Many colors and styles are now available!

   Although style is important the three reasons we recommend entry mats are:   

1. Protecting the carpet and other flooring
2. Decreasing the maintenance cost of flooring
3. Appearance retention

 PROTECT the Carpet:  Walk off mats are designed to pull  and trap moisture and soils from shoes as you pass into your home.  Dark greasy soils are what most of us see when our carpeting gets dirty.  Masts also collect hard abrasive particulate soils (think sand) that can scratch the carpet fibers and permanently alter the crisp colors and design of fibers.  It’s usually the abrasive soils that cause a flooring material to “ugly” out before it’s time.  Use walk off mats both on the outside and inside of entry doors.

SAVE Money:  By trapping moisture and dirt in rugged mats less will be tracked into your home.  The frequency of vacuuming and the need for professional carpet cleaning will be reduced.  Think of this as: The more soil that stays outside, the more money stays inside!

LIKE New Look:  Keeping our homes looking fresh and new is what we all wish for.  By reducing the risk of fiber damaging soils from entering your home it will stay clean and fresh.  Entry mats is one of the most affordable investments you can make for your home.

Save Time, Save Money and Enjoy Your Home!

    Healthy Living:  Did you know matting also keeps dust and pollen spores from entering your home.  If you or a family member suffer from allergies or asthma you know how difficult it can be to control episodes of breathing difficulty.  Preventing allergens from ever getting into the home is the easiest and most cost effective method of keeping these “triggers” from hurting you.

Got Pets?:  Dogs track in a variety of soils and allergens throughout the year.  Use mats to help control the “muddy paw” look from your favorite four legged friend.

Remember: Stay Clean, Stay Healthy.  For more information on asthma and related breathing topics visit  http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/policy.htm.

If we can of help please contact Regal Fabric Care @ 781-995-0683 or www.regalclean.com

David Mavilio       david.mavilio@regalclean.com

Title: The sin of omission

  Most carpet installers don’t like them but carry one on their truck.  Power (pole) stretchers are necessary in re-stretch jobs but are seldom used for normal installations.  The reason installers don’t like them is that they’re heavy, time consuming and obnoxious to use.  Installation is a hard enough job and often is grossly underpaid thanks to cheap promotions, unscrupulous carpet merchants or a combination of both.

  It’s a lot quicker and easier to just “kick” them in.  But, after installation without a stretcher the carpet relaxes with a little humidity and seams begin to peak like pup tents ay a boy scout encampment.  Carpet cleaning firms can profit from sloppy installation by offering re-stretch service.  It’s interesting, but when re-stretching a carpet, customers are often surprised and asked about the power stretcher.  They often say, “the installer never used anything that looked like that.”  It’s difficult to explain that it’s not the fault of the carpet to irate clients who most times do blame the carpet.

The Right Way!

  Meanwhile, CRI (http://carpet-rug.org/) has embarked on a program to blame carpet cleaners for the mills’ warranty problems since we’re the last ones in the carpet chain to see the customer and we make such an easy target.  Carpet warranties have been chosen as the vehicle to facilitate this “blame the cleaner” gig.  Carpet mills certainly can’t afford and don’t want to offend the carpet retailer who buys their product or the installer who may work for the sales outlet.

  To counter this injustice, literature will soon be available to help cleaners explain this dilemma to their customers without blaming the carpet.  We must all try to remember that carpet is our friend.  Apparently some in the carpet business have forgotten that!  End

As you can see, we cleaners can be held responsible for the poor craftmanship of  other.  As a consumer some questions you may want to ask your retailer are:

• During installation will a power stretcher be used
• Are the installers certified
• Will the carpet ripple when cleaned
• Are seams tight and guaranteed to last

Thanks to Bane-Clene Systems for their great advise and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

• David Mavilio
• Regal Fabric Care
• 781-995-0683
• www.regalclean.com
• david.mavilio@regalclean.com

Helping those who serve our Country

That’s right “Old Number Seven” was donated last month to the Disabled American Veterans.  As part of our summer long tribute to our service men and women we could not think of a more deserving organization to help out in these tough economic times than the DAV.  To find out about donations to the DAV or for more information on how they are “Building Better Lives for America’s Disabled Veterans” please visit www.dav.org.

 Regal Gets a Makeover

Safe for You, Safe for the Environment!

