Merry Christmas!!
We had a wonderful Christmas party on Monday at the Rebekah Lodge here in Sherwood.  The lodge made for a cozy, intimate setting and we thank Odge Gribble for letting us use it.  
This year Rob decided to use his chef skills and make dinner for us with vegetables from his own garden, pork from his own pig, and desert from Costco!  It was a delicious meal and there was plenty food!  Not all of our staff could make it but those that came had a wonderful time.  Sometimes being away from the business allows for employees to develop a more personal relationship with one another.  Things got really fun with our annual White Elephant gift exchange.  A little competition never hurt anyone.  The evening was full of Holiday cheer and great company.  Cheers to a Merry Christmas from all of us at Sweet's Chem Dry.

The Big Replacement Decision

I take many phone calls a day and one of the most common questions asked is whether a carpet should be replaced or cleaned.  Many customers have this dilemma and we have one suggestion.  Before you spend thousands of dollars on replacing carpets, spend only a few hundred dollars having us come out and clean them instead.  You will be pleasantly surprised how our exclusive cleaning technique leaves old, worn, dirty carpets healthier, cleaner, and drier.  I tell customers that they can save the money it takes to replace their carpets after we have cleaned them first.  Carpets have about at 7-10 year life expectancy assuming it has been well taken care of.  Using Chem Dry will help make those carpets last longer and look good while aging.  So if you are on the fence about whether to replace the carpets or not, call us for one last cleaning before you price out the replacement option.
Cheers!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Happy Halloween!

It's a rainy Oregon Halloween Day!
We have been busy building our business and serving our loyal returning customers.  Did you know that every returning customer receives 30% off their carpet cleaning?  We value our customers and enjoy the personal relationship we build with them.  Often times we have returning customers that request specific technicians.  They appreciate the attention to detail that our techs have and they enjoy gaining a personal friendship with the techs.  In fact we have technicians that have moved out of the area and returning customers still request these techs.  If we can't send out the tech that was requested, we certainly send out one of our very best.  Even our office staff has become well acquainted with our loyal customers.  We enjoy the relationship and kindness shared with our customers.  We feel that the trust and respect is mutual and we hope to continue to build that with our new customers as well. 
Business is good and the customers are even better!
Cheers!

Couch Potatoes
Dogs and Kids, two loveable, dirty beasts.  Both kids and pets track in all sorts of stuff from the outdoors including grass, mud, leaves, water and a few other undesirable things.  Germs and stink can linger on your couches for years until you decide it's time to have them cleaned.  Call us today to have us come out and clean up after your couch potatoes.  Your guests will love you for it! 

Moving Time!

Moving soon?
The summer months seem to be the most ideal time to buy and sell a home.  Realtors are busy at work finding the perfect home for their customers and selling homes for them as well.  Sweet's Chem Dry can help with your moving needs. 
When I purchased my first home, I went through the long grueling process and finally received keys to my new home.  With my car packed and ready to move in, I walked into my new home to discover very dirty carpets.  I was so discouraged and disappointed.  I was so used to apartment living where the manager had clean carpets waiting upon move in that I didn't realize this was not the case with buying a home.  Thankfully a friend helped quickly and cleaned the carpets.  But all of that could have been avoided with a simple step-calling a company to come clean BEFORE I moved in. 
If you are buying a home and are anticipating your move into clean carpets, call and set up an appointment for us to come clean for you.  No one wants the nasty leftover dirt from the previous residents or their pets.  We understand that move in dates change from day to day and we are willing to be flexible and work around those issues.
And if you are moving out.................please be considerate enough to clean the carpets before you move.  It's such a kind gesture and doesn't take much to do.
Here is a little more info about moving tips:
http://www.chemdry.com/products-tips/the-movers-guide-to-clean-carpet
Call us for that Move Out or Move In cleaning!  503-625-3101

Cruisin' Sherwood 2012

Here at the office we are gearing up for a big weekend.  Saturday, June 9th is our local car show event located in downtown Sherwood.  We will be running our booth right in the middle of it all and are excited to see who stops by.  This is an exciting community event where residents of Sherwood will be attending as well as visitors from all over.  We have prepared a drawing, retail products to purchase, and a few small goodies. Please stop by and visit with us and enter your name for a drawing for free carpet cleaning.  We are ignoring the forecast and hoping for a miracle!!  Hope to see you there!! 

