What Is Air Duct Sanitizing, And Why Do I Need It?

Posted Friday, March 29th, 2019

what is air duct sanitizingWhat is air duct sanitizing? While you may know the health and cost benefits of air duct cleaning (like allergy relief and lower energy bills), we’ve found that many people don’t know the benefits of air duct sanitizing. So, what does air duct sanitizing do?

What is it?

Air duct sanitizing is an additional service the certified air duct technicians at Modernistic can provide while cleaning your home. After cleaning the ductwork, while your HVAC system is still hooked up to the air duct truck and under negative air pressure, they apply the sanitizer. The technicians use a fogger to apply the sanitizer and due to the negative air pressure, it coats the entire interior of the duct system. The product has no lingering scent and is safe enough that it is used in hospitals.

How is it different than air duct cleaning?

What’s the difference between a standard air duct cleaning and sanitizing the ducts? A standard air duct cleaning removes any debris from your ductwork such as dirt or drywall dust. The sanitizing adds the disinfecting and deodorization of the ductwork of your home while killing any mold or mildew hiding inside. In addition, it prohibits bacterial, viral, and fungal growth for approximately six months after being applied.

Why should I have my air ducts sanitized?

There are lots of situations where you and family might benefit. If you are moving into a new home, sanitization can make sure that any unknowns from the previous homeowner are taken care of. It can also help during the winter months by minimizing the germs your HVAC system is spreading through your indoor air. Sanitization further assists with removing any triggers for you or your loved ones who suffer from allergies or asthma. Killing any mold or mildew will also help those with weakened immune systems such as a new baby or someone just coming home from the hospital.

How often should you sanitize?

While there is no strict guideline for how often you should sanitize your ductwork if you do suffer from asthma or allergies you might want it done every few years. If you had a flood in your home and moisture got into the duct system it’s a good idea to sanitize. Everyone is different and it depends on each individual’s household needs.

The bottom line.

A healthy home needs air duct sanitizing! All the germs, bacteria, mold, and mildew that you can’t see in your vents is certainly bad for your home’s indoor air (and for you!), which is why we recommend sanitization for every HVAC system we clean. While you may not be able to see what’s hiding in your ducts, it’s well worth getting them sanitized!

Modernistic has been keeping Michigan’s air ducts clean and healthy since 1973! Click or call today to find out more about air duct sanitizing.


Why Does This Carpet Stain Keep Coming Back?

Posted Friday, March 15th, 2019

carpet spot keeps reappearing stain won't go away spot comes backWe 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 Make Your Carpet Last As Long As Possible

Posted Wednesday, February 20th, 2019

make carpet last as long as possibleYou just got your carpets cleaned. They look great now but with kids, pets, and life in general you’re concerned they won’t stay that way. After all, flooring is one of your home’s biggest investments. It’s only natural to ask yourself what you can do between professional cleanings to make sure your carpet lasts as long as possible. Luckily, there are a few Simple & Quick steps you can take to make sure you get the most out of your investment!

There are some very easy things you can do to help prolong the life of your carpeting. The first thing is 3M Scotchgard! This is a protectant that can be applied by the professional cleaners right after they clean, and it’s something we recommend for all our customers who want their carpet to last. 3M Scotchgard will help repel liquids (which gives you longer to get it out before the spill sets into the fibers) and also help repel dry soil (which will help prevent wear damage). Many carpet manufacturers actually require protectant after cleanings in order to keep the warranty up to date!

While it’s impossible to keep all the dirt off your carpet there are things you can do every day. Having everyone take their shoes off when they enter your home is a huge step to reduce the influx dirt and wear of your carpet fibers. Have a plastic mat for everyone to set their shoes in. If that isn’t an option, an entry rug right by the entryway will help make sure you and your family aren’t tracking in soil from the outside world.

Another important way to keep your carpet looking fresh is frequent vacuuming. Carpet can hold much more than its own weight in dirt that isn’t visible to the naked eye, and vacuuming is a great way to remove it. There’s no such thing as vacuuming too often! The more you do it the cleaner your carpeting will be – and the longer it will last.

