cleaning tips Archives | Modernistic ®

Why Does This Carpet Stain Keep Coming Back?

Posted Friday, March 15th, 2019

We all have that one area. That one spot in the carpet that’s always there. You know the one: a little discoloration, a splotch, a patch, just a little bit different from the rest of the floor. Maybe you’ve even tried to clean it, but, like a winter cold, you just can’t seem to shake it. That carpet stain keeps coming back no matter what you do.

What do you do with carpet spots that just won’t go away? After 4+ decades of cleaning experience, our expert Modtechs have identified the 3 main reasons carpet spots keep reappearing.

Spot vs Stain

There’s one thing we need to clarify first – the difference between a stain and a spot. Colloquially, they’re used interchangeably; we often refer to spots as stains and stains as spots in casual conversation, but did you know they have distinct definitions?
In the professional world of carpet cleaning, a spot is the substance of whatever is on your carpet: a food spot, coffee spot, a dirt spot. The material you can see on your carpet makes a spot, and spots are almost always removable.

A stain, however, is generally more permanent. When carpet gets stained, dyes from the substance (the spot) are transferred into the fibers, changing their color. Sometimes this can be reversed to a degree, but dye transference actively changes the coloring of the fibers – meaning the original color has been altered and makes it very unlikely it will be able to get back to its exact shade.

An easy way to remember the difference is to think about what each one adds:

A spot adds substance
A stain adds color

That’s why we don’t like to call something a stain unless we know for sure that the fibers have been dyed!

1: Betrayed by Over-The-Counter Products

The Problem: If you’ve used an over-the-counter spot cleaner, chances are it worked pretty well – at first, anyway. Many carpet cleaning products available on grocery store shelves contain some kind of soap, which, in theory, sounds like it should be a good thing for your carpet spots.
Unfortunately, the residue that soap-based products leave behind actually ends up collecting more dirt over time! Areas cleaned with soap will inevitably attract new dirt and soil at a much faster rate than the surrounding carpet – which makes it look like the spot is coming back! In reality, it’s a new spot created by soap residue. Gross!
Why does cleaning carpet with soap end up attracting more dirt? Not to get too technical, but soap is made up of molecules that are both hydrophobic (attracts oils) and hydrophilic (attracts water). Having these seemingly opposite molecules is why soap mixes so well with both oil and water, making it very easy to draw up soil (and other substances) from your carpet. Unfortunately, its oil-attracting properties means any leftover residue is going to continue to attract oil, dirt, grease, and other particulate – meaning it gets dirtier faster in that area. Not cool, over-the-counter carpet cleaner!

The Solution: Don’t use over-the-counter carpet cleaning products! They almost always cause more problems down the line. Instead, check out our handy stain solution guide for common household spots. All natural beats all chemical any day!

2: Wickback Effect: Spots Deep in Padding

The Problem: Another common reason for reappearing carpet spots is what we call the wickback effect. We see this a lot in spots with a LOT of substance – large liquid spills and large dog pet spots especially. What happens is that the liquid will soak through the fibers, through the jute backing, and into the padding beneath the carpet.
Since carpet padding is so absorbent, the spot that you can see on the surface of the carpet, much like an iceberg, may be several times larger down in the padding. After a cleaning, as the carpet dries, it wicks up the spot liquid from the saturated padding into the dry carpet, drawing up the substance and making the spot reappear on the surface (sometimes even larger than the original spot!).

The Solution: Prevention! Blot up large liquid spills as soon as possible before they have a chance to soak into the padding. 3M Scotchgard is a fantastic way to help your carpet fibers repel liquid and give you more time to clean up after a spill. If the spill already happened and the pad is saturated: Have a professional deal with it! A truck-mounted hot water extraction machine and an expert Modtech have the power and knowledge to deal with deep-down spots!

