I’m not sure when it started but I know when it got to the breaking point. I’m talking about the crappy carpet that some previous owner had installed throughout my whole house. The color sucked and I was so embarrassed by how shabby it looked.

No matter how often I vacuumed or how nice a vacuum I used- it still always felt and smelled dirty. I had the carpet cleaning company on speed dial. Nothing helped. Even steaming it myself with my steam cleaner didn’t keep me happy for long.

When I didn’t even want to get down on the floor to play with the kids anymore I told my husband I could not live with this carpet one more day. I just knew that icky old carpeting was a huge contributor to my son’s asthma attacks.

I had wanted that carpet gone and wood floors just like my neighbor has installed for so long I couldn’t wait any longer. But with so many different types of hardwood available we had a decision to make. Oak, Maple, Cherry, Alder, Mahogany…what to pick?

Since we’re concerned with the environment, a renewable source seemed like a “greener” choice so we looked at Bamboo, Cork, and Eucalyptus. We decided on Bamboo which, come to find out isn’t actually wood, it’s a grass that grows like a foot a day! It matures and is ready for harvest in three years, regenerates without need for replanting, and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. I was SOLD!

When the day finally came and that terrible carpeting left and the Bamboo flooring arrived I was ecstatic. The gentleman who installed it let me take a huge knife to that smelly old carpet as we ripped it out. He must have know just how enormously therapeutic that would be for me!

You should see these new Bamboo floors! They are absolutely gorgeous and I swear the whole house just feels richer and more expensive. The exterior 4″ edge is stained a deep cherry wood color and the interior is a beautiful chocolate color.

You might think that doesn’t sound like a very kid-friendly color but it’s really no problem at all. I just  walk around with a microfiber duster when I need to collect loose stuff and steam them when there’s stuck-on dirt. I put a microfiber cloth over my steamer’s floor brush and I get the floor clean, dry, shiny and polished all in one step! It’s so easy, and after all the care those cruddy carpets took I don’t mind this at all. At least my efforts show amazing results instead of a total waste of time.

Are you amazed that I would “steam” my newest investment? I knew before I got them that the absolute best way to keep my new floor sanitized and shiny clean was with my steam cleaner because I’ve used my steamer to keep my wood kitchen cabinets looking like new for years. I just double wrap my brush, use the lowest steam setting and keep it moving. I get the wood beautifully clean without hurting the varnish.

There is no possible way any harsh, nasty chemicals are ever going to touch my gorgeous new Bamboo floors! That swiffy stuff they sell at the grocery store for wood floors is nothing but trouble. It builds up and looks smeary, not to mention how very NOT earth-friendly it is so why use it? Besides, I just invested heavily in my family’s health and in my environment so no toxic smelly chemicals for me. I just got everybody breathing better and I’m not introducing anything but pure healthy steam to our indoor environment now.

I feel so lucky – now I have the best of both worlds. I can love my floor, keep it clean and sanitized with steam any time I want and have our family breathing better. By the way, I can’t tell you what a difference owning a steamer has made to our family. Steaming is so fast and easy I can keep anything as clean as I want and still have tons of time to roll around on the floor with my kids.

So you want to learn now to steam clean your hardwood floors quickly and easily? Check out this website. www.sargentsteam.com

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.

If you would like more information on how steam can help your allergies check out our website at Sargent Steam.   http://www.sargentsteam.com.