Hard Water Doesn't Have to be Hard to Remove

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Give us a call for any tips on how to clean hard water spots!

It can be difficult to get rid of nasty hard water stains on windows, even for professional cleaning companies. Over 85% of United States residents and businesses reside in hard water areas. Large offices or warehouses with multiple windows are among some of the most difficult tasks to handle. The first step begins with understanding hard water and how it affects the buildings so our cleaning technicians choose the best solutions to get rid of it.

There are no minerals in the rainwater that falls to the Earth. When it passes through the ground it absorbs minerals such as calcium and magnesium. This is what transforms it from “soft water” into “hard water.” Hard water doesn't usually cause any problems with our health but it can be detrimental to plumbing, fixtures, appliances, glass, showers, or pretty much anywhere water is used.

The minerals are left behind once water is evaporated. These ugly deposits cause crusty scale, stains, film, and mineral rings. This build-up can become problematic or permanent if not dealt with quickly.

Hard Water Cleaning Solutions for Removing Those Ugly Stains:

Cleaning companies have many different methods for removing hard water stains. Acidic and non-acidic chemicals, abrasive, natural or manufactured tools, there is a multitude of cleaners that have the ability to remove mineral deposits and scale. To ensure you choose the right cleaning product for the job, surface or fixture you plan on cleaning check the manufacturer's label. You can also test the cleaner in a discreet place first if you are not sure what the outcome will be. The last thing you want to do is cause damage to your customers' building.

The more common method for removing mineral deposits such as calcium, magnesium, and iron is using an acidic product. Most hard water staining can be removed with a combination of the right cleaner, cleaning tool and a little hard work.

Cleaning tools such as white scrubbing pads, scrub brushes, and steel wool, are the usual products to get the job done. Just remember that none of these tools should be used alone, as they can permanently scratch the surface of the window. Only use these tools when the surface of the window is wet with water or cleaning chemical.

Starting your cleaning process with less harmful chemicals, tools, and methods are recommended. Then step it up to more aggressive methods should the issue persist. It may take several attempts to remove stubborn deposits.

Beware of strong acidic chemicals as they are very corrosive and damaging to certain surfaces such as stainless steel and chrome. These tools will “eat” through surfaces, so never attempt to use such chemicals without the proper training and testing.

Looking to Invest in Commercial Property?

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Sky Rise Building Could Suffer Major Damages!

There comes a time in one’s life when they decide to buy a piece of property. When buying a commercial building, the owner must consider many things. Commercial building owners take on a huge responsibility. When a person decides to buy a building, they carry the liability that goes along with it. Whether they use the business for themselves or they rent it out to another business entity, it is the building owners’ responsibility to maintain the building. Here at SERVPRO we network with both business owners, property management companies and building owners to provide services, especially emergency services pertaining to fire, water, mold and restoration services. As a preferred vendor to many property management customers we are quick to respond. We would be happy to meet with you and talk about our emergency readiness plan. SERVPRO of SE PORTLAND 503-427-9535.

Yes, SERVPRO of Southeast Salem Cleans Offices!

8/31/2021 (Permalink)

Interior of office building with furniture

What a spotless building, don't you want yours to look this clean?

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

The SERVPRO carpet and upholstery cleaning service will not only get out the dirt you see, but will also remove the unwanted dust you don’t. A professionally cleaned carpet and furniture may make all the difference in brightening up a room and freshening up your home.

Air Duct Cleaning

We all have tasks around the house that don’t make it to the top of our priority list. Properly maintaining your home’s air ducts should not be one of them. Regular duct cleaning can increase your home’s heating and cooling efficiency and improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe.

Odor Removal

Your basic cleaning service is not going to have the expertise to effectively deodorize your home. Take advantage of SERVPRO’s residential cleaning services to remove unwanted odors.

Sewage and Biohazard Clean Up

Our experts are ready to assist in the clean up of sewage and other biohazard materials and provide deep cleaning services for your home. Find out more about our franchise professionals.

Call our office today to find out what we can do for you!

Common Floor Finishing Problems and Causes..

8/31/2021 (Permalink)

before and after picture of wood flooring

If doing yourself take your time, it is defiantly worth the wait!

Common floor finish problems and their causes.

These problems can be the result of using unsuitable or dirty tools and equipment, improper application techniques, contamination of water or finish, or surrounding environmental factors. Understanding what could or has caused floor finish issues and correcting the problem(s) (hopefully before they happen) will help save time and money.

Here are some common floor finish problems and their possible causes:

Finish is discolored under the floor mats

Floor mats were placed back on floor before finish had proper time to cure. Not allowing the chemicals to evaporate correctly will cause the finish to dry improperly.
There was a chemical reaction between the floor finish and the rubber backing on the floor mats.

Swirl marks

Your burnishing pad may be too aggressive for the floor finish.