On the Farm

As most of you know, our office is located on the owners property on Ladd Hill Road.  It is a beautiful piece of property with a wonderful view.  Rob also has a variety of animals.  He has chickens for eggs, cows for meat, a horse for riding, and rodents for hunting.  The animals contribute to a peaceful living and are often times entertaining.  Rob purchased a black cow a while back and 2 years ago she had a baby named Brownie.  The mother and daughter duo obviously have a close bond and that bond was tested as they escaped from the farm last fall.  We got them back but were unsure of whether they met the neighbors bull or not.  To our surprise they did.  The black cow had her baby at the beginning of May, and Brownie had her baby last week.  By the looks of it, they have the same dad.  It has been really neat to see the babies grow day by day and become more brave as the venture out of hiding.  We are proud of the mamas and know they will make great mothers.  We are currently looking for names for the 2 babies and would love your suggestions.  In the meantime, we are going to get back to work and enjoy the simple things on the farm.

Sharing Spree Deals

This is why we love daily deals, they get customers exposed to our exclusive carpet cleaning process.  I just had a customer call that bought the Sharing Spree and she said that she has been wanting to try us for quite a long time.  This is the perfect oppurtunity to check us out and see how well we do.  I was pleased to schedule an appointment for her and am excited to see her reaction to our Awesome cleaning.  Daily Deals such as Sharing Spree and Groupon have been very good for us in reaching new customers.  Soooooo, if you have never used us take the chance and do it now!! Great deal!  http://www.sharingspree.com/Deals/portland/1648

Mother's VS Carpets

Let's face it, Mothers are the keepers of the carpets.  Mothers are continuously cautioning kids to keep food off the carpets, take your shoes off at the door, and pick up after yourself!  All in the hopes that it will extend the life of their carpet and not look trashed when guests come to visit.  In fact most Mothers would admit that they vacuum their carpets at least once a day and find joy in doing so.  Who else would stick up for the most used item in a home?  On behalf of all the carpets we have cleaned, we want to shout a big THANK YOU to all the Moms out there that fight to keep their carpets clean!  Unfortunately, all that fighting won't keep the floors perfect.  That's why we are here as a support system to all Moms.  When you feel that all your efforts to protect your carpets have been wasted, call us. Let us show you that carpets can look Amazing even after all the abuse.  And YES, they can even smell good again!!  We are with you Moms!  Call us and we will be happy to help with your efforts in restoring the value of your carpets!
~All business aside, we would like to put a shout out to the Mother's of Sweet's Chem Dry.  Thank you Leslie and Rebecca for all your hard work and for often times being a temp Mom to some of the techs!!  And finally, THANKS to the owner's wife Jenni, one of the finest Mothers out there!!

Remodeling

Springtime often brings projects and remodeling.  If this looks like your house during a remodel then you also know what it looks like when the project is over.  Carpets take a beating from boots, tools, paint, and ladders and we want to help you restore those carpets to their best.  We suggest that after all remodeling is complete, call us and schedule an appointment as the final step getting you home back in shape.  You won't regret it and the clean carpets will compliment the new work that has just been finished.  Don't worry, we can be patient since most projects take longer then expected.  We will be here when you need us!! 

Ewe! Mold and Mildew?

Carpet at Risk
Carpeting is an area of the home that can be at high risk for mold growth.  In order to grow, mold needs moisture, oxygen, a food source, and a surface to grow on.  Mold spores are commonly found naturally in the air.  If spores land on a wet or damp spot indoors that contains dust for them to feed on, mold growth will soon follow. Wall-to-wall carpeting, as well as area rugs, can provide an ample breeding ground for mold if conditions are right.  At especially high risk for mold growth are carpeting located below ground level in basements, carpet in commonly moist or damp climates, and carpet that has been wet for any period of time. 
Identifying Mold in Carpeting
Just because mold is not immediately apparent or visible on a carpet's surface does not mean that mold growth is not in progress.  In fact, mold will probably only be visible on the surface of carpets in unusually severe cases of growth, such as carpet damaged in flooding that has remained wet for some time.  The following are some examples of identifiable instances where mold growth has occurred or is likely to occur:

• visible mold growth:  As stated above, this can be a rare case, but sometimes it may be obvious from visual inspection that mold growth is occurring.  Carpet in this condition is most likely not salvageable and should be disposed of and replaced.  Often, even if mold growth is not visible on the top of carpeting, it may be occurring underneath the carpet where it can't be easily seen.  Carpet suspected of containing mold should always be examined on both sides.
  
• carpet mildew:  Any discoloration or odor on carpeting that might be described as mildew is probably a case of mold.
  
