Pollen Has Arrived!

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

As the season finally warms pollen is close behind it. Often times it is nowhere near as welcomed as the warm weather. Running noses and itchy eyes do not seem like a dream come true but they are a reality for most people suffering from allergies. Common seasonal allergies include oak, western red cedar, sycamore, maple, elm, birch, ash, cypress, walnut, hickory, and poplar tree pollen and well as a number of weeds and grass varieties. Various symptoms include sneezing, congestion and itchy eyes, ear, nose, as well as throat. To combat this many homeowners, believe that they will be safe from such allergens inside.

Dirty duct work however can cause allergens to follow you inside your home as well. A professional duct cleaning by SERVPRO of York, James City, and Poquoson can be effective at removing potentially disturbing allergens from persisting in your home.

Give SERVPRO of York, James City, and Poquoson call at 757-229-3442 

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned - a defensive cleaning program

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO® professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

• Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
• Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
• Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of York, James City, and Poquoson today at  757-229- 3442 or Toll Free @ 1-800-889-5002 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

Natural Cleaning Products

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

Although it is easy and relatively cheap to buy cleaning products today, here are some natural solutions you can use to bring a new fragrance into your home.

Coffee Grounds

I love a good cup of coffee in the morning, or any time of the day. Many do not think of coffee ground as a natural cleaning solution. Do you want a new tasty smelling air freshener? You can place new or used coffee grounds in a bowl or container and place in cupboards, car trunks, or the refrigerator for a fresh smell. You can sprinkle on vomit let it set and the coffee will absorb so you can easily vacuum or sweep up.

Baking Soda

One of the most versatile products for cleaning, baking soda can be used on almost anything to get rid of odors and clean up stains. My favorite hack for baking soda is to sprinkle on top of a egg, it will absorb it and you can sweep it up easier. You can also use a heavy amount of baking soda on your carpets, leave for a few hours and vacuum up late for a refreshed new smell and feel to your carpets. Sprinkle some at the bottom of the garbage can to get rid of the odors. Use half a cup of baking soda in two quarts of water to scrub down appliances, inside your fridge, and other surfaces like tiles, toilets, and showers.

Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. High in citric acid, lemon juice is one of the best natural cleaners due to its low pH and antibacterial properties. It can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits, and it's great for shining brass and copper. Lemon juice can also be used to treat stains given its natural bleaching qualities, but that can also be a drawback. It's a good idea to test it out on a hidden area first.

Lemon cleaning applications include:

• Mix lemon juice with vinegar or baking soda to make a cleaning paste.
• Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section of the lemon. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains.
• Mix 1 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup lemon juice to use as a furniture polish for hardwood furniture
• Put a whole lemon peel or orange peel through the garbage disposal—it freshens the drain and the kitchen.

Source https://www.thespruce.com/homemade-and-natural-cleaning-products-1900456#:~:text=1%20Using%20Vinegar%20to%20Clean.%20Vinegar%20cleans%20and,a%20few%20other%20options%20for%20natural%20cleaners.%20

What is an air scrubber, and why do you use it?

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

This specialty piece of machinery creates a safe working environment for the crews that are working in the damaged environment. Air scrubbers can also prevent damage from spreading to other structural building materials and limits contents from absorbing the odors. 

These devices are utilized to clean the air from the odors and toxic gases that are left over after the fire has been extinguished or the residual odors from a water loss. 

This is achieved by changing over the air in the damaged structure at a minimum of three to four times per hour.  We accomplish this by setting up the machines under positive air flow or negative air flow.  Which type of air flow needed is determined by the situation and or the severity of the job.  This specialty piece of equipment helps  our crews reduce or eliminate smoke or soot residue, ash particles and any other residues which are present after a fire or water damage. 

Some may ask? 

Will an Air Scrubber Help With Bad Odors?

It sure will. When an air scrubber “scrubs” pollutants from the air, it essentially obliterates them – along with their unpleasant odors. Air scrubbers can help eliminate common household odors associated with pets, cigarette smoke, paint fumes, mold spores… and even burnt food!

If you have questions or need help with any deodorization, please call SERVPRO of York, James City County & Poquoson at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 800-889-5002