Getting the Stink Out of Your Home or Business Odor Removal Services in Bend, OR

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

The nose is an excellent detector when things are amiss. And when the temperatures are hot outside (and quite frankly, when they get hot inside, too), smells that were undetectable suddenly rear up and smack you in the face. Once the odor has your attention, most people go into detective mode, searching for clues as to the source of the stench.

Odor Removal Services in Central Oregon

In Central Oregon - especially in the summer, we get plenty of odor-related calls. The big reason is heat. Our hot summer temperatures promote odor. Have you ever noticed that smells come out of the woodwork (pun intended) when it’s hot outside and hot in your home or commercial space)? There’s a reason. When wood gets warm, it expands, and odors get caught within it. Then, on a nice and hot day, the odors are released. Voila, now you’ve got a stinky house (or business). 

The challenge is zoning in on the source of the odor, which can be character-building to identify. Thankfully, SERVPRO of Bend is ranked #1 in the cleanup and restoration industry due to our ability to identify and effectively treat a variety of damages that can occur in a home or commercial space.

We don’t use masking agents just to cover up the smell. Our odor removal process includes pairing and filtration agents, disinfectants, sanitizers, enzyme digesters, oxidation, and air purification. 

Animals and Odor Remediation

Would you be surprised to learn that one of the most common odor-related problems we see in Central Oregon is due to animals? We’ve got quite a few critters who would love to make their home inside our home. The more rural a location that your home is located, the greater your chance of having unwelcome visitors and even more unwelcome odors. 

If you’ve had the family pet vomit or defecate in your home, chances are you can appreciate the challenge of removing the odors associated with the act. Multiply that stench, and you’ve got an idea of what damage a wild animal can do. We ensure that doesn’t happen with our four-step odor removal process.  

Mold and Odor Removal

Actively growing mold releases microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs), which usually have a distinct odor - earthy, pungent, and reminiscent of rotting wood. Mold feeds on moisture, which is why it is often caused by a leak or persistent moisture and could grow behind walls, under wallpaper, under floorboards, or in ductwork. It is damage that perpetuates until it is treated, and its signature smell won’t disappear until then. 

Our team of professionals possesses the skills and expertise to clean various odors. Whether the damage is located in your home or commercial space, we’re ready to help. Call for an assessment, so we can make it smell "Like it never even happened."

6 Ways to Increase the Lifespan of Your Carpet

7/31/2019 (Permalink)

Most home and business owners know that carpet can be very expensive. That is why it’s important that you take care of your carpet to increase its lifespan and save money long-term. If you get into the right habits, you can preserve your carpet with minimal effort.

1.) Take your shoes off before walking on your carpet.

If you really want to keep your carpet looking new, you'll want to avoid walking on it with your shoes on. Even if you think that your shoes are clean, they are more than likely tracking dirt on your carpet. Over time, this will accumulate and potentially cause discoloration to your carpet. Additionally, the hard soles of your shoes will wear down your carpets much faster.

2.) Before vacuuming, sprinkle baking soda.

Sprinkling baking soda on your carpet is a simple trick that will keep your carpet smelling fresh and new. All you have to do is sprinkle a very light layer on your carpet and let it settle for a few minutes. After it has settled, simply vacuum your carpet as you would normally. 

3.) Make a habit of vacuuming on a regular basis.

Dirt gets caught in carpet very easily. If it’s left for a long period of time, it can start to cause damage to your carpet. It is good to get in a habit of cleaning your carpet regularly to avoid letting dirt stay on it for extended periods of time. Something as simple as vacuuming once a week will greatly increase the lifespan of your carpet.

4.) Treat carpet stains immediately.

Unfortunately, accidents happen and sometimes we stain our carpets. It’s important that you take care of stains as soon as you notice them to avoid letting the stains soak into your carpet. Apply a carpet cleaner to the stained area until your carpet is dry then vacuum.

5.) Do not rub stains.