• wet or water-damaged carpet:  Any carpet that has been subjected to water damage from flooding or standing water will most likely need to be disposed of.  Conditions are ripe for mold growth, in this case.  Even if visibly apparent mold growth has not yet begun, it is highly likely to happen unless the carpet is completely removed, cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours.  Even then, removal and cleaning are not guaranteed to prevent mold growth.  It is more likely that the carpet will need to be replaced.
  
• wet padding beneath carpet:  If padding beneath the carpet has become wet for any reason, or has become moist from condensation, the padding as well as the carpet on top are at risk for mold growth.  The padding may need to be replaced, as will the carpet, in some cases.
  
• basement carpet:  Carpeting in basements below grade level is especially at risk in areas where humidity is high, or where wide temperature swings can produce condensation.
  
• odors and stains:  There is a wide range of things that can cause odors and stains on carpets.  If mold is suspected, samples can be taken and sent for analysis to determine if mold growth has occurred.

Preventing Mold Growth in Carpeting
The best method for combating mold is to not allow mold growth in the first place.  The best way to do so is by ensuring that conditions conducive to growth do not exist.  Below are some ways to prevent mold growth in carpets.

• Reduce indoor humidity.  The use of dehumidifiers will help control moisture in the air, depriving mold spores of the water they need to grow into mold.  A range of 30% to 60% humidity is acceptable for interiors.
  
• Install intelligently.  Do not install carpeting in areas that are likely to be subject to frequent, high moisture.  Carpet in a bathroom, for example, will quickly turn to a breeding ground for mold growth due to the high humidity from constant water use in that area.
  
• Choose high-quality carpet padding.  Solid, rubber-slab carpet padding with anti-microbial properties is available.  It is slightly more expensive than other types of padding but can be helpful for preventing the growth of mold, especially in climates prone to periods of high humidity.
  
• Never allow standing water.  Carpet exposed to standing water will quickly be ruined.  If standing water ever occurs because of a leak or a spill, all carpeting exposed must be immediately cleaned and dried.  The top and bottom surfaces of the carpet, any padding, and the floor underneath must be cleaned and completely dried within a short period of time after exposure to standing water if the carpet is to be saved.  If a large flood has occurred, or if standing water has been present for any extended period of time, the carpet will probably need to be replaced.
  
• Clean smart.  When carpeting needs to be cleaned, try to use a dry form of cleaning, when possible.  If any water, liquid, or other moisture has come in contact with the carpet during cleaning, be sure it is dried thoroughly afterward.

From Carpet Mold: Identification, Prevention and Removal - InterNACHI http://www.nachi.org/carpet-mold.htm#ixzz1rmIWo3rB

Spring Cleaning

Spring is traditionally the time for large-scale home cleaning projects. After a rainy winter of being chased back indoors by precipitation and colder temperatures, many houses are ready to be thoroughly cleaned. Carpets can become especially dirty when more time is spent indoors. That is why spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into carpets, particularly in high traffic living areas.
Harnessing this fervor to renew and clean, carpet experts share 7 important tips on how to restore carpets to fresh and new:
1.    Move Furniture and Fix Dents - Give your house the deep cleaning it needs by moving furniture and taking out the dents they create in the carpet. Several methods are available; from ice cubes to hot clothes irons used in conjunction with wet towels.
2.    Replace Ineffective Outdoor Doormats - Some may think the end of summer is the time to worry about doormats, but if you are going to spring clean your carpets and make sure your matts are up to snuff the time is now. Limiting the amount of mud and water tracked onto the carpet is crucial. Dense rubber works best, and make sure to stay away from any absorbent materials.
3.    Professional Cleaning and Protection - After staying indoors more in the winter, spring is the time for a thorough, quality, professional deep carpet cleaning. Companies with Chem-Dry technologies make it a quick process because of quick drying.
4.    Keep Carpets Dry - Springs in the Pacific NW are notoriously wet and can bring in a lot of moisture to your carpet. Wiping feet helps but proper seals and ventilation in your home are equally important. Using cleaning services that leave your carpets too wet can be a problem this time of year.
5.    Rearrange Rooms to Create New Walkways - While you are moving furniture for cleaning and dent removal, make sure when putting furniture back that you create a different walking path through the room. The "traffic lane grey" phenomenon can make high traffic areas look soiled, even when they are not. Spring is all about reorganization anyways, isn't it?
6.    Remove Stains Properly and Quickly - Spring means more outdoor traffic coming indoors, and as we all know sometimes this can lead to mud or dirt being tracked through your home. So be sure to clean up tracked in mud and dirt right away by blotting with a clean white cloth. Never Rub!
7.    Resist the Urge to Vacuum Less - It's easy to see how less time inside should equate to less vacuuming, but don't be fooled. You should still vacuum your carpets 3 times a week with vacuum cleaners that have a high-efficiency particulate filter (HEPA).

