Picking out the right flooring for a homeowner can be tough, but it can prove to be even more of a problem if you are conscientious about the environment.  Thankfully for buyers like that, the flooring market has rolled out several green alternatives for flooring, that look great and that won’t leave a large footprint on the environment.  Here’s our favorite of all the different types of green flooring available today!

If you are looking to do hardwood, we highly recommend going with bamboo.  As opposed to traditional hardwoods, which can take anywhere from 25 to 125 years to fully mature, bamboo can be mature in as little as 3 years.  With a high replenishment rate, this makes bamboo a highly sustainable option for hardwood floors.  In addition, through newly-adapted manufacturing techniques, bamboo can now be produce for flooring with a hardness of that of rock maple and hickory, making it a fine candidate for your floor.

Now, if carpet is more of your thing, then we highly recommend a renewable fiber carpets made from corn fibers.  These types of carpets are all natural, easily produced, and are incredibly easy to clean.  Not only that, but they are also incredibly soft, strong, and stain-resistant.  Who knew corn could do so much?

Finally, if you are looking into tile, or a tile-like flooring, then we highly recommend linoleum for the green buyer.  Since linoleum is made form linseed oil and wood fillers, it is one of the most green options that you can co with.  However, some linoleum is now made with PVC-plastics, so be sure you read the fine print before you decide to install this in your home.  However, if you get the right kind, they are all-natural, and are 100% biodegradable when you decide that it’s time for an upgrade.

Choosing the right flooring for you should not be a compromise.  No matter what you choose though, just know that Bayside Carpet is there to clean it all!

You all know us for our carpet cleaning service, and how we’re renowned for getting all the grime out of your floors, but there is another, more clandestine service that we offer: upholstery cleaning.  While it may seem more beneficial to professionally clean your carpet, having your upholstery cleaned can have the same effect as your carpet, and can even prove to be more beneficial.  Read on to find out more!

Now, obviously one of the reasons we have anything professionally cleaned is because of appearance, but cleaning you upholstery comes with more than just looking good.  Like your carpet, upholstery serves as an air-filter, picking out any and all impurities in the air and trapping it within its grasp.  Overtime, this filer gets to capacity, and needs to be changed.  Professionally cleaning your upholstery does just that; it puts a new filter on, that is good to go for the next year.

In addition, upholstery can sometimes have more bacteria and microbes than your floor may have.  Think about it: you only walk on your carpet, but you spend much more time on your furniture.  That is more time for bacteria to multiple, or viruses to brew on your upholstery, than on your carpet.  When you choose to have it cleaned, you essentially start back off with a clean state, with no microscopic critters ready to attack.  This is a great move to make for any family, especially for those will small children or that has just come over a recent illness.

Upholstery cleaning may seem a little foreign, but it is just as, if not more, important than cleaning your carpet on a regular basis.  Shoot for it to be cleaned at once a year, but be sure to expand that as you see fit.

To schedule your upholstery cleaning, give us a call today for a free in-home estimate.  And with our “love it or leave it” money-back guarantee, you are in safe hands with us.

Give it a try–call us today!

Having a wood floor for your kitchen could be one of the best features of your home, but the wear and tear placed on it from furniture can make it a spot to avoid.  Scratches and bald spots are the worst fear of any hardwood-floor-owner.  Today, we want to alleviate some of that fear from our friends, and provide you with a few ways you can keep any type of furniture from scratching your beautiful floor!

One of the best things you can do to prevent scratches on your floor is to invest in some type of pad for your furniture.  In the market today, there are several different pads, and we will walk you through each one, highlight the advantages and disadvantages, and then suggest our favorite option.

The first type of pas out there are tap-on/nail-on pads.  These types of pads are more-or-less permanent to the furniture, as they are either screwed into or nailed into the chair legs.  A secure holding is their highlight, but a broken pad may scratch up your floor worse than a regular chair leg ever could.

Another type of pad is the self-adhesive pad.  You can guess from the name itself that these pads are sticky, and will attach to the chair itself.  These are some of the most common types of pads, and can be made of either felt or rubber.  Since these are soft, you won’t need to worry about then ruining your floor, but they may fall off from time to time, because of the adhesive.

Finally, the other type of pad out on the market today are slip-on pads.  These pads can easily slide onto the chair leg and off, but do not require adhesion to stick.  Thus, they are not prone to fall off, and can be removed at any time.  Made of rubber or soft plastic, these types of pads have the most diverse application.

In our opinion, we recommend the slip-on pads for hardwood floors.  The strength of the rubber yet the ease and reliability of the slip-on beats out the competition.  Not to mention that they are cheap.  Just head on over to your local hardware store and pick some up–easy as that.