Although common sense might tell you to rub stains with carpet cleaner, this actually can make matters worse. Rubbing stains will only rub the stain deeper into your carpet. It is recommended that you stick with a blotting motion when treating stains.

6.) Have your carpet cleaned professionally once or twice per year.

It is recommended to have carpets cleaned at least twice per year. Although this may seem pricey, it will greatly increase the lifespan of your carpet. In the long-run, this will save you money.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions about carpet cleaning, please do not hesitate to call the SERVPRO of Bend office at 541-385-7044.

Sources:
Property24
wikiHow

Bend Fire Department roof advice, fire hydrant clearing

3/6/2019 (Permalink)

Weather forecasts are calling for several more inches of snow Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, followed by some rain, and then freezing temperatures on Wednesday night. These conditions have the potential to add a significant amount of weight to snow-covered roofs.

If possible, Bend Fire officials say, try to remove some of the existing snow from the roof, remembering that the roof surface will be quite slippery.

In addition, with possible rain and some melting, all that water has to go somewhere. The most helpful thing people can do is to clear a channel to the storm drain on your block, so the water on the street can drain off. 

If the temperatures rise and the rain materializes, the roads may become quite slushy, which can change the driving characteristics quickly and dramatically. Drive with extreme caution through deep slush.

Also, please do not forget that lonely red hydrant standing out there in the snow. Get a neighbor or two to help dig the snow out from around it, starting at the street. If it is needed, the best place for firefighters is at the end of a hose line, knocking down the fire, rather than shoveling out the hydrant.

Cleaning Excess Snow From Your Roof

3/1/2019 (Permalink)

Ice dams can’t form without snow.  If you’re able to prevent ice dams, you’re far more likely to prevent your roof from leaking and damaging the inside of your home.

Another reason roof snow removal is so important is that it’s a good idea to keep all that excess weight off your roof.  As a rule of thumb, one square-foot of snow that’s one-inch in depth weighs about a pound.  If your roof has 12 inches of snow on it, that could easily amount to thousands of pounds of stress on your roof.

  That’s not even counting the weight of any ice dams that may form as a result of leaving the snow on your roof; just one cubic foot of ice weighs 57 pounds, and a typical ice dam can weigh thousands of pounds.  Minimizing the stress placed on your roof is a great way to minimize the risk of leaking and cave-ins (the latter of which occur more frequently than you might think).

If you have questions about snow removal or ice dams, feel free to call SERVPRO of Bend 541-385-7044.

Cleaning Smoke Damage

5/11/2018 (Permalink)

Prescribed burns and Wild fires may not directly affect your house. However, the smoke and soot can get airborne and affect areas of your home that you may not see.  

Even if the fire was localized, smoke and soot can have traveled throughout the house, affecting walls, carpet, upholstery, drapes, clothing, and other personal items. In order to repair and recover your damaged property, you will want to have clean the smoke and soot damage from walls, textiles, clothing, and furniture, and remove the smoky odor as well

SERVPRO of Bend has extensive knowledge and is certified in Fire and Smoke damage clean up and odor control.

If you have smoke damage from a fire or prescribed burn, feel free to give us a call and we can come out and help you decide on a plan for mitigating the damage.

Call SERVPRO of Bend 541-385-7044.

Done With Winter? Some Things You Can Do Now to Prep Your House for Spring

3/8/2018 (Permalink)

5 Cleaning Apps To Simplify Spring Cleaning

5/19/2017 (Permalink)

from you. 

Tody: Motivate yourself (and your family) to clean more often with this smart app. Create cleaning tasks with frequency, and the app will tell you when things are overdue and when something was last cleaned (no cheating!). Each family member can actually track the chores they’ve done (see who’s slacking), and cross them off the to-do list (is there anything better than crossing items off a list?).

Think Dirty: Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning up the house, it’s also about cleaning up your life in general. Do your cosmetics have any toxic chemicals? How about your shampoo? Simply scan the products in the app and read the dirty meter. If any of your products get a rating of 10, it’s time to get rid of it. Think Dirty does all of your dirty work for you!