"7 Spring Cleaning Tips from Dander & Daughters Chem-Dry for Extending the Life of Your Carpet",Seattle, Washington (PRWEB) March 28, 2012, http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/3/prweb9325168.htm

Cash Mob Sherwood

Have you heard about the new Cash Mob Sherwood event?  Some of you may be asking what a cash mob is.  The Cash Mob Sherwood Blog describes it as this:

Have you heard of a flash mob?  A group of people who show up at a predetermined location all at once, perform, and have a blast? Well, similarly, a cash mob is a group of people who show up at a predetermined business all at once, spend some money and have a good time getting goods that do good by supporting locally owned businesses which in turn strengthens our very own economy! 

So on March 17th, Cash Mob Sherwood selected our personal favorite Sweet shop to mob.  The Mob started at 2 pm at Sweet Story in downtown Sherwood.  Many of us here in the office attended.  When I showed up at 3:30 pm, the store was empty-literally.  There were a few customers but the cases were almost empty!! The Mob had purchase so much inventory that she was running extreemly low.  It was a good thing.  Exposing the community to this great local sweet shop is great for business and encourages residents to buy local.  We love supporting our friends and fellow businesses, and we appreciate their support of us. We are anxiously waiting to hear when and where the next Mob will take place.  

Did your dog come into the house like this on our snow day?  If he or she did, then there were muddy footprints all over your house.  Pet owners know that during the wet and sometimes snowy months, pets can track in a lot of mud.  Many of our customers wait till spring time to clean up after those muddy paws.  Well spring is finally here and we would love to help you get the mud out and sunshine in!  Call us and we would be happy to help!!

Track Season 2012

You may be wondering why a carpet cleaning company is writing about track.  Well for those of you that don't know, our owner Rob is a devoted assistant track coach at Sherwood High School.  He competed in javelin years ago and now shares his knowledge with the athletes at Sherwood High.  He's not the only track enthusiast in the office.  Our marketing manager Leslie has children enrolled in track and is also on the Sherwood Track Club Board.  I also have 3 throwers in track, my oldest Elyse is pictured above with Rob at last seasons district meet.  Track is often a subject of conversation here in the office and this year we are as excited as ever for the season to start.  It has been a rough start to the track season with snow last week, but most track fans are well aware that the season is traditionally wet. All of us will be busy this spring cheering on our children and the other athletes in Sherwood.
Just a side note, the Sherwood High School Track Team is doing a fundraiser this weekend.  We will be selling local discount cards for $20.  The local Sherwood/Tualatin/Willsonville businesses participating include Subway, McDonalds, Domino's Pizza, Fat Milo's, Sonic, Papa John's and many more.  Call our office at 503-625-3101 for details or to purchase your card.  In fact we will deliver  your card to your home for free!
And don't be shy, come by the high school sometime to watch our practices or meets!! 

Belonging

Being part of a community is very important to us.  We value the local businesses here in Sherwood as well as the other businesses in the Portland/Metro area.  The Sherwood community has been extremely supportive and the feeling of belonging somewhere is strong.  We have worked closely with the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce and with their help, we have been able to spread our name to other businesses and create relationships with other owners.  We are always delighted to do work for our local Sherwood businesses and citizens and are please when we can use their services as well.
Recently, we were introduced to Sherwood's own weather forecast on the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce website.  Every day our own meteorologist Dave Sweeney, posts a custom weather update for the city of Sherwood.  Check it out:
http://www.sherwoodchamber.org/?page=Weather
We look forward to continuing a strong business partnership with other Sherwood businesses.

Shoes Off, Shoes On

Do you take your shoes off in the home? In our home, it's the rule, in others it's the tradition.
I found the following information from Professor Helen,a professor of environmental health at Harvard University.
"This custom is still the standard practice in Korea, Japan, and many other countries. Even in countries where shoes are generally worn indoors, related practices are followed, as door mats are often placed at entryways for people to wipe their feet before entry.

