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How to Dry Wet Carpet
Learn how to dry wet carpet after a small flood or water damage in your home with these professional tipsA small flood can cause significant damage to your home, especially to your carpeted floors. If your carpet has been soaked in water, it is important to act quickly to prevent further damage and mold growth. Here are some steps on how to dry wet carpet after a small flood: Step 1: Turn off the PowerThe first thing you should do is turn off the power in the affected area to prevent any electrical hazards. If the water has reached electrical outlets or appliances, do not attempt to touch them until the power is turned off. Step 2: Remove waterNot sure how to dry a wet carpet? Use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner to remove as much water as possible from the carpet. If you do not have a wet-dry vacuum, you can use towels or a mop to soak up the water. Step 3: Elevate furnitureRemove any furniture or items from the wet carpet and elevate them to prevent further water damage. You can also place aluminum foil or wood blocks under furniture legs to prevent them from absorbing water. Step 4: Use fans and dehumidifiersThe right tools and equipment can help you determine how to dry wet carpet. Place fans and dehumidifiers in the affected area to circulate the air and remove moisture. You can also open windows and doors to increase ventilation. Step 5: Clean and disinfectAfter the carpet has dried, clean and disinfect it to prevent mold growth and odors. Use a carpet cleaner or a mixture of water and vinegar to clean the affected area. You can also use a disinfectant spray to kill bacteria and germs. Step 6: Call a professionalIf the flood or water damage is extensive or if the carpet has been wet for more than 24 hours, it is best to call a professional water damage restoration or carpet cleaning service. They have the equipment and expertise to dry and clean the carpet thoroughly, preventing any further damage or mold growth. Drying wet carpet after a small flood requires quick action and proper or professional equipment. By following these steps, you can prevent further damage to your home or investment property and ensure a safe and healthy living environment for you and your family. |
Don’t Waste Precious Time Deep Cleaning your Floors
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Your time is valuable. Time is probably the most valuable asset and thing you cherish most. Most often, there are too many commitments that stand in the way and eat up your free time: work, family, running kids around, managing a household, etc.. Who wants to spend their spare time cleaning or deep cleaning areas in your home? Wouldn’t you rather spend your valuable extra time doing your favorite things with your favorite people in Summit County? According to Psychology Today people that experience time scarcity can be less happy and encounter more stress. “Focusing on time could improve your mood.”(Ashley Whillans, Ph.D.) An interesting study showed people that spent money on a time saving activity were far more satisfied and happier than spending money on a material item. Think about that for a moment… time saving purchases spark more joy so you can go do the things you love. Spending money on something as simple as a house cleaning service will free up your valuable time and create a great amount of satisfaction. Think about how happy you will feel coming home from your favorite hike in the Gore Range and having your house sparkling clean. You deserve more time to spend on the things you love. Why not free up some time and hire Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration for some specialized deep cleans on things such as mattresses, tile, upholstery, and hardwood floors? Better yet, schedule a bi-weekly or monthly clean for your entire home. Here are a couple of time saving tips for those cleaning chores needed in between scheduled cleans:
The benefits of having your house professionally cleaned are vast. But really, the most important advantage is freeing up your valuable time so you can spend it doing the things you love, and with peace of mind. |
What to Do When Your Pipes Freeze
What to Do When Your Home has Frozen Pipes in Summit CountyYou’re probably familiar with all of the standard ways to prevent frozen pipes in your home, but do you know what steps to take if your pipes actually freeze? Even with preventative measures in place, an unfortunate situation can occur. Mechanical failure of the heating system, power loss, internet loss, or even human error might result in frozen pipes in Summit County. However, there are some steps you can take to help thaw frozen pipes and prevent a major water leak… and speaking of prevention, we’ve got a great tip below that you may not have considered. ![]() Not all frozen pipes will burst, but the longer amount of time that the pipe remains frozen, the more likely it is to burst. It’s important to help frozen pipes in Summit County thaw as quickly as possible. Waiting around for temperatures to warm up is not a good idea. Faucets that won’t flow, a toilet that won’t refill, or visibly frozen water in a toilet bowl are all signs of frozen pipes. Here’s what to do when your pipes freeze:
