Understanding exactly what a biohazard is can be important. You might think this only refers to chemical spills or needles, but it extends far beyond those. Any time there is a biohazard situation, there will be specific protocols and needs for cleaning to keep everyone safe.
Take a look at this guide to better understand what the terminology means and when you should plan for cleaning from specialty teams.
What is a Biohazard?
The very definition of a hazard like this is any risk to human health or the environment from microorganisms or biological substances.
If the substance in question is harmful to life, it’s a hazard. Here are some examples:
Viruses or substances that could contain viruses
Fecal matter
Blood
Body matter
Vomit
Urine
Chemicals
The need for cleaning in these circumstances could range from trauma to chemical spills and crime scenes. There are very specific rules regarding safety and exposure.
These are some scenarios in which you might need biohazard cleanup.
Death, Trauma, & Blood
If someone passes away, whether from a crime or peaceful death, there will likely be the need for cleanup afterward. In most cases, death involves bodily fluids. In the event of a crime or traumatic death, there could be blood or body matter at the scene too.
Not only will the immediate space need to be cleaned carefully and disinfected, but any surrounding surfaces that could have been exposed also need to be cleaned and disinfected.
Animal or Human Waste
Fecal matter and other forms of waste could contain viruses, diseases, or other bacteria within them. It’s not safe to clean these up on your own without doing it right. Any time there is waste left behind, you may need additional help with cleaning.
It’s one thing to safely clean up after your own pet or even an accident from an at-home family member. But cleaning up after unknown animals and humans is a hazard.
Chemicals
When chemicals spill, there could be hazards from exposure to worry about. Chemical spills fall into different categories. How they must be cleaned will depend on the spilled materials and where they landed.
This has to be cleaned up. Surrounding areas will also require cleaning in order to ensure there is no additional exposure.
Cleaning Safety Requirements
There are very specific needs when it comes to safety in these circumstances. Not only do you have to protect the area until it’s sufficiently cleaned and sanitized, but you also have to follow rules for cleaning and disposal.
One of the most important details is ensuring you don’t come into direct contact with whatever substance needs to be cleaned up. Breathing equipment or hazmat suits may also be necessary in some cases.
Disposal of the substances and any affected items also requires specialized procedures. And to finish the process, every possible surface has to be completely disinfected to be safe again.
Use Professional Cleaning
When you have a biohazard situation, it’s important to use a trained and certified specialist for the cleanup process. Semper Fi is here to help you tackle these risks. Our team is fully licensed for the home or office setting. Just give us a call!
When it comes to floor care, it’s challenging to get it just right. You have to be careful about when you clean, how you clean, and even what you use to clean. You can always call a professional in when you need a deep clean, but what about your everyday cleaning and care?
Check out these 3 very simple tips to help you keep your floors looking great!
1. Regular Floor Care Makes a Difference
Your floor might not look that dirty. But whether it’s tile, wood, carpet, or another material, it’s building up dirt and debris every time it’s used. That dirt can quickly pile up, sometimes beneath the surface where you can’t see it. Taking care to regularly vacuum and sweep your floors really does make a huge difference.
Most experts recommend doing this daily if you can. Otherwise, try to shoot for every other day or a minimum of once a week. The more that you can keep the basic surface clean, the longer your flooring will last and the better it will look. This simple step is vital for the care and maintenance of your floors.
2. Protect Your Floors
In addition to some regular care and maintenance, you need to take steps to protect your floors. There are several different things you can do here. Ultimately, you want to do your best to reduce traffic and prevent nasty things from accumulating on or happening to the floor.
So if someone spills a drink or some food, clean it up right away. Don’t let that grape juice just lay there, soaking deeper and deeper into the carpet. Clean it up as soon as you know about it, and go ahead and spot treat the stain, too. This will make a huge difference.
Another thing that you can do is protect your floors with area rugs, welcome mats, and floor runners. In places that get heavy foot traffic, this helps reduce wear and dirt on the floor itself. It’s easy enough to clean the rugs and mats or replace them as needed.
You can also eliminate shoes on your floors if you want to. Have places to leave dirty shoes at the door when you walk in. This will greatly reduce dirt and debris tracked across the floors.
3. Try Gentle Solutions
Your floors are likely more sensitive than you think. While you might often rely on bleaching or harsh chemicals for cleaning, this can also be hard on your floors. Instead, try using gentle cleaning approaches. Many times these work just as effectively but will not be harsh.
We may often think it takes bleach or chemicals to get things truly clean, but that simply isn’t the case. Even solutions made out of vinegar and baking soda or Dawn dish soap can be quite effective for your daily cleaning and floor care needs.
Professional Floor Care When Needed
Finally, it’s a good idea to bring in professional floor care to spruce up your flooring and keep it looking great. The professionals can help you get a deeper clean and just might make your floors look brand-new all over again. Give us a call at Semper Fi Floor Care and Restoration for your floor cleaning needs.
In most cases, water damage restoration will not be a quick process. While you certainly need to act quickly, there will still be some waiting that you have to go through as well. All of this will heavily depend on how extensive your water damage is, as well as what materials were damaged.
Here is a more detailed breakdown.
Water Damage Amounts
One thing is certain: no two situations are exactly the same when it comes to water. Someone might have a leak while another might have a burst pipe. Of course, there are flooded basements and Mother Nature to consider, too.
The water levels will drastically affect the cleanup time. This is because the more water there is, the more drying has to occur.
How Long Has There Been Damage?
Are you just now taking care of damage that is weeks, months, or even years old? While the drying process has already happened, there could be other damage that has built up because of the excessive time in between.
Ideally, water damage restoration should start happening right away. Over time, the water can lead to mold and will continue to wear away at the structural surfaces in question too. While the process may not take longer, there might be more extensive damage than you think at first.
