If you haven’t yet discovered the magic of baking soda (a.k.a. bicarbonate of soda), it’s high time you did! This humble household staple isn’t just for baking your favourite cookies or cakes. It’s also one of the most versatile and affordable cleaning tools in your arsenal. Whether you’re dealing with stubborn stains, foul odours, or dirty tiles, cleaning with baking soda can help make your home sparkle without the need for harsh chemicals.

What is the Difference between Baking Soda & Bicarbonate of Soda? 

Essentially, there is no difference. They are both the chemical: Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃). Bicarbonate of soda can be a bit of a mouthful and it can have a global inference, but we will use both phrases interchangeably. If you live in the UK, Australia, or some other countries, you’ll likely use Bicarbonate of Soda, whereas North Americans refer to it as Baking Soda. However, do not confuse baking soda with baking powder, which combines bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar.

What is Baking Soda? 

Baking Soda is an alkaline powder – a naturally occurring compound found in mineral deposits around the world. It is both naturally mined and synthetically produced. When mixed with water it has a pH of around 8.3. Subsequently, it is useful in neutralizing acids by raising the pH. 

People commonly use it in cooking and baking—specifically as a levelling agent in baked goods. However, it also neutralizes acidic flavours. Yet it is a versatile product used in cleaning and household tasks and for health and personal care.

Why Cleaning with Baking Soda Works So Well. 

You can use baking soda for more than just baking. It can be a versatile cleaner with several benefits. The chemical properties of bicarbonate of soda are what make it so effective. It is a mild alkaline base that helps neutralize acids which are useful in removing stains and deodorizing. Thus making it safe for pets, kids and the environment.

Only mildly abrasive, it is useful for scrubbing without a lot of damage or scratches. Yet it is non-toxic and natural. In washing for example, it helps break down dirt.

Precautions and Limitations – Cleaning with Baking Soda Safely and Effectively.  

It’s important to know how to use baking soda safely and effectively. So before we get into its effectiveness, we feel we should mention the precautions and limitations of it. We suggest you avoid using baking soda on:

Aluminum
Marble
Granite
Natural Stone
Delicate Fabrics

Also, do not mix bicarbonate of soda with other cleaners or bleach.

Being mildly abrasive can be good, but it depends. Wherever you use baking soda, you may wish to test it somewhere out of sight first. Either way, caution needs to be exercised on:

 Window glass and mirrors
 Glass stovetops
 Hardwood floors

Cleaning with baking soda may be fine on these surfaces, but do a small, out-of-the-way test first. Now let’s get to the top benefits of cleaning with baking soda.

Baking Soda as a Deodorizer.  

For carpets and upholstery, cleaning with baking soda acts as an excellent deodorizer and stain pre-treatment. Sprinkle a generous amount over the affected area, allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes (or longer for deep odours and stubborn stains), then vacuum thoroughly. This process helps to absorb odours and lift grime, leaving fabrics fresher. Check out our other upholstery cleaning hacks.

Freshens Mattresses – Mattresses absorb sweat and smells from pets, spills and general body odours. After stripping the bed, vacuum it. Sift bicarbonate of soda over the whole mattress. Let it sit for half an hour (or longer if particularly odorous). The bicarbonate of soda will absorb moisture and neutralize smells. Afterwards vacuum off the powder and if possible, leave it to air in sunlight. Check out our other mattress cleaning hacks.

Freshen Air Vents – While professional furnace and vent cleaning is essential, bicarbonate of soda can contribute to air freshness between deep cleans. Placing a small, open container of bicarbonate of soda near a return air vent can help neutralize circulating odours, improving overall indoor air quality.

Kitchen Freshener – One tablespoon of baking soda can be used with two cups of distilled water and 5 drops of essential oil to make a kitchen freshener – Check out our other kitchen freshener hacks.

Deodorizes Microwaves – One cup of water mixed with two teaspoons of baking soda cooked for 3 minutes in the microwave can help neutralize microwave smells. – Check out our other microwave cleaning hacks. 

Deodorizes Fridges – Just place a cup of baking soda at the back of the fridge to help absorb unpleasant smells. – Check out our other fridge cleaning tips. Bicarbonate of soda is also great for smells in garbage cans and shoes. 

Whitens and Brightens Surfaces. 

Laundry – For towels and whites, add baking soda to the laundry load. It helps make detergent more effective, making whites, whiter. It softens the water which can soften fabrics. It can also help colours stay more vibrant and less dull. When running the washing machine empty of clothes, bicarbonate of soda clears out residue and tackles machine odours. 

Sinks and Tubs – The mild abrasiveness of bicarbonate of soda helps clean sinks and tubs by scrubbing away dirt and soap scum without risk of scratching. Rinse the surface first to remove any debris. Then liberally sprinkle over the damp surface. Let it sit for 15 minutes to absorb odours and soften any mess. Using a sponge, cloth or soft brush work in a circular motion to scrub away any grime. Then rinse and wipe dry. 

Drains – Baking soda can also be put down the drain for minor clogs. Use 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda. Then pour down 1 cup of vinegar. Cover with a plug. Wait 30 minutes then flush with hot water. 

Baking Soda as a Stain Remover. 

Restoring Tile and Grout – Over time, tile and grout needs cleaning. Tiles can accumulate dirt and lose their original lustre. To restore their appearance, create a paste using baking soda and a small amount of water. Apply the paste to grout lines, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub with a brush. Rinse the area clean to reveal revitalized surfaces. 

Coffee Pot Cleaning – A bicarbonate of soda and water mix removes the glass staining on the coffee pot. Coffee grinders can also be cleaned by grinding baking soda. – Check out our other coffee pot cleaning hacks. 

Dishwasher Cleaning – Baking Soda may help deodorize the dishwasher. Check out the video: how to deep clean your dishwasher by the HomeKeeping Channel. 

Baking Soda as a Gentle Abrasive on Surfaces. 

Before attempting these suggestions below please read our Precautions and Limitations Section above. 

Hardwood Floor – For hardwood floor cleaning, a solution of bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth can help remove scuff marks and minor spills without damaging the finish. However we suggest testing an inconspicuous area first just in case. Check out our other hardwood floor cleaning tips. 

Window Cleaning – For streak-free window cleaning, dissolve two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda in a bucket of warm water. Use this solution with a microfibre cloth for a clear, brilliant shine.

Window Track Cleaning – A bicarbonate of soda paste using a toothbrush can help clean window tracks.

Stovetop Glass – Firstly the stovetop must be cool before cleaning. Once it is, spray with white vinegar. Then shake baking soda over the sprayed vinegar. Next using a towel soaked in hot water and wrung out, cover the baking soda/vinegar mix. Leave for 15 minutes. Then remove and wipe with a soft cloth. Once again spray with vinegar to smooth out streaks. ⚠️Some caution here. Southern Living lists 9 things you should never clean with baking soda. They say its too abrasive, so be careful and don’t rub. 

Cuts Through Grease and Grime. 

The Kitchn offers an oven cleaner recipe for naturally cleaning with baking soda and vinegar. Dang Good has a Cleaning with Baking Soda and Vinegar Hack too. However many say that mixing the two doesn’t work and that baking soda and vinegar isn’t the power cleaner many promote. Yet others believe the chemical reaction that occurs helps dislodge dirt and grime. 

Baking soda’s alkaline properties help breakdown grease and dissolve acids. It also works better if mixed with water and dish soap. Lightly scrub the offending area. It is a great absorbent on grease and oil spills as well as pet accidents on carpets. It naturally deodorizes and absorbs moisture. On carpets blot the excess, then cover with the powder. Let it sit and dry. Then vacuum up. You might want to check out our 12 carpet cleaning hacks or ways to keep carpet smelling fresh.

⚠️ Always test first and avoid using on aluminum or marble. 

Tackles Bathroom Residue Buildup. 

Soap Scum – Combine 4 parts bicarbonate of soda with 1 part vinegar to produce a scouring paste to remove soap scum. 

Mildew – Bicarbonate of soda is a mild, natural safe disinfectant which absorbs moisture. Use as a spray with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 2 cups of water. Apply to the area, lightly scrub and rinse. 

Hard water stains – Bicarbonate of soda is useful for removing calcium and magnesium deposits by creating a paste with equal parts bicarbonate of soda and with either water or vinegar. Martha Stewart has an interesting article on how to remove hard water stains from every surface.  In addition, a paste with lemon juice and baking soda can be used to dissolve hard water deposits.  

Unexpected Uses of Cleaning with Baking Soda. 

Silverware (not antique) – Line an aluminum pan with foil – shiny side up. Top with hot water. Add 1/2 a cup of bicarbonate of soda and 1/2 cup of salt. Submerge the silver. Wait 10 minutes. The mixture chemically reacts to remove the tarnish. Now remove (when safe – i.e. water is no longer hot) then rinse and dry. Then use some silver polish to buff to a smear-free shine. 

Deodorizes Shoes – Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into each shoe. let it sit for a few hours or overnight to allow the odour to be absorbed. Vacuum out the loose powder before wearing. 

Paving Slabs – Dr. Oetker suggests mixing one part baking soda to two parts white vinegar in a bucket. After letting the mixture sit for a bit, spread it across the the slabs with an ‘old’ mop. Not sure what the reasoning is behind it being an ‘old’ mop! Leave it on for about half an hour. Then scrub with a scrubbing brush and hose off. ⚠️ We would suggest testing an inconspicuous area first. 

Affordable Eco-friendly Household Product At Hand. 

A natural household ingredient that is eco-friendly and cost effective. Cleaning with baking soda offers significant economical benefits. It is an environmentally friendly choice, minimizing the introduction of harsh chemicals into your home and walkways. Additionally, its affordability makes it an inexpensive alternative to other specialized cleaning products, providing significant savings.

National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day. 

National Bicarbonate of Soda Day – also referred to as Baking Soda Day – falls annually on December 30th. To celebrate this day, share your cleaning with baking soda stories or baking masterpieces on social media using the hashtag: #BicarbonateOfSodaDay. The origins of this day are mostly unknown. However, CooksInfo highlights the day’s inclusion in a list of ‘silly food holidays’ by Emily Nunn of the Chicago Tribune in 2004.

Similarly, we don’t know why December 30th was chosen, except that it falls after Christmas and before the new year, suggesting it serves as a reminder to restock this useful household staple.

Finally – From Pantry Staple to Dang Good Cleaning. 

Cleaning with baking soda isn’t just about getting your home looking pristine. It’s about making your cleaning routine simpler, more affordable, and more eco-friendly. Whether you’re tackling carpets, upholstery, tile and grout, or hardwood floors, this simple ingredient does it all!

And while cleaning with baking soda is great for day-to-day use, there are some tasks that might require a little extra muscle. That’s where (if you live in and around Calgary), you contact Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning! Call Dang Good at 403-984-3680 for those hard-to-reach or more stubborn cleaning jobs. Whether it’s deep-cleaning carpets or regularly cleaning your furnace and ducts, or addressing your hardwood floors, we can take care of it.

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Introduction – How to Clean a Crock Pot. 

Crock Pots can be a convenient way of cooking. If you are short on time, you can add (often raw) ingredients to the pot. Then set it to a low heat and essentially leave the food to cook itself with no need to constantly monitor the stove. Many people love this ‘set it and forget it’ timesaver. It is also a great way to cook a large batch of food in one go. 

Crock pots are great for cooking stews and casseroles and such, but perhaps, like me, you overfill the pot. Do you end up with quite a sticky mess to clean up afterwards? Crock pots are rather heavy and can be cumbersome, and it’s difficult to clean a crock pot.

Why You Should Regularly Clean a Crock Pot ?  

By regular, we mean you should clean it after every use. You wouldn’t put dishes away in the cupboard dirty, and the same goes for your crock pot. Cleaning it is essential for food hygiene and the longevity of the appliance. Plus, it ensures that the next time you use it, the food quality is optimal.

Understanding the Crock Pot Components. 

A crock pot consists of three main components. 

• The electric heating base – with handles in which the crock sits. It is where you set the temperature via dials. These dials usually show Low Heat, High Heat or Warm. 
• The stoneware crock – a removeable inner pot in which the food gets heated and…
• A tight fitting lid – This is usually dome shaped with tempered glass to lock in heat and moisture. 

What Not to Do When You Clean a Crock Pot. 

• Do not get the electrical element wet. The part that has the wire and plug cannot get wet or be submerged in water. Instead, just use a lightly dampened cloth with a little mild detergent on it to wipe it clean. Make sure the electrical prongs are completely dry before plugging it back into the wall. 
• Do not use any abrasive products such as scourers.
• Never use harsh chemicals or bleach.
• Avoid extremes of temperature. Do not use cold water on hot stoneware. Wait for it to cool down so it is warm to the touch.

Materials and Tools Needed. 

Non-abrasive tools are best. We suggest one or more of the following: 

• • A Sponge
  • A Soft Bristle Brush
  • A Rubber Spatula
  • A Plastic Scraper.

Basic Cleaning Supplies. 

For basic cleaning, we suggest keeping the following supplies at hand:

• • Dish Soap
  • Non-abrasive cleaner
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Water (obviously!)
  • Baking soda

Four Hacks to Inspire you to Clean a Crock Pot. 

1. A Basic Clean – If not too dirty, attempting to clean a crock pot by hand might be easy. Use a sponge with a dab of non-abrasive kitchen cleaner or even vinegar. Wipe, rinse, and dry.
2. An Extended Soak – If things are quite dirty but not excessively so, then soaking in a soapy dish soap and water combination may also be a fairly simple way to clean a crock pot.
3. A Self-Clean – While Crock Pots don’t have a true “self-cleaning” button, there is an easy method that lets the appliance do most of the work for you. This approach is especially helpful for loosening stuck-on food and grease before washing.
   • To self-clean your crock pot, fill the crock insert about halfway with warm water and add a small amount of dish soap or a splash of white vinegar. Place the lid on top, set the slow cooker to low, and let it run for one to two hours. The gentle heat creates steam, which helps soften baked-on messes and makes cleanup much easier. Once finished, unplug the unit and allow it to cool. The food residue should then wipe away easily with a soft sponge.
4. A Vinegar and Baking Soda Hack – For more stubborn crock pots, soak in water, vinegar, and baking soda.

• • You will need water, distilled white vinegar, and baking soda.
  • Fill the slow cooker with tap water to cover the grime.
  • Then add one cup of distilled white vinegar for a 6-quart crock pot.
  • Slowly add some baking soda (a spoonful at a time). Let the bubbles die down before submerging each spoonful. A cupful of baking soda in total should do the trick.
  • Turn on crock pot to a low setting. Cover and set for about 4 hours.
  • Let the crock pot cool down before touching it. Then empty out the concoction and wash in the sink with soapy water. Stubborn grime should now come off nicely.
  • Rinse and let it dry.
  • Check out our other Baking Soda Cleaning Tips.

Immediate Post-Use Crock Cleaning. 

Post-use cleaning is best done when the crock is warm not hot. You do not want to scold yourself. When it is still warm, food hasn’t had time to dry and will come off easier. 

Remove the inner crock and soak in soapy (dish soap) water. You can also use the self cleaning method above, but the important part is to tackle a dirty crock pot before the food gets caked on. 

How to Clean a Crock Pot Lid and Exterior. 

You can also wash the lid with soapy water or place it in the dishwasher if it is dishwasher-safe. Wipe around the base with a damp cloth. Ensure you unplug the base first. Never immerse the base in water. 

For stubborn stains, use a gentle cleaner such as diluted all-purpose cleaning liquid. Place the liquid onto a cloth to clean, not directly on the base. If the base is stainless steel, you can use specialized stainless steel cleaner to give it a shine afterwards. Use a towel or paper towels to dry the base before putting it away. 

Can you Clean a Crock Pot in the Dishwasher? 

The part with electrical elements cannot go in the dishwasher, but you can often put the lid and the inner removable pot in. However, we suggest you check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure the crock pot you have is a dishwasher-safe one.

The Difference between a Crock Pot and a Slow Cooker. 

We mention both because people do tend to refer to both terms and usually mean the same thing, but is there a difference? Technically “Crock-Pot” is a brand name referring to a model of slow cooker, but over the years crock pot has become synonymous with slow cookers in the same way ‘hoovering’ has became synonymous with vacuuming. “Crock-pot” is just one make of slow cooker.

Some History on Slow Cookers and Crock Pots. 

Irving Nachumsohn (known by the name of Naxon) was granted a patent for the invention of the slow cooker back in January 1940. It was designed to cook a Jewish stew eaten on the Sabbath in Europe. The slow cooker was first marketed in the 1950s under the name: “Naxon’s Beanery.” Initially, it was a pot for cooking bean-based dishes. The first slow cooker developed as a solution to the Jewish faith’s observance of the Sabbath, not to cook for two days. So, they prepared a cholent – a meat and vegetable stew which they then tried to keep warm to eat on Saturday evening.

In 1971, the Rival Company launched the Crock-Pot after acquiring the design from Naxon. It was a more advanced version of the original slow cooker – a cooker with an electric base and a removable ceramic pot.

The ability to prepare and then leave stews and casseroles to cook safely at low temperatures, all day, became an irresistible convenience to the ‘cook’ of the household. It was especially convenient for those working outside the home. It was a practical way to have a hearty, ready-made meal at the end of the day.

Read more about the history at CNET’s Blog Post: From Humble to High Tech, a Slow Cooker History.

