Why is Carpet Cleaning Rarely Effective at Removing Biohazards?
Jackie* paid for professional carpet cleaning to remove blood from her carpets. When that didn't work, she hired someone to pour some enzymes on the spots, but the stains kept coming back! Then she called Bio-One.
When Jackie asked us to help her clean some blood off her carpets, I immediately explained to her that from our experience, carpet cleaning is ineffective at removing biohazards. If she wanted to do it right, we would need to remove and replace the carpets. That's when she told me they had already tried two other methods that were ineffective. They were ready.
So why is carpet cleaning rarely effective at removing biohazards?
Materials
Carpet is made with a synthetic pile and a permeable backing. Chemical disenfection is only effective when the technician can access all the surface area of a substrate. This is not possible with pile or foam. Which leads us to the next reason.
Contruction
Carpeted flooring is made of three main parts:
Carpet
Pad
Subfloor
Bodily fluids pass right through the permeable backing of the carpet into the foam pad. The foam pad then holds most of the moisture. If the flow of liquids overcomes the pad's absorption capacity, then the liquid will continue down onto the subfloor, a semi-permeable OSB board in most cases. A heavy volume of fluid can result in the OSB board absorbing those fluids, which will then need to be cut out. Surface contact can sometimes be treated and sealed.
Carpet cleaning just isn't strong enough to reach down all three layers, which is why the surface may appear clean at first but stains reappear through capillary action later.
Useful Life
Another consideration is the useful life of carpet, which as you can see from the chart to the left, is only 8-10 years. We commonly service homes with carpets 10, 20, 30-years old or more. When you have enjoyed that much use out of a carpet, it may be time to put it out to pasture.
So how did things go with Jackie's situation? We gave her an on-site estimate same-day and scheduled removal of the contaminated carpet the next morning. We found an exact match for the carpet, and when the special order arrived, had it installed at 8:00 AM the next morning. Fortunately, home-owners insurance will often cover damage to property due to traumatic events. We submitted our claim to Jackie's insurance and heard back the next day that the claim was being processed and payment was on it's way! Here's what Jackie had to say:
"Many thanks, Travis!!! [We] really appreciate all that you have done to make everything right!!! Bio-One is #1!!!"
*Name changed
Feedback we often hear is that people like our authenticity and the personal touch with which we do business. I think this is because we are really focused on Helping First, and Business Second. Here are some ways we are making this a priority.
NEW WEBSITE
We have invested in a new website to make finding us easier when you search for us and making all the relevant information more accesible on our website. We've seen a significant increase in online inquiries submitted on our Request Form. Most people are surprised to receive a call back from us right away!
24/7 AVAILABILITY
We can't predict when disaster will strike. Accidents aren't scheduled into our calendar between 9 am and 5 pm. They happen at night. They happen on weekends. They happen on holidays. We're open. Call us. If it can't wait until the work week, we'll be there right away.
AFTER-HOURS CALLS
We often get calls late in the afternoon or during the dinner hour. We'll put down our pasta and hop in the truck. If you call us in the middle of the night, we'll answer. There's no siren or fire pole at our headquarters, but there should be.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
When really bad things happen, people want them to be fixed/resolved/go-away as fast as possible. That's why we offer emergency response. We are usually able to get to anywhere in the Treasure Valley within an hour in case of an emergency.
Given the sensitive nature of our line of work, we prefer to be proactive in our outreach before emergencies happen rather than monitoring police dispatch and chasing ambulances when emergencies happen. One of the ways we do this is by partnering with like-minded organizations in related fields that share our high standards for quality and client care. Two such organizations that we have recently joined as Affiliate Members are the Idaho Association of Home Inspectors (IAHI) and the Idaho Funeral Services Association (IFSA).
A few years ago, some of the most experienced home inspectors in Idaho, led by Randy Funk Home Inspections, decided to self-regulate by establishing and upholding the highest standards in the industry. In order to become a member, candidates must have completed over 1,000 paid home inspections, pass the certification exam, and carry E&O insurance among other requirements. The member companies do the lion's share of home inspections in the Treasure Valley. You can't go wrong with anyone who qualified for this elite membership.
The Idaho Funeral Services Association is a tight knit group of funeral directors, morticians, and owners that have been supporting one another for decades. We have visited the members in the Treasure Valley, and have had the opportunity to meet a few of them. If we have not connected yet, please reach out. We would love to get to know you and share how our trauma cleaning services can assist the families in your care.
The Trauma Intervention Program of the Treasure Valley provides immediate and emotional support to survivors of tragedy. They respond 24/7 to emergency calls from first responders to scenes in Ada County. On July 7, 2018, TIP held the First Annual T.I.P. Tow fire truck pull to raise support for the organization's mission. Bio-One gladly got involved and had a great time doing it. As a Gold Level Sponsor, we sponsored the Boise Police Department team and provided water for all the participants and volunteers.
