How To and What Is It?

If you want to clean your drive way, you could use a toothbrush but it would take you forever. So instead you use the biggest brush with the most bristles you can. If you want to clean a countertop, what do you use? The brush for your driveway won't work. So like most, you opt for a cleaning cloth, but just like the drive way you can use a cloth that has more "bristles." An ordinary cleaning cloth has fibers made of cotton or a synthetic material. You've seen pieces of cotton so you know exactly how big the fibers are. But a microfiber cloth has far more fibers and they're much smaller Microfibers are able to attach themselves to even the smallest, most microscopic dirt particles—ones that normal cloth fibers (positively giant in comparison) crudely brush past. Forces called van der Waals named after their discoverer, (Van der Waals forces explain why geckos can stick themselves to ceilings using zillions of tiny hairs on their toes.) Although there is only a microscopic amount of van der Waals force between one microfiber and any given dirt particle, remember that there are millions of microfibers in a cloth, so the overall effect increases dramatically. Just like a cloth used on your counter top with  over 200,000 fibers per square inch of fabric, there are special microfiber cloths with even more fibers for glass and mirrors, and flat microfiber mops made for wood, tile and laminate floors. Some even have scrubbing strips to loosen dirt and grime from grout lines. There are special tools to dust even the most delicate surfaces. The net effect is that microfibers take less chemical and less moisture (especially important on wood and laminate) to effectively clean saving you time,and money. All microfiber isn't created equal and quality varies considerably. Microfiber is rated in GSM (grams per square meter) Low quality microfiber can be as low as 160 GSM. Fluffyness doesn't mater think of foam on top of your soda. A-1 Vacuum carefully selects every microfiber product  we carry, making sure our products have the highest GSM for the task it is intended. Even our economy cloths have a 350 GSM with an 80/20 split blend.  Blend ratios are expressed in terms of percentage of polyester / polyamide. For example, most microfiber towels are blended 80/20, 75/25 or 70/30 and as the polyamide (the second number in the ratio) increases so does the towels soft, plushness. This also allows towels to be made with different enhanced characteristics such as softness, toughness, absorption, breathability and durability. More than you wanted to know?

Come see our product selection and be sure to come see us to learn how to use this innovative product.

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Cleaning and maintaining your laminate floors is easy! BUT keep in mind they are made of paper (even the new "moisture resistant" floors) Paper and Water don't mix. Microfiber is the perfect material to use to keep your floors clean and looking Great. With its millions of tiny fibers clinging to dirt and grime floors get clean with very low moisture and minimal Chemicals. You need only a few things to do a great job:

1. Microfiber mopping tool

2. Fringed microfiber head

3. Cleaner head (one per every 300 square feet is average)

4. Neutral Cleaner

5. Spray Bottle

STEP 1

Fill a spray bottle with Neutral Floor Cleaner (or a cleaner specially formulated for laminate/woods).  A Neutral Floor Cleaner is available as a ready to use product, bulk product to refill a spray bottle or as a concentrate. (The concentrate is by far the most economical) No other product will work as well, especially vinegar or the homemade recipes that litter the internet. A formulated neutral cleaner will not only cut your cleaning time down it will also clean and leave no residue behind. (That grey that starts to build up on your floor is not dirt, it's left behind cleaner that becomes a dirt magnet.)

Step 2

Attach your fringed head to your micro-mopping tool. Now EVER so lightly, with your spray bottle set to its finest setting, apply a light mist on the fringed head. Then simply "dust the entire floor, The fringed part of the mop will catch all the "dust bunnies." Some fools choose to vacuum their floors, but the dusting tool is more efficient AND faster. Usually this is all that is necessary on daily or even several times weekly basis.

Step 3

Remove your fringed head and apply a dampened (water only) and well wrung out cleaner head (if you are cleaning a large area, you may want to have several prepared ahead of time or even have them ready to go in a charging bucket. Set your spray bottle to a medium light spray and mist about a 10 x 10 area. Mop the floor continuing in 10 X 10 areas. When the microfiber pad gets too dirty simply – rinse, replace and continue or replace with a fresh head. When you’re finished rinse the microfiber pad and put it in the washing machine on sanitary wash don't use fabric softener or bleach and air dry. If there are some smudges etc, you can set your sprayer to "stream" and hit the area with an extra blast of cleaner.

Handy Tips:

Click to view a special offer for complete kit to care for your Laminate floors

If you you need further information or have a "what is it" or "How to" question just click on the  contact us button to the right and we will get right back to you!

