Dirt Magnets

Glass patio doors let sunlight into your home during the bright summer months and create a connection with the outside world. They are also magnets for dirt, dusty and sticky fingers. To clean grimy windows, follow these steps:

1. Using a soft bristled broom remove as much dust and debris from the doors as possible, including corners and grooves.
2. Create a cleaning solution using two parts hot water, one part white vinegar (add a teaspoon of dish soap to tackle harder-to-clean greasy windows).
3. For easier application, transfer the solution to a clean household spray bottle and label it.
4. Spray the mixture at the top of the window/door frame, and allow to run down the length of the glass.
5. Starting on the outside of the patio door, wipe the glass clean with wads of old newspaper and use a circular cleaning motion to create a streak-free finish (use rubber gloves to avoid transferring newsprint to your hands).
6. Clean the door frame using the same solution. Once the exterior is clean, use the same procedure inside.
7. Allow to dry completely.

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Nobody Likes Scum

A hot shower is a great way to unwind after a long, hard day. Unfortunately hot water, humidity and steam can also cause a build-up of mildew and soap scum on shower curtains and doors. Follow these steps to keep your home Spa sparkling clean!

Glass Showers
1. Dampen a clean sponge with warm white vinegar and rub doors to remove soap scum. Rinse with clear water and allow to air dry for a streak free finish.
2. Vinegar can also be used on hard-to-clean shower door tracks. Pour undiluted vinegar into the track. Leave for 5 minutes, then rinse.

Shower Curtains
1. Prevention is the first step to keeping your shower curtain clean. Soak new curtains in a diluted water and vinegar solution prior to hanging to prevent the growth of mildew and mold. A salt water solution can be used in place of vinegar.
2. Many cloth shower curtains can be cleaned in the washing machine with regular laundry detergent. Tougher mildew stains may be treated using hot soapy water and by allowing the curtain to soak in a full bath tub with ½ cup to 1 cup of bleach.
3. For plastic or vinyl curtains, use a gentle household spray bathroom cleaner or laundry pre-wash spray. Leave the curtain on the hooks and spray along the top, letting the cleaner run down the length of the curtain. Let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse.

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Keep That Sparkle

Over time diamonds can lose their sparkle due to a build-up of dirt, debris and grime. Even natural and everyday substances like hand lotions, soaps, and oils secreted by the skin can create a dulling film. A few simple tricks can put the twinkle back in your precious gems.

Before attempting to clean your diamonds, make sure the setting is secure. Likewise, if you don't know what metal is used in the rest of the piece, consult a professional.

1. Using a wooden toothpick or unwaxed dental floss, remove any loose debris such as hair or dirt that may have become lodged in your diamond setting.
2. Soak the diamond in a warm solution of mild detergent and water.
3. Use a soft bristled brush if necessary to remove any remaining dirt. Be sure that the bristles are soft enough that they won't damage softer metals, like gold, commonly used in jewelry settings.
4. Rinse jewelry thoroughly in warm water. If rinsing in a sink, make sure the drain is plugged.
5. Dry the diamond with a soft cloth, preferably one made with microfiber.
6. Storage tip: Don't store diamonds loosely in your jewelry box. Diamonds can not only scratch your other gemstones, they can damage each other. Always store your diamonds separately.

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A Muddy Christmas

Christmas is a season for entertaining family and friends. Extra guests, however, mean extra traffic through the home. Mud, in particular, can accumulate and certain mud types can contain oil and other contaminates. Luckily, mud is one of the easiest stains to remove.

1. Always let mud dry. Most mud spots, when completely dry, can be removed by vacuuming alone.
2. For persistent stains, lightly brush the area to loosen the dirt, but be very careful not to use a scrubbing motion. Scrubbing can distort, stretch and warp carpet fibres.
3. Add one teaspoon of liquid soap or dishwashing detergent to one cup of lukewarm water. Liberally apply the solution to the stain and blot.
4. Next, create an ammonia solution by mixing one tablespoon of household ammonia with a 1/2 cup of cold water. Pretest a small area.
5. Once you are confident the mixture will not negatively react with the dyes in your carpet, gently blot the stain with the ammonia solution.
6. Mix one tablespoon white vinegar with 1/2 cold water. Again, pretest the solution on a small area of your carpet.
7. Blot the area with the vinegar mixture.
8. Rinse the area thoroughly with clear water and blot until dry.

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Not So Lovely Leaves

As temperatures dip and the days become shorter, there is no denying that autumn is here. Many of us enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons, especially the explosion of colour in the treetops. Unfortunately, those same leaves eventually fall to the ground and can stain concrete driveways and steps. To remove the ugly brown marks left behind, try these steps:

1. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. Never let piles of wet leaves sit on concrete.
2. Using a soft knife, scrape off any excess material still adhering to the surface.
3. Mixture equal parts household bleach and water (1-to1). Be sure to wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when working with bleach.
4. Soak stains for 5 minutes. Do not let the area dry. Rinse clear with plain water.
5. If necessary, spot-scrub the area using a nylon brush. Again, do not let the area dry and rinse clear with plain water.
6. Deeper stains may require the use of a power washer. Use caution with a power washer as it may damage the concrete.

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Perspiration Stains? No Sweat!

