It's Easier to Keep the House Clean!

When I say it's easier to keep the house clean, I mean the longer you let it go, the more work it is to get it in order. Of course, that's the same philosophy as keeping a desk straightened, a bed made, a garden weeded--you get the idea.
This only applies to some people, however. I was expected to keep my room clean, my own ironing done when I was in high school, and do my part of the house cleaning. In turn, I expected my own daughters to help me around the house. We had that "dreaded list" that came out every Saturday morning!
I had four daughters. My oldest daughter, to my amusement, gets the "dreaded list" out every day. She also has four daughters and they keep up DAILY! My granddaughters are amazing. They all fuss, but it is expected of them to help. Not a bad concept. I have one of the four who "will never have a list." She's grown-up and that's her option.
I have recently had my hands hurting from arthritis. I was watching Good Things Utah one day and saw the Sargent Steam owner demonstrate the machine. I immediately went to her lovely showroom. I was the easiest sale ever. Should I have to give it up, I would never clean again.
Not only can I still have a clean home, but now I can have a sanitized home as well. I no longer use ONE toxic chemical in my home. The machine uses only ordinary tap water heated to 298 degrees and has 50 pounds of pressure. Wow! It's easier, faster, healthier, and cheaper in the long run. I was spending at least $35 a month on this cleaner or that.
Guess what? Who do you suppose also likes my steam machine? You bet! My daughters want to use MINE.
I no longer have the same problems, but here are a few they complain about:

fingerprints muddy footprints spills on the carpet dirty bathtubs
dirty window tracks dirty toys grime in the shower dirty cars
stinky tennis shoes spots on the carpet crayons on the walls

My strict rule: You use it and it is back before dawn!

I no longer worry about grandchildren getting into the toxic chemicals.

Life is easier for me now.

For more information on cleaning with steam, purchasing a steam cleaner, or having a FREE cleaning demonstration in your home, call Michelle at 801-979-6707.
I have many years of experience with a cleaning business, but once I became acquainted with the Sargent Steam cleaner, but also to become a sales representative myself!

My Steam Cleaner Got Stains out of My Wedding Dress!

I have 6 granddaughters. The older girls wanted to see Grandma's wedding dress that I had so carefully saved. I was married in 1965 and my second daughter wore the dress 15 years ago. It was so wonderful to see her walk down the aisle in my wedding dress! It brought such wonderful memories back of their Grandpa and I on our wedding day. Forty-five years ago the dry cleaners told to wrap the dress in a blue sheet after it was cleaned and put it in a garment bag.
Everyone was excited to see the dress--it is still such a beautiful gown. Unfortunately, when I opened the bag, some of the intricate lace flowers were brown! We were all sick. Nobody can wear a dress with brown lace. It was a disappointing moment.
On the way home, I decided to get my Sargent Steam machine out and heat it up to see what if anything it could do. I laid it on the table with a white towel underneath it. The machine has 298 degrees with 50 pounds of pressure. I had seen a video on our Sargent Steam site of getting chocolate out of a wedding dress. I applied the steam and within not many minutes, the brown color began to lighten. I continued each piece of lace until all of them were white as snow again. Hurray! I was a happy Grandma. I immediately got on the phone to relay my great news.
The dress is again put aware in a blue sheet and in an "acid-free" garment bag. I had read online that over time, the acid produced by a regular garment bag can deteriorate textiles. Protecting precious heirlooms is important. There are companies that can prepare heirlooms for storage.

For more information on cleaning with steam, purchasing a steam cleaner, or having a FREE cleaning demonstration in your home, call Michelle at 801-979-6707.
I have many years of experience with a cleaning business, but once I became acquainted with the Sargent Steam cleaner, I decided not only to use the machines in my cleaning business, but also to become an independent business owner.

Healthy Home Cleaning Alternative

How many people out there have the same cleaning challenges that I do- When to clean? How to clean? Is it safe to clean with this or are these chemicals harmful to me or my family? Should I clean green? Will cleaning green actually work?

With so many questions and concerns I decided to do some research. I was surprised to find that in a January 2009 report by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine it stated “all the women in their study who were exposed to cleaning agents, including both asthmatic and non-asthmatic participants, had respiratory symptoms in response.” Since asthma runs in my family I was now scared to death that I could actually be giving myself and my family a chronic illness by cleaning! WOW! Who knew?