Cleaning and maintaining your wood floors is easy! BUT keep in mind wood doesn't like water. Wood and Water don't mix. Even a pre-finished sealed wood floor has as many as 15 surfaces that aren't sealed. If its exposed water will find it ruining your floor over time. Microfiber is the perfect material to use to keep your floors clean and looking Great. With its millions of tiny fibers clinging to dirt and grime floors get clean with very low moisture and minimal Chemicals. You need only a few things to do a great job:

1. Microfiber mopping tool

2. Fringed microfiber head

3. Cleaner head (one per every 300 square feet is average)

4. Neutral Cleaner

5. Spray Bottle                      

STEP 1

Fill a spray bottle with Neutral Floor Cleaner (or a cleaner specially formulated for laminate/woods).  A Neutral Floor Cleaner is available as a ready to use product, bulk product to refill a spray bottle or as a concentrate. (The concentrate is by far the most economical) No other product will work as well, especially vinegar or the homemade recipes that litter the internet. A formulated neutral cleaner will not only cut your cleaning time down it will also clean and leave no residue behind. (That grey that starts to build up on your floor is not dirt, it's left behind cleaner that becomes a dirt magnet.)

Step 2

Attach your fringed head to your micro-mopping tool. Now EVER so lightly, with your spray bottle set to its finest setting, apply a light mist on the fringed head. Then simply "dust the entire floor, The fringed part of the mop will catch all the "dust bunnies." Some fools choose to vacuum their floors, but the dusting tool is more efficient AND faster. Usually this is all that is necessary on daily or even several times weekly basis.

Step 3

Remove your fringed head and apply a dampened (water only) and well wrung out cleaner head (if you are cleaning a large area, you may want to have several prepared ahead of time or even have them ready to go in a charging bucket. Set your spray bottle to a medium light spray and mist about a 10 x 10 area. Mop the floor continuing in 10 X 10 areas. When the microfiber pad gets too dirty simply – rinse, replace and continue or replace with a fresh head. When you’re finished rinse the microfiber pad and put it in the washing machine on sanitary wash don't use fabric softener or bleach and air dry. If there are some smudges etc, you can set your sprayer to "stream" and hit the area with an extra blast of cleaner.

Handy Tips:

Click to view a special offer for complete kit to care for your Wood floors

If you you need further information or have a "what is it" or "How to" question just click on the  contact us button to the right and we will get right back to you!.

Shopping for vacuum cleaner is not a simple task despite  commercials you see on TV.  There is no "one" best vacuum.  Vacuum cleaners come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, functionalities and prices. A vacuum cleaner is one of the most important appliance for keeping our home clean, comfortable, and pleasant to live in. Each of our homes and our habits are different. Because our needs are so different, knowing what you need and why can prevent you from investing in a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t achieve that goal and may end up costing you more in the long run. These are the most common types of vacuum cleaners (there are many more).

Upright (clean Air)

Clean air upright vacuums are the most common vacuum cleaner sold today. They are distinguished by the on board tools and hose. While the tools perform well, the lack of airflow limits their effectiveness on carpet. Many claim to do hard floors as well. It is important that if they are to be used on hard floors that the brush roll be able to be turned off otherwise they can damage the surface. Other features to look for are rubberized wheels to prevent scratching and set height adjustments (self adjusting don't work on many of today's carpets.) Clean Air uprights are great for homes with pets and folks with allergies as they have multiple filter levels and in some cases Hepa filtration. There is a large range of prices for these units.

Upright (direct air)

Direct air uprights are good for only one purpose and that is to clean carpet. Because of the design of motor, these units have high airflow (which means good cleaning) but when that airflow is restricted to a hose the performance is poor even with the best of units. With the exception of some Door to Door models these are generally "light weight" vacuums. They are especially great in multilevel homes where the vacuum needs transported between levels. When paired with a portable canister for detail/above floor cleaning you have the best cleaning combination available.

Cannister

Canister vacuum cleaners are a happy medium between the upright model and the stick model. They are powerful like the upright cleaners, but feature a slender frame, like the stick cleaners. In this case, a separate canister is attached to a long wand which can be used to maintain not only carpeted areas but also bare flooring as well. Better models have a powered carpet brush.This style of vacuum cleaner tends to be one of the most expensive options, given its technologically-forward and multi-functional design. In order for these machines to work well, they require a large motor, (amperage doesn't count) which adds expense and weight. There are also portable versions available for just hard floors and detail/above floor cleaning.

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Stick

While perhaps the least powerful of the vacuum models, stick vacuums have a knack for getting into narrow places and doing a tremendous job on hardwood floors, area rugs and light carpeting. This type of vacuum features a long stick-like handle and a slender construction. The slimness of this model makes it a perfect addition to any closet space, as it tucks neatly into most corners after its purpose has been served. recently the most innovation has been in rechargeable models which offer an array of attachments for both hard floors and carpets as well as above floor cleaning.