Once the pipes begin to thaw and water is flowing, keep the faucet on a slow but steady drip until the danger of re-freezing has passed. Besides an obvious water leak, other warning signs to look out for are low water pressure, damp ceilings, walls or floors; or persistent noise in the pipes when all faucets are off. These are all warnings that there is a likely a leak in a wall or other area that needs immediate repair. Remember to be careful with electrical devices around plumbing. Do not use them in the presence of water to prevent electrical shock. Do not heat pipes to a point that they become hot to touch. Consider installing a leak detector or sensor in areas with vulnerable pipes. A pipe that has frozen but did not burst is more likely to burst if it freezes again. Preventive Pro Tip!If your home is a rental for guests in Summit County, you must always assume that your guests do not know anything about frozen pipe prevention. Many from the south who have never lived in cold climates won’t know the harm of leaving a garage door open in the winter time. A prominently placed warning sign at the interior garage door is vital to remind them to keep it shut after use. Remote thermostat control is also helpful. Guests who are not accustomed to the cold have a tendency to turn the heat up too high, get hot and then crack a door or window to cool off. In the excitement of being on vacation, those cracked doors and windows might get left open. You can be alerted to this with remote temperature control and give your guests a call or send staff to the home. In a worst-case scenario with burst pipes as the end result, Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration is here to help prevent further water damage. Our Summit County water damage team will extract the water, dry it out and complete the clean-up process. We are locally owned and operated in Summit County for more than a decade. We know the climate well, the toll it takes on homes in our community and how to mitigate it. Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind and high quality care. |
3 Reasons Your Tile Should Be Professionally Cleaned
![]() With the active outdoor lifestyle of Summit County homeowners and visitors, tile and stone are functional and beautiful choices for indoor flooring. Over the past decade, concrete has become a popular choice as well. However, because of their porous nature, tile and concrete are extremely difficult to clean by hand, even with the most powerful elbow grease. Just like a sponge, the porous surfaces of tile, stone, and grout will soak up dirt and bacteria. Scrubbing cannot reach those deep surfaces. Even if you have someone with a strong elbow available, we’re willing to bet they don’t want to spend hours on their hands and knees. To protect the life and beauty of your tile and stone flooring, there are three reasons to have them professionally cleaned.
You may look at your floors and recognize the fact they could use a good cleaning, but most likely you won’t realize just how dirty they are until they’ve been professionally cleaned! Maybe you just bought a new home and would like an overhaul on the clean. We can clean the carpet, upholstery, and mattresses at the same time your tile is cleaned. Free quotes can be provided for individual rooms or for your entire home. Give our locally-owned company a call today! |
Dog Friendly Rentals are Better for Business
Dog friendly rentals are a win/win for owners and guests. They’re often more profitable, cleaner, and in high-demand.![]() Summit County residents are as passionate about their pets as they are with our surrounding beauty and active lifestyle. Locals are seen year-round with their four-legged companions all over town; on trails down low and on the highest mountain tops, on backcountry excursions, and curled up around the camp fire. We have numerous pet supply stores, two fabulous dog parks, and dozens of dog-friendly patios around the county. On Main Street in Breckenridge, many merchants provide ‘doggie hydration stations’. Our pets need extra hydration just like we do! Doggie waste bags can also be found in abundance far and wide throughout the county. Office dogs are the norm in Summit County. In fact, the Breckenridge Tourism Office puts out an annual Working Dogs calendar filled with adorable photos of office dogs, avalanche rescue dogs, and service dogs of all breeds and sizes! They also provide a comprehensive guide to dog-friendly Breckenridge activities and lodging. Should You Bring your Dog to Breckenridge?It’s not surprising that we attract visitors who want to share their love of the outdoors with their dogs just as much as we do. We love our visitors and we love their pets too. Our visitors’ pets are welcome to share in all the same perks as our resident dogs, with one major exception … lodging! Unfortunately, when it comes to finding a hotel or vacation home that allows four-legged family members to stay the night, the options are often slim. There are tens of thousands of places to lay a head while in Summit County; single bedrooms in private homes, hotel rooms, and multi-million-dollar mansions rented by private homeowners. Unfortunately, only approximately one-quarter of these lodging options are pet friendly, or places where pets are allowed to lay their heads for the night alongside their humans. While many homeowners and property managers cite allergies as the reason for banning furry family members (and rightfully so), many more have the conception of other people’s dogs as dirty and destructive. There are also dozens of HOAs which prohibit guest pets in rental properties for safety and liability reasons. Dog Friendly Rentals are CleanerWe want to let you in on a little secret: dog friendly rentals are often cleaner than their counterparts. There is no question that cleanliness is the number one factor for guest satisfaction. No one wants to stay in an unclean hotel room or vacation home. Since guest reviews are a key factor in rental property success, cleanliness becomes that much more important. However, unless you or one of your family members have pet allergies, we’d