Food Prepared in Crock Pots. 

Inevitably, the primary use for a crock pot is for food. People commonly use them for casseroles and hearty soups, but they are also useful for:

• cooking bread
• making yoghurt
• baking brownies
• slow roasting meat
• cooking pasta

Other Uses for Crock Pots. 

Surprisingly, food is not the only use of a crock pot. Here are some other creative ideas for your slow cooker:

• Soap – The Nerdy Farm Wife has a cool recipe for making Oatmeal Honey Soap in a Crock Pot.
• Pot Pourri Room Freshener – using a mix of fruit (such as apples, oranges or lemons), cinnamon sticks, dried chamomile, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, or other spices. Add the ingredients you want to use together with water and cook on a low heat to give the home a delectable fragrance. Add more water to the crock pot if the water starts to evaporate too much.
• Crayons – Fondly known as Crock Pot Crayons. This is essentially a fun way to recycle old, broken bits of crayon. Take the paper labels off the crayons and sort into colors. Chop the crayons into pieces. Use a heat proof mold that will fit in the crock pot such as a foil cup cake tray or a silicon ice cube mold. Fill the molds to the top with the crayon pieces. (Bear in mind they will melt down). Put the mold in the crock pot with a shallow layer of water so it does not drown the mold. Some say cook on a high setting, some say low, but the idea is to melt the crayon pieces. Cover and it should take about 30 minutes for the melting to be completed. Allow the mixture and container to cool completely before safely removing the mold from the crock pot. Then place the mold in the Freezer for 10 minutes to harden the crayons, after which the crayons can be removed from their molds.
• Candles – The Prairie Homestead has a great blog on Making Soy Candles in the Slow Cooker.
• The List has an interesting blog on more ideas for Non-Food Crockpot Uses.
• Why not check out all our cleaning hacks?

Other Cleaning Hacks you might Like.

Besides this “Clean a Crock Pot Blog,” you may also like the following:

• • Coffee Pot Cleaning Hacks
  • Coffee Grinder Cleaning Hacks
  • Microwave Cleaning Hacks

Conclusion and Final Thoughts. 

It is easy to clean a crock pot if you address messes as they occur and especially after use when it is still warm. Regular cleaning keeps your crock pot looking its best, performing optimally, and lasting its intended lifetime. At Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning, we believe a cleaner home starts with the little things. 

Taking a few minutes to clean a crock pot keeps the kitchen healthy. When it comes to cleaning, doing it right is always a Dang Good idea! And when you are ready to take care of the bigger ticket items in your home, Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning is here to help – if you live near Calgary, Alberta, of course. 

Enjoy a truly Dang Good Clean, top to bottom. Give us a call: 403-984-3680

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If you’ve ever opened a closet and immediately closed it again, it’s not just you! We know life gets busy. Stuff piles up. And suddenly your home feels more chaotic than cozy. Just a few realistic habits can make a big difference. A clutter-free home isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating a space that feels calmer, easier to maintain, and actually enjoyable to live in! 

Did you know that there are psychological benefits to an organized home? We all love a clean home, but often organizing it, is a better first step. There’s no point in deep-cleaning around clutter. Before wiping surfaces or vacuuming, remove what doesn’t belong. You may feel mentally clearer. It will give you a sense of accomplishment if you organize the home and it will put you more in control of your spring cleaning tasks. Cleaning will be easier to maintain. 

Advantages of an Organized Home. 

Clutter often happens because items don’t have a designated spot. Shoes wander. Papers migrate. Remote controls vanish into the couch void. Assigning simple, logical location for everyday items makes tidying up faster and less frustrating.

In fact, organizing offers several benefits. They are:

• • A home that is more welcoming.
  • A sense of peace and simplicity.
  • A free mind, allowing for creativity.
  • A safer home with more floor space.
  • A clutter-free home that is both more visually appealing
  • A more aesthetically pleasing home. 
  • A life with less stress.

How Clutter Affects Stress and Productivity. 

Mess can create anxiety. When there is clutter, it is hard to remember where things are. Maybe the pan you need is in the back of your pantry, which is so full it barely resembles a walk-in anymore! And if you cannot get into the pantry, and you no longer know what is at the back of it, that subsequently limits your productivity. 

You might have wanted to bake that cake had you been able to access the necessary tins and ingredients. Sadly, instead of being creative, you settle for a shop-bought cake, which is expensive and less healthy. Clutter diminishes your energy. You may even experience higher levels of cortisol from a cluttered home.

When is it Time to Re-Organize the Home? 

Are you overwhelmed by the clothes in your closet? – a third of which doesn’t fit or you simply don’t wear anymore. Is your wardrobe bursting at the seams? Do you open cupboards full to the brim and wonder why you are even keeping half of their contents? What about the shoe cupboard? Do you need all that footwear?

All those negative energy thoughts swirling around! Is it time to face facts and make a plan?

What does it mean to You to Organize the Home?

A vision, or more specifically, a decluttering vision board is a powerful way to begin. Making changes often starts with an idea or a mindset. Let your imagination flow. 

What do cleared surfaces and floors look like? What if everything had a specific purpose and a resting place? What if you opened cupboards and knew exactly what was in them because the contents were orderly? 

Set your Mind to Effectively Organize the Home.

Having sat with your vision (or vision board) for a while, it is time to set your intentions and organization goals. What do you want to achieve? You prefer to break this down into small, manageable tasks. Tasks you set over a year, for example. 

What is realistically achievable daily, weekly, and monthly? Start small and think small, yet deliberately and consistently. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when organizing is trying to do everything at once. Instead of tackling the entire house, why not start with one drawer, one shelf, or one room? Progress builds momentum—and momentum beats burnout every time.

A good rule of thumb is if it takes less than 10 minutes, just do it now. Clearing mail piles, wiping down kitchen counters, and resetting entryways are quick wins that instantly make your home feel calmer. Imagine what your home might look like when you are finished. Journal about the challenges you might face. How are you going to let go of sentimental items that are simply that – sentimental – but are no longer serving any real purpose?

Keeping digital images can sometimes help. Or donating those items to others who can make use of them. Once they are no longer serving you, it might give discarding them more meaning. Deciding to set a time for your organizing tasks may be advantageous. If you were to declutter for just 20 minutes every day, in a year you would have decluttered for over 120 hours. That’s a lot of hours. And you probably wouldn’t even need that long. 

Alternatively, you could focus on one space at a time. Regardless of your decision, focus on your achievements, not on what you still need to do. 

Preparing to Organize the Home. 

Start by assessing your space and storage. For example, in your kitchen, do you have a pantry? What space do you have under the sink or above the fridge? Do you have a bottom oven drawer?

What drawers, cupboards, closets, or shelves are there? What vertical space (i.e. walls) do you have or could use? Could you make use of over-door hooks and shelves? Walk around the home, listing the rooms and spaces and the possible availability of storage in each. 

Next, a plan is wise, with or without a timeline. Because timelines can create pressure, maybe your plan could simply consist of high-level, mid-level, and baby steps. Maybe each step is just 20 minutes a day, with you checking off each task as you do it or itemizing what you did that day to declutter. Then watch your list grow!

Gathering Essential Tools and Supplies. 

Gathering the essentials could actually be a first step in your plan. Some basic decluttering tools to gather are:

• Storage Bins – Banker’s boxes are good. 
• Markers.
• Tape – masking tape is also good for labelling, too. 
• Some cleaning and dusting supplies.

Plan for Things to get Messier Before they get Better. 

If you don’t want too much mess, aim to mitigate the messiness. Often, you will want to take everything out of a room first. Let’s take an ensuite bathroom as an example. You may have forgotten what those drawers or under-sink cupboards contain. So you decide you want to remove everything initially. 

Yet where to put everything? On the bed, you think. However, if you have only designated 20 minutes for decluttering that day, that is not long enough, and then where are you going to sleep with a bed piled high with odds and ends?

That is where the bankers’ boxes (with lids) come in. You could put like-minded objects in different boxes, temporarily labelled with masking tape and a marker. Then you can pile the boxes up in a corner of the room, off the bed until your next day’s 20 minutes.

It is easy enough to do and not too messy. Yet it fits into your baby-step plan.

How to Organize the Home by Room? 

You could start at the front door or the furthest room on the top floor. Begin by making a list of all the rooms in the home. Here is a list of rooms in a typical three-bedroom house in Calgary with some links to tips for cleaning:

• Entranceway, hallways and clothes cupboard – People often refer to this part of the home as the drop zone. It is where you’ll drop keys, coats, shoes, and bags. So think about giving them a home out of sight or at least out of the way.
• Kitchen and Pantry – The Nourishing Minimalist suggests starting with the kitchen because it will have the most impact. Having an organized kitchen will help you be more productive, giving you more time to organize other areas of the home.
• Dining Room – Do you dump things on the sideboard rather than finding a home for them?
• Living Room – By definition, this is the place you mostly live in. Whether it be games, TV, reading, listening to music or entertaining. But are your books, games, and remotes in disarray?
• Laundry Room – Make use of vertical space in this room with shelves of baskets and bins filled with supplies.
• Bedrooms and Bonus Room – Have you got into some bad habits? Are you dumping clothes on the chair? Are you accumulating junk on the side table? How about good habits? Are you making your bed?
• Bathrooms – We can often be rushed in this room, especially in the mornings. So, organization is key.
• Basement – Don’t get into the habit of using the basement as a dumping ground. Arrange for items to go to charity or to the landfill.
• Garage – The garage can also become a place where you discard broken and unusable items. But what is the point? It’s better to get rid of them now, away from the house. 

Different Ways to Organize the Home. 

Organizing the home room by room isn’t the only way. You may decide to sort by item usage instead. There is no set way, and different strategies work best for different people. Here are a few:

• The 4 Box Method – For some, this is about having four boxes – Keep | Donate | Trash | Sell. Some people, however, substitute “Relocate” for “Sell.”
• The KonMari Method – Adapted for Home Organization – It is about keeping items that “spark joy.”
• One-in, One-Out Rule – This encourages balance by removing one item for every new item added. 
• The Two Foot Rule – This is about “optimizing the two feet of space you use most in every room.”
• Lazy Girl’s Guide to Home Organization – 20 Quick Hacks for the “Lazy Girl.”
• Cousins and Co-workers Organizing Method – Is about organizing by category and associated categories.
• 90/90 Rule to Declutter Sentimental Items – If you haven’t used or loved an item for 90 days and don’t expect to in the next 90 days, then it’s time to let it go. 
• 20 Five Minute Hacks – Ways to organize the home without spending a ton of time. 

Common Mistakes Made when you Organize the Home. 

It is essential to be aware of the pitfalls that may come up when embarking on your project to organize the home. Knowing what might sabotage your efforts will help you avoid them. Here are a few:

• Procrastinating – putting off decisions.
• Holding onto things you don’t actually use – just in case.
• Not Planning – planning for the ultimate goal of a finished, organized home and establishing a realistic schedule will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Don’t set specific dates – instead, use general, incremental steps. Setting plan dates can lead to feeling behind as soon as you miss one. Worse, if you feel you’ve failed, you’ll feel demoralized. Focus on your accomplishments, not your pending tasks. 
• Making systems too complicated.
• Allowing perfectionism to stall your efforts – the all or nothing approach.
• Setting unrealistic expectations.
  • Expecting everything to be done in a day.
  • Organizing too large an area.
  • Being overly ambitious and getting demoralized.
• Avoiding daily routines that make clutter worse.
• Not labelling stored items.
• Getting into the “shuffling trap” – you are just shifting clutter.
• Holding on to things for a yard sale –yard sales are hard work.
  • It is better to recycle or give to charity.

How Often should you Organize the Home? 

Should you organize the home once and be done? Perhaps not. It helps to think consciously about decluttering so that a mess doesn’t creep up on you before you know it. Telling yourself that everything needs “its place” will help.

Inevitably, there will be times when a bit more effort is needed. Seasons are a great trigger. Triggers such as:

• After the Christmas holiday season.
• Spring-inspired cleaning.
• In the autumn, in readiness for winter.

You may wish to box things up according to the seasons. Perhaps you only need some coats and boots in the winter. Or you may wish to alternate between summer and winter clothes, giving you more wardrobe space.

Perhaps you wish to create daily or weekly organization habits or simple resets. The Crowned Goat has a 52-week challenge to simplify and organize the home. You may wish to set an ongoing organization task each month, or perhaps you prefer a full reset once a year, giving you a Clean Start in January.

Organize Your Home Day

Yes, there is a day for that! And there is a month for that too!

• Organize Your Home Day – It would be remiss of us not to mention this day, which occurs every year on January 14th. This fits in nicely with our suggestion above about a reset at the beginning of the year. This day was derived with that in mind. To learn more about the history and FAQs of this day, visit the Days of the Year Website.
• Get Organized Month – In addition, January is Get Organized Month.
• Declutter for a Cause – And just in case you didn’t get the message, February is Declutter for a Cause Month.

In Conclusion – Enjoy Your Newly Organized Home. 

Organizing your home is about far more than tidy cupboards and clear floors. It is a lifestyle shift that positively affects your mental clarity, energy, productivity, and overall sense of well-being. When your space works with you instead of against you, everyday life feels lighter and more manageable.

Key Takeaways

✔️ An organized home reduces stress and mental overload
✔️ Clear spaces create calm, focus, and room for creativity
✔️ Organization saves time, money, and energy
✔️ A clutter-free home is safer, more functional, and more welcoming
✔️ Small, consistent efforts compound into big, lasting results

How Organizing the Home Improves Your Life

When your home is organized, you spend less time searching and more time living. You cook more, clean more easily, sleep better, and feel more in control of your environment. Productivity increases because distractions decrease. Stress hormones like cortisol can reduce, while motivation and confidence grow. Simply put, when you organize the home, it supports a calmer mind and a healthier daily rhythm.

Once your home is organized, keeping it clean becomes easier and far more effective — and that’s where professional deep cleaning can make a real difference.

Even the most organized homes need help now and then when it comes to deep cleaning. Dust builds up. Carpets trap debris. Furnaces collect unseen grime.

At Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning…

We help Calgary homeowners take their organized spaces to the next level. Professionally cleaned carpets, rugs, upholstery, and HVAC systems remove hidden dust, allergens, and debris that regular cleaning cannot. When your home is both organized and deeply cleaned, it truly feels refreshed — from the floors you walk on to the air you breathe.

An organized home is a gift you give yourself — and maintaining it with the right cleaning support helps that feeling last longer. Whether you’re starting small or doing a full home reset, your future self will thank you for it. Because a clean, organized home is what we call a Dang Good living! 

Feel free to call us at 403-984-3680

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Hardwood floors are one of the most beautiful features in any home. They’re practical, stylish, and built to last—but only if you give them the care they deserve. While they may look tough, these floors take a daily beating from dirty shoes, scratchy paws, dragging furniture, and yes, even an overly aggressive vacuum. That’s why regularly cleaning hardwood floors is so important, not just for keeping them looking great, but for protecting your investment in the long run!

We all know dust, dirt, and mystery crumbs don’t take breaks! They build up fast. That’s why regular, gentle cleaning matters more than you might think.

Common Risks of Neglect. 

Skipping regular hardwood floor cleaning does more than just leave your floors looking dusty—it can lead to a buildup of problems that sneak up fast. Dust bunnies multiply quickly, and dirt gets ground into the surface with every step, causing scratches you might not even notice at first. Over time, that dirt becomes embedded, making it harder to remove with just a casual mop. The finish starts to dull, losing that warm, clean shine.

Even worse, all that hidden grime can turn your floors into a breeding ground for bacteria and allergens—definitely not the kind of guests you want hanging around. Regular hardwood floor cleaning keeps your home looking sharp and feeling healthier.

Benefits of Cleaning Hardwood Floors. 

Regularly cleaning hardwood floors comes with real perks. It helps your floors last longer, keeps them looking their best, and boosts your home’s value. Clean floors also mean cleaner air—less dust and fewer allergens floating around, which is especially great if you’ve got kids or pets. And let’s be honest, nothing beats the look of freshly cleaned hardwood that actually shines.

The Process of Cleaning Hardwood Floors.

Before getting started on cleaning hardwood floors, it’s important to establish the type of floor you have, such as solid wood: oak, walnut, cherry or maple. Or perhaps you have engineered hardwood, which may handle moisture better.
Floors may have different finishes too. For example, polyurethane, wax or untreated, which is less likely to tolerate moisture.

Real Simple says that you can tell if the floor has been sealed with polyurethane by testing whether a bead of water sits on the surface rather than seeping in to the wood. Then, they suggest using a water-based solution or even a home steam cleaner, but we advise caution. Likewise, we caution against using vinegar.

We have seen vinegar recommended for cleaning hardwood on lots of websites, but Bona (a well-known company selling floor care products) advises against it. Vinegar is too acidic and can dull your floor. The same goes for lemon juice and baking soda.

Choosing the Right Tools and Solutions

• • Natural versus Store-Bought Cleaners – Natural sounds great, but be careful. Hardwood floors prefer a natural pH around 7. Only use a natural product if you know its pH value and have researched its effectiveness on hardwood. You want nothing either too acidic or too alkaline, like vinegar or lemon, as that can damage the finish.
  • A Simple Solution – A bucket of warm water with a few drops of dish soap usually does the trick. Martha Stewart even suggests adding a splash of olive oil to help maintain shine—but go easy with that. The Spruce in their video on How to Make Hardwood Floors Shine also recommends using just water for everyday cleaning and even mentions using a dab of olive oil to cover minor scratches to conceal them.
  • Mop Selection – Use a microfibre mop, a sponge mop, or a soft rag. Just make sure it’s slightly damp, not dripping. We’re cleaning the floor, not giving it a bath. Would you like a fun breakdown? Check out this video from Home Made Simple for a quick and easy demo on cleaning hardwood floors.

