Enviroclean of Illinois

Information may not be reliable

Enviroclean is the First Carpet Cleaning Company to employ the New Higher Level Class of Cleaning, which is Bio-contamination remediation for addressing Health care issues related to cleaning. This New Class of Higher Level Cleaning has been developed to respond to the Biological Contamination Issue, which all types of cleaning should have been addressing all along. Cleaning can be defined as either a health care issue or a cosmetic issue. Admittedly, most of our clients remain as clients for life because of the amazing appearance and quick drying times which we provide them. They can relax with the knowledge and peace of mind that their homes and facilities have been cleaned with the most meticulous and effective health care cleaning protocols.

This first paragraph isa very brief overview of thearticle: Carpetingprovides a healthierindoor air quality than smooth floors because itacts like a filter which TRAPS and HOLDS germs so that they cannot become airborne. Wooden and smoothfloors do NOT trap the germs which allows them toeasily become airborne to infect us.When germs are “trapped” and “contained”, they do not become airborne as easily and cannot gain access to our respiratory systems. Carpeting is also greener than wooden and tiled floors;carpeting can be recycled repeatedly into plastic bottles, or even carpeting over and over. Woodfloors require that trees arechopped down, however, I recall as a child that planting trees is going green, not chopping them down. It can’t be both ways. Once installed, wood and tiled floors are later destined for the garbage dump or the fire pit…doesn’t sound very green to me. This isa very simplistic synopsis. Please continue reading to learn more about the science and logic behind these claims, it will completely change how you view your health and the environment.
The following is indisputable evidence which overwhelmingly proves that carpeting is both much HEALTHIER and vastly GREENER than wooden or tiled floors. Contrary to popularly held beliefs, properly maintained carpeting provides a much greater health benefit than wooden or tiled floors within our homes and indoor environments, and carpeting is significantly greener than either. You can choose one of three options at this point: 1. You may choose to continue reading and discover the science,logic, and evidence which supports this claim. 2. You may disagree and attack the messenger 3. You may choose to ignore the facts because they upset your belief system and then continue upon your path with incorrect assumptions.
Addressing the authors credentials briefly: George Heuvelman has been cleaning carpeting and flooring for the past 26 years, and is the founder and owner of Enviroclean of Illinois, Inc., which is a carpet and hard surface floor cleaning company specializing in health and hygienic cleaning standards. George attended Arizona State University where he majored in Engineering. He has invented and patented numerous devices ranging from: carpet cleaning tools, to medical devices, to landscape equipment in addition to the invention of machines for cleaning tile floors and grout.
Many people have been incorrectly informed that carpeting is unhealthy or unsanitary. All of those reasons for which carpeting is presumed unhealthy, are precisely the same reasons which support the fact that carpeting provides a much healthier benefit than smooth floors such as wood or tile. The unhealthy microscopic contaminates within our homes includes: Dead human and animal skin cells, dust mites, dust mite excrement, dead dust mite carcasses, bacteria, mold spores, pollen spores, dried pet saliva, viruses, and of course carbon, lint, silica, quartz, clay, and others. Remember, it is the direct contact with airborne germs and other contaminates within our homes which adversely affects our health. Germs which have been removed from the air cannot affect us. A filter which can trap and hold those contaminates would be the ideal solution. Carpeting is such a filter, which traps and holds the germs, thus removing them from the repetitive circle of continuous movement from floor to air and back. Forget the word carpeting for a moment and instead, think of carpeting as a floor filter which has been installed to clean and purify the air by CAPTURING, TRAPPING, and HOLDING the unhealthy microscopic biological contaminates. The exact same contaminates exist in homes with wooden floors or carpeting. Without a filtering mechanism to secure the germs, the contaminates landing upon the smooth floors are thereby encouraged to easily become airborne with any slight air disturbance created by practically any movement such as: merely walking through a room, sweeping a floor, vacuuming, or any other air disturbance which effortlessly lifts the microscopic particles into the air, and they can remain airborne for up to 8 hours or even longer if exposed to additional disturbances. For an illustrative exercise, imagine hundreds of children running across the SMOOTH tiled floors of a school corridor creating a huge air disturbance and stirring up germs which were previously at rest upon the floor. Conversely, imagine the same exercise within the same school corridor, however, now it has been covered with a floor filter (carpeting) which TRAPS and HOLDS the germs. The germs are held steadfast and do NOT become airborne nearly as easily as with smooth flooring.
Ive heard from clients who have wooden floors within their homes who tell me that they clean their floors frequently. They are under the impression that their cleaning action has removed the germs, while in reality, their cleaning actions have in actuality disturbed the previously at rest microscopic germs thus causing them to become airborne, and they have mistakenly identified temporary cosmetic improvement as removal of germs. Their cleaning activity merely exacerbates an already unhealthy condition. Remember, that cleaning is performed for only 2 reasons; health or appearance. The typical homeowner believes that he / she performs high quality cleaning, judging by the resultant appearance. Some of the much larger visible contaminates are easy to remove with sweeping or damp mopping, thereby, satisfying the desire to improve the appearance of the floor. Unfortunately, it is the microscopic (unseen) contaminants which are so tiny that the smallest air disturbances easily lift them into the air for us to breathe and become infected which are airborne long before the sweeper or dust mop has physically reached them. Mold spores in particular easily become airborne with the slightest air disturbance, even the small disturbance created by a person walking in one room of a house is great enough to cause the mold spores in a different room to become airborne. This illustrates howsmooth surfaces easily release germs into the air, and thus exacerbate an unhealthy indoor environment.