like to point out a few things that might make you reconsider allowing guest pets in your rental home, especially if you have pets of your own. Pet Friendly Rentals are ProfitableWith pet-friendly options being the minority in the market, and in high demand, these rooms and homes are often booked solid. If you have a unit that is new to the market with no reviews or one that doesn’t book as well as your neighbor’s home, making it pet friendly could greatly increase your bookings, and grow positive reviews! We’ve seen this scenario with homes that are slightly less favorable due to location, décor, fewer upgrades and amenities, etc. Switching that home over to the pet-friendly category can increase the rentals thus increasing the homeowner’s revenue. If your own pets are present when you occupy your home, but you don’t allow guests to bring pets, you could end up with guests who assume pets are never in the home, and then unhappy guests who discover a dog hair or become sick due to pet allergies. If you are a homeowner who has pets and does not have a HOA that restricts your guests, perhaps you might consider allowing your guests to have them too. As Breckenridge cleaning professionals, we can honestly say that young children tend to cause more messes and damage than pets do! Professionally Cleaned Dog Friendly RentalsMost people who are attached enough to their pets to want to take them on vacation have pets that are well-trained and well-behaved. However, in the event of excessive pet hair or a pet accident, Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration is here to rescue your rental and get it back to 5-star status. The additional revenue from increased bookings will more than offset the cost of an extra carpet clean. Exclusive Cleaning serves many well maintained and professionally cleaned dog friendly rentals on a regular basis. With fresh, inviting carpets and upholstery, you wouldn’t know which ones are pet-friendly properties without being told. Plus, not every reservation at a pet-friendly home brings pets; the average is about half with pets and half without. Lastly, if you’re determined to not allow guests to bring their pets, but you have pets of your own, we hope you will consider more frequent deep cleans, carpet and upholstery cleans in the event you have guests with allergies or aversions to stray dog hairs. Your stellar reviews for cleanliness will result in maximizing your revenue potential. |
Top 5 Things Vacation Rental Guests Notice and Appreciate
![]() Expectations are important, especially when it comes to vacations. Guests spend thousands to visit a destination of their choice. You may not know whether your guests like to ski or snowboard, but when it comes to vacation rentals there is a standard. Guests notice and appreciate when a vacation rental is well maintained and clean. It’s crucial to stay on top of your vacation rental cleaning! 1 Cleanliness 5-Star Cleanliness: Hands-down, no-questions-asked, the top of the list item that guests will notice and appreciate more than anything else is the overall cleanliness of their vacation home. A family can arrive to a stunning, palatial mountain getaway, find a thoughtful handwritten note along with a welcome basket, and even complimentary activity passes…but if that vacation home is not clean, nothing else matters! No one has ever had a fabulous stay in a vacation home that is anything less than 5-star quality clean. An immaculate, small and modest home with bright-white linens and towels is preferable over a larger home with grime, grunge, and/or evidence of the previous inhabitant’s unsavory lack of tidiness. When it comes to cleanliness, it’s the very last place to take shortcuts or be left making apologies. Not only is a clean house aesthetically pleasing, guests who stay in a spotless home are far more comfortable and can rest and relax with ease knowing germs and creepy-crawlies do not exist in their vacation bubble. 2. Great Amenities Hot tubs, home theaters (or large screen TVs in smaller homes) and high-speed internet top the list of amenities. Guests want these perks and they want them to be functioning perfectly. Sparkling clean hot tubs are especially part of the package when the guest envisions their dream mountain vacation. They picture themselves soaking the aches away after a long day of outdoor activity followed by the family gathered around a big screen for a game or movie. While staying in touch with the office may not be part of that dream, it’s often necessary in today’s society. Many guests must get a bit of work done while away from home and high-speed internet access is crucial. 3. A well-maintained vacation home ![]() Just because the home is a rental, don’t expect your guests to not notice wood floors that are scratched and scuffed, furniture spotted from grimy stains, or carpet that is worn or dingy in high traffic areas. A little bit of maintenance goes a very long way, not only in impressing your guests with the message that you care about the quality of their stay, but also with guests taking better care of your home. Guests who stay in a home that has not been well maintained will assume the management/ homeowner does not care much about the property. If the management or homeowner does not care, why should the guests care? On the other hand, when guests are presented with a pristine home that obviously receives a lot of TLC, they in turn feel cared for and are more likely to pass that care back to the home. They will remove their shoes at the door and use caution and good judgement with food or drink outside the kitchen. No one wants to lose a deposit or be responsible for a big stain on a spotless rug. Guest damage cannot be hidden in a well-maintained home. You can be sure they won’t tromp across wood floors in their ski boots if those wood floors are in great condition. They will notice a spotless rug and think twice about being careless with the red wine. Professional vacation rental cleaning services may recommend a professional floor cleaning service. 