MYTHS | CARPETS & ALLERGIES THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR CARPET
ALL STAR BLOG Carpets & Allergies | Myths And Truths About Carpet By All Star Chem-Dry, One Of The Premier Carpet Cleaning Services In Toronto The relationship between carpet, indoor air quality and health has long been passionately discussed by the carpet industry and in the media. After all, many people are exposed to carpet for prolonged periods of time seeing as how they are used extensively to provide soft surfaces in the home, school and workplace. The most persistent untruths and myths about carpets include the following: There are health risks associated with carpets Carpets encourage the growth of mold and mildew Carpets can cause an increase in the incidence of asthma and/or allergies Carpets are a sink for allergy-causing substances In truth, carpet is one of the lowest emitters of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in the indoor environment; VOCs are emitted by most interior products and affect indoor air quality alongside things like combustion sources (oil, gas, tobacco products), building materials and furnishings, products for household cleaning and maintenance, outdoor air pollution and central heating and cooling systems. As a matter of fact, since gravity causes airborne particles to settle on the floor, in addition to providing a soft, beautiful and desirable surface, especially in the winter months, carpet offers an extra perk: It traps and holds dust and dirt until these can be removed by routine vacuuming. So contrary to popular beliefs, carpets do not increase the amount of allergens and bacteria trapped in our homes, they serve the important function of keeping allergens out of the air you breathe until these can be removed by regular vacuuming. However, note that domestic vacuum cleaners (even the more powerful and expensive ones) do not get rid of deep-down dirt or nasty germs. Regular vacuuming provides the first line of defense in keeping your carpets clean and hygienic. You also need to get your carpets professionally cleaned every 3 – 4 months depending on the amount of traffic they receive and other factors. For example, if you have a pet, pet accidents can make it a real challenge to keep your home clean, healthy and smelling fresh. The trick here is to choose the right carpet cleaning service that delivers a deeper and safer carpet cleaning that’s healthier for your family. In particular, you need to keep in mind that not all carpet cleaning services in Toronto are created equal. For example, in traditional steam cleaning, a large volume of water is used to flush dirt out, which is then extracted. In effect, what happens is that the dirt on the surface is removed but the dirt left in the carpet soon ‘wicks’ back up, leading to quick resoiling. So while steam cleaning may refresh your carpets, it does not deep clean them. In contrast, Chem-Dry’s approach to carpet cleaning leverages the natural cleaning power of carbonation to lift dirt and grime from deep within carpets. These are then extracted using state-of-the-art equipment, a process that uses 80% less water than steam cleaning. The solution that is carbonated is Chem-Dry’s revolutionary cleaning solution, The Natural, with ingredients copied straight from nature and is therefore safe for kids and pets. For more information about indoor air quality, All Star Chem Dry– your local Chem-Dry carpet cleaners or how Chem-Dry is superior to other carpet cleaning services in Toronto call us now on...
Read MoreA Guide To The Chem-Dry ProtectantPackage By All Star Chem-Dry
ALL STAR BLOG A Guide To The Chem-Dry Protectant Package By All Star Chem-Dry If your home is your castle and a retreat from the stresses and strains of the world, you probably take great pride in its appearance. After all, how you maintain your home says a lot about you and a healthy home starts with clean carpets, area rugs and upholstered furniture. For example, a home with a furry friend in family photos is adorable but carpets infested with pet dander and that have long lost their luster are a terrible eye sore and can make it a challenge to keep your home clean and hygienic. This in turn impacts your health and happiness. Similarly, if you have kids, you would know that spills are, to some extent, inevitable. When kids are around, food and drinks follow and when this happens, it’s only a matter of time before someone spills something onto your carpet or upholstered furniture. That’s why you need the Chem-Dry Protectant Package: To have a fighting chance against spills, stains and soiling! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure When it comes to helping people live healthier lives, Chem-Dry believes that protecting carpets from everyday stains, unhealthy allergens and bacteria should be your first line of defense, especially if your carpets get a lot of use. Carpet in the home can be one of the most expensive items to purchase and without proper cleaning and maintenance, it will lose its original look. What happens is that over time, the factory-applied stain resistant gets exhausted and becomes less effective leaving your carpets susceptible to staining. Chem-Dry recommends that you top up the stain resistant power of your carpet by using the right products. Chem-Dry’s carpet protectants If you have carpet at home, there are many things you can do to help extend its life and look. One of the most important things is to invest in a carpet protectant to: Repel water and spills Resist soiling And form a protective shield around your carpet fibers The Chem-Dry Protectant Package checks all three boxes with a trio of protectants, which includes: PowerGuard Protectant® This is a revolutionary carpet stain protectant that increases your carpet’s stain-resisting powers. Repel Protectant Repel Protectant is a liquid-repelling carpet solution that forms a protective shield around your carpet fibers. Wool Protectant And Chem-Dry’s Wool Protectant is a water-based carpet protectant aimed at increasing the stain resistant attributes of wool carpets and rugs. Our process If you wish to stop stains dead in their tracks, look no further than All Star Chem-Dry, your local Chem-Dry carpet cleaners servicing Toronto and the Greater York Region. Our process is simple and includes 5 steps. Pre-inspection and spot testing Pre-vacuuming Deep cleaning with our patented hot carbonating extraction system Brushing and grooming Application of our revolutionary carpet protectants, which are green certified, eco-friendly and therefore safe for kids and pets For more information about All Star Chem-Dry and our carpet cleaning services or the Chem-Dry Protectant Package, call us now on 416-916-0550. Our aim: we want you to breathe easier about the health and appearance of your...
