Blogs - The Cleaning Guy

Mike Holmes is a master textile cleaner (carpets, area rugs, upholstery) with over 35 years of experience in the cleaning industry.
Mike is highly recognized by top designers, retailers, and realtors in the GTA and is often asked to speak to industry associations, local business groups, and national trade shows.

Mike loves to share his knowledge as a textile master but also as an innovator in the cleaning industry in Canada.

Kevin Casey, a master textile cleaner with over 35 years of experience in the cleaning industry, is a dedicated professional and community advocate. As a Board Member of the Canadian Flooring Cleaning & Restoration Association Board, Kevin has played a pivotal role in advancing industry standards and practices. His exceptional leadership and commitment were recognized when he was named Business Person of the Year by the Whitby Chamber in 2021.

Kevin believes in the philosophy of “doing well by doing good,” seamlessly integrating business success with community building and involvement. His unwavering dedication to both his craft and his community makes him a respected figure in his field.

August 2024: Stay Tuned!

Coming soon...

Understanding Flameproofing: History & Modern Applications

Flame retardants are a diverse group of chemicals designed to inhibit, suppress, or delay the combustion of materials. There are five primary types, each offering different benefits...

The Role of Cleaning and Fabric Protection Companies in Design Industry Referrals

In the intricate dance between designers, clients, and the products they recommend, cleaning and fabric protection companies often find ourselves...

A Deeper Clean: Why Off-Site Cleaning Makes the Difference

Many companies that “claim” to do off-site area rug cleaning simply take them to a warehouse and just use regular carpet cleaning equipment! Imagine our consternation when someone tells us that...

The Correct Use of Rug Underpads

If you have been reading my recent blogs, there has been a big emphasis on protecting your rug investment with proper cleaning and the use of fibre protection to help fight against pet stains, insect infestation, and other common concerns...

Pet-Smart! A Conversation About Pets & Rugs

Pet urine is probably the most damaging to fibres as the ammonia attacks the dyes causing permanent and irreversible staining. This is particularly pronounced in tufted rugs. For almost all rugs...

Some Unique Issues with Natural Rugs

We are so accustomed to conformity and consistency when buying items that the purchase of a natural area rug can require an adjustment in our thinking. While machine-made rugs are 100% consistent due to the use of man-made fibers and...

Help! Something is Eating My Rug

In an ideal world, our beautiful rugs would remain in pristine condition as the centre pieces of the rooms they were purchased for. In my last blog, I wrote about how proper vacuuming and professional cleaning can help achieve that goal. However, what...

Area Rug Cleaning Mistakes

Last month we took a bit of a deeper dive into the positive impact of Fabric Protection on area rugs and today I want to highlight the importance of cleaning rugs BEFORE they look like they need it!! We are creatures of habit and many of us are more...

What are Fabric Protectors?

Fibre protectors and how they work specifically with area rugs rather than fabrics, which most of our clients are more familiar with. ZebraSeal interacts and bonds with the fibres of the rug at a molecular level, rather than just providing a temporary, surface...

High Performance Fabrics - Bulletproof?

Today’s performance fabrics are not limited to outdoor furniture or commercial applications like the hospitality industry, where there has always been an expectation that these fabrics would feel more workman-like than luxurious. Let me start off by...

What is a Viscose Area Rug?

Viscose is basically “artificial silk”, but is sold under many names including rayon, man-made silk, art silk, bamboo silk, banana silk, cactus silk, Silkette, etc. Based on the appearance and “feel” of the fibre, it is not uncommon for consumers to believe they have...

Spot Removal Tips

While some carpet fibers are more resilient than others, all of us have mishaps occasionally and even the hardiest carpets will require swift action in the event of a spill or an accident to avoid possible long-term damage. While we are a company that gets...

Choosing the Best Carpet for Your Home

Choosing the right carpet for your home can be overwhelming. Today we cover the choice of materials for broadloom. Last time I shared how you can “wade through the choices” when considering an area rug purchase. Although the list was far from...

Choosing the Best Area Rug for Your Home

In a previous blog, I talked about the impact on landfills of discarded carpets and so an obvious follow-up is to walk through some of the factors that a homeowner should consider when choosing an area rug. A poor choice based on your real-life...

Floor Manufacturers & Carpet Cleaners - When Partnership Happens...

I noted in the early years of my career in the cleaning business, a distinct & prevalent “us v them” mindset harboured by the manufacturers of floor coverings and the industry dedicated to maintaining that...

The Economics of the Carpet Industry

Carpet made from synthetic materials (most are), degrades slowly and leaks dangerous chemicals. Additionally, even though burning carpet causes more greenhouses gas emissions than coal, six percent is burned in municipal incinerators and…

Living During COVID Times

With every business, organization, and facility reeling in the face of Covid-19, we are all forced to slow down and create new life “rhythms” as we wait out what may well be the greatest disruption to our lives and lifestyles that many of us have ever experienced.