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Proper Carpet Care

10 Jun

Whether it’s your home or office, nothing can make a room look more unsightly then a ragged and dirty carpet. A professional cleaning can cost hundreds of dollars, and replacing a carpet can cost thousands. Here are some tips on how to keep your carpet clean and make it last.

VACUUM!

Seems simple enough, however many people don’t vacuum properly. If you wait to vacuum until your carpet appears dirty, it’s already too late. The longer a mess stays in carpet, the harder it is to remove. The best way to avoid this is to vacuum regularly. You don’t have to vacuum the entire building everyday, but high traffic areas should get extra attention.

We carry a wide variety of upright, canister, and wet/dry vacuums and vacuum accessories such as vacuum bags and tools.

 

HIT THOSE SPOTS

We mentioned how the longer a mess stays in the carpet, the more it sets in. The best way to combat this is to have some spot remover handy for those unexpected spills. Betty Mills carries trusted spot removing brands such as Resolve, OxiClean, and Franklin.

 

GET A CARPET EXTRACTOR

While vacuuming and spot treatments help extend the life of your carpet, you still need to give it a deep cleaning every once in a while. If you are only doing your home then you can rent one at your local supermarket or hardware store. However if you are going to use one for your business, then purchasing one would be a wise investment. We carry a good variety of carpet extractors for both small and large jobs!

Remove Odors And Freshen Up For Spring

26 Mar

Nothing can ruin your day more than a stinky odor. We like to refer to the famous Seinfeld episode where Jerry’s car gets infected with B.O. and it attaches itself to anyone who comes in contact with it. After several attempts of deep cleaning, Jerry eventually just parks his car in an alley and walks away. We’re here to make sure you don’t end up in Jerry’s situation!

A lot of people think that when they smell something bad, a quick burst of air freshener will do the trick. But that just masks the odor, and as soon as the air freshener evaporates the odor will still be there. Instead you have to eliminate the odor, and we have just the products to get the job done!

Absorbents: Absorbents are a great way to clean up any unexpected spills, including oil slicks. They come in pads, granules for hard to reach spots, and socks to make a quick barrier. The quicker you can get the spill mopped up, the quicker you can stop any odor from taking hold.

Ozone Generators: If you want to steer clear of chemicals, a Queenaire ozone generator is the way to go. Whether it’s a small apartment or a large warehouse, they have a ozone generators for any scenario.

Arm & Hammer: If your odor is just a little nuisance in your fridge or around your trash can, Arm & Hammer makes great deodorizer from baking soda to air fresheners.

Air Fresheners: While air fresheners don’t eliminate odors, they are still a great tool to give a quick boost of your favorite scent to any room of your home or office.

Disinfectants: If your odor came from a particular grimy source, be sure to hit the area with some disinfectant to keep the spot safe and healthy.

Clean & Fresh Air

6 Dec

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Winter is upon us, which means that we will all be huddled up indoors for the next few months. That means this is a good time to make sure the air you’re breathing is healthy and refreshing. Here’s how!

AIR FILTERS

One thing to look for when trying to find an air filter is the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the filter is. MERV ratings range from 1-20. Residential filters usually top out at MERV 8. For reference, MERV 13-20 are usually used for hospitals and pharmaceutical factories. Here’s a table for full details.

Purolator has all the air filters for your commercial and residential needs. Dirt and dust builds up overtime which means that the longer you go between changing filters, the more likely it is that the air you breath in your own home may be unhealthy. Be sure to inspect your filters once a month and plan on changing them every 3 months.

AIR DEODORIZERS

Air deodorizers recycle the air in your home or business, removing odors to help keep what you breath fresh and healthy! One of the best in the air deodorizer business is Newaire. They offer a variety of purifiers, from small plug-in units for rooms and cars, to large units for larger areas. Best of all, there are no dangerous chemicals involved!

AIR FRESHENERS

Having pure air is great, but giving it a pleasant scent is even better! With the holiday season upon us, a good air freshener can really make your home extra inviting for your loved ones. Claire offers a wide variety of scents. You can even grab a dispenser and have the scent sprayed at timed intervals! Just be sure to grab a metered spray can if you do.

Buying the right trash can liner

21 May

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On the surface, it may seem that buying a liner for your trash receptacle is simple. As long as it is the right size everything is fine, right? Well there is a little more to it than that. In addition to selecting the right size, you also need to factor in what is being thrown away. This is determined by both density, and gauge.

If sharp items are being thrown away, then you will want a low density can liner. Otherwise you can use a high density can liner.

If lighter items are being thrown away, then you want a lower grade gauge. If the liner will be holding heavy items, then you will want a higher grade gauge.

You can use our Trash Liner Guide to help match you your container with the right liner.

In addition, Heritage carries color coded can liners that can help distinguish the contents of the liner. This is great for industries that have bio-hazard waste, such as health care facilities. But it can be used to separate anything, such as recyclable materials, organic waste, soiled laundry, etc.

