Regardless of its type or size, a fire in your home can potentially result in filthy smoke stains and grimy soot residues on every surface and item in your house.

While you might be more concerned about actual fire damage, the acidic nature of smoke and soot can make it extremely difficult to remove from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces.

Homeowners in the North Huntingdon, PA, area often ask how to get rid of smoke stains since a smoke-damaged home is a hotbed for potentially hazardous odors and other materials. Keep reading to get a few ideas of how you can tackle the issue in a safe and effective manner.

The first step in mitigating and removing smoke stains is to take proper precautions for yourself. Open doors and windows and use fans to exhaust air out of the house and circulate clean air in to help ensure smoke particles won’t spread to other rooms.

Additionally, you need to wear gloves, long clothes, and eye protection, and you should lay down floor coverings in the affected area to help prevent the spread of soot.

After you put on proper protection and take steps to secure the area you’re working in, you might then be trying to figure out how to get rid of smoke stains on walls or ceilings.

Your first step should be removing any loose particles of soot with a vacuum, preferably one that’s equipped with a furniture or upholstery attachment. Be careful to vacuum lightly in order to prevent any soot from embedding in fabric and leading to larger issues down the road.

Next, utilize liquid cleaners or a dry-cleaning sponge to wipe away smoke stains. Just be sure to not use any chemicals before a dry-cleaning sponge so smoke and soot doesn’t spread. When using liquid cleaners to eliminate smoke stains, you will want to take care and wipe down every surface in the affected room, even if it doesn’t appear to have any smoke stains.

Once all the smoke stains have been properly treated, use a clean rag and fans to completely dry out the area and eliminate any remaining smoke odor. Working with professional crews to steam-clean carpets goes a long way towards eliminating smoky smells.

Don’t try and mask smoke smells with fragrances or air fresheners – they’re just a short-term fix for an issue that needs permanent solutions.

Homeowners across the North Huntingdon, PA, area usually wonder how to get rid of smoke stains in the aftermath of a fire. Fortunately, ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey understands how to work in homes to completely eliminate smoke stains, soot residues, and any residual odors after a fire.

We’re available 24/7 at (724) 834-8889 and always ready to quickly respond to help you get your life back on track.

Every homeowner or property manager shudders a bit when hearing the word mold. Mold can quickly cause extensive damage to walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture; potentially impact health; and result in a lot of stress and worry.

Fortunately, you’re not powerless against mold. Here are a few mold prevention tips to keep in mind to stay safe and healthy in the Pittsburgh, PA, area.

Mold Prevention Tips

• Keep Ahead of Moisture: Keeping areas dry is the best way to prevent the growth and spread of mold. If there’s a flood or spill, do all you can to dry out the area as quickly as possible. Invest in specialized vacuums or a sump pump to tackle basement seepage or the after-effects of a leaking pipe. Be sure to open windows to circulate air and keep floors dry to cut down on moisture.
• Invest in Mold-Resistant Products: If you’re building a new house or trying to fix up an old one, consider investing in specific products that are mold resistant, like sheetrock or drywall. Mold-resistant drywall will come in handy inside the bathroom, basement, or laundry room. These types of building materials are also often easier to replace and remove, if needed, and are rapidly becoming cheaper than more traditional options.
• Ensure Water Flows Away from Your Home: Water can flow inside your house if the outside is not sloped enough to direct water away. Inspect your property and identify areas where water could pool after a storm and then seep inside to cultivate mold growth. A simple project to help flow water away is to make sure your rain gutters are free from damage and clogging so they can do their job properly.
• Cut Down on Your Clutter: Clutter inside your home can lead to issues with your HVAC system and inhibit air from circulating enough to keep everything dry. Be sure there’s no furniture or drapes blocking grilles, which could cause moisture and condensation to develop and then create an environment where mold growth could speed up without you noticing.

Practicing some of these tips are the best way to reduce the risks of mold and keep your home healthy.

However, disaster does strike, and a burst pipe or other natural disaster can quickly flood a room or basement despite your best efforts at mold prevention in the Pittsburgh, PA, area.