There are also things that can be done every few years to prolong the life of your carpeting. One of them is to get your air ducts cleaned. Your ducts push air all throughout your home, and if they aren’t clean, they are pushing all the dust, soil, debris, and allergens they collect into your home’s indoor air – and eventually, down into your carpeting. Over time, this can create filtration lines – visible lines of worn in dirt along the edges of your walls or under doorways. These lines show where the soil in your home’s air settles into your carpeting. Getting your air ducts cleaned will not only help keep the dirt and dust out of your carpet, it will keep the dirt and dust out of your entire home!

Another way to get the most out of your carpet between cleanings is to rearrange the furniture in high traffic rooms like your living room. No matter how clean your home is eventually your carpet fibers will begin to wear from use. Moving where the chairs and sofas sit will change where the wear is most prevalent.

It’s is a significant home investment, and we all want to make sure our carpet lasts as long as possible. With these easy steps, you can keep your carpet looking great in between professional Modcleans!

Modernistic has been extending the life of Michigan carpets since 1973. Call or click today to see how we can help you protect your flooring investment!


The Best Way To Protect Carpet From Stains

Posted Tuesday, November 20th, 2018

best way to protect carpet from stains and spillsI’m going to make a bold, controversial statement:

At Modernistic, we like clean carpet.

That’s right, I said it. Go ahead and take a moment to absorb that declaration… Good. Now that it’s had some time to sink in, let me explain.

We don’t clean carpet because of the fabulous riches that come with being a cleaning company. We clean carpet (and upholstery, and air ducts, and tile) because it’s the best way we know how to bring delight to our customers. Having a clean home makes people happy, and keeping a clean home helps keep people happy for longer. You know what doesn’t make people happy? Spots and stains. Especially spots and stains that appear on carpet and upholstery that previously didn’t have spots and stains!

Since we’ve been in the business of keeping our customers happy since 1973, we’ve learned that the best way to protect carpet from stains is applying 3M Scotchgard protection after every professional cleaning.

What Does 3M Scotchgard Do?

3M Scotchgard protection creates a barrier on your carpet and upholstery, helping prevent liquid and soil from absorbing into the fibers. It’s an odorless, invisible application that makes spills and dirt bead up at the surface of your fabric, making it simple and quick to clean up messes.

What Does 3M Scotchgard Smell Like?

Absolutely nothing! Scotchgard is designed to be odorless, so nothing gets in the way of that “freshly-cleaned” smell.

Ok, Then What Does It Feel Like?

Again, absolutely nothing. 3M Scotchgard won’t affect the texture of your carpet or upholstery in any way (save being slightly damp when first applied). Once it dries along with your freshly-cleaned carpet, you won’t even know it’s there – until you spill something on it!

So How Do I Know It’s Working?

3M Scotchgard will make liquid bead up on the surface of the fibers, giving you more time to clean up after a spill. Also, vacuuming will remove much more dirt and soil than before, making your regular cleaning chore much easier!

How Long Does It Last?

How long 3M Scotchgard will last on your carpet or upholstery depends on a few factors – like foot traffic, usage, and cleaning schedule – but a good rule of thumb is that you should get it cleaned and reapplied every 6 months for optimal protection.

The best thing about 3M Scotchgard is what it does for the longevity of your carpet. When you compare the cost of applying protectant vs the cost of replacing your carpeting sooner than you have to.. Well, let’s just say you’re saving PLENTY of money going with Scotchgard! So the next time you get your carpets or upholstery professionally cleaned, make sure you ask about the best way to protect carpet from stains – 3M Scotchgard!

Modernistic has been protecting Michigan carpets since 1973. If you’d like to learn more about how you can protect your home, click or call today!


