Who doesn’t love a load of freshly dried bath towels or bedsheets? A well-functioning clothes dryer is a luxury many Maryland residents enjoy on a daily basis. But, what happens when the dryer slows down and isn’t drying your laundry quite so well? The good thing is you can call a technician to your house to clean out the dryer vents before you hand over a lot of money for a new dryer. The benefits of dryer vent cleaning can range from saving money to saving time as well as multiple health benefits. 

Consider these health benefits for having your dryer vents cleaned on a regular basis.

Reduce Allergens

A well-functioning dryer will pick up tiny particles of common allergens, such as pollen and dust, off your clothes thus reducing allergy symptoms. If the dryer is not functioning well then these allergens can stay on the clothes and continue to exasperate your sensitivities.

Better Sanitization

Dryers can pick off allergens as well as bacteria and other dangerous substances. A properly working dryer will successfully reach the correct temperatures for killing bacteria. But, if the dryer is not working properly, the bacteria will continue to grow in your clothing as well as dish towels, bath towels, bed linens, etc and increase the risk of infection.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention

A more sinister reason to get your dryer vents cleaned regularly is the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and quite toxic. It can cause flu-like symptoms as well as death. Your dryer can’t exhaust fumes properly when lint clogs the vent. The fumes can then leak into your home and possibly poison the inhabitants. Getting your vents cleaned regularly is a good way to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fire Safety

Dirty dryer vents are often the cause of house fires. For this reason, it is a very good idea to get your vents cleaned on a regular basis. Even if you have the most energy-efficient machine, the vent line can still accumulate lint and increase the risk of a house fire.

At Superior Cleaning Solutions, we’ve been in the dryer vent cleaning business for over twenty years. We are family-owned/operated, and we know how important your family home is to you. We have the skills and equipment to protect your wallet, home, and health. For all your dryer vent cleaning needs, contact us!

Water damage is a big problem for any homeowner. The cost of repairing your home after water damage can be astronomical. But, that’s just your home. What about your valuables? The best thing you can do to protect your valuables from water damage is to be proactive. Consider doing these four proactive steps to protect your most precious possessions.

Store in Air-Tight, Waterproof Containers

You want to keep all your most treasured possessions in air-tight and waterproof containers. Keep these containers preferably up high out of reach of potentially flooding waters. Sometimes water gets in your home no matter what you do. Keeping your valuables in the proper containers will be good damage control in those uncontrollable situations. 

Stay On Top of Repairs

Keep your home on a regular rotation of home repairs. Your home can develop cracks in the foundation, windows, and doors. It is very important to have these issues repaired as soon as possible. You risk water getting into your house and causing significant damage if you don’t make the proper repairs.

Check Your Appliances

You need to make checking your appliances a part of your yearly home maintenance. The hoses on your dishwasher, washing machine, and ice maker can grow old and become loose. Poorly maintained hoses can lead to water flooding into your home and damaging your valuables. 

Don’t forget to check your water heater and also put it on a regular rotation for maintenance. Your water heater should be partially drained every six months to prevent sediments from building up on the bottom of the water heater and causing erosion and rust. Don’t forget to check the pipes when doing the water heater maintenance.

Turn Off Water Supply

Turn off the water main when you are leaving town. If you can’t turn off the water main, consider turning off the water to individual faucets or appliances. Leaving your home empty means you may not be home if or when a pipe bursts. Water could be flowing into your house without your knowledge and before you can get home in time to save your valuables. Prevent this from happening by cutting off the water completely when leaving.

Water damage can be a traumatic experience. That’s why you need a professional to come alongside you for the entire process of recovery. At Superior Cleaning Solutions, we’ve been in the water restoration business for over twenty years. We are family-owned/operated, and we know how important your valuable possessions are to you. We have the skills and equipment to make sure your home is properly restored. For all your water restoration needs, contact us!

Your gutters are essential for collecting rainwater and carrying it off through the downspouts. Over time, though, your gutters can get clogged with leaves, dirt, and other debris, leading to dangerous clogs. Clogs in your gutters can cause serious issues, and can potentially damage your home. Here are some great reasons to get your gutters cleaned professionally.

Why Get Your Gutters Cleaned by the Pros?

To prevent damage to your home, you need to get your gutters cleaned regularly, but it can be a big and time-consuming job for any homeowner. Before you break out the ladder and tackle the job yourself, think about calling a professional gutter cleaning service to give you a hand. There are a lot of benefits to getting your gutters cleaned by the pros, including:

1. It Prevents Foundation Damage

When your gutters are clogged and you’re hit with a downpour, there’s nowhere for excess water to go! Your gutters can overflow and fail to carry large amounts of water away from the foundation of your home. And depending on the condition of your foundation, water could get into your basement or crawl space, causing structural damage or mold. 