Habits to embrace when Cleaning Hardwood Floors. 

• • Establish a cleaning routine – see below.
  • Pick up and mop up as the dirt and clutter appear.
  • Take protective measures – see below.
  • Have a plan for unexpected spills and messes.
  • Know your Hardwood – what is it made of?

Routine and Deep Cleaning Hardwood Floors. 

Establish a Routine – The secret is to clean often and not let dirt accumulate. Dyson provides distinct steps for cleaning hardwood floors, differentiating between a daily dry clean, a weekly wet clean, a maintenance clean and a spot clean. Yet, how frequently you clean your floors will depend on the foot traffic (or paw traffic) your floors see. But once a week is advisable.

Sweeping and Dusting Techniques – It is always best to remove surface dust first. Use a soft-bristle brush or a soft brush attachment on your vacuum. A Swiffer Sweeper is also ideal for catching dust and hair. Sweep and dust toward the grain.

Vacuuming Safely – Vacuum before mopping so you don’t inadvertently embed existing debris causing abrasions. But use attachments designed for hardwood – nothing that’s going to scratch. Check the settings and make sure the brush roller you use for carpets is not engaged.

Proper Mopping – Mop in segments, along the grain of the wood. Before you begin, squeeze the excess moisture from the mop. Protect the floor from streaks or water damage by going over it with a dry microfiber mop afterwards.

Handling Stains and Spills.

Hardwood is durable, but inevitably over time accidents happen, especially if you have pets and young ones. The key is expediency. Avoid reaching for what is at hand. Acidic household solutions may dull the appearance.

A Quick Response to Spills. 

It is important to act fast when a spill occurs. Immediately soak up any liquid with a soft cloth to minimize any damage. You don’t want to warp the hardwood. Although turning up the room temperature a little and installing fans often shrinks the wood back to normal when you cannot act promptly. Let’s hope you aren’t left with any watermarks. Likewise, scoop up food straight away – don’t let it sit for long and be careful what you use to scrape away any hardened dried-on food. You don’t want to clear away food only to find you have been left with scratches.

Removing Stains. 

If your response (suggested above) is still not quick enough to prevent a stain, use a suitable hardwood floor cleaner. And that is where knowing the type of flooring you have is important. For example, lacquered wood floors and oiled floors require different cleaning products. For lacquered floors, you will need a synthetic cleaner with no grease, whereas for oiled floors a soap-based cleaner containing grease is preferred.

Stick with a gentle pH-balanced hardwood floor cleaner without causing damage to safely tackle food messes, pet accidents and watermarks.

Preventative Measures for Long lasting Floors?

Some proactive floor maintenance strategies will help keep your floors looking their best for many years.

Protecting Floors from Scuff Marks. 

• • Add Felt Pads to the base of sofas, armchairs and other upholstery to avoid marking the floor when rearranging the room. It is a simple fix that saves floors a lot of wear.
  • Rugs and mats are a must in high-traffic areas, and especially near entrances.
  • For footwear bought in from outside, leave it at the door. High heels in particular can do serious damage to hardwood.

Tip: A fun doormat reading: ” Please remove your shoes,” might encourage guest etiquette and set the tone without you having to say a word.

Flooring Canada  also suggests trimming pet’s nails regularly to prevent scratches.

Controlling Humidity Levels. 

Hardwood can be sensitive to too much moisture or excessively dry conditions. High humidity is not usually a problem in Calgary, although 2025 saw a higher and longer than normal rainy season.

Dry conditions are more likely to occur in Alberta, which could cause shrinkage, crowning and cracks, whereas moisture can cause swelling and warping. FloorsPlus suggests the ideal humidity is 35-55% You can purchase monitors to measure humidity and install a humidifier in Calgary’s dry winter months.

Common Mistakes to Avoid when Cleaning Hardwood Floors.

Certain cleaning habits can slowly damage your floors. What seems harmless may wear down protective coatings. Well-intentioned routines such as repeated waxing can create buildup that traps dirt and makes hardwood look cloudy instead of clean.

Overwetting Floors and Steam Cleaner Risks. 

Using too much water is a big one—mops should be slightly damp, not dripping. Excess moisture can seep into seams and cause warping or damage. Avoid home steam cleaners as moisture and heat can damage floors. A professional may use hot-water extraction (aka steam cleaning), but they will decide based on the floor type and can control heat and moisture better.

Using Harsh Chemicals or Abrasive Tools. 

Also, refrain from using harsh cleaners or DIY solutions such as vinegar or lemon juice. These are too acidic and can strip away the finish. Stick to pH-balanced products made for hardwood floor cleaning to keep your floors looking their best.

When to Call the Professionals? 

Sometimes, regular cleaning just isn’t enough. If your hardwood floors are looking dull no matter how often you clean them, or if you’re seeing blemishes, uneven wear, or faded spots that don’t respond to basic care, it might be time to bring in the hardwood professionals for cleaning or even refinishing.

Signs of Wear and Tear. 

Look for visible scratches, cloudy finishes, worn-down high-traffic areas, or places where the protective sealant has worn off. These are signs your floors need more than just a mop.

Professional Refinishing Options. 

A popular option is a screen and recoat, where a light screening removes the top levels of polyurethane, followed by a fresh layers of finish. It’s a great way to refresh your floors without the mess of a full sanding overhaul.

At Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning, we know when a floor just needs a deep clean and when it needs a bit more. We’ll give you honest advice and expert service to help protect your investment and bring back that hardwood shine.

Final Thoughts on Cleaning Hardwood Floors. 

Keeping Your Calgary Floors So Dang Clean!

Caring for your floors goes beyond a quick sweep and a splash of water. From knowing your wood type to picking the right tools and sticking to a routine, hardwood floor cleaning takes a bit of effort, but the payoff is certainly rewarding! Whether you’re maintaining the finish, improving your home’s air quality, or just keeping things looking fresh, it’s all about working smarter, not harder.

If you’re in Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, or Okotoks, and want a deeper clean without the guesswork, our team at Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning is here to help.

Book with us today or call us at 403-984-3680 and let us help you keep your floors looking Dang Good!

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Tired of cleaning products with warning labels longer than your grocery list? We all know how that feels. And that’s why more people are turning to a simple, safe, and surprisingly effective solution: cleaning with vinegar. Did you know that the bottle of white vinegar in your pantry isn’t just for cooking? It’s a natural, non-toxic, budget-friendly cleaner that tackles grime like a pro.

And when vinegar isn’t enough on your high ticket items? Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning is here to handle the deep stuff—carpets, ducts, furnaces, and more. In this blog, we’ll look into how vinegar can be the hero that works wonders around your home!

What is so great about Cleaning with Vinegar? 

White distilled vinegar contains water and acetic acid produced through fermentation, which gives it that potent smell, as well as its superpower as a cleaner! It breaks down grease, grime, and even certain types of bacteria. The best part is that it doesn’t leave behind any weird chemical residue. According to the BBC article: Why Vinegar Is So Good at Cleaning? – vinegar’s advantage is its acidity, with a pH as low as 2.2. This makes it strong enough to dissolve mineral deposits like limescale without damaging most surfaces or fabrics. This acidity reacts with calcium carbonate buildup, breaking it down into a salt that dissolves in water, and that’s why vinegar works so effectively as a natural cleaner.

Best Type of Vinegar for Cleaning?

The most effective type of vinegar is white distilled vinegar. You don’t want to create stains that darker vinegars could cause. So it is best to avoid apple cider vinegar, wine vinegars, balsamic vinegar and other specialty vinegars where flavours and chemicals might have been added. White distilled vinegar is 5-7% acetic acid. You can also use Cleaning Vinegar which is stronger but can be harmful on delicate surfaces.

A General Household Cleaner.

Add equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle plus a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil to give your home a wipe down, but see below for surfaces to avoid.

Pros and Cons of Cleaning with Vinegar

The Benefits of Cleaning with Vinegar:

• • It’s handy. Most households have it in their pantries.
  • It’s relatively inexpensive, so a more economical choice if you are on a budget.
  • It has antimicrobial properties.
  • It’s eco-friendlier than shop-bought products, great if you are into green cleaning.
  • It’s biodegradable, so ok to flush down the drain.
  • It’s safer and non-toxic around children – but see below

The Cautions of Cleaning with Vinegar:

• • Its strong acidity could irritate eyes and skin, so you should still take care around children.
  • Take care when using outside as it can alter the soil’s pH.
  • It is not suitable for all surfaces, and we go into some of them below.
  • It can damage rubber seals on appliances.

But What About the Smell?
Yes, vinegar isn’t the best-smelling thing for your home. But don’t worry too much as it disappears quickly. If you’re not a fan, try adding a few drops of lemon or lavender essential oil to your mix for a refreshing scent. Now you have a custom, eco-friendly cleaner that smells great too!

Does Vinegar Kill Germs?

The David Suzuki Foundation highlights studies that have shown vinegar and lemon juice lessen the number of pathogens to undetectable levels. When combined with salt and heat, they can inhibit and even kill certain harmful bacteria. However, they may still be less potent than commercial cleaning products.

When Cleaning with Vinegar is Unwise?

Keep in mind that vinegar isn’t perfect for every surface. As mentioned above, avoid using it on a natural stone like granite or marble, as the acid can dull and damage the finish. It’s also not ideal for cleaning egg spills since vinegar can make the mess harder to remove. Hardwood floors are another no-go unless the vinegar is heavily diluted, as it can strip away the protective finish. Also, remember to keep it far away from electronics, as it can be hazardous!

Cleaning with Vinegar around the Home.

• Dusting Furniture
  First, don’t use vinegar on unsealed wood as it could penetrate it and cause damage. Also, avoid wax or oiled wood as the vinegar may dissolve those coatings. Even if you feel it is safe for your wood furniture, it is best to spray a vinegar-water solution onto a cloth. And it is essential to dilute the vinegar. A simple 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water mixture should suffice, but you could add 2 tablespoons of olive oil (well shaken) for extra shine. Likewise, you could try Apartment Therapy’s Dust Busting Cleaning Solution that adds 1-2 drops of dish soap too.
• Glass, Windows & Mirrors
  Use vinegar and water in a spray bottle for streak-free glass. Just use a lint-free cloth—or enjoy seeing those streaks from every angle for the rest of your week.
• Window Tracks
  A mix of vinegar and water works well to clean window tracks.
• Laundry Booster
  Add half a cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle to soften clothes and reduce odours. It can even help clean your washing machine – just one component of laundry room cleaning.
• Carpets
  Vinegar can help keep carpets smelling fresh. In a spray bottle, combine one part vinegar with two parts warm water. Lightly spray the carpet in the areas giving off an odour. Allow to dry. It is also useful for lifting carpet stains.
• Cutlery
  If you have silver in your dining room, you can use a diluted vinegar solution to polish it.

Cleaning with Vinegar in the Kitchen.

• Microwaves
  Got stuck-on food and mystery smells? Put a bowl of water with a splash of vinegar inside, heat for 5 minutes, then wipe clean. It’s basically a facial for your microwave. Check out our dedicated microwave cleaning hacks blog. 
• Dishwasher Cleaner
  Pour a cup of vinegar into the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run a hot cycle. It helps break down mineral buildup and leaves things fresh. However, these days, many suggest that commercial dishwasher cleaners are more effective. But in a pinch, vinegar may still be worth a try for your dishwasher cleaning. 
• Kitchen Countertops (Except Stone)
  Wipe down laminate and tile countertops with a 1:1 vinegar and water solution.
• Kitchen Freshening
  In our Kitchen Freshener Hacks blog, we delve into using vinegar as a deodorizer and making scented vinegar. 
• Coffee Pot
  Vinegar is great for cleaning coffee pots and works great for wiping out the coffee grinders too.
• Oven
  A paste of baking soda and vinegar is a natural oven cleaner. 
• Fridge
  For fridge cleaning, you can use the general spray bottle of vinegar solution, although it might be wise to avoid using on the seals. 
• Crockpots
  For crockpot cleaning, soak the pot in a mix of water, vinegar and baking soda. Fill the pot with water, ensuring the mess is covered. Add a cup of distilled water and then slowly add a cup of baking soda. Set to a low heat setting and leave it to do its work. Check after an hour, although it may take longer. 

Is Cleaning with Vinegar Safe on Granite or Marble Surfaces?

Avoid using it on granite or marble, as it can dull the stone. The problem is that it’s acidic and might cause scratches. A great video from “Clean That Up” gives advice on the best way to clean your granite countertops. It includes some pertinent dos and don’ts. 

Cleaning with Vinegar in the Bathroom.

As mentioned above in cleaning with vinegar around the home, vinegar is a great cleaning agent for dusting, and cleaning glass, mirrors, windows or even window tracks. 

• Bathroom Surfaces
  Farewell soap scum! Vinegar breaks it down like a pro. Great for sinks, tubs, and faucets. For stubborn grime, let the vinegar sit for 10-15 minutes before wiping it away.
• Bathroom Floors
  Cleaning bathroom floors will depend on the material. Vinegar is good on ceramic, porcelain, vinyl and sealed tile. However, natural stone such as granite or unsealed grout is a no-no. Always start with vacuuming your floors to remove any loose dirt. Then mop the floor with a bucket mixed with 1 part vinegar and 8 parts water. Then rinse clean and dry. 
• Showers
  The FIX IT Home Improvement Channel suggests spraying 100% distilled undiluted white vinegar on mould and soap scum in the bath or shower, although a 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar would be more gentle. However, see our safety measures for tile and grout below. For stubborn residues and hard-water stains they suggest you may need to let it sit for a bit before rinsing off. 
• Shower Doors
  To clean shower doors, spray with the General Household Vinegar Cleaner.
• Toilet
  Pour a couple of cups of white vinegar into the toilet bowl and also spray some into the crevices of the bowl too. Let it sit for half an hour or longer if extremely dirty. Some then suggest sprinkling baking soda into the solution (similar to oven cleaning) to get a fizz reaction. If you have some stubborn stains, you may need to scrub with a soft brush, such as an old toothbrush. Vinegar is useful for removing stains and deodorizing. 

Is Vinegar Safe to use on Tile and Grout?

You can use vinegar on sealed tiles within reason, but only if they are sealed. Nevertheless, I would avoid full-strength vinegar. Even a diluted solution should not be left on the tile for too long. Testing a less conspicuous area of the tiling might be wise. Be especially careful on unsealed or porous grout as it can be weakened by vinegar. Sometimes professional tile and grout cleaning is called for.

Can Vinegar be used to Clean Hardwood Floors?

The simple answer is: No – we do not recommend that you use vinegar on hardwood floors. Check out our blog post on Essential Tips and Techniques for Cleaning Hardwood Floors. 

Is vinegar safe for cleaning upholstery and fabric?

Yes, you can use the vinegar and water process (sometimes with mild soap) on many types of upholstery and fabrics, but always test on a hidden area first. We go into more detail on our blog about upholstery cleaning tips. See our mattress cleaning hacks for using vinegar on stains and for spot treatments.

Cleaning with Vinegar Hacks for Outdoors.

Using equal parts vinegar and water, you can effectively spray down patio furniture and other outdoor decor. Afterwards, rinse with water. Vinegar works well on mould and is good at breaking down burnt debris on barbecue grills.

1 cup of vinegar mixed with two tablespoons of dish soap in a bucket of water can be a cool homemade deck cleaner too. 

Mixing Vinegar with other Household Ingredients.

Vinegar mixes okay with:

Dish Soap
Lemon
Essential Oils
Baking soda – with caution though. Some say it simply neutralizes vinegar, and others advise against it because it creates a chemical reaction (fizzing) producing carbon dioxide gas that helps breakdown dirt. However, don’t pre-mix and store; don’t leave unattended; and only use in small quantities if you choose to combine it with vinegar. 

You should never mix vinegar with:

Hydrogen Peroxide
Bleach

How does Vinegar compare to Commercial Cleaning Products? 

Vinegar is clearly cheaper and more eco-friendly but might not be as effective as a commercial cleaning product. When you need to address tough stains or need a more complete disinfection a commercial cleaning product might be better. However, vinegar is great for every day, routine cleaning or if you need something on hand in a hurry.

National Vinegar Day.

The celebration of National Vinegar Day happens every year on November 1st. This is a day set aside to celebrate vinegar and its various benefits. Besides its uses in cleaning, it adds a distinct flavour to cooking, serves a preservation purpose in pickling and is often considered a natural sanitizer. Find out more in the video about the history and celebration of National Vinegar Day. How about exploring recipes where vinegar is prominent or learning a new vinegar hack? Promote National Vinegar Day on social media with the hashtag: #NationalVinegarDay.

