The Real Reason Your Pet Sheds

You love your pet, but you don’t necessarily love all that hair on your couch and clothes. Although shedding is typically an annoyance, it’s actually the best indicator that your pet has healthy skin and hair. Still, you might be wondering why this natural occurrence happens. Before we can understand the question of “why”, we must understand the basic hair structure.

Skin
The skin is a soft outer covering of your pet and has several layers. It’s main functions are to insulate and regulate the body temperature as well as sensation.

Hair
A hair is essentially dead material, but living cells produce it. Hair is made up of the protein called exokeratin. There are different parts of the hair:
Hair Shaft: above the skin’s surface
Hair Root: under the skin’s surface
Bulb: enlarged, hollow portion at the base of the root
Hair Papilla: projection of dermis into center of the bulb
Follicle: skin indentation protecting the root

Growth
Hair grows in cycles. When it reaches a certain length, the growth stops due to genetic profile. The rate of hair growth determines the length and amount of coat on your pet. Growth has different stages:
Anagen: The first phase of new hair growth. Pets who don’t tend to shed heavily have a longer angagen phase and vise versa.
Catagen: This is the transitional phase. Catagen phase starts when the cell creation signals to stop. It stops hair from growing and the outer root sheaths attaches to the hair.
Telogen: The rest period between the catagen and anagen phases.
Exogen: This is the final stage - the shedding stage. This phase occurs when the hair falls out and the follicle moves back into the anagen phase. Some pets have most of the follicles in telogen and may be nearly hairless. For dogs, hair growth rate varies on different parts of the body.

Let Triple S help keep your home free of fur! We offer several cleaning services to restore your carpets, drapes, and upholstery once more! We are a family owned business with over 50 years of experience and are here to help you keep your home looking and feeling Clean, Fresh, & Bright no matter how messy your furry friends might be!

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Professional Products You Can Use at Home

From having pets to hosting parties, it’s normal for your house to get messy. We’ll admit it might be easier to stop at your local grocery store and pick up a few commercial cleaning products, but ever wonder what’s in them? Commercial cleaners contain many toxins that are damaging to surfaces and your health. At Triple S, we have a different philosophy: green cleaning.

Here are a few of the professional products you can order and use at your leisure:

Spot Cleaners
Triple S Spot Clean TWO. In this 16 oz bottle, you will find an eco-friendly solution without the perfumes harmful solvents, or other hazardous ingredients. Non-toxic to humans, animals, and plants, this formula is approved and safe for use on stain resistant carpets.

Host Spot Remover. This solution will get out those stubborn stains that other commercial products can’t.

Allergy & Odor Cleaners
Nilodor Natural Touch Refresher. Our refresher contains a patented odor eliminating agent that eliminates problem odors due to pets, urine, smoke, and other odors.

Tile & Grout Cleaners
Counter Top Cleaner. Modern Stone’s Fusion is a pH neutral, streak free cleaner, safe on all types of natural stone, including tile and grout surfaces. Use on your countertops, backsplashes, and shower walls. The scent is clean and neural. Easy to use with trigger bottle applicator.

Balance Neutral PH Cleaner. Perfect for stone and tile, this super-concentrated phosphate-free formula is for everyday use. Apply to natural stone, such as marble, limestone, and granite. 

Pet Mess Cleaners
Spotter for Pets. Stop by one of our Triple S locations for our primary cleaner for everything involving pet messes, such as urine stains. We use eco-friendly ingredients to keep your home smelling fresh but also lift up stains and return your carpet and upholstery to normalcy.

On top of our professional cleaning products, Triple S also offers professional upholstery cleaning, drapery and valance cleaning, grout cleaning and resealing, and more. We have three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Flooring Do's and Don'ts

Renovating your home? From choosing furniture to flooring, decorating isn’t the easiest of tasks. But when you have expert advice from textile experts, the decision can be a whole lot easier! As your green cleaning service in Norwalk and the surrounding area, we’d like to share with you the do’s and don’ts of flooring.

DO consider your home’s layout. If you have an open floor plan, using the same flooring throughout the space can help create a continuous appearance.

DON’T underestimate durability. From heavy foot traffic to broken glass, your floor can take a beating - so choose wisely according to how often the room will be used.

DO keep climate in mind. Damp humid weather can shorten a floor’s lifespan. You’ll want to avoid hardwood floors from warping and floors from creaking.

