The 5 Minute Guide to DIY Carpet Spot Cleaning

Your heart sinks and you let out an awful shriek as Spot, the family dog, leaves his own spot on your freshly cleaned carpets. We've all been there, whether it is a pet stain, a spilled glass of Pepsi, or some muddy shoes; seeing that first spot on the carpets you just had cleaned is never a good feeling. Here, we'll go over a few things you can do to keep your carpets looking their best between cleanings. 

1. Store-bought carpet cleaning sprays often do more harm than good. 

If not used properly, these may react with the spot and set it permanently as a stain, or even permanently discolor the carpet.

2. Get to know your spot.

All spots are not created equally. Be knowledgeable of what caused the spot and what product gives you the best chance of removing the spot without damaging the carpet.

3. Use the least aggressive method.

Common household cleaners such as laundry detergent and dish soap are highly effective at removing spots. They are also very mild and stand less of a chance of harming your carpet. For greasy spots, use a small amount of dish soap on a damp cloth. For protein spots (milk, blood, pet spots, etc.) use a detergent with enzymes. Tide original is a good example.

4. YOU BLOT THAT SHHH...uh...STUFF!!!

It may not be $25,000.00 Alpaca, but take a hint from Denzel in American Gangster and blot that! Blotting offers a better way to allow the spot to transfer from your carpet to the cleaning cloth. Rubbing a spot will only aid in grinding the spot deep in to the carpet's fibers. 

5. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse!

Thoroughly rinse the cleaning agent from the carpet. You can do this by blotting the area with a damp cloth, continually turning it to a clean section. 

Put on Your Game Face!

It’s a phrase we’ve heard over and over again from parents, coaches, and peers: “Put on your game face!”, but what does it have to do with networking? To be a great connector and an awesome networker, you have to train and prepare much like you would for sports. Somewhere along the way most of us have trained for something whether it be a 5k, a golf league, a chess tournament, or even little league baseball. We went to the practices and learned the sport. We honed our technique to be better than we were the day before. The same needs to be done when it comes to building your social framework and networking with other professionals. 

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and it is no different when it comes to networking. We need to train ourselves in networking much like an athlete would train for sport. Through training we can work on building up our weaknesses as well as capitalizing on our strengths. Jackie Pizzuto, a great networker and Client Service Specialist for a financial planning firm, says: “You do have to train yourself to succeed in networking. You have to know yourself and know your strengths...you have to learn how you network best and what works for you so that it's not a constant pain.” 

Another master networker is Justin Casey, Sales Executive for the Charles P. Leach Agency. For him it is more about training the mind. His first thought at a networking event is always “Why am I better than any other person in my field, and how can I highlight that to beat out my competitors?”. He calls it his “Competitive Advantage.”  

As you can see, networking is not something that just anyone can do and be great at, but just like any sport or art, the best always make it look effortless. So keep training your mind and body to be the best networker you can be, and as famed weightlifting coach Ivan Abadjiev once said: “Never be satisfied. Never.” Always keep pushing, never become sedentary, and abandon your comfort zones. Put on your game face and I hope to see you at an upcoming mixer!

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

Ditch the Small Talk...It’s Time for Big Talk

So why put all this time and effort in to building relationships? Why should you not only attend business functions, but actively engage others at these events? You do these things to help construct your social framework. Your social framework, or network, can be an immensely valuable tool that can be used in numerous situations that you encounter on a daily basis. You can call on a friend in your network to help solve a problem that has you stumped, to collaborate on a project, or even to help a friend.

These all sound like great ways to get things done, but if you have not done the legwork to develop relationships to construct your social framework, you may be stranded in a time of need. Often times we neglect the relationships and our networks never develop, or begin to crumble if they have been established. If you don’t maintain your relationships, you might as well have never developed them in the first place. 