How To Get Pet Hair Out Of Carpet And Upholstery

Posted Thursday, November 15th, 2018

At Modernistic, we love our pets! And we know that many of our customers love their pets too! But it can be frustrating trying to keep up with all of the pet fur that get caught in upholstery and carpet. If your pets are anything like ours, you may feel like you need Modernistic to clean your carpet weekly to keep up with all the shedding! Fortunately, there are a few Simple and Quick ways to get pet hair out of carpet and upholstery that you can do at home.  

With tightly woven fabrics and short fur, a light spray of water and fabric softener and loosed up pet fur. A cloth or paper towel can lift much of it right up. A slightly dampened sponge can also be used to lightly pick up fur. May people like to use lint rollers, just like they use on their clothes. We know many pet owners already keep lint rollers on hand, which makes them the perfect tool to keep up with the fur. Alternatively, you can wrap duct tape or packing tape around your hand and use it to lightly lift any fur just like a lint roller.

If the fur is still stubbornly sticking to the upholstery fabric, a rubber glove might help. Dampen a rubber glove with water and simply run your hand over the surface. Repeat until the hair is removed. For carpeting, some people will use a rubber soled shoe in place of the glove method. But the rubber should only be needed for extra stubborn fur. The best way to get fur out of carpet is to keep up with it by vacuuming regularly, and going over those furry areas in alternating directions. Remember to regularly vacuum your upholstery as well!

Gadgets! There are rubber gadgets that work on the same principle as the rubber glove method that work great at getting fur out of upholstery and carpets. Some are small, handheld or glove shaped, and others are large brooms. There are also pet hair removal gadgets that look like paddles covered in fabric. These tools use static electricity to their advantage, and come with a self cleaning base. They work a lot like a lint roller, without the waste caused by disposable adhesive sheets.

Cleaning up pet hair can seem like a lot of work, but the secret is keeping up with it regularly with these Simple & Quick ways to get pet hair out of carpet and upholstery. A little bit of cleanup here and there every day will help get rid of all the unsightly shedding!

Modernistic has been cleaning up after pets since 1973. If you need a hand cleaning up after your furry friend, then trust the cleaning experts and give us a click or call!


The Different Levels of Carpet Deodorization

Posted Wednesday, October 31st, 2018

different levels of carpet deodorization smelly odorPet accidents, food spills, dirty feet, you name it; there are a multitude of bad odors that can leave your carpet smelling less than pleasant. Regular vacuuming sometimes isn’t enough to keep the odors at bay, and there comes a time in every carpet’s life that requires some odor intervention! Luckily, there are many different levels of carpet deodorization available to handle all your smelly carpet needs.

Level 1: On The Surface

The most basic deodorizing option is topical. This is when a carpet cleaning technician applies a spray on deodorizer post-cleaning. These commercial products, in addition to smelling nice, actually break down odor-causing molecules. This works great for odors that weren’t caused by a large amount of liquid.

Level 2: Deep Down

The next level of deodorization is submersion. This is ideal for carpeting when you know the issue is coming from a specific spot (ex: a pet continues to use the restroom in same area). The technician will essentially flood the area with the deodorizer and then extract it back out. This allows the cleaning technician to pull the odor out from the padding underneath the carpet. In tandem with this is the injection method of deodorizer for upholstery. The technician will inject deodorizer right into the affected area of the furniture and then pull it back out with their cleaning tool.

Level 3: Source Removal

If the odor issues in your home have gone into the pad but aren’t contained to just one or a few areas, it might be the time to consider pad replacement. A flooring technician can pull the carpeting back, replace the pad underneath with brand new padding, and then lay the carpeting back down. Finally give the carpet a professional cleaning and the room can be good as new!

When you are replacing the pad, upon removal inspect the floor underneath. If the moisture was prevalent enough it could have damaged the flooring itself. This can cause further odor issues and weaken the flooring. If this is the case this would be the best time to replace the flooring.

