Don't Mask Bad Odors, Stop Them at the Source

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

Sewer line inspections can help prevent disaster, and stops bad smells from permeating in your home.

Maybe you just moved into a new place and can't figure out where the weird smell is coming from. Or, maybe you've lived in your home for years, and it's time to do some deep cleaning. Either way, removing foul odors can be tricky. But don't worry - we're here to help. We'll give you some tips and tricks for getting rid of offensive smells in your home, so you can feel confident about inviting friends and family over.

Get Rid of Sewer Smells

When you notice a foul odor in your home, it's important to figure out where it's coming from and how to get rid of it. Sewer smells are one of the most common unpleasant odors and can be tricky to dispose of. You can do a few things to eliminate the smell if you think it is coming from your sewer line. First, check all your drains and ensure they're clear. If that doesn't solve it, pour a cup of bleach down the affected drain. If the odor persists, call a plumber to inspect your sewer line. Getting rid of foul odors in your home is important for your comfort and health, so immediately taking care of smells will keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

Clean Your Pet

When your pet has a bad odor, cleaning them as soon as possible is important. Not only will this remove the foul odor, but it will also prevent your pet from becoming sick. The odor from your pet will cling to household objects and furniture if not removed immediately. Give your pet a good shampooing with a mild soap. You could also rinse them with diluted vinegar or hydrogen peroxide if the odor is very intense.

Eliminate Mold and Mildew Odor

No one likes a smelly home. When trying to get rid of foul odors, it's important to deal with mold and mildew. These fungi love damp, dark places, so check any areas that might be prone to moisture buildup. Clean the tub, shower, sink, and toilet in the bathroom regularly. The kitchen is another place mold and mildew thrives, so don't forget to clean under the sink, behind the fridge, and in any other nooks and crannies where water might collect. 

If you have a major mold odor problem, it is best to call professional services like SERVPRO of the South and Northwest Grand Rapids at 616-662-9700. Our skilled professionals are trained to identify and eliminate offensive odors, whether from an inside or outside source. We won't merely mask odors but use professional odor removal techniques to deal with the cause of the problem.

Change Your Garbage Disposal

No one likes smelly garbage disposal. If your disposal is stinking, it's time to take action. The first step is to determine the cause of the smell. If you notice your disposal is smelling after you've put certain foods down, the food is likely to blame. Use running hot water and dish soap and pour it down the disposal to clear the smell. If the food is left at the disposal for too long, it will rot and produce a nauseating smell. You might need to remove the food with a pair of tongs or a plunger. If your garbage disposal still smells even after you've cleaned it, maybe your drain needs to be cleaned. 

Clean any spills or messes immediately, as they are often the source of bad smells. Open the windows and doors regularly to let fresh air in and circulate. Consider using air fresheners or scented candles to help mask any lingering odors. Following these tips, you will keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

Deep Cleaning Your House to Prevent Disaster

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

No matter what the state of your house looks like, when you set out to clean up, you know you’re in for more work than you bargained for. Exceptional presentation standards are great if you’re having people over, transitioning from winter to spring, or staging your house for a sale, but your home being free of what lies beneath — mold, mildew, foundation, or wall damage, etc. is something else.

After all, people have expectations of walking into a clean house. One of the most effective things you can do is to remove clutter. Not only will this let you evaluate what needs to stay and what can go, but it helps you see into neglected spaces that cover damaged areas.

With the clutter out of the way, you can then inspect and clean spaces that need to be well organized. Deep cleaning can be more complex than the routine you are used to, and it is important to get your home in the best shape possible.

A deep clean creates the most appealing living space possible. There might be some things you can live with, such as smudges on the appliances or a tiny stain on the rug, but you should inspect further. What’s under the appliances? Are the gas lines secure? Are the floors stained beneath the carpet?

In the worst-case scenarios, a deep cleaning session will identify areas in need of professional help. There might be mold or another serious issue behind the walls, and a remediation team can assess the problem before guests come knocking.

SERVPRO of South and Northwest Grand Rapids offers emergency fire, water, and storm damage restoration for residential and commercial clients. Call us at (616) 662-9700.

Spring Cleaning Can Make Your Home Healtheir

4/14/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to tidying up around the house, spring cleaning can be a time to really overhaul both inside and outside your home. This annual chore does more than just encourage you to declutter your house, but it gives you a chance to give your home better protection from the elements, as well as providing a boost to your indoor air quality.