Sure, cleaning with vinegar is great—but sometimes, life’s too busy to go full DIY. If your carpets, ducts, or furnace need a deep, professional clean and vinegar just isn’t cutting it, let the pros at Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning handle it.
Whether you need carpet cleaning, an upholstery refresh, furnace and duct cleaning, tile and grout cleaning or a hardwood floor renovation, Dang Good offers professional cleaning solutions for every area of your home. As a specialty cleaning company in Calgary and surrounding areas, we’re award-winning, IICRC and QUADCA certified, BBB A+ accredited, and known for results that are, well… dang good!
Contact us at 403-984-3680 to book your cleaning or if you have questions!

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As the leaves start to fall and the temperatures drop, it’s time to think about more than just pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters. A Fall Duct Cleaning Service should be on your agenda.

If you don’t have air conditioning, your furnace can sit idle through spring and summer and deserves a little attention before it kicks into high gear for another Calgary winter.

Likewise, perhaps your HVAC system has been working overtime throughout the warmer season, keeping you cool. Either way, a fall duct cleaning may be essential to keep warm air flowing endlessly when you need it most.

Why Your Heating System is Critical in Winter? 

Calgary Winters can be harsh, not to mention unpredictable. It is not unheard of to have heavy snow in September, and it is certainly not unheard of by the end of October. In fact, Thanksgiving 2025, saw the first smattering of snow and temperatures below zero. However, typically snow arrives in November and stretches on and off until April the following year. Temperatures start to drop off early evenings in September, giving an indication of what’s to come. In November 2024, Calgary saw subzero temperatures and heavy snow. Subsequently, you’ll want those ducts pumping out enough warm air to sustain some brutal temperatures without a breakdown.

Why you should consider Fall Duct Cleaning?

Fall is an ideal season for duct cleaning because it sets things up for reliable heating throughout the winter. Your furnace works hard during the cold months, but when dust, pet dander, and debris collect inside your system, it has to work even harder. This doesn’t just raise your energy bills; it can shorten the life of your system and circulate dirty air throughout your home.

We go into detail on our blog about the benefits of duct cleaning, but here’s a quick list of reasons to keep in mind:

• You like to make home maintenance a fall priority.
• You are preparing for increased HVAC usage and want to avoid strain on the system.
  • It helps detect early signs of wear or needed repairs.
• It boosts energy efficiency.
• It extends the furnace lifespan.
• You want to avoid any overheating and fire hazards.
  • Young ones do have a habit of putting things in the vents that can end up on the heat exchanger.
• It reduces allergens, dust and dander.
• It may reduce health risks from indoor pollutants exacerbated by closed windows.
  • It may help with respiratory and asthma issues.
• It improves airflow and heat consistency.
• It helps create even heat distribution across the home, meaning
  • fewer hot and cold spots.
• If you have used your air conditioning throughout the summer:
  • You may have been bringing in some of the smoke particles from the Alberta fires.
  • Summer dust and pollen may have accumulated in the system.
  • You want to ensure there are no mould spores after an extra rainy summer.
• You have recently had renovations.
• You may save on utility bills through improved airflow.
• You live near a main road, where exhaust fumes can be problematic.

Simply put, a Fall Duct Cleaning may save you hassle (and money) later!

What is Fall Duct Cleaning?

Not all furnace and duct cleanings are created equal. A surface-level sweep is not sufficient. True HVAC cleaning professionals go deep. Here’s what a fall duct cleaning includes:

1. Furnace Cleaning – focuses on the internal elements of your forced air heating system. The furnace is cleaned along with other major components, including the blower, fan, burner, and heat exchanger. The objective is to remove dust and debris to improve efficiency and safety.
2. Duct Cleaning – involves removing dust, dirt, pet hair, foreign objects, and allergens from the ducts (also referred to as: air ducts, vents or air vents). The entire system of ducts is generally referred to as ductwork. HVAC professionals use these terms interchangeably. To expand further, the ductwork is a series of metal ducts or tunnels that provide a channel through which air flows, either to heat or cool the home.

Most rooms in your home have one or two vents, with more if the space is large.
You’ll see them on the walls, ceilings, or floors. The smaller vents blow air in (hot or cold, depending on the season), while the larger ones are return air vents that pull air back into your furnace or A/C system. It’s all part of keeping your home at the right temperature year-round. For a comprehensive look at the process, check out our blog where we give A Deeper Explanation of Air Vent Cleaning.

Is Fall Duct Cleaning Necessary?

Some will argue that a fall duct cleaning isn’t essential, and it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge that view. However, let’s start with the fact that any forced-air heating system by definition forces indoor air to circulate through the ductwork into the home through the hot air vents and then extracted out again via the cold air vents. The air initially comes from outside the home, and you only have to look at your windows over time to see that outdoor air is not as clean as we would like it to be.

Now add to that indoor air quality: cooking odours, dust, smoke, pet dander, hair, bacteria and viruses that pets and people release into the air you breathe daily. Personally, I like the peace of mind knowing the channels through which that air flows are as clean and sanitized as they could be.

Signs you need a Fall Duct Cleaning.

Knowing when it’s time for a professional furnace and duct cleaning isn’t always obvious—until you notice the signs. Unlike routine maintenance tasks, ductwork issues often creep up quietly. Dust, odours, and uneven airflow rarely happen overnight; they build over time and become most noticeable when the seasons change. That’s why fall is the perfect time to take stock of your system. As you switch from cooling to heating, these subtle indicators can reveal whether your ducts are overdue for attention. Does your system need attention? Look out for these signs:

• Dust builds up faster than usual in your home.
• The furnace smells musty or burnt when it turns on.
• Uneven heating across rooms.
• You haven’t had a cleaning in over two years.
• There are musty smells from dust and debris.
• The air smells stale now that the windows are continually closed.
• Temperatures are dropping – and you want to clean before subzero temperatures.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to book a fall furnace cleaning service with the professionals!

Scheduling a Fall Furnace Cleaning. 

In Calgary, furnaces don’t get much of a break. Once October arrives, the furnace rarely rests, running day and night until April to fight off Calgary’s long, dry, and often brutal winter. That means air is constantly circulating through your ducts for half the year or more. Add in the upcoming holiday seasons such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, with guests dropping by, and you can see why fall is the perfect season to get your furnace and ducts in order.

The other reason? Timing. Furnace cleaning is always in demand as soon as the weather turns. Waiting until the first real cold snap can mean longer wait times and limited availability. By scheduling a fall duct cleaning early, you’ll beat the winter rush, make sure your system is ready before peak use, and take advantage of truckmount cleaning equipment while the weather is still moderate. Once the extreme cold hits, outdoor-powered systems have to work harder. Windows and doors are ajar to accommodate the truckmount hoses, and the heating is off while the cleaning is completed. Not everyone wants that once the outdoor temperatures are lower.

Getting ahead ensures a cleaner, more efficient furnace before it’s working non-stop all winter long.

How to Choose a Company for your Fall Duct Cleaning? 

A reputable business brings more than just a vacuum and a truck. They come prepared with the right training, professional equipment, and a simple process designed to protect your home and improve your indoor air quality. Choosing wisely means fewer surprises when it comes to pricing, results that last, and the peace of mind that your system is being cared for properly.

Here’s what to look for — and why it matters.

1. Qualifications & Certifications – Look for companies with credentials like QUADCA (Qualified Air Duct Cleaners Affiliation) or NADCA. They signal that the company has passed standardized tests, uses approved cleaning methods, and is held to higher ethical and technical standards.
2. Experience & Expertise – How long have they been in business? Do they specialize in HVAC/duct cleaning, or do they do it as an add-on? An experienced team will know how to handle tricky duct layouts, how to clean furnace components safely, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
3. Equipment & Cleaning Techniques – Proper cleaning often requires powerful vacuums (truck-mounted or equivalent), agitation tools, blow-guns, negative air pressure setups (often called “push-pull” methods), etc. A company using weak or generic tools may leave you with half the dust still inside. QUADCA and NADCA both require members to use such apparatus.
4. Licensing, Insurance & Background Checks – If you hire someone without WCB, liability insurance or proper licensing, any damage or accident might end up being your problem. Also, background-checked, professional technicians bring peace of mind—this is your home and your air we’re talking about.
5. Transparent Pricing & Value (including Additional Costs) – Ask up front: What’s included? What extra fees might show up (travel, difficult duct layouts, mould remediation, etc.)? Also compare what you’re getting for the price — the cheapest often means cutting corners.
6. Reputation & Customer Reviews – Check reviews from several sources. Local reputation counts. A company with many satisfied customers is likelier to treat your job with care.
7. Service Guarantees – Do they stand behind their work? Good companies offer protections because they believe in what they do.

Professional Duct Cleaning vs. DIY? 

It can be tempting to try a little DIY duct cleaning, but most household tools only reach what you can easily access. That means the bulk of the dust and debris may stay hidden deeper in the system. Professionals, on the other hand, use high-powered truckmount vacuums, brushes, and negative air pressure tools designed to pull debris from every corner of your ductwork — not just the surface.

DIY efforts also come with risks: dislodging ductwork, damaging furnace components, or even spreading dust further into the home. Without the right tools and training, you could reduce system efficiency or create safety issues. Professionals not only bring the expertise to clean thoroughly, they also know how to do it safely and efficiently.

Add-ons to Consider.

When getting a furnace and duct cleaning service, it may be wise to include the following add-on services:

• Sanitization of the Ductwork – Involves applying an antimicrobial treatment inside the ducts to help reduce bacteria, mould, and lingering odours — especially valuable in fall when windows stay closed and indoor air circulates continuously.
• Dryer Vent Cleaning – This clears built-up lint and debris from the dryer vent to improve safety, efficiency, and reduce fire hazards — a smart step before winter when laundry loads often increase and vents are more prone to clogging.

Book Now, so you can Breathe Easy All Winter! 

Fall is the perfect time to get ahead of furnace problems before you’re stuck in a deep freeze with no heat. It’s not too cold yet, HVAC pros aren’t inundated with emergency calls, and you’ll be ready for winter without the stress. While you can and should change your furnace filter yourself, the inside of your system needs an experts’ touch.

That’s where we at Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning can help! We provide affordable furnace cleaning that improves air quality and keeps your system running smoothly. We’re QUADCA-certified, BBB A+ rated, and proudly known for award-winning results by our clients.

Book your fall duct cleaning with us soon! Call 403-984-3680

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Situated just 34.1 km north of Calgary, Airdrie is a modern, thriving city, ensconced in culture and diversity. It is the workplace of many hardworking businesses. Airdrie has a dynamic personality and its occupants freely endorse those organizations which offer excellent customer service. And it does so magnanimously by voting for deserving businesses in several awards.

Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning has been winning awards for their cleaning services in Airdrie since they began operations in 2016.

This blog will be about four such awards:

• Airdrie City View Best of Airdrie Award
• CommunityVotes Airdrie
• Three Best Rated in Airdrie
• Airdrie Regional Business Award

Each year Readers of Airdrie City View recognize and vote for the businesses, people, places and events they love by completing an online survey.

We were delighted to hear that we won Bronze again for both Carpet Cleaning and Furnace Cleaning in the City View’s Best of Airdrie Reader’s Choice Awards 2025. We are elated and grateful that Airdrie Residents have acknowledged us in this way.

Thank you again to the Readers of Airdrie City View Publication, who voted for Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning.

Winning the Airdrie CityView Award. 

We have won the Best Of Airdrie Award eight times now. Each year as follows:

1. 2018 – the 10th Annual Best of Airdrie Reader’s Choice Awards – we won Bronze for Carpet and Furnace Cleaning.
2. 2019 – we won Silver for Carpet Cleaning and Bronze for Furnace Cleaning.
3. 2020 – we returned to Bronze for Carpet Cleaning and Furnace Cleaning.
4. 2021 – we won Bronze for Carpet Cleaning
5. 2022 – we won Silver for Furnace Cleaning and Bronze for Carpet Cleaning
6. 2023 – the 15th Annual Best of Airdrie Reader’s Choice Awards  – we won Bronze for Carpet Cleaning.
7. 2024 – we won Bronze in both Carpet and Furnace Cleaning in the 16th Annual Best of Airdrie Reader’s Choice Awards.
8. 2025 – we won Bronze in both Carpet and Furnace Cleaning in the 17th Annual Best of Airdrie Reader’s Choice Awards.

We sincerely appreciate the Vote of Confidence. It helps our business enormously when we can refer to ourselves as an Award Winning Service in Airdrie.

Gold and often times Silver has so far alluded us but we remain hopeful. Awards are announced each May, and we are amazed to have won a place again in 2025.

The Airdrie CityView Award Ceremony. 

Each year, Airdrie City View hosts a mix-and-mingle event to celebrate the winners of the Best of Airdrie Awards. Understandably, there was no award event in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but the tradition now continues with renewed enthusiasm, offering a wonderful chance for local businesses to connect and celebrate. It is great to get together with other small business winners, peers, and the Airdrie City View staff.

While we were unable to attend the 2024 ceremony due to scheduling conflicts, we were back this year 2025 and we remain incredibly appreciative for the recognition. We encourage you to check out our 2025 Best of Airdrie Spotlight to learn more about our team and what we do.

Publishing the Winners. 

Each year AirdrieToday.com publishes a pullout section in the Airdrie City View Publication – See Page A13 – announcing the winners. The 2025 winners were announced in the May 8th Edition and you can find Dang Good on page A37 of the pullout, where we extended our thanks and gratitude to the Airdrie City View Readers.

Customers who voted for us. 

We love doing business in Airdrie. It has such a small-town feeling, yet it is a thriving community with a fast-growing population. According to Great West Newspapers, it has a population of 65000 and is growing at 7% yearly. Airdrieonians have a unique spirit that is hard to find elsewhere. They are great at passing on word of our business, essentially doing our marketing for us. While we must confess that our company is not actually in Airdrie, we are so close; we almost feel like Airdrieonians. Our Head Office is in the community of Panorama Hills in the North West of Calgary and our store front in North East Calgary.

With that said, this makes these awards so much more valuable. Airdrie customers are a huge and significant part of our business. It is a neighbourhood comprising of many young families, an important demographic for Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning.

About Airdrie City View. 

A shout-out must also go to Airdrie City View, a newspaper published in print and online weekly. It highlights a variety of stories and events about the local community. It is a free-distribution paper delivered to all the households in the city. It was founded in 2002 by Cameron Christianson. See the latest Airdrie City View publication.

CommunityVotes Airdrie. 

Since 2014 CommunityVotes has set the stage for Canadian cities to vote for their favourite businesses and organizations. We have now won the CommunityVotes Airdrie Award three years running in several categories.

• 2022 – We won Platinum in Commercial Cleaning and Home Cleaning and Gold in Heating & Cooling
• 2023 – We Won Platinum in Window Cleaning plus Gold in Carpet Cleaning, Furnace Cleaning and Duct Cleaning.
• 2024 – We won Gold in Carpet Cleaning and Window Cleaning plus Silver in Furnace Cleaning and Duct Cleaning.

Nominations are already underway for 2025 and we would love your votes in four categories. Check out our CommunityVotes Airdrie Business Page to vote. The nomination period is from April 1 to July 27.

Three Best Rated® Airdrie.

Three Best Rated® is a platform that recognizes the top three local business and service providers in numerous categories for various cities across Canada. In establishing the top three, Three Best Rated® has a stringent 50-point inspection program which looks at factors such as reputation, history, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. Businesses recognized by Three Best Rated® have proven their dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, making them exceptional choices for Airdrie customers. 

Dang Good was elated to hear they had achieved Three Best Rated® in Airdrie for carpet cleaning in addition to being listed in Calgary. At least 4.5 Million customers rely on Three Best Rated® to help them find reputable, reliable businesses. This is an outstanding achievement for us, given our base is in Calgary. We have achieved this award in Airdrie since 2020. 

Airdrie Regional Business Award Finalist. 

We were thrilled to hear we were a finalist in the 2024 Airdrie Regional Business Awards for the category of Exemplary Service Award. 

Being recognized for our commitment to delivering outstanding service means the world to us. We are humbled to have been among 5 businesses in this category especially as the other 4 businesses are Airdrie based businesses. While we serve Airdrie regularly nevertheless we are extremely proud and grateful to be acknowledged alongside these exemplary Airdrie businesses.

Congratulations to Tires On The Run who won the award.

Want to know more about Airdrie? 

Check out our other Airdrie Blogs:

• Airdrie Events and Festivals
• Airdrie Trade Show

Or find out more about our services for the Airdrie Location.

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This blog post aims to help our customers, and others understand the significance of IICRC Certification within the Cleaning and Restoration Industries. Certification is pivotal to showing Quality and Trust to potential customers. It shows that cleaning companies are serious about their services. Below, we will explain what the IICRC is about, how to get certification, and why it is essential (in particular) for upkeeping standards within the carpet cleaning industry.

What is the IICRC? 

The IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification.

It is a non-profit organization whose mission (and we quote) is “to establish and advance globally recognized standards, credentials, and certifications for the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries.”

In 2022, the institute created a brochure giving a quick snapshot of itself and a short “About the IICRC” video. The organization sets industry standards and provides education and certifications to both technicians and firms. It also provides a Code of Ethics for Certified Firms to follow.

The IICRC is recognized worldwide. In addition to North America, they have a presence in Europe and Asia, with significant growth in Australia and Japan. In its 2024 Annual Report, the institute reported over 7644 Certified Firms.

A Brief History of the IICRC.

The late Edgar “Ed” Perry York of Vancouver, WA, founded the IICRC in 1972. Initially, it was called the International Institute of Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Inc. (IICUC), which comprised a small group of carpet and upholstery cleaners on a for-profit basis.