Level 4: It’s In The Air

The treatments listed above work great for odors that are on your carpet or upholstery but what about if the smell is coming from the entire room? Removing the smell of smoke from a fire or decades of smoking is an example where cleaning the carpeting might not be enough. There are two more treatments that Modernistic offers to help in these more serious circumstances, the first of which is fogging. This is a machine that would be set up in the affected area that continuously spreads the deodorizer throughout the room, making sure every surface in the room is reached. This type of odor intervention is almost always overkill for odors found only in the carpeting.

Level 5: Let’s Get Molecular

If even this isn’t enough it might be time to literally change the molecules in the air. Setting up an ozone machine is the most drastic odor intervention available, and is by far the most dangerous. An ozone machine removes the odor from the air by electrifying the oxygen molecules to add another carbon molecule. Due to this process no one can be in the area for the 24-48 hours that the machine needs to run. Ozone is usually reserved for the worst and hardest-to-remove odors, like smoke and cigarette smells.

The Professional Touch

Discovering how severe the odor in your home is key to deciding what step of deodorization is needed, and the cleaning professionals at Modernistic would be glad to evaluate the issues for you. No matter what kind (or severity) of odor you have, you have options on how to get rid of unwanted carpet smells. Rather than replacing an entire room of carpet just because of a pesky carpet odor, trust Modernistic and the different levels of carpet deodorization we offer. We know you’ll love the outcome!


How To Get The Most Out Of Your Carpet Cleaning

Posted Wednesday, September 26th, 2018

get the most out of your carpet cleaningYou’ve just gotten off the phone or website after scheduling a professional carpet cleaning company to come out and clean your home. Maybe they’re coming out to work on a few specific stains you’re worried about. Maybe they’re coming to clean your entire home as part of your spring cleaning plan. Either way here are a few tips to get the most out of your carpet cleaning.

Prior to the cleaning crew arriving, there are a few things you can do for your home. Carpet cleaning companies should move any furniture like tables and chairs to clean underneath so moving any breakable items, such as lamps or picture frames, to other rooms can help the technicians safely move your furniture around.

If you have any pets in your home that shed a lot, vacuuming prior to the carpet tech’s arrival can help remove the surface layer, allowing the cleaners to get the hair that is more deeply woven into the fibers. The same applies if they’re coming to clean your upholstery that your pet sits on.

If you are concerned about any particular areas, make sure to let the technicians know when they arrive to your home. What was spilled, when it happened, and what you did to try to get the stain up are all important factors in what methods and products they use to clean those areas. Any information you have will help them choose the right way to get your carpet looking new again.

Getting on a semi-annual or annual maintenance schedule is a great way to really maximize the life of your carpeting. Regular cleanings can remove the buildup of dirt that gathers before it causes wear and damage to the carpet fibers themselves. Have the technicians apply 3M Scotchgard protectant after the cleaning. It acts as a barrier for your carpeting, making it harder for stains and dirt to permanently set in.

Modernistic has been helping our customers get the most out of our services for over 45 years! Click or Call to see how we can help your home stay its cleanest!


Get Your HVAC System Ready For Winter With 5 Simple & Quick Tips

Posted Wednesday, September 12th, 2018

Simple & Quick ways to make your HVAC system more efficient this winter

Winter is coming! Our warm summer temperatures are dropping, and we can confidently say that fall is on the way here in Michigan. Ok, confidently might be a strong word; we all know what Michigan weather is like!

Nevertheless, it’s time to start thinking about our furnaces! We’ll be turning them on in short order (if you haven’t already), and it pays to have your HVAC system running as efficiently as possible. Here are 5 Simple & Quick ways to get your HVAC system ready for winter:

1: Have your HVAC system inspected

Before making any changes to your heating and cooling system, have a professional give your home a thorough HVAC inspection. That way, you can find out exactly what your system needs to perform its best. Personalized attention from a professional is always the best way to go, but chances are your home could benefit from the rest of these tips!

2: Change the air filter

One of the best things you can do for your ventilation system is changing the air filter every 3 months! Capturing and removing all the dust, allergens, and other tiny particles is a great way to keep that unwanted junk out of your ductwork and out of your home’s air. Depending on various factors, like whether or not you have pets or if you are susceptible to allergies, you may want to change your air filter even more frequently.  