With temperatures set to soar to record highs, you can expect to get hot and sweaty this summer. Unfortunately, upholstered chair backs and arms and couches can pick up unsightly stains from excess perspiration.
Follow these steps to remove stains and odors caused by sweat:

1. Mix together two cups cold water, one tablespoon of ammonia, and one teaspoon of liquid dish detergent.
2. Sponge the stain with the solution until saturated.
3. Blot stain with a clean dry cloth until all liquid is absorbed.
4. Make a new mixture of two cups cold water, one tablespoon of liquid dish detergent and a tablespoon of white vinegar (the vinegar will tackle that "sweaty" smell).
5. Once again, sponge the stain until saturated.
6. Blot stain with a a fresh clean cloth until mixture is absorbed.
7. Treat the remaining stain with a mixture of rubbing alcohol - sponge and then blot until alcohol is absorbed.
8. Sponge again with clean cold water, blot excess liquid, and allow to dry.

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Bad Doggy! Bad Kitty!

What to do with a mess on the carpet.

When the family pet does their "business" on the carpet, following these steps will minimize any permanent impact this could have on your carpet. Urine and feces need to be treated in different ways, so follow these steps:

Pet Urine
1. Blot urine with an absorbent towel. Using the heel of your foot is a good way to apply pressure to absorb deep into the carpet and pad. Repeat multiple times until the towel comes up dry.
2. After the urine has been soaked up, mix 50% white vinegar and 50% water in a spray bottle. Spray the spot completely and leave in the mixture in the carpet. The mixture neutralizes the acidic properties of the urine that could discolor and damage the carpet fibers.
3. A Servpro specialized carpet cleaning technician should be called to thoroughly remove any remaining urine / mixture from the carpet.

Pet Poo
1. Wait for poo to dry! Do not attempt clean up until the poo has dried completely. If you do, the poo will absorb into the fibers and cause irreversible damage.
2. Once poo has dried, which can take several days, remove from the carpet and discard. The remnants on the carpet will need to be cleaned by a specialized Servpro carpet cleaning technician.
3. After the Servpro carpet technician is finished, a sanitizer will be needed to kill any bacteria that may remain in the carpet.

To Schedule a Servpro Specialized Carpet Cleaning Technician, Call Us at: 403.520.7777

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Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

What to do with spilled milk.

There's no need to cry over spilt milk: quick thinking and a few simple steps can prevent odor and residue from dairy products from settling on carpets and porous surfaces. Fresh milk stains are easily treated by blotting the stain with a cleaning solution made from ice cold water and laundry detergent. Older milk stains, however, present a bigger challenge:

Steps
1. Remove any crust that has formed over the stain with a dull knife. Be sure to sweep up or vacuum away the loose flakes of dried milk.
2. Blot the area with a mixture of 1 tablespoon household ammonia and 1 cup of water.
3. Follow by vigorously rubbing the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft bristled tooth-brush.
4. Blot with clean water.
5. To remove odors, soak the area in white vinegar for 20 minutes. Soak up any remaining liquid with paper towels.
6. The vinegar smell will vanish over the course of a week, taking with it the odor of sour milk.

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Fire and Ice.

How to clean candle wax from linens.

Candles can add ambiance and character to any party. Cleaning wax from linens however, can be a nightmare without the right technique. Luckily there is a way to remove wax while minimizing damage to your napkins and tablecloths.

Steps
1. Allow wax to dry.
2. Apply an ice cube or pack to the wax. Wax will become brittle and crack.
3. Gently scrape away wax using a dull-edged tool or household item like a butter knife or the edge of a credit card.

To remove remaining wax, you will need an iron and at least two brown paper bags.

1. Set iron to a medium, dry heat.
2. Place one bag underneath the linen and a second paper bag on top of the wax.
3. Gently iron the area until the wax has been transferred to the paper bag.
4. Repeat this step, using a new bag, until the wax is gone.
5. Wash your linens, pre-treating any stains left behind by coloured candles.

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Red Wine. White Carpet.

This is how to remove a wet red wine spill from a carpet.

Steps
1. Blot up as much of the red wine as possible from the carpet using a rag.
2. Pour white wine on the carpet around the perimeter of the spill, working the white wine towards the center--this keeps the red wine from gravitating even further out into the clean part of the carpet.
3. Wait about 30 seconds and then blot the area. If any residue of the stain remains, repeat step 2 above.

Alternate Method

1. Do not touch the wine.
2. Cover the entire area with table salt, so that entire area affected has been covered with approximately 1/4 inch of salt.
3. Leave undisturbed until completely dry, usually 12-24 hours but may take longer if it exceptionally cold or humid. During the drying process, the salt will pull up the wine.
4. When completely dry, vacuum the salt up and the wine will have disappeared.

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Tis the Season...

This is how to remove tree sap from carpet.

There is something undeniably delightful and festive about decorating a real christmas tree. The scent of pine and lush branches create a wonderful holiday environment. Real trees however, can leak sap onto carpets, even when a tree skirt is used for protection.

Glycerin, available in most drugstores, can be used to remove sap from carpets and rugs. Using a 50/50 ratio, mix the glycerin with warm water and apply it directly to the sap. Let the mixture dissolve, then using a paper towel, gently pull the sap up from the material. Follow-up with your favourite spot cleaner.

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