York pioneered Steam Cleaning (known as the Hot Water Extraction method). He didn’t invent the method but avidly promoted it, not only before it became popular but also while it was still considered controversial. Later, he also advocated for low-moisture cleaning (often called encapsulation). For a more in-depth look at Ed York, please see “In Memoriam: The Lasting Legacy of Ed York.“

• In 1972, the IICUC was established primarily to provide training and certification for the then-known Fiber Cleaning Schools of America (FCSA).
• In the 1980s, the IICUC extended its focus beyond carpet and upholstery cleaning to include other services such as water and fire damage restoration.
• The institute also set standards and reference guides, the first of which was IICUC S001 for Professional On-Location Cleaning of Textile Floor Covering Materials, published in 1991.
• By 2002, it had changed to the IICRC S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning. Today, it is known as the ANSI/IICRC S100 Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings.
• In 1996, as its scope expanded, the institute’s name was changed to the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), which more appropriately reflected the broader training and certification needs of the cleaning, inspection, and restoration industries.
• During the 2000s, the organization increased its global recognition and partnerships and added further standards and certifications, such as mould remediation.
• In 2006, the IICRC became a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and subsequently became an ANSI-accredited standards Developer.

Today, the Institute continues to grow its members, certified firms, certifications, and standards and is an internationally recognized organization.

Why is IICRC Certification important?

The IICRC is a widely respected, internationally recognized, and well-established organization in the cleaning and restoration industry. Certification is essential to both professionals and customers. As a cleaning or restoration professional, you receive:

• Knowledge, training and technical skills.
• A set of standards and a code of conduct to benchmark yourself against.
• Recognition, credibility and trust signals.
• Confidence to operate with the right products and tools for each job undertaken.

Confidence is vital for customers, too.

• For example, it can be challenging to determine how to choose the best Carpet Cleaner in your area.
• By selecting an IICRC-certified firm, customers know that, at the very least, the firm they have chosen has passed the necessary core competencies and a set of standards and that the company has been vetted for licensing and insurance.
• IICRC certification is one of the best ways to distinguish between an amateur and a trained professional, offering customers added protection.
• In addition, Carpet Manufacturers and Insurance Companies often suggest that an IICRC-certified firm carry out carpet cleaning maintenance.

Certification is arguably one of the best ways to help reassure customers of a quality outcome and to give them peace of mind.

What is the IICRC’s Role?

The IICRC has a significant role in the restoration and cleaning industries and has several functions.

• Leadership – By setting standards and guidelines, training and certification, the institute sets the benchmark that reputable technicians and firms aspire to.
• Industry Protection – The institute protects the industry through advocacy and representation to policymakers and regulators. For example, in 2022, the Institute wrote to the Canadian Health Minister about indoor mould and suggested they incorporate their ANSI/IICRC standard on mould remediation as a reference in the Canadian Government’s Healthy Living Publication.
• Innovation and Research – These functions are vital for setting industry standards and certifications, and for ensuring they remain relevant and accurate. The organization invests in research initiatives exploring new technologies, methodologies, and materials relevant to restoration and cleaning.
• Technical Authorship – The institute offers publications, standards, and Guides. Most can be purchased via the IICRC Standards Webstore. In addition, it provides monthly contributions to Cleanfax and CMM (Cleaning and Maintenance Management) Magazines.
• Conference and Event Coordinator – The institute offers opportunities to network, receive awards, and learn by hosting and attending events. Each year, there is the Winter Break, the IICRC Standards Summit and the Annual Instructors Meeting.
• Collaborator – The IICRC collaborates with various organizations, including educational institutions and other professional bodies, through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
  • Two notable ones are the IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association) and the RIA (Restoration Industry Association). This collaboration facilitates education, trends, perspectives and broader expertise.
  • It also has several well-known shareholders, including CFCRA (Canadian Flooring, Cleaning and Restoration Association) and ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association). Again, Dang Good is a member of both. 

The IICRC is recognized by government agencies, insurance companies, manufacturers, colleges, and universities.

How to become IICRC Certified? 

There are certified technicians and certified firms. One requirement for becoming a certified firm is to have at least one certified technician employed. The steps to becoming a certified technician (at the time of writing) are:

• Select a Certification Course in your chosen field. For example, carpet cleaners would likely choose CCT – Carpet Cleaning Technician.
• Locate an approved training course using the link above. Some courses are offered in person, and others are offered online.
• Enroll and attend the chosen training course. Depending on the course, this could be 2-5 days.
• Pay for and pass the certification exam. This is usually administered at the end of the course with the same approved school. Certification is typically multiple-choice.
• Submit your Application and Fees, which your instructor can help with.
• Once processed, you will receive certification.
• Certification requires renewal every 1-2 years, depending on the chosen field of study.

Types of Certifications.

Currently (as of writing), the IICRC offers the following certifications:

• AMRT – Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
• ASD – Applied Structural Drying Technician
• BMI – Building Moisture Inspection
• BCI – Building Construction Identification
• CCMT – Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician
• CCT – Carpet Cleaning Technician
• CDS – Commercial Drying Specialist
• CPT – Contents Processing Technician
• CRT – Colour Repair Technician
• FCT – Floor Care Technician
• FSRT – Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
• HCT – House Cleaning Technician
• HST – Health and Safety Technician
• ISSI – Introduction to Substrate and Subfloor Inspection
• LCT – Leather Cleaning Technician
• MRS – Mould Remediation Specialist
• OCT – Odour Control Technician
• RCT – Rug Cleaning Technician
• RFI – Resilient Flooring Inspector
• RFMT – Resilient Flooring Maintenance Technician
• RRT – Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician
• SCI – Senior Carpet Inspector
• SMT – Stone, Masonry and Ceramic Tile Cleaning Technician
• TCST – Trauma and Crime Scene Technician
• UFT – Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician
• WFMT – Wood Floor Maintenance Technician
• WLFI – Wood Laminate Flooring Inspector
• WRT – Water Damage Restoration Technician

Some courses require prerequisites. For example, SCI (Senior Carpet Inspector) requires CCT, CCMT and RRT certifications.

One of the most popular courses is CCT – Carpet Cleaning Technician. This course covers the various processes of carpet cleaning, fibre identification, cleaning chemistry, and standards adherence.

What Training is available? 

A whole host of opportunities exist for training across the globe, both in person and online via live stream. Their certification course calendar is an excellent way to narrow down options. Live stream does appear to have become a more popular option.

Continuing Education Requirements. 

Certifications expire after 1-2 years, so renewal is essential via CECs (Continuing Education Credits). A certain number of CECs must be earned within a given period to maintain certification. CECs can be earned in several different ways, such as seminars, webinars, conventions and, of course, classes. The links above can be used to search for available CEC studies. However, as an example, we at Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning have used the CleanCare Restoration Academy to attend online courses that provide the 14 Credit Hours necessary to maintain CCT Certification.

How does the IICRC stack up?

The IICRC is not the only association in the cleaning and restoration industries; however, it is one of the leading organizations. Others stand alone or provide complementary services or partnerships. Here are a few notable ones.

• NADCA and QUADCA – Both organizations focus on furnace and air duct cleaning, essential for HVAC cleaning specialists.
• RIA – offers specialized and advanced training in the restoration field and partners with the IICRC through MoUs.
• ISSA – caters to a broader range of cleaning and sanitation services, providing industry connections and knowledge. Again, it collaborates well with the IICRC.
• CFCRA – is a Canadian association and an IICRC shareholder. It offers support and training to Canadians and serves as a bridge between them and other Global professionals in the flooring, cleaning and restoration industries.

What are IICRC Standards? 

These are guidelines set by the IICRC to ensure streamlined protocols, best practices, concepts, and language for cleaning, inspection, and restoration. Since the organization became a member of ANSI and an accredited standards developer, the standards are now known as ANSI/IICRC Standards.

These standards ensure that services are performed effectively and safely, following industry norms and meeting the American National Standard – a Voluntary Consensus standard (where compliance is voluntary and not mandated by law).

Some common standards are:

• ANSI/IICRC S100 – Standard for Professional Cleaning of Textile Floor Coverings focuses on cleaning carpets and rugs and specifies methods for maintaining and cleaning various textile floor coverings.
• ANSI/IICRC S220 – Standard for Professional Inspection of Hard Surface Floor Coverings describes the procedures and methods for inspecting light commercial and residential hard surface floor coverings.
• ANSI/IICRC S300 – Standard for Professional Upholstery Cleaning covers methods for cleaning upholstery materials without damaging them.

Checking for a Certified Company. 

Booking a certified IICRC firm is a significant factor when, for example, you want to choose the Best Carpet Cleaner. The organization offers the option to Locate a Certified Pro to verify any firm’s certification assertions.

Why hire an IICRC Certified Firm? 

Hiring a Certified firm is crucial if you want to:

• Be protected from unscrupulous businesses and untrained technicians
• Feel confident that businesses and technicians have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and commitment to high-quality services and uphold ethical practices.
• Be assured that the company has the appropriate licenses and insurance coverage.

In Conclusion. 

Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning is a proud IICRC-certified firm. We wish we had more time to study for other available certifications. Indeed, they are on our agenda. Unfortunately, as we are sure any business will tell you, it is a delicate balance, with barely enough hours in the day to do everything one aspires to.

Nevertheless, the institute has been a valuable resource and guide for us. We encourage any carpet cleaner or restoration company to explore certification, and we urge those looking for cleaning or restoration services to select a company that has taken the time to undertake some training and certification.

If you are looking for Professional Carpet Cleaning or Upholstery Cleaning Services in Calgary and the surrounding areas, please don’t hesitate to Call Us!

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Carpet helps keep your toes warm on cold fall and winter days. It adds style to the house and comes in every colour and pattern imaginable. Carpet can give your home personality. But is it giving your home the right kind of personality? Not if you don’t keep your carpet smelling fresh! 

Carpet can often be the villain when homes give off a whiff that is less than pleasing. Perhaps it’s time to learn about the best care tips for keeping carpet smelling fresh and clean all year round.

What is that Odour? 

If your home is clean and the garbage has been taken out, but there is still a lingering musty odour, your carpet could be the culprit. Often, we grow accustomed to the unpleasant scents emitting into our living quarters and may not notice them until someone from outside the home points it out—or worse, they don’t mention it at all. 

Instead of waiting for a guest to wrinkle their nose and silently suffer through the odour, why not be proactive so you can always have your carpet smelling fresh for you and your guests? 

What causes Unpleasant Carpet Smells?

Carpet can act as a sponge for odours, and several culprits exist. 

• Cooking Smells – You may be thinking of fried fish, but most food gives off an odour when cooked. It may be pleasurable at the time but not so good later. Unfortunately, the carpet absorbs those stale smells. 
• Food Crumbs and Lack of Vacuuming – Crumbs are unavoidable if you eat near or on the carpet. If you don’t vacuum them up in a timely fashion, they will turn musty or mouldy. 
• Pets Issues – If you have pets, pet smells are inevitable. From the obvious such as vomit or poop to those minor urine accidents you don’t even know about, your carpet can take a beating. 
• Smoke – Wood-burning fireplaces and cigarettes give off smoke, which your carpet is a filter for. Even if your household doesn’t smoke, perhaps the previous household did. 
• People and Foot Traffic – If you have people in the home, you have dead skin. And what about those who wander around in bare feet? Are you sure their feet are perfectly clean whenever they walk on the carpet? 
• Poor Ventilation—Stagnant air and humidity buildup are no friend of carpet. Carpet can absorb moisture from the air, and there will be plenty of it if there is a lot of rainfall or snow. 
• Moist or Damp Carpet – Muck from outside gets trodden in. Spills, if not handled right away, seep deep into the carpet. All that moisture can cause mould. Even overwetting carpet when cleaning, especially using an “at-home steam cleaner,” can produce mildew. 

Best Tips for Keeping Carpet Smelling Fresh.

Give your Carpet some TLC. 

• Remove Shoes – Avoid bringing in what you stepped on outside. Don’t trample it into the carpet.
• Wear Slippers – They may be cleaner than your socks or bare feet.
• Take care when Eating and Drinking – Use a TV Tray or Side Table.
• Address Spills Promptly – Don’t let moisture seep into the underlay. For further tips, see our carpet cleaning hacks.
• Use the Oven Hood Fan – Use the kitchen extractor fan when cooking. It is designed to prevent food smells from lingering in the home.
• Replace Filters as needed – Changing the furnace filter regularly is especially important.

Carpet Maintenance. 

• Vacuum Regularly – Don’t let dirt accumulate. Vacuum it up frequently.
• Consider the type of Vacuum – Invest in a HEPA Vacuum if you have pets, live near trees or suffer from allergies.
• Sweep and Dust – Prevent what’s on the floor and surfaces from settling into your carpet.

Ventilate and Dehumidify.

• Open windows – Fresh air is good for you and airs out the carpet. Open windows when practical.
• Dehumidify – Don’t let things get damp. Use Portable Fans or the Furnace Fan. Consider a dehumidifier on muggy summer days.
• Check Indoor Air Quality –  There are many ways to improve Indoor Air Quality. A standard filter needs to be changed every three months—more if your air ducts are dirty, pets are in the home, there is lots of pollen in the air, or you suffer from allergies.
• Get your Furnace and Ducts Cleaned—If summers are prone to wildfires, get a regular HVAC cleaning. Smoke carries particulate matter that gets into the ducts and spreads around the home. One of the secrets to keeping your carpet smelling fresh is taking care of those ducts.

Ways to Deodorize the Carpet. 

No matter how clean and tidy you keep the home, the simple act of living means you’ll need to deodorize occasionally to keep the carpet smelling fresh. Remember, ultimately, you want to remove the smells and the issues that cause them.

Simply masking with an air freshener is a short-term solution and can add more microscopic matter that sinks into the carpet, creating additional smells over time. Sure, an air freshener has its uses. A dog that leaves a “fragrant” smell after eating is an excellent reason to have an air freshener!

Always read and heed all the safety warnings and labels on products. Test a small area first. Whatever you are using, please keep products away from children and pets. Even “safe” products can be unsafe if children or pets are inclined to put them in their mouths!

Between professional carpet cleanings (which, incidentally, are the best and most cost-effective way to keep carpet smelling fresh long-term), try these DIY deodorizing methods that help keep carpets smelling fresh.

Natural and DIY Deodorizers.

These are easy to make with ingredients from your pantry. If your carpet is in the same space as your kitchen, you may wish to check out our Kitchen Freshener Hacks first. Then see below for more ideas on using kitchen ingredients for some natural remedies.

• Baking Soda – Baking soda is a fairly safe option for carpet, provided the carpet is dry and thoroughly vacuumed afterward. It is best to plan for this when you can leave the room unoccupied for a few hours.
  • Start by removing as much clutter and furniture as possible. Then, vacuum the carpet.
  • Next, lightly cover the carpet with baking soda.
  • A Flour Sprinkler, sieve or sugar shaker may be helpful for this step.
  • Leave the baking soda on the carpet for at least 30 minutes, but longer is better to allow time for odours to be absorbed.
  • Then, thoroughly vacuum up all the powder.
• Borax – Some suggest another alternative: using equal portions of Borax powder and Baking Soda.
• Vinegar – White vinegar is helpful if you know where the carpet’s smells originate.
  • Mix one part vinegar with two parts warm water in a spray bottle. Lightly spray the carpet (with emphasis on lightly, as you do not want to soak it). Then let it dry.
  • Yes, vinegar initially has a distinctive odour, but it will dissipate, and as it dries, it will remove the foul odour, too.
  • Other alternatives to vinegar are to leave some bowls out overnight or simmer some in a pot on the stove for 30-60 minutes.

Deodorize with Essential Oils.

Using a diffuser, essential oils can add some freshness, but choose the right ones along with air purification so you don’t just mask smells. Alternatively, place a few drops of water in a spray bottle for a natural air freshener.

Deodorize with Spices and Herbs.

You could add spices or dried herbs to your powder concoction. We suggest cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary, thyme or even finely grated and dried fruit peel, but watch out for any colour staining.

An excellent summary of the above and a more visual demonstration can be found in The Domestic Geek: Natural Carpet Deodorizer Video. Sara also explains why the natural approach is better than the store-bought option. But if all else fails, see below.

Readymade Deodorizing Solutions.

For a quick shop-bought option, use Arm and Hammer’s Carpet Deodorizers or see Bob Vila’s Suggestions in the Best Carpet Deodorizers blog.

Carpet Protection. 

Often, prevention is better than cure, and we have a couple of suggestions for keeping your carpet in tip-top shape.

• Use area rugs on top of the carpet to protect high-traffic areas. Some small area rugs can be popped right into the wash or taken outside and hung on a line (or over the balcony) to freshen them up.
• Ask your Professional Carpet Cleaner about Carpet protection applications such as Scotchgard™, which helps prevent spills from reaching the underlay and makes cleanup fast and easy.

Deep Carpet Cleaning. 

A regular deep steam clean is a ‘Dang Good’ idea. Neglected carpet is more likely to attract odours. The best way to keep the carpet smelling fresh is to book professional deep carpet cleaning. No matter what you do to deodorize your carpet, those smells and grime, and even just a breakdown of the carpet’s VOCs, will accumulate over time. 

Book regular maintenance a couple of times a year for your carpet, and have your professional cleaner take care of the ducts once a year (at a minimum), too. Your best health and the enjoyment of your home are essential, so don’t overlook the value of cleaning by keeping your carpet smelling fresh.