It was hot, and I mean crazy hot, Saturday afternoon the day of the pull. Yet several teams from BPD, Meridian Police Department, Ada County Fire Department, Ada County Coroner's Office and others came together to see who could pull a 60,000 lb fire truck the fastest. The heavily favored Ada Fire Department did not disappoint, with a fastest time of 18 seconds! Boise Police Department edged out Meridian PD in a pull-off for second place! And it should be noted that many of the BPD team members came straight from work after a 10-hour shift. It was incredible.
Bio-One Boise was asked to assist with a couple teams that were short-handed. We have some big boys on our team, so one of our lead technicians, Scott Mifflin, anchored Ada County Coroner Dotti Owens' team, and Bio-One intern, Chris Ingels, stepped in for someone on BPD's team who fell ill. I think it gave them a much greater appreciation for the effort required to pull a fire truck than cheering from the sidelines!
T.I.P. organized the event in conjunction with Eagle Fun Days. Crisis Team Manager, Kymber Neal-Jenkins, really focused on executing a small event well, but several of the supporters see the potential for this to be an annual event that grows in time. T.I.P. of the Treasure Valley raised $11,000 that will go right back to supporting our community.
On Saturday night, June 30, 2018, Ruya Kadir was celebrating her 3rd birthday in her home with family and friends when the unthinkable happened. A knife-wielding attacker stormed in and began stabbing everyone in his path. Several of the victims have “life changing injuries,” and Ruya will not live to see her 4th birthday.
Timmy Kinner, who had a criminal record in multiple states, was new to town. A resident of Wylie Street Station Apartments graciously allowed him to leave his belongings at her place, but he was asked to leave after his behavior became unacceptable. Kinner came back with a knife seeking vengeance. His host was not home when he returned, so he sought out any victims he could find when he noticed a three-year-old’s birthday party nearby. The attacker injured 9 attendees, all refugees, 6 of which were children, including the birthday girl. She was life flighted to Salt Lake City but died the next day.
This crime has gripped our city. It crossed so many lines, that there has been a visceral reaction from everyone who hears about it. The fact that this man wasn’t from Boise. The pathological reaction to being asked to leave. Murdering complete strangers. The irony that the innocent bystanders he attacked happened to be fleeing violence with only the expectation that they would be safe here. Not only were they refugees, but the fact that he showed no hesitation when he encountered children. And not only children, but children happily playing at a birthday party and the one who died was one of the youngest and the birthday girl herself.
It was too much for us to stand by and do nothing. Anytime we here of a violent crime, we know there is a real chance the phone will ring. But we didn’t want to profit from this tragedy. We just wanted to help. Business comes second in times like these. And while many people wanted to help, we actually could…in one small, very specific way, where few could.
We found out that the property management company is a non-profit whose mission is to provide affordable housing. They were sincerely appreciative and relieved that we could come right away to remove the blood stains (and the visual reminder of the violence) from their apartment community.
And we are not the only ones to rally to the side of the refugee community after this atrocity. The overwhelming response is that one man’s actions do not at all reflect the love we as a city have for children and for welcoming refugees.
Residents of Boise, Idaho gather together at City Hall to stand in solidarity with the victims.
Do you know where your exits are? What would you do in case of an emergency? Jason Bourne knows…
And so does Stephanie Kendall of the Boise Police Department. She presented at the iCare Lunch & Learn last Thursday on “Crime Prevention.” The event was organized in partnership by Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care with hosts Genesis HealthCare. Keep reading for more great tips and tricks on protecting yourself and your loved ones. We found some to be new ideas in response to a rapidly changing society, while others were good reminders not to grow complacent.
Three keys to home safety: Locks, Lighting and Landscaping.
Make sure the dead bolt screws are long enough (usually 3”) to drill into the door frame.
Residents can set up a camera at their front door and view the footage on your smart phone when someone rings the doorbell.
You can speak to the visitor and even turn on the lights from anywhere in the world.
2-feet/6-feet rule: Shrubs should be less than 2’ high (knee high) and branches trimmed above 6’ to prevent intruders from hiding in blind spots.
Take your trash out to the curb early in the morning, rather than the night before.
Keep gas in your car and your cell phone charged.
If you suspect someone is following you, DO NOT go home. Drive to the busiest place you can find and call 9-1-1.
“At what magical age do we all of a sudden decide we don’t need the buddy system anymore?”
In these warm summer months, it can be tempting for passengers to kick their feet up on the dashboard, especially during road trips. Take it from the police: this does not end well in an accident.
File taxes early before someone files them for you! There were at least a couple people in attendance who discovered someone had stolen their refund and expressed that it was a major pain to right the wrong.
If you missed this opportunity to network, sharpen your street smarts and score a free lunch, don’t worry! The iCare series will be back every 2nd Thursday of the month.
Author: Travis Nichols Mothers Against Drunk Driving Forget Me NotTribut
The MADD Forget Me Not tribute is an annual time to remember and honor those who have been killed or injured in an impaired driving crash or underage drinking incident. It’s also a time to show appreciation towards law enforcement for saving lives by keeping our streets safe.
This year, Bio-One had the honor of sponsoring lunch for about 60 attendees from Cobby’s Sandwich Shop. Cobby’s is a local, family-owned business perfecting the craft of sandwich making since 1979. Cloverdale Funeral home graciously hosts the event every year.
