Calabash Blog

Celing Cleaning Case Study: London, West End

www.calabashceilingcleaning.co.uk

"Calabash are so professional! I was thrilled with the improvement in the ceilings and surprised how easy and hassle-free they made it for us. It was done out of hours and we had the minimum of fuss."
Charlotte Brook Magnetar Financial UK LLP

SCOPE OF WORK: Calabash were appointed to clean metal suspended ceilings for a large financial services firm in London, West End. Site specific work included cleaning all metal ceiling tiles, grids, light fittings, speakers and ventilation units. All works were carried out outside of normal working hours, as the office remained open and operational throughout the programme of works.

SURFACE: Metal suspended ceilings
SIZE:1200 m2
DURATION: 2 nights / floor
SAVINGS: 85% less cost than ceiling replacement
PROJECT INTEGRATION: Quiet, mess-free, no office shutdown period required
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT: Eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning system, no building refurbishment waste

WHY CHOOSE CALABASH CEILING CLEANING: Any financial services company needs to maintain the highest possible levels of operational hours throughout any refurbishment or restoration programme. Demanding the least amount of disruption and inconvenience to our clients' customers and employees during the project's life cycle, we have, over the years, established a reputation for working on office schemes in occupied premises. Irrespective of the size of the task, we always work with the same care and attention to detail. Our teams work with careful planning, utilise the latest advances in ceiling cleaning techniques and maintain the highest possible health and safety standards, which enables us the flexibility to adapt to any situation.

CONTACT US: If you have a project you would like to discuss or want some more information, please email admin@calabashgroup.co.uk or call us on 020 7371 9500 and we will get back to you shortly.

TIPS and TRICKS: How to Look After Your Sofa Fabric

www.calabashresidentialcleaning .co.uk

Stains, tears and normal wear in the fabric of a sofa reduce the attractiveness and usable life of sofas. While sofa fabrics are often treated with chemicals in the factory to protect against stains and wear, these wear off over time. One of the most proactive efforts you can take to protect sofa fabric is to clean promptly using the correct cleaning methods.

Cover the sofa completely with plastic sheeting whenever you are moving, painting or remodelling in any capacity. Ensure the plastic sheeting has no tears or holes that would allow paint or other stains onto the fabric.

Vacum the fabric regularly to avoid a buildup of dust and grime that will eventually stain the fabric.

Clean the area where any stain has occurred with a cloth and water first before resorting to stronger cleaners' it may come off with just water.

For those fabrics that can withstand water, a mild solution of washing-up liquid or laundry detergent and warm water should shift unsightly marks. Test it on a hidden area first and allow to dry to check it won't damage the fabric. If the test looks ok, lightly dab the solution onto the stain, then use a clean cloth and water to rinse the area.

A slightly stronger cleaner for sofa fabric is vinegar. Dab neat white vinegar onto the stain then follow up with a mild soap solution, followed by plenty of clean water and dry quickly.

Try hard-to-remove red wine stains with white wine or white wine vinegar before cleaning off with water or cleanser. Again, test the solution on a hard-to-see area for colour fastness.

Dab off any moisture from the cleaned area of the sofa, and use a hairdryer on cool setting or fans to help it dry quickly. A moist area will attract dust, dirt and grime quickly, which means another cleaning and additional associated wear on that area of your sofa fabric.

Give the sofa a proper cleaning twice a year with a wet cloth to remove the natural dingy buildup and aid the longevity of a true fabric colour.

Never use bleach on fabric sofas, even those that appear white.

Watch out for sofa fabrics labelled as dry-clean only! These fabrics don't handle water or standard sofa cleaners well.

Top User Tips... Share Yours Below

If you have kids, you may find a crayon stain on your sofa fabric. To remove it, place a few drops of bleach-free dish soap onto the stained sofa. Use your fingers to work the soap into the stain. Then scrub the affected area of the sofa with the rag to further work soap into the fabric. Rinse the sofa well with a damp sponge and blot with a dry cloth to absorb excess moisture.

Posted by Nichole

Always check manufacturer's instructions first. Always try a test patch first. If you are unsure as to whether the item you are cleaning is suitable for our instructions, take professional cleaning advice first.

Treat Your Home to a Professional Carpet Clean

www.calabashresidentialcleaning .co.uk

Calabash carpet cleaning service in London and West Sussex comes with a professional attitude and attention to detail not only to the service we provide on site, but also to all our equipment, the expertise of our carpet cleaning team and to the customer service and support provided throughout the cleaning you have booked with us.
Calabash Residential Cleaning is part of the renowned Calabash Group of companies, which means that we bring that famous 'Can Do' attitude to everything we do and will always go the extra mile for our customers.
Our service is also comprehensively insured, so that you can have complete peace of mind that in the highly unlikely event of anything going wrong you will be fully compensated.
For professional advice and a free estimate* please call Sarah on 01903 745750 or 07979 656795 or email us and we will be delighted to help.
* 10% DISCOUNT WITH THE ABOVE AD

Ceiling Cleaning Case Study: Car Showrooms

www.calabashceilingcleaning.co.uk

When cleaning is not enough, Calabash also offers a special ceiling RECOAT service developed specifically to achieve the look of a brand new ceiling.