That’s where we at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey come in. Our experienced technicians are pros at quickly removing water and completely drying and sanitizing the entire area so mold has no place to grow. We’re ready to help 24/7; just give us a call at (724) 834-8889.

Flood emergencies can strike at any time. Basements can be flooded after a sump pump stops, a bad storm occurs, a washing machine hose breaks, a water heater leaks, or even a storm sewer backs up into the room.

Trying to navigate through flooded basement cleanup in the Greensburg, PA, area can be tricky. Larger flood damage, especially if there’s mold involved, should be handled by a professional restoration team such as ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey.

Some homeowners are able to help mitigate and reverse flood damage in a basement if there’s not a large amount of water. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to make your flooded basement cleanup go smoothly.

• Start with Water Removal: The most important part of the cleanup process is to make sure standing water is removed so dirt, grime, and other debris can be cleaned. Wet vacuums and sump pumps can be rented or purchased to get rid of standing water. It’s important to carefully rinse any objects or walls that have mud or dirt on them as they will be much harder to clean once hardened. Help dry out your basement by opening doors and/or windows to let the air circulate or bring in fans to dry out the area faster.
• Tackle the Restoration Process: Water damage can destroy wooden walls and flooring very quickly. At this point in time, and especially during the water removal process, be sure to wear high-quality gloves, boots, and goggles as you’re working in the basement. These types of products can be purchased at a hardware store. If your basement has carpet, remove it to get a sense about the damage underneath that might have gone unnoticed otherwise. Be sure to carefully note any damage and repairs you make to help your insurance company with the claim process.
• Waterproof and Protect: Investing in a sump pump and drainage system will help avoid future flooding. Battery-powered pumps are especially useful since they still work even if the power is cut. Those homeowners living in a flood-prone area should look into purchasing and installing engineered flood vents that prevent water pressure buildup.

We know that flooded basement cleanup in the Greensburg, PA, can quickly turn into a large job, even if the flooding was small. Instead of adding stress and worry to your life, let our team here at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey help you.

Our professional restoration crews are on-call 24/7 and have extensive experience with removing water from a flooded basement and helping you restore the area to normal. We’re here to answer the phone at (724) 834-8889.

Wood floors are a unique accent to any building. They look stylish, modern, sleek, and are very easy to clean and maintain in comparison to carpet. But don’t make the mistake that all wood floors are equal.

Different types of hardwood floors in Pittsburgh, PA, need to be cleaned in different ways since floors can be covered with various types of finishes. Here’s a few things to keep in mind when it comes to effectively cleaning various types of hardwood floors.

The most important element in cleaning wooden floors is simple. Except for polyurethane-treated floors, never use water.

Water can quickly damage a floor’s finish and even lead to large stains. You should also shy away from cleaning products, oils, waxes, or sprays that aren’t recommended by the floor’s manufacturer. These can make floors slippery and leave behind a hard-to-remove residue.

The best strategy for cleaning hardwood floors is a simple broom and dustpan. These tools easily remove dust and grime without leaving any scratches behind.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive clean, opt for two microfiber mops to dry and damp mop floors. These types of mops are more effective than cotton or sponges and are able to be cleaned quickly. The cleaner your mops are, the cleaner your floors will be.

Some choose to use a vacuum on a hardwood floor. Just be sure to purchase one that has soft bristles and a beater bar that retracts in order to prevent your floors from becoming scratched. When cleaning corners, utilize the brush attachments to remove dirt and dust.

Staying ahead of cleaning is the best way to keep your wooden floors looking good. Try to sweep on a regular basis to remove grit and grime, and mop each week to eliminate dust. On a quarterly basis, use a wet (never a damp) mop to lightly clean the wood by following the grain. Make sure the area is completely dry before you walk on it again.

It can be tough to clean different types of hardwood floors in Pittsburgh, PA. Our experienced team at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey can help.

We understand the special care wooden floors require and will create a customized cleaning plan to ensure your floors can look like new. Give us a call today at (724) 834-8889 so we can start serving you.

 A clean and tidy school environment helps students stay focused and learn. Also, as image/appearance is everything with a school, an atmosphere where attention to detail and organization is prioritized will rub off on students as they work.

