MasterCare Inc Blog

Before the first cold snap of winter arrives, it's a good idea to get your home ready for the changing season. Checking on your heating system, for example, can help you avoid a broken system on the coldest day of the season. Completing these simple tasks before the weather turns cold can give you peace of mind. Prepare Your Heating System Discovering that your heating system isn't working properly will be an unwelcome surprise on the first cold day of the season. Before the temperatures start to dip, it's a good idea to give your heating system a thorough check, starting with the ducts. Over time, dust can clog your system's ducts, forcing it to work harder to heat your home. Cleaning out the ducts and replacing filters can alleviate this issue. Fix Gaps If small gaps around your windows and doors are left alone, the warm air in your home...

Do you know what could be lurking in the air ducts of your home? Just as you have lungs that bring air to the rest of your body, your home has an HVAC system that moves air throughout all its rooms. If it’s been a while since your ducts were cleaned, it might be time for a breath of fresh air. Indoor Air Quality Everyday activities in your home release dust, dander, dirt, chemicals and other contaminants into the air. These contaminants aren’t necessarily dangerous for a normal, healthy adult, but they can contribute to problems for some vulnerable groups, especially people with allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems as well as those with autoimmune disorders, the very young and the very old. Energy Bills Up to 40 percent of the energy used to cool or heat your home is lost, according to the Department of Energy. Dirty ducts make it...

Natural stone, granite and marble can be beautiful additions to any home or office. To protect their beauty and integrity and ensure a long life for your stone features, proper maintenance is critical. Simple everyday care combined with periodic professional cleaning, sealing and maintenance will protect your investment for many years to come. Know Your Stone Knowing and understanding the particular needs of your stone countertops or floors can help you get more out of them. Most stone is classified as siliceous stone or calcareous stone. Siliceous stone includes granite, sandstone, bluestone, brownstone, slate and quartzite while calcareous stone includes marble, limestone, onyx and travertine. Siliceous stone is durable and can tolerate mildly acidic cleaning solutions while calcareous stone requires more gentle cleaning solutions. Routine Cleaning When your stone needs cleaning, start by removing any loose debris using a dust cloth or mop. If you prefer to vacuum, check that all...

Whether it is your child spilling their Kool-Aid, guests tracking in mud, or Fido not letting you know that he needs to go outside, carpet stains are an inevitable part of life. If you act quickly, you can keep most stains from becoming a permanent part of your décor; however, different stains require different treatments. The following looks at how to manage the most common household carpet stains. The Basics: It is important to treat a carpet stain as quickly as possible so that it will have less time to penetrate the carpet fibers. To prevent spreading the stain or working it deeper into your carpet, be sure to blot the area instead of scrubbing it. Whether you use a commercial or homemade cleaning product, always apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area to make sure that will not damage your carpet. Finally, be sure to rinse away all traces...

When you think of the tile and grout in the home, you likely think about the bathroom or the kitchen. There are different types of grout that you can use in the home depending on the kind of floor that is used. A common type is sanded grout, and it's often the easiest to keep clean. This kind of grout is usually made from sand and cement mixed together and smoothed over the tile. You can easily make your tile and grout last longer by following a few simple tips. If you don't have a lot of time to spend cleaning, then use a spray bottle with a mixture of equal parts bleach and water. You can add about half a cup of baking soda to the mixture as well. The baking soda will gently lift the dirt while the bleach will remove stains. Bleach will also remove bacteria that is...

If you are like the many other people waiting for summer to arrive, you are planning to host a Memorial Day barbecue that your guests won't soon forget. Having your friends and family come to your home can be a great and memorable experience. You will, however, want to prepare your home so that you and everyone else can have the best possible time. Ensuring that your home is in top shape before your event is a great way to provide your guests with a barbecue they won't soon forget. You can take several steps on your own that can work wonders, but it's important you know when you should reach out to a professional. Clean Your Carpet Being in your home each day can prevent you from noticing the dirty spots on your carpet. The people who come to your Memorial Day barbecue will probably spot the dirt and stains...

Floods are a major problem that can cause a lot of damage when you least expect to face the issue, and they can occur without warning. If you want to protect your home after a flood, taking fast action is vital when you would like to minimize the fallout. Knowing what steps to take in the hours, days and weeks following a flood will enhance your odds of reaching your desired outcome, saving you money. Cleaning Your Walls and Floors When flood water covers your walls and floors, taking action as soon as you can is an important piece of the puzzle when you don't want to face additional complications. Some floors have wood or vinyl covering them, and you will need to remove the wood or vinyl so that the floor can dry properly. Opening your doors and windows will help, but it won't always be enough. Try using several...

You are sitting at home and enjoying your favorite movie or television show with your family when someone knocks over a glass of juice, staining your carpet or upholstery.  As a natural reaction, you rush to the bathroom to grab your cleaning supplies so that you can remove the stain. While taking care of a stain without expert help is possible, you risk making the situation worse than it already is or creating a safety hazard for you and your family if you use the wrong products. Discoloration Learning how the wrong approach to stain removal can cause discoloration is a great step when your goal is to choose the path that makes the most sense. While harsh chemicals can remove stubborn stains when you apply them the right way, mistakes can cause the chemicals to discolor your carpet or upholstery. It can also cause color loss (bleaching) or ‘set’ the stain...