Standard paint products, when used on acoustic tile ceilings, will harm the acoustic performance of the tiles, making the room louder. In addition, paint destroys the critical fire retardation values that are built into acoustic tiles at the factory, thus creating a hazardous environment.

Calabash specially formulated RECOAT product is designed to provide a crisp, clean, newly painted look while still retaining all acoustic and fire retardation values.

Benefits:

Retains all original tile characteristics
Restores light reflection to a higher % than new tiles
No warping
Non-bridging
No residual odour
Fire retardant class 0 & 1
Process is clean, quick & non-disruptive
Environmentally friendly
Refurbishes discoloured, stained and smoke damaged tiles
Preserves acoustic properties
Retains class 0 fire rating to B.S. 476 Parts 6 & 7
Maintains original tile pattern and texture

Take a look on our website www.calabashceilingcleaning.co.uk to find out more, or if you just would like an advice on what is possible, or a cleaning test to be carried out, please call us on 0207 371 9500 or email ceilings@calabashgroup.co.uk

TIPS and TRICKS: How to remove blueberry juice stains

www.calabashresidentialcleaning .co.uk

From carpets: Dab immediately with kitchen paper until you have absorbed as much as possible, then work the stain with a stain-removing bar. Shampoo the carpet.

From fabric: Rinse in cold water. Pre-soak the fabric in a washing-soda solution, then wash as usual in as hot a setting as the fabric can take, using a biological detergent. Stubborn stains can be treated with a proprietary stain remover.

From upholstery: Dab with cold water and a clean cloth, then blot dry with a cloth or kitchen paper. Persistent stains could be dabbed with a hydrogen peroxide solution, but test on an inconspicuous area first.

Top User Tips... Share Yours Below

You can use bleach. Not full-strength - you could end up with it "eating" the fabric. But try a bleach solution and make it stronger if it doesn't work at first. Let the stain soak and it should gradually disappear on its own while sitting in the bleach.

Posted by Fiona

With a pair of sharp scissors!

Posted by Matt

Calabash Washrooms New Aircare Range

www.calabashhygieneservices .co.uk

"We have used both Initial and PHS in the past and have found Calabash to be a Breath of Fresh Air."

Lynn Penny Kelgray

Take a look at our new range of stylish automatic and environmentally friendly Air Fresheners, producing fresh, clean aromas timed to suit your individual needs.

Available in white, satin chrome and polished chrome finishes, with a wide choice of fragrances, they are maintained and serviced by our friendly and professional teams, so you can be assured that your premises will always have a pleasant atmosphere.

Book your free hygiene audit

Call us on 0207 371 9500 or email us

Ceiling Cleaning Case Study: City of London

www.calabashceilingcleaning.co.uk

"Your guys did a marvellous job on cleaning our ceilings. Our previous ceiling cleaning contractor has made 3 separate attempts with twice the number of operatives, but failed to produce satisfactory results. Your quote was £110 less and the ceiling cleaning job was perfect first time. We will gladly use you in the future."
Matthew O’Brien Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP

TIPS and TRICKS: How to Clean TV & Hi-fi Equipment

www.calabashresidentialcleaning .co.uk

Prevent dust getting into your audio-visual equipment’s delicate parts

Every day: TV screens are a magnet to dust – give a passing flick as often as you can with a microfibre cloth. Wiping with a fabric softener sheet will reduce the static charge, too.

Every week: Get the vacuum out and suck dust out from the ventilation grilles of TVs, PCs, hi-fis etc. Give the casings a wipe with a just-damp cloth but steer clear of chemical cleaners.

Remote controls can be a cosy home for bacteria so give them a regular clean, too. A firm wipe with a damp cloth should do the job, or if a crust is starting to form you’ll need to get in between the buttons with a cotton bud and a mild solution of washing-up liquid.

Top User Tips... Share Yours Below

To clean a LCD screen get a dishcloth and some white vinegar.
Posted by Thomas

Stop dust building up on a TV/computer screen by putting a few drops of fabric conditioner in some water and wiping on the screen. You'll be amazed how much better the picture is without dust!
Posted by Justine

The Bespoke Retail Cleaning Service

www.calabashretailcleaning .co.uk

Fully trained and experienced staff, close supervision, prompt service, enough resources to cope and reasonable prices

In the retail environment first impressions really count and that's why the leading retailers have chosen Calabash. We understand that Retail is an industry with very particular demands and our unique experience in the sector makes a difference.

We take care to understand the specific needs of every company and their brand to develop and deliver a tailored cleaning service which adds sparkle to our client's reputation and retail environment.

Our retail cleaning services encompass daily cleaning to all store and back of house areas, window and fascia cleaning, shop floors and carpet cleaning, chewing gum and graffiti removal for a diverse assortment of stores.

When Innovation Meets Fashion: Alfred Dunhill iPad Case

Here’s a look at the new iPad cover from our client - Alfred Dunhill, made for the label’s Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. Crafted out of premium leather, addressed to "Alfred Dunhill", this case makes the letter stamp on top appear to be strapped in with blue cord. This selection was shown in Paris and isn't bright white, instead taking on antiqued, creamy tone that’s less likely to show grime.
More looks at Dunhill leather products after the click