Some of us struggle with figuring out who we need to develop relationships with for our business. Here’s a simple exercise that Casey McVay and I developed. Casey is a master networker who works as the Assistant Coordinator of Admissions and Financial Aid at Venango College of Clarion University. This is the Big-Talk Top 10 Challenge. Construct a list of the 10 people you would like to contact if you found out right now that you have lost your job. These can be people you know, people you see on tv or read about in magazines, or major names that you have just heard being tossed around. Once you have constructed your list, make it a point to take the steps necessary to make contact with these people. You will probably meet a few others along the way in your quest to fulfill your Big-Talk Top 10 Challenge. Remember these people too, even if they are little people, because little people have big friends!

Thanks again for reading,

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

And You Are?: What Your Business Card Says of You and Your Company.

We all have them, carry them, and pass them around to be the reminder of who we are and what we do. Business cards are an integral part of business and networking. They can say a lot about who you are and what you are all about. Does your card say “I’m unorganized.”, “I’m the one you need to know.”, “My company is cheap.”, “My company is the industry leader.”? When looking at your card, does someone see the same in you and your company as what you are trying to convey? 

Some of us (myself included) are bound by corporate identity policies that limit and monitor what we have on our cards. Companies put these in place so that your card represents the company in a way that they see fitting. For those of you who have some freedom with cards, this article is for you!

Let’s begin with appearance. You have a lot of information to get out there, and a business card may seem like a great way to show the world what it is you are all about. Please, resist this urge as no one likes to sift through a cluttered business card to find an email address or phone number. Also, keep in mind the background or border you have chosen for your card does not make reading the information on the card difficult.

What does your title say about you? Are you the “Executive Assistant”, or might you be the company’s “Chief Conversation Officer”? Think about it. If you are an executive assistant you probably talk to more people daily than anyone else in the company, so why not carry a title that conveys that? A creative title can be a very effective way to make your card as well as yourself, stand out in a crowd. Have some fun with this, but remember to keep it professional. 

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”, but a picture on your business card will put your name and face at a contact’s fingertips. This could be the difference between a contact remembering you or forgetting you. With all aspects of your card, you want to maintain professionalism with your photo. Your Facebook profile picture of you at the beach may not be appropriate here, unless you are in swimwear sales or another related field. 

By making a few small changes such as cleaning up your template, sprucing up that title of yours, and adding a great headshot of yourself; you can take your card from sub-par to superstar. This overhaul may not suit everyone, but those that are bold and daring are sure to be rewarded with a great, professional looking card that will stick out in the sea of cookie-cutter business cards.

Thanks for reading!

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

You Sold My Dead Bird to a Blind Kid?

Now that I have your attention, I would like to apologize for the time I've spent away from the blog. February has been full of floods and fires that have kept us very busy. But let's get down to it here and try to figure out why on earth, I would title a business article "You Sold My Dead Bird to a Blind Kid? ". There are a few reasons I went with this twisted title: 1. I love the movie Dumb and Dumber;  2. Have you ever felt as though someone was interested in talking to you, only to try to make a sale or close a deal?

All jokes aside, there is a valuable business lesson to be learned from Harry and Lloyd. Any of us who are in business, are typically networking. Networking happens whether you realize it or not. You may get tossed in to a networking situation at a mixer or other function and feel like you have to make a sale, close a deal, or sign on new customers. Going in to a networking function with that feeling of having to make sales or close deals can put a tremendous amount of pressure on you. You may find yourself on edge, scanning the room to find anything with ears and a pulse so you can drop your sales pitch on them. Forget that, they don't even need ears or a pulse. Before you know it, you're pitching your business to the magazine rack in the corner. You are so desperate to make that sale, that you wouldn't hesitate to sell a dead bird to a blind kid. STOP IT!!!! That is no way to network. That is no way to sculpt a positive image of yourself. That is surely not a way to grow your business. Sure, you may get a couple sales out of it, but chances are they wont be good sales. You will not have created a relationship that creates a lifelong customer.

Now, lets take a look at another type of networking. We'll look in to how we can take the pressure off networking situations, and make them fun! Allow me to introduce you to Positive Networking ®. Positive Networking ® is a term coined by the great crew over at workthepond.com. It is an approach to networking that takes the pressure off of you. Instead of focusing on your needs, you focus on the needs of others. Ask yourself, “What can I do for others?”.