Wood scratches are tough, but we can make it better.  Give us a call today for a professional cleaning of your floor.  With a money-back guarantee, you simply cannot go wrong with Bayside Carpet Cleaning!

So there you are, painting over a room that has been long overdue for a new coat, and after a solid hour of painting, you look down to find that the paint has dripped all over your carpet.  Oh no!  What will you do?  Well, besides the inevitable internal panicking, there’s no need to worry, as there are a few easy tricks to get paint out of any type of carpet!

Just like with most stains, removing paint from carpet is the absolute easiest when it is still wet; simply grab a wet paper towel and dab it up.  Now, that is not always the case, but with a little work, you can get it out even days after the incident.

For water-based paint, you are going to want to get some hot water and a little bit of dish detergent.  Mix together, apply to the stain, and allow it to sit for an hour.  Next, take a knife or pin and scrape the paint right off the carpet (as it should be softened thanks to the hot water).  Simple as that.  If the paint isn’t soft after the hot water, consider using a handheld steamer or an iron, as that’ll surely do the trick.

For an oil-based paint, the approach is a tad different, but still relatively easy.  Skip the hot water for this one, and go right to the handheld steamer or iron if the paint is dry.  The tricky part about this is that you are going to want to pick away at the stain while the steam is hitting it, which can prove to be a little bit of a challenge.  However, with some coordination and heat-resistant gloves, you’ll be able to get this done in no time.

Getting paint out of stains may seem like an impossible task, but it is much easier than you realize.  Should you run into a problem, or if the stain is incredibly stubborn, just know that we are always available to help.  One quick call to us will alleviate any carpet-woes you may have.

For a free in-home estimate, give us a call today!

In our line of work, we often see people, either in the food store or on the internet, perpetuate some myths about professional carpet cleaning, and why you don’t need it.  Today, join us as we put some of those myths to rest, and tell you the truth about professional carpet cleaning.

Out of all the myths we hear out there, one of the biggest is that a carpet does not need to be professionally cleaned if it is new.  While that is initially true, that carpet is going to need a professional cleaning after the year is up.  Even though you may think that the carpet should have little dirt in it, particles and dirt from an entire year build up.  Since carpets serve as a filter, these filters need to be cleaned every year, regardless of when they were originally installed.

Another common myth out there is that no one need a professional cleaning when there are DIY machines out there.  While we have touched on the topic of DIY cleaning in previous posts, let us reiterate a common notion: cleaning a carpet on your own with a machine will not give the same level of clean as with a professional service.  The professionals have certain chemicals and cleaners that they mix in to get you the best clean possible, which are sometimes hard to obtain for the general public.  Not only that, but most cleaners are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration, ensuring that you have the best clean every time.

Finally, another common myth is that people fall under the impression that they can use a sprinkle-on deodorizer to keep their carpet fresh.  Sprinkle-on powders can be great to keep your carpet smelling good before guests come over or whenever you clean, but it just won’t leave it as fresh as a professional cleaning would.

At Bayside Carpet Cleaning, we strive to give your carpet the best clean, any time, every time.  To set up a free in-home estimate, give us a call today!

For more carpet cleaning tips and tricks, be sure to check back to our blog every Tuesday and Thursday!

We all know carpet can be a great home for dirt, germs, and other microbes, but there is something else that could be lurking in your fibers: bugs.  Join us today to learn more about some of the critters that can make a home out of your carpet, and how you can prevent them.

One of the many bugs that can be making a home in your carpet is the bedbug, despite what their name may imply.  Bedbugs are known for thriving in environments where there are places for them to hide, which includes beds, dressers, and even your carpet.  Regular vacuuming should do the trick to get rid of these critters, but should you see a few of them crawling around, your best bet is to just call in a pest-control company to remove them with assurance.

Another bugger that can be thriving in your carpet is the caterpillar of the palm flower moth.  These guys love to burrow into carpet, where they will make their cocoons.  A regular cleaning will do enough to thwart them, although keeping your doors shut and widows closed will prevent them from coming in the first place.

Finally, another pest that you may see are fleas.  Now, these critters could have made their way in by hitching a ride on the family pet, but they can make quite a home in your carpet.  The worst part about this, is that every time a pet or family member walks on it, there is a possibility of a flea latching on.   Just like the past two pests, regular cleaning will do wonders to rid these pests.

When it comes to carpet, there can be so much more than what meets the eye, and it can be much dirtier than you think.  This is why it is important to have your carpets professionally cleaned every so-often, as to make them much cleaner, and safer, for you and your family.

To schedule a free in-home estimate, give us a call today!

