The Sewage Clean Up Processes

1/14/2024 (Permalink)

If your home is flooded with sewer water, the mitigation process is far different from a general water loss. Here are the eight basic steps that our team at SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties follow when it comes to the mitigation of sewage.

1. Wear Personal Protective Equipment

Sewage water is considered a Category 3 water loss. Because of this, technicians must wear impervious coveralls, rubber boots, goggles, and a face mask with a respirator to protect themselves from contaminants.

2. Contain the Area

To prevent bacteria and other germs from spreading to other areas of the home, the area must be contained before the clean-up process begins.

3. Pump Excess Water Out

Standing water is extracted through an industrial pump. It flows into a tank where it remains until it can be discarded safely after water cleanup.

4. Remove Affected Items and Materials

All items in the area must be removed. If they cannot be cleaned, they are discarded. Walls, ceilings, and flooring must also be removed if they are touched by contaminated water along with toiletries and food items.

5. Dry All Surfaces

All surfaces must be dried to avoid secondary damage. Technicians may use air movers or open windows to circulate fresh air from outside.

6. Clean All Surfaces

Because sewer water contaminates everything it touches, all surfaces must be disinfected. Experts use powerful cleansers and tests to ensure that bacteria is gone.

7. Restore Materials

After everything is clean, the restoration process begins. Walls and ceilings are rebuilt, and flooring is replaced by our sister company 4C Construction.

8. Replace Salvaged Items

Any item that can be salvaged can be returned to the home once it's clean or safely discarded upon the owner’s request. We keep a list of items that were removed from the home to ensure that all items are cleaned and returned as requested.

As always, if you experience sewage or drain backup in your home, our team at SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties are trained experts in the mitigation process. We are available 24/7 at 817-596-9714

If your home is flooded with sewer water, the mitigation process is far different from a general water loss. Here are the eight basic steps that our team at SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties follow when it comes to the mitigation of sewage.

How To Remove Cigarette Odor at Home:

11/9/2023 (Permalink)

Call us to help remove cigarette odor!

Here's a scenario: You just bought a house (congratulations!) but the only downfall is that the previous owner was an avid smoker. The entire house smells like cigarettes and the windows and walls have a thin layer of soot coating them. You aren't able to get a professional cleaning crew to tackle the residue before you officially move in which means that this project has now become a DIY. What should you do? Well, here are a few things that you can do to help eliminate that stingy odor.

• Fresh air
• When you walk into your new home and are hit with the overwhelming scent of cigarettes, I’m sure the first thing you would do is open a few windows. Fresh air will eventually rid the odor from the house.
• White vinegar
• Vinegar is a cleaning agent that can cut through odors naturally. Try leaving a few small bowls of vinegar in the most fragrant rooms to absorb the odors. Also be sure to wipe or spray down all of the furniture, walls, and floors with this agent 5-7 times per week. If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, try adding some lavender essential oil to the mix. 
• Baking soda
• Baking soda is also an all natural odor absorbent. Sprinkle this on cloth furniture, carpet, rugs, curtains, or any other fabric material, allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes, and then wipe or vacuum away. Leaving a few bowls of baking soda lying around will also absorb some of the odor. Be sure to not allow any baking soda to mix with the vinegar though as it will create a chemical reaction.
• Clean your air ducts and replace the filters
• Cigarette smells can stick to air ducts and be blown throughout your house. This means that even if you clean your house top to bottom, it won't do any good if the air ducts and filters are still hoarding that odor.

These methods will all take time. Unfortunately, cigarette odor is not a scent that can be quickly or easily eliminated. Of course, if none of these odor removal methods prove to be successful, searching for professional help may be the only option. 

If you find yourself in need of professional odor removal, SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties is here to help! We have the highest quality products and equipment that will cut through almost any smell. We are available 24/7 at 817-596-8714.

Cleaning Hack: Glass Stove Top

10/26/2023 (Permalink)

Glass stove tops can add a sleek, modern look to any kitchen.  They also come with the major perk of not having to worry about cleaning grates or drip pans.  Everything has its downfall though.  Anyone who has ever owned or used a glass stovetop knows that the smallest splatter immediately becomes an eyesore as it is much more noticeable.  If the stove is not cleaned after use, these noticeable blemishes can become difficult to remove as well as potentially becoming a fire hazard.

Stoves in general tend to collect water spots, grease, and burnt crumbs better than any other common home appliance.  While cleaning your stove is obviously important, it can bring up questions such as, "How do I remove the grease without leaving scratches?" "What cleaner do I use to make sure there isn't a weird film left behind?" "The water spots are too resilient for basic cleaner.  What can I use to remove these?".

Here are 7 cleaning hacks that you can use to clean even the toughest messes off of your glass stove top.

