How to Keep your New Year’s Resoutions

The New Year ushers in that desire to start fresh, to make resolutions and to stick to them. According to many sources, the top resolutions that people make are losing weight, eating healthier, getting fit, quitting smoking, spending more time with the family, going back to school, getting a better job, saving more money, volunteering, and traveling. These are all great goals! Check out these tips…

One Step at a Time...

-Eat Healthier.
-Portion control.
-Move your body for 30 minutes a day.

Write down your Goals

-Write down your GOALS!
-Hang them where you can see them.
KEEP TRACK!
-Measure, take before photos, track foods, and chart your progress to see your path to your goals!

Support & Breathe

-Find YOUR cheerleaders who support your journey and tell them your plans.
PRESS ON!
-There will be roadblocks.
-Find solutions around them to reach your goals in 2024!

Proactive vs Reactive Cleaning

An automotive requires regularly scheduled maintenance in order to run properly and it extends the life of the automobile. An example of this would be something as simple as regular oil change or tire rotation. Neglecting to do this could result in costly repairs down the road.

This applies to your carpet as well. Instead of waiting until your carpet looks dirty and worn, why not prevent this in the first place? Be proactive and clean BEFORE it’s too dirty!

Atmospheric soil and heavy traffic will damage carpets over time. The carpet’s original protective coating wears off, thus leaving the fibers vulnerable to dust, dirt, and even pet hair. If left uncleaned, the fibers start to fray, and the dirt particles become embedded deep into the carpet. Over time, the friction from repeatedly walking on the carpet flattens the fibers and damages them. This results in unsightly wear patterns which can never be removed.

Replacing a carpet can be expensive. Yearly cleaning is NOT. The IICRC, the carpet cleaning industry’s leading governing body, recommends cleaning your carpets every 6 to 12 months for heavily used traffic areas (annually for other carpeted areas in the home). The EPA recommends cleaning carpets TWICE a year for those who suffer from allergies or respiratory issues.

Do NOT wait until it is TOO LATE. Call Raley’s Signature Cleaning Professionals TODAY! 814-833-3693

Dark Lines on Carpet Edges

What causes those mysterious dark lines?
You may have noticed it in your own home – dark, dirty-looking lines in the carpet around the baseboards, under doors and on stairs. These lines have absolutely nothing to do with housekeeping, they’re not a carpet defect, nor are they caused by mold.

They are called filtration soiling.

Filtration soiling is most common in homes which have forced air HVAC systems. At certain locations in the carpet, air is being forced through the fibers by pressure and temperature differentials. The carpet fibers trap pollutants in the air. Some of these pollutants can come from tobacco smoke, natural gas, or oil furnaces. When combined with oily residues from cooking and other sources, the pollutants adhere to the carpet. The particles themselves are small and difficult to remove. The best way to combat these dark lines is by preventing them.

How to Prevent Dark Lines on Carpet Edges

• Make sure that your gas or oil heating systems, cooking appliances, and water heaters are operating properly.

• Have heat exchangers, flues, and chimneys checked by an HVAC professional for leaks or improper function.

• Limit how often you use the heavily scented candles.

• Install high quality air filters in your heating and air system. This may require modifications to the system. Check with a qualified HVAC contractor.

• Consider using air purifiers, especially if smokers are present in the home.

• When using a fireplace or wood stove, ensure there is adequate fresh air entry so as to create enough of an updraft for the fireplace. You may need to open a window a little. Do not turn on ceiling fans in areas where you have a fireplace burning. Air currents may pull smoke into the living space.

Holiday Wellness

6 Holiday Wellness Strategies:

1.Stomp Stress, Down with Dieting!
While it is admirable to desire weight loss, you do not have to make it a priority this holiday season. So rather than stressing and aiming to lose weight, most health experts encourage individuals to maintain weight over the holidays, enjoying the present moment of being with close friends and family

2. Hustle & Bustle:
The chaos of holiday schedules can make it extremely difficult to make it to the gym each morning. Instead of fixating on missed workouts, find other methods to keep active. Heading to the mall later for last minute shopping? Take the steps when possible. Wanting to see the Christmas lights in the neighborhood? Walk instead of drive. Use any opportunity available to stay active this holiday season.

3. Parties & Plans:
Whether trimming tinsel or scratching off your Christmas list, pack a high-protein and/or fiber snack to lessen the risk of a food court run in a bout of hunger. Whether at a holiday party or family dinner, scope out the scene and strategize the most healthful plan. Fill up on fresh veggies and fruits first, seek out a lean protein source, then allow yourself for a small slice of pumpkin pie you have been eyeballing.