You're moving the burnisher too slowly or not using a high RPM machine.

Poor contact between the pad and the floor.
Dirty or wet floor pad was used.

Streaks in the floor finish

Floor was not properly prepared before finish was applied.

Floor finish didn't thoroughly dry before applying additional coat.

Too thin or heavy of coat applied.

Application mop, bucket/wringer, water was dirty or contaminated.

Floor was too cold when finish was applied.
Floor finish contaminated or was improperly stored. Floor finish that has been exposed to extreme cold or hot temperatures should not be used and will need to be replaced.

Powdering

Finish coats applied too thin.

Fans pointed directly at wet floor finish.

Poor adhesion of the floor finish.

Contaminated mop head or finish.
Floor not rinsed properly after stripping.

Haven't you Heard.. SERVPRO of Southeast Salem Offers Cleaning Services

8/2/2021 (Permalink)

Call us today for an estimate!

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

The SERVPRO carpet and upholstery cleaning service will not only get out the dirt you see, but will also remove the unwanted dust you don’t. A professionally cleaned carpet and furniture may make all the difference in brightening up a room and freshening up your home.

Air Duct Cleaning

We all have tasks around the house that don’t make it to the top of our priority list. Properly maintaining your home’s air ducts should not be one of them. Regular duct cleaning can increase your home’s heating and cooling efficiency and improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe.

Odor Removal

Your basic cleaning service is not going to have the expertise to effectively deodorize your home. Take advantage of SERVPRO’s residential cleaning services to remove unwanted odors.

Sewage and Biohazard Clean Up

Our experts are ready to assist in the clean up of sewage and other biohazard materials and provide deep cleaning services for your home. Find out more about our franchise professionals.

Call our office today to find out what we can do for you!

Importance of Dusting

8/2/2021 (Permalink)

a man dusting furniture in home wearing blue shirt

Remember dusting keeps that bad things away! Call us with any questions or cleaning services.

What is dust?

It is extremely small substances (many pieces are not visible to the naked eye) that become airborne, travel, and then settle back down to earth, landing on our desks, tables, chairs, window sills, blinds, pretty much any surface you can think of can hold dust. Sand and soil are the most common dust particles but pollen, soot, hair, spoors, mites, fabric fibers, plant material, micro-sized decaying insects, and even dead skin contribute to the make-up of that nasty stuff called dust.

Why is dusting an office building so important?

Dusting is an essential task your employees need to do in every office building. Visible dust creates an unsightly work space, which people may translate into an image of neglect. In addition to being unappealing, dusty offices can contribute to “sick office syndrome.” A well dusted office building translates a positive and pleasing image to all building visitors and occupants. A clean working environment also encourages neatness, promotes better work habits and can reduce absenteeism.

Dusting is also essential because it improves environmental safety. Accumulated dust can cause health effects, and plays havoc with individuals who have allergies. If dust is left to accumulate, it can soil hands, clothing and paper items and also cause damage to electronic equipment. Airborne dust and contaminants can even spread infection. Proper dusting is an important part of effective sanitation practices.

If proper dusting is not done on a regular basis, dust builds up, hardens and becomes thick in corners and hard to reach areas. Dust can stain furniture and cause an unsightly film on glass and hard surfaces. If dust is left long enough on hard surfaces, it can eventually cause permanent discoloration. Accumulation of dust can also interfere with the proper operation of a building's heating and cooling systems.

To correctly dust office buildings, you should have the following equipment and supplies on hand: microfiber cloths (damp cloth for removing fingerprints and coffee rings, and dry for standard dusting), static dusters, extension dusters (for the hard to reach areas), cotton cloths, furniture polish, all-purpose cleaner, and window cleaner. Back pack vacuums with brush attachments or crevice tools should also be used for getting into hard to reach areas. And of course, personal protection equipment (gloves, glasses, dust mask, etc.)

How often should you dust? Dusting should be done at least weekly, especially on horizontal surfaces. Sides of desks, file cabinets and other vertical surfaces should be dusted once every two to four weeks or as needed. A good general rule to follow is if the surface is above eye level or below knee level; dust it every two to four weeks. Surfaces that are between eye level and knee level should be dusted on a weekly basis.

Who Doesn't Enjoy Hardwood Flooring

8/2/2021 (Permalink)

Hardwood flooring in a room with chairs and windows

Call SERVPRO of SE Salem for more tips.

Nothing adds charm more to a commercial building than a lustrous looking hardwood floor. A hardwood floor is a lifetime investment and keeping a hardwood floor looking its best requires proper care and maintenance strategies. As the cleaning professional, it is up to you and your cleaning technicians to provide the solutions to care for and maintain your customers' hardwood floor investment and keep it looking its best for years to come.