This new approach lets you grow relationships as well as form new relationships. Also, since you aren’t pitching a sale, trying to close a deal, or brown-nosing, you are under zero pressure. You’re simply being nice and genuinely interested in the person you have engaged in conversation. By getting to know someone in more detail, it helps us to better answer the question “What can I do for others?”.

Once again, thanks for reading! Be sure to check out www.workthepond.com for some great Positive Networking ® information. Get out and network! I’ll leave you with a quote from Maya Angelou: “People will never forget how you make them feel.” 

What Are You Missing by Not Networking?

So as you may have noticed, we have been straying slightly from the cleaning topics usually covered in this blog and going in a more business oriented direction. This article as well as some future articles will be part of a series that will focus on: business networking, social media for businesses, and perhaps some marketing as part of the Venango Chamber Newsletter.

Networking is a term you may have heard being tossed around in the business world before, but have never put much thought or effort toward. Whether you realize it or not, many of us network daily in our interactions with others. Merriam-Webster defines networking as, "the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically : the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business." If you have "rubbed some elbows", as they say, with other business peoples throughout your week, you have networked. You probably didn't even know that when you talked to Joe the plumber on Monday about your business, and exchanged some information, that you were networking. 

Now here's the neat part: Joe the plumber likes you and what your business does. He then tells a buddy of his about your services and your phone starts ringing. That is a referral, and the new lead you have is a result of the power of referrals. So look at that one instance and ask yourself: "What if I do this type of thing all the time?" If you make networking a part of your day to day business operations, you will be blown away with the results. There is one catch: You have to be sold on networking to be an effective networker. This is the same as promoting your business. Very few people, if any, will buy in to a pitch from a business person who is not confident and sold on what they are promoting. 

Going back to our friend Joe the plumber, we can also return the favor of the referral and let Joe experience the power of referrals. Say your neighbor has a leaky sink and you pass on Joe the plumber's info. That, again, is networking! So now you're growing your network, and seeing the power of referrals in action. You are on your way to becoming a master of business networking. 

As you climb your way up the business networking ladder, you can become a very influential individual. When you pass a referral or network with others, people will notice. People’s perception of you will change, and your status will be elevated. This is all made possible through your efforts in networking and passing referrals. Keep your ear to the ground as we will be expanding on the idea of “perception” in the future, and how it can affect you and your business.

Thanks for reading!

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

Is Your Carpet Covered Under Warranty?

Lately I've been fielding questions from customers about maintaing the warranty on their carpet. This is often an overlooked subject and deserves some attention. If you have priced new flooring for your home or have recently had new flooring installed, I'm sure you know that carpet is not cheap. As with any major product purchase, you can expect your carpet to come with a warranty. Just as with any other product, there are certain conditions that must be met to uphold the warranty of your new carpet. Let's take a look at some of the steps you must take to ensure you do not void the warranty on that lovely, new carpet you just had installed.

There is some preventative maintenance that must be done to uphold your carpet's warranty. Just like you have to regularly change the oil in your car, you must have regular maintenance performed to keep up the warranty on your carpet. Most carpet manufacturers require periodic professional hot water extraction or steam cleaning of the carpet to uphold the warranty. For example, Shaw Industries Group specifies that "Professional cleaning of your carpet is required at least once every 24 months if not more frequently depending on conditions and use." Note how the term "professional" is used. Professional carpet cleaning companies will use a process that may sound similar to DIY carpet cleaning machines, but the professional's process often removes much more water than retail carpet cleaning units. If too much moisture is left in the carpet, it could cause premature breakdown of the carpet backing. Also, for DIY jobs,  it can be a common mistake to mix the cleaning solution at a stronger ratio for heavier soiling. While this may seem like sound logic, it can often leave behind a residue that will attract more dirt and cause more soiling of the carpet. For the DIY-er, this can be the root of much frustration.

