Steamatic now offers wood floor cleaning.
We are always looking for new and better ways to clean and maintain the floors that we sell. Our newest tool in the cleaning toolbox is the Dirt Dragon designed for professional hardwood maintenance. This machine gives our Steamatic division a superior cleaning machine complete with proprietary chemistry to clean wood. The process is dustless and can be used for 1) intensive cleaning, 2) cleaning and refinishing or 3) cleaning and recoating.
The intensive cleaning step aggressively scrubs the floor to remove built up dirt and contaminants. This can be performed as a simple routine maintenance procedure.
A dirty floor prior to Dirt Dragon intensive cleaning.The same floor after one cleaning pass.
One word of caution, looking at the extracted cleaning solution comes with a certain “yuck” factor. We were amazed the first time we saw the amount of dirt extracted in one cleaning pass. Of course, some floors are dirtier than others, but it was a definite “WOW!”
Filthy recovery water (it started out a very light blue).
After the cleaning step, you have three options: 1) call it a day, my floor is clean, 2) apply the Hardwood Floor Refinisher to restore a uniform sheen of gloss or satin, or 3) apply the TyKote Dust Free Recoating system for a uniform sheen PLUS a protective coating for more durability.
In our first use of the Tykote system, we found the results to be quite impressive. Not only did the floor look great, there was no sanding involved (with the attendant mess) and the finish dries quickly…3 hours to walk on it with socked feet and 24 hours to replace furniture. We found it to be a great alternative to re-sanding. Call us for more information.
Refinished floor with restored gloss and luster (note the reflection!).
Tykote recoating finish being applied to a Dirt Dragon cleaned floor.
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Doing It Yourself?
We pride ourselves on offering our customers solutions for their flooring needs. And certainly we have the largest selection of flooring materials in the Chattahoochee Valley. Not only can we help you make a selection best suited for you and your lifestyle, but we can install your new floor for a one stop shopping experience. Of course some of our customers are much more handy than yours truly and prefer to simply “do it yourself!” We want you to have it your way…turnkey installed by our experienced craftsmen, your own installer or do it yourself and we’ll provide the materials.
In fact, flooring installation can be fun for the whole family. I just reviewed a wonderful home project and had to share it with our readers. Thanks to the Crawfords for not only being a customer, but for sharing their installation experience with us. By the way, the floors look great guys…super job. And special thanks to Emily for the production!
If you watch the attached video, you’ll see the Crawfords hard at work AND having fun (ask Dad last!). Thanks again guys for sharing!
Crawford DIY Laminate Installation (Made Easy!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXuIs3ZFKu8
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Best Carpet for Pets
Chloe and Cooper...two of our more active children!
I received the following question over the weekend and thought it might provide some answers to all of us with animals that are more than just pets, more like family members. Here are two of our guys who are part of our “active” test team for carpet and upholstery!
Question: Al, I have five dogs and five cats (I’m a sucker for stray animals), and as you can imagine my carpet takes a beating. Which brand and style (pile and cut) of carpet would be best for ware(heavy traffic) and hiding dirt and hair?
Thanks, Michelle
Answer: Michelle, we're dog lovers, too! Right now, we're down to only three dogs and one cat, all members of the family with full range of the house. Our suggestion would be a lower pile friese (think low pile shag), and maybe something in a fleck pattern (using the color combination to help hide dirt between cleanings). Given the pet situation, we would also suggest you consider a Stainmaster carpet pad under your carpet. The Stainmaster pad has an anti-microbial treatment as well as a moisture barrier to help prevent liquids, including urine, from soaking into the pad (which is impossible to clean completely because of its foam characteristics).
On the carpet fiber, you have two primary choices: nylon and PET (polyester). Nylon has traditionally been a longer wearing, more durable fiber but is a little less tolerant of stains. Having said that, today's anti-stain treatments have come a long way. Polyester, on the other hand, is generally a softer fiber and is naturally more stain resistant than nylon. We don't think you should rule out either without looking at the options they both offer.
One final thought in terms of a specific product is that you consider the Bliss Healthy Essence line of carpet from Beaulieu. The Bliss Healthy Essence line features Magic Fresh which is an odor fighting treatment built right into the carpet fiber, a real plus if pet odors are a problem. Bliss Healthy Essence also features Silver Release technology, which like Magic Fresh, is built into the carpet fiber. Silver release is a Beaulieu patented technology which actually kills bacteria making it an anti-microbial product just like the Stainmaster pad. You can see more about Bliss carpets at www.blissflooring.com.