Routine maintenance and care of hardwood floors requires:

Protecting the surface finish from heavy wear
Daily cleaning to remove dirt, grit and dust
Protecting the finish from moisture

When taking care of wood floors avoid the following:

Using saturated mops on the floor
Using ammonia on the floor
Using household type dust cleaners
Using products that are not recommended for wood floors

Don't let hardwood floors lose their luster. Spending a little time every day protecting and properly caring for hardwood floors will go a long ways towards keeping the floor looking great and keeping your customer happy.

Carpet Maintenance

8/2/2021 (Permalink)

Wanna know a secret? We here at SERVPRO know how to clean some carpet. Call us today for prices!

Carpet has many merits and advantages as a flooring material, but spills can leave stains and daily traffic takes its toll. Learn how to clean carpet with methods for vacuuming, deep cleaning, and stain removal to help your carpets look better and last longer.

Carpets warm a home by adding color, pattern, and texture. Regular vacuuming provides the first line of defense against dirt and grit that damages carpet fibers. But carpets also need regular cleaning to keep them looking their best. Plan to thoroughly wash carpet every 12 to 18 months, more often in high-traffic areas. If you have light-color carpet and/or kids or pets, clean your carpets two or three times a year. Always follow the carpet manufacturer's cleaning guidelines.

Thinking of Buying Commercial Property?

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Apartment Fires Can be a Huge Liability!

Commercial properties can be such a wonderful investment. Many people are eager to get into the real estate industry in hopes for large gain. This can be a very rewarding industry; however, investors need to consider the overhead and liabilities that can arise. This past week we called to a large loss on a commercial building in downtown Portland. This was a stove fire on sixth floor. The tenant had fallen asleep while leaving the stove on. Luckily, the fire alarms went off and a neighbor had a fire extinguisher. This neighbor saved not only save the tenant but also the property owner massive possible cost in damages.

Canvasing the whole sixth floor is chemical from the fire extinguisher and soot from the smoke. We here at SERVPRO were called in to start the remediation process. Having a professional on hand is a great way to make sure your investment is protected in an emergency. SERVPRO providing 24/7 Services!

Looking to Invest in Commerial Property?

8/5/2020 (Permalink)

Sky Rise Building Could Suffer Major Damages!

There comes a time in one’s life when they decide to buy a piece of property. When buying a commercial building, the owner must consider many things. Commercial building owners take on a huge responsibility. When a person decides to buy a building, they carry the liability that goes along with it. Whether they use the business for themselves or they rent it out to another business entity, it is the building owners’ responsibility to maintain the building. Here at SERVPRO we network with both business owners, property management companies and building owners to provide services, especially emergency services pertaining to fire, water, mold and restoration services. As a preferred vendor to many property management customers we are quick to respond. We would be happy to meet with you and talk about our emergency readiness plan. SERVPRO 503-883-8960.

Water Damage and Commercial Properties

7/31/2020 (Permalink)

Property Damage Due to Water.

This week has been one that we call “Water” week. A two-story town house toilet over flowed and seeped through the dry wall and sheet rock from the second floor down to the first floor on a commercial property. An apartment dishwasher clogged. A pipe under the sink busted. When this happens with commercial properties, many do not know how to respond. If it is a commercial property, we must have authorization from the property management company to start remediation services. The tenant may or may not have coverage for their personal belongings. Commercial property insurance claims are a two-client process, including multiple people and contacts. It is important to have professionals at SERVPRO working with the agents, property managers and adjusters when it comes to commercial properties. Call us at 503-883-8960

Services our Commercial Realtors are liking!

7/31/2020 (Permalink)

Preventative Cleaning Service

We just received a call from a realtor. Hey, can you guys come to our weekly companywide meeting and speak about services you are covering for COVID 19 and that cool camera you use for documenting homes? Well of course we can. Here at SERVPRO we are offering two unique services for our commercial and residential realtors, to help them make sales. One of the services is a COVID 19 fogging services, we will go in and disinfect the property they are going to hold an open house and give them a decal and letter of certification of disinfectant. Allowing possible buyers to know the house is clean and disinfected. We are also offering a 3-D Imaging service in which we come in and take pictures of the property, convert it into a virtual walk experience for their online presence. We are thinking outside of the box over here to assist our commercial and residential clients with our everyday services. Call SERVPRO for a meeting to learn more!

Preventative Cleaning for Commercial Properties and COVID 19

7/31/2020 (Permalink)

Dressed to get the Job Done!

This week we have seen four requests for commercial building preventative cleaning services, specifically for COVID 19. During such a pandemic and the need to get people back to work, we understood the need of professionally cleaning services. This was notable topic to write about. We here at SERVPRO are proud of our community and find it compelling that these major corporations are taking the safety of their employees and clients to the next level. As we see people returning to normal and business being able to open, we encourage people to have a deep cleaning and a preventative disinfectant cleaning. Here at SERVPRO we provide a decal for your window and a certification of clean certificate to ensure your people are aware you have taken extra precautionary caution to ensure their well fare. Call us for an estimate! 503-883-8960

Commerial Property Owners and Property Management Are taking the Heat!