Read MorePet Urine Removal Treatment By All Star Chem-Dry
ALL STAR BLOG Pet Urine Removal Treatment By All Star Chem-Dry If you have carpeting at home, you could be the owner of the best-trained pet but fact remains, pet urine accidents are, to some extent, inevitable and you will occasionally encounter urine stains on carpets. The challenge with pet urine is that it is often not detected until way after the accident happened and depending on the composition of the pet urine (which depends on the pet’s diet, age, health and a number of factors), it may not be removable. If not treated properly, the urine can damage your carpet, the backing material and flooring substrates that lie right underneath. Pet accidents also leave behind a distasteful odor, which lingers and travels through the entire home, affecting its health. Treating pet urine is a 6-step process. Blot the damp area with plain white paper toweling. Apply a solution of liquid dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water. To prepare the solution, mix together one cup of lukewarm water with one-quarter teaspoon of detergent. Apply the solution with the help of saturated paper towels. Blot and repeat. Rinse the carpet area with warm water. Blot and repeat. Following treatment with the detergent, apply a solution of white vinegar and water. To prepare the solution, mix together one cup of white vinegar and two cups of water. Blot. Cover the area with a thick later of paper towels (about half an inch). Weigh down the paper towels with a heavy, non-fading object. Repeat step 5 until the carpet is completely dry. Or you can leave the job of pet urine removal treatment to professional carpet cleaners. Pet urine and stain removal by professional carpet cleaners Pet urine and (to a lesser extent) pet dander and dirt in carpeting can cause severe damage. It can also compromise the health of your home and your indoor air quality. If you have a furry friend and you need to get your carpet professionally cleaned following a pet accident or just because it looks like your carpet lost its luster, look no further than Chem-Dry’s patented cleaning process and revolutionary P.U.R.T. II ® (Pet Urine Removal Treatment), a product specially formulated to eliminate urine odors. Chem-Dry’s carpet cleaning is drier, cleaner and healthier than traditional steam cleaning in that our cleaning process does not involve saturating your carpet with a large amount of water containing soaps and chemicals. Instead, we leverage the natural cleaning power of carbonation to lift dirt and grime from deep within your carpet fibers. These are then whisked away using powerful extraction equipment. This removes any liquid or loose urine crystals. It also removes dog and cat dander and dust mite allergen among other things. Following our hot carbonating extraction process, we apply our proprietary cleaning product – P.U.R.T. Over the next day or two, P.U.R.T. breaks down any and all odor causing elements for a fresh smelling and healthy carpet cleaning experience. Servicing Toronto and the York Region, for more information about All Star Chem-Dry, your local professional carpet cleaners, call us now on...