And don't forget professional cleaning. All of our major carpet manufacturer's recommend professional hot water extraction cleaning at least once a year. In your case, as with our dogs, we clean a little more frequently than that. You can find out more about professional cleaning at www.SteamaticOfColumbus.com. 
I hope this helps! Al
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How Do I Take Care of My Laminate Flooring?
An Expert Guide to Laminate Flooring Care and Maintenance…
Care and Maintenance
Laminates are made to last. Warranty protection typically covers wear, fading and staining for 20 years; moisture resistance from normal cleaners and household spills for 20 years or more; permanence of seaming for 20 years or more.
Laminates need minimal care. Just mop using a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Water can damage laminate flooring, so limit water use to damp mopping.
Although laminates are built to be dent- and scratch-resistant, their finish can be marred by abrasive dirt and grit. Vacuum regularly with a wand attachment (but avoid using the beater bar attachment) or use a dust mop. Don’t use a broom; it can scratch.
If a floor does sustain scratches, they can be concealed using special pencils made by the manufacturer. Chipping and other dimensional degradation can be fixed with fillers in stick form.
It’s a good idea to use chair and table leg protectors.
More to consider . . .
Laminates can’t be refinished or recoated, and replacing any damaged sections is a job for a professional installer. Though they may last up to 30 years, laminates don’t last as long as natural materials.
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Vinyl Flooring Care Tips
An Expert Guide to Taking Care of Your Vinyl Floor…
Care and Maintenance
Nothing is easier to keep clean than vinyl. Just wipe up spills, sweep, and mop regularly. Watch the seams, though. Dirt and moisture can collect there, causing problems with the bond of your adhesive and with the subfloor. Following are a few do’s and don’t for the long term care and maintenance of your vinyl floor:
- Before moving heavy objects across your floor, always lay plywood or underlayment sheets down to disperse the weight.
- Before placing chairs or furniture on your new vinyl floor check the condition of all the casters or rollers before setting them on your floor. Replace any worn casters or rollers.
- Protect your vinyl floor by covering the legs of furniture with felt protectors.
- Remove dust, sand and grit particles frequently by sweeping or vacuuming your vinyl floor.
- Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar as it may scratch your floor.
- The attachments that come with your vacuum are useful to clean the edges or to get to hard to reach areas
- When sweeping or vacuuming does not remove the dirt, mop the floor with clean warm water.
- Rinse the floor thoroughly with fresh water. If water alone does not clean the surface, use cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer. If you are unable to determine the manufacturer’s recommendations, use one tablespoon of liquid dish washing detergent to one quart of water. Or use one tablespoon of clear ammonia to one quart of lukewarm water. Make sure you rinse the surface to avoid leaving behind a film.
- Think prevention. Place non-staining, walk-off mats or rugs at every outside entry to your room. This will help keep sand and grit from being tracked on to your floor in the first place. Just be sure to avoid using rubber-backed mats or rugs as they can damage and potentially discolor your floor. Instead use mats or rugs made especially for vinyl floors and remember to treat them accordingly. Shake, shake, shake!
Oops! How to clean up spills.
For spots or spills, wipe them up immediately and use a clean cloth to wipe the cleaner onto the floor.
Make sure the floor’s manufacturer recommends the cleaner and that the product label indicates “self-cleaning,” meaning you will not get an accumulation of wax on your floor.
Rinse the spot or spill area thoroughly and wipe dry with a clean cloth.
Avoid using abrasive scrubbing tools as they will leave scratches.
Never use abrasive cleaners, soaps, paste waxes, or solvents on your vinyl floor.
Use the manufacturer’s recommended floor polish to restore your vinyl floor to its original gloss level.
If you purchased a PVC vinyl floor you should consider placing 2-3 coats of the manufacturer’s recommended floor polish on the floor immediately.
Any vinyl floor with a PVC wearlayer will show scuffs, scratches and other marks very easily. By adding the coats of floor polish you will make the floor easier to maintain.
Last, what to do about serious scenarios.
If you have a seam open, cover it immediately, do not wash that area, and consult your retailer for a vinyl floor covering professional to repair the seam.
If your floor gets a cut or gouge in it, cover the area immediately and call your retailer. A professional installer can repair the area, but if the cut is filled with dirt it may be difficult to repair correctly.
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