RescueTime: We’re all guilty of spending too much time on social media, and RescueTime holds you accountable by breaking down how you spend your time (a little shocking at first!). It lets you set goals, and shows you how much time you’re actually spending on social. Put yourself on ‘parental controls’ and block certain sites if you’ve been on them for long. I can’t lie, I’ve definitely had to block Facebook from my day at various times! 

The Fridge: The fridge is definitely one of my favorite apps! It lets you record what you have in your fridge and pantry, and it will let you know when certain foods are about to go bad (crazy game-changer!). Oh, and the app will even recommend recipes to make with the ingredients listed. Sold! 

Post-it Plus: As much as we all love sticky notes, they can start to drive you a little crazy. With Post-it Plus, you can snap a quick pic of all your stickies, and save individual memos within the app. This is a great way to declutter, and keep things paperless. It also looks super cool, so that’s a plus!

If you need help with Spring Cleaning, call SERVPRO at 1-800-SERVPRO.

Simple Ways to Keep Your House Clean

5/16/2017 (Permalink)

Simple Ways to Keep Your House Clean

If you are living a very busy lifestyle that you do not have the time to maintain the drill of making your house clean, you should hire cleaners employed by companies since they offer very comprehensive cleaning services specifically to homeowners and organizations. Cleaning companies like SERVPRO of Bend are committed to providing highly professional services that include household chores. You are assured that you can get an excellent service for money with their flexible service at a very low-cost.

Below are tricks that cleaners will do to ensure your house remains clean always:

Ensure Your Bed Is Made

The best action to take is to employ cleaners from cleaning companies that will be servicing your house daily. The cleaners will ensure that your bed is made neatly. The bed is the most important place to keep neat as it will reduce chances of any harmful organism from hiding in between the blankets and sheets ensuring that you live in a very safe environment.

Wipe Your Bedside Table    

You might forget to wipe your bedside table each morning either because you have a very tight schedule or because you are a lazy individual. Your cleaner will ensure that your bedside table is wiped spotless clean so as to make your bed look tidy. This is very important as it gives your room a clean look which gives a good impression to any visitor who might enter your room.

Clean Your Dishes

Most people are afraid of washing dishes even if they have a dishwasher. There are two different types of cooks: those who clean while they are cooking and those who cannot do the latter. Employ cleaners who will clean your utensils daily and leave your kitchen sink clean and sanitized with upmost perfection.

Wipe Your Cooking Surfaces

Failing to wipe your cooking surfaces is very hazardous to your health as it will act as an excellent breeding place for disease-causing organisms. Worry no more as house cleaners are just the right people for this kind of work. They will ensure that your countertops and cooking surfaces are wiped to ensure your kitchen is spotless leaving no breeding ground for bacteria.

Do Your Laundry    

If you have the habit of throwing the clothes that you’ve on a chair making your house living room look filthy, then the best action to take is to employ a cleaner. The cleaners will do your laundry, dry the laundry then fold it for you and if there are clothes that will need to be hanged in your closet they will do the same after ironing the clothes making your closet look neat and attractive.

In conclusion, cleaners that are practically employed by companies are the best option you should consider to do your household chores. The cleaners will offer a flexible and affordable service that will satisfy all your requirements. They are highly-trained and well – experienced cleaners that even fully vetted and most importantly, insured to suit your peace of mind

Know When to Introduce Disinfectants

8/4/2016 (Permalink)

Know When to Introduce Disinfectants

In a situation where health concerns are elevated, there are typically three stages that impact cleaning. Stage 1 is when there is the potential for a public health concern in a community. Stage 2 is when there is a public elevated health concern in a community, and Stage 3, the most critical stage, is when the pathogen is infecting a specific property or properties. At each stage, cleaning frequencies should increase; introduce sanitizers and disinfectants at Stage 2.

