Some people might be a little put off the idea of having their carpets or upholstery professionally cleaned, as they don’t want to use harsh chemicals or anything that might cause harm to the environment.
Well, that’s not something you need to worry about if you choose to have your cleaning carried out
by the team at 1st Choice Chemdry.
We’ve found that we’re getting more and more custom form people who are concerned about damaging the environment, and who prefer to keep their carpets in top condition by having them regularly cleaned, rather than dumping them after a few years and buying new carpets, which obviously costs more money and leaves more carpets and upholstery in landfill rather than being used.
We also use natural ingredients in our cleaning solutions, and as little water as possible, which is better for the environment than soaking your carpets with excessive amounts of water or using harsh chemicals. The effervescent, carbonating cleaning solutions we use are actually so effective that we only need a small amount of moisture - a fifth to a tenth of the amount used by most steam cleaners.
We shy away from using soaps, detergents, and harsh chemicals because we’ve found that we get fantastic results just using our special crystal clear carbonating bubbles.
If you’re a company that’s concerned about your green credentials, it might be worth asking yourself if you could do more to prove that you’re committed to reducing your company’s carbon footprint – and environmentally-friendly, efficient carpet cleaning could be one step you could take in the right direction?
All Chem-Dry franchises can supply:
• Health and safety policy statement
• Risk assessment and method statement
• COSHH sheets for all products
Chem-Dry franchisees hold the ISO 9001:2000 accreditation and must carry at least £5 million
pounds worth of public liability insurance.
Why not give us a call on 0141 848 9634 and see if we can make a real difference to your home, office or business
premises?
Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Can 1stChoice Chemdry Give you a Helping Hand this Christmas?
Christmas preparations can really take it out of you, can’t they?
As if it wasn’t hard enough trying to organise gifts for everyone, a Christmas dinner, enough party food to feed the five thousand and the dreaded Christmas card list, there’s wrapping, kids school Nativity plays, office parties...and before you know it you’re looking at a trail of glitter and mince pie crumbs all through the living room, with the extended family about to descend on you for a week.
Wouldn’t it be great just to have someone in to take something off your hands? Well, there’s always 1st Choice Chemdry.
We might not be much good at wrapping presents and our mince pies aren’t quite Mr Kipling, but
when it comes to sprucing your place up ready for Christmas, we know exactly what you need to do.
Don’t worry about the trail of mud that the dog left in the hallway, the red wine stain on the sofa
from when the neighbours popped over for festive drinks, or the fact that the curtains haven’t been
cleaned in longer than you can remember and you’re too ashamed to let your mother in law see
them. We can see to all of those last minute jobs for you, leaving you the time to get on with the
really important things, like finding the perfect party dress for the office do, or baking the booziest
Christmas cake known to mankind.
We can give your carpets a fantastic clean, getting rid of all traces of winter grime ready for any
guests you might have coming to stay. We’ll make sure that all your upholstery looks spick and span,
so the grubby marks on the sofa will be a thing of the past, and that spot on the rug that you can’t
quite get rid of will disappear. What’s more, if you’re pressed for time, we can come in and do the
job – and within hours everything will be perfectly dry and ready to use again; no lengthy drying out
processes that mean you can’t use the lounge for a couple of days after it’s been cleaned.
Give yourself a little gift this Christmas; let someone else tale some of the hassle off of your hands!
As if it wasn’t hard enough trying to organise gifts for everyone, a Christmas dinner, enough party food to feed the five thousand and the dreaded Christmas card list, there’s wrapping, kids school Nativity plays, office parties...and before you know it you’re looking at a trail of glitter and mince pie crumbs all through the living room, with the extended family about to descend on you for a week.
Wouldn’t it be great just to have someone in to take something off your hands? Well, there’s always 1st Choice Chemdry.
We might not be much good at wrapping presents and our mince pies aren’t quite Mr Kipling, but
when it comes to sprucing your place up ready for Christmas, we know exactly what you need to do.