If you live in Calgary or the surrounding areas, call 403-984-3680 for a free, no-obligation quote or to book. 

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How often do you think of your dining room? Is it just there, usually not a topic of conversation, or given any thought outside of Thanksgiving or Christmas? That’s a shame because the dining room is just as pivotal to the home as the kitchen – and often just as problematic.

Comfortable social gathering rooms tend to attract a lot of clutter. They are also magnets for accessories and gadgets that are seldom used, creating even more clutter. How many impressive centrepieces for the table are in storage, for instance? And is your dining room table accessible, or is it covered in homework, functioning as a work-from-home office or a laundry folding table?

This blog will explore everything you need to know about proper dining room cleaning and give you dining room decluttering tips so you can reclaim this important space.

What Does Your Dining Room Mean to You? 

Before embarking on a dining room cleaning, take a few moments to think about what you use it for now and what you might wish to use it for in the future. What you decide will ultimately determine how you organize and arrange the room. 

For example, if the dining room is the site of crafting and play, storage options that will close to hide craft supplies are ideal. If the dining room is a sacred place for socializing, how easily can you use it for a dinner party if needed? Perhaps the dining room doubles as a home office or breakfast/lunch room? You’ll need to set things up so chargers are not tripping hazards and chairs are ergonomically correct or easily adapted using lumbar or seating pads.

How Cluttered Is the Dining Room?

If the dining room is less of a dining room and more of a cluttered dumping ground, this needs to be addressed first. The dining room may be highly visible, and the clutter and mess are not good for you or your home. Spend time decluttering the kitchen and the dining room before cleaning and reorganizing. Once a year, commit to a dining room cleaning – a spring cleaning session to keep clutter from creeping back and address those seldom cleaned areas like the table legs and the tops of the French doors.

How Functional Is Your Dining Room? 

Before we get into our dining room cleaning tips, let’s address the room’s functionality. Is it seldom used because the table is too big or too small? Are there enough chairs for everyone? Do you know where the table leaf is stored? Is the amount of storage appropriate? How fast can you convert the homeschool setup to a space for a family dinner?

How you organize the space will depend on its functionality. While it is important to have a clean and organized space for meals, it is okay for the space to do double duty. Just ensure that you have the right systems in place to quickly and easily transform the dining room from an office, homeschool, or craft table into a place for a sit-down meal.

Embarking on the Dining Room Cleaning. 

Now that you have considered how you want the dining room to function and what you’ll need to get it there (different tables, storage solutions, more or less chairs, etc.) it’s time for the deep clean. Our simple dining room cleaning checklist will help you make quick work of this, and these tips will make the process even more fun and efficient:

• Enlist the help of family members. Give everyone a job to do.
• There is nothing wrong with cleaning to a soundtrack of your favourite tunes!
• Put pets in a different room if possible so they don’t scatter things about and hold up the process.
• Schedule the cleaning to be completed in one day, with an extra day for painting, replacing furniture or other big jobs. Don’t let the process drag out, or you will have a bigger and more frustrating mess to deal with. Do you need some visual inspiration? Check out Amber’s Deep Dining Room Cleaning Video.

Are you ready to start?

Dining Room Cleaning Checklist. 

Here are our best dining room cleaning action items so you don’t forget anything.

Remove the Clutter. 

Keep mail off the table by putting a mail sorting rack in the hall or foyer.
Keep magazines in a decorative box. Once the box is full, recycle the old magazines.
Put kid’s crafts and toys in accessible, closeable totes.
Remove the pet dishes and beds unless they can be placed in a corner out of the way to avoid accidentally stepping on them.
Remove any laundry. Keep baskets in each person’s room for their clean laundry so they can put their personal things away.
Do you have too many chairs? Or an unused sideboard? What about useless barstools? Or an old side table? Purge the things you don’t use.

Clean from the Top Down. 

Clean ceilings, lights, fans, cobwebs,
walls, light switches
shelves,
paintings.
Windows – clean and open them for some airing.
Clean window ledges, window screens, window tracks
Clean doors and doorknobs,
floor registers and vents.

Dust Everything with A Microfiber Cloth. 

A Microfiber Cloth helps trap and hold the dust.

Dust Tables and Chairs
Dust Cabinets
Dust Pictures, Mirrors and Photographs
Dust Door Ledges and Skirting Boards
Dust ornaments: salt/pepper shakers, candle holders, napkin holders

Sanitize Hard Surfaces and Placemats. 

Wipe Sideboards.
Wipe Tabletops,
Chairs.
Wash Cloth Placemats.
Wipe Glass or Plastic Placemats.
Replace Worn, Scratched or Outdated Placemats

Polish Wood and Glass. 

You can make your own natural wood polish
For commercial polishes, check out this list from Good Housekeeping

Vacuum. 

Chairs – look for crumbs in the creases.
Floors (use the proper attachment for wood, lino or tile).
Vacuum carpets, area rugs, floor runners. Follow our tips to keep carpeting smelling fresh. 

Wash the Floors. 

Martha Steward has a great article on how to clean every type of floor. Or perhaps you want your floors professionally cleaned?

Organize the Dining Room. 

Organize the dining room so that it serves its intended purpose but also quickly converts back to a dining space when needed.

• If it is also an office or homeschool space, set up your electronics with the cords tucked safely against the wall or underfloor runners and mats.
• Infuse the space with some fun for the kids by using bright and colourful area rugs and displaying their art on the walls.
• Have a bin or storage cube with a lid for your work items.
• Use mats under laptops to prevent scratching the table.
• Look into dual-function furniture. A cabinet with glass doors can display heirloom dishes, and drawers can hold paper, pens, etc.
• Don’t let the sideboard be a spot where clutter collects. Use it to display or hold a select number of useful items.
• Short on space? Leverage vertical storage or investigate ideas for a small dining room.

The Problem of Pets in the Dining Room. 

Our furry friends are part of the family, but keeping these particular family members off the table can be hard! Cats love to be the centrepiece. Dogs perch on chairs. There is always that fateful pawprint in the middle of the Zen Garden on the table….

If possible, it is best to train your pets to stay off the table and chairs for health and sanitary reasons. However, anyone with pets (especially cats) knows this can be a difficult task. Here are a few ways to share the space.

• Buy a PVC tablecloth that can be quickly and easily wiped down before each meal.
• Buy plastic chair covers.
• Use removable, washable chair pads.
• Keep the tablecloth or cloth placemats off the table until ready for use.
• Wipe down the table before setting it.
• Don’t keep tempting treats on the table between meals. Food attracts curious pets.
• Use a citrus-scented cleaner to help keep the kitty off the table. Cats do not like the smell of citrus.

Don’t Overlook the Silverware. 

Like the fancy dinner set, good silverware sits in a box or drawer until it’s time to shine at a dinner party. When you are cleaning and organizing the dining room, don’t overlook the silverware.
Even if you don’t use real, heritage, or antique silver, your cutlery can always benefit from a good polish.

• Remove the cutlery and clean out the drawers to eliminate crumbs and dust.
• If you don’t already have a cutlery organizer, purchase one.
• Purchase single, long trays if your drawers are too small for standard cutlery organizers.
• Polish the Silver Cutlery.
• If you don’t have silver, use the vinegar and water method to freshen up cutlery and remove water stains.

Dinner Party Ready. 

Now that your dining room cleaning is complete and everything is organized and perfectly set up to do double duty as a craft space, home office, or educational classroom, why not celebrate with a dinner party? Having friends and family over for a meal is a great way to increase personal connections. And, of course, you want the room to be in tip-top shape for the usual Thanksgiving or Seasonal gatherings. 

Here are some quick tips for preparing the dining room for a dinner party. Remember, the cleaner and more organized your dining room is all year round, the less fuss and mess you’ll have to deal with before the guests arrive.

• Don’t want to do dishes? No problem. Dollarama and other shops now carry eco-friendly disposable plates and cutlery. These biodegradable options are made with sustainable projects like bamboo and break down easily once discarded so they won’t contribute to landfill waste.
• Pots, pans and serving dishes are part of the planning. You don’t want to buy and stuff the turkey and then discover you loaned out the turkey roaster!
• What do you need to stock up on? Napkins? Ice? Do you have enough water glasses? Seats?
• Plan a beautiful centrepiece and shop locally (florists, Farmer’s Markets, boutique shops) to bring it to fruition.

Why stop at Dining Room Cleaning? 

The dining room is just as much the heart of the home as the kitchen and these days, it also serves as a craft or office space as much as a gathering space. A clean and organized dining room is beneficial for your mental health and contributes to a more efficient household. Take the time to do a Dang Good Cleaning and organize the room to best suit your needs. Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning has plenty of advice on our blog and specialty cleaning services for every room in your home. Connect with us today to learn more.

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International Cleaning Week (ICW) begins on the fourth Sunday in March.

In 2026, ICW is March 22nd – 28th.
In 2027, ICW will be on March 28th – April 3rd.

It is a week-long event of activities to reflect on how and why cleaning is important. Cleanliness has been on our minds more than usual since the global pandemic. We realize that cleaning is not just a “chore” but contributes to mental well-being, including a healthy mind and soul.

So it’s not surprising that International Cleaning Week occurs in the spring. The annual spring cleaning ritual can trace its roots back centuries when various pagan and religious cultures used the time to clean out the old and refresh the home in anticipation of spring. International Cleaning Week is an excellent opportunity to explore how you can maximize the week and set some personal cleaning rituals for keeping the home clean and organized all year round.

History of International Cleaning Week. 

There was an unofficial national cleaning week for many years. However, according to ISSA (The International Sanitary Supply Association), they are celebrating the official Sixth Annual International Cleaning Week in March 2026. This would suggest that the official cleaning week began in 2021. However, CMM (Cleaning & Maintenance Management) promoted National Cleaning Week in 2020. Nevertheless, there have been some significant milestones since then.

• In 2022, ISSA had a “Rethink What Clean Means” campaign with Howie Mandel.
• In 2023, ISSA celebrated its 100th Anniversary.
• In 2024, ISSA rebranded the name from National Cleaning Week to International Cleaning Week.
• In 2025, ISSA created the first-ever Spotless Spaces Competition.

This worldwide cleaning industry association hosts a series of events throughout International Cleaning Week. ISSA celebrates International Cleaning Week by supporting the cleaning industry and acknowledging the work of cleaning professionals. They do this through:

• Advocacy – Promoting Industry-Specific Legislation.
• Education – Training and learning about the latest advances in cleaning technology through ISSA Membership.
• Philanthropy – Encouraging Donations to ISSA Charities such as Cleaning for a Reason.

Dang Good is a member of ISSA and one of over 10500 members worldwide. We are proud to do our part in promoting the cleaning industry and being educated by ISSA. Every member is encouraged to promote International Cleaning Week through the Social Media Tool Kit using the hashtag #ICW.
You can also see ideas about International Cleaning Week at the ISSA Video below.

The Value of Clean. 

ISSA raises awareness of  “the Value of Clean,” which highlights the significant role that cleaning plays in public health, the environment and the economy. For more information, check out the video below. You can also take the ISSA Value of Clean Webinar or download the Value of Clean Toolkit. 

Reflect on Cleanliness in the Home. 

Start International Cleaning Week by sitting quietly with a journal or sheet of paper. Look around your home. What do you love about it? What do you want to change? Is it as clean and organized as you would like it to be? Clutter can be stressful. According to Psychology Today, when you Clear your Home, you Clear Your Mind.

Do you find the children’s drawings on the fridge endearing? Do you like toys in the living room? Do you wish you had more kitchen space? Do you avoid the hall closet because it is overstuffed? List your likes and dislikes. There are no right or wrong answers.

Next, consider what you can clean or change in short order, budget permitting. For example:

• If you like the youngsters’ artwork on display but find the fridge surface cluttered, head to the dollar store for cheap frames. Make a gallery wall and swap out their masterpieces as the youngsters create new ones. Consider using redundant walls, such as the walls of the stairwell.
• Suppose you love the look of toys (family time and playtime!) in the living room but don’t love tripping over them. In that case, many local stores have coffee tables, ottomans and other lovely functional items that double as storage for reasonable prices.
• If the kitchen counter gives you pause, head to Pinterest for some ideas or check out some of our cleaning hacks. A few well-placed baskets, magnetic paint and hooks will make a huge difference.
• That hall closet has things you forget existed. Use the easy keep, donate, discard system to clear it out.
• Is your deck ready for sunnier days?

Longer-Term Cleaning Projects. 

Now, think of the longer-term things you want to tackle. It could include:

• A kitchen or bathroom deep cleaning or renovation.
• A chore chart so every member of the family helps with the cleaning.
• Planning a yard sale to dispose of clutter in the home or garage.
• Calling in a home organizer for professional help or budgeting around weekly or bi-weekly cleaning services.

Getting Clean and Organized. 

A common complaint about cleaning is that it takes time, and then things get messy again just as fast. During International Cleaning Week, stop this cycle by getting organized. When there is a place for everything, it’s easy to clean up and keep things that way.

• Start by removing the clutter. If it has no home, it must go. If it is broken, defective, or unfixable, it needs to go. Use the keep, donate, toss system and spend a day or two sorting through every room in the home. Don’t let that donate or toss pile hang around. Go right to the donation centre or dump. If there is a horde to clean out, rent a roll-off/pick-up dumpster.
• Before you reinstate your items, clean the room. We have guides for cleaning every room in your house, including the kitchen, home office, and bathroom. It is always best to do a deep clean immediately after a clutter clear-out and before you move your “keep” items back in. This allows you to reach all the nooks and crannies where dirt likes to hide.
• The key to making things easy to clean is to reinstate your items with intention.
  • Frequently used items should be easy to reach and put away. It prevents them from being left on the counter or floor.
  • Every item needs its place. If it sits randomly on the countertop, it needs to be in a bin or container, drawer or on a hanger or in the closet.
  • Every item and space should be easy to clean. Desktops, countertops, floors etc., should be easy to wipe, dust and vacuum. If you have too many small items on a countertop (like decorative figurines), enclose them in a glass case to keep the dust away.

Small Cleaning Steps for Big Results. 

It is too easy to put off cleaning and organizing because it seems like a thankless task. It can also feel overwhelming when the entire home needs to be addressed. However, taking small steps now yields significant, lasting results.

Use International Cleaning Week as the catalyst to tidy and organize your home. There are simple, quick actions you can take, plans you can make for the longer-term, inexpensive items you can purchase to keep things organized, and there is professional help to be had if needed. So mark your calendar for that last full week of March and get started.

A Dang Good Deep Clean. 

According to the American Cleaning Institute, when spring cleaning, the dirtiest areas of the home to focus on are windows, floors and toilets. The ACI has a theme for International Cleaning Week. In 2023, it was: “Understanding Clean.” In celebration, they pointed to their video titled “How to Read Product Cleaning Labels.“

The ACI theme for 2026 is “Celebrating Cleaning Innovation.” In 2026, the American Cleaning Institute celebrates its 100th anniversary, and this theme looks back at the evolution of cleaning innovation and 100 years of cleaning progress. 

Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning is always ready to take on your carpets, furnaces, ducts, windows, and upholstery in Calgary and nearby Locations. Make deep cleaning part of your International Cleaning Week activity or your annual spring cleaning project. Call us to remedy disasters like pet stains or wine on the carpet. We are your local solution for your specialized cleaning needs. Give us a Call!

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Assessing the best carpet cleaning company can be quite a mind field when dozens of businesses promote themselves as the greatest. Perhaps you have been disappointed in the past, but how do you decide who is truly as good as they say?

Deciding who genuinely lives up to their promises requires careful consideration. Furthermore, carpet cleaning techniques vary, each designed for specific needs and the cost of these services can differ significantly, too. Local Carpet Cleaners may have the greatest sales pitch, but do they have the evidence to support their statements?

Below, we outline useful tips and factors to consider when choosing the Best Carpet Cleaning Company.

Price, Transparency and Value. 

Prices can range from $150 to $750 or more but the cost will depend on several factors including the square footage being cleaned, the stains being addressed and the treatments being applied.

There are a plethora of professional carpet cleaners available, and many will have different pricing structures – some cheaper and some more expensive. Look for a company that strikes a balance between cost and quality. Then, check to see if they have transparent pricing and whether the price is set at the time of booking. Avoid the ‘bait and switch’ businesses who give one price when you call and book yet another when the work is actually done.

However, we do not recommend you make your decision on cost alone. What is most important is that you choose someone adequately skilled to do the job for a price that you can reasonably afford. Remember the cheapest is not always the best.

You can check out all our Pricing on our Contact Page for a comprehensive list.

Cleaning Techniques Used. 

Not all Carpet Cleaning is the same. There are different carpet cleaning methods. The Hot Water Extraction Method (popularly known as Steam Cleaning) is often considered to be one of the best. However, check out our blog on the various types of cleaning processes available to assess which would be right for you.

Steam Cleaning provides a deep clean but does leave the carpets damp. Whereas other companies promote the VLM (Very Low Moisture) option. However, a lot of carpet manufacturers will mention Hot Water Extraction in their Carpet Care and Warranty Guides.

Dang Good uses the Hot Water Extraction Method. You can learn more about our unique cleaning process on our carpet cleaning page.

Effectiveness of Products Applied. 