There is no question that sanitizers and disinfectants are necessary in a Stage 2 or 3 alert. What we needs to be realized is that these are very powerful cleaning solutions, and in the United States, there are currently no EPA-registered disinfectants that are green-certified.  Because of this, the following precautions should be taken:

• Make sure the disinfectant is designed to kill the specific pathogens causing the health concern. These will be spelled out on the product label.
   
• Ensure cleaning personnel read and understand the label instructions, including dilution rates and surface dwell time to maximize product efficacy.
   
• Use portion-control systems with concentrated disinfectants. This will help reduce environmental impacts and cost.

All of these measures represent the key to a successful Green Infection Prevention plan.

Using Hand Sanitizer to Remove Sap From Your Car

6/24/2016 (Permalink)

Along with sketchy mechanics, speed limits and faulty O2 sensors, tree sap is your car’s worst nightmare. Once it has marred your otherwise pristine paint job, the stuff just won’t come off. The good news is that there’s actually an easy way to remove the plant excrement.

There are tons of products out there that promise to remove that pesky tree sap from your car’s paint. Some of them work, some of them are total garbage. But why waste your time with those when you can just grab some hand sanitizer from your local grocery store and call it a day?

1. Squeeze A Little Drop Of Hand Sanitizer Onto The Sap

2. Gently Rub The Sap With Your Finger

3. Dry It Off With A Cloth/Paper Towel

4. Wash The Spot With A Wet Cloth/Paper Towel And Dry It

It’s worth noting, though, that the sanitizer will remove wax.

Quick and Useful House Cleaning Tips

6/22/2016 (Permalink)

Clean a Mirror

You don’t have to buy glass cleaners and paper towels to clean your mirrors.  Just some vinegar and an old newspaper is all you need to keep your mirrors shining as new. Your house will look cleaner if the mirrors are clean.

Rinse Your Plate

Cleaning plates is a tuff thing if its kept for some time un cleaned. I rinse my plate after dinner and have all my family members do the same and it makes washing plates so easy. It is a small and simple habit but makes a lot of trouble easier. I don’t like trying to wash dried food off of dishes, do you?

Cleaning the Oven

Does your oven get used every day?  Someday if you’re not using your oven, give it a quick spray of oven cleaner and keep it like that till the next day. Before you turn on your oven the next day, give it a quick wipe down. The baked on stuff comes off much easier than ever.

Cleaning the Microwave

Cleaning a microwave is easy. Fill up a cup of water and put it in there on high for a few minutes. The steam from the cup will loosen any stuck-on food, and then you can just wipe it away. It’s that simple.

Cleaning the Fridge

A fridge looks big and cleaning it looks even bigger. Follow my steps and the work will be a bit easier. First toss out any bad food. Then start with wiping down the top shelves and work down. Baking soda and water make a great cleaner and won’t leave your fridge smelling like

harsh cleanser. After you wipe out the crispers, line them with paper towels for easier cleaning next time. Cleaning the fridge was never this easy.

Cleaning your Bathroom

You can use lemon oil to shine the tiles of your bathroom. Lemon oil will also prevent mold and mildew. Use a false teeth bubbling tablet to avoid rings. Sometimes the problem with shower is that hard water gets build up there. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and place it over shower head to remove hard water buildup. You can use alcohol to  shine bathroom faucets.

Toilet Hygiene

One of the most hated things to do but fortuitously, it can be done very fast if you follow the way I do, few steps to follow to get it done quickly. First pour some cleaner in the bowl to soak. Then wipe down the seat and outside of the bowl with an antibacterial wipe or spray cleaner. After that scrub the bowl with a toilet brush and finally wipe down everything again with a dry cloth to make it shine.

Bathtubs can be cleaned too EASILY

To clean bathtubs here are a few things that may help:

Use a cleanser that will foam or bubble. This allows you to “soak” your tub or shower, even if it’s a vertical wall. Get a scrubber that fits your needs, a long-handled one or an extra firm one, pick a scrubber that will be easiest for you to use. Moreover, spraying the tub or shower down after each use can make deep cleaning easier.