3: Check the insulation in your attic

A great way to make sure the warm air circulating in your home actually stays in your home is to make sure your attic has proper insulation. If you haven’t checked it recently, head up there and see what’s going on.
An easy way to tell if you need more insulation is if you can see the ceiling joists. Proper coverage will obscure the joists, making sure you don’t lose any more heat than you have to this winter!

4: Install a programmable thermostat

If you don’t have one already, go out and buy a programmable thermostat! Also, learn how to use it! There are many times throughout the day where your furnace doesn’t need to put out as much heat, and a programmable thermostat will help give your system a “rest” and keep it heating your home efficiently.  

5: Clean the air ducts

Dirty or blocked air ducts will significantly drain your furnace efficiency! In order to heat your home effectively, warm air has to travel through many lengths of ductwork. If that ductwork is filled with soil, debris, dander, dust, and other conductive material, then guess what you’re paying extra for your furnace to heat up?
Clogged ductwork will eat up your warm air before it even reaches the rooms you want it to, which is why it’s imperative to make sure your ductwork is clean prior to turning on your furnace for the winter. A thorough air duct cleaning from a professional with a truck-mounted vacuum system will increase your furnace efficiency by as much as 20-25%!

These are some easy ways to get your HVAC system ready for winter that you can do in a weekend. Just a little bit of preparation now will help you save money on your heating bills and help your furnace run more efficiently; it’s Simple & Quick!

Modernistic has been helping Michigan homes get their HVAC systems ready for the last 45 winters and counting! Call or click if you need the most thorough air duct cleaning in Michigan to help your furnace this winter.   


You Can’t See Dirty Air, But You Can Clean It

Posted Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

Does your home have dirty air?

When it’s time to clean your home, you KNOW it’s time to clean your home. It’s easy to see when the floors have tracked in too much filth, or when your countertops are looking rough. However you won’t always see how dirty the air in your home might be. Unless your home is filled with car exhaust or smoke, in which case… get out of there! That’s some seriously dirty air!

Whether or not you can see the dirty air of your home, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking every step you can to keep it clean. With the amount of time we spend indoors, it is extra important we make sure the air we breathe in our homes is as clean as can be. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that we spend around 90% of our time indoors! That is a lot of time to be breathing in air potentially carrying any number of biological pollutants.

What Is The Danger?

Many of these contaminants are sourced from things you encounter on a daily basis without thinking about it all that much. Your air quality can be affected by just about anything under your own roof: your pets, excessive moisture, candles (or anything that burns), even certain types of wood and insulation. Many of these seemingly harmless things can affect the air quality in your home, and in turn affect the air that you breathe into your lungs.

Allergic reactions are one of the leading side effects of poor indoor air quality. Dander from your pets is often the driving force behind many allergy issues in the home. As clean as we think we are when it comes to our animals, their dander will enter the air ducts to circulate throughout your home. This can cause minor discomfort with the sniffles, or it can cause even more serious issues by intensifying asthma attacks along with irritations to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. These things thankfully can easily be avoided.

So What Can I Do?

Question:

“Can I duct tape scouring pads soaked in household cleaners to my 4 year old, and let them loose to play inside the air ducts?”

Answer:

“No, probably not*.”

Getting your air ducts professionally cleaned by Modernistic and keeping an air purifier in the home are two great options for dealing with dirty air! Most of the serious biological pollutants that can cause bacteria and allergy issues can easily be prevented with a thorough air duct cleaning from the Modernistic Air Duct Team. Our crews come to the home prepared, with the most advanced equipment in the industry. We take the dirt with us, leaving your home clean and clear. So please don’t try to do anything crazy to get your HVAC system clean on your own, and make an appointment with the experts. Hope to see you soon!

*Definitely not


How To Prevent Dull Hardwood Floors

Posted Wednesday, July 18th, 2018

how to prevent dull hardwood floors

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!