These "shoe off" and "door mat" practices came about to reduce the amount of dirt that gets tracked into your home. Shoes clearly can be a source of substantial dirt, as is evident from the footprints left when you walk in shoes on a clean, wet floor. Not only can shoes bring dirt into your home, but they can also bring pesticides, lead, and other chemicals that can be present in dirt. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, showed that people bring lawn pesticides into their homes on their shoes. These pesticide-laden shoes were a major source of pesticide exposures, especially for young children who spend a lot of time on the floor and who put dirty fingers, dust, and toys in their mouths. Somewhat surprising was that the study showed that indoor shoe-wearing was a larger source of children’s pesticide exposures than eating non-organic fruits and vegetables. Taking your shoes off and wiping your feet on a door mat or other carpeting before entering were found to be important pollutant reduction measures.

Even if you do not use pesticides on your lawn or have lead in your soil, you can still have pesticides, lead and other chemicals on your shoes from your travels to other lawns and other places. These pesticides and chemicals can stay on your shoes for quite some time.  For added insurance, you can put a door mat just inside your door to store the shoes or to have people wipe their feet before coming inside. Your home will not only be cleaner, but may also look better, especially if you chose a nice looking door mat."
If that grossed you out, call us and we'll clean those carpets before you enforce the No Shoes rule!

Chem Dry Sponsors David Ragan's #34 Car at Daytona 500

Chem-Dry, the nation’s leading carpet cleaner and a top-ranked franchise system, is sponsoring NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan’s No. 34 Ford in Sunday’s Daytona 500, marking the company’s first association with the nation’s fastest-growing sport and an opportunity to introduce millions to the Chem-Dry brand.

Ragan’s crew chief, Jay Guy, is a new Chem-Dry franchise owner who plans to open three locations soon in the Charlotte, N.C., area. Guy approached Chem-Dry home office staff about sponsoring Ragan’s car, one of three entries in the race from Front Row Motorsports, and the two sides quickly worked out a deal.

“We’re excited to be associated with NASCAR and Front Row Motorsports. This is a tremendous chance for Chem-Dry to increase its profile on racing’s biggest stage,” said Dan Tarantin, president and CEO of Harris Research Inc., Chem-Dry’s parent company. “Our sponsorship also illustrates our commitment to our franchise owners and receptiveness to their ideas. We’re committed to helping all our owners develop robust client bases and maximize their profitability."

Email Deals Anyone?

Do you get our emails? Our Marketing manager put out an email today with a great special on it.  Keeping in contact with our valued customers is important and emails keeps us connected.  If you are not on our email list, email us at sweetscdcarpetcleaning@gmail.com and request to get our emails.  You won't be disappointed.  

Help! My Kids Have Destroyed My Car!!

Let's face it, kids are hard on cars.  Fruit snacks, soda, cheeseburgers, gum, mud, suckers, and ice cream, are only a few of the famous treats left behind by kids that ruin that new car smell. And what happened to the "No eating in the Car" rule? Well let's just say the kids won that battle.  Never fear-Sweet's Chem Dry is here! Did you know that we clean car upholstery?  Recently we have had a loyal customer bring in both of their cars to be cleaned up after kid messes.  You would be surprised at the results.  Call the office and chat with our staff about getting your car cleaned and reclaiming your car from your kids!
503-625-3101

In Our Free Time

Cleaning Carpets isn't the only thing we do good around here.  One of our Techs, Kyle, happens to be an artist.  He tried to keep it a secret for a while but we quickly discovered his talent.  Kyle is working on getting his name out there and recently traveled to San Fransisco to for a show in a local gallery.  We are thrilled to have him working with us.  You can check out his work on his site at
http://www.kylebenjaminjorgensen.com/

Sweet's Who?

Many customers ask "Why is your company named Sweet's Chem Dry?"  Sweets is the name that was chosen because we leave all of our customers with a Sweet treat when leaving their home.  By leaving a Sweet treat, we are thanking our customers for their business and hope they remember what company they used for their fabulous carpet cleaning service.  If you are a customer that has recieved our Sweets, you know that we don't give just any cheap Sweets.  We hand pick specialty chocolates that represent a quality product. Currently, we are leaving our customers with a Sweet treat from Sweet Story- a locally owned and operated business here in our hometown of Sherwood, Oregon.  Sweet Story shares our same determination to provide exceptional service to all our customers. 
Sooooooo....now you know the meaning behind the name Sweet's Chem Dry. Enjoy!

A New Adventure!!

Welcome to our very own BLOG!! We hope that having a blog will keep us connected to our customers and valued business associates.  We look forward to posting discounts, pictures, stories, product information, answers to questions, and anything else that seems interesting enough to post about.  Should be a fun new adventure.  Keep checking back in with us!!