Don’t worry about the trail of mud that the dog left in the hallway, the red wine stain on the sofa
from when the neighbours popped over for festive drinks, or the fact that the curtains haven’t been
cleaned in longer than you can remember and you’re too ashamed to let your mother in law see
them. We can see to all of those last minute jobs for you, leaving you the time to get on with the
really important things, like finding the perfect party dress for the office do, or baking the booziest
Christmas cake known to mankind.
We can give your carpets a fantastic clean, getting rid of all traces of winter grime ready for any
guests you might have coming to stay. We’ll make sure that all your upholstery looks spick and span,
so the grubby marks on the sofa will be a thing of the past, and that spot on the rug that you can’t
quite get rid of will disappear. What’s more, if you’re pressed for time, we can come in and do the
job – and within hours everything will be perfectly dry and ready to use again; no lengthy drying out
processes that mean you can’t use the lounge for a couple of days after it’s been cleaned.
Give yourself a little gift this Christmas; let someone else tale some of the hassle off of your hands!
Monday, 24 November 2014
Clean up for Christmas!
We’re getting perilously close to the festive season, and while we’re thinking about planning the dinner, buying the presents and organising the office party, there’s something that some people forget until the last minute; the pre-Christmas clean-up.
If you have family coming over for the Christmas period, you’ll want to get the house looking top notch for when they arrive. Especially if it’s your in-laws, and they have a tendency to go round the house like a contestant on Four in a Bed looking for dusty things and stains on the carpet!
It’s a good idea to clear out the clutter pre-Christmas too, especially if you have kids. There’s only so much room for toys, gifts and even clothes and so when well-meaning relatives bestow even more upon their favourite nieces, nephews and grandchildren, there needs to be a compromise made. Launch a bedroom clear out with the help of the kids before Christmas – you could donate the unwanted toys and grown out of clothes to a charity shop in an attempt to help show the kids all about the meaning of Christmas, and leave space for this year’s favourite toys.
The kitchen is another area that’s likely to benefit from a clean-up. When it comes to cleaning the oven, you can either roll up your sleeves and get on with it, or ask an oven cleaning company to come in and do it for you. Either way you’ll feel really smug once you have a sparkling oven. Make room in your freezer for Christmas goodies – start sing up all the things that have been sitting at the back of the freezer for months and you’ll be able to fit more delicious foods in there nearer the time.
The fridge is another neglected area of the kitchen, wait until the day before you go shopping and give the fridge a good clean out with mild detergent. You could be eco-friendly and add half a lemon to the fridge to eliminate nasty smells if something has gone off in the salad drawer...
Carpets and curtains definitely benefit from a good clean at this time of year – carpets will have got grubby with the winter mud and leaf mulch, and curtains need sprucing up too. Are there any stains on your rugs or upholstered furniture that need removing? Get them out of the way before the mother in law notices them! Call in professionals like 1st Choice Chemdry if you need help shifting tough stains, or just want to make all your upholstery look good as new ready for another Christmas!
If you have family coming over for the Christmas period, you’ll want to get the house looking top notch for when they arrive. Especially if it’s your in-laws, and they have a tendency to go round the house like a contestant on Four in a Bed looking for dusty things and stains on the carpet!
It’s a good idea to clear out the clutter pre-Christmas too, especially if you have kids. There’s only so much room for toys, gifts and even clothes and so when well-meaning relatives bestow even more upon their favourite nieces, nephews and grandchildren, there needs to be a compromise made. Launch a bedroom clear out with the help of the kids before Christmas – you could donate the unwanted toys and grown out of clothes to a charity shop in an attempt to help show the kids all about the meaning of Christmas, and leave space for this year’s favourite toys.
The kitchen is another area that’s likely to benefit from a clean-up. When it comes to cleaning the oven, you can either roll up your sleeves and get on with it, or ask an oven cleaning company to come in and do it for you. Either way you’ll feel really smug once you have a sparkling oven. Make room in your freezer for Christmas goodies – start sing up all the things that have been sitting at the back of the freezer for months and you’ll be able to fit more delicious foods in there nearer the time.
