Start by removing as much of the solid wax as possible by using a kitchen spoon to loosen the wax. Next put an ice cube on the wax to freeze it. The wax should harden enough to break it up and get more of it out. Be careful not to damage the fibers during this step. It is O.K. that some wax will remain and will be addressed in the next step.

Next, to get the rest of the candle wax out of the carpet, put a clean white towel moistened with water over the wax spot. Place a clothes iron, set on low, on top of the towel where the wax is for a few seconds at a time. Be Careful as the carpet fibers can also melt with too much heat. The wax will melt and transfer to the towel. Apply a new towel as often as necessary until you get out all of the wax.

If this doesn’t get all of the wax out of the carpet, or if some colored stains remain, you can next try using rubbing alcohol. Using a clean white towel, apply the alcohol to a towel and dab the area. Repeat this with a fresh towel until you get no more transfer of wax or dyes to the towel.

When you are done, rinse the area with clean water, blot up the excess, and set up a fan to dry the area quickly.

Green Clean is a locally-owned, full service carpet cleaning and restoration company.  Founded in 1996 as R&C Cleaning Specialists, Green Clean has established a reputation for delivering high-quality carpet cleaning and water/fire restoration services for homeowners, businesses, and insurance companies throughout the entire Twin Cities Metro area.

From initial consultations to project management, reconstruction and restorations, every member of the Green Clean staff is passionate about restoring healthy environments. That passion, along with an experienced, IICRC-certified staff of cleaning and restoration technicians have earned Green Clean an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The owners of Green Clean Jason Schroeck and Rhett Trotter work hard to build long-term relationships with their customers through communication and trust, striving for excellence in every service they provide, and placing the needs of their customers first.  By serving their customers with honesty, integrity, and the highest level of professional service has provided the foundation for Green Clean to win the 10^th Annual Better Business Bureau Integrity Award.

1. First and foremost, turn off your exterior faucets valves from the inside, open the faucet to drain the water and remove garden hoses. If these valves are left open the water inside the pipe near the exterior can freeze and expand causing the pipe to burst, when it warms above freezing the ice will melt and you will have water running into the interior of your home until it is turned off. Even if you have ‘frost-proof’ faucets it is still important to turn them off from inside of your home. They can freeze and burst, usually in the valve itself, so you will not know this has happened until you turn the faucet on in the spring. If you do not have an interior shut off valve we recommend that you place an insulated cover over the faucet which can be purchased at your local hardware store.
2. Clean Leaves and Debris from your Gutters.  Once the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters and downspouts. Plugged gutters and downspouts can cause water to seep in next to the foundation and cause basement flooding. Many insurance companies do not cover water damage from seepage. Make sure your downspouts run at least six feet from the foundation, and your landscaping is slopped away from your foundation for at least six feet.
3. Clean you sump pump pit. Once the ground has frozen, remove your sump pump and clean the pit it sits in. Sand and silt will accumulate in the bottom of the pit and can reduce the life of the pump. Replace the pump and check for proper operation of the float. When water is flowing in the pit in the spring is not a good time to find it is malfunctioning.

We hope these helpful tips will prevent you from finding a flood in your home.  If you do have a Water Damage emergency call our 24 hour Water and Fire Damage hotline at 952-930-6853 for an immediate response.

The best thing to do when water damage occurs is to call a reputable Water Damage Restoration Company.

A good restoration company will be willing to educate you and walk you through the proper procedures of  cleaning up the flooded area and drying out the structure. They can also help walk you through the Insurance process to help you determine the best course of action.

It can be very difficult to find a good restoration service and basing your decision on price alone can be a scary proposition. So what is the best way to find a good reputable Water Damage Restoration Company?  Here are some guidelines to follow, so you know you are getting a good company:

1. Try to get a good reference from a friend or family member.

2. Check with the BetterBusinessBureau 

3. Check with the IICRC Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification for a certified company in your area.

These are just a few important tips on making sure you are getting the most reliable and reputable company in your home.  If you are interested in more ideas please come back and visit our blog.

