Good Times readers have Good Taste in carpet, upholstery and tile cleaners it would appear.

Connoisseur has now won “Best Of” four times now and we’re on a three year running streak.

If you voted for us we want to thank you VERY MUCH!

If you just found us and wonder what all the hub bub is all about, we invite you to give us a call and experience “the Best” for yourself.

Ask for the Good Timer 1st time discount of 10% off.

Carpets are commonly bought to add aesthetic appeal to a room. It beautifies an area, creating a focal point and enhances furniture and other decorations. To adults carpets are more of a decor, but to kids and pets carpets are more of fun furniture that’s ready for rough playing and crawling.

And who can blame them, the fibers of carpets are made for luxury and durability. Soft, sturdy, and multi-functional, carpets are a significant part of every household. Keeping them clean then is the best way to enhance and lengthen their lifespan. There are numerous ways to do this.

You can ask your family and friends to remove their shoes when entering a carpeted room, you can block out pets, and some even go to the extreme and plastic cover carpets! But even with all of these precautionary efforts to keep your carpets clean, the best and most important solution to removing small particles, dirt, dust, microbes, pet dander, dust mites, and pollen from your carpets is by vacuuming them.

Vacuuming regularly and correctly is the trick. Depending on how much traffic your carpets go through, you should vacuum carpets from once to twice per week or once a day if needed. Carpets in stairways, hallways, and entrances would need more vacuuming than others. If you have children and pets, then vacuum more often.

Frequent vacuuming would keep your carpets healthy and clean. In effect, you are assured that your family is safe and healthy as well. Different bacteria and fungi could inhabit your carpets and become sources of different ailments. For people who suffer from asthma and allergies, regular vacuuming of carpets is a must. Allergens such as pollen and dust which are brought from outside enters into your home and gets stuck onto the carpets fibers becoming dangerous triggers of bad health conditions. Although it is difficult to completely rid of home allergens, vacuuming carpets regularly would significantly reduce them.

Before starting to vacuum, remove any objects that may clog your vacuum. Check the height of your vacuum. Adjust your beater bar as necessary to get optimum results. Check the vacuum bag and replace it when it is full. It is advisable for you to overlap your strokes to make sure that you get dirt off of your carpet. Aside from overlapping strokes, you may want to make your strokes slow enough for soil and dirt to be lifted up by the vacuum. Your stroke speed would also depend on the thickness of your carpet and the strength of your vacuum cleaner suction motor.

Give attention to every room. Use calm repetitive cleaning motions and try to get even the hard to reach spots. Clean from baseboards to windowsills because the dirt on them may end up on your carpets as well. You may find it difficult to reach certain areas such as these but cleaning them is still essential. Use vacuum attachments to help you reach even the carpet’s edges and hard to reach places.

There are various types of vacuum assortments and attachments that come with vacuums nowadays. Depending on your daily needs, you may select which ones suit you the most. If you don’t have these attachments yet, go to your local stores and buy them separately. There are a lot of universal attachments available to fit any vacuum type and size.

Yelp is the hottest  national business review site on the web today. Umpteen thousands of home owners are searching out service companies, restaurants, night clubs, hair saloons and everything else under the sun that get positive comments left from users like you and me.

Yelp's front page

Some of our reviews..

We promise you can trust your neighbors to steer you in the right directi0on when it comes to a quality  carpet, tile & upholstery cleaning service

I had my couches and area rugs cleaned shortly after I moved in to my new home in November. They have this super high powered hot water suction thingy that is pretty awesome to watch, it’s hooked up to the truck and man it’s powerful! The owner was really nice and did a fantastic job on my big couch and carpets. He even went over the carpets that were just shampooed and got more dirt out than the last carpet guy did.I am calling him again for my Spring Cleaning. Highly recommended!

8/31/2009 Lauren Spencer, Aptos

The Connoisseur team is fast, efficient, professional and THOROUGH! Their staff really knows what they’re doing. I’d recommend them to anyone looking for a seasonal or a move-out/in home cleaning. They will make your rugs look like new.

Excellent work.  Professional and effective.  Carpets look wonderful!