2. It’s Good For Your Roof

Gutters that get clogged with debris and dirt are bad news for your roof. Clogged gutters get heavy and can weigh down the boards that connect them to your roof, also known as the fascia boards. This extra weight can pull the fascia boards off your roof, damaging shingles and your home’s exterior in the process.

3. It Can Save You Money

Repairs to your roof, foundation, or basement can end up costing you more than $10,000. Gutter cleaning, on the other hand, costs just a few hundred dollars a year if you get them cleaned twice a year, as is recommended. Getting your gutters cleaned regularly means you won’t end up paying thousands when your gutters overflow!

Superior Cleaning Solutions Can Help!

If you’re looking for gutter cleaning professionals in the Baltimore County, Maryland, area contact us. Our expert team is happy to help!

There are few things more satisfying than a good power wash. Years of dirt, grime, and plant growth suddenly disappear, revealing the original surface, gleaming like it’s brand new! However, not all surfaces are created equal, and different materials must be treated with unique techniques.

Power Washing

In short, power washing is shooting highly-pressurized water out of a small, metal tube. Power washing can take off dirt, debris, mold, dust, and other hard-to-remove substances (even paint, if you’re not careful!). Commonly used to deep clean the outside of the house, windows included, power washing can also be used on flooring, usually patios, decks, and driveways with signs of your last failed attempt at changing the oil in your car. But when it comes to cement and concrete, it’s important to know the differences between the two in order to get the best results.

The Difference Between Cement and Concrete

It’s actually quite simple: cement is one of the main ingredients in creating what is actually concrete. While cement is not used on its own as a surface, the final result of the mixture, concrete, is what is often referred to as either “cement” or “concrete”. When it comes to determining how strong or weak your particular mixture is, it’s important to examine the state of the concrete. Is there crumbling around the edges, large cracks, or deterioration in the mortar or joint sand? Has your concrete been previously sealed? Keep track of the health of the concrete- this will help you determine which nozzle to use, the correct amount of pressure, and what techniques are safest when cleaning.

Tips For Safe Power Washing

Without getting too specific, here are a few tips for power washing your concrete without causing damage:

• Test the water pressure and nozzle away from the concrete before getting started
• In general, use a larger nozzle (25 degree or larger) to make sure the water pressure isn’t too high
• For grease stains or spots, you may want to use a smaller nozzle
• Keep at least a 10-foot distance from the area you’re cleaning, to protect the surface
• Keep it moving- never keep the spray focused on a single spot for more than a couple seconds, or you will risk damaging the concrete

Superior Cleaning Solutions

At Superior Cleaning Solutions, we have the expertise you need for a job well done. To set up an assessment of your concrete, and make an appointment to have it professionally cleaned, contact us today!

When you’re dealing with water damage, there are a lot of factors at play. In the moment, it can be difficult to know what to prioritize and what to take seriously. We hope you never have to face water damage in your home, but if you do, we hope these 5 facts will prepare you to deal with the problem, and keep the right mindset in decision-making.

1. Response Time is Crucial

While you may already know this, we had to make this our first fact because it is the most important thing to keep in mind when dealing with water damage. If treatment isn’t started during the first day or two, damage will multiply exponentially. The longer the water sits, the higher the risk of irreparable damage. 

2. There Is More Than One Type of Water Damage

Most people think that all water damage is equal, regardless of how it started, where it came from, or what the water might have carried with it. One of the first things a professional will do is determine the cause of the water damage. The way the situation will be handled might change if the water isn’t fresh, but rather sewage back-up.

3. The Actual Problem Might Not Surface for a Month or Two

Once the water has been drained and the area has been sanitized and dried out, the problem is only partly finished. While you might be struggling to deal with insurance claims, and replacing damaged belongings, the old foundation, wood support beams, and walls are fighting a battle as well. Mold, mildew, and fungus might grow as a result of the flooding, but you won’t know about the issue for sure until after the initial incident

4. You Can’t Always Prepare for What You Can’t Control

Even the best-prepared home can’t always prevent water damage. But, you can be ready to respond immediately and call for help when the time comes!

Superior Cleaning Solutions

At Superior Cleaning Solutions, we pride ourselves not only in the regular maintenance of the families we take care of, but also in emergency response. Let us be your help in times of crisis- contact us to find out more, or schedule an appointment.

