Recent Cleaning Posts

New Year Cleaning and Decluttering For a Fresh Start

2/17/2022 (Permalink)

the words "Start Fresh" in orange in front of a gray background, SERVPRO logo, cleaning supplies in foreground Regularly scheduled home-maintenance and cleaning can curb hazardous, pricey problems in the future like fires and mold growth.

Regularly scheduled home-maintenance and cleaning can curb hazardous, pricey problems in the future like fires and mold growth. Since we are entering the new year, decluttering is a great way to improve the usability of your space—so you can freely undertake your big plans for the year.

More than a tidy environment

One of the easiest ways to declutter your mind is to declutter your home. If untidy environments are stressing you out, we suggest starting small. Pick up the general items around your most used spaces. Wash the dishes, fold the laundry, and make the beds. After the basics are cleaned, tackle the details. 

Deep clean the kitchen:

  • Check for expiration and toss old food and condiments
  • Wipe out refrigerator drawers, cabinets, the microwave, and oven
  • Get rid of cupboard items you don’t use
  • Empty the junk drawer

Main area cleaning:

  • Dust ceiling fan blades
  • Wash baseboards and walls—especially if you have children!
  • Vacuum underneath furniture

Bedrooms/Closets:

  • Wash curtains and linens
  • Rotate and flip mattress
  • Turn all hangers backwards, then when you wear an item, replace the hanger normally—this indicates which items you wear. Toss or donate backwards hanging items after 1 year.

Bathrooms:

  • Scrub the bathtub walls and don’t forget the shower head
  • Use a drain snake tool or drain liquid to break up stuck hair and scum in sinks and shower

Holiday Purge:

  • For every gift received, get rid of one item
  • Sell or donate décor you didn’t use this season

More technical:

  • Replace air filters every 3 months
  • Check and replace smoke alarm batteries

If you need more in-depth mold, fire, or water damage cleaning, SERVPRO of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch is Here To Help®. We understand not every clean up is quick, easy, or preventable. To inquire about our services, call us today at (941) 747-2333.

The Dangers of Hoarding & How to Clean Up | SERVPRO® of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch

1/10/2019 (Permalink)

Hoarding

Have you heard someone mention “hoarding” but aren’t sure what it is? Well, it’s a mental illness that can eventually lead to dangerous conditions in a household, including an increased risk of fires and mold growth.

So, what is hoarding? Hoarding is classified as an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder that causes people to resist discarding objects and seek to acquire possessions (and sometimes animals, too) in large quantities that can take over a home.

Those affected by the condition cling to those items because they believe in their value, but most often the items have little to no value.

As these possessions are allowed to pile up in the home, they present fire hazards and can hide pests or mold growth.

But if you discover someone you love has been hoarding, what are you supposed to do? Your best step—call in a team of professionals to make the space usable again.

Beginning the Cleanup Process

When you encounter a space filled up with useless or trivial items, your first inclination might be to toss the items out and clean up. But in reality, cleaning up after hoarding requires special preparation.

A professional team will provide a comprehensive clean-up that mitigates any safety hazards that may be hiding.

Removal of Dangerous Substances

Because hoarding leads to piles of clutter and other objects, it can conceal dangerous hazards, including toxic mold and other pathogens, along with rodents and insects.

To ensure you are safely cleaning the space and not putting yourself at risk, partner with a team of professionals educated in safe removal principles and outfitted in the appropriate safety gear.

Disposal of Items

This is the literal clean-up phase—and it involves clearing the space of everything that’s piled up, including items like newspapers and even trash.

Because these items can become hazardous over time, professionals will ensure safe removal.

Complete Cleaning

After the space has been cleared out of hoarded objects and contaminated household items like furniture and carpets, a deep-clean is the next step. During this process, professionals will take steps to remove all debris and residue, as well as mitigate any odors or stains.

In need of a team to help restore a space where hoarding has been an issue? Contact our team at SERVPRO® of East Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch, and we’ll make it like it never even happened.