Spring Cleaning Tips

19 Apr

Spring is in the air! That means that winter coats are being put away and the weather is starting to heat up. It also means that Spring Cleaning plans are starting to form. Those words could bring a sense of chores and hard work but it doesn’t have to. We’re here to give some tips and recommend some products that can make Spring Cleaning much easier for years to come!

GET THE RIGHT TOOLS

The first thing you will need to get is your cleaning supplies. Figure out what you need and also inspect what you already own to see if it needs to be replaced. Maybe that old broom is a little frayed or the mop is a bit too grimy. Here’s a list of the basic tools you’ll need to get the job done.

  • Broom
  • Dustpan
  • Mop
  • Bucket
  • Rags
  • Towels
  • Scrub Brush
  • Toilet Brush
  • Squeegee
  • Vacuum

Carlisle is a great place to get your broom, dustpan, and brushes. Libman has a wide assortment of mops, buckets, sponges, and cloths. Ettore is world-renowned for their squeegee and scraper collection. And Pullman-Holt HEPA Vacuums are designed for the efficient recovery of asbestos, lead, mold and many other hazardous materials.
GET THE RIGHT CLEANING CHEMICALS

Of course those cleaning tools won’t do you a whole lot of good without the right cleaning chemicals. Luckily we carry plenty of those as well! Here’s a basic list of what you’ll need:

  • All Purpose Cleaner
  • Toilet Bowl Cleaner
  • Floor Cleaner
  • Stainless Steel Cleaner
  • Furniture Polish
  • Dishwashing Liquid
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Bleach

If you’re looking to celebrate Earth Day and want to be a little more environmentally conscious, Earth Friendly Products has a green version of every cleaner listed above. Procter & Gamble carries nearly every brand of cleaners under the sun, including Bounty, Mr. Clean, Comet, Febreeze, Swiffer, Tide, and Dawn.

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

Ok, so you’re armed and ready to tackle dirt and grease. Now what? Well before you dive head first into your Spring Cleaning project, you need a sound strategy so you can get the job done in an efficient and timely manner.

  • Remove Trash & Unwanted Items: This is the first thing you want to do as it will help free up some space, and you won’t be dragging garbage all over your clean house. Go through your closet, garage, basement and attic to find all of the items you want to throw away or get rid of. You can either sell unwanted items online or through a yard sale, or you can donate them to your local charity. When going through items that will be thrown away, be sure to separate recyclable items from garbage. These items include aluminum cans, scrap metal, paper, and electronics. Not only will you be helping the environment but some places will pay you to take them off your hands!
  • Clean From Top To Bottom: Gravity is a cruel mistress and when you clean things that are high up, a good portion of the dirt and dust falls onto things below. So it’s best to start up top with fans, the ceiling, light fixtures, and shelf tops, then work your way down. Vacuuming and mopping should be the last thing you do.
  • Get Help or Get Out: If you have a family, then you can have them help. Give kids small jobs like sorting their toys and taking out garbage. If the kids are being a hassle or the dog is getting in the way, have a friend or relative take them for a few hours to give you an easier time.
  • Make It Fun: Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be all work and no play. It can be quality time with family and friends. If you’re on your own, put on some music or a ball game.

KEEPING YOUR HOME CLEAN

  • Get A Magic Eraser: A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can clean almost anything. It can clean silver & gold, vinyl, mirrors, suede, pots & pans, BBQ grills, tile & grout, and stove tops. It can remove mold & mildew, soap scum, adhesive residue, hair dye, nail polish, paint, and ink. A definite must have around your house.
  • Reverse The Clothes In Your Closet: If you had trouble clearing out your wardrobe, hang all your clothes so your hangers face backward. When you wear something, turn the hanger around. After a year, if something is still on a backward hanger, give it away.
  • Stay Organized: Continental has different receptacles for recycling and trash so you can sort as you dispose. Akro Mils has plenty of storage and shelving options.

Cleaning Your Smokers’ Outpost Cigarette Receptacle

8 Jan

It is estimated that over 634 million cigarettes are smoked in the United States every day. That is a lot of ash and cigarette butts to dispose of. If you toss them in a general waste can, they can begin to smell or worse, cause a fire if not properly put out.

Luckily the folks over at Smokers’ Outpost were one step ahead and came up with their Cigarette Receptacles. They are durable, weather resistant, and have a sleek and modern design. They are oxygen-restricting so there is no need for water or sand to extinguish cigarettes.

Recently, Betty customer Mike H. from Los Angeles asked how to clean his Smoker’s Outpost Receptacle. We reached out to Smokers’ Outpost and their representative Sandi D. was more than happy to oblige.

  • Remove fastening screw to release the top from the base
  • Empty the pail
  • You can clean out the pail and receptacle with warm water and soap. For tougher build up, a household cleaner or degreaser is recommended.
  • Be sure to check for any cigarette butts blocking the smoke stack
  • Replace the pail and refasten the top with the tightening screw

Smokers Outpost Cigarette Recptacle

The frequency of cleaning is recommended for every 3rd or 4th emptying of the pail, and be sure to always check the smokestack during every cleaning.

Thanks to Mike H. for his question and Sandi D. over at Smokers’ Outpost for her quick and helpful response!

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