There is a small vent in your dryer that collects the lint and other debris while your clothes are drying. Most of the time, the small particles and the air from the dryer will go through the longer hose at the back of the dryer and outside the house. However, large pieces of debris are caught on the lint screen. This screen and vent need to be cleaned on a regular basis. You should pull out the screen on the dryer at least every other time you dry clothes to see if there is a large buildup. Every dryer use is actually better. One of the primary reasons you want to clean your dryer vent is for safety. If the lint that is trapped inside gets too hot, it can catch on fire. You need to clean the hose as well as the outside vent area instead of only cleaning the vent...

Water damage is a relatively common household problem. Whether dealing with a leaking pipe, rain coming in through the roof, or other such situations, one should never ignore such an issue. This may seem like a minor irritation at times, but the reality is substantial damage can be done if the problem is not fixed, which can be especially shocking if the extent of the damage is hidden behind walls or in less noticeable areas.  It is important to be aware of, and pay attention to, the signs of this household issue. One of the most apparent signals is the staining or softening of walls or ceilings, but some indications are subtler. Musty smells can range from barely noticeable to overwhelming, and the sound of dripping within the walls can be overlooked. Once water damage has been identified, it is vital that the problem be remedied and the damage repaired to...

The holiday season often means that the accumulation of ice and snow are likely in the coming months. The majority of city maintenance companies rely on road salt to create safe roadways when winter weather occurs. Since you're likely to have many visitors in your home during the holiday season as well, it can be helpful to learn effective ways to keep road salt out of your home. Dangers of Bringing Road Salt Indoors Why is it important to keep road salt outdoors and off of your flooring? There are a couple of reasons why it can be an important step in maintaining your home. For starters, road salt can form hard crystals that stick to the bottom of your shoes. These hard crystals can cause damaging scratches to hardwood and laminate floors when they are brought indoors. It can also cause pitting in stone and masonry surfaces. Secondly, road salt...

The family has gone home. The leftover turkey carcass is safely ensconced in the fridge, waiting for 2:00 a.m. picking to commence. Now, you have the heavily soiled tablecloth with which to contend. How do you clean it? Well, that depends on the material from which it's made. If the tablecloth is vinyl, all you'll need is some spray cleaner, a sponge, and some paper towels. Tablecloths are made from other materials, too, such as cotton, silk, and linen. Each requires a different cleaning method, as follows: Cotton You can clean cotton tablecloths in the washer and dryer. Wash them in a cool-water cycle. Don't use bleach unless absolutely necessary, and make sure it's colorfast (oxygen) bleach if the tablecloth isn't white. Run the dryer on low heat and remember to remove the cotton tablecloth as soon as the cycle finishes. Silk Silk tablecloths have the same properties as other "delicates."...

How often you clean your floor depends on the kind of floor you have. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, you can vacuum every day without harming the carpet. Practically speaking, vacuuming every other day or three times a week is more than enough. Most carpet manufacturers recommend professional, hot water extraction cleaning every 18-24 months. Some manufacturers write that into their warranty. Other floors require more complex care than carpeted floors, however. Hardwood Floors You should use an electrostatic cloth about twice a week to rid hardwood floors from dust. If there is larger debris, you can use a broom and dustpan. Once a week, you should vacuum thoroughly. Then prepare a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar in 1 gallon of water with which you can mop the floor. Make sure to wring the mop out tightly so that it is only slightly damp, you do not want too...

Plumbing leaks, burst pipes, and broken hot water heaters are some of the most common causes of residential and commercial water damage. Fortunately, there is a solution to remedying water damage after a catastrophe. Our professionals can help whether you saw the incident as it was happening or discovered it hours or days afterward. We also offer emergency services. How Water Damage Restoration and Structural Drying Help When your home or business is flooded from plumbing issues or a rising body of water nearby, it is important to remove the water and properly dry the structure. If the structure is not dried properly, mold can grow and spread. Some types of mold can cause illnesses or may be toxic. Wood and some building materials may start to rot if they get wet and are not properly dried. Also, there may be bacteria growing in trapped moisture. Excess moisture can attract pests...

If your house is full of children and pets, carpet stains are inevitable. Fortunately, most stains can be remedied with a quick response and the right cleaning tools. Learning about some of the most common carpet stains can help you prepare for life's little accidents. Helpful hints before you begin: Act quickly, the longer a spill is on your carpet chances are higher the stain will become permanent. If a spot is liquid, always blot with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white (no print) paper towel. Do not scrub the area! If the spill is semi-solid, then gently scrape up with a rounded spoon working from the edges to the center. If the spill is a solid, break it up and remove by vacuuming. Pretest any spot removal solution in an inconspicuous area for fiber damage or color loss. Apply a small amount of selected cleaning solution on a white cloth and gently work in...

Life is all about making good choices. Whether you're choosing the right doctor for your family or the healthiest food when you eat out, your choices help to shape your life now and in the future. We at MasterCare made a choice back in 1992 to enter the cleaning services field and to make a difference in our community. We made an excellent choice and have met many amazing customers over the years because of it. Why Put Your Faith in MasterCare? Being locally owned and operated matters to us. You hear stories about large chains treating their customers poorly and not providing quality services all the time. The reason is simple: They're too big to fail. They put profit before the customer, and we don't think that's right. We have the word "care" in our name for a reason. We really do care about our customers and how they perceive...