Some carpet warranties state that to uphold the warranty, spills must be cleaned up immediately. Time is everything when dealing with spills on your carpets. The more time that passes, the more likely a spot is to turn in to a permanent stain. When cleaning up spills, remember to blot the spot. Scrubbing, wiping, or any other technique other than blotting is not recommended as it is not as effective and may even have adverse effects on your carpet.

When spot cleaning, the choice of cleaning agents is also a very important topic. Too often, I see carpets where the customer has used a harsh chemical product in an attempt to remove a spot. The result is a discoloration where the chemical has contacted the carpet fibers. Unfortunately, the discoloration is often permanent. and serves a nice reminder of what harsh chemicals can do to your flooring. The recommended cleaning chemical for spotting carpets on your own is a mild dishwashing detergent. A light amount applied with a clean, damp cloth and worked in to the carpet will often do wonders for stains. To rinse the detergent from the spot, use another clean, wet cloth to blot the spot. Frequently turn the cloth to a clean side and continue blotting until there is no transfer from the spot to the cloth. Once thoroughly rinsed, the carpet should be back to looking fantastic.

Hopefully these tips can help you maintain your carpeted flooring and keep it looking its best for years to come. If you have questions regarding the warranty on your carpet, it would be best to contact your flooring installer, the store you purchased the carpet from, or the manufacturer. As always, if you have any questions regarding this post, please feel free to call or email me.

Here's a quick summary of some key points for you:

• Most carpet warranties require professional cleaning at least every 24 months.
• If cleaning your carpets yourself, be sure to mix chemicals properly and rinse the carpet thoroughly.
• The quicker you can clean a spill on your carpet, the better chance you have of removing the spot. 
• Blot the spot! 
• Only use water or a mild dishwashing detergent to spot clean carpets on your own.
• After cleaning your own carpets be sure to rinse them well to remove the detergent.

Thanks for reading!

Kurtis
ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.
877-214-1664   814-764-3232
kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

New Year, New Happenings, and a Disclaimer

Bloggers, welcome to 2013! We had a great 2012 at ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. and are looking forward to what 2013 holds for us. Just a short recap of our 2012: we survived the end of the world...twice, helped people get back on their feet after a disaster at their home, expanded our disaster restoration services and service area, and have made strides toward a more "green" approach to cleaning.

In 2013 we are excited to announce that we are now members of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce. We are thrilled to be affiliated with such an awesome group and can't wait to see what the Chamber has to offer, as well as informing the members and others in the Oil City are what we can offer to them. 

We hope to push forward with developing our presence online. In 2012 we developed our social media outlets via Facebook and Twitter. With your help, we can continue to push forward on the web. Let us know what you want to see and interact with us online. Believe it or not, we are pretty exciting people!

Going along with our membership to the Venango Chamber, I have been given the opportunity to author a small column in their monthly newsletter. I'm thrilled to be given this chance to put some great information out for local business owners. So move to the edge of your seat, keep your eyes peeled, and burn your mouse out* clicking the refresh button on your browser while you wait patiently for the next edition of the newsletter. You can download it here!

As always, thanks for reading and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

Kurtis Bell

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

*ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. and the author may not be held responsible for damages caused to your computer mouse, tablet screen, phone screen, or any other device which you may click feverishly. 

Stressed, Overworked, Feeling Down? Try This...

The Christmas season is upon us and you know what that means? Yes, we get a little time off work to celebrate the season with those close to us. This time off work also means that we will be shuffling papers, crunching numbers, and pulling our hair out trying to meet deadlines so we can have a work-free holiday. These last few days before some much needed time off can take a toll on you if you're not prepared to handle the stress that comes with the pressure of meeting deadlines. Here are some great tips from Inc. Magazine on beating stress.

1. Bring a photo of your significant other or close friend.

A minute or two spent looking at the photo before you are "on" can reset your nervous system. You'll then feel more relaxed and confident because you'll feel more grounded and at home, even in an uncomfortable or unusual setting.