Many schools try to scale down on their cleaning services in order to save money. This can be a risky move because only a professional cleaning crew has enough expertise and knowledge to clean a wide variety of surfaces in a school and meticulously work to keep away germs.

If you’re considering school cleaning services in the Greensburg, PA, area, here’s a brief list of why turning to professionals, like ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey, is the right move.

• Helps Save Money: A professional school cleaning crew is able to purchase cleaning supplies at cost—helping you save money as opposed to buying products on your own. Additionally, our cleaning teams at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey are fully vetted and highly experienced. Schools that try to search and hire their own cleaning staff run the risk of bringing on employees who might not have the best qualifications, which may mean the schools end up allocating more money for a larger cleaning crew.

• Promotes School Safety and Eco-Consciousness: Professional school cleaning crews are experts at eliminating germs and bacteria that can make students sick. Students who are not feeling well perform worse on tests, do not easily retain learned information, and run the risk of falling behind in class if they have to stay home from school.
  Additionally, reputable cleaning teams utilize products that are eco-friendly and are free of potentially hazardous chemicals that can cause noxious odors and make it difficult for all those in the school to concentrate. Some of these professional-grade green cleaning products and chemicals might be very difficult for school administrators to purchase on their own.
  

• Helps Teachers Teach Better: A clean school helps teachers just as much as students. Teachers see school as a workplace, and if their job environment is dirty and disorganized, it’s going to cause distractions for them. Teachers who are able to do their job and interact with students in a clean environment are more effective and productive.
• Boosts Equipment Life Cycles: Cleaning services can also address areas in a school like drains and air ducts. This attention to detail can help prolong the performance of electronics and other important products that are able to work better once they are clean—saving the school money on having to replace such items.

At ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey, we’re all about helping the next generation learn and stay safe in a clean school environment.

Our experienced janitorial school cleaning teams are ready to work with schools in the Greensburg, PA, area to come up with a customized custodial plan to take care of all your cleaning needs. To learn more, feel free to give us a call at (724) 834-8889.

There’s nothing life a soft, comfortable couch. Snuggling on the couch after a long day or lounging during the weekend for a quick nap is a great way to enjoy this useful piece of furniture.

However, couches can quickly become dirty and disheveled if they’re not properly taken care of and cleaned.

Many people in the Uniontown, PA area often wonder how to clean a couch in order to save money on upholstery services and to simply extend the life of their furniture. Here’s a few tricks to keep in mind before you call in the professional cleaners on your couch:

• Be Sure to Read the Label: Wondering where to start when trying to determine how to clean a couch? Read the label. It might seem simple, but doing so will go a long way towards making sure you use the right cleaning items on the fabric. Not reading the label can make your efforts ineffective, or worse, cause permanent damage to your favorite piece of furniture.
• Use the Vacuum to Remove Dirt: You should first remove as much dirt, dust, dandruff, pet hair, and crumbs from your couch with a vacuum. Doing so will make it easier to clean and greatly improve the appearance of the furniture. Be sure to remove the cushions, vacuum the seat, and flip the couch over to vacuum the bottom side.
• Tackle Stains: Stains on a couch can be addressed with cleaning solutions, or even baking soda if the fabric is strong enough. Some people choose to rent or purchase a steam cleaner to ensure the fabric and cushions get an extra deep cleaning. Others simply throw cushions into the washing machine if they’re able to do so.

Taking the time to keep your couch clean and free of dirt, dust, and simple stains will go a long way towards making sure it lasts as long as possible. It will also make professional cleaning easier, allowing the cleaning crew to focus on deep cleaning and addressing the upholstery.

At ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey, we understand the importance of properly cleaning a couch with high-grade materials so the furniture can be used for a long time.

When our cleaning crews arrive, they determine a customized cleaning plan that addresses dirt, stains, and issues with the upholstery. Eco-friendly and non-toxic cleaning products are used to ensure your couch receives a deep clean so it looks, feels, and smells as good as new!

Still have questions about how to clean a couch in the Uniontown, PA area? Contact our professional, knowledgeable staff today at (724) 834-8889. We’re ready to help!