If you’re considering hiring a professional to power wash some of your property, it’s important to know a little about how it works, what it can do, and what it can’t. Here are the most important questions to ask before your power washing experience.

Why Power Washing?

Most people hire power washing services instead of replacing a deck or driveway due to staining and curb-appeal. While some issues can be resolved using power washing (dirt build-up, debris, mold/fungus growth, grease stains), other issues (rotting, severe mold/fungus, deterioration of surface) need to be properly dealt with. If you’re hoping to give your sagging deck a facelift with power washing, you may want to consider a different service.

What Is the Difference Between Power Washing and Pressure Washing?

While they function virtually the same, power washing uses heated water, while pressure washing does not. The heated water can be more effective against certain substances, and can also aid in disinfecting the area.

What Surfaces Can Be Power Washed?

• Driveways
• Roofing
• Siding
• Wood/Decks
• Natural stone
• Outdoor furniture
• Stucco
• Brick

Really, almost any surface can be power washed, if it is done with a skilled, careful hand.

How Long Will It Take?

This depends on how many surfaces you want to clean, how large the surface is, and how many layers of grime need to be disposed of. In general, driveways take time (several hours), as it’s a large surface area and often has a lot of grime to disperse. Furniture usually takes less time. Be aware, power washing can be addictive, and you may be tempted to add more surfaces to the to-do list when you see the results!

Superior Cleaning Solutions

If your home is ready for a good cleaning, or if you’re tired of the grease spot on your driveway, contact us at Superior Cleaning Solutions to set up a consultation today!

While it might be a compliment to have neighbors admire the home you’ve worked so hard on, there are certain neighbors you would rather avoid. Rats, raccoons, snakes, and other critters can’t help but look for ways to enjoy the warmth and protection your home provides! But if you’re not the type that enjoys hunting down the noisy intruder in the middle of the night, we have the perfect solution.

Varmint Guards

In short, varmint guards provide an additional layer of security for your vents. This delightful contraption installs quickly without preventing the vents from doing their job. Wishing you could have an in-person demonstration? We’ve got you covered- check out the video on our website! Here are a few reasons we think the varmint guard is the right investment for you:

Damage

Most of these critters are the burrowing, nesting type, which means they’ll be using their claws and teeth to make the space more comfortable, and will starting dragging in objects to make themselves at home. Instead of having to undo months of damage and paying for costly replacements, why not prevent the problem before it begins?

Disease

Critters, including roaches, bird and rats, carry bacteria and diseases. Even if you manage to get rid of the nest, droppings and urine in the lungs of your home will need to be found and professionally cleaned. 

Odors

Everyone has had the unfortunate experience of the terrible, mysterious odor. Maybe a mouse died in your Grandmother’s old trunk, or a few bird eggs in the gutter never hatched, but whatever the case, we want to make sure it’s an experience you never have to have again.

Superior Cleaning Solutions

Starting to think that the Varmint Guard might be the best hot summer tip you’ve read so far? Contact us at Superior Cleaning Solutions to make an appointment!

If you’re in the middle of dealing with water damage in your home, we know you’ve got a lot on your mind. How long will this take? Should I hire a professional mold service? Can any of my possessions be saved or recovered? How can I stop this from happening again? Unfortunately, though your insurance company should be on your side, often they are looking out for their own interests. Here’s what you need to look out for when taking care of water damage.

Insurance

In exchange for monthly payments, your insurance company offers protection and support from issues that appear without warning. At least, that’s how it works in theory. But if you live in areas with a high-risk for flooding, or own an older home, your insurance may not be as helpful. Below are a list of things to be aware of: what your insurance usually covers, and what it might not.

Risk Factors

If any of these things apply to your home, or the area you live in, there may be some complications with getting help from your insurance company. Be sure to understand what you are paying for, and how things could change when certain events occurs.

• Living in a flood zone (your insurance won’t cover this, usually you will need an additional insurance specifically for floods)
• Older home
• Older pipes/fixtures

There are a few other things that can affect the help you receive, including:

• Waiting before filing a claim
• Increased rates after placing a claim

Types of Water Damage Normally Covered By Insurance

If the water damage you experienced was caused by any of the reasons below, document the event well to be sure your insurance will support you.

• Vandalism/property damage
• Rain/snow
• Mold
• Damage resulting from putting out a fire
• Plumbing issues like frozen pipes or accidental overflow
• Roof leak

If you’re struggling to deal with the effects of water damage, there are organizations and companies who can also offer support.

Superior Cleaning Solutions

At Superior Cleaning Solutions, we have professionals ready to help in every area of water damage recovery, from assessment, to cleaning, and eventually to restoration. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!