2. Play with a squeeze ball.

The process of squeezing and tensing muscles and then letting go--even if just using fine motor movements--drops your heart rate and makes you less nervous. You can also play with beads or roll stones in your hand; that's why playing with a pen helps many people focus.

The effect is based on proprioperception, the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation (and a word really hard to say three times quickly.) "You can eliminate fear by 'knowing where you are,'" Dolan says.

Playing with a squeeze ball is perfect for phone calls or webinars. In person, make sure whatever you use to ground yourself isn't distracting to others.

3. Sit on a very large yoga ball and bounce away.

While any amount of bouncing is good, Dolan recommends 15 minutes. "It's really fun, it makes you laugh, and it causes changes to the chemicals in your brain," she says. "You can't release cortisol and adrenaline when you're having fun. You release endorphins instead. That eliminates the fight or flight response and makes you feel more relaxed and confident. The effect can often last for a couple hours."

Sound crazy? Here's some of the underlying science:

• Bouncing promotes vestibuluar integration. The vestibular system provides the body with information about space, balance, movement, and triggers balance receptors. Vestibular input acts to "prime" your nervous system to function effectively.
• Bouncing stimulates proprioperception, increasing alertness and decreasing anxiety and making you feel more safe and secure.
• Bouncing stimulates the speech and language centers of your brain, making you speak more easily and fluently when you're done.
• Bouncing stimulates the reticular activating system, a neural mechanism that produces alertness and focused attention.

Told you it works.

4. Visualize.

Mental rehearsal is a tool used by successful athletes, performers, astronauts--pretty much everyone.

"Before you walk in the room, visualize a time when you did something and really nailed it, even if what you did doesn't apply to the current situation," Dolan says. "That will cause your brain to secrete serotonin and oxytocin, two chemicals that boost confidence, enthusiasm, and motivation."

You'll be thinking about what you're about to do anyway, so why not visualize exactly how you want it to go and how you'll feel afterward?

Worrying about failure won't help, but visualizing success can.

5. Breathe deep.

Deep abdominal breathing cuts adrenaline and is the scientific basis for the old saw, "Take a deep breath." Adrenaline can trigger fight or flight and also shuts down your frontal cortex, which causes you to be less rational and reasonable.

Two minutes of deep breathing--picture expanding your chest and your stomach, or what Dolan calls belly button deep breathing--will make you a lot less nervous.

Try one. Try two. If what you're about to do is incredibly important--and you're incredibly nervous--try them all.

The impact on your performance will be worth it.

Who would have thought that bouncing on an exercise ball could keep you from pulling your hair out? Now that you've been filled in on the secrets for beating stress, get back to knocking out your work so you can relax this year and enjoy your time off work over Christmas and New Years. You know you deserve it. 

Once again, thanks for reading! I'll be taking the next few weeks off the blog to enjoy my holiday festivities. I apologize in advance to those of you clinging to your seat for the weekly update. Perhaps I can squeak out a small post from my phone if I can figure it out. 

Have a great Christmas and a tremendous New Year!

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.

814-764-3232   877-214-1664

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

A Change of Pace

So for my dedicated blog followers, you may have noticed this blog has been primarily focused on cleaning issues. Today, I will take a slight step off the beaten trail.

I was recently asked to join a referral networking group. My first thought was "Wow, I have to be in Oil City at what time every Monday?!" While an 8AM meeting almost an hour away from home may seem a daunting task to begin your week with, it has proven to be a great resource and a vehicle to meet new, exciting people. The group consists of a variety of business owners. There is a photographer, a chef, a chiropractor, and a salon owner just to name a few. You might ask yourself, "What can these various business owners possibly have in common?" The answer is simple. They all want to make their business thrive, not just grow, but shatter expectations.

Each week we cover various topics and learn more and more about each other. Bonds begin forming and growing amongst the members, and it was not long before the referrals began to flow. Aside from referrals we also share business tips. Week after week these tips have provided a vehicle to get new ideas flowing and spark the creative genius in all of us. We have passed on tips and tricks from our own minds as well as the minds over at Forbes and other influential business publications and writers.