8/6/2009 Adam Litman, Santa Cruz

Mike and his crew do a fantastic job.  Not only have they cleaned our carpets and area rugs, but he’s cleaned and re-stained our grout in the bathroom, he’s cleaned our couch when a friend’s dog peed on it, and next week he’s sealing our granite counter tops.  I wouldn’t trust anyone else

Trust your neighbors to point you in the right direction when it comes to professional, eco friendly carpet cleaning in Santa Cruz County.

Buying from locally owned and independent businesses benefits the local economy

• Locally owned businesses spend their profits locally, purchase more goods from local suppliers, and employ their own office and support staff.
• When more money gets re-circulated in the community, general prosperity as well as tax revenues increase, creating a more vibrant and sustainable economy.
• Locally owned businesses tend to stick around when times get harder. A local owner doesn’t easily pack up and leave town for “better” pastures. This creates more stability in the local economy.
• Because they focus primarily on local markets, locally owned businesses tend to be smaller and place a high premium on being easily accessible by local residents. This cuts down on car travel and promotes sustainable neighborhood economies while at the same time avoids high public expenses for shopping center infrastructure costs.

. . . and the entire community

• Business owners, who live in town, take better care of the environment, participate in public life and local charities.
• A wide variety of locally owned businesses contributes to a stronger local identity and cultural diversity, creating an attractive place to live and visit.
• Strengthening our locally owned business community promotes authentic and meaningful relationships between employees, business owners, customers, suppliers, and neighbors. Chances are, when you buy from a locally owned business, part of your purchase will benefit your neighbors and friends.

What’s Spent Here, Stays Here
Locally owned businesses spend their profits locally, purchase more goods from local suppliers, and employ their own office and support staff.
Get More for Your Money
When more money gets re-circulated in the community, general prosperity as well as tax revenues increase, creating a more vibrant and sustainable economy.
Local Businesses Offer Unique Character
A wide variety of locally owned businesses contributes to a stronger local identity and cultural diversity, creating an attractive place to live and visit.
Neighborly
Strengthening our locally owned business community promotes authentic and meaningful relationships between employees, business owners, customers, suppliers, and neighbors. Business owners, who live in town, take better care of the environment, participate in public life, and donate generously to local charities.

My favorite spot in California, at least on this side of the Sierras is the Tomalas Bay area. Marine country plays host to this luscious rolling landscape that only cows, farmers, artists and oyster

As green as it gets...

shuckers can call home. A few times a year I’ll pack up my wife (or go by myself on my Suzuki) and head up north  and spend the day enjoying the fantastic winding roads, art galleries, hiking trails,  barren beaches, bird watching, happy California cows, bay views, and best of all no college kids (my own included) or in your face SCruz locals..

The tiny town of Point Reyes Station is at the bottom of the Tomales Bay and its where I find myself spending most of my time.

The sidewalks buzz with activity on sunny weekends. As the coast’s commercial anchor, Point Reyes Station has at least one – and usually just one – of everything: one hardware store, one grocery store, the only bank on the Marin coast, and likewise, the only feed supplier, and the only pharmacy. The downtown eateries, of which there are several, seem almost a mandatory stop for caravans of bicyclists, motorcyclists and all manner of visitors coming through. It’s a free port, blue-collar at its roots, and you can still catch a whiff of livestock in the breeze.

I find the best time of year to visit is February through April. The hills are green as can be, the tourists have not arrived and the weather is perfect. Lots of great Bed and Breakfasts around but plan ahead since most only have a few rooms. Pack your hiking boots and make time for a visit to the light house at the bottom of the peninsula.

A long walk down but well worth the effort.

And if you’re into Bicycling, make it a point to stop by this shop. The owner has a fetish for Mountain Bikes from the late 80′s, early 90′s and his collection is on full display. Check out his blog too for more local flavor of the area. Great reading…

http://www.blackmtncycles.com/Black_Mountain_Cycles.html

Let me know what you think!

Oxygen is the most abundant element on earth, comprising 45.6% of the earth’s crust and 20.95% of dry air, and is one of the most vital elements to support life for plants, animals and man.
Hydrogen peroxide has been sold in drug stores for many years as an antiseptic and a bleach. With a cost of less than .60 cents per 16 oz. bottle, it is one of the world’s great “miracles” in a bottle.

Although it is not approved by the FDA or medical profession to be taken internally, it has many uses in homes, farm and garden. How many have you used?