DON’T contribute to air pollution. Your home gets enough from the outside. Did you know both traditional vinyl flooring and newly installed carpet can emit high levels of BOCs for up to 72 hours. Choose an eco-friendly option.

DO opt for carpet. It’s overall the most comfortable and can hold allergens more than hardwood can. Plus, you have plenty more color options!

DON’T think carpet is worse for your allergies. As we said, carpet can act as a filter for dust and dander, which surprises many homeowners.

Once you settle on a floor you love, turn to Triple S! We proudly serve Norwalk and the surrounding regions and can help you efficiently clean your carpets, wood, tiles, grout, furntiure, and more! We are a family owned business with over 50 years of experience. If concerned about clean ability of your rug or carpet, ask the Rug Expert Steven DeMarco II at ext. 405

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Best Plants for Indoor Air Quality

Outdoor allergens is a big problem for many. But what makes matters worse is how easy it is for pollen, mold, and pet dander to trap itself inside your home. The result? Poor respiratory and allergy conditions. But poor indoor air quality doesn’t stop there. Beyond allergens are volatile organic compounds (VOC), like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. All of these compounds have been linked to cancer and neurological issues.

While there isn’t much we can do to stop the industrial world from producing these compounds, we can protect our homes. How? Let’s start with plants. Indoor house plants have a way of promoting clean air and serving as O-2. In a sense, they filter the air to some degree and absorb these pollutants. Some of the best plants for indoor air quality include:

• Aloe Vera
• Bamboo Palm’
• Chinese Evergreen
• Red-edged Dracaena
• Peace Lily
• Gerberas
• English Ivy
• Golden Pothos
• Spider Plant

Triple S knows the importance of good indoor air quality. That is why we offer green cleaning services to make your home Clean Fresh & Bright! Using quality green-cleaning formulas, the most modern techniques and equipment, We then apply all of our skill, energy and experience into restoring their like-new look & beauty. 

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

The Easiest Way to Housetrain Your Puppy

Housetraining your puppy can be frustrating. No matter how many newspapers you throw down, your little canine will still have those “uh oh” moments in the beginning. Some dog owners don’t know where to start training - that, or they’re making a few common mistakes. We’re here to set the record straight and make the process a breeze. Here are three ways to housetrain your puppy that you might be ignoring:

Establish a routine
It’s just like training a toddler - there are certain times to eat, sleep, and potty. Your pet needs this type of training as well, because without it, he will have a more narrow concept of time and limitations. Remember: if you puppy is two months old, he can’t hold for more than about two hours. That being said, eating before bedtime makes this all the more difficult. Pick up your puppy’s water and food dish about two to three hours before sleep to reduce the likelihood of potty time during the middle of the night. Your little one will eventually learn that just like humans, there is a time and place for eating.

Create a space
When you can't be there to supervise your puppy, make things easier for both of you by confining him to a space just big enough for him to comfortably stand, lie down, and roll around. For example, use a portion of your bathroom or laundry room, blocked off by child-friendly gates.

Be gentle
Accidents are prone to happen when your puppy is house training. But you can help the situation by interuppting your pup when you catch him in the act and making remarks, like “OUTSIDE!” But rather than punishing your puppy for having an accident, reward him for being good - the times when he does go out.

While you're training, chances are your pet will have accidents. Allow Triple S to help you fix the mess with our professional carpet and upholstery cleaning. We take great pride in the quality of our work and service, backed by our guarantee of 100% Satisfaction or your money back!

We are a family owned business with over 50 years of experience and proudly serve Norwalk and the surrounding regions.

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Tile Floors: What You Need to Know

Tile floors are a big investment that many homeowners know to be true. But keeping them clean can pose a challenge, especially if you have a large family, cook often, and host frequently. Before you invest in tile floors, we wanted to give you three pointers.

Fact 1: The bathroom and kitchen will likely get dirty
The bathroom and kitchen are two of the most high-traffic areas in your home, so it’s inevitable that your tile floors will pick up humidity, mildew, soap scum, and other oils. Whether your tiles are brand new or five years old, Triple S will help you get them sparkling clean again.

Fact 2: Your tile grout will stain
Notice those lines between your tile, also known as grout? They will easily get dirtied up by spills, makeup, cooking oil, and other types of stains. They easily seep through the lines between the tile, especially if yours is pure white! Your best attempt at camouflaging any dirt or oil stains is to opt for a darker grout color. However, if you’ve already settled on white, don’t panic! Seek a professional to seal your grout and keep your floors protected.

