Each year, homeowners and businesses observe National Cleaning Week during the last week of March. As always, this year’s campaign, from March 27 to April 4, is designed to encourage property owners to clean out winter’s cobwebs, odors and dampness and get ready to enjoy spring’s breezes and warmer weather.
But if spring cleaning turns up signs of mold or water damage, then it’s probably time to call in the professionals. According to Jeffrey Whitmarsh, owner of SERVPRO of Dearborn Heights North/East Garden City, such problems, left untreated, can cause major structural and health problems that can mean big expense down the road.
“While we offer a full range of routine cleaning services for walls, ceilings and floor surfaces, furniture, fabric, fixtures and more, we also specialize in cleaning and restoration for fire, mold, or water-damaged buildings and their contents,” Whitmarsh said. “As trained professionals, we know how to perform a thorough cleaning to help ensure that there are no lingering odors, structural or environment issues that could affect the health of the building’s occupants or the value of the building itself.”
Whitmarsh offers the following list from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of some of the things to keep an eye out for – and how to correct the problem – during your spring cleaning this year. Any of these problems could create an environment where indoor mold can flourish.
•Plumbing leaks, including holes in pipes, leaky faucets, leaky pipes under sinks, etc. The fix: Repair the leak or call in a professional to fix it.
•Condensation and wet spots, around water heaters, air conditioners, toilets, etc. The fix: Prevent moisture due to condensation by increasing surface temperature or reducing the moisture in the air (humidity).
•Standing water in heating, ventilation and air conditioning drip pans. The fix: Keep the pans clean, draining properly and unobstructed.
•Excessive moisture from moisture-generating appliances such as dryers. The fix: Vent the appliances to the outside where possible.
“The National Cleaning Week campaign is a perfect time to remind local residents and business owners about the services we offer,” Whitmarsh added. “Our clients include insurance companies seeking superior and timely restoration services, as well as commercial and residential property owners who require routine cleaning services.
“We bring 40 years of experience, and the SERVPRO system’s time-tested techniques and proprietary cleaning products to every job we do.”
Many SERVPRO franchises also offer cleaning and restoration of special items, such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning duct systems, building exteriors, electronic equipment, computers and documents that have sustained water damage, Whitmarsh added.
For more information about SERVPRO of Dearborn Heights North/East Garden City call Whitmarsh at (313) 228-5134.
Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO franchise system is a national leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services and mold mitigation and remediation.