Tackling those hard-to-clean surfaces
written by: Muskoka TradeSource
We all know how important it is to clean our living areas. We vacuum,
dust, mop, scour, scrub and polish virtually everything in our homes
to make them less hazardous to our health, better in appearance,
and odor-free.
Spring is the best time to freshen up your living space, especially
if you have a cottage that has been locked up for the past 6 months.
The next time you decide to do a big clean in your home, look up –
literally. Is your ceiling as clean as the rest of your house?
Ceilings are very often neglected in the normal cleaning process,
and for good reason – it can be a very daunting and tricky
task, especially with acoustic tile or stipple/popcorn finishes.
But if dust and grime can bond to just about every surface in your
home or workplace, then why should the ceiling be any different?
“Over the years, nicotine, cooking greases, and everyday
oils and fats can really build up on your ceiling or other surfaces
that are hard to clean,” says Dartel Irwin of Sistine Ceilings.
“Dust and dirt bonds to these oils and makes the surface look
really dirty and can be home to many forms of bacteria and odor.”
Ceilings aren’t the only surfaces that are generally avoided
when it comes to cleaning. Any hard-to-clean surface such as textured
wallpaper, or that exposed brick or stone of your fireplace can
be just as dirty.
Because these surfaces can harbor dirt and allergens, cleaning
them may not seem like such an unimportant task. As an alternative
to replacing or painting over these surfaces, you might consider
calling in an expert on cleaning just such areas.
“It’s a great alternative to the process and cost
of replacing or painting,” says Irwin, who does admit that
sometimes, if the surface is extremely dirty, cleaning may not be
the right option.
However, Irwin’s before-and-after shots are quite impressive,
and has restored many acoustic tiles, for example, to their former
whiteness.
“At Sistine, we use an enzyme-based solution produced
by International Ceiling and Wall Cleaning Inc. It’s made of
emulsifiers, surfactants, optic brighteners and other non-toxic cleaners
and is biodegradable so there are no health concerns with the product.”
The process is quite simple: “we spray the product on the
surface and it breaks down the dirt and grime into small particles
that are removed by the building’s own ventilation system.
Then we wipe off any excess product, and it’s done!”
notes Irwin.
A cleaner ceiling could have more benefits than you may think.
It means an elimination of dust, dirt, grease, smoke and mites that
can all have harmful effects on people with allergies.
It also means an increase of light in the room by up to 60% since
the surface is reflecting more light rather than absorbing it. And,
it can also restore the building’s fire rating.
Sistine Ceilings, which is the country’s industry leader,
services both residential and commercial establishments. Businesses
such as Tim Horton’s, Home Depot, McDonald’s and the
University of Calgary have already discovered the benefits of Sistine
Ceilings and their product.
“We work around your schedule, so there’s no interruption
to your business or your time at home. It’s a quick process
that really works, and our product is guaranteed as 100% health
safe,” notes Irwin.
So have a glance at your ceiling and see if it could use a good
cleaning.
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