3: Fido’s Got a Favorite Area

The Problem: One of the most obvious reasons a carpet spot keeps reappearing is also one of the most frustrating: your pet has chosen a particular area in which to “do its business”. Even though you clean up the mess each and every time (and you can’t see it anymore), your pet continues to go back to the same area. Not fun!

The Solution: The problem is smell. The odor remains, leading Fido to go in the same area time and time again. You need to get rid of the smell! Fortunately, we have a variety of pet-specific odor neutralizers that will dissuade pets from using the same area – and leave your home smelling great again.

Modernistic has been permanently removing carpet spots in Michigan since 1973! When it comes to problem spots you just can’t seem to get rid of, trust the carpet cleaning experts! Call or click today.

Simple & Quick Ways To Treat The Most Common Carpet Stains

Posted Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019

Life happens! No matter the preventative measure put in place, stains can happen too. We know you don’t always have the time to schedule a professional cleaning to deal with unexpected spots, so we decided to put together a simple guide to help you deal with the most common carpet stains. With this guide you can manage these stains until you get a chance to schedule a cleaning with a professional carpet cleaner.

Important Note: This is only a guide! There is no guaranteed DIY method to remove all carpet stains, since there are many other variables that determine whether or not it will come out. You should always consult a professional before attempting to treat any stain at home!

Red Wine or Coffee

With a red wine spill or a coffee spill, you will want to address the mess sooner rather than later. The longer it sits the harder it will be to remove the stain! You will want to first blot up the excess liquid. Use either white terry cloth towels or paper towels.

Now this is very important: Blot, don’t rub! The action of blotting picks up excess liquid, so it will not saturate the carpet fibers or pad further. If you rub the area, the liquid will spread and get worked into the fibers, and the stain will be much harder to remove.

Once you have blotted up the excess liquid you will want to get at least 2 fresh clean towels to work with and mix a bowl of cleaning solution. The cleaning solution will be 1 part sugar free club soda and 1 part cold water, mix it well!

Dab the solution onto the stained area to saturate the stained area with the cleaning solution. Then, using the dry towel, you will blot the stained area to lift up the cleaning solution. Repeat this process until you begin to see color on the towels you are blotting with. That means the stain is lifting off or the carpet.

Continue the process of dabbing on the cleaning solution and blotting it up with a clean dry towel until you begin to see the color of the stain fade. It may take some time to see the color transfer, but do not give up! And remember, do not rub or the stain will get worse!

Muddy Footprints

When dealing with muddy footprints on carpet you will have to do something that feels very unnatural….you will have to walk away and leave them alone to fully dry. Trying to clean the stained area before allowing the dirt to dry up and removing it will only exacerbate the problem.

So, it may feel weird, it may be uncomfortable, it may go against all of your instincts to do so, but you will leave the muddy footprints alone until they fully dry.

Once the footprints have dried try to remove as many large clumps of dirt as possible. Just pick them up with your hands and throw them out. Once you have removed all the larger chunks use the vacuum to pick up the rest of the dried dirt.

With all the dry dirt and soil removed you will have a much clearer view of the stains you are dealing with. Grab a good amount of towels, either white terry cloth or paper, and mix your cleaning solution of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part cold water.

Saturate one towel with this solution and dab it onto the footprint stain, then, using a dry towel, try to blot up the cleaning solution you applied. Continue this process of dabbing on the solution and blotting it up until you begin to see the dirt lift from the carpet fibers onto the towel you are blotting with. You may have to repeat this several times per footprint for the dirt to begin to lift. Remember: Do not rub! Only blot!

Blood

With any type of blood spot you will want to treat the stain ASAP to reduce the chance of the stain. Dab up as much material as you can. Then make a mixture of sugar free club soda and cold water.

The water must not be hot or warm, since blood coagulates if it warms and will stick to the fibers even more than before. Cold water is necessary to loosen the material and the stain is much more likely to release if you use cold water.