Read MoreGreen Carpet Cleaning Service In Toronto And The York Region
ALL STAR BLOG Green Carpet Cleaning Service In Toronto And The York Region By All Star Chem-Dry | Caring For Your Carpets & Rugs The Green Way Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting at home or area rugs, these floor coverings require periodic cleaning and maintenance to keep them looking fresh and hygienic. After all, you wash the clothes you wear everyday. Accumulated soil and grit in carpets need to be removed to increase their life expectancy, remove stains, eliminate mites and bacteria and remove odors. Proper carpet care to maintain the original look and luster of a carpet is a four-step process. Vacuuming Domestic vacuum cleaners and shampooers provide the first line of defense to keep carpets hygienic in the high traffic areas of your home after daily use. They do not however get rid of that deep-down dirt or nasty germs. Cleaning spots and spills spontaneously If you have children or pets, spills and stains are, to some extent, inevitable. In fact, even if you don’t have kids and pets at home, you may come face-to-face with stains such as lipstick, blood, wine, coffee, tomato juice and other food stains. Professional cleaning Most manufacturers recommend that professionals, with their highly sophisticated equipment and training, professionally clean carpets every 12-18 months. Stop dirt at the door By using mats at the points of entry to your home, you can significantly reduce the amount of dirt and grime you bring into your home from outside. Green carpet cleaning | The why and the how If you are in the market to book a carpet cleaning service in Toronto and the York Region, one thing you need to remember is that not all carpet cleaning services are created equal. Chem-Dry, using a patented hot carbonating extraction process and a proprietary green certified and eco-friendly cleaning solution, delivers a healthier, deeper and greener cleaning for your carpets and home. Think about it for a minute. For quite some time now, it’s been forbidden to dump harsh chemicals in rivers, lakes and forests for fear of the serious threat these pose to fish and other sea life. The chemicals could also find their way back into your home in the water you drink or seafood you consume. Rationally, there is no way that harsh chemicals, soaps and detergents that carpet cleaners, in particular traditional steam cleaners use to clean your carpets are healthy. Your home is your castle. It’s where you retreat from all the stresses of the world. It is also where your family, friends and pets spend hours at a time. It’s your responsibility to properly manage your carpet care. Chem-Dry, with its patented cleaning process and safe, non-toxic cleaning solution, The Natural®, is a green carpet cleaning service. The Natural®, as mentioned above, is green certified and eco-friendly. The ingredients are copied straight from Mother Nature and are on the FDA’s G.R.A.S. list. It is therefore safe for kids and pets and the perfect solution for people with allergies. We also carry other green certified products including stain extinguishers, spot removers, deodorizers, odor removers, rug cleaners and Chem-Dry’s revolutionary carpet stain protectant – PowerGuard Protectant®. Our cleaning process, on the other hand, is also drier, cleaner and healthier than traditional steam steaming in that we do not saturate your carpet with excessive amounts of water. Instead we leverage the natural cleaning power of carbonation using millions of microscopic carbon dioxide bubbles to life dirt and grime from deep within for carpet fibers for extraction. To learn more about carpet cleaning service in Toronto and the York Region or our green...
Read MoreChem-Dry’s Hot Carbonating Extraction Removing Indoor Allergens
ALL STAR BLOG Chem-Dry’s Hot Carbonating Extraction System | Tested & Proven Superior In Removing Indoor Allergens When it comes to carpeting and upholstery as an integral part of the indoor environment, a common misconception is that these can be a source of allergens and will then release them into the air. In fact, the opposite is true. Studies in recent years comparing hard flowing vs. carpet flooring shows that in addition to providing warmth and reducing noise, carpet acts as a filter in the house because it can trap, and more importantly, retain allergens including pet dander, mold, dust mites and dust mite allergens, a reservoir for airborne dust and its contained indoor allergens. The key to a cleaner and healthier home is regular professional cleaning for your carpet and upholstered furniture. Professional cleaning for your carpet and upholstered furniture Like the clothes you wear, carpets and upholstered furniture need periodic cleaning to keep them fresh, clean and hygienic. Regular vacuuming is a necessity but it does not get rid of the accumulated soil and grit deep within your carpet fibers. After all, grime visible to the naked eye is only a tiny fraction of the soil and dirt that your carpet and furniture contains. Thorough cleaning is a job for professionals with sophisticated equipment and the right training. Chem-dry’s approach to carpet and upholstery cleaning With the cold, wintry weather that Canada is famous for, it’s no surprise that Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air quality is therefore extremely important because clean air is essential for good health. Poor indoor air quality can cause a number of health and safety concerns manifesting in symptoms like headaches, fatigue