The fridge is another neglected area of the kitchen, wait until the day before you go shopping and give the fridge a good clean out with mild detergent. You could be eco-friendly and add half a lemon to the fridge to eliminate nasty smells if something has gone off in the salad drawer...
Carpets and curtains definitely benefit from a good clean at this time of year – carpets will have got grubby with the winter mud and leaf mulch, and curtains need sprucing up too. Are there any stains on your rugs or upholstered furniture that need removing? Get them out of the way before the mother in law notices them! Call in professionals like 1st Choice Chemdry if you need help shifting tough stains, or just want to make all your upholstery look good as new ready for another Christmas!
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
House Move Checklist
Are you moving house? It’s a pretty stressful time, so we’ve put together a helpful list of things to think about before you shut that door behind you for the last time...
• Get quotes from removal companies, or if you’re planning to do it yourself, now is the time to ask around for friends who might like to help. For help finding an approved removal firm try the British Association of Removers http://www.bar.co.uk
• Make sure that your home and contents insurance are arranged from the day you move into your new home, and that your wordly goods are also insure while in transit.
• Order your removal sundries like boxes and bubble wrap.
• Clear out sheds and attics and have a car boot sale/eBay session/ charity giveaway with the things you don’t want to keep.
• Sort out additional storage if you need to.
Six Weeks before moving day
• Get quotes from removal companies, or if you’re planning to do it yourself, now is the time to ask around for friends who might like to help. For help finding an approved removal firm try the British Association of Removers http://www.bar.co.uk
• Make sure that your home and contents insurance are arranged from the day you move into your new home, and that your wordly goods are also insure while in transit.
• Order your removal sundries like boxes and bubble wrap.
• Clear out sheds and attics and have a car boot sale/eBay session/ charity giveaway with the things you don’t want to keep.
• Sort out additional storage if you need to.
Three weeks before you move ( or when you exchange contracts)
Tell all the utility companies when you’re moving out and arrange final meter readings if needed.
• Order new carpets and furniture for the new place.
• Notify DVLA of your change of address
• Tell dentists and doctors, and if you’re moving out of their area, find a new one at: http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx
• Start packing things you don’t need right now
• Change the TV licence details at: http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk
• Set up a redirection on your mail.
A week before you move
If you have pets and children, sort out someone to take care of them while the removals are under way.
• If your pets are micro-chipped, your vet of your change of address at https://www.petlog.org.uk
• Tell banks, employers, schools, and your local council
• Make a quick call to the removers to make sure they have everything booked in and the right details.
• Put all important documents (passports, birth and marriage certificates etc) in a safe place so that you don’t lose them during the move.
• Use up as much as you can in the fridge and freezer and defrost them as necessary
• Collect up any spare keys to the hose you’ve given people.
• Arrange for a professional cleaner to come in and get the house spick and span for your new owners – contact 1st Choice Chemdry for carpet and curtain cleaning.
A few days before you move
Write a helpful guide to the new owners with things like local doctor’s number, instructions on how to use the boiler etc.
Get your emergency supplies box ready, and include things like cleaning products, toilet rolls, medicines, snacks, tea and coffee, UHT milk, and a mobile phone charger.
Moving day!
• Arrange to pick up the keys to your new home
• Take all your meter readings
• Lock all windows and doors and make sure everything is secured.
Good luck in the new place!
Tuesday, 4 November 2014
Persian Carpets – their history and care
Persian rugs and carpets are much sought after and usually very expensive. A genuine Persian rug will be a testament to the art of the carpet weavers which is said to have originated in Iran originated more than 2500 years ago.
Originally they were created out of need rather than luxury, as they were used as a floor covering for nomadic tribespeople’s homes, to keep them protected from cold and damp conditions. Over the years, carpet weaving skills have been passed down through the generations, and the variety of designs, techniques and patterns has evolved due to international trade and demand.
The development of the Persian carpet over the centuries has mostly been influenced by the country’s rulers. For example, when Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC, he was entranced by the carpets, and it’s said that his tomb at Pasargadae was covered with them. Cyrus is the ruler most historians credit with introducing the craft of carpet weaving to Persia.