Quick reference: During the 15 year period from 1975 until 1990, the Swedish government felt that carpeting was unhealthy and removed it from nearly all of the public buildings and schools, installing smooth floors in place. The result: Allergic reactions of the occupants and students increased dramatically. The final determination was that the positive filtering attributes of carpeting had not been taken into consideration or understood better. Overwhelming evidence now clearly indicates that properly maintained carpeting provides a much healthier benefit than wooden or tiled floors within our homes and indoor environments. There is a negative stigma associated with carpeting which is undeserved. Most homeowners do not pay the necessary attention to, nor do they provide the proper maintenance services for their carpeting, and as a result they blame the carpeting for poor performance issues and therefore unhealthy conditions. Unfortunately for the consumer, most carpet cleaners rinse carpeting with soaps, optical brightening agents, and dirt masking chemicals, all of which essentially mask the contamination, and therefore intensify the problem.
At Enviroclean, our companys primary focus as carpet and floor cleaning professionals is biological contamination remediation. We can fix any cosmetic or appearance issue, including spots and stains that other carpet cleaners leave behind, however, improving appearance without removing the biological contamination is counterproductive and contributes to an unhealthy condition. The fact is that the homeowner typically addresses the cosmetic care issues of his / her smooth surfaced floors (tile and wood) very regularly, but then neglects the carpeting, which should be cleaned as frequently as replacing the filter on the furnace. For most of us, thats approximately 4 times per year. Unfortunately, the majority of supposed professional carpet cleaners do more damage to carpeting than the hoped benefit, so just imagine the ill effects caused by a homeowner who self-cleans their own carpeting. Those who choose to self-clean their own carpeting using a rental machine from a store, are merely inviting all of the germs from every home that that machine was used in prior to their own home.
Currently there is a noticeable fanatical endorsement of natural materials within our indoor environments ostensibly because they are natural and thus assumed to be healthier than synthetic materials. Once again, the facts prevail over the feel-goodism of the moment. You must not conclude that natural materials are healthier. For instance, mold spores, bacteria, grass, weeds, and viruses are natural, but we do not install them within our homes. Natural floor coverings such as wool are made from the hair of sheep, and when you think about it, is actually quite unsanitary. Would anyone want and accept a carpet made from human hair lying on their floor? I would guess the answer is probably not. Hemp and other natural wall coverings provide an excellent food source and promote the growth of mold and bacteria whenever the conditions exist such as high humidity and temperatures. Mold does not grow on synthetic surfaces such as carpeting; it only grows where there is an organic food source available. Carpeting is not a food source, however, the trapped contaminates are, which is a great reason to have your carpeting cleaned. Important note: How and who should perform the cleaning is a whole subject unto itself, however, I must add that we at Enviroclean have been addressing the issue of correct cleaning procedures for proper hygiene for nearly 20 years.
Carpeting is also Greener than wood floors. So I am compelled to ask. When did chopping down a tree become classified as being a green activity? I was always under the impression that planting a tree was green, now it appears that cutting a tree down is also green. You cant have it both ways. Advocates of wood flooring will note that those trees came from sustainable forests. We have already proved that wood floors contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment, and now we discover that wood floors are not very green either. Yes, they are natural, but so is excrement from our pets, therefore, the goal of natural is not a specific science, but rather an emotionally contrived ideology. Wood floors have very limited recyclable capabilities. Wooden floors are also typically treated with polyurethane, Once wooden or tiled floors have been installed, they are not recyclable, they will end up in a landfill (nice term for garbage dump), or perhaps burned where they end up as airborne carbon. Doesnt sound very green does it? Some people have also begun to install wall coverings made from hemp and cotton. Although these materials are natural, they can also harm the indoor environment by allowing the growth of mold and bacteria. Mold and bacteria grow where there is a suitable source of food, humidity, and temperature. Natural materials are themselves the food source. Wool rugs are also a food source for mold and bacteria. Conversely, mold and bacteria cannot grow on synthetic materials such as nylon or polyester carpeting. The food source is the organic contaminates which land upon the carpeting that allow for the growth of mold, but not the synthetic carpeting itself.
At Enviroclean, our carpet and floor cleaning services employ health and hygienic carpet cleaning standards and protocols. You should ask yourself, when you have your carpeting cleaned, is it a health related function or a cosmetic function? Most people clean for appearance with the belief that if it looks cleaner, it must be healthier. Im sorry to report, but thats not necessarily the result. In fact, most cleaning is performed with the primary goal of improving appearance, which means that the carpet cleaner is being judged by the cosmetic results.
For more information you can visit their website at www.HealthyCarpetCleaner.com

