.

  1. Do: Schedule a Professional for Cleaning Wood Floors

On top of regular DIY cleanings, the best way to keep your hardwood floors spick and span is to schedule periodic professional cleanings. Professional wood floor cleaning can lengthen the lifespan of your wood floors and make them beautiful again. A mix of DIY and professional cleaning is optimal for the health of your wood floors. Professional Surface Restoration offers free estimates with no obligation. Contact us to set up an appointment.

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