 It was time.  Time for Regal Fabric Care to get a new look, time to showcase not only our continued commitment to our clients but also our planet.  Over the past two decades Regal Fabric Care has prided itself on our high standards of service and quality, that type of thinking does not stop at carpet or upholstery cleaning.  We have always looked for safer more efficient and more earth friendly ways to do what we do.  The upgrading of our cleaning equipment to a more fuel efficient vehicle and more modern cleaning plant means we will produce less greenhouse gases making the world a little better with every job.  Also, our new line of cleaning chemistry is among the eco-friendly produced in the industry today.

“A Clean, Healthy Home (& Planet)…GUARANTEED!”

 Visit us at www.regalclean.com or phone 781-995-0683 for more information…we’re here to help.

Unless you can do this on daily basis….

Good Times For All!

…your carpets will need cleaning  more often.

Dog fur/hair oils easily transfer to porous materials throughout your home.  Think carpeting, Oriental rugs and upholstery.  Body oils bind to carpet fibers and can require aggressive cleaning to be fully dissolved and flushed away.  Usually homes with pets require more frequent cleanings, ensuring that the hair & fur don’t transfer body oils deep into a carpet pile.

If your carpeted rooms have that doggy odor use caution when spraying supermarket deodorizers.  Deodorizers can act like perfume-covering up an odor temporarily but not really eliminating the source of the odor.

For more information on odor removal and how Regal Fabric Care can help you get back to that pre pet freshness visit www.regalclean.com or phone 781-995-0683.

Regal Fabric Care-Woburn(Boston), MA 01801

781-995-083       781-995-0684 Fax        info@regalclean.com

P.S. Don’t have a 4 legged friend yet? Adopt a puppy by visiting www.mspca.org today!  You’ll be happy you did.

A new feature of this years show was a complete set of hands on cleaning and restoration stations on either side of the show floor.  Of particular interest to me was the new equipment used to clean and treat Oriental rugs for pet urine odor. 

Dry soil removal is the 1st step!

Urine odor removal can be tough

Special thanks is due to the Connections board of directors for making this show an incredible success.  Cleaners and restorers in the New England area owe a huge “Thank you” to Eric Hunter of A.R.S. Services, Newton, MA for serving as the NEIRC (www.neirc.org/) trade group’s representative to Connections Convention.  Eric is responsible for choosing some of the education and logistical format for the two Connections events annually-Florida in May and Las Vegas in September. 

Without the efforts of the volunteers our Convention and trade show wouldn’t be possible.

David Mavilio-Regal Fabric Care

10 Draper Street, Unit 6–Woburn, MA 01801

781.995.0683//781.995.0684-fax

www.regalclean.com

david.mavilio@regalclean.com

“A Clean, Healthy Home (& office)…Guaranteed!”

Getting a rug wet is easy-drying it fast is the challenge!

I’m also planning to return with some new detergents for urine/vomit removal  and equipment for specialty spot/stain removal-think KOOL-AID drinks and red wine!

Don't let good times get out of hand

I’ll be posting more when I return, and remember with Regal Fabic Care you’ll always get…

“A Clean, Healthy Home (& office)…Guaranteed!”

781-995-0683 or info@regalclean.com

The two conditions created by a pet or child accident are:

• The Stain
• The Odor

This could be Disastrous!

Urine (as well as other body fluids) has the ability to not only add color (usually yellow stains) to fabrics, but can also destroy or bleach out the factory dyes in the fabric.  If the urine has destroyed enough dyes cleaning won’t be of much help if you require the upholstered piece to be “as good as new”.  Most pigments added by the urine can be safely removed on synthetic fabrics as well as flat woven cotton.  Staining on silks and wools may not be able to be safely removed.  Unfortunately the results of stain removal varies from upholstered piece to piece. 

Some things that affect stain removal are:

1. Amount of fluid released-the more frequent/amount of release the more difficult to remove.
2. Health of the pet/child/adult-is the pet/person on medication, eating a special diet?  Even the age of the pet/person affects results.
3. How long has the urine been on the fabric-generally speaking, the longer the urine remains the more difficult it is to fully remove.
4. Previous removal attempts-has anyone tried stain removal with an inappropriate detergent, possibly setting the stain and making 100% removal impossible?
5. Style and condition of the fabric-delicate or true “dry clean only” fabric are more difficult to work on than wet cleanable fabrics.

Odor Removal:

Many times urine odor (especially from male cats) cannot be fully removed because the fluid has penetrated the fabric and gone into the stuffing material making it almost impossible to treat.  Upholstery with natural backing/stuffing materials hold onto the odors more tightly than some of the more modern synthetics.  To fully eliminate odors a cleaner has to make contact with all effected areas-applying odor eliminators to springs, straps and filler material is not always possible.