September is a time of year where everything comes back.  Football is back again, so are crisp fall days, and the oh-so coveted pumpkin spiced lattes.  However, of all the things that come back in September, school is arguably one of the biggest things.  This month, many parents find themselves embroiled in a new adventure: sending their kids off to college.  Living in a new home comes with many challenges and trials, such as decorating it properly.  Whether your child is living in a dorm room or an apartment, we have put together a rug-buying guide that is sure to fit, and keep them warm in these coming chilly days.

Of all the rugs on the market today, the 5′ x 7′ rug is the most popular among students.  It is large enough to cover the main parts of the floor where you will be walking and doing things, but small enough to fit comfortably into a dorm room.  For students with a roommate, this is a perfect choice.

The next most-popular rug size for students is the 4′ x 6′ rug, which is a tad smaller, but makes up for it in versatility.  The smaller size allows it to be used as a personal rug, such as something at the side of your bed.  For students living in a single, this rug would work perfect, as the rooms are bound to be smaller than a double.

For students who have an abnormally large room, or just really, really enjoy the feeling of a rig beneath their feet, the 6′ x 9′ rug is a great option.  These rugs are the next-best thing to having carpeting installed, as they will easily reach across the room.  The only consequence with these rugs will trap dirt and grime, and will have to be cleaned regularly to stay in good working condition.

The transition from high school to college may be tough, but we here at Bayside Carpet Cleaning want to make it easier, in any way that we can.  For more carpet tips and tricks, be sure to check back to our blog every Tuesday and Thursday!

Out there on the internet, there are many guides of what you should do with your wood floor, but we find that there is not too much on what not to do. So, to help fill the gap, we’ve put together this list of things you should not do with your wood floor, in order to get the longest life out of it.

Do not put chemicals on your floor. Wood floors are very sensitive, contrary to popular belief, and by putting chemicals directly on it you can destroy the finish. Things to avoid are ammonia, vinegar, dish detergent, wax, or any silicone based products.

Do not drag furniture across the floor. This one is more of a no-brainer, but we thought that we would include it anyway. When you drag furniture across your finished wood floor, you will scratch it up real bad. Not only will this look aesthetically unpleasing, but it will destroy the finish. Going off of that…

Do not wear high heels on your floor. Just like furniture, walking across your hardwood floor with heels will chip away at the floor, and will literally leave dents in it. Best to just walk across in your bare feet, and then put on the heels when you get into the car.

Do not wait too long between refinish products. This is our last tip on the list. But it is an important one. No matter how well you take care of your wood floor, the finish will diminish over time, and will require a re-coating every so-often. You can skip the entire refinishing process, which can be long and expensive, by just re-coating, which is a one-day process. By re-coating, you can skip a more-expensive sanding and refinishing treatment, which can happen if the finish is grinded down to the bare wood.

Wood floors look amazing in almost any room, but they require regular upkeep to keep them going strong. However, with the right knowledge, you can be sure that your floors are in it for the long-haul.

For a homeowner, the type of flooring is one of the biggest decisions one will make.  Would you rather feel hardwood or carpet first thing in the morning?  It is a question that many people must answer, and one that can take quite a while to decide.  Well, today, we would like to speed up that decision, by providing some pros and cons for each type of flooring.  Hopefully, after you read this, you will better be able to make your decision, and sleep comfortably at night with it.

Since carpet cleaning is our specialty, let’s start off with carpet first.  At first glance, carpet is cheap, easy to install, and warm.  It works as a great insulator, trapping heat on those frigid winter mornings, and will stop furniture from sliding around.  Not only that, but there are thousands of different styles, textures, and colors that are readily available for the consumer.  Carpet will also hide dirt, at the expense of collecting it.  Over time, carpet can become bogged down with dirt, dust, and spills that require a professional cleaning every once in a while.  Other than that, carpet is highly recommended in homes with kids, as it will cushion an fall, and provide a no-slip surface to walk on.

On the other hand, hardwood flooring is durable, strong, and easier to clean.  Since hardwood does not have individual fibers, it will not collect dirt like carpet does; all that is needed is a quick sweep or a vacuum to get rid of it all.  However, the other side to this argument is that hardwood will get scratched.  Scratches are hard to get out, which is why any type of furniture on wood floors should have furniture pads underneath.  In addition, hardwood is generally more expensive, harder to install, and will become very cold in the colder months of the year.

All pros and cons aside, both types of flooring will look great in any home, and in any room.  Consider all the factors you need, but know that whatever you choose will be right for your home.

No matter what you pick, just know that you can always call Bayside Carpet Cleaning for a thorough cleaning.  With a money-back guarantee, you can be assured that your floors will get the best cleaning that they have ever had.