As with the previous stains, you will dab on the cleaning mixture with one towel, then blot it up with another clean and dry towel. Repeat this process until the blood spot begins to lift from the carpet and onto the towel. Remember to take your time and to blot, not rub!!

Pet Stains

With pet stains odor is usually a factor. The best solution for dealing with pet stains is a 1 parts vinegar to 3 part water solution because the vinegar helps reduce any odors. It also helps release color, which is usually present in pet stains.

Just like with the other stains above, you will first want to remove by hand or blot up as much material as possible. Once as much loose material as possible is removed begin to dab the cleaning solution onto the area to saturate the affected fibers, then use a clean and dry towel to blot up the solution.

Repeat this process until the color begins to transfer from the carpet to the towel. As you repeat the process the strength of the odor should be reducing as well. Continue until the color has lifted.

Now, there are still some spots or stains that will require a professional cleaning to truly remove, but these solutions will help you out in between Modernistic appointments. Maintaining your carpet with regular professional cleanings can really help protect your investment. If you have a household that has a lot of foot traffic, children, or pets you may want to ask your Modtechs about 3M Scotchgard protection.

3m Scotchgard creates a protective layer between your carpet and the world that is trying to stain it! When you have 3M Scotchgard applied, liquids will bead up on the surface of the fibers of your carpet and you’ll have time to blot up a spill before it saturates the carpet. Even if a stain does manage to work its way into the fibers, carpet with 3M Scotchgard protection has a higher likelihood of releasing stains during your next cleaning.

Now there are still some spots or stains that will require a truck-mounted hot water extraction system to truly remove, but these Simple & Quick ways to treat the most common carpet stains will help you out in between Modernistic cleanings!

Modernistic has been cleaning up stains throughout Michigan since 1973, and you can trust we’ll get the job done right! Call or click today for help with your most stubborn carpet spots.

Who Told You To Clean Your Tile Like That?

Posted Wednesday, October 17th, 2018

Have you ever just zoned out in a blank stare down with a couple of dirty tiles while you shower in the morning? Going over every cleaning method you’ve tried in your head that has brought you and your tile to this arrestingly defeated moment.

There are a lot of ways to clean the tile in your home, some good and some not so good. It seems like everyone has a different recommended “best way” to clean your tile, so it won’t be much of a surprise that we do too! Luckily, we’ve been in the business of cleaning tile and grout for over 45 years, and we’re happy to share our expertise with you.

Common Tile Cleaning Mistakes

If you aren’t careful, things could go very wrong when attempting to make your tile glisten again. There are so many different products on the market claiming to be the cure all for all of your tile cleaning needs, making it difficult to pick the correct one. Not to mention that there are a surprising amount of variables involved when deciding what methods and products to use on your tile.

Do you have ceramic tile or natural stone? Is it sealed or unsealed? Are you more concerned with the grout lines? Are you or your family allergic to certain chemicals… on and on and on.

Knowing what you are cleaning and how the method of cleaning will react to your type of tile can be an enormous factor when trying to effectively get your tile looking great again.

Please note that we always recommend consulting a professional about the best way to clean your tile and grout. Better safe than sorry!

Natural Stone

If you are dealing with natural stone or slate, then you will want to make sure to use something very mild. With natural stone tiles, you will want to make sure not to use any harsh chemicals. To be completely honest, you are safest simply using hot water with very light agitation and nothing too abrasive.

Ceramic Tile

My friend, you are in luck! If you are trying to clean your ceramic or porcelain tile, then you have so many more options available to you. That being said, this can also be a problem though. There are a lot of great cleaning products on the market for you to bring back the shine to your tile. You can use anything from soapy water, vinegar, oxygenated bleach (OxiClean), citrus cleaners and more. Now, not all of them will be the best product for you to use in your given situation, but you’ve got options.

