As a homeowner, maybe you’ve been thinking lately about how to have a cleaner and a healthier home during this pandemic.  Since you and your family are staying at home most of the time, there are more windows to wipe, more stains to deal with, more appliances to clean, more laundry to wash, and so much more. 
But, how about your carpets? 
Carpets play an integral role when it comes to interior design of the house, and one of the first items to buy when you want to make your home look cozy and comfy. However, behind its homey look, it can contain many microbes such as bacteria and mites. That’s why, carpet cleaning is very essential. 
It is necessary to pay attention to many points about cleaning at home for hygiene purposes. Our feet which are in shoes all day long, became sweaty and dirty. When we step our feet on the carpet, this will spread the bacteria to the carpet. Leathers that are shed from our skin throughout the day or hair falling from our heads also cause the carpets to become dirty.  

5 Reasons for You to Keep Your Carpets Clean

• Carpet mites and bacteria - Carpet mites or dust mites are very small bugs that can only be seen with a microscope. These mites can get into the air and you can breathe them. This may cause allergies and illness if you are sensitive to dust.
• Air quality in your home - Keeping your carpets clean increases the air quality in your home because bacteria and dust are not only on your carpet but also in the air. 
• Keep the life of your carpet long- To ensure the long life and durability of your carpets, you must keep it clean. So you don’t have to give up your favorite carpets quickly and you can keep the quality while you use them. 
• The appearance of your carpets - Taking care and cleaning of your carpets will not only extend their life but also make them look new and clean. Carpet cleaning allows them to maintain their quality and new look. 
• The smell of your carpet - Cleaning your carpets will help remove the musty odor, while dirty carpets make tenants feel uncomfortable. Nothing beats on clean and fresh carpets that make the occupants feel cleaner and healthier.

Since not all people can manage to clean their home, or their carpets, to be specific, hiring professional carpet cleaners would be a big help. Carpet cleaning companies offer different carpet cleaning methods such as:

• Hot Water Extraction Cleaning
• Carpet Shampooing
• Encapsulation
• Bonnet Cleaning
• Dry Carpet Cleaning

Among these methods, homeowners in Massachusetts are more likely to choose Hot Water Extraction Cleaning with a truck-mounted system. 
So what is “hot water extraction”?

Hot Water Extraction Cleaning System

Hot Water Extraction, formally known as steam cleaning, is the process of injecting a super-heated cleaning solution at pressure and extracting it back out in the same motion. Truck-mounted means the cleaning unit is mounted directly inside the truck and is powered by the truck’s V8 engine. Hot water extraction offers many advantages over other carpet cleaning methods and is an excellent choice for homeowners in Massachusetts. 
Read on to learn more about the benefits of hot water extraction over the other methods.
Advantages of Using Hot Water Extraction Cleaning System

Deeper Cleaning

Using hot water extraction provides a deeper cleaning than other methods. Shampooing the carpet by using regular carpet cleaner will clean the surface, but it usually does not penetrate the fabric. The deep cleaning provided with hot water extraction is also more effective at removing odors, smells, and stains. 

Environmentally Friendly

Hot water extraction uses hot water instead of toxic cleaning agents.  You don’t have to worry about letting the kids or pets play on the carpet afterwards. People usually don’t notice the harmful effects of toxic cleaning chemicals. Kids and pets are the most affected because they spend more time playing on the carpet. 

No Residue

When you use hot water extraction, you don’t have to worry about any residue on your carpet at all. Unlike shampooing your carpet, there is still some residue even after the carpet has dried. 
It’s a good idea to schedule regular carpet cleanings. You’ll appreciate the removal of stains and odors that you haven’t been able to get out yourself. Instead of using a carpet shampooer, you should hire professional carpet cleaners to use hot water extraction for the job. 

Carpet cleaning brings back your old carpet to life while saving your dollars on getting an immediate replacement!
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In the new Coronavirus reality, stay-at-home orders are becoming stressful to American parents. Aside from boredom, a sense of malaise, irritability, and crankiness that are tough to beat, it’s also harder to clean the hurricane of kids and adults' clutter.  There are more dishes to watch, more food spills and stains to deal with, more toys to pack away, more appliances to clean, more dirty clothes in the laundry and so much more.

While there is no one instant way to clean and organize your living space, there is a smarter way to get the job done. 

Alpine Cleaners, the top-rated carpet and upholstery cleaning company in Massachusetts, is very much concerned with homeowners and families. So the professional carpet cleaners team is pleased to share with you the top cleaning tips to maintain the cleanliness of your home sweet home even with kids running around. 

Alpine Cleaners Top Home Cleaning Tips During Home Quarantine

Quarantine Cleaning Tip 1 – Get The Whole Family Involved 

Most of us remember doing the chores as we were growing up. Parents should also instill the same work ethic into their own children by teaching them to make a contribution to family life no matter how small it is. Giving your child chores can increase their sense of responsibility and confidence. So, if your kids are old enough, take 30 minutes as a family to clean the home together.

Getting the kids involved will not only make cleaning easier and beat their boredom but will also help them develop future independence which will raise them in good stead throughout their lives. 