Use 3% hydrogen peroxide in chilled water for washing chicken or other poultry and beef or pork.

Cleansing for vegetables and salad greens: Add 1/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide to a sink full of cold water. Wash vegetables thoroughly, rinse with cold water and drain. This process prolongs freshness.

In the dishwasher or dishwater: Add 2 ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the regular washing formula. Your glasses will sparkle!

Marinade: Place meat, fish or poultry in a casserole (avoid using aluminum pans). Cover with a diluted solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Place in a loosely covered container in refrigerator for 1/2 hour. Rinse and cook.

Leftover tossed salad: Spray with a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide.
Drain, cover and refrigerate. Eliminates use of chemical preservatives.

To freshen kitchen: Keep a spray bottle of 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide in the kitchen. Use to wipe off counter tops and appliances. It will disinfect and give the kitchen a clean, fresh small. Works great in the refrigerator and lunch boxes.

Humidifiers & steamers: Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water. This helps keep them clean too.
Laundry: Add 8 ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your wash in place of bleaches.

Shower: Keep a spray bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the shower. Spray your body after washing to replace the acid mantel on your skin that soap removes.

Rejuvenating Detoxifying Bath: Add 6 ounces of 35% hydrogen peroxide to a tub of water. You may increase up to 2 cups. Soak at least 1/2 hour.

Alternate Bath: Add 1/2 cup 35% hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup sea salt, 1/2 cup baking soda or Epson salts to water and soak.

Foot soak: Add 1 & 1/2 ounces 35% hydrogen peroxide to 1 gallon water and soak.

Pour a capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide in each of your ears after swimming to prevent ear infections.

Use 3% grade as an astringent on your face, neck and full body after bathing. Gets rid of acne FAST.

Use it in 3% grade in a spray bottle for cuts and soars. Spray on frequently and watch them disappear.

Athlete’s Foot: Soak feet nightly in 3% hydrogen peroxide until condition is improved.

Mouthwash: Use 3% hydrogen peroxide. Add a dash of liquid chlorophyll for flavor if desired.
Swish it around in your mouth for 1-2 minutes before brushing. Watch how white your teeth become!

Toothpaste: Use baking soda and add enough 3% hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Or, just dip your brush in 3% hydrogen peroxide and brush.

Toothbrush: Soak your toothbrush in 3% hydrogen peroxide between brushings.

Pets: For small animals (dogs and cats) use 1 ounce 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1 quart water for their drinking water and bath.

House & Garden Plants: Put 1 ounce 3% hydrogen peroxide in 1-quart water. Water or mist plants with this solution.

Sprouting needs: Add 1 ounce 3% hydrogen peroxide to one pint of water and soak the seeds overnight. Add the same amount of hydrogen peroxide each time you rinse the seeds.

There are lots of good safe neutral pH products out there but none are as easy to find as Trader Joe’s Cleanliness is Next to Godliness Multi-Purpose Cleaner. I think everyone in Santa Cruz must shop at TJ’s by now, so it’s easy to pick some up the next time your shopping for some cheap Merlot and fat free Hummus.

The benefits of a “Neutral pH” cleaner are twofold, for one it wont deplete the sealer in your stone or grout like acidic and alkaline cleaners do and second, it wont leave a residue on your shiny granite or marble floor to attract more dirt and finger prints.

Granted, gentle cleaners like this one can take a bit longer to loosen up extreme soil but you can speed things along buy heating up the bottle in your microwave to coffee temperature. (Please take the sprayer off before heating)

Give some a try and let us (and Joe) know what you think!

Mike

This home owner could really use a doggy door...

Our pet owning customers keep us in business in more ways then one.

If its not a over abundance of hair and dander, its a accumulation of midnight accents from the last year.

Whether you have 5 Newfoundlands, 14 Tom cats or just one ornery Ferret, please give Connoisseur a call to see what our incredible cleaning processes can do to freshen up your carpet and your home.

Until then she will just have to keep calling Connoiseur..

While we would love to clean and maintain your Granite and Tile counter tops in the future, you really should look into the great “green” products that the fine folks @ Greenspace has to offer..

http://www.greenspacecompany.com/store/countertops/

Make sure to pick up some Neutral pH cleaner for your kitchen while your there.

Tell them Connoisseur sent you.

Mike