Ceramic tiles are going to be some of the more durable cleaning surfaces allowing you to use a wider variety of cleaning options without damaging or losing their shine. One of the safest options we recommend when trying to tackle something on your own would be a simple cleaning using vinegar on your tile with regular scrubbing, but nothing too aggressive. This mild cleaning method will handle most jobs, and regular maintenance of your tile.

Cleaning Products to Use

Now when dealing with more difficult buildup on your tile, you may want to turn to some more potent solutions. Products like bleach, while very effective at disinfecting and removing a lot of grime, can be toxic and noxious to you and your family. When you have some really tough cleaning situations try an oxygenated bleach product instead of a standard bleach. They will be much more friendly and environmentally safe when dissolved with water.

One thing to be cautious of though, is using a cleaner like OxiClean AFTER using vinegar to clean your tile. Hydrogen peroxide is found in many of these oxygenated bleach products, and when combined with vinegar can create a dangerous reaction forming peracetic acid. This is VERY VERY BAD.

Always rinse your tile clean of other products before using one of these strong products.

Play It Safe!

You could try any of these options to clean your tile after figuring out what is best for your situation, or you can make it super easy and just call Modernistic. Our team has been at this longer than the lifespan of some tile floors. We have an array of cleaning products and methods in our arsenal ready to take care of whatever situation you may have. Don’t hesitate to give us a call and schedule an appointment today so you don’t have to deal with it all by yourself!

The tile and grout pros at Modernistic have been helping Michigan homeowners with their tile cleaning needs for over 45 years! Call or click today if you have tile and grout cleaning questions. Make it Simple & Quick!

How To Get Slime Out Of Carpet – The Simple & Quick Way

Posted Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018

I dropped slime on my carpet – and my kid saw the whole thing.

It happened right in the middle of our living room. We were making homemade slime, everybody’s favorite non-Newtonian fluid, and right after I asked my son to avoid making a mess, I knocked the bowl off the table and directly onto the living room floor.

Egg on my face and slime in my carpet!

Naturally, my kid thought this was poetic justice incarnate – and the funniest thing he’s ever seen. As he was laughing, however, I was dialing the phone. I had a very pressing need to find out how to get slime out of carpet, and I knew exactly who could help.

You see, I happen to work for the best carpet cleaning company in Michigan, and I happen to know the foremost authority on carpet spots and stains: Tom!

Tom’s (Not So Secret) Formula

Over the phone, our resident carpet chemistry expert Tom put all 30+ years of his exhaustive cleaning knowledge to use and told me exactly how to get slime out of carpet with some simple household cleaning products:

What You Need:

Plastic putty knife (or old credit card)
Household vacuum cleaner
White vinegar
All-natural citrus cleaner
Hot water
Spray bottle
Clean white towels (or paper towels)

Steps to Remove Slime From Carpet

1. Scrape off as much slime as possible
Using a putty knife (or, in a pinch, an old credit card works great too), scrape up as much of the slime from the carpet. There will most likely be lots of it left in the fibers

2. Vacuum the area
Get your vacuum out and vacuum up as much of the surrounding area as possible.

3. Mix up your white vinegar solution
In a spray bottle, combine 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water.

4. Apply white vinegar solution to slime
Spray your white vinegar solution on the slime and allow it to soak into the carpet fibers.

5. Blot
Using clean white towels or paper towels, blot (don’t rub!) the slime until it’s completely removed from the carpet. Repeat steps 4 and 5 if necessary!

6. Apply citrus cleaner
If there’s a stain left after all the slime is removed, apply your citrus cleaner and allow it to soak into the area.

7. Rinse
Rinse the spot with a small amount of hot water, but don’t saturate the carpet!

8. More blotting
With your clean white/paper towels, blot until the stain is gone and the area is dry. Again, repeat the last two steps if necessary!

9. Call Modernistic!
If following the above steps fail to remove the slime stain, then it’s time to call in the experts who know exactly how to get slime out of carpet with state-of-the-art equipment – you’ve done all you can do by yourself, now let the professionals take care of your carpet problem. We’ve dealt with all kinds of carpet stains, and our 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee means you can be confident you’re getting the best possible carpet cleaning.