In 1949 Russian archaeologists discovered what was thought to be the oldest known knotted carpet in the Siberian Mountains. The carpet dates back to the 5th frozen tombs of Scythian nobles. It’s now on display at the Hermitage Museum of Leningrad (St. Petersburg).
If you are lucky enough to own a Persian carpet or rug, you’ll want to make sure that it’s looked after properly as these carpets are definitely an investment. Five steps to keeping your Persian carpet pristine:
1. Keep it out of the sun! Persian rugs are easily faded by sunlight so keep your carpet out of direct sunlight if you want to keep the colours true – especially antique rugs. Try to rotate it monthly if it’s in the sunlight some of the time; this won’t stop it fading completely but it will make sure that the fading is uniform and not just in one area.
2. If you have furniture on the rug, try to move it around as often as you can to create a new ‘pathway’ across it. This stops the rug wearing in just one place and keeps wear and tear to a minimum.
3. Don’t try to comb the fringe out; instead, flip the rug end over end to straighten any twisted fringe. Simply hold one end of the carpet and walking it to the other end, turning the rug upside down. This helps to straighten out the fringe, and then a quick shake of the rug should be all you need.
4. Vacuum your rug regularly; this keeps the fibres from becoming too trodden down and also keeps it nice and clean so that it always looks good. Be aware of any threadbare or worn areas of the rug, and use the appropriate attachments to avoid any further damage.
5. It’s also vital that if you spill anything on your Persian rug, it’s cleaned up immediately. Never use harsh detergents or bleach, just mop the spill with paper towels by gently dabbing it from the end of the spill towards the centre to stop the spill from spreading out. Only ever use water if you’re cleaning a valuable or antique Persian rug, and if this isn’t working, call in a professional century and had been preserved in the carpet cleaner such as 1st Choice Chemdry who will be able to treat it and remove the stain without causing any damage.
Originally they were created out of need rather than luxury, as they were used as a floor covering for nomadic tribespeople’s homes, to keep them protected from cold and damp conditions. Over the years, carpet weaving skills have been passed down through the generations, and the variety of designs, techniques and patterns has evolved due to international trade and demand.
The development of the Persian carpet over the centuries has mostly been influenced by the country’s rulers. For example, when Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC, he was entranced by the carpets, and it’s said that his tomb at Pasargadae was covered with them. Cyrus is the ruler most historians credit with introducing the craft of carpet weaving to Persia.
In 1949 Russian archaeologists discovered what was thought to be the oldest known knotted carpet in the Siberian Mountains. The carpet dates back to the 5th frozen tombs of Scythian nobles. It’s now on display at the Hermitage Museum of Leningrad (St. Petersburg).
If you are lucky enough to own a Persian carpet or rug, you’ll want to make sure that it’s looked after properly as these carpets are definitely an investment. Five steps to keeping your Persian carpet pristine:
1. Keep it out of the sun! Persian rugs are easily faded by sunlight so keep your carpet out of direct sunlight if you want to keep the colours true – especially antique rugs. Try to rotate it monthly if it’s in the sunlight some of the time; this won’t stop it fading completely but it will make sure that the fading is uniform and not just in one area.
2. If you have furniture on the rug, try to move it around as often as you can to create a new ‘pathway’ across it. This stops the rug wearing in just one place and keeps wear and tear to a minimum.
3. Don’t try to comb the fringe out; instead, flip the rug end over end to straighten any twisted fringe. Simply hold one end of the carpet and walking it to the other end, turning the rug upside down. This helps to straighten out the fringe, and then a quick shake of the rug should be all you need.
4. Vacuum your rug regularly; this keeps the fibres from becoming too trodden down and also keeps it nice and clean so that it always looks good. Be aware of any threadbare or worn areas of the rug, and use the appropriate attachments to avoid any further damage.