Shopping for vacuum cleaner is not a simple task despite  commercials you see on TV.  There is no "one" best vacuum.  Vacuum cleaners come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, functionalities and prices. A vacuum cleaner is one of the most important appliance for keeping our home clean, comfortable, and pleasant to live in. Each of our homes and our habits are different. Because our needs are so different, knowing what you need and why can prevent you from investing in a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t achieve that goal and may end up costing you more in the long run. These are the most common types of vacuum cleaners (there are many more).Click to edit text. What do visitors to your website need to know about you and your business? (Part 2)

Handheld

Hand-held vacuums are perfect for getting those painfully hard-to-reach areas that desperately need a cleaning. The most common example for use is in vacuuming cars or stairs, since, as the name suggests, this model can be held in only one hand. Its versatility makes it a dream for suctioning up dirt and debris in a variety of tight places, but it would not serve well for general flooring cleaning, which would take a long time to clean with a handheld. They come in both air driven and power brush styles. The air driven are generally not effective

Bagged or Bagless

When vacuums were initially made in the late 1800's they were all bagless. The first improvement in technology was the addition of a cloth bag in 1904 by the Regina Organ company, Not much changed until the 1930's when Airway Sanitizer invited the disposable paper bag. Now we have come full circle and the latest technology is the cyclone action used back in the late 1800's Not all bagless technology is equal. MOST depend on a filter where the dirt goes around the bag instead of in it. These units are high maintenance and high in total cost of ownership (but are inexpensive to buy.) Bagged units Depending on your lifestyle and cleaning needs either could be an appropriate choice for you

Autonomous / Robot

Robot Vacuums have gained a lot of popularity in recent years, mainly due to the fact that they require little effort on your end. These vacuums are able to roam freely around your home, sucking up any small mess in its way. They not only save you time, but they are also able to reach places that larger vacuums wouldn’t be able to, such as under the couch. One main drawback of robot vacuums is that they typically come at a steep price and provide poor performance

Click to add an engaging title. High quality images go a long way in looking professional online.

Back Pack Vacuums

Similar to canister vacuums, once used only commercially and now growing popularity for home use are back pack vacuums. Backpack vacuums can be easily converted in cleaning different types of areas such as floors, carpets, upholstery, countertops, blinds, corners and more. Typically, the machines include or can be upgraded with a variety of attachment tools that only require a quick twist for quick transition from one type of area to the next, such as from carpet to floors. These attachment tools make the cleaning process of multiple types of areas streamlined. Additionally, backpack vacuums reduce bending motions commonly associated with traditional upright vacuums, thus reducing fatigue and stress on the user. Furthermore, by using a backpack vacuum, effort and energy consumption is reduced because users can clean up to twice as much area in comparison to upright vacuums.

If you you need further information or have a "what is it" or "How to" question just click on the  contact us button to the right and we will get right back to you.

"The difference between a spot and a stain is how long it remains." Keeping  your carpet looking Clean and Stain free is easy as long as you stay on top of it and don't delay. Today's carpets are a complex combination of fibers. Grandma's solutions (now spread across the internet) don't always work. Anytime you mess with the pH of your carpet you risk turning a spot into a permanent stain. Saving a few dollars on a homemade solution can cost you hundreds  or even thousands in permanent damage. Professionals don't make their own cleaning solutions and neither should the home owner. You only need a few things to to treat you  carpets like a pro:

General Carpet Stain Removing

• Spray stained area thoroughly with general carpet stain remover, wait 60 seconds.

• Agitate with your brush. Use the tamping end (or even the edge of a spoon to remove excess stain material.

• Blot the area with a clean,white cloth. NEVER RUB OR SCRUB with a cloth - this canset the spot forever. I often just stand on the towel stack. Repeat until stain is removed.

• Blot any excess moisture with dry towels after spot is removed. Just press down with your foot.

Reappearing Stains

• Repeat above steps but this time extend the area you treat making the circle about 10 -12 inches larger

• With your second spray bottle filled with plain water, apply a "rinse" and blotwith dry towels

• Place a clean, white cloth or paper towel over the treated area, followed by something flat and heavy like a stack of books. After a few hours, the towel absorbs and excess stain residue and moisture that wicks to the top.

Pet Stain and Odor Removal

There is one rule that can NEVER be broken when dealing with pet stains. Never try and clean them with any kind of disinfectant (ie:"Lysol") It will not only run the risk of making the spot permanent because of the change in carpet pH, it will make the smell much worse. You have taken a small urine stain and made it bigger.

For Fresh or Known Stains

If you you need further information or have a "what is it" or "How to" question just click on the  contact us button to the right and we will get right back to you!