1. Sprinkle baking soda over the problem areas and cover with a hot towel.  
• This is a common method used to remove stuck on grease and grime.  All it entails is sprinkling baking soda over the problem area, running a towel under hot water, placing said towel over the baking soda, and allowing it to sit for 15mins.  After the 15mins is up, you should be able to use that same towel and rub it over the area in circular motions to remove the baking soda and grease.  If a residue is left behind, you can use a microfiber cloth to buff it off.  No expensive products, no elbow grease, and no frustration.
2. Use a razor blade to scrape off water stains
   
   
• I'm sure we've all experienced that moment when water boils over the top of the pot and leaves that annoying ring of water burned onto the stove.  While these are a bit more difficult to remove, it isn't impossible.  With this hack, you'll want to proceed with caution.  Using a flat razor blade and running it straight across the water stain will remove this spot.  Be sure to keep the blade straight and not at an angle in order to prevent scratching.  If the blade alone is struggling to remove the residue, try laying a hot towel over the area to loosen things up.
3. Distilled white  vinegar.
• This alone may not remove tough stains but if you're looking for a good product to use for every day cleaning, this is it.  It is affordable, easy to find, and easy to use.  Not only that, but it doesn't leave a residue to be burned off like a lot of other products do.
4. Combine dawn dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.  
• This one requires gloves, a scrubbing brush, and some elbow grease.  Some stains are truly a pain to get off.  If none of these other methods have worked for you, then this surely will.  First, squirt dawn dish soap over the stove top.  Then, cover with baking soda.  Finally, add about a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide over top of the solution.  Once all of the products have been applied, proceed to scrub with a dish brush but make sure to be wearing gloves to prevent having direct contact with this solution.  Once you have scrubbed for a few minutes and the mixture is fully combined, allow it to sit for about 3 more minutes and then wipe away with a microfiber cloth.
5. Car wax to prevent future difficulties.
   
   
• Take some car wax, buff it on top of your clean stove, wipe away the excess with a paper towel, and then any future grease or grime should wipe right off.
6. Use a glass cleaner once the stove has been successfully cleaned.
   
   
• This will remove any streaks that may have been left behind to make your glass stove look brand new.
7. Typical stove cleaner
   
   
• Obviously you can skip the hassle and try using a general store-bought stove cleaner to help remove any problem areas.  Be sure to follow the 
• instructions on the cleaner of your choice to ensure optimum results.

To keep that sleek, minimalist look that a glass stovetop provides, as well as prevent fire hazards due to stuck on grease and grime, try out these cleaning hacks.

As always, if you have experienced a fire in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties! 817-596-8714

Decluttering After the Holidays

1/9/2023 (Permalink)

I’m sure we all received a plethora of gifts for Christmas: clothes, home décor, beauty products, jewelry, toys, etc. With all of these new items, chances are that you are struggling to find a place for them to go. Clutter has been accumulating over the past year or so and it’s finally time to clear out your house and, consequently, your mind. Not only that, but having too much clutter in your home can quickly become a fire hazard or in extreme cases, a biohazard; and in case you are still searching for a reason to skim through the items in your home, here are 4 reasons why you should take the time to thoroughly declutter your home.

More Time on Your Hands

The more clutter you accumulate, the less time you have on your hands. Allow me to explain why:

Finally, a day off of work! You want to sit back and relax, but first, there are chores that need to be done. 

The more “things” you have, the more time it takes to clean. Just dusting and putting items back in their place will take an abundant amount of your designated cleaning time. Having fewer pieces of furniture and less decor, clothes, or toys, in general, will make spring cleaning go by a lot faster.

You Feel Confident About Your Home

Have you ever gotten embarrassed of your home when people come over? Maybe you made the typical “Oh please don’t mind the mess” comment. 

Surprise! Your house isn’t actually dirty, there’s just a lot of “stuff” lying around. Getting rid of items that aren’t essential or useful to your home or family could help relieve a lot of the stress that having guests over may cause.

A Sense of Accomplishment

This one is somewhat of a given. If decluttering or minimizing your home has been an outstanding goal for a few years, then it’s likely that accomplishing that goal will give you a little extra pride. 

Most of us feel proud, accomplished, and as if a weight had been lifted off of our shoulders when we reach a goal. Maybe decluttering is your goal?

Finally, time to relax

Many people say that a cluttered space creates a cluttered mind, and we could not agree more. 

Being in a dirty or cluttered environment gives most people stress, even if they don’t realize it. A lot of us can’t focus, struggle to get deep sleep, get anxious, or just generally feel stressed when our environment is not our ideal environment. Most often, reducing the number of items packed in your space will reduce some of the stress that it creates.

If you are in need of help relocating or reducing the “stuff” and “things” in your home, SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties is available to help! We can help you box up and remove any additional products that may need to be relocated. We are available 24/7 at 817-596-8714.

Season's Greetings

12/21/2017 (Permalink)

The Holiday season can be a hustle and bustle for everyone, and sometimes it is just too much. With family and friends coming over for fun and games, there are always things to be cleaned. Your neighborhood SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties can help with that. SERVPRO takes great pride in being able to remove spills and stains in even the toughest circumstances. SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties is able to professionally clean your house and make it shine just in time for the busy holiday season and any time you would like. Call our staff at (817) 596-8714 if you have questions about cleaning and the job that our company does. Happy Holidays from our family at SERVPRO of Parker and Northeast Hood Counties to yours!