To help contain urine odor from penetrating deep within the item:

• Blot up the spill quickly-contain the liquid
• Remove and air out cushions as soon as you discover the spill-don’t allow the liquid to migrate into the other areas of the furniture.
• Don’t over apply ANY cleaner/spotting agent-over wetting a fabric can move the urine deeper into the hard to reach areas

Be careful what you use & Don't over apply!

• Don’t add perfume cleaners to the fabric-some supermarket cleaners react with the urine and can make the odor (& stain) more difficult to remove-Have the piece professionally cleaned.

Don't you wish they would learn?

If you need help-Call Us!

David Mavilio        david.mavilio@regalclean.com

Regal Fabric Care

781-995-0683

regalclean.com

What's under the fabric usually causes the problems!

From time to time we are asked to clean upholstery, usually chairs, that were covered with handmade needlepoint fabric woven by a family member.  Usually the conversation starts with our client saying: “Can you safely clean this upholstery without changing the coloring, texture or creating dye bleeding?”.  Usually our answer is: Yes, with restrictions.  These needlepoints are usually more than 40 years old and have never been cleaned.  Dye degradation can exist, possibly resulting in rapid and irreversible dye bleeding.  Some other concerns include:

• Weakened fabric-cleaning, even gentle cleaning, can result in tears in fabric that is old and has been subjected to UV light and heavy wear
• Natural stuffing material-the cloth under the needlepoint, usually jute, possibly with horsehair, can bleed through to the top and create watermarking and browning.
• Wood finishes-the shellac or lacquer finishes contain dyes and after many years these dyes can rub off the wood and be washed onto the fabric creating a permanent stain.
• Metal buttons and tacks-water based cleaning solutions may react with steel and iron buttons or tacks and can create rust marks on the needlepoint fabric.  Rust at times is permanent.

Here’s what we suggest:

• Clean the piece before it shows signs of soiling.  Light soil removal is less risky for delicate fabric and fibers
• Solvent (dry) cleaning-Solvent cleaning may be applicable in this situation.  Solvents usually don’t create rust or dye bleeding.  Even with solvent cleaning successful cleaning is not guaranteed.
• Remove the fabric for cleaning-have a skilled upholsterer remove the needlepoint fabric-your cleaner then tacks out the fabric flat on plywood using stainless steel tacks and cleans, allowing the fabric to remain tacked out for 24 hours.  The upholsterer replaces the needlepoint to the chair after re-stuffing the seat with new synthetic cushion (not foam).

No matter the plan of action you chose make sure the cleaner tests the dye for stability and the foundation yarns for rippling in a small area of the seat prior to complete cleaning.

Test cleaning needlepoint fabric in a small (hidden) area is crucial...!

David Mavilio

Regal Fabric Care
781-995-0683
david.mavilio@regalclean.com

The three forums included water damage restoration, specifically proper drying of hardwood flooring taught by Eric Hunter of ARS Services, Newton, MA; Upholstery and specialty fabric cleaning taught by Pete Mavilio of Regal Fabric Care, Woburn, MA; Malodor removal and control taught by Barry Lichtenstein of Amcho Carpet cleaning…….

(l-r)Eric Hunter-Barry Lichtenstein-Pete Mavilio

Thanks to all participants for a great learning experience and for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends.

Safe for you, safe for the Earth!

In the early 1990s, manufacturers started thinking in terms of “design for” qualities or traits in their products and processes. At the same time, views on risk management began shifting to approaches that promote risk reduction through pollution prevention (also known as source reduction). EPA recognized the need to develop a cleaner, safer technologies program to work with industry to design products, processes, and technologies that are competitive but environmentally preferable. Several non-regulatory, voluntary initiatives on safer chemical synthesis, comparative risk analysis, and alternative technology development merged to create the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program.

 DfE was created as a voluntary program that:

• Champions risk reduction through pollution prevention approaches.
• Empowers industry to articulate and meet environmental goals.
• Integrates environmental, economic, and performance objectives into the redesign of product processes and management systems.

We are proud to announce that almost all cleaning agents used by Regal Fabric Care meet or exceed the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program guidelines. They are biodegradable, Phosphate-Free and Voc Compliant.  While we have always used the safest cleaning agents available we were always on the look-out for even safer and more environmentally friendly products that would not compromise cleaning quality. We feel that our new line of cleaning chemistry is the perfect balance of cleaning and environmental responsibility. 

 At Regal Fabric Care our overriding concern has always been the health and safety of our clients, technicians and the environment.  Over the years we have always searched for a safer and better way to service the needs of our clients, and this search will continue.

For more information on the EPA’s Design for the Environment program, please visit http://www.epa.gov/dfeprojects/