4. A vacation home with fresh and odor-free air ![]() Bad odors in a home create subliminal messages that the home is not healthy. The biggest percentage of Summit County visitors come from Texas and Florida where the air has greater levels of oxygen and does not leave them gasping for breath. Throw in some allergens such as dust, mildew, or pet dander into our thin and dry air and you’ll be left with a guest who is congested, has tremendous difficulty getting a good night’s sleep, and may even go home sick. Whether they realize it or not, guests will love a vacation home where the carpets, upholstery, and mattresses are clean and allergen free. This is especially true here in the high country where it is often too cold to open windows! Vacation rental cleaning services, like Exclusive Cleaning Summit or Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration, will stay on top of bad odors and allergens in your property. 5. Insider tips and coupons Guests want to be lovingly welcomed and feel like a local. Especially Summit County guests- the place where so many guests fall under the spell of the majestic beauty and small mountain town good vibes. They appreciate insider tips that cannot be found at the brochure stand. Tips like the best uncrowded trails, the most convenient places to park, where to go for dinner for great food and service minus the crowds. They love tips that put them in the know and make them feel like they are at home as much as those of us who are lucky enough to live here year ‘round. Families love tips that help them save money, like shoulder season specials, discounts on activities, or being pointed in the direction of a local thrift store for huge savings on outdoor gear and apparel. |
Top 10 Tips to Prevent Water Damage in Your Rental Property
![]() They say that prevention is the best cure and water damage isn’t an exception. While accidents do occur and there are many possible unexpected scenarios, Bighorn Rentals warns it’s essential that you conduct proper preventive maintenance to really minimize the risks of water damage. In this article you’ll learn about ten different ways you can prevent water from creating serious damage in your rental property. 1. Repair the roofHomeowners don’t really focus on the roof issues before it’s too late. You shouldn’t wait for any brown spots or discoloration to appear on the property’s ceiling. By then it’s already too late. ![]() A better approach is to annually check your roof. In the case of any damaged or outright missing shingles, you should get the repairs done immediately. This is a sure way to keep the water from entering the rooms, at least from the ceiling. 2. Clean the floor drainsMany people overlook their floor drains. Actually, these areas are notorious for the accumulation of dust, hair, and other potentially obstructive matter. The best policy is to clean the drains at least once a week or every two weeks. Doing it less often might expose the property to water hazards. 3. Extend the downspoutsThe gutter downspouts should extend as far away from the property as possible. The efficiency of a drainage system lies in its ability to stop water from accumulating directly around the house. When the downspouts are enabling the collection of rainwater around the building, then you haven’t got an effective drainage solution. Furthermore, the extent isn’t the only important matter here. Any broken parts of the whole drainage system should be quickly replaced. Otherwise, you are allowing the risk of water damage to climb upwards. 4. Clean the guttersAnother annual cleaning that you should do is gutter cleaning. This is a great way to lessen the risk of having any unnecessary water entering your property. The rain gutters are notorious for getting clogged with bits of vegetation and debris. ![]() Also, rainwater might dislodge material that accumulates inside the gutters. Always make sure the gutters are properly angled. Otherwise, the water might start to pool around the property, creating significant damage to the house’s structural integrity. 5. Seal the cracksCracks in the foundation and the walls may raise the risk of water damage. When the water starts seeping into these cracks, the whole foundation of the house may get compromised. Sometimes bigger cracks may indicate major problems that need the attention of a structural engineer. 6. Install a moisture sensorSometimes a smart moisture sensor can save your property from extensive water damage. The problem with water damage is that it’s not always a clear emergency. There are times when water is gradually seeping in and slowly destroying some parts of the house. That’s why it’s useful to use gadgets like a moisture sensor. You should install it in the areas prone to water damage. For example, you could put it in the crawl space or under the sink. If the device is connected to the Wi-Fi, you’ll immediately get a notification of a moisture level getting out of control. The initial investment could save you a fortune. 