Drying Before Water Damage Restoration
After damages occur, the first step will always be drying out the property and the materials. In some cases, materials could take 3-4 days to dry out enough for cleanup and restoration to begin. This will depend on the materials that were damaged.
For example, carpet and drywall both take longer to dry out. But concrete or tile might be dry much faster. Most water damage companies have industrial equipment they use to help expedite the drying process.
They might bring in heavy-duty fans, water extraction equipment, and have other steps to help clean up water as well.
Cleanup, Mitigation, & Restoration
NOW it’s time to move on to water restoration. This will be the longest part of the process. In most cases, there will be the need for cleanup as well as restoring damaged spaces. All of that includes inspecting items and checking out the home to determine what needs to be repaired or replaced.
There will also likely be the need for extensive cleaning, mold remediation, and odor removal in addition to other repairs. Many restoration companies will help you with the repair process as well as these cleanup processes.
Water Damage Restoration Timeline
When it comes to water damage, you need to be sure to act quickly. The sooner you take action, the less extensive your damages will be. It only takes a few hours for the damages to start spiraling out of control. The time it takes to fully restore the damaged area will depend on the damages.
Bring in a professional service that can help you clean up, mitigate damages, and restore your home to its pre-loss condition. If you find yourself in need of assistance, Semper Fi is here to help.
Keeping tile or grout from looking dingy or dirty can be a challenge. Using tile and grout services on occasion is a great way to refresh your tile and make it look new again. In between professional cleanings, there are some things you can do at home to help as well.
Check out these tips to keep your grout looking great!
Clean Gently & Regularly
If you want to keep that grout looking its best, you need to be sure to clean it regularly. You also need to be gentle. Moisture and dirt cause it to become dingy or discolored. Grout is a porous material. Some people will use harsh chemicals, but this might not actually be helping. Instead, focus on a gentle cleaner that won’t harm the grout.
One good solution is a baking soda paste or vinegar and water solution. Either of these can do a lot to get crud out of the grout and keep it looking better. Set up a routine cleaning schedule and use simple things like these to keep it clean.
Control Moisture
Another common issue with tile and grout is moisture. The challenge is that in places like your bathroom, moisture is common. However, coming up with a way to control moisture will make a difference. Sometimes that discoloration you’re seeing on the tile is mold or mildew developing.
While you can’t prevent all moisture, you can try to help control it. Using a vent fan in the bathroom or something like a dehumidifier can go a long way in helping control moisture.
Grout Requires Protection
We often think that grout is just fine on its own, but the truth is it’s quite susceptible. One way that people combat this is to apply a sealant to protect their grout. Using a sealant might help to reduce discoloration and damage to the grout. It adds a protective layer over the porous surface. Less dirt and water makes its way inside those pores, leading to less mess or discoloration.
You can apply a sealant on your own, but be sure to carefully follow all instructions. You can also hire a professional to help and make sure it gets done correctly.
Hire Tile and Grout Services
Finally, if you’re looking at your tile in disgust, don’t sweat it! Your tile doesn’t have to be replaced or ripped up due to a bit of discoloration. Try calling a professional service first to see if they can help. Most professional cleaning companies have specialized equipment, cleaners, and expertise to help make your tile and grout look great again.
They might be able to do a deep clean, and they can help with any necessary repairs, refreshes, or protectants as well.
Semper Fi Tile and Grout Cleaning
If your tile and grout needs a refresh, we’ve got you covered. Semper Fi provides a variety of cleaning services, including options for tile and grout. Whether you’re in need of a deeper clean or full repairs, we can help. Give us a call today to get scheduled!
So often we shy away from professional carpet cleaning, thinking we can just clean it ourselves and get great results. You certainly can accomplish a lot cleaning on your own. But there is a difference in the depth and overall quality of professional cleaning.
But how do you know when it’s time to call in the professionals? You can get a feel for when you really need a deeper clean. However, take a look at these signs that you might want a carpet cleaning service to come to your rescue.
Unpleasant Odors
Have you ever walked through a room, caught a whiff of something, and halted in your tracks? What if that odor was coming from your carpet? If you are in a room with carpet and there’s a smell, it could be the source. If you’re trying to discern where the smell is coming from, the carpets are a likely suspect.
Carpets get a lot of traffic and dirt in them. It’s only natural that eventually they will start to smell. This is particularly true if there was any opportunity for moisture to accumulate there. The good news is you don’t have to replace the carpet. Try a deep cleaning first and see if it helps.
Sickness and Allergies
Another great reason to clean your carpets is to prevent health issues. The truth is that your carpets can accumulate several pounds of dust, dirt, pollen, dander, and more. The only way to get rid of all that junk is a professional cleaning. Even if you are prone to allergies, you still should be able to control them.
Perhaps you notice your allergies never clear up or they seem worse than usual. This could be a sign that it’s absolutely necessary to get your carpets cleaned. You certainly don’t want your health to suffer. It’s worth a try just to get rid of those allergies that leave you sneezing and coughing so much.
All Stained Up
Anyone can have spills or accidents. Those things often leave stains behind. Some stains can be really hard to tackle on your own. However, even some of the toughest stains can be removed by a professional hand and the right equipment.
If you have stains that seem to be set in and won’t come up, try a professional carpet cleaning to help. When you don’t get a stain cleaned up right away, they set deep within the surface. The only way to tackle these is through a deep cleaning, which is best done by a professional.
Professional Carpet Cleaning is a Necessary Service
When it comes down to it, you don’t have to hire the professionals all the time. You can do a lot to keep your carpets clean on your own. But there are times when you simply need a deeper clean. Professionals can use their expertise and specialized equipment to help when you need it.
Semper Fi provides carpet cleaning for any needs. Contact us today to talk about your options.