and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Properly cleaned and maintained carpet not only reduces these symptoms, it is also the best flooring for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. The keyword here is properly cleaned and maintained. In traditional steam cleaning, the approach to professional carpet and upholstered furniture cleaning is as follows: Using an internal boiler or water tank, water combined with chemical detergents is heated to a temperature high enough to transform it into steam, which is then delivered under high pressure through steam nozzles. This process uses an excessive amount of water and will leave your carpet wet for 1-2 days. In contrast, Chem-Dry’s patented cleaning process uses 80% less water for a deeper, faster drying and healthier carpet cleaning experience. Our unique hot carbonating extraction system explodes dirt from deep within carpet fibers through the carbonation of our proprietary green certified and eco-friendly patented cleaning solution, The Natural. Tested and proven superior to other carpet cleaning services Here is the deal: Carpet cleaning services are not all created equal. According to a study commissioned by Chem-Dry and carried out by a leading independent air quality laboratory, Chem Dry’s hot carbonating extraction system lifts and extracts 98.1% of common indoor allergens from carpets and upholstery. When combined with a sanitizer, the cleaning process can also remove an average of 89% of the bacteria in the air. The indoor allergens tested in the study included dog and cat dander as well as dust mite allergen. Figures are an average across a cross-section of consumer homes in the United States and internationally. To book a cleaning now or for more information about Chem-Dry, call us now on 416-916-0550 or fill in our contact...
Read MoreParenting Children With AllergiesChem-Dry’s Guide To a Healthy Home
ALL STAR BLOG Parenting Children With Allergies | Chem-Dry’s Guide To Keeping Your Home Healthy For Less Stress If you have kids, you would know that kids are magnets for colds. But when the “cold” won’t go away for weeks, you may be dealing with a whole different culprit here and that’s allergies. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever, affects up to 40 percent of children while allergic diseases, which include asthma, are among the top 5 prevalent chronic diseases among children. Common symptoms include skin rashes or hives, difficulty breathing, sneezing, coughing, a runny, stuffy or itchy nose and watery eyes. Allergy symptoms can also be mild, moderate or severe. What causes allergies in children? Basically, children get allergies from coming into contact with allergens. Common allergens, which include elements that can be inhaled, eaten or that can come in contact with the skin, are: Pollens Mold Dust mites Animal dander Some foods and medicines Venom from insect stings If you suspect your child has an allergy, make an appointment to see an allergist. There is no real cure for allergies, but it is possible to relieve symptoms. In the meantime, there are also things you can do at home to avoid common allergy triggers and help your child. How can you help your child if your child has an allergic condition? When it comes to preventing allergies, the most effective approach is to figure out what substances, airborne particles and other bio contaminants your child is allergic to. This is important to reduce complications because forget about swelling inside the throat, which can be life threatening for a child; even mild allergies can be very unpleasant and disrupt your child’s everyday life. Having said that, of course some allergy triggers are easier to manage than others. When it comes to food allergies for instance, a guaranteed remedy is avoidance. Respiratory allergies, on the other hand, are more complex to deal with and may require serious lifestyle changes. For a start, you need to control indoor air quality. This can be achieved by observing the following guidelines. During the pollen season or when pollen counts are generally high, keep your windows closed. During humid seasons, run a dehumidifier. Your home humidity level should be between 25 – 40%. Keep your house mold free (both indoor and outdoor) and try to reduce dust mites as much as possible. If you have indoor plants or a furry friend, restrict the space they occupy in your home or get rid of them. The best flooring for people who suffer from allergies and asthma is carpet flooring because carpet acts like a filter, trapping allergens away from the breathing zone. The most common bedroom allergens are dust, mold and bedding. Avoid these by avoiding rubber pillows and mattresses. Remove dust-attracting items such as stuffed animals and items stored under the bed. Invest in a dust mite-proof cover for your child’s mattress. Use a domestic vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filtering system. Professional carpet cleaning is a must every 6-12 months depending on the level of traffic in your home. Professional carpet cleaning is a must every 6-12 months depending on the level of traffic in your home. Avoid cleaning with harsh chemicals. Use green certified and eco-friendly cleaning products safe for kids. Providing a superior professional carpet cleaning service that’s drier, cleaner and healthier, Chem-Dry’s mission is to help people live healthier lives. This starts with keeping your home and carpet fresh and hygienic. For more information about our patented cleaning...
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