I decided to research a bit deeper into eliminating those harsh and toxic cleaning chemicals and my research led me to cleaning with steam. Steam uses ordinary tap water to clean and sanitize practically every surface in my home. With steam, I don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals that are harmful or fatal if accidentally ingested or inhaled.

There were so many steam cleaners to choose from out there. Small hand held ones that were about $99 and big industrial looking ones that were about $7,000. Luckily I found a steam cleaner that was right in the middle cost-wise at about $1,200. You might think I’m crazy for spending all that money on a steam cleaner but I weighed the pros and cons. Cleaning with steam is not only going to save my family’s health, it’s actually going to save me money over the years instead of cost me money. Can you believe that?
I bought my steamer at Sargent Steam and I’m so impressed with it! It easily blasts through my toughest grime and hardest jobs, but is gentle enough for use on my hardwood floors and painted walls. I can’t believe how versatile this machine is! I absolutely LOVE it! And so does the environment. You really can have it all- a clean home, a healthy family and a green cleaner that actually works.

For more information on cleaning with steam, purchasing a steam cleaner, or having a FREE cleaning demonstration in your home, call Michelle at 801-979-6707.
I have many years of experience with a cleaning business, but once I became acquainted with the Sargent Steam cleaner, I decided not only to use the machines in my cleaning business, but also to become an independent business owner.

Do you or your loved ones suffer from allergies? The kind that makes everyone miserable both the sufferer and those who look after the sufferer? Allergy

causes are as different as their symptoms. It’s brutal and not easy to diagnose but you’ve come to realize that, among others, indoor air pollution from dust, dust mites, mold, mildew, and pet dander are possible factors.

So you’re cleaning all the time but the cleaning chemicals are often just as harmful to you as the problem you’re trying to solve, right? How do you choose which symptom to address first, the itchy watery eyes and nose you get from mold in your shower or the red itchy rash from the tile cleaning chemical you’re using to kill the mold? You can’t wear rubber gloves because latex cause allergies, too. It’s a vicious circle and you want it to stop right now and guess what…you’re not alone. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases say 50 million Americans suffer from allergies of some type. That’s about half of us and the numbers appear to be growing.
I feel your pain. Although I cannot cure allergies, cleaning with steam can help on many levels. Professional steam cleaners use 290 degree steam to kill mold and mildew, not chemicals that irritate your lungs and skin. This means you can easily and effectively control mold all over your home and you don’t need to wear protective gear while you do it. Steam also kills mold in areas you can’t reach (the pressure penetrates into cracks and crevices) and areas you don’t want to touch. You don’t have to sneeze every time you take a shower (that’s one of the most common areas for mold growth) and you don’t have to choose between breathing and dealing with a nasty rash all over your hands and arms, either. Steam cleaners eliminate some of your ‘either or’ choices. You don’t have to choose between your health and a clean home. You can have both.

You know you feel better when you’ve had a good night’s sleep but as you lay down in bed, are you wheezing again? Chances are dust mites are your problem. Barb Ogg, Ph.D., at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln has information about controlling dust mites. She recommends eliminating dust catchers, washing bedding in hot water more often, and using heat or steam on your mattresses, carpeting, and upholstery to kill the dust mites that make it hard to breathe. You must also remove their debris which is actually the biggest irritant. Vacuuming and steaming your bedding and carpeting regularly helps keep the dust mite population down and you breathing easier. Dust mites love pet dander, too. Pet dander is neutralized and removed in the steaming process so your dog can be your best friend again.

Search for the topics you are particularly interested in! There are dozens of articles on every subject of steam cleaning. The very BEST way to know for sure if you are interested in purchasing a steam cleaner is to call Michelle at 801-979-6707 for a thorough demonstration at your home. No other company goes to your home to let you personally experience the innovative Sargent Steam cleaner, AND no other company has a complete repair shop in Salt Lake City! These are two very good reasons to get hands-on help to make your decision whether to purchase and which machine offers the best service. Service is worth a lot. It’s a real drudgery to pack up a broken machine and send it back!! We also offer in-store training or on-line training on how to use the machine.