While I was skeptical at first, I am very excited about the group and encourage other business people to get out and find a similar group, or even join us if you are in the Oil City area. If you have any questions please feel free to send them my way.

As always, thanks for reading!


Kurtis
ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.
kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

Seasonal Influenza: The Flu

As the cold weather sets in for us in Northwest Pennsylvania, a hot topic year after year is Seasonal Influenza. If you are unfamiliar with the term, chances are you know it as the flu. Every year it seems there is always that one kid, or coworker that returns to school or work early from the flu (or doesn't even take time off). Thanks to this workaholic, we now have an  elevated level of germs in the area that may be carrying the influenza virus. Below, I'll give you some tips and tricks for dodging the flu this winter and staying healthy so you can enjoy the holidays.

1. It is not just a "2 or 3 day bug."

Typically, healthy adults are able to infect others 1 day before symptoms show and up to 5-7 days after they fall ill. So do your friends, coworkers, fellow students, and the general public a service by staying in a few extra days. Just think of all the episodes of your favorite tv show you'll be able to catch up on.

2. Door knobs are dirty, but...

Below are the results of a survey published in a recent CleanLink News article about work place cleanliness.

• 51 percent of employees only clean their desks once a week or less, even though germs can live on surfaces for up to three days, especially on the keyboard – typically one of the dirtiest personal workspace items.
• 25 percent believe that door knobs/handles are the dirtiest places in the office, while only 6 percent recognize that the break room sink is actually the dirtiest, followed by the office microwave, which only 8 percent selected.

3. Wash your hands

Just like Mom used to tell you after coming in from playing outside in the mud. This critical step goes a long way in preventing the spread of the flu to you, as long as you do it regularly and frequently. Be sure to use an antibacterial hand soap and a clean, dry, disposable towel to dry your hands (a damp towel is a wonderful place to harbor germs, so why dry your hands with one?). 

4. Don't touch that!

After coming in to contact with a surface or object that could be a high risk for harboring the influenza virus, do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until you have washed your hands. Touching your face after resting your hand on the desk your coworker (who took yesterday off because he or she had the flu) just sneezed on is a great way to pick up the flu.

Now there was a lot of information there and believe me, I am not trying to turn you in to a germaphobe. I would just suggest you lend a more cautious eye to your everyday interactions this winter to help avoid falling ill to the flu. Once again, thanks for reading and i'll see you all out there with your white gloves, surgical masks, and gallons of hand sanitizer! (I'm kidding...that might make you a germaphobe).

Until next time,

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. 

877-214-1664   814-764-3232

smbybell@gmail.com

Well, today threw a curve ball my way. Due to some issues with the vehicle fleet, i will be unabe to publish the article on flu prevention as i had planned for today. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some peace at the office to allow me to get writing. 

Let's Talk Mold

So once again, I find myself back on a hot topic: Mold. I am often asked to take a look at structures that are thought to have mold issues. Too many times customers ask about the cheapest and easiest way to rid their home or other building of mold, as well as what they can do to take care of the issues on their own. Let me make this very clear: mold in your home or any other structure that is inhabited is an extremely serious issue that should be left to trained and knowledgeable professionals.

Let's cover some reasons why you should not risk your health and your structure's integrity trying to remediate fungal issues on your own.

-Fungal growth such as mold can cause various health issues (skin irritation, eye irritation, and nasal congestion are just some minor affects). CDC: How do molds affect people?

-Attempting to remediate mold on your own can actually do more harm than good. If your cleaning methods involve introducing any more moisture to the environment that is not properly dried, more extensive fungal growth is a possibility. Also, you may inadvertently add another food source for the fungus to feed on and continue growing.

-If one attempts to remediate mold on his or own, he or she may cause the fungus to go airborne. If this happens, it may put you or the other inhabitants of the building at an increased risk for respiratory problems.

-Fungus knows how to do two things: eat, and grow. When a fungus feeds it is actually breaking down the food source (fruit, bread, your home's structure) and aiding as well as accelerating the natural decomposition process.