1. Swedish study http://www.interfaceflor.eu/internet/otherfiles.nsf/Lookup/Healthcare_CRI/$file/Healthcare_CRI.pdf
This above link provides volumes of studies and graphical evidence which supports the fact that properly maintained carpeting is significantly healthier than smooth floors.
2. The health benefits of carpet cleaning
Dr. Michael Berry, in his book Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health, says that most indoor cleaning problems are related to improperly maintained carpeting.
Dr. Berry continues, Carpets act as a sink to collect pollutants of all kinds from indoors and out, according to Berry. As the sink gets filled up (the carpet gets polluted), it stores more and more dirt, dust and contaminants. When the sink is full, it needs to be emptied. He says that people clean carpets because they look dirty, although by the time you can see the dirt in the carpet, it is probably filthy. Rarely do people clean their carpets in an effort to protect their health, Berry says, but cleaning carpet regularly can improve indoor air quality. Some of the benefits of extracting pollutants from carpets include: Reducing health problems from loose particles; reducing cases of biologically induced illness; reducing lifetime cancer risks; reducing complaints for building owners and managers; and reducing liability for building owners and managers.
3. Additional reference information:
a. A study covering 23 countries that looked at individuals that had carpeted and non-carpeted bedrooms to determine in which type of rooms people had less allergic reactions. The study revealed that individuals who had carpeted bedrooms had lower allergic reactions to contaminants in the air than did those with non-carpeted bedrooms.
b. The second study examined asthmatic children in carpeted schools, non-carpeted schools, carpeted bedrooms and non-carpeted bedrooms. Researchers found that those children that had carpeted bedrooms had much less severe symptoms and used less medication than all three of the other groups.
c. The third study looked at the protective influences of carpet in bedrooms for those children who suffer from asthma. Researchers again found that the filter-like capabilities of carpet in the bedroom allowed the children to use lower levels of medication to deal with their asthma than children in non-carpeted bedrooms.

As a Health and Hygienic Issue: To make safe for human habitation. To reduce and or remove potentially unsafe biological contaminates and germs within an indoor environment in an effort to reduce exposure to unhealthy issues.
As a Cosmetic Issue: To make more appealing. To satisfy subjective vanity concerns. To hide unpleasant blemishes. To optically enhance a visually unpalatable issue.
As Both a Health and Cosmetic Issue: To combine both definitions as described above.
We are the only carpet cleaning company that we are aware of whose primary focus is Health Care cleaning. We have spent years researching the contaminates which reside within our homes and buildings, and we have designed cleaning (healthful cleaning solutions) programs to address Indoor Health Quality. You will not find health care as the primary focus of any other carpet cleaning company. They may say that cleaning carpeting is healthy, but you must remember, it is not what you do, but how you do it. Most companies provide healthy amounts of Lip service, unfortunately, assuming that because they cleaned for cosmetic issues, it (whatever was cleaned) by default must therefore be healthier. Frankly, cosmetic cleaning runs counter to hygienic cleaning, however, if performed correctly, the two issues can be combined for a healthy and cosmetically appealing result. Why do we wash our hands many many times each day? To remove germs of course.
I recently read an article entitled 10 things your hospital wont tell you, You may leave sicker than when you came in. The article described how approximately 2 million people per year in the USA alone contract hospital related infections, and about 90,000 (over 100,000 is more accurate) of them will die from an infection such as MRSA, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats equal to about 300 people dying every day from an infection contracted during a stay at a hospital. Just imagine, most of those illnesses and deaths are preventable. Unfortunately, poorly trained janitors using poorly devised cleaning procedures do not address health and hygienic issues. They merely address cosmetic issues in the hopes that their effort leads to an improvement in the indoor environmental quality. Truly, it is the administrators of cleaning programs who are ultimately responsible for the lack ofeducation regarding the objectives of appropriate health and hygienic focused results.In fact, it is administrators of cleaning programswho define cleaning as a cosmetic issue. They realize that their job is dependent upon appearance, and unfortunately, they must spend a majority of their effortssatisfyingcosmentic issues at the expense of human safety.