Make sure your child can do the task; if not, teach it, and don’t expect perfection. Praise their effort, give them a reward such as a hug, kind words, toys, or money if appropriate. But don’t fall into the habit of paying your child for every job they do. It’s important that they will learn that each family member has a role in keeping the household clean and organized.

Quarantine Cleaning Tip 2 – Establish a Playtime Rule: Clean and Tidy after Use

Teach your kids to play one toy collection at a time.  Encourage them to tidy their toys up after playtime before they move on to their next playful endeavor.  Keep a couple of storage containers or boxes in their play area so they can easily pack away their toys. 

Quarantine Cleaning Tip 3 – Assign Designated Areas

Children and adults are more likely to keep their living space clutter-free if items have designated areas. Create a simple system by using labels, so they know how to fulfill your “put this away” request.

Quarantine Cleaning Tip 4 – Create 3 piles: Keep, Donate and Throw Away

Ask children to separate and segregate their threadbare and tight clothing, broken toys, and stuff they’re no longer using. Divide them into three categories: what they would like to keep, what to give to the charity shop, and what’s heading for the bin. Enlighten them that giving and receiving of presents is more important than keeping them forever. They can also send the unloved items to somewhere it will be appreciated. This is also a smart way to detoxify your home.

Quarantine Cleaning Tip - Complete Each Task!

It’s important that you complete each chore you and your kid started, rather than leaving things half-done and looking worse than before.

• When you’re finished, put the items away nicely and neatly. 

• ​Anything that needs to be washed or mended should be done before it’s stored. Get rid of rubbish, recycling items for the charity shop as soon as you can. 
• Do not leave things around long enough to rethink your decisions, you made them for a reason.  

How to Deal with The Stubborn Stains

Liquid spills like juices, chocolate, coffee, pet accidents, and kids’ scribbles are the common home messes that are inevitable.  There are also some stubborn stains on fabrics that are not recommended to be cleaned by a regular vacuum cleaner or rental machines. Misuse of rental machines can lead to damage to your carpet or danger from chemicals. Most DIY solutions are ineffective at removing deep, embedded dirt, grimes, and allergens. Trust a professional cleaning service when it comes to cleaning your rugs, carpets, and couches. The benefits that will be gained in hiring professional carpet and upholstery cleaners will make the extra costs more worthwhile than renting cleaning machines.

The Benefits of Professional Carpet Cleaning

1. Top-notch equipment to remove all dirt, dust, and dry contaminants from your carpets – Carpet cleaning professionals use special industrial-strength vacuum cleaning machines that are uniquely designed to handle your carpets. These machines boast stronger suctions and more cleaning power to remove even the deepest of stains.
2. Suitable Cleaning Strategy – Professional carpet cleaners are thoroughly trained. This training allows them to quickly identify the type of carpet so they can develop a suitable carpet cleaning strategy. Utilizing their knowledge, experience, and skills, they can select the right products and procedures to ensure you get the results you want.
3. Restore Your Carpet’s Pristine Condition – Unlike a regular carpet cleaner, a trusted carpet cleaning company can restore the carpets to its pristine condition. Their truck-mounted cleaning equipment can remove odors, mold and mildew, stubborn stains, allergens, and grimes that are trapped on your carpets. 

Hiring professional carpet cleaners such as Alpine Cleaners may be considered as luxury by some residents or small business owners. They anticipate that carpet cleaning can be done by anyone. Wrong!
Staying indoors doesn’t mean you are safe from air pollution. Much of the most serious air pollution that threatens one’s health comes not from the combustion of fossil fuels, industrial power plants and vehicles, but from inside our homes.  For many who are not fully convinced about the benefits of professional carpet cleaning and think that hiring expert cleaners holds little to no value to their home or business hygiene, here are the compelling reasons why you should have to change the wrong mindset. 

Carpet Cleaning Experts Contribute Towards a Healthier Home

• Eliminates Trapped Pollutants - The indoor air quality in the home plays a vital role in the health of inhabitants. Homes with poor indoor air quality will contribute to compromised health and lead to respiratory-related issues due to the increasing contaminants in the home. According to Environmental Protection Agency or EPA a dirty carpet can keep several sources of indoor air pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, cockroach allergens, dirt, grimes, lead, particles and everyday dust. Imagine the toxic airborne gases that get trapped within the carpet and also released through daily activities like vacuuming and walking across the carpet. What an awful contamination in the indoor air right? An expert carpet cleaner deeply cleans not only to remove these trapped impurities but also to kill bacteria through specialized carpet shampoo formulas, steam cleaning using truck-mounted machines and high-powered vacuums.
• Helps Prevent Mold Growth – Dirty carpets are at high risk of developing mold growth once exposed to moisture especially in areas with high humidity levels. Professional carpet cleaners use the latest cleaning techniques to make sure that the mildew and mold are adequately combated and the health risks are reduced.
• Clear Out Dust Mites Infestations - Most homeowners aren’t aware of accumulation of dust mites as the organisms are small and microscopic. The continued infestation may result to respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergy exacerbation. Getting carpet cleaning service in Massachusetts that uses steam cleaning method kill these microscopic creatures off from the carpet to protect the inhabitant’s health.
• Pet Urine Removal Treatment (P.U.R.T) - Common indoor odor sources are from dog and cat urine. When pet urinate in the carpet, it doesn’t only stay on the surface of the fibers. But it also seeps lower and lower until it has reached the backing of the carpet and the flooring beneath. As urine dries, the liquid evaporates yet the urine crystals become even more concentrated and pungent. DIY or simple surface cleaning doesn’t remove these odors. Good thing, there are professional carpet cleaning companies like Alpine Cleaners that offer P.U.R.T.® that is specifically designed to eliminate both pet urine odors and stains.  Our Pet Urine and Odor Treatment handles these hard to clean spot and odors.