What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know About Puppies

We were so excited for our first addition to our family! Priscilla the English Bulldog puppy! She was so adorable I could have eaten her with a spoon. And that face! Love at first sight. So cute I even forgave her for her 9th little puppy puddle. After the 19th puppy puddle I still loved her but didn’t think she was quite as cute. In fact I was beginning to wonder if we had maybe made a huge mistake.

This puppy potty training thing was a lot more difficult than we had expected. We were certainly not as prepared as I thought we were. I started wondering how that little body could produce so much piddle? Then I found a great book and her training started to shape up nicely.

Now I had time to focus on the mess she had made of my carpeting. I have two words for all new puppy owners – steam cleaner, I repeat Steam Cleaner (just in case you didn’t get it the first time).
If not for my steam cleaner, I can say with certainty that I would not have kept my sanity. The carpet, the puppy or both would have had to go. Because of my steamer I can keep the carpet and the puppy.

There are several reasons my steamer is perfect for this problem. One is because the temperature is so hot it actually kills the bacteria that causes odor. It doesn’t just cover up the smell with a perfumed chemical. Since it doesn’t smell where she went, she won’t go in that spot again.

I also love it because renting a carpet cleaner or calling a professional service is a very difficult, expensive and/or time consuming job. But with my steamer handy I’m able to remove the pet stains myself quickly and easily before they dry and set.

I just move the floor brush covered with a cloth back and forth over the stain. The steam pressure penetrates all the way to the carpet padding. Then as the heat rises, up comes the problem into the cloth. I change the cloth as it gets dirty and I know the problem is gone when the cloth comes up clean.

Now I’m not stressing about my house smelling or thinking about replacing my carpet. I can just relax and enjoy the cute little puddle maker. In fact friends who come to meet Priscilla can’t believe it – our house doesn’t smell like a puppy.

For more information on cleaning with steam, purchasing a steam cleaner, or having a FREE cleaning demonstration in your home, call Michelle at 801-979-6707.
I have many years of experience with a cleaning business, but once I became acquainted with the Sargent Steam cleaner, I decided not only to use the machines in my cleaning business, but also to become an independent business owner. Steams My Team is listed on Angie’s List!

Dogs Are a Household Necessity

Not five year ago, The Covenants and Restrictions (CC&R’s) at almost all condominiums and gated communities forbid having animals. Even apartments complexes didn’t have any such thing as a “companion animal.” I was one of those hard-liners who did not like dogs, had never owned a dog, and wasn’t about to change! Since “change” is a common word these days, it now applies to dogs! After having several dogs run over when my children were young and they cried to weeks, I said, “No more dogs. You get your own dog when you grow up.”

Not only did they grow up and get dogs, but one of my daughters “gave me” one to “keep me company.” I flatly refused to keep Princess, a little white and beige Lhasa Apso. I am an older professional woman who is not retired; consequently, I had no time or desire to have a dog. Come to find out, my daughter who is a flight attendant, bought the dog for $500! When they were children, the neighbors had puppies and we took one for FREE. She begged me to at least take Princess for 2 weeks until she found a sitter. Dogs now need a sitter, of all things. They call them dog “hotels.” So actually the dog wasn’t purchased for me, but she found out she couldn’t leave for days on a flight and have a dog! Of course, we as parents will never learn our lessons. When the children were little, I could just say, “no.” Nobody knows what that word means any more. I know you have already guessed. I vehemently told her, “I will take Princess for two weeks and that is all. No questions asked.”

That was five years ago. How she stole my heart is beyond me. I adore her to the point that my family rolls their eyes at me when I have to take Princess to all the family parties because I don’t want to leave her alone. The same daughter who left Princess on my door step said, “Mother, she is a dog. Dogs stay home all the time.”

I did not take Princess to doggy school, as one is supposed to do to teach them manners. Not only do they need sitters and hotels, but they also need manners! We lived on a farm and the dogs obviously didn’t have manners. They stayed outside in the doghouse with an old quilt, and sometimes got a heating pad in the winter. As you know, it gets worse.

