Five Step Carpet Care of Asheville NC provides rug and carpet cleaning services at the most affordable price in Asheville NC.

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Debunking Top Tile and Grout Myths

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If you have tile floors in your home, you want to keep them looking bright and shiny, and prevent the grout from yellowing over time. In pursuit of clean tile floors, you may have run into some questionable maintenance advice.

As Western North Carolina’s top tile and grout cleaning experts, we’ve seen and heard plenty of horror stories about damage caused by these common tile cleaning mistakes. Don’t fall victim to these top tile and grout cleaning myths!

 

  1. All you have to do is mop it! Of course, regular mopping is essential to keeping tile floors clean, but to keep them looking their best in the long term, a little more maintenance is required. Periodic deep cleaning can prevent grout from becoming yellowed or old-looking.
  1. Acid cleaners are best for cleaning tile and grout. Acid-based cleaning agents are great at cutting through years of caked-on dirt and grime. The problem is they are also great at corroding tile and grout. If you do choose to use an acid-based cleaner, make sure it is in a very low concentration and that you rinse it off quickly, before it has a chance to eat away at your tile.
  1. Abrasive brushes and powders are the way to go. Wire brushes and scouring powders are another thing that’s very effective at removing dirt, but can also damage your tile and grout. Using these materials, you run the risk of scratching the tile surface or creating minute holes in grout, where adulterating particles can seep in.
  1. Sealed grout doesn’t need maintenance. Sealants can go a long way toward protecting grout, but even sealed grout requires periodic maintenance.
  1. Just soak it in soapy water. Soap molecules can actually settle into the tiny surface holes in grout and attract dirt and grime. In addition, certain types of soap can create a veneer of “soap scum” on your tiles that can be difficult to remove.
  1. Bleach is safe for use on tile and grout. Never use bleach or bleach-based cleaning agents on tile and grout. Over time, bleach causes deterioration of grout, and it can also damage the shiny glazed surface of many types of tile.

 That about covers it! If you are in the Asheville, NC area and are looking for top-notch tile and grout cleaning professionals, look no further than Five Step! For more information, drop us a line or give us a call at 828.231-3237.

Debunking Persistent Upholstery Cleaning Myths

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Our team has combined decades’ experience in the upholstery cleaning biz. With all that experience, we’ve run into more than a few misguided pieces of upholstery cleaning advice! From myths to outright lies, here are our top 5 most frequently heard misconceptions about upholstery cleaning, along with the real truth from the industry professionals at Five Step Carpet Care.

  • All upholstery cleaning companies are the same. False! It’s the same in any industry. All service providers are not created equal. A while back on the blog, we published a helpful checklist to ensure you’re hiring someone who will do the job right (the first time!) and treat you like the valuable customer you are.
  • The sole purpose of upholstery cleaning is to remove visible dirt. Nope! Effective upholstery cleaning not only removes visible soiling; it attacks germs and other pathogens that hide in or under your upholstery. Things such as mold spores, bacteria, dander, and allergens. It also freshens the fabric, making it look brighter and feel softer. And a good professional cleaning should eliminate any musty or sour odors coming from the upholstery or the cushions underneath.
  • Cleaning your upholstery causes it to deteriorate faster. Wrong again! This myth may have gotten started due to improper cleaning methods (such as scrubbing) that actually can cause damage to certain fabrics. But an experienced, professional upholstery cleaning service would never use these methods. At Five Step, we’re familiar with hundreds of different types of upholstery fabrics and how to clean them. We stay far away from abrasives and harsh chemical agents. Rest assured that our gentle products and cleaning methods will NOT cause deterioration.
  • DIY cleaning is just as effective as professional cleaning. Unlikely. Although it’s possible to clean your own upholstery using commercially available cleaning products and/or rental equipment, chances are high that your efforts will not produce the same results as a professional upholstery cleaning service. Why? Because professional cleaners have tons of experience that the average consumer does not, and because our equipment is of much higher quality. Since improper cleaning can damage your upholstery or lead to mold and mildew growth inside of the cushions, it’s much more cost-effective to hire a competent professional. We wrote an entire blog post on this topic a couple years ago.
  • Professional cleaning isn’t worth the money. On the contrary, it may save you money in the long run. Your furniture represents a significant investment in your home and your continued ability to enjoy it. If your furniture is dirty, you won’t enjoy it nearly as much. And in addition to present enjoyment, professional cleaning can be a smart financial decision in the longer term. Quality furniture can last a very long time—if it’s properly cared for. A yearly or bi-yearly cleaning for your sofa and chairs is much cheaper in the long run than having to replace them every few years because they look dingy and smell funny.

If you live in the Asheville, NC area and are in need of top notch professional upholstery cleaning, give Five Step a call at 828.237.3237 or drop us a line via our contact form today!

 

5 Upholstery Cleaning Myths, BUSTED!

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We’ve been in the business a long time, and when it comes to upholstery care myths, we’ve heard them all! Here are our top 5 most frequently heard misconceptions about upholstery cleaning, along with the real truth from industry professionals at Five Step Carpet Care.

 

  1. All upholstery cleaning companies are the same. Au contraire! Just as with any industry, ALL UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. We’ve published a handy checklist to help you make sure you are hiring a company that will do the job right, and treat you like the valuable customer that you are. Check it out here.
  2. An upholstery cleaner does nothing more than remove visible dirt. Wrong again! Proper upholstery cleaning not only removes visible dirt; it also tackles harmful pathogens that might be hidden in or under your upholstery. Things such as mold spores, bacteria, dander, and other allergens. It also freshens the fabric, making it look brighter and feel softer, and a good professional cleaning will also negate any musty odors coming from the upholstery or underneath it.
  3. Cleaning your upholstery causes it to deteriorate. Not true! We think this myth got started because there are improper cleaning methods, such as scrubbing, that can lead to deterioration of the upholstery fabric. But an experienced, professional upholstery cleaning service would never use these methods. At Five Step, we’re familiar with hundreds of different types of upholstery fabrics and how to clean them. We never use abrasives or harsh chemical agents on your upholstery. Rest assured that our gentle cleaning methods will NOT cause deterioration.
  4. DIY cleaning is just as effective as professional cleaning. Not likely. Although it is possible to clean your own upholstery using store-bought cleaning solutions and rental equipment, chances are high that your efforts will not produce the same results as a professional upholstery cleaning service. Why? Because professional cleaners have tons of experience that the average consumer does not, and because the equipment we use is of much higher quality. Since improper cleaning can damage your upholstery or lead to mold and mildew growing inside of your furniture cushions, it’s much more cost effective to hire a competent professional. We wrote an entire blog post on this topic last year. Check it out to learn more.
  5. It’s not worth the money you spend. Your furniture represents a significant investment in your home and your continued ability to enjoy it. If your furniture is dirty, you won’t enjoy it nearly as much. And in addition to present enjoyment, professional cleaning can be a smart financial decision in the longer term. Quality furniture can last a very long time—if it’s properly cared for. A yearly or bi-yearly cleaning for your sofa and chairs is much cheaper in the long run than having to replace them every few years because they look dingy and smell funny.


If you live in the Asheville, NC area and are in need of top notch professional upholstery cleaning, give Five Step a call at 828.772.1824 or drop us a line via our contact form today!