Don’t Take Bedbug Extermination Into Your Own Hands
There has been a lot of talk recently about maintaining sanitary conditions and fighting the recent surge in bedbug infestations. Fifty years ago, we thought that we had taken care of the bedbug problem for good, but their population has rebounded and, according to Dale Kemery of the Environmental Protection Agency, incidents of infestations have tripled since 2005.
Bedbugs have been appearing all across the country, and not just in the places where you might expect. When you think of bugs getting into the mattresses, pillows, boxsprings and other pieces of furniture, you think of shoddy, rundown hotels that believe that “sanitary conditions” is something that happens to other people’s hotels. The truth, though, is that infestations of bedbugs have been discovered in upscale apartments, pricey retail establishments, and even in movie theaters.
All it takes is a small encounter with these creatures and you could be bringing home a number of unwanted guests. New York residents have to be especially careful, because the city has been hit especially hard, with more than 4,500 bedbug complaints.
What You Should and Should Not Do
It’s going to take more than simple NYC carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning to get rid of an infestation once it gets inside. Unfortunately, many unqualified people have made some serious mistakes trying to wipe out their own infestation, which is why it is so important that you don’t take bedbug extermination into your own hands.
In a recent article from the Associated Press, the bedbug problem was detailed, as well as some of the problems that stem from people taking the matter into their own hands. There have been reports of illness the result from unlicensed applicators saturating a home with chemicals that were intended only for outdoor use. There have even been some cases of fires when homeowners used highly flammable chemicals inside.
These desperate measures have been employed because, over the years, bedbugs have developed a resistance to most of the chemicals that have been approved for indoor use. Getting rid of bedbugs is obviously a top priority, but you should not start using chemicals that will do more harm than good.
What You Should Do
Be vigilant. Like any other kind of infestation, bedbug cleaning will be a lot easier if you can catch them before they start to spread. Try to keep your home as clean as possible. Bedbugs can hide almost anywhere (not just beds), so thorough cleaning of everything from the carpet and upholstery to your clothing and curtains will help you spot any unwanted visitors.
Comments (0)Emergency Carpet Cleaning
Whether it’s because of severe rain storms or a mishap with the plumbing, sometimes carpet cleaning isn’t about simply maintaining a nice clean carpet, it’s about doing everything you can to avoid having to throw your carpets out. Disasters like this can permanently damage carpets, create a breeding ground for mold, and fill your house with a smell that never seems to goes away.
Emergency situations like this require swift action, but it’s not always possible to get the professionals there fast enough. In these cases, though, there are some things you can do to preserve your carpets and deal with the emergency until someone can show up and help.
- Remove all standing water – Use a wet vac to get as much water as possible out of your carpets. Most commercial models won’t be able to pull out as much as a professional, industrial vacuum, but every little bit helps.
- Dry and clean the carpets and walls – Use a towel, set up some of your fans, do what you can to start drying out the carpets. Again, most home fans won’t do as much as an industrial strength fan, but it’s a start. (Don’t pull up your own carpets unless the water has been sitting for a few days and a distinctive smell is starting to permeate the house.)
- Consider using disinfectants – Mold breeds in standing water, and if it has started to grow on your carpets, you may need to apply some cleaning and disinfectant products.
- Properly dispose of materials – When you’ve finished your carpet cleaning, be sure to dispose of any cleaning and refurbishing supplies (as well as any damaged carpets or other materials) in a safe and appropriate manner.
When the need arises for an emergency carpet cleaning, New York residents have a lot of choices. However, if the disaster was a big one and a lot of homes were flooded, it might be difficult to get someone to your home as fast as you want. If you follow these steps, though, you’ll be able to preserve your carpet and your home until a professional can reach you and fully take care of the situation.
Comments (0)DIY Carpet Cleaning Machines Put to the Test
Consumer Reports is a monthly magazine published by Consumers Union that reviews and compares consumer services and products. Recently they put do-it-yourself carpet cleaning machines under the microscope to get the dirt and see if they really work.
In total, they tested eight different machines from Hoover and Bissell, as well as a rental machine and a professional carpet cleaning service. After evenly spreading topsoil over the carpet and spraying it with water, they then pressed in the dirt by using a heavy roller.
Vacuuming over the soiled carpet twenty times with the different machines, Consumer Reports then used a colorimeter to test how much dirt was left behind. The results were hardly surprising.
“No home machines or rented ones did as good a job cleaning as the professional service. You can really see the difference between the professional cleaning and the lowest score carpet cleaner, the Bissell QuickSteamer 1770,” said Emilio Gonzalez of Consumer Reports.
We don’t know if they used a NYC carpet cleaning company, but since they are located there, it would only make sense. Here’s the truth though, if you are thinking of saving money by buying a DIY carpet cleaning machine, know that they do not do even half of what we are capable of doing. When you want your carpets cleaned, then you want to turn to the best carpet cleaning in NYC, Metro Carpet Cleaners.