The ceremony began with the patriotic Presentation of Colors and the National Anthem by the Boise City Police and Idaho State Police Honor Guard. The service was opened and closed by Reverend Bill Roscoe, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain, with an encouraging word from the Psalms. Miren Aburusa, the Lead Victim Services Specialist for MADD Idaho, hosted the event, which included a rendition of Amazing Grace, presentation of blankets, a reading of Waterbugs and Dragonflies, and a Tribute slide show.
The presentation of blankets was an inspirational moment. Survivors of impaired driving made custom knotted fleece blankets to give to patrolmen. The patrolmen keep them in their cars to have at the ready to give to children in case of an accident. This year, Ada County Victim Witness Coordinator, Janet Lawler, accepted them on behalf of the Sheriff’s office.
Then a slideshow was played with pictures of all the victims in Idaho over the last 30 years. Sadly, the tribute video gets longer every year. But imagine if organizations like MADD were not lobbying to pass the new ignition interlock law or if law enforcement wasn’t saturating the interstate to remind people of the dangers of impaired driving?
It was clear after hearing the stories of several survivors, how touching the annual memorial is to them. The service concluded with the passing of the “Love Like MADD” Quilt from Idaho State Police to hang at the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, an annual tradition. A lovely reception followed for guests to meet and encourage one another over homemade cookies, delicious sandwiches and drinks. #BioOneBacksTheBlue
In our last newsletter, we announced that Bio-One would be supporting law enforcement in a way that no other crime and trauma cleaning company ever has. Since then, representatives from our 65 offices around the country have been visiting police stations, associations and sheriff’s offices to encourage our sworn officers to nominate those injured in the line of duty for a chance to be awarded their very own Bio-One Franchise (valued at over $70,000)!
Let’s consider for a moment, the hard work and sacrifice of those who answer the call to duty. They do so to serve and protect us, oftentimes complete strangers. Yet their love for America and commitment to their communities compel them to risk their lives every day for our sake. They keep our streets, homes and families safe and maintain order, so we have the freedom to pursue our dreams without fear. We are extremely grateful for everything they do for us.
That’s what Bio-One Backs The Blue is all about – showing our appreciation to police. And today, Bio-One Founder, Nick-Anthony Zamucen, announced the winner. Play the video below to see which former officer has been awarded a Bio-One Franchise! Click on the image to visit the site!
Bio-One Boise is a Certified Mold Remediation Contractor. Mold is commonly discovered during the home inspection as part of a real estate deal. Mold will often grow in places such as attics or crawlspaces within 24-48 hours of a moisture event. To familiarize you with the process, flip through the pics to see some of the steps taken during a recent mold remediation. In this instance, mold was discovered behind an old radiator when replacing the HVAC system.
Demolition – The best treatment for mold is removal. Any porous substance affected by mold will need to be removed, while hard surfaces and structural elements can often be treated.
Mold Behind Drywall – What lies on the surface may be just the “tip of the iceberg.” If the mold has been growing for an extended period of time, spores/hyphae are densely populated, coverage is expansive, and/or the affected drywall is mushy, then it is likely that more mold is growing in the wall cavity. There was only a little bit of mold on the exterior base of this wall, but we found mold growing on the insulation and studs several feet up.
Biocide/Sanding/HEPA Vacuuming - First on Step 3 is the use of a fungicide. Bio-One has a proprietary chemical that kills mold on contact and stops its growth. Second is scrubbing with an abrasive material, like a wire brush or belt sander. Various blasting methods can also be used. The last part of Step 3 is HEPA vacuuming to capture mold spores as small as 0.3 microns that were disturbed during the scrubbing process. (An air scrubber and proper containment is also necessary to prevent cross-contamination).
Encapsulation - This is the final step of the mold remediation process. It involves sealing the previously contaminated area to cover stains and deter future mold growth in the remediated area. If air tests and sampling are going to be taken, this is done prior to encapsulation to confirm the area has been restored to Condition 1.
Bio-One is available 24/7 to consult on your mold issue and help you make the best decisions possible for your family, and we provide free onsite estimates for mold remediation completed to the IICRC S520 standard.
Bio-One Boise attended the Second Annual Idaho Apartment Association (IAA) Tradeshow last week. We connected with many different members of the group such as maintenance staff, property managers and other vendors. We’re proud to be active members of such a vibrant association. “Thank you” to Len Galus, Paul Smith, and the other board members and volunteers that made this networking event possible! It was great meeting new people and building upon our established relationships in the apartment industry.
The show had various events and competitions throughout the day, such as "Maintenance Mania," a competition where those on the maintenance staff at the apartment communities competed to see who could complete household repairs the fastest. There was also a soapbox car race between the maintenance staff with cars that were manufactured only from maintenance supplies. While the maintenance crews had plenty of competition to keep them entertained, the property managers appreciated several educational seminars. At the end of the day, we raffled off a $50 gift card to Amazon among everyone who stopped by the booth. Congratulations to our winner, Ken Palmer from LC Communities!