The first item on your spring cleaning checklist is to fortify your home against April showers. Water damage is the biggest threat that your home will face between the melting snow and the heavy rains ahead. In order to make sure water stays out of your space, you need to make sure that it can properly and freely flow away from your home. This requires you to work both inside and outside.

Months ago, the leaves were falling from the trees. While you may have thought that raking them from the lawn was the only thing you had to do, you missed the leaves that did not make it all the way to the ground. Those leaves most likely ended up in your gutters, and if they are to remain there, you might be faced with an avoidable problem. When leaves and other debris clog the gutters, rain cannot drain away from the house properly, and can end up getting inside.

You need to check both the top and the bottom of the gutter system, ensuring that the downspouts are also free of clogs. Also important is to make sure that the downspouts are positioned to direct water away from your home’s foundation.

Not only do you want to keep the water out, but you want to keep allergens out of your home, too. A hardcore cleaning session is a good start to improving your home’s indoor air quality, but there are other steps you should take to maintain it. Proper ventilation is key for improving indoor air quality, especially when working with household cleaning products that contain volatile organic compounds. 

Prepare for the days ahead by changing your air filters. This should already be a routine task, as air filters also help keep your HVAC system running more efficiently. As for your indoor air quality, a new air filter is more capable of trapping allergens, preventing them from recirculating throughout the house.

Air purifiers are helpful tools for reducing pollutants, and an air purifier in the bedroom can even improve your sleep habits. These work great in living rooms, but if you want to protect the entire house, you can install a whole-home air purification system.

Lastly, controlling your home’s humidity will not only make it more comfortable as the temperatures climb higher, but will help prevent mold growth. Remember those tips for keeping water out of the home? If water finds its way inside, it creates an environment for mold growth to thrive.

Spring cleaning should be seen as more than just an annual chore. Use this time to build a strong routine of protecting your home from the elements, and keep your family safe. SERVPRO of South and Northwest Grand Rapids is here to help you recover as quickly as possible.

For more information on protecting your home from water damage, call SERVPRO of South and Northwest Grand Rapids today at (616) 662-9700. Our specialties include fire, water, and storm damage restoration for residential and commercial clients. We also do mold and mildew remediation and much more.

6 Money-Saving Spring-Cleaning Hacks For Your Home

4/10/2017 (Permalink)

Spring is here and with it that familiar itch to overhaul your living space. Before you go wild buying fancy cleaning tools to eliminate every last speck of dust or raid your local home store for seasonal accents to fill every room in your house, pause to consider the cost. Spring cleaning doesn't have to be expensive. We've rounded up some affordable yet effective ways you can update your space.

Sell What You No Longer Need

Spring is about renewal, and Spring cleaning is about letting go of the old to make way for the new. So if you find yourself left with a pile of decor and furniture that no longer serves you, considering selling pieces or donating to organizations.

Rent or Borrow Expensive Equipment

Maybe you don't have room in your home for hefty cleaning supplies or maybe you just don't use them enough to justify the investment. This doesn't mean you can't go deep with your Spring cleaning; it just means you should outsource that carpet steamer or floor polisher, renting from local store or even borrowing from a neighbor or friend.

Shop Organizing Products Shrewdly

Baskets, bins, trays and canisters — these are the organization tools you need to organize pretty much every room in your home. And while buying them is a necessary evil for Spring cleaning, it doesn't have to be a budget blower. Instead of splurging on fancy products from name brand stores, shop at more affordable retailers.

Touch Up Old Pieces

If you do simple touch ups yourself, you may find you don't need to replace that dinged up ancient piece of furniture after all. A paint pen can erase a scratches in your table while a coat of fresh paint will make a chipped dresser look like new, all giving your home that fresh Spring look without the big expense.

DIY Products

From finding brilliant ways to clean everything in your home with WD-40 and vinegar, to mixing up your own fragrant air freshener, skip the expensive products and make your own.

Rearrange Your Furniture

Spring cleaning can remind you of what you hate or want to replace in your house, but if redecorating isn't in the budget, try rearranging instead. You'll be shocked by what a big design difference it makes to simply move pieces around — not to mention how much easier it is on your wallet.

https://www.popsugar.com/home/How-Spring-Clean-Budget-43350064

Is the job too big for you to handle? Call Us 24/7 – SERVPRO of Southwest Grand Rapids 616-662-9700