I’ll admit, slime is super fun. After we took care of the slimed carpet (I had my son do the blotting), we mixed up a new batch and stretched, poked, squeezed, and prodded to our hearts’ content – in the kitchen this time, over some easy-to-clean tile.

Modernistic has been cleaning up the messes Michigan kids have made for the last 45+ years! Call or click today if you’ve had a slime (or any other type of carpet) catastrophe.

Cracking the Code: Upholstery Cleaning Codes and What They Mean

Posted Friday, September 21st, 2018

Everybody knows their carpet and tile floors need regular cleaning, but sometimes we can forget about where many of us spend so much time when we’re home: our furniture. The couches, chairs, and other upholstered items in our home get used every day, but they’re not as easy to clean as vacuuming the carpet in the living room or sweeping the kitchen tile. While there are handheld vacuums and attachments to get the surface dirt off the furniture, but just like carpet, upholstery needs regular professional cleanings too.

Here’s the thing: different upholstery fabrics need different types of cleaning! Virtually all carpeting can be professionally wet cleaned, but the same rule does not apply for furniture. Some upholstery can only be cleaned with a dry solvent, and other pieces are only recommended to use a vacuum and/or a light brushing. So how can you figure out how to clean upholstery the correct way? Upholstery cleaning codes! Almost all pieces of furniture will have upholstery tags (usually located on the underside) that will tell you specifically what cleaning method the manufacturer recommends. However, they are listed as codes that aren’t always the easiest to read. So, what do the codes mean?

W – Wet Clean

There are three common codes found on furniture made in the U.S. The first is W. This code means your furniture can be cleaned with water-based cleaning solutions, like a professional truck mounted extraction system. This type of cleaning delivers the best results, especially for stains.

S – Solvent Clean

The second of the three common codes is S. This stands for solvent cleaning. Solvent cleaning is a dry-cleaning method and can remove surface dirt but isn’t quite as successful at removing food or drink stains.

X – Vacuum Only!

The last of the three common cleaning codes is X. This means the material or filling of the upholstery is sensitive enough that it is recommended to be vacuumed only. Wet and dry-cleaning methods might damage, discolor, or shrink the furniture.

So, what do you do if your furniture doesn’t have any upholstery cleaning codes? If you know where you purchased the furniture, you can call the manufacturer and ask them directly. If that’s not an option, you can always have a professional upholstery cleaning company come out and determine the safest and most effective way to clean your upholstery.

Modernistic has been checking upholstery cleaning codes and providing the best furniture cleaning service in Michigan for over 45 years! If you have questions about how to best clean your furniture, click or call to learn from the experts!

How To Prevent Wear Patterns In Carpet

Posted Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018

Eventually, even the most expensive and well-maintained piece of carpeting will begin to show wear. This is especially true in the high traffic areas of your home, like the paths you walk on every day. These areas might look like they are just a little bit dirtier (and that might be true) but a visible wear pattern is actual damage to the carpet fibers themselves. What you’re seeing is damaged, worn-down carpet! Dirt is the main culprit here; tiny pieces of dirt are actually quite sharp and get ground into the carpeting with each step we take. So now that we know what they are, how do we prevent wear patterns in carpet?

Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum

The best way to prevent wear patterns in your carpet is to keep it as clean as possible for as long as possible. Since dirt particles are responsible for 99% of traffic pattern damage, vacuuming is a huge step in keeping wear patterns from forming. While it depends on how much activity goes on in your home, there really isn’t such a thing as vacuuming too much.

Pay special attention to the areas that attract the most dirt, such as the transitions from carpet to other surfaces like tile or wood that don’t capture nearly as much dirt. And don’t forget your stairs – the ledge of each step is another area where carpet wear is prevalent because that’s where the pad underneath the carpeting is the thinnest (and also where everyone steps).