Mold can be found in every type of house, no matter how clean you think the building is. Many people assume mold just pops up in dirty conditions—but mold spores are a natural part of the air inside any room.

Mold spores only become an issue if they are allowed to grow and spread. Mold that piles up can quickly lead to respiratory and other health issues.

One of the most effective ways to get rid of mold in the McKeesport, PA, area is through comprehensive water damage restoration by the staff at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey. Our team members understand how to tackle all types of mold and safely remove it from your property.

Before you give us a call, here’s a quick primer on some common types of mold and the issues each can cause.

• Aspergillus: This type of mold is usually found indoors and can often grow on food. Aspergillus is one of the most common types of mold and can lead to allergic reactions and respiratory infections. It usually reproduces quickest in wet climates with warmer temperatures.

• Cladosporium: This mold usually grows inside homes that are located in warmer climates. Cladosporium usually appears on fabrics, carpets, and wooden surfaces. While the mold can cause some respiratory problems, it’s been known to contribute to skin and toenail infections. Cladosporium spores also trigger allergies.

• Stachybotrys chartarum: Known as black mold, this is one of the most feared types of mold due to the creation of toxic compounds that can cause major health issues. These compounds—called mycotoxins—can lead to breathing issues, sinus infections, and even fatigue and depression. Stachybotrys hartarum usually smells musty and grows best in damp locations, like air conditioning ducts or close to pipes that leak.

• Penicillium: Penicillium usually appears blue or green and is known to quickly spread from one part of a home or building to another. The mold usually appears in areas that have been damaged by water, which is why professional restoration services after water damage is vital to prevent the growth of Penicillium. Exposure to this mold often leads to lung inflammation and allergic reactions.

Think you might have one of these common types of mold in your home or building in McKeesport, PA? We at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration By Stiffey have your back, and your mold.

Our team of experienced mold technicians quickly gets to work to complete dry out moldy areas and completely clean the location so mold is not able to return. Give us a call today at (724) 834-8889 so we can start serving you.

Flames that rage through a home or commercial property can cause untold amounts of damage and lead to a lot of stress. Fire can quickly damage ceilings, walls, furniture, floors, and other items inside a building.

Even after the flames have been extinguished, residual smoke and soot can be difficult to clean away, causing permanent damage to treasured items.

Don’t take the fire damage mitigation process lightly after a disaster. Inexperienced mitigation teams might not understand how to remove soot and smoke completely or have the ability to provide the reconstruction services needed to make a building safe to live or work in again.

Professional cleaning crews, like those at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey in North Huntingdon, PA, understand how to perform complete and thorough building restoration after fire damage.

Proper fire damage mitigation procedures our teams utilize includes:

• Content Pack-Out and Cleaning: After a fire, items need to be removed from a building and assessed. Our teams are careful to package and remove furniture and valuables and transport them to a safe location so our restoration specialists can work to clean and repair items to the best of their ability. Items that have not been damaged are also packed out and stored so they do not become damaged.
• Odor Removal and Deodorization: Smoke that lingers inside a home can permeate furniture, leading to an odor that will not be removed by conventional cleaning products. Our team uses professional-grade equipment and cleaning supplies to thoroughly remove smoke and soot from all walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture. We are careful to only bring furniture back into a building that is completely free of odor.
• Board Up and Restoration: Damaged buildings need to be boarded up to protect the property against vandals and weather. Our crew comes equipped with tarps and plywood to safely secure windows, doorways, and other openings. A proper board up also makes it easier for restoration teams to work inside of a building and repair structures, since walls and ceilings are safe from additional damage.

Don’t leave fire damage mitigation in North Huntingdon, PA, to the amateurs. The restoration specialists at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey come well-equipped to every call.

All restoration and damage mitigation are custom-tailored to the specific home or office building. We’re on call 24/7/365 and ready to give you peace of mind amid disaster. Reach out to us today by calling (724) 834-8889.

Cleaning high-traffic floors can be a chore. And trying to scrub out dirt and grime by hand or with store-bought equipment can be tiring and tedious.

Professional residential floor cleaning in the Uniontown, PA, area remains the best option for homeowners interested in comprehensive cleaning that gives dirty floors a new shine.