As you can see, the risks associated with trying to remediate mold without the help of a certified professional far outweigh the money that may be saved up front. Please, if you suspect there may be mold growing in your home, contact a certified professional first.

We at ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc. have trained professionals on staff that can help assess any fungal issues you may have, as well as lay out a plan for what needs to be done to correct the issues. We use professional grade products and instruments to remediate mold and other fungal issues, so why not leave the health of you and your family to trained professionals?

Thanks for reading!

ServiceMaster by Bell, Inc.
877-214-1664
814-764-3232
smbybell@gmail.com

Cleaning Up Spills On Your Carpet

Often I have people ask what they should do to treat small spills on their carpets or furniture. The answer is relatively simple and will save you may headaches down the road. Let's say you're having spaghetti for dinner and your child, who insists on watching his or her favorite cartoon while eating dinner, drops some sauce on your light colored carpet. This glaring red splotch may be the end of the line for your living room carpet, right? Wrong...Don't panic and don't throw every cleaning supply from the cupboard on to the spot. Just wet a clean cloth with warm water and keep another dry, clean cloth handy as well. Start by blotting the spot with the damp cloth. Look for transfer of the spot from the carpet to the cloth. Continue blotting until there is no longer transfer visible. Then blot the spot with the dry cloth, again looking for transfer. Never rub a spot in an attempt to remove it. This will only grind the substance in to the carpet and worsen the situation. 

Thanks again for reading, and as always, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Summer Concerns

Ahhhh, Summer is finally upon us. It feels like it took forever to get here. As you may have noticed with the increase of temperature we also often experience an increase in humidity. This can really present a problem for many people. Have you ever noticed that as summer sets in, there is an odd musty odor that creeps in to your home seemingly coming from your basement? If this is the case, there may be some issues to address within your home to protect you and your family from the dangers that indoor fungal growth presents. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in learning more about, send me an email at kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com .

Thanks again for reading,

Kurtis

Let's Do Lunch Slideshow

For those of you who couldn't make it to my presentation today or if you were there and want another look at the slide show, I have posted the slides from the slide show below. As always, please feel free to email or call me with any questions you may have.

Thanks,

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell Inc.

Indoor Air Quality and Its Importance...Plus a Coupon Just for You!

Coming up very soon you will have a unique opportunity to sit in on a lunchtime seminar hosted by the Clarion Hospital. This happens quarterly, but why am I excited about the upcoming seminar? Because I am one of the featured speakers! That's right, I'll be at the Holiday Inn on February 9th at noon to give a presentation on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as part of Clarion Hospital's "Let's do Lunch" series.

The cost of each program is $6, and a full lunch is included. Programs begin at 12:00 noon and are held at the Holiday Inn of Clarion in the courtyard.

Reserve your seat by calling 814-226-1362. The deadline to make a reservation is the Friday before each program, which would be February 2, 2012.

Now if that isn't great enough, I'll sweeten the deal some more for you. At the end of the post I'm putting up a coupon for 10% off your next service of $100.00 or more with us at ServiceMaster by Bell Inc. To take advantage of this coupon you have to print it out and bring it to the seminar at noon on February 9, 2012 and see me afterwards. I'll endorse it, making it valid for use. Please note that any coupons that are not endorsed by me will not be valid.

So let me recap this post for you:

At noon on 2/9/2012 for $6.00 you get lunch and get to hear some great people talk about keeping a healthy and safe home. If you print off the coupon attached below and bring it to the seminar for me to endorse, you can save 10% off your next service bill of $100.00 or more with ServiceMaster by Bell Inc.

It doesn't get much better than that. Well, maybe it does, but not as far as I can see. So, clear your lunch hour on February 9th and I'll see you at the Clarion Holiday Inn.

Here's a link to Clarion Hospital's "Let's Do Lunch" page: http://www.clarionhospital.org/clh.nsf/View/letsdolunch

Also, here's a map of where the Holiday Inn is located, just in case you are not sure: http://g.co/maps/t37pg

One last thing. As I promised, below is the coupon. Remember to print it out and bring it to the seminar for me to endorse. That is the only way to cash in on this offer.