No Shoes In The House

Another huge but easy method to prolonging the life of your carpeting is to take your shoes off right when you enter the house. Many homes have an entry mat for you to wipe your feet on when entering, and that can help, but it takes an average of 25 steps to remove all the dirt from the bottom of your shoes. This would require a much longer entry rug than is probably feasible in your home, so taking off your shoes is probably a much easier solution.

The Professional Treatment

Even if you take these important steps, eventually the carpet will begin to show wear. Regular professional carpet cleaning can remove much more dirt than a home vacuum can, further preventing carpet wear. They can also apply 3M Scotchgard carpet protectant. This acts as a barrier for the fibers of the carpeting, making it harder for the dirt itself to damage the fibers.

While all carpeting wears with time, these simple measures will help prevent wear patterns and traffic lanes in your home, letting you enjoy your flooring for as long as possible!

Modernistic has been keeping Michigan homes wear pattern free for over 45 years! Click or call to find out how we can help keep your carpet looking like new.

How To Prevent Dull Hardwood Floors

Posted Wednesday, July 18th, 2018

We are conditioned to secure and protect all sorts of things – from our cell phones to our vehicles, protecting these things is paramount. However, what happens when the screen protector on your phone gets scratched, or if the layer of wax on your car is fading? It would be absurd to just put more wax on top of the old wax, or put a new screen protector on top of your phone’s old scratched one. We replace those layers of protection once they have expired. So why would you want to treat your hardwood floors any different? After all, no one wants to see dull hardwood floors!

It’s no different when it comes to preserving, protecting, and enjoying the hardwood floors in your home or business. More than likely the hardwood floors in your home have a protective coating that was applied to the wood at some point, and, over time, will wear and fade just like anything else that gets a lot of use.

The amazing thing about hardwood flooring is that it can last 25 years or more if maintained properly. This can be a difficult task in Michigan though, where general wear can become apparent very quickly with our harsh winters. Over time, many abrasive particles combined with foot traffic will grind down the finish of your hardwood, leaving it listless and dull.

What to Do

So what should you do? Regular maintenance is key to prevent dull hardwood floors for years to come, but you don’t want to do the wrong thing! The safest and most effective natural way to clean your hardwood floor yourself is so Simple & Quick you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner: Vinegar and water (yes, that is all it takes!). Mix this simple household product with water – 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water – and you’ve got yourself an all-natural cleaning alternative to many of the consumer products on the market. Here are a few other hardwood floor safe DIY options:

Safe Hardwood Cleaning Products:

Any alcohol based cleaners
Mild soap and water mix
Vinegar and water mix *1/4 ratio as noted above

What Not to Do

The one thing you will want to do to save you from headaches in the future is to avoid using acrylic based cleaners! This can be difficult because so many hardwood floor cleaning products on the market have acrylic in them. Acrylic-based cleaning products are typically anything with the words refinish, polish, shine, or sheen in the name. These products will look great immediately after application, but their buildup will actually dull your floors over time. Each extra layer of wax or polish over the surface of the wood reduces the original shine of your beautiful hardwood floors.

Regular use of these products creates layers and layers of acrylic over the surface of your floors, making them appear duller and duller with each application. Here are a few of the most common cleaners listed below that you should try to avoid.

Acrylic Products That Leave Wax Buildup:

Bona Refinisher
Orange Glo
Mop n Glo
Murphy’s Oil Soap
Rejuvenate
Bruce products

A Modernistic Pro Cleaning is the Best Cleaning

Many of the surface scratches homeowners hate to look at are NOT ACTUALLY SCRATCHES IN THE WOOD ITSELF! A large amount of these blemishes to your hardwood floor are often just layers of acrylic that are retaining dirt and scratches over time. You would be amazed at what a state-of-the-art professional hardwood floor cleaning can do to dull hardwood flooring!