4. Indulge (Without Overindulging):
Though it is okay to indulge over the holiday season, overdoing it can down spiral all efforts towards health goals.

5. Cheerful Spirits:
Along with controlling portion and serving sizes of food, moderate alcohol intake. Not only can drinking too much precipitate a less-than-pleasant morning, but pack on numerous calories from the alcohol itself while feeding into heightened cravings. #drinkresponsibly

6. Sleep is in Season:
While the holiday parties may turn into late evenings, the importance of adequate sleep carries on throughout the holiday season.

Clean & Cozy Carpets for Fall

As we enter the cozy fall season, we will start spending more time indoors. It's important to maintain a home that looks and feels clean and inviting.

During the summer, pollen and other pollutants are brought into your home and get trapped in the carpets. In the fall, mold spores become more prevalent and get trapped in the carpets as well. If you prepare for fall and winter by cleaning your carpets now, then you'll be able to breathe cleaner, healthier air all season long.

How often should I clean my carpets?

According to the EPA, you should clean your carpets at least TWICE a year, maybe more depending on lifestyle and other factors. Can there really be that much dirt in my carpet? Every day when we clean carpets, we see the dirt and grime that is pulled up. There can actually be up to 8 lbs. of dirt and grime pulled out in just one cleaning!

Schedule your carpet cleaning today to be prepared for fall and winter, and to maintain a healthy home! Call Raley's Signature Cleaning Services at 814-833-3693 for more information and tips or to schedule your next cleaning.

Pets and Weight Loss

Did you know that two-thirds of U.S. adults, and 55% of U.S. pets, are considered overweight? *

This may sound scary, but there's a silver lining! Your pet can be a great weight loss partner! It's something fun that you two can do together to help you bond, and the endorphins you'll get from the exercise will keep you coming back for more...

Here are some tips for tackling weight loss with your fluffy friend:

• Try a daily 20-minute walk with your pet. If you have a dog, you can walk him on a leash, or you can push your cat or rabbit in a pet stroller.

• Toss a ball with your dog or play with your cat using a wand toy. Bonus points if you do it while standing - Studies have shown that increasing time spent standing versus sitting can enhance weight loss efforts and reduce the risk of weight gain over time.

• Make it a daily habit. If you align your playtime with another common activity, like before or after mealtime, then you're more likely to stick to your goals.

• Remember to hydrate! This is important for both you and your pet. If the temperature outside is 85° or higher, try walking in the morning or evening instead, as those temperatures can be dangerous for pets and humans.

*According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Please consult with your physician - and veterinarian - before beginning any weight loss, diet or exercise program.

Our Top Tips for Cleaning Furniture

As with everything else in your home, upholstered furniture requires proper care and cleaning. Pollution, allergens, dander, sweat, and body oils can stick to fabric, and spots and spills do happen.

Spot cleaning furniture stains: Different fabrics require different cleaning methods. Check the tag for a cleaning code to assist you in spot cleaning.

Overall cleaning of furniture: Overall cleaning should be left to the professionals at Raley's Signature Cleaning Services. According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), professional cleaning should be done every 12-24 months.

We are IICRC certified! Call us at 814-833-3693 for a free assessment of your upholstery or to set up an appointment for cleaning.

Those Pesky Pet Stains - Our Top Pet Stain Tips

We love our furry companions! But with that companionship comes some small inconveniences, like carpet stains. Whether it's urine from your new puppy or a hairball from your feline friend, these stains can leave our carpets, and house, looking messy. Here are our top tips for pet stains:

Skip the "Pet Stain Removers" found at the store.
These actually do more harm than good. They tend to set the stain into the carpet, which means when we come to do a thorough cleaning of the area, it actually makes the stain tougher to remove.

Here's what to do instead:
If you catch the stain right away, pour a good amount of salt onto the area while it's still wet. The salt will absorb and neutralize the urine or bile. In 8-12 hours when it's dry, you can vacuum it up.

If the stain has penetrated the carpet & underlying pad:
Once the contamination has penetrated the carpet and pad, removal of the odor becomes more difficult. For heavy urine deposits, you'll need the help of Raley's Signature Cleaning Services.

This is because urine changes as it ages.
The urine becomes more concentrated, and the bacteria secretes ammonia, becoming a pungent odor. It can sometimes eventually cause permanent color loss. There are times when the damage is too severe, and the best option is to replace the carpet.

When in doubt, call Raley's!
If you have a pet odor problem, the best action is to call Raley's Signature Cleaning Services at 814-833-3693 for a professional assessment of the situation. We are experts at handling difficult odor problems and can help you choose the solution that is right for you.