My Pet is uh...Peeing on the Carpet...

So you have a problem. Maybe Precious the cat has found a new litter box and it just so happens to be your new living room carpet. Now before you kick the cat, hose down the carpet with Febreze, and dump your favorite cleaning solution on it think about it for a minute. In you mind, kicking the cat may be a practical idea but I would suggest taking your anger out in a different way. It also may seem like a good idea to spray as many air fresheners and cleaning products on your carpet as you can find, but think about what you are doing to that new carpet you just had put down. You're creating a lovely chemical cocktail that may bleach out your carpet (refer to a prior post to hear my rant on that).

So, if Spot the dog happens to spot your carpet please give us a call. We would love to help. If we can get in to take care of the spots before the pet continues marking the area and before you try to treat the spots, there is a good chance we can remove the spot and the odor. If you let this go for a few months and then call us you'll be looking at more than a cleaning bill to fix the problem. In that time the urine will most likely soak down through the carpet and in to the carpet pad and subfloor. If this is the case the only way to truly correct the issue is to lift the carpet, remove the pad, seal the subfloor, replace the pad, put the carpet back down and then clean the carpet. Sounds like a big headache right? So when your pet decides it is too cold to go outside and starts doing its business indoors just give us a call right away. We'll save you some headaches and some cash, and who doesn't want that?

Well, thanks again for reading and have a great holiday!

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell Inc.

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

877.214.1664

814.764.3232

Did you Experience a Furnace Puffback?

If you have turned on your home heating system this fall and discovered a dark film over the contents of your home, you may have experienced a furnace puffback. If this is the case there are some things you must know. First off, please call a professional restoration service (as always, our contact information will be provided below). Second, do not touch anything that is covered in this dirt, or film. Chances are it is not just dirt or dust. Most times it is an oily substance that will smear, making it nearly impossible to clean off completely. At ServiceMaster by Bell Inc., we have the proper training and tools to clean up after a furnace puffback so you don't have to worry about a thing.

If you have any questions, or think you may have experienced a furnace puffback please giv us a call. I have provided our contact information below for your convenience.

Thanks again,

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell Inc.

877-214-1664

814-764-3232

kurtis.smbybell@gmail.com

Something to Keep in MInd

Hey there, it's another lovely day at the office. As I sit at my desk looking out at the lovely grey skies and think, I can't get the images of ugly carpet discoloration out of my mind. It seems that 1 in ever 3 carpet estimates I do I see discolored carpets. The first thing I ask is what made the stain, or discoloration. This is so I can decide what chemicals our crew needs to use to get the best results. Secondly, I ask if it was a stain and is now discolored if they tried to clean it and if so what they used to clean it. 90% of the time I hear the customer tell me they used a stain lifting product from the local store which will remain nameless (I will tell you, it stars with "RE" and ends with "SOLVE"). I can not stress to our customers how much I am against using off the shelf carpet spotters or stain removers. Often, they think I am just trying to sell them on my product but that is not the case. I am trying to save them from having unsightly spots on their carpets that will never come out. Right now you may even be thinking "Oh wow, he is trying to sell me on some product right now", but that is not the case. Want to find out first hand? Go out and get some of the aforementioned stain remover or carpet cleaner and try it on the stain. If you have done this you will probably have a nice pink or bleached out stain on your carpets that will not come out. Of course I really do not want anyone to try this and will not be held responsible if you do try that.

Take care of stains the right way. Blot the excess liquid up from the carpet. Do not try to wipe the stain out because this will simply set it in making it more difficult to clean. Then, grab your ServiceMaster spot kit and go to town with the carpet spotter and a damp rag blotting until there is no transfer occurring. If this has still not completely removed the stain just give us a call and we'd be glad to come take care of it for you!

Thanks again for reading and make sure you subscribe!

Kurtis

ServiceMaster by Bell Inc.

814-764-3232

877-214-1664

kurts.smbybell@gmail.com