5. It’s also vital that if you spill anything on your Persian rug, it’s cleaned up immediately. Never use harsh detergents or bleach, just mop the spill with paper towels by gently dabbing it from the end of the spill towards the centre to stop the spill from spreading out. Only ever use water if you’re cleaning a valuable or antique Persian rug, and if this isn’t working, call in a professional century and had been preserved in the carpet cleaner such as 1st Choice Chemdry who will be able to treat it and remove the stain without causing any damage.
Monday, 20 October 2014
Keep Winter Grime at Bay
It’s the time of year when kids, pets and just about anyone who walks in your front door is likely to bring in unwanted extras on the bottom of their shoes (or paws) It’s all very well providing guests with a prominently displayed welcome mat, and asking people to leave shoes at the door, but there will always be one person who sails in oblivious to your clean carpets and spreads a trail of leaf mulch, mud or worse through the house.
Pets are a completely different matter and if you can stop a lively abrader and get him to wipe his paws, you’re a better person than most! Cleaning messy carpets after a grime invasion can seem like a mammoth task but if you leave the stains and dirt to bed in, it will be much harder to clean it back out again.
If a particularly mucky spill or walk-through appears, get straight to it with the kitchen roll and get as much of it up as you can. Emergency measures:
• Let the mud dry, and then vacuum up the dry dirt.
• Mix one tablespoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water.
• Sponge the stain with the detergent solution using a clean white cloth,
• Blot the stain until the liquid is absorbed.
• Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until the stain has gone
• Sponge with cold water and blot dry.
To stop stains from taking hold in the unfortunate event of a Wellington boot malfunction, pre-treating can make a real difference, protecting your carpet and repelling troublesome stains. Even if you already have a stain resistant carpet, a ChemDry protectant will refresh it and perk your carpet up ready for the winter months.
Chem-Dry Repel Protectant repels liquids, which means that spills can be taken care of before stains set in. It can be applied to all types of carpets as it forms an invisible shield around each carpet fibre. The shield also increases the surface tension of the carpet fibres, preventing spills, dirt and stains from being ground in or absorbed by the carpet fibre. It’s also perfectly safe to use in a house that also has messy kids and animals!
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Fall in love with your furniture
We all have days when we look around the home and decide
it’s all got to go, we can’t possibly live with that carpet, suite or dining
room furniture any more. You get on the Internet and start daydreaming about a
total refurb, and then you might even start scouting out credit deals on a new
sofa.
Don’t panic! Sofas can be a problem; they just start looking
tired after a while, there’s a stain where one of the kids dropped their
dinner, or the dye from those new jeans rubbed off on the cream suite and now
it’s a bit, well, grey. You might not need to throw it on the scrapheap just
yet. Save yourself some cash and call in professional upholstery cleaners like
1st Choice Chemdry and we’ll see if we can get that sofa and suite looking
tip top for you again, without the need for a credit check or trawl around the
shops.
A good clean and protect treatment can give a tired-looking
sofa a completely new lease of life. It won’t even need to be out of action for
days; we use less water so that the drying time is much shorter, typically 4-6
hours. We use the power of carbonation to lift away all the dirt and soil to
the surface of the sofa fabric, and from there it’s sucked away using powerful
extraction equipment.
Whether your old favourite furniture is old and stained or
you just want to perk the colour up a bit, our expert technicians will be able
to brighten fabric colours and remove the stains that have been bugging you every
time you look at them. You won’t have to cover that patch up with a cushion any
more, and you might even remember why you fell in love with the suite in the
first place!
We use cleaning ingredients that are copied from nature – no
harsh soaps, detergents or chemicals, only the power of crystal clear
carbonating bubbles. This means that you get deep cleaned upholstery safely and
gently, without soapy cleaning chemicals. The quicker dry time also avoids
soggy carpets or sofas which can be a breeding ground for mould and bacteria.
So…don’t rush out and splurge on a new sofa – fall in love
with your old one again!
SPECIAL OFFER: Pay
for a clean and protect on your suite and you can have any carpet up to 20 m2
cleaned FREE OF CHARGE…just Call us on 0141 848 – 9634.
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