Hardwood Care Tips

October 2009 Newsletter
664-5559
(click on our Logo to go to our website)

6 Most Common Mistakes
Homeowners Make
That Are Ruining Their Wood Floors

1. Sweeping instead of Vacuuming
Sweeping with a soft bristled broom is a great way to keep up with the day to day debris. But it is not effective at removing the fine particles of sand, grit and silt that are creating razor like incisions in the finish and eventually destroying your hardwood floors. A good vacuum with a hardwood floor attachment is needed at least once a week.

2. Using vinegar as a cleaner:
Many people think that vinegar is a great cleaner for hardwoods. Its not. Vinegar contains acetic acid which helps to keep the grain of the wood from darkening if it gets wet. But vinegar has no properties that can breakdown grease and oil build up. Grease and oil are whats holding dirt and grit to your floor. So I recommend about 1-2 oz. of dish detergent along with 8 oz of vinegar for protection and together they will make a cheap, safe and effective cleaner for mopping your hardwood floors.

3. Not Changing the padding under your rugs:
All "net-style" padding needs to be replaced every 5 years. These inexpensive pads contain latex and fillers that are full of impurities. These impurities eventually breakdown the "skin" of the polyurethane finish and bond with your hardwood floor. Removing the pad after this has occured is costly and labor intensive. Its much cheaper and less heartwrenching to replace the padding after 5 years.

4. Not using a chair matt under a rolling chair:
Buy a chair matt that is made for hard surface flooring. You will thank yourself 100xs over

5. Watering a plant without a catch basin under it.
Many times homeowners are unaware that a potted plant is leaking water onto their hardwood floors. Periodically check your potted plants to see if moisture is accumulating on the hardwood floor. Also check for spots under area rugs where you may have an animal that is a repeat offender.

6. Not fixing a leaky window or door seal.
In our experience, most of the damage that we see to hardwoods is in the foyer. It is usually caused by water entering the home without it being handled.

In This Issue You Will Discover

Free Carpet Cleaning

This Month's Special

In The Spotlight

Grandmas Goodies

Power Thoughts

FREE CARPET CLEANING

Any time you tell your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers or anyone who needs to know, to use DAD'S for their carpet cleaning needs, we will reward you with FREE CARPET CLEANING. That's right we wil send you DAD'S dollars. They spend just like cash. Click here to find out more.

Comedy Corner

This Month's Special
Desperate
Housewives

Let us in on your dirt!
Now that the kids are back in school its a great time to schedule a carpet cleaning. From now through the end of October we are offering a coupon that allows you to save $50.00 of any carpet cleaning in your home valued at $250.00 or more. Also last month we had a special that we are extending through the end of this month. So if you don't quite have $250.00 worth of cleaning but still want a great deal then now's your chance.

Here's the deal we are offering:

3 Rooms and A Hall
For $149.95
up to 500 s.f.

This is for our world class service that we are renown for. So if you have never tried us before, here is your chance. And if you have then you know what a bargain this price is.

Some Other Services We Offer:

Area Rugs
Tile and Grout
Hardwood Floors
Vinyl Tile

We can also perform:

Carpet Repairs
Carpet Re-Stretching
Color Repair

You know, from talking to so many of you over the years I found out that often times you are unaware that we perform all the services we do. And you are surprised at how easy and inexpensive it is to have some repairs done while we are already in your home cleaning the carpet. It is really amazing how doing some simple repairs to your carpet can take ten years off your carpet's appearance. And, with the special we are offering,it can feel like you are getting the repair(s) for free. Anyway I look forward to hearing from you.

In The Spotlight

Wood Floor Repair

Alot of you took our survey and suggested that we add wood floor repair as part of our spot cleaning tips. Thank you! What a great idea. So here you have it. I am going to show you how to repair almost any dent, scratch, or gauge. Click on the image to the right for more in depth instructions.

Fill in the affected area with stainable wood filler.
Then add a light coat of the stain that most closely matched your floor.
Let that dry and then add another light coat if necessary. Remember, don't make it too dark to begin with. You can always darken but you cannot lighten when you are working with stain
Once you have the color matched up, let it dry again and then draw in your wood grain with the correct color pencil.
Then add a coat of polyurethane finish

Save 10%	This month only, save 10% on any work that you need us to perform on your hard wood floors.
Offer Expires: October 31st 2009

Grandma's Goodies

Chocolate Almond Coconut Bars

These are so good and have no calories at all!! I'm not lying (except the part about no calories)
Here is what you will need:

22 squares of Honey Maid Oatmeal Crunch Grahams, coarsely crushed
1/4 cup of Butter (melted)
1 12 oz. pkg of semisweet chocolate chips
1.5 cups of flaked coconut
1/2 cup of sliced almonds
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk

Mix graham crumbs and butter. Press crumb mixture evenly on the bottom of a greased 13x9x2 baking pan. Mix chocolate chips, coconut and almonds. Sprinkle over crust. Pour sweetened condensed milk over mixture in pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 min. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Power Thoughts

Risk Taking

There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the risks and costs of inaction.
- John F. Kennedy

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore..
Andre Gide

Life is either a daring adventure of nothing.
- Helen Keller

Opportunity is missed by most people because
it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas Edison

We Want To Know What You Think
Click here to take our survey

$149.95 For 3 Rooms and a Hall up to 500 S.F. Or $50.00 Off Any Cleaning of $250.00 or more	CALL TODAY! 664-5559 or email us to set up your appointment. If you have been thinking about having some work done in your home now is the perfect time. Try our Value Plan which includes Genuine 3M Scotchgard, Deodorization, Free Professional Spot Remover and a Fiber Conditioner for a softer feel.
Offer Expires: October 31st 2009