Everyone is stuck indoors because of the health crisis nowadays. When it’s necessary to go outside, we are compelled to practice social distancing and wear face shield to keep safe and combat the spread of COVID-19.
You might be tempted to think that staying indoors means you’re safe from air pollution. But, according to research that is far from the case. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA states that the air pollution can occur indoors too. Indoor air pollution has been associated to occurrences of fatigue, dizziness and headaches. The World Health Organization refers such manifestation as “sick building syndrome.” It just shows that the air quality is something that cannot be ignored.
Our homes are supposed to be the safe sanctuary – an inviting to place to rest, to rejuvenate and heal from daily stressors. But is the air we breathe inside our homes are really non-hazardous and safe?
Alpine Cleaners wanted to share with you the main factors that contributing to the poor indoor air quality and how to address them for a better air quality.

9 Easy Steps to Improve the Indoor Air Quality During Covid-19 Outbreak 
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1. Have a Regular Maintenance on HVAC Systems - Lack of regular maintenance on HVAC Systems is one of the main factors contributing to poor indoor air quality, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA. The organization points out that this can lead to health conditions including headaches, concentration problems, rashes, ear, nose and throat irritation. One of the easiest ways to improve the indoor air quality is to change the filter regularly. This can be accomplished a minimum of every 3 months, more so if you are a pet owner.
2. Clean Dirty Ducts- Ducts can be a homebased of many contaminants and other nasty critters. If this is something that has been neglected for a while, this should be inspected and cleaned. Dust, pollen, and other allergens can worsen asthma and allergy symptoms. You need to clean your ducts even more often if you have pets or recently renovated your home. (Check out how to clean your carpets if your pets)
3. Banish Dust – Dust can contain traces of harmful chemicals like flame retardants, pesticides and lead. Even a little of dust can do a lot of harm. Invest in a quality vacuum with an efficient filtration system like HEPA Filter and vacuum at least twice a week. Vacuum regularly as you can and don’t forget the underneath sofas and bedding. You can also use vacuum attachments to clean furniture, curtain and hard-to-reach places like corners. Don’t forget to empty and clean the filter after every use to prevent dust from spewing back out.
4. Get Some Fresh Air – COVID – 19 lessens our time outdoors. Stagnant air can cause poor indoor air quality due to the build-up contaminants such as dust mites, pollen and pet dander. Getting fresh air is important in keeping us healthy, refreshed and happy. So make it a habit of opening a window or door to circulate some fresh air into the house. You can enjoy walks, runs, and hikes as long as you keep distance from others.
5. Clean Filthy Ceiling Fans and Baseboards – These areas are most commonly overlooked. Keep an eye out for filthy baseboards when mopping, sweeping or vacuuming. Also, clean your ceiling fans at least every two month using either a vacuum extension or a microfiber cloth with mild dish soap or water.
6. Replace Dirty or Clogged Air Filters –If air filters are clogged and dirty, the healthy airflow is prevented, the components inside your air conditioner is damaged and the system’s efficiency is decreased. HVAC professionals recommend cleaning/replacing your air filter every one to three months.
7. Keep Those Kitchen Extractor Fans On – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eating out, unless you get it to go is no longer an option. When cooking at home, always have the kitchen extractor fan on, especially if your kitchen operates on gas. Cooking naturally releases VOCs, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde into the air from heating oil, fat and other food ingredients at high temperatures. Turning on the kitchen extractor fans while cooking ensures that your home is circulating healthy air during mealtimes.
8. Get Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning – Carpet more easily traps dust, dirt and dust mites that can aggravate allergies, and respiratory conditions. If you do not schedule professional carpet and upholstery cleaning in Massachusetts, then you risk a lot of allergens, dirt, and harmful bacteria in your home and air. Take a look at our flexible and premium carpet cleaning packages that can help improve the indoor air quality. These cleaning solutions are green, safe, all-natural, no VOCs and no off-gassing.
9. Go Green – You don’t need to use toxic cleaning agents to cut through grease and grime because there are plenty of Eco-friendly cleaning products that work just as well and smell a lot better. You can also start a compost pile. Composting helps eliminate food waste and can save you money on chemical fertilizers for your own garden and indoor plants.

These steps may seem small, but collectively they can make a huge impact on the health of your home and your overall well-being. Known how inexpensive they are and we are facing the Coronavirus crisis today, there’s really no excuse to try them.

Alpine Cleaners want you to breathe easier, healthier and feel even more relaxed in your sanctuary – your home.