What is Mold? good mold facts
Mold is afungusthat can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species of mold exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand different kinds ofmold. Mold grows best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making moldspores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth. Some of the common forms of indoor mold species areCladosporium,Penicillium, Alternaria andAspergillus.
What causes mold to grow?
Mold occurs naturally, and is found everywhere. When abnormally high concentrations of mold are found indoors, problems result. There are four major elements that contribute to indoor mold growth:

Food source – mold feeds on all sorts of cellulose materials such as wood, fabrics, wall paper, and other materials commonly found in the home.
Temperature – mold thrives in temperatures between 40 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

How does mold travel? mold facts

Mold spores can migrate through the air, through water, and can hitch a ride on a host, such as humans and their clothing. Airborne mold spores will follow air currents created by normal movements of family members from one room to another, and up and down stairs.

Is mold dangerous? facts about mold

Mold spores release “mycotoxins” into the air, which are inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Some people are particularly sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. People with severe allergies, or those exposed to large amounts of mold, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.

Where are molds found?

Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high. Places where mold exposures are usually high include basements, unvented bathrooms, saunas, antique shops, florist shops, greenhouses, farms, summer cottages, mills, etc.

Is Mold Making You Sick?

Researchers continue to uncover and discover new data and information about mold and the effects that it has on humans. What we do know is that different molds have different effects on different individuals.
Inhaled mold spores can create allergenic and infectious symptoms that may cause diverse reactions.
The most common symptoms may include eye irritation, runny nose, coughing, sinus pressure, headache, throat irritation, tightness of chest and fatigue.
The most serious symptomsinclude increased severity of asthma, vomiting, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
It is possible to experience symptoms from mold exposure by ingesting, inhaling, or touching mold. The growth of any type of mold indoors is a potential risk to humans. Thus, mold should be treated with caution and removed from a home or building as soon as possible.
Enviroclean of Illinois, Inc. and its employees are not health professionals – all information above is gathered through trade publications and documents. If you feel you are sick as the result of mold contamination, we recommend you consult with a doctor regarding your health and have your home or building investigated for mold and other potential air quality contaminants.
“Control the moisture, control the mold.”

Regular carpet maintenance hits the spot
Though they serve primarily as decorative elements in our home, rugs and carpeting are particular prone to abuses of daily wear and tear.
Taking care of your carpet properly requires regular maintenance and a deep cleaning now and then. These simple guidelines will help you keep area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting in the best shape possibly especially during the heavy-traffic holiday season.

Dirt is the number one enemy of rugs and carpet. IT causes the fibers to mat and discolor, so it makes sense to limit how much dirt gets into carpets in the first place. Consider establishing a no-shoes rule inside your home. Or place commercial quality doormats at each entrance.
These mats (available at home stores) have a combination of stiff and absorbent fibers, allowing them to trap far more dirt than a standard residential doormat would. Frequent and thorough vacuuming is essential to routine carpet care. Ideally, high-traffic areas should be vacuumed daily. Less traveled areas should be vacuumed at least twice a week. You should go over the same areas four to 12 times (depending on the amount of traffic) forward and ack, varying the direction in which you push the vacuum. Change the vacuum bag when its half full to increase efficiency.