The best thing you can do for your floors is to call a specialist like Modernistic. We can test your wood surfaces for built-up acrylic and remove it altogether to reach the hardwood below. Our certified technicians then perform an intense cleaning process that will deep clean down to the wood grain, reaching past the seal applied to the hardwood. Finally, we reseal your newly cleaned and revitalized floors. If you’d like to be proud of your hardwood floors again, then give Modernistic a call!

How To Keep Your Tile From Looking Dingy

Posted Wednesday, July 11th, 2018

Tile can be an attractive and durable flooring option for your home. It doesn’t show wear nearly as fast as carpet or wood and is more robust than laminate. However, with time you might notice that it is looking a little dingy, especially the grout. The tiles themselves are easy to clean with any kind of mop or brush – but the grout is a different story. Because grout is so porous, it is very susceptible to staining and is much harder to clean than non-porous tiles. Luckily, there are some options to help keep your tile from looking dingy.

While there are many chemicals available in stores for cleaning all the surfaces of your home, sticking to natural solutions is often safer. Some products can permanently discolor grout lines or leave a waxy finish on the tiles. That’s why using a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% hot water is a great option to use on your grout – it’s a safe, all-natural cleaning solution!

The first step to keep your tile from looking dingy is to sweep your floor to remove any excess dirt and debris. After that, apply the vinegar solution to the floor and use a brush to scrub it into the cleaning lines. Buying a brush with a long enough handle to use while standing can help save your back from working on your hands and knees. Once the solution is scrubbed into your grout lines, use a mop to get as much of the liquid up as possible.

If you have more serious grout stains and do decide to use a chemical product on your grout, make sure to test it in an inconspicuous spot such as behind an appliance to make sure there aren’t any adverse effects.

If you don’t have the time to spend possibly a few hours scrubbing your floors, a professional cleaning company might be the best answer. The skilled technicians at Modernistic will use environmentally safe cleaning products to scrub your grout lines before using a truck mounted system at 1000 psi to blast away and vacuum up any dirt and debris. Our cleaning method also removes the cleaning solution and water right then and, after the cleaning, the technicians will wipe any excess water away with towels to make sure the floor is clean and ready to use right away. Check out the video below for more info about the process!

You don’t have to put up with tile floors that have lost their shine. Whether you choose to DIY or call in the pros, you have options to help keep your tile from looking dingy and dirty!

Click on the video below to see our simple & quick tile cleaning process!

Modernistic is Michigan’s most trusted tile and grout cleaner! If you want the best professional tile and grout cleaning possible, click or call today!

Simple & Quick Ways to Work Out While Cleaning

Posted Wednesday, June 6th, 2018

We are all busy people, looking for life hacks to get more out of our precious time. It can be hard to spare time for the things we know we need to do, like clean the house and exercise. So, why not kill two birds with one stone? If you are mindful about how you clean, you can keep your heart rate up, burn calories, and work out while cleaning. Make doing chores your fitness routine!

Keep It Moving!

Turn on some up-beat music, set a timer, and challenge yourself to clean faster. Keeping your heart-rate up is the key to getting a good cardiovascular workout. Need a break from cleaning? Make it a dance break! Get a phone call while you are cleaning? Just keep walking around the house or up and down the stairs until the call ends. There’s no time to relax when you’re working out!

Get Down, Get Down, Get Down (On Your Floors)!

Vacuuming, sweeping, or mopping will burn almost 200 calories per hour; Raking leaves can burn even more! While it’s a fantastic workout, make sure to switch arms, since favoring one side can lead to pain. Scrubbing floors on your hands and knees is a great upper body workout. Try to give attention to your form, just like you would at the gym, to avoid injury.

Wax On, Wax Off!

Waxing or washing the car, cleaning windows, or dusting are excellent for working out your arms. To work your legs more, do calf raises while you are washing dishes. While doing laundry you can get in some squats and you can run up and down stairs several times.