Fact 3: You will need to clean often
Aside from the weekly sweeping and wiping down, we recommend that you get a professional cleaning and sealing every 6 months to a year. This is will combat the seasonal stains that your tile and grout encounters.

For every cleaning you schedule with Triple S, we give you a fresh bottle of Balance Neutral PH Cleaner so you can take matters into your own hands and keep floors looking fresh and sealed all year round! Of course, you should still call the experts for the best results.

For professional grout and tile cleaning, call the textile specialists at Triple S. Nobody knows more about the care and maintenance of natural tile and stone than we do.

We have three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

Best DIY Home Decor Projects

Most people grab their favorite items from stores like say, Pottery Barn or Bed Bath and Beyond. The problem here is that your home will look much like someone else's. But what if we were to create our own decor pieces? It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but with a little time, dedication, and a few tools, you’ll feel good knowing your home was made with your own two hands (at least a little bit). PLUS, guests will asked where you purchased it, and you’ll have the satisfaction of telling them what a unique design you’ve made. We believe you can!

Fluff Your Couch
After a few years, your couch will start to sag. Most couch cushions have a back zipper. If yours do then give it a little extra fluff with this DIY idea:

• Remove the cushion from its cover
• Add three layers of Poly-Fil Quilt Batting to each foam cushion
• Secure each layer with a spray adhesive. Spray between each layer.
• Call a carpet and upholstery cleaning company to clean your couch cushions while you’re on the task

Copper Ladder
Now you might be thinking, “Why would I need or want a ladder?” Ladders believe it or not add personality in a room and act as fantastic storage spaces for throw blankets and towels. Try this one:

You will need copper plumbing pipes, brought at your local hardware store. Use a pipe cutter to cut the following:

• Top and bottom: 4X4 inches length copper pipe
• Five rungs: 5X12 inches
• Mid Section: 8X10 inches
• Using these different sized copper pipes, assembly should be straightforward.
• To cap things off, we recommend putting a dab of adhesive inside the copper tees and caps when assembling to strengthen the ladder.

Wall Hanging Art
Who said bathmats should only be used in bathrooms? Artisans create wonderful pieces of fabric that many times deserve a respectable display, so give this one a go:

• Stick three pieces of tape to create a triangle (or whatever shape you prefer)
• Paint within the lines with acrylic paint for a unique design (use blue, pink, green - you name it)
• One paint is completely dry, cut a bunch of 12 inch pieces of upholstery cord to make some fringe
• Hot glue should make this one stick

If your home needs more than fresh decor, say a professional upholstery cleaning, give the textile experts at Triple S a call - we’re happy to help!  We are a family owned business with over 50 years of experience and are here to help you keep your home looking and feeling Clean, Fresh, & Bright no matter how messy your furry friends might be!

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue

What to Know Before Choosing Kitchen Backsplash

Gone are the days of plain tile in the kitchen. Nowadays, homeowners are choosing bright backsplash to decorate their home. But with different materials and colors to choose from, how do you know which design to choose? Here are three main points to take note of:

The focal points
The more you know about focal points, the easier it will be to decide on a backsplash. The two primary spots the eye gets drawn to the most in your kitchen are the space above the range and above the sink. Choose a design that compliments these kitchen appliances best.

Design mixing
Don’t be afraid to play mix-match with your tile. In fact, sticking with a monochromatic look can actually take away from the investment you put into your backsplash. Experiment with complementary colors and play with patterns by composing the tiles vertically for a more contemporary look.

Materials
There are different backsplash materials, such as ceramic and porcelain. While they look similar, they hold one main difference: one is significantly stronger. Both are made from clay, but porcelain is more dense and durable, which means more resistance to moisture and cracks.

Once you’ve settled on a kitchen backsplash design, be sure to keep it clean. At Triple S, we can keep tile and grout looking new with professional cleaning and sealing! We use top notch cleaning solutions and machinery to deep clean and rinse away residue. To learn more about our cleaning services, visit us on the web.

Triple S has three main plant locations:

Stamford Plant | 400 West Main Street
Norwalk Plant | 337 Westport Avenue
Stratford Plant | 1800 Stratford Avenue