All the dogs have to be “house broken,” which also requires some time and skill to teach them to potty only outside or on a pad. Princess not only didn’t have school, but has never gone to a hotel, and is still making puddles on my carpets, if not worse. Her serious potty mistakes are “not her fault.” As I said, I am a busy professional woman and leave for work. My last condominium had a dog door which was great but anyone who has dogs can sympathize with me. When you are gone for hours on end, un-schooled dogs still potty or poop on the carpets. Princess hates the snow and refused to go outside in the wind and snow, so after all this time, I am still purchasing all kinds of carpet-spotters. None of them work and if there is one that does, I hope you’ll give me the name of it, as I am giving you my blog.
Little dogs are barkers, of course unless they have been to school. My neighbors liked me just fine but kindly told me that Princess barks all the time. The solution was getting new neighbors. I sold my condo and found a gated community that “allowed dogs.” Five years ago dogs were not a household necessity. I constantly see” big dogs and little dogs,” as the children’s book says. (If you haven’t read that book, get it for your grandchildren.)

I decided to purchase something else. However, the buyers of my condo wanted me to replace the carpets! If I had wanted new carpet I would have bought new carpet and enjoyed them. That was the selling issue—no new carpets or no the buyers wouldn’t purchase, and the price was great. I couldn’t believe all the spots everywhere when I moved out. I was so mad at Princess. She was responsible for my having to replace the carpets. This wasn’t going to happen in my other house.

I think the point is well made by now. Five years ago I did a favor for my daughter and now I love that silly dog. She has her own blanket and sleeps on the bed. Every other house has a dog too. They all tell me “that their dog doesn’t potty on the carpets.” I actually Googled “dog stains,” and found an unlimited number of entries and what to do about those spots that are now on the carpets of my new house. Fortunately, I now have the perfect solution.

You can Google: Steams My Team. Princess is now 50 years old I’ve been told and is rapidly catching up with to me, but she still potties on my carpets! You may go to the article on my blogspot on, “Dogs Are a Household Necessity.

For more information on cleaning with steam, purchasing a steam cleaner, or having a FREE cleaning demonstration in your home, call Michelle at 801-979-6707.
I have many years of experience with a cleaning business, but once I became acquainted with the Sargent Steam cleaner, I decided not only to use the machines in my cleaning business, but also to become an independent business owner. Steams My Team is listed on Angie’s List!

Teenagers and The Hair Spray!

I don’t need to describe the condition of a bathroom after a teenager has left and gone to school. Hair spray is everywhere. As frustrating as it is, I well remember doing the exact thing many years ago. Hair spray has been around for a long time.

The bathroom looks much like a disaster zone after the kids leave for school. There is hair spray on the mirror and walls. Before anyone gets to the realization that the mirror and walls need desperate attention, weeks have passed. The counters are full of an assortment of spills, drops and smudges! The toilet seat even has hair spray on it. If there are boys in the house, let’s not forget how the toilets and the floor look after a few days, let alone weeks! If this isn’t a bad enough situation, the bickering to see who is going to clean the bathroom is never-ending.

I wondered how I could ever get through this war zone without the Comet, Windex, toilet bowl cleaner, swiffer and lots of paper towels? Everywhere I turned, I kept reading an article on cleaning green. There is so much talk about not using toxic chemicals.

I saw a commercial on the Sargent Steam machine. I actually came across the Steams My Team blog and called about it. My cleaning solution has been solved!

I have worked on the beveled edges on the doors where the hair spray was caked on. When that hot steam hit the doors, I was able to whip away the dirt with a rag. The doors, the wall behind the mirror, and the mirror were gleaming. A soft micro fiber cloth on the mirror made them look sparkling. There was true amazement on my face. The entire process maybe took about 20 minutes. I had saved so much time. I no longer needed ANY chemicals in my house at all.

I actually have so much room under my sinks, the bathroom cabinets, and storage room, that the shelves looked bare! I must have had hundreds of dollars worth of this and that I had seen advertised on television that I bought almost every week. None of them work like they say they will! They just cost a lot of money and give the companies a huge profit every year.

That was a year ago now. Cleaning with steam has made our home happier, cleaner, and saved us from anymore expensive chemicals. My teenagers are thrilled to use a steam cleaner. It makes cleaning fun!

For more information on cleaning with steam, purchasing a steam cleaner, or having a FREE cleaning demonstration in your home, call Michelle at 801-979-6707.
I have many years of experience with a cleaning business, but once I became acquainted with the Sargent Steam cleaner, I decided not only to use the machines in my cleaning business, but also to become an independent business owner. Steams My Team is listed on Angie’s List!