7/31/2020 (Permalink)

Damage Left Behind From Tenants

Commercial property owners see it all. Especially right now, many people are suffering and unable to handle what the world is going through. People are laid off work and unable to pay bills or provide for their families. This is leading to a new level if insecurity. People are acting out on a multitude of levels. Speaking with many property managers through the week, we are finding they are taking the heat on a new level. Many are opening the doors to apartments and finding an array of messes, unfortunately from suicide, to angry, disgruntled tenants leaving behind destruction.

We here at SERVPRO are ready to help restore your property. Weather it is a biohazard or demolished property, we have your back! Give us a call on your next apartment turn over! 503-883-8960

Does Your Company Know What to do in a Flood Emergency?

9/16/2019 (Permalink)

text: put help in the palm of your hand with our emergency READY plan

A broken pipe, clogged drain or leaking roof can bring your business to a halt. We all know that time is money, so the faster you can back up an running is very important. Other than the cost of the damage itself, the cost of not being able to conduct your business can be devastating to your bottom line.

That's why SERVPRO of Southeast Salem is here for our local businesses anytime day or night. We know the importance of getting your business back up and running. That is precisely why our highly skilled water mitigation and restoration technicians are always ready to help. We work diligently to ease the pain associated with a water disaster. If this happens all you need to do is call us and we can get you back to work faster than anyone else.

We can also help you before the loss occurs with our Emergency Ready Plan (ERP). This completely free service is offered to everyone in our community to be prepared when the unexpected happens. If you manage, own or lease a commercial property and would like one of our friendly staff to provide this for you, please call us.

Go Local to Get Help

8/2/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southeast Salem was referred to a local job by a commercial organization. A sink had malfunctioned, causing water to pour out and onto the floor overnight. When the store manager went in the next morning, she was not happy to discover flooded floors. She called it in and the company hired us for the job. The water affected the floors and baseboards as well. SERVPRO of Southeast Salem went in and did the job in a making sure to never get in the way employees during the timely drying and remediation process. Even during store hours, our techs made sure it was convenient for the employees and to not disturb any customers. In the time it took for us to get the call and complete the job the company was extremely pleased and said SERVPRO of Southeast Salem was their go-to for any other jobs they would need to be done.

Don't Worry, Work Happy!

8/1/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southeast Salem has had the pleasure of working with many commercial businesses. More recently there were three that were affected by water damage. The three businesses are tenants of a large commercial building in Southeast Salem and suffered a few issues. While repairs were being done by roofing contractors a hole was pierced in the roof. This caused water to accumulate inside the attic area of the businesses. Water seeped through the ceiling and floors into the three businesses and damaged electronics, office supplies, wood surfaces, and more.

We were on sight within 24 hours and immediately got to work restoring the businesses. Our team brought in the top of the line dehumidifiers and quickly fixed the issue and we were able to fully restore all affected items. Every surface including walls, floors, desks, computers, chairs were wiped down and taken care of. We worked together with the roofing contractors to prevent the issue from happening again, and the job was completed within 72 hours of the initial damage. When your business is the victim to water damage you can rest easy knowing that SERVPRO of Southeast Salem will be there night or day to make it "Like it never even happened."

Why You Should Check Your Wires

8/1/2019 (Permalink)

Many of the commercial buildings in use here in Salem were constructed some time ago. Although older architecture is more unique and nice on the outside, there can be many issues waiting to happen on the inside. For one, the electrical wiring may be just as old as the structure. Depending on the electrical needs of the business, and all the new equipment plugged into old outlets, fires or other damage can occur. This may be rare, but electrical wiring is still a cause of many fires.

Having electrical wiring inspected by a qualified electrician is a great preventive measure. Double-checking the equipment that will be used in conjunction with the power supply is also very important. If your business is unfortunate enough to experience a fire caused by an electrical malfunction SERVPRO of Southeast Salem is always there to help restore the commercial structure of our friends and neighbors.

Mold Be Gone!

8/1/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Southeast Salem received a call one day regarding a musty smell with no source. It was a commercial property and the smell was coming from one of their rooms. Our team at SERVPRO of Southeast Salem was able to get out there on the same day to help find where the mold was. The owner said they had tried to remove the smell and dry the room out by opening a window. Our production manager asked if baseboards were removed to assist in dry out. Baseboards were not removed and our Production Manager knew exactly what needed to be done. He got permission to remove one baseboard and found the mold. The owner wanted the remediation as soon is possible and our team was able to go the same day and finish the job. The company was so happy with our work and response time they said they would certainly be returning customers and use us in the future for any of their restoration/remediation needs.