Commercial floor cleaning has come a long way from simple cloth mops. Today, the ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey team tackles hard surface floor cleaning with automatic scrubbers and other powerful equipment that ensures a deep clean.

Here’s a few reasons why residential floor cleaning is best handled by cleaning experts equipped with powerful scrubbers and other technology.

• Swift Drying Times: Mopping or scrubbing floors by hand can leave pools or streaks of water behind. Excess liquid can then take a long time to dry and pose a falling hazard. Professional floor scrubbers use water in an economical manner that drastically reduces drying times while still ensuring a quality clean.
  

• Customized Results: Professional floor scrubbers and other cleaning equipment often come with a variety of settings that can be adapted based on the type of flooring. Some floors are more delicate than others, and certain chemicals or excess water can lead to damage that can be hard to mitigate. Professional cleaners understand how to use technology to craft custom cleaning plans that get the job done while preserving the integrity and luster of a floor.
  

• Efficient Work: Commercial floor scrubbers and equipment that can be pushed by a technician lead to greater cleaning productivity, as opposed to manual cleaning. Workers who are able to clean without become fatigued can cover more ground during a cleaning session and get a job done faster—potentially saving you money. The faster your floors get clean, the sooner you will be able to enjoy your home once again and marvel at the beautiful flooring.

Floor cleaning can be a tricky business. There’s a lot of false promises out on the market, but not from us at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey.

Our crew of residential floor cleaning specialists ensures each and every job in the Uniontown, PA, area is done correctly, with no exceptions.

Our team is ready to tackle any project, from a quick home project to a comprehensive spring cleaning across an entire residence. We come prepared with the right equipment to remove any dirt, stain, dust, or grime from your floors until they shine like new once again.

Ready to make your floors look like new? Give us a call today at (724) 834-8889!

Image is everything in the business world. Visitors or potential clients who step into an office are not going to be impressed if the building is dirty, worn down, or a bit disheveled.

Office spaces and meeting rooms that are tastefully organized and clean make a good impression and will cause people to remember your company.

Figuring out how to clean to achieve the best appearance doesn’t have to be a mystery. The ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey team offers a commercial deep clean service in the Pittsburgh, PA, area that focuses on tidying up so you can concentrate on the bottom line.

The type of deep cleaning is going to depend on the office. Professional crews come ready to craft a customized plan for each building they work in to ensure the best results. In general, a commercial deep clean incorporates the following elements:

• Kitchen and Restroom Cleanup: Kitchens and restrooms can quickly become dirty due to their extensive use. Dirty kitchens can spread bacteria and pests. A dirty bathroom is very unsanitary and leaves a negative impression on visitors. Deep cleaning in these two areas focuses on sanitization to keep bugs and bacteria away.

• Trash Pickup and Removal: Trash left around an office or in waste disposal areas can be a hotbed for bugs and rodents. Deep cleaning emphasizes the sanitary removal of all trash inside of a building to improve appearance and create a clean working environment.

• Carpet and Floor Cleaning: Floors that receive a lot of foot traffic quickly become scuffed and dirty. Worn-down flooring looks visually unappealing and can lead to costly repairs and replacements. Floor cleaning by professional crews proves to be far more fruitful than do-it-yourself (DIY) methods because cleaning teams come prepared with professional equipment, products, and knowledge on how to effectively clean different types of surfaces.

• Upholstery Cleaning and Dusting: Upholstery that looks dirty can give an office an unsanitary appearance and can also be home to pests. Deep cleaning services clean and sanitize upholstery so office furniture looks its best for employees and visitors. Dusting windows, shelves, and tables also goes a long way towards making a commercial property feel clean, refreshed, and welcoming.

Don’t struggle with a deep clean yourself. Let the professional team at ServiceMaster Complete Restoration by Stiffey take care of your commercial property through our commercial deep clean service in the Pittsburgh, PA, area.

We’re ready to work with you to come up with a cleaning plan that addresses what you need. We only use professional-grade equipment and eco-friendly products to ensure the cleaning process is effective and safe.

Contact us today at (724) 834-8889 to get started. We’re on-call 24/7 and ready to help!