Are the products being used healthy and harmless for your household? Are they environmentally friendly? Some products can be detrimental to your carpets, children or pets, and some chemicals can agitate those who suffer from allergies. What information does the business provide on their products and their effectiveness in doing the job?

You can be sure that our products are eco-friendly and safe for the home and the environment. We also ensure the products applied do not leave a residue. Residues can leave carpets feeling crunchier than before the cleaning, and further cleanings will be necessary sooner as new dirt gloms onto those sticky fibres.

Superiority of Equipment Used. 

Do you know what kind of equipment is being used? Has it been looked after? Is it Portable or Truck Mounted? The condition and type of equipment used are crucial. Each equipment type will have a specific function, and we ensure that the most suitable tools are used for every job. Please see the Equipment Section on our carpet cleaning page for specific details of equipment used.

Technologies are changing and improving all the time in the carpet cleaning industry. Dang Good continues to research and explore these new developments and adapt them when we know they will enhance our services.

Using Truckmount or Portable Units? 

There is a place for both Portable and Truckmount Equipment. Carpet cleaners will tend to use truck-mounted equipment for most jobs because it is more powerful. However, Portable Equipment is necessary in specific instances, especially when the home is not at ground level. There is nothing wrong with portable units per se; they just might require more effort to achieve the same results. So, as long as the company you are using is results-driven, there should not be an issue.

Dang Good Carpet Cleaning uses both types.

Evidence of Licensing and Insurance. 

Make sure whomever you hire is licensed in your city and has liability insurance and WCB cover. Accidents can happen both to people and property, and things can get expensive if the company you use doesn’t have the appropriate requirements in place.

We at Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning are compliant with all the necessary licensing and insurance regulations for the various locations we serve. Once booked, you can obtain a copy of our City License and Liability Insurance if required.
Dang Good also has WCB (Workers Compensation Board) cover for Alberta, and we can provide a clearance letter before the day of the appointment should one be needed.

Reviews and Recommendations. 

One obvious source of reviews is Google. Check out higher and lower star scores. In the past, some ‘rogue’ companies have ‘paid’ for reviews, but Google has clamped down on that significantly. In some instances, Google is removing map profiles altogether where their rules have been breached. In time, this will make Google reviews much more reliable. More important than the rating though is the feedback given. Look for consistencies. What specifically did a customer like about the service they had?

There are other review sites which have stringent vetting procedures. We recommend checking not just Google but also other sites such as:

• BBB – Better Business Bureau
• HomeStars
• ITrustLocal/Top Choice
• Trust Analytica
• TrustedPros
• Yelp

Another option is to ask for recommendations. You will often see users on Facebook asking community groups for recommendations. And of course, Facebook has its own list of reviews and recommendations with a high rating of 5.0.

We invite you to learn more about Dang Good’s Reputation.

Background Checks. 

Invariably, you will be inviting complete strangers into your home. You’ll need the peace of mind of knowing that the staff have been vetted and are trustworthy. Are the staff trained to be respectful of your space and belongings?

Our staff were required to have background checks as part of the Google Verification process. Nevertheless, periodically, we insist on up-to-date background checks, too.

Appearance and Brand of Business. 

Are technicians presentable and wearing uniforms projecting the business brand or logo? Do they take pride in their appearance? It may signal the level of pride they will take in cleaning your carpets. When technicians enter your home do they wear shoe covers or replace their outdoor shoes with indoor ones?

Are company vehicles used, generally showing their brand logo and other details? Do they appear to be in good repair?

Do you recognize the business brand? How well-known are they in your city? In what ways do they get involved in the community? Check out Dang Good’s Location Pages to find out more about our local services and community involvement per city we serve.

Experience and Expertise. 

Do the technicians have the experience and knowledge needed to do a superior job? Are they trained in the latest technologies? How long has the company itself been in business? If they have been operating for a few years, chances are they have ironed out some of the wrinkles – so to speak.

Mark Norman, Co-Owner of Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning, brings decades of carpet cleaning expertise. He has cleaned thousands of carpets and rugs of different types, colours and conditions. He is also certified with the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification). Dang Good is also a certified IICRC company. Mark’s experience, both using portable and truck-mounted equipment, is vast.

Mark trains our technicians to a high standard of expertise. Even technicians who come to Dang Good with experience undergo weeks of rigorous training and follow-through before being allowed out independently on a carpet cleaning truck. So, you can rest assured that when one of our technicians turns up at your home or business, they know what they are doing and have the knowledge and skills needed to clean and treat an array of carpet conditions.

Qualifications and Certifications. 

As mentioned above, one recognized organization is the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), which sets the industry standard for carpet cleaning. The IICRC is a non-profit organization which was established in 1972. We suggest you select an IICRC Certified Firm. However, there are other organizations, too. CRI – The Carpet and Rug Institute is another that comes to mind. Another is The Woolsafe Organisation.

Quality Cleaning Guaranteed. 

Not all companies provide the same level of service or offer a guarantee. Ensure the cleaning service you use has a proven track record and evidence of quality work. Does the carpet cleaner encourage feedback and then act proactively on negative or constructive comments?

Our portfolio of past work speaks to the quality of cleaning we provide. Not every company operates at our level of excellence, so it is essential to choose a carpet cleaner that consistently delivers outstanding results and stands by their work.

Availability of Free Estimates. 

Many carpet cleaners will give you a general idea of pricing that could change significantly when they come to clean your carpets.  So, companies that offer free, accurate estimates are the wisest choice to select.

For some that can mean a visit to your home, however, an experienced business will have trained their staff to ask succinct questions so they can provide a free, reliable, transparent and accurate quote over the phone. Dang Good falls into the latter category but will also visit your home where the cleaning required might be more complex.

Additional Services available. 

If a business is good at carpet cleaning, then it stands to reason that they will provide other quality cleaning services, too. Obviously included in any carpet cleaning service are treatments for stains and odours. Depending on the severity these processes may incur extra costs, but that should be explained and included in your quote when you call.

When customers are looking to book a cleaning service often it is not just carpets that they want cleaned. Ask about additional services available. Many will offer the following:

• Upholstery Cleaning
• Tile and Grout Cleaning
• Hardwood Floor Cleaning
• Sanitizing and Disinfecting
• Furnace and Duct Cleaning
• Window Cleaning

It is also worth asking about discounts for multi-service bookings.

Booking Process & Communication. 

When you call for an estimate, how comprehensive are the questions being asked? A company focused on customer service will ask a lot of questions to find out the best solution for the service you require. Knowing the type and condition of your carpets is paramount as is knowing what kind of stains need to be addressed ahead of the job. It helps the technician be better prepared and to know the kind of environment they will be working in. For example, will they need to navigate around children and pets to ensure their safety?

The way a company handles their calls will tell you a lot about the kind of company you are dealing with. The best carpet cleaning company will want to provide a positive experience at every stage. They will listen, be patient and be empathetic too.

Availability to do the Job.   

You might carry out a thorough investigation into several suitable local companies but what a shame if they cannot accommodate your request? There are times of the year that are busier than others. For example, springtime is often when spring fever kicks in, and carpet cleaning becomes very popular. On the other hand people often look fall furnace and duct cleaning. So, obviously, it is wise to book ahead, but this might actually be one of the first things you ask about when you call. The bigger the company the more likelihood of them being able to slot you into a time of your choosing.

Avoidance of Upselling. 

When you are comparing quotes, you need to be careful that the price quoted is the price you will pay. How often have we heard a potential customer go with someone else because they came in slightly less price-wise only to be charged more at the time of service? And to add the proverbial ‘fuel to the fire,’ the quality of carpet cleaning left a lot to be desired, too! We recommend ensuring prices are completely transparent and that the firm you pick can give you assurances that there will be no surprise add-ons at the time of cleaning.

Are the Terms of Service Explicit? 

Does the company have set terms for carrying out a service? What is their guarantee policy? What if you are not happy? Check out their FAQ page for more information. Our terms of service are clear, and our guarantee policy is customer-focused. We strive to address any concerns proactively, ensuring your satisfaction is our top priority. It is essential to us that every customer is a happy one.

Narrow down the Best Option. 

We strongly recommend doing your homework to avoid paying the price for one carpet cleaner only to have to pay the price for a second carpet cleaner to rectify the damage caused by the first (if they can of course).

Make a shortlist of several carpet cleaning companies you think will meet the criteria above. Where possible go for organic search results rather than Ads. Advertising usually appears first in the search results so we recommend scrolling down the page to look beyond the Ads. However some Ads do sneak in further down too, but they are always marked “Sponsored.”

If you live in Calgary and Surrounding areas – why choose Dang Good Carpet Cleaning?
Dang Good can answer all the points above in the affirmative. They have been in business since April 2016, but the expertise by Mark Norman, Co-Owner extends to over forty years. Living up to their name is a given, and you can find out more about Dang Good’s Vision, Mission and Values on their About Page.

Finally, if you live in Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere or Okotoks, please feel free to call us or complete our contact form to arrange what we humbly consider to be the best carpet cleaning service in Calgary. 

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Air Vent Cleaning might not be the first thing on your list of home maintenance chores, but it should be something you seriously consider. You may have heard people talk about Air Vent Cleaning, but what is it? And is it necessary?

When taking on any home cleaning project, it can be easy to overlook the air vents and the ductwork behind them. After all, the ductwork is out of sight. Yet, as with the air you breathe, just because you cannot see the contamination doesn’t mean it isn’t there. In this blog, we provide a guide explaining the process. We will address your questions and concerns regarding air vent cleaning so that you can make an informed decision on whether to book a Professional Furnace and Duct Cleaning Company or take the DIY approach to cleaning. 

What are Air Vents?  

First things first! What exactly are Air Vents? They are a significant segment of an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) System. Your Heating System comprises a series of modules that heat, ventilate and sometimes cool your home – cooling if you have central air conditioning. Air flows from the furnace through a network of metal tunnels (often called ductwork), and the air vents are the panels you see on the walls or ceilings sealing off those tunnels. 

While the vents do, to some extent, protect the ductwork from foreign objects such as toys, you will notice they are slatted to allow the flow of air to be sucked in or out. These vents are divided into supply and return vents. Heating the home in this way is sometimes called forced air heating. 

Supply Vents – The supply air vents are smaller and usually have adjustable slats to control airflow. The air (hot or cold) is pushed out through these vents into rooms throughout the home. The amount of air will depend on your thermostat settings. A room will likely have between two and four of these vents, depending on the size of the area.

Return Vents – The Return Air Vents (as the name suggests) return air to the furnace through the network of tunnels, enabling steady airflow. These vents are larger and usually non-adjustable. They can get dirtier than supply vents. Typically there is one return vent per room. The exception would be having two in an open-plan living and dining room combo. 

Understanding Air Vent Cleaning. 

Air Vent Cleaning is just one element of an HVAC forced-air cleaning service for removing dirt, dust and pollutants. This type of cleaning service has many names: furnace cleaning, duct cleaning, vent cleaning, HVAC cleaning and, of course, air vent cleaning. Professionals don’t tend to clean air vents in isolation. On the contrary, Air Duct Cleaners usually clean the entire system, including the furnace and heating elements, in addition to the ductwork and vent covers.

Occasionally, the furnace is brand new, and the customer will ask for the furnace to be left, but even so, air vent cleaning involves accessing the furnace plenum and heat exchangers.

Air Vent Cleaning versus Furnace Cleaning.   

These two cleaning services: furnace and vent cleaning, are typically carried out simultaneously. Rarely would you ask a professional to come to the home just to clean the furnace unless you plan to clean the vents yourself. Similarly, most contractors would not come just to clean a furnace unless they were doing another service, such as a tune-up. Besides, cleaning the furnace in isolation could be futile as it may not stay clean for too long. The forced air would continue to travel along dirty, contaminated ducts. 

Of course, the furnace has a filter, but you might need to replace the filter more frequently if you want the system to continue running efficiently. A clogged filter is a safety hazard. See our blog on Why Regular Furnace Filter Replacement is essential.

A two-person crew usually carries out the Cleaning Process. While one technician works on your furnace, the other focuses on the vents.

The Furnace Cleaning Process. 

Your furnace is made up of several interweaving parts, which include the plenum, burners, coils, ignition, valves, motor, heat exchangers, blower fan and assembly. Before cleaning commences, the technician will adjust the thermostat to check whether the furnace and its components are running correctly. Then they will turn off the power to the furnace for safety reasons.

Using approved negative air equipment (either Truckmounted or Portable), a large vacuum hose will be attached to the furnace plenum through a circular bypass hole. Often there is an existing hole in the plenum which is covered up by a metal plate. If so, the technician will unscrew the plate and access the existing hole. Otherwise, they will use specialized tools to make a hole correctly sized for a snug fit of the vacuum. Then the heat exchangers are covered up, and the return air vents are sealed to create sufficient compression. 

If expedient, the furnace technician will remove the blower and put it to one side until later in the process. Next, they will remove the furnace filter (and usually replace it with a new one towards the end of the job). The blower compartment is sealed off while the ducts are being cleaned. The A/C Coil is covered.

The large vacuum is hooked up to create high-pressured negative suction through which the dirt and debris from the supply ductwork is pushed and pulled. At the same time, as one technician is working in the furnace room, the other will inspect and work on the supply ducts and air vents. 

Once the supply vents have been cleaned, the large vacuum hose and covers inside the plenum are removed. The technician will then place the hose in the blower fan compartment, seal it up, and work on the return ducts begins. Then the remaining furnace components are cleaned by lightly blowing off dust with an air gun into the vacuum hose. This includes cleaning the blower fan casing and the reheat coil. Next, the blower fan is cleaned and put back, the furnace covers are wiped down, and all access holes are plugged. Finally, everything is turned back on to ensure the heating system is working correctly. 

The Air Vent Cleaning Process.

Initially, all the floor vents are covered. The hot (supply) and cold (return) ducts are cleaned separately. Starting on the top floor of the home and working their way down, the technician will unseal the first supply vent. Using an air gun or a skip line hooked up to the air equipment, they will push the skip line down the duct and blow high-pressure air into the vent to agitate and dislodge any contaminants. Once the ductwork has been successfully cleaned, the air vent will be wiped with a clean rag and the vent resealed. 

Once all the supply air vents have been cleaned, the main supply trunk line (in the basement) needs to be cleaned using a reverse skip line. This is where the air is blown back out from the trunk, pulling the dust and debris toward the vacuum.

After switching out the vacuum hose, as mentioned above, the technician will work on the return air vents from top to bottom, similar to cleaning the supply vents, although less pressure may be needed. Once the supply and return air vent cleaning is complete and the other technician has finished in the furnace area, the vents are unsealed, and the covers are reaffixed. 

Is Air Vent Cleaning worth it?     

People often ask if Air Vent Cleaning is a waste of money. How dirty do your vents get? Does cleaning ducts improve indoor air quality? We are the first to admit that there have been few scientific studies on air vent cleaning and no objective hard evidence of its effectiveness. However, we can speak to some subjective proof from our customers. In client testimonials, anecdotes such as “My home is noticeably less dusty” or “I am breathing so much better since having the vents cleaned” are comments we often hear. 

You may wish to take a look at our video: Is Dirt and Dust Affecting Indoor Air Quality? We also raise many of these issues on our Furnace and Duct Cleaning Page. For some, it is simply a matter of common sense as they perceive it. Given that Air Vent Cleaning is a service primarily carried out in forced-air heating systems, the ductwork acts as a conduit for recirculated air. Inevitably, dust, dirt and debris can find their way into the ductwork along with pet hair and insects. And occasionally, you can even find toys, mould, mice droppings, dead birds, or their nests. We have seen it all!

Why carry out an Air Vent Cleaning?

Please see our blog on the Benefits of Duct Cleaning, where we detail some of the advantages of professional air vent cleaning. As such, here, we are only summarising some factors to consider: 

1. Cleaner Indoor Air Quality
2. Healthier Living Environment
3. Efficient Air Flow
4. The furnace is working at full capacity
5. Reduced Allergens and Toxins
6. Dust and Dirt minimized
7. Odours Removed
8. Decreased Pet Dander and Pet Hair
9. Deodorization and Sanitization options 

When is Air Vent Cleaning necessary? 

Below are a few questions to ask yourself to determine whether a cleaning might be applicable:

Is your Home Dusty or Musty? – If the home is excessively dusty or smelling musty, Air Vent Cleaning may help. Is there debris under the vent covers? Remove a few vent covers in your home. If you see a buildup of dust, hair or fluff, there is a good chance that the rest of the hidden ductwork needs cleaning too. Perhaps there is a fuzzy coating of dust on the air register covers? That can be a sign of dirty ducts.

Are you Moving Homes? – If you are selling your home, having a certificate proving a recent ductwork cleaning is a big incentive for buyers. Likewise, when moving into a new home, unless this certificate is provided, it would be wise to have the ducts cleaned more expeditiously. A good surface clean and staging can mask years of dirt buildup in the ducts. Since dead skin, hair, and pet dander get in them, you will want to ensure you are not breathing in other people’s “mess or toxins.”

When was the HVAC system last cleaned? – We recommend Professional Air Vent Cleaning every two to three years for optimal safety, but there are a few times to call in the pros sooner. NADCA – the National Air Duct Cleaning Association suggests it might be prudent to expedite a cleaning if there are signs of mould or if you notice HVAC fuel costs rising that cannot be attributed to rising inflation. 