Being mindful about how you move, keeping a quick pace, and remembering to have fun will make household chores work for you. Have fun, get fit, and work out while cleaning!

No time to clean or work out? Modernistic is here for your carpet, upholstery, tile, and air ducts. Call or click today to take the Simple & Quick route!

Keep Your Entryway Clean With These Simple & Quick Tips

Posted Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018

The entryway is an important space; it is the first glimpse visitors get into your home and it is your portal into the outside world! Creating a comfortable and practical space for your family is beneficial to everyone – it helps to have an organized space to start your day! Maintaining a clean and organized entryway is not always easy, so here are 5 tips to keep your entryway clean and clear.

Protect Your Floors

If you have hardwood or linoleum in your entry it is a good idea to place a runner or entry mat down to protect your floors from tracked in dirt, mud, rainwater, and salty snow. This will protect the flooring beneath and reduce the amount of cleaning you must do in the area. When it comes time to clean the runner or entry mat be sure to call Modernistic and ask about our area rug cleaning service!

If you have carpeting in your entry we recommend a different alternative. Unfortunately, long term use of a runner or doormat can flatten out your carpet’s fibers, which can lead to permanent damage!

Instead of covering the carpet with something that could risk damaging the fibers, we recommend you protect the area with an application of 3M Scotchgard. It’s the perfect way to keep your entryway clean. After an application of 3M Scotchgard, your carpet fibers have an extra layer of protection against dirt particles and even water! 3M Scotchgard will actually cause liquid to bead up on the surface, giving you extra time to clean up spills.

Organize Your Shoes

If you find that your entry stores most of your family’s shoes, consider buying a plastic boot tray. Many stores sell decorative plastic trays, and some even carry wooden boot trays! This collects all the dirt and debris that fall off shoes and ends up on the floor.

Boot trays are so easy to clean too: just clear off the shoes, shake it off outside, and wipe it down with hot water and soap!

It can also be beneficial to have a “no shoes in the house” rule. You would be surprised how much dirt can come into a home on shoes that, to the naked eye, appear clean!

Utilize Wall Space

If you don’t have a good space for coats, hats, and scarves, then create one! Find hooks that you like and hang them on an open wall. If you have small children, consider 2 rows of hooks, one higher up and one lower for the kiddos to reach. Your kids will love that they have their own spot for their things.

Good Storage Goes a Long Way

Flat surfaces tend to collect clutter, so make sure everything has its place! Put a decorative bowl in the entryway to collect keys, change, hair ties, and other tiny items. If you have open wall space in your entry, a mirror with hooks can brighten up the area – and gives you a chance to check your appearance before you walk out the door!

Use shoe cubbies or baskets to keep shoes out of the way and organized. Storage benches provide a good place to sit and put your shoes on, and can even provide quite a bit of storage. These can be useful for storing winter hats and scarves in the summertime!

Keep Cleaning Supplies Within Reach

It can be hard to maintain a clean entryway with kids and pets and friends going in and out of the area all day. In order to keep your entryway clean, it has to be convenient to clean! Keep a spray solution and a roll of paper towels tucked away nearby. After your family returns home each day, a quick wipe down of surfaces and handles will really do wonders in maintaining the area. And it’s always nice to have the paper towels nearby to combat any muddy paw or footprints!

What works for one home may not work for yours, but basic organization can go a long way towards reducing mess! Look for storage solutions that work best for your needs. Setting a standard for no shoes in the house is one of the best things you can do to maintain cleanliness. Regular carpet cleaning and area rug cleaning combined with your “no shoes” rule will go a long way to keep your entryway clean and clear! All these things combined will leave you feeling awesome about your entryway, whether you are coming home or heading out the door!

Modernistic has been keeping Michigan’s entryways clean for over 45 years! If your carpet could use a professional touch, contact the Local Quality Friendly experts today!