7. Check your sump pumpAre you noticing excess moisture and water in your crawl space or basement rooms? Sump pumps work to keep these spaces clear of any water that has started to pile up in the sump pit. You should regularly keep an eye on this pump to ensure that the water hasn’t started to damage the building from underneath. ![]() 8. Screen the tenantsYou might be thinking, what does this have to do with water damage? Well, tenants with certain backgrounds might be at a higher risk for creating any damage, including water-related causes. Make sure that the tenants haven’t been evicted in the past. Failure to pay the rent might indicate that they could be negligent towards the property as well. When your potential tenants show up drunk or under the influence of any drugs, then steer clear. Having frequent alcohol-fueled parties raises the risk of water damage significantly because it shows that they do not care for the rental property. 9. Check the window sealsImproperly sealed windows aren’t just a nuisance, they could create long-term problems with water damage. Moisture and water can easily enter the rooms from windows that have worn-out seals. Also, noticing any cracks around the windows should alert you enough to get them fixed as soon as possible. Don’t wait for the summer to end because even the first big rainstorm could create a lot of damage. 10. Create a slope in the yardIn the case of a violent rainstorm, water can quickly accumulate on level ground and start to endanger the property. Grading the surrounding yard in a downward fashion lets the rainwater flow away from the building. There are many practical steps that you can take to prevent water from damaging your rental property. Clean the floor drains and rain gutters, seal any cracks, check the sump pump and the window seals while ensuring the yard is properly graded. If anything needs repair work, then take the proper steps immediately. Any postponing of these repairs could be interpreted as neglect if you have a tenant living inside the property while there’s a water emergency creating damage inside the house. Also, having a moisture sensor installed in areas prone to water damage is a useful way to protect the rental property from serious damage. If water damage happens to you, call 970.668.1600 for fast restoration service. |
Remove Red Wine, Gravy & Other Holiday Carpet Stains
![]() We hope your holiday season is filled with delicious food, great conversation, and meaningful company. The best holidays are centered around food, and we all enjoy sharing meals with friends and family. When a guest spills their red wine on the carpet or a family member drips gravy on the furniture, the mood can quickly change from festive to fearful. Don’t let a few drops of wine ruin the celebration. Learn how to remove red wine and other holiday carpet stains with these quick tips from your friends at Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration. If you can’t remove holiday stains, give us a call and our professionals will take care of everything. Removing Red Wine from Carpet with Baking SodaWhen it comes to red wine on the carpet, the key is to act fast.
Remove Gravy Stains from Carpet and Upholstery“Please pass the gravy!” is one of the most common phrases you’ll hear around the Thanksgiving dinner table – and also one of the most common holiday carpet stains. It’s delicious, it’s thick, and it definitely leaves an unsightly stain on your carpet and upholstery.
Removing Candle Wax StainsCandle wax is one of the easier stains to remove, as long as you wait for it to dry!
Cranberry Sauce Carpet StainsWhether you prefer homemade or canned, a holiday meal just isn’t complete without cranberry sauce. Handle a cranberry sauce stain with these quick tips.
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Pet Accidents Happen, Here’s What to Do
![]() Our beloved pets aren’t just dogs or cats, they’re members of the family, our best friends, constant companions, and provide unconditional love like no other. Let’s face it though, our furry friends come with messes. No matter how perfect we think they are, pet accidents happen and it’s often on the one rug in the entire home, our bedding, or nice piece of furniture. Be prepared for occasional accidents by having a great pet stain remover on hand as well as some great do-it-yourself remedies with products you likely already have around. For accidents that are too tough for DIY, Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration’s professional carpet cleaning service is just a phone call away. As always, whenever you discover a pet stain, the quicker you act, the better chance you have to get rid of it. Here are two do-it-yourself solutions to try: DIY Solution # 1: Vinegar and baking soda to clean pet stains
DIY Solution # 2: Dishwashing liquid detergent to clean pet stains
Call Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration for the Most Stubborn Pet StainsThe two above-mentioned home remedies do well at removing a variety of household pet stains, but those extra stubborn spots always seem to make their presence known. Our well-equipped and expertly-trained carpet cleaning team when you need extra help on the worst pet accidents, stains and odors. |
Vote Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration for Best Carpet Cleaning Company
![]() Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration has been nominated for Best Carpet Cleaning Company in Summit County! The Best of Summit 2019 allows readers of the Summit Daily to vote for their favorite businesses in Summit County. The top three winners in each category are awarded and celebrated for their hard work and excellent customer service. We’re honored to have been nominated along with the best in Summit County, and we need your help to win! It’s a tough category with lots of competition, but we know that Summit County locals will continue to support local businesses with their votes. Voting ends September 6, 2019. Please vote for Exclusive Cleaning and Restoration! Thank you for supporting our local business! |