If you do have a water damage problem in your
home call Green Clean Carpet Care Restoration at
763-789-9600 for immediate assistance.

What about your personal contents?

Making the decision of what to keep and what to discard following a sewage backup is a tough decision, especially if some of the items are irreplaceable or have great sentimental value.

Hiring a professional water damage restoration company like Green Clean will increase the chances of salvage. The knowledge, experience, and special equipment of a professional
company will allow a thorough dry out that will prevent additional bacteria growth
 and an efficient decontamination and disinfection of affected areas.

Here is a brief list of what to keep and what to discard:

* Upholstered furniture may be impossible to salvage if it has been badly soaked
in gray or black water as fabrics will absorb a dangerous amount of sewage water and bacteria.
* Hardwood furniture can be salvaged if dried and decontaminated thoroughly within
 24-48 hours and no mold growth is found.
* Laminate furniture should be discarded because the contaminated water can penetrate into the particle board.
* Furniture made of particle board or pressed wafer board should be discarded as
they are very likely to absorb sewage water and bacteria.
* Appliances and electrical devices must be carefully examined, preferably by an
electrician. If dark water penetrated into your appliances, do not use them until they are
determined clean and safe.
* Toys must be discarded. Discard all stuffed toys. Even if you think
you can completely clean and disinfect these items, keep in mind that they may badly affect
 your child’s safety. Discard any item a toddler or baby might put in his mouth.
* Fabrics, clothes and linen are very hard to clean and salvage. You may want to consider
 sending damaged fabrics and textiles to a professional dry cleaning facility.
* Discard all foods and medicines, including garden produce, that have come in contract
with flood waters. Only foods sealed in airtight metal cans that are not bulging or damaged
 and have been properly sanitized can be saved.
* Clean and sanitize dishes, cooking utensils and food preparation areas before using them.
* Discard wooden cutting boards, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers, since
it’s nearly impossible to safely clean them.

If you do have a water damage problem in your
home call Green Clean Carpet Care Restoration at
763-789-9600 for immediate assistance.

Before you go to bed at night, check your home to be certain that all water taps,
inside and out (including automatic sprinklers), are turned off.  Then record the reading
on your water meter.  In the morning, before anyone uses any water, check your meter
reading again.  If the reading has changed, you may have a leak.  Chances are the
problem is from one or more malfunctioning toilets.  To test this add some food coloring to the water in your toilet tanks.  If color shows up in any of the toilet bowls after 15 minutes or so, you’ve identified the culprit. Usually a simple flapper replacement will solve your problem.  Leaky faucets can usually be easily repaired with a kit.  After fixing any identified problems, run the test again.  No change in your meter reading will verify you have repaired all of the leaks.

We hope these simple tips will avoid you needing our water damage restoration services, however we are here 24/7 if you do.  www.greencleancare.com  763-789-9600

Every person in the home should know where all of the shut offs are located and how to use them.

The Main water shutoff for the home is usually located next to the water meter in the basement.  There is typically a main shut off valve on each side of the meter.  Always turn off the one before the meter, this is because your municipality is usually responsible for everything up to the meter and the homeowner is responsible for everything after the meter.  These are seldom turned on and off and often do not seat properly after a period of time, so don’t turn the one that you would have to pay to repair if it fails.

Each sink usually has a hot and cold water shut off in the cabinet under the sink.  These only turn the water off to each appliance.  Turn these valves off and on annually to keep the seat inside the valve sealing properly.

Each toilet has its own shut off behind the toilet.  Also turn these off and on annually.  Toilet overflows are very common, and can be more costly to clean up than clear water.  If water is overflowing from the tank (not the bowl) simply reach in and lift up the “flapper” and the water will go down quickly, then you can turn off the valve. 

Tubs and showers are typically hard plumbed and do not have separate shut off valves.

We hope these simple tips will avoid you needing our water damage restoration services, however we are here 24/7 if you do.  www.greencleancare.com  763-789-9600