Does Construction surround your home? – Are you in a newly built home or a development under construction? A new home in a development is great until you realize how much dust is kicked up as the homes are built. You’ll need a few extra cleaning sessions until the construction is complete. Perhaps it’s not a new home; rather you’ve just carried out renovations where drywall dust is a problem. 

Is Air Vent Cleaning Safe?     

Air Vent Cleaning is indeed safe, provided it is done correctly. That is why we suggest you leave it to the professionals. We recommend that you use a reputable company that is qualified with either NADCA or QUADCA (Qualified Air Duct Cleaning Association). There are plenty of scammers out there that could do more harm than good and waste your hard-earned income. See the following section.

Nevertheless, there are some safety hazards to watch for when bringing in furnace cleaning contractors. With the front door open, hoses and skip lines all over the home, plus vent and furnace covers removed, pet and child safety is paramount. We strongly recommend that both children and pets be kept out of the way while the technicians are in the process of cleaning. 

The air pressure is powerful, and we would hate to suck up your furball! With the vent covers off, children can be tempted to place items down the vents, and they can roll their way right down to the furnace, where they become a fire hazard. We have stories we could tell if it weren’t for embarrassing our customers, and we have too much respect for them to do that. 

What is an Air Vent Cleaning Scam?     

Air Vent Cleaning Scams are, unfortunately, all too common! Okotoks Online wrote an article called: Duct scam posts as prevalent as ever on Facebook. These Facebook scams are frustrating for reputable contractors trying to provide a genuine service. While little can be done right now to stop scammers, consumers can avoid taking adverts and social posts at face value. Instead, they should do their research to make sure any local business being considered has a Dang Good Reputation. 

One of the most concerning con tricks is when a homeowner receives a call from what they believe to be a highly regarded company only to find a different company turns up for the service. This is concerning not just for the customer but for the company that is cheated out of the business they deserved. If you receive calls soliciting your booking, please do your research to ensure the call came from the company being represented. 

One of the most interesting videos we have seen on the topic comes from “Pleasant Green” called “Air Duct Cleaning Scam Exposed,” which we have embedded below for your convenience. 

How much does HVAC Cleaning Cost? 

According to HomeStars, The average cost for Duct Cleaning is $472.00, but that may not be what you pay. Prices can range from $300 to $600 or more. Several factors go into quoting for a furnace and duct cleaning. We explain in depth what to expect in our blog post: Understanding HVAC Cleaning Costs. 

You also have to be careful that you are not quoted one price when calling and another cost on the day of the booking! It depends on whether the HVAC company has an upsell policy. You would be wise to choose a company that guarantees no upsell. Then the only variation (if there is one) will be a difference in vent count on site. However, an experienced company can guestimate the number of vents, give or take about one to three. In addition, make sure the company you select ensures you and the technician are on the same page about the number of vents in the home before money changes hands. 

A charge is usually made for every vent, large and small, hot and cold, in the wall, floor or ceiling unless the vent is from a bathroom or kitchen extractor fan. 

What happens if I don’t clean my Air Vents? 

You may be fine not cleaning the vents, but unfortunately, it may be the case that you pay more in the long run by neglecting short-term maintenance. In addition to the toll dirty ducts might have on your physical health (compromised air quality, allergen buildup, pollen and mould spores), clogged ducts can make your HVAC system work harder. You may also need to replace the furnace filters more often, and the lifespan of the unit could be shortened.

Booking professional furnace duct cleaning now is the best way to avoid a host of expenses and health problems later.

What to Expect from a Professional Furnace and Air Vent Cleaner? 

To ensure you book the best furnace and duct cleaning company, you need to do your homework. Check out their online presence and reviews. Don’t just check Google Reviews either… look at reviews from a number of different sources.

It goes without saying that the company you choose should be licensed and insured and have WCB (Workers Compensation Board) cover. Enquire about the equipment they will be using and the process involved. How long have they been in business? What experience and qualifications do they have? For example, are they certified with QUADCA? 

Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning is an expert service in Calgary and neighbouring locations, backed by years of experience and run by a team that loves what they do! Clean homes mean healthier happier people. Healthier people mean stronger communities.

Don’t underestimate how the state of your ductwork might affect every aspect of your life. Contact us today to learn more.

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Upholstery is the material coverings affixed to furniture such as sofas, armchairs, dining chairs and ottomans. Furniture gets a lot of use. Inevitably, it gets dirty and increases grubbiness over time. We may even forget what it looked like new. Simply using your furniture every day creates wear and tear. Embedded soil can cause fabric damage resulting in reduced life of your furniture. Certain materials also absorb odours. 

In Alberta, we spend extra months using our upholstery due to those famously cold winters and late springtime. Snow may start as early as September and can still be hanging around in May – sad to say! While most furniture in our homes requires some maintenance and upkeep, Alberta homes, in particular, will need more TLC to keep both the furniture and the home clean and the carpets smelling fresh.

Cleaning Upholstery regularly is a must. But how? This blog will provide some tricks to avoid costly mistakes and upholstery cleaning tips that will help ensure your furniture gets a “Dang Good Clean.”

Before using our Upholstery Cleaning Tips.  

It is really important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warranty conditions before you decide to try any upholstery cleaning tips to prevent voiding your warranty. Secondly, check any labels or tags on the furniture. Some furniture cannot be cleaned with water or certain chemicals. – See our blog on understanding the Five Upholstery Cleaning Codes.

If you still wish to proceed with our upholstery cleaning tips, always try them on a small hidden area in case the suggestions make the situation worse instead of better. These hacks may work on some pieces but not others. Please proceed cautiously and be aware of the risks you may be taking. These hacks are suggestions, not absolute guarantees. 

Also, please see separately our Mattress Cleaning Hacks blog.

Upholstery Cleaning Tips for Different Materials. 

Furniture comes in all shapes, sizes and uses – from mattresses for sleeping on to chairs at the dining table. You might wish to be selective of the fabric for your furniture depending on the purpose of its primary use.

• Cotton is affordable, breathable, comfortable and always in style. It is durable and sustainable but attracts stains and odours. It can also be a bit of a nightmare if you spill drinks on it. Always clean any stains promptly. Scrape away anything loose first. For spot treatment use a mix of 75 millilitres of white vinegar in 1000 millilitres of water. Then mix in 10 millilitres of dish soap. Using a sponge to blot the stain sparingly. 
• For smellier stains or grease, pour baking soda on the stain, leave it for a while and then vacuum it off. Follow up with water mixed with dish or clothing detergent. Dab the stain to lift it. Don’t rub, or you’ll set the stain instead. In addition to loose baking soda, you can combine baking soda with water to make a paste and then let it dry before vacuuming.

• Rayon is very durable and strong but challenging to clean. The cellulose fibres of rayon quickly absorb spills, causing both discolouration and damage to the fabric. Rayon is essentially a dry-clean-only material. So if you spill liquid on it, mop it up immediately. Dab only – rayon is not overly colourfast and rubbing will set the stain in quickly. The “puffed up” wet fibres can also tear if you rub too hard. Some suggest that a dry foam may work on Rayon. Rayon is unfortunately not the best for high-traffic items.

• Leather and Faux Leather are extremely durable and easy to clean. This is a great choice for people with pets since you can simply wipe the pet hair (and drool) off the fabric. It is water-resistant and can also be vacuumed without pulling or piling. However, in the summer heat or coldest days of winter, this fabric can be uncomfortable on bare skin. It can also be damaged by sharp objects, such as untrimmed pet nails. Do not saturate the material when cleaning though. Dip a cloth in a mix of equal parts water and vinegar but then wring out the cloth before wiping the leather. The cloth needs to be damp rather than wet. After cleaning, wipe with a dry cloth.

• Polyester is a great choice for busy households as it is typically mixed with other fibres for durability and longevity. It is very colourfast too, so simply wipe up spills with warm water mixed with detergent. It can stand a little bit of scrubbing or brushing thanks to its durable nature. While it is not the most comfortable fabric for every occasion, it’s a great choice for high-touch items, or messy areas (like craft rooms). Polyester can be a great alternative to leather.

• Velvet is plush, cushy, decadent and sets an elegant mood in any room! Velvet is for those elevated spaces where you want to add class and sass. It is easy to ruin velvet so avoid putting it in rooms with pets, high traffic, smells or moisture. Velvet is not always colourfast so avoid direct sunlight and harsh cleaners. Velvet can be vacuumed or wiped with a lint-free cloth dipped in sudsy water. Avoid hot water and do not use any heat when drying. Velvet needs to be left to dry naturally.

• Brocade is very decorative, distinctive, and intricately patterned. It often contains silk and gold and/or silver threads. Extra care is needed when cleaning brocade. Do not use a brush as this can snag the delicate fabrics. Cool water mixed with detergent will address some stains, but professional cleaning is best to preserve the colour and weaving of this fabric.

Tackling Microfiber.   

Unfortunately, not all upholstery made of microfiber can be professionally cleaned because microfiber doesn’t always respond well to steam cleaning. Your only option may be a DIY method. Even so, cleaning microfiber at home can be challenging. We suggest you check out these links for cleaning microfiber.

• How to Clean a Microfiber Couch by The Spruce
• See HomeDepot’s Video on Cleaning a Microfiber Couch
• Apartment Therapy’s Two Expert Ways to Clean Microfiber

Mistakes to avoid when Cleaning Furniture. 

• Ignoring the warranty or manufacturer’s instructions is not wise.
• Ignore the labels at your peril.
• Not testing a hidden spot can be a very visible mistake.
• Don’t Use harsh chemicals if you don’t want to destroy upholstery fabric. 
• Take care not to use chemicals that will bleach or discolour.
• Using chemicals unsuitable for your fabric can be disastrous. 
• Dampen sparingly and sometimes not at all. Don’t soak.
• Dont overheat. You may need to avoid hot water or hot air (such as a hair dryer) for drying. 
• Doing it yourself is not always the best.
• Don’t delay when there is a spillage – tackle it immediately.
• Don’t scrub, blot instead. 

Maintaining your Upholstery.

• Help bring back the colour by soft brushing. Some suggest a scrubbing brush but we don’t recommend that. Something much gentler should do the trick. The idea is to loosen fibres and agitate deep-seated dust before vacuuming.
• Regular Vacuuming with the right attachments is essential.
• Puff up those cushions.
• Do your cushion covers come off? Can they be machine washed? But take care. Read the instructions to make sure the colours don’t run or the fabric doesn’t shrink. Also, watch the cushions don’t fade and then look different from the rest of the upholstered fabric.
• Consider Sofa and Chair Covers for daily use which can then be removed when guests come over. 
• Consider using Fabric Protector but again take care – not all upholstery is amenable to it. Check with the manufacturer. 
• Avoid direct Sunlight. It can fade the colour. 
• Hire a Professional Upholstery Cleaning Service. 

How is Upholstery  Professionally Cleaned?     

Most Professional Upholstery Cleaners use powerful truckmounted equipment (or portable units for apartments) to steam clean your upholstery using hot water extraction. The temperature and PSI will be adjusted to suit the material. The hot water extraction method is effective for the removal of dirt, stains and odours. Check out our Upholstery Cleaning page for more information or watch our Video: An Upholstery Cleaning Demo.

A Dang Good Upholstery Clean. 

Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning has an upholstery cleaning deal designed to keep your furniture looking new and smelling fresh. We have experience with all kinds of upholstery that has been affected by a multitude of stains. Contact us to book this deal and the many other services we offer.

Finally, if you live in Calgary and have furniture you need to dispose of, may we suggest you consider donating it to the Calgary Inter-Faith Furniture Society?

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Summer Solstice in the Norther Hemisphere occurs around the 20th or 21st June each year. It marks the beginning of summer and it’s the perfect time to embrace the beauty of the great outdoors and celebrate our wonderful country. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, enjoying a picnic at the park, or simply spending quality time on your patio, ensuring that your outdoor area is clean, inviting, and ready for the festivities is essential.

In this article, we’ll share some valuable outdoor cleaning tips to help you prepare for some memorable summer celebrations, such as the Canada Day or Heritage Day long weekends.

Tidy up your Yard, Deck or Patio.  

Begin by giving your yard a thorough cleanup and address any clutter build up since last year. Remove any fallen leaves, sticks, and debris from your lawn, flower beds, and pathways. Raking the grass will help enhance its appearance and prevent potential fire hazards during barbecues or fireworks.

When outdoors is clean and tidy, it looks better and becomes a more enjoyable extension of your living space. It becomes a place to relax and soak up the suns rays and enjoy fresh air. Removing all that over-winter dust will help allergy sufferers plus who wants to look or sit on at furniture which has been dulled by all that dirt? So, let’s make sure your outside haven is in top-notch condition.

Sweep away dirt, leaves, and debris, paying extra attention to corners and crevices. If your deck requires a deeper cleaning, consider power washing it to remove any embedded grime. Before you use any commercial cleaning products, be sure to read our blog on deck cleaning.

If you have the luxury of time and money you may want to seek out professional pressure washing or soft washing services to add a special touch to your outdoor cleaning project.

Refresh your Outdoor Furniture. 

Spruce up your outdoor furniture to create a comfortable and inviting space for your guests. You may wish to dust off any dirt or cobwebs and wipe down surfaces with mild detergent or soapy water. Then rinse it thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before placing cushions or accessories back on them. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your outdoor furniture will not only ensure a more presentable and comfortable experience but will also help extend the life of your furniture.

Patio furniture can be made of a few different materials and may require varying cleaning processes. Check out our separate guide on Patio Furniture Cleaning.

Clean Outdoor Rugs. 

Don’t forget those outdoor rugs!

• Start by checking the labels for the cleaning instructions. Rugs can play host to dust, dirt, bugs, and allergens.
• Next, with a dust mask and gloves on, give your mats a shakedown, beating or brushing with a broom to remove surface debris and particles.
• Then vacuum the rugs. Washable rugs can be hosed down before tackling stubborn stains. Often, a mix of soapy water will do the trick.
• However, vinegar and baking soda can help remove mildew and mould. Watch out for discolouration, though.
• Some rugs have colours that run, so always test a small area first.
• Rinse off any chemicals and then hang the rugs somewhere to dry.

Depending on the material, your rugs may be amenable to steam cleaning.

Clean your Barbecue Grill. 

Summer celebrations just aren’t complete without a sizzling barbecue. Give your grill a deep cleaning before those big events. Start by scrubbing the grates with a wire brush to remove any built-up grease or food residue. For gas grills, inspect the burners and clean them with a brush to ensure proper gas flow. For charcoal grills, empty out the ashes and clean the interior with warm soapy water. Rinse everything well and allow it to dry before using. Jamie Oliver has a super quick video on easily cleaning the grill.

However, we must point out the importance of staying safe on events such as Canada Day. The Red Cross has some great guidelines for safety around barbeques and fireworks.

Make your Windows Sparkle.   

Clean windows can significantly improve the overall appearance of your home’s exterior. Use a glass cleaner or a simple solution of water and vinegar to wipe away dirt, streaks, and smudges from windows and glass doors. Don’t forget to clean outdoor light fixtures and lanterns to ensure they provide ample illumination during your evening celebrations.

For large windows or windows that are on the higher levels of your home, consider hiring professional window cleaning services. As a proud recipient of the Platinum Award on CommunityVotes in Calgary for Window Cleaning, Dang Good knows a thing or two about thorough and detailed window cleaning!

TLC for your Pathways & Driveway. 

Enhance your curb appeal by giving your pathways and driveway some attention. Sweep away loose dirt and debris and remove any weeds or grass growing in the cracks. Consider pressure washing concrete or brick surfaces to restore their original shine.

Adding details such as flowerpots and other decorative elements can elevate the charm and visual appeal of your outdoor space. Consider placing colourful flowerpots or planters strategically near pathways and around your patio or deck, filled with seasonal blooms or lush green plants. These natural accents bring life and freshness to the area, creating a welcoming ambiance for your guests.

A Garage Sort Out.    

If you have the luxury of time, you might consider cleaning or organizing your garage too. It is important to make the best use of your garage space. A clean and tidy garage reduces the cost of damages and minimalizes the risk of injuries that may result from trying to clamber over things to get to the item you need for your outdoor celebrations.

However, this is often a major task. Check out our Garage Cleanout Hacks for more guidance and inspiration.

Some more Outdoor Cleaning Hacks. 

• Kid’s Plastic Toys – These can be cleaned with dish soap and water. Smaller items can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
• Stubborn Bird Muck – Hose down. Add some dish soap, scrub, then rinse.
• Terracotta Pots – Brush away loose dirt, then soak the pots in one part white vinegar and 3 parts water for half an hour. The dirt should then wipe off easily.
• Outdoor Garbage Bins – After emptying the bins, rinse the inside and outside with a hose. Make a solution of white vinegar (1 cup),  a few drops of dish soap and a gallon of water. Using a long-handled broom scrub the inside and out. Then rinse off. Caution – do not mix with other chemicals.
• If you like something more hands-on, check out 9 Best Cleaning Hacks by Style Curator.

Have a Safe & Wonderful Summer!    

As you prepare for your summer celebrations, the team at Dang Good Carpet and Furnace Cleaning wishes you a healthy, injury free and enjoyable time filled with fun and lasting memories with family and friends. As a proud Canadian company, we are committed to supporting the Canadian economy. We have been providing Dang Good cleaning services to our fellow Canadians for many years.

On behalf of our team – Happy Summer Everyone!

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