It may surprise you to learn that most spots can be removed from carpeting with nothing more than soapy water. The key to getting them out is to work on spills as soon as they occur. Trying to rub out a stain is not a good ideait pushes the spill further into the pile and causes fibers to mat. Instead, scoop up as much as possible with a spoon, and then blot by covering the area with a clean towel or a white paper towels. Press down and repeat until all the liquid is absorbed.
Mix your own spot-cleaning solution by diluting a few drops of colorless hand-dishwashing soap in water. Use less than teaspoon of soap per quart of water. Do not use laundry detergent of creamy-looking hand-dishwashing soap because it may leave a sticky residue. To remove colored spills or spot-cleaning solutions, such as soapy water or vinegar, either mist the area with clean water or blot it with a wet towel. Then blot the area with a dry towel. Repeat these two steps until no more residue comes out. For stubborn stains that simply wont come out with soapy water, attack the spot with an appropriate solvent (listed below). Avoid using oxygen cleaners which have a tendency to strip carpets of their stain-resistant coatings and break down dyes.
ORGANIC STAINS (blood, berries, candy, chocolate, coffee): Dab on 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with a soft towel.
ALKALINE STAINS (pet urine, beer): Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle; mist stain, blot and rinse.
ACIDIC STAINS (ketchup, mixed drinks, soy sauce): Mix 1 tablespoon ammonia and cup water in a spray bottle; mist stain, blot and rinse. Never use ammonia on wool rugs or carpet.
OILY WAXY STAINS (tar, wax crayon, hand lotion, ink, makeup): Dampen with rubbing alcohol using a towel or cotton ball.
NAIL POLISH STAINS: Dab on nonoily nail-polish remover with a cotton swab (be careful not to get any on the carpet backing); blot with a towel and repeat.
CHEWING GUM: Freeze with ice cubes, then break off bits and pick them out. If that doesnt work, go to a janitorial-supply store for a commercial spray that freezes the gum instantly and allows you to chip it off.

Even with good maintenance, most carpets require a deep cleaning once a year. Professional steam cleaning works best on wall-to-wall carpeting and may be required by the warranty.
If you want to perform this task yourself on carpeting such as synthetic fibers, rent an extraction machine from a carpet supplier (supermarket models are less powerful).
Do-it-yourself steam cleaning is not recommended for rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting made of wool or plant fibers (such as sisal and jute), so leave those jobs to a professional.
-Re-printed from Martha Stewarts column in the Northwest Herald

Generally, there are 4 main types of materials used in carpeting and rugs today (there are others, sisal, jute, rayon, acetate). As a certified carpet cleaning professional, I am well aware of the different types of materials used in the fabrication of carpeting. I can tell you without reservation that nylon, and more specifically, nylon 6,6 is by far the best material overall for most installations. Weve all heard of olefin (polypropylene), polyester, and in some cases, will find wall to wall wool (say that 3 times quickly).
Why is nylon so much better? Todays nylon has superior retention (ability to bounce back) and resiliency. Its stain resistant properties are excellent, in fact nearly the same as olefin and polyester. Wait a minute, it sounds like Im saying olefin and polyester are better at resisting stainsyes and no. Olefin and polyester have very poor resiliency, and even worse, they permanently crush and flatten out. Additionally, they are oleophylic (oil loving), which means they absorb oil. Without very frequent cleaning and maintenance, they will be permanently discolored by oil from shoes, leather soles (theres oil in them too), cooking oil ( atomized particles flying through the air during dinner time), and any food substances which contain oils. Finally, olefin and polyester are significantly more prone to permanent traffic lane matting, although the term is misused, I will use it here now, and nap reversal. This appears as a discoloration in the middle of the most heavily traveled areas. Actually, it is a crushing of the fibers in a way that they do not reflect light evenly to our eyes. None the less, it is not what you expected six months after purchasing new carpeting.
Why do I say to beware the carpet salesman? Often times salesmen will hype the stain resisting qualities of olefin and polyester, however, they overlook the poor performance characteristics because it initially satisfies the customers desire for a miracle fiber which will resist everything. Soon, however, the poor performance of these materials becomes extremely evident as browning and nap reversal in traffic lanes causes the appearance of this miracle fiber to diminish rapidly. A concerned salesman will be familiar with the performance characteristics of all the materials used in carpeting, and will recommend nylon for any areas which will receive moderate to heavy traffic. They (olefin and polyester) just cant hold up to even moderate traffic.
There are very ethical carpet salesmen out there as well. These salesmen are very knowledgeable regarding the performance characteristics of the different types of carpeting. If they do not know, walk, no run away, and call us for our Technical Bulletins describing the characteristics of each carpet type.