Neighborhood Chem-Dry Sponsors Alzheimer's Fundraiser in July

We invite you to join Neighborhood Chem-Dry as we proudly sponsor and support a fundraiser for the Guzman 23 Foundation, benefiting the family and friends of those with Alzheimer's disease.  Former Texas Rangers pitcher, Jose Guzman, will be making a special appearance to sign autographs at the event as well. 

Saturday, July 12, 2014 

6:15 p.m. 
Tavern on Mainstreet 
115 E. Main Street, Richardson, TX 
$10/person  
(price includes tailgate buffet, up to 3 items autographed by Mr. Guzman,
and 1 free drink after the 6th inning of the Ranger's game)

Additionally, during the entire month of July, Neighborhood Chem-Dry will proudly donate 20% of all carpet, upholstery, and area rug cleanings to the Guzman 23 Foundation.  Simply mention "Guzman23" when booking your July cleaning appointment, and the applicable donation will be made on your behalf.

We hope to see you the 12th, and thank you for joining Neighborhood Chem-Dry in the fight against Alzheimer's disease!  

********************************************************************************

For more information about the Guzman 23 Foundation,
please visit their Website at:  www.guzman23foundation.com

                                   OR

For more information about Neighborhood Chem-Dry, or
to book your next cleaning appointment, please call the
number above, or visit:  www.neighborhoodchemdry.com

Tips for Upholstery Maintenance

Tips for Upholstery Maintenance

Chances are, you have invested a lot of money into your home’s upholstered furniture items, and these items provide your family with both comfort and style.  To keep your home looking its best, you will need to maintain your furniture on a regular basis.  Here are a few helpful tips to consider when it comes to keeping your upholstered furniture as clean as possible between professional cleanings.

·         Vacuum your furniture often

The best thing you can do to help your upholstered furniture stay clean is to vacuum on a regular basis.  This is a great way to remove dirt, pet hair, food crumbs, pollen, and other particles from furniture.  It doesn’t matter what type of fabric your furniture is covered in, vacuuming will help keep it in the best condition.  Be thorough when vacuuming, and use the vacuum’s attachments.  Many vacuums come with a detachable brush or crevice tool.

·         Use your dryer for pillows

Keep throw pillows looking their best by tossing them in the dryer.  This is a quick and easy solution to eliminate dust and is also a great way to fluff-up the pillows.  Use the setting on your dryer that is “air only” (no heat, if possible).

·         Purchase slipcovers and armrest covers

If your upholstered furniture frequently gets spills on it, a slipcover can be a great solution to protect your upholstery.  You can purchase covers from a wide variety of brands in lots of different prints and colors to match any home décor.  Slipcovers and armrest covers can be easily tossed in your washing machine for frequent cleaning.

·         Apply treatments to spills immediately

When spills happen, treat them immediately, if possible.  To treat most stains and spills, you can use Chem-Dry’s World Famous Spot Remover.  Chem-Dry’s concentrated Professional Strength Spot Remover quickly and thoroughly removes most stubborn spots from colorfast upholstery and leaves no dirt-attracting residue that can make spots reappear.  The unique bubbling action lifts the spot to the surface unlike any other spot remover…and, it works great for removing stains on clothes, too!  World Famous Spot Remover is available from Neighborhood Chem-Dry for $12.99 each, or you can purchase two cans for $19.99.  If you do not have any World Famous Spot Remover on hand, you can also use the following household solution:  Mix 1 quart of warm water, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon ammonia, and ¼ cup of liquid or powdered laundry detergent.  Apply a small amount of the mixture to the area to be treated and blot with a moist towel.

·         Call-in the professionals

If your efforts don’t work, don’t forget to call Neighborhood Chem-Dry at 469-248-6388! We are experienced in cleaning fabric upholstery, and we also clean leather.  For a nominal charge we can also treat your upholstered items with Chem-Dry Fabric Protector.  Chem-Dry Fabric Protector helps keep you upholstery looking its best by forming an invisible barrier against dirt and stains.  And, because it is water-repellent, spills won’t penetrate fabric, which allows for easy clean-ups with a cloth or towel.  Chem-Dry Fabric Protector will help to extend the life of your upholstered items. 

Neighborhood Chem-Dry Celebrates One Year Anniversary!

Neighborhood Chem-Dry marks its one year anniversary.  As the owner of Neighborhood Chem-Dry I would like to say thank you to friends, family and neighbors for your support.  Thank you for letting me come into your homes and hone my carpet, rug, and upholstery cleaning skills.  Thank you for the referrals!  Referrals are a very important part of growing a business, and I highly value every referral I receive.

This has definitely been a year of learning.  I have spent much of the year spending many hours ensuring that my skills are the best they can be to qualify as a carpet, rug, and upholstery cleaning expert.  The Chem-Dry videos and on-line learning opportunities are extensive, and I take advantage of as many as possible. I attended a wonderful convention in Las Vegas and enjoyed top-notch speakers and seminars.  I have also had to obtain business operating skills and expertise, setting up my franchise, and putting things together to operate Neighborhood Chem-Dry.  I continue to learn as much as I can about advertising and marketing.  I feel that advertising and marketing are the biggest challenges as a new business owner.  I hope that by this time next year I will be an advertising and marketing expert and can share my knowledge with other small business owners.  I look forward to achieving a loyal customer base to ensure Neighborhood Chem-Dry's success.

I am very grateful for the opportunity of owning my own business has given me to give back to the community and serve others.  It has been a pleasure to sponsor an "Earth Day" art contest at Bowie Elementary, and provide school supplies to needy students.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to conduct fundraisers for Cancer awareness in honor my parents, as our family has had to fight a courageous battle with this disease.  I was happy to donate carpet cleaning to my daughter’s dance studio, Royale Ballet.

I am also grateful for the opportunity that owning Neighborhood Chem-Dry has given me to get to better know the community I live in and meet so many friendly and interesting people.  I have been able to clean carpets in hotel ballrooms,  penthouses in downtown Dallas,  have met a former Dallas Cowboys player, and have been in many wonderful homes in Dallas, Plano, Allen, and Coppell.  I  love living in Dallas, TX were everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

Thank you again for your ongoing support for me, my family, and our business.

Sincerely,

Mark J Whitworth

Owner of Neighborhood Chem-Dry

Cleaning For The Cause Kick-off

September is usually the month when we kick-off the new football season. This September, Neighborhood Chem-Dry is having its own kick-off as we proudly participate in the "Cleaning for the Cause" program sponsored by Chem-Dry. For every can of World Famous Spot Remover sold during the months of September and October, $1.00 will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Additionally during September and October, Neighborhood Chem-Dry will make a donation for each scheduled carpet cleaning if you mention "Cleaning for the Cause" when scheduling your appointment. If you would like to make a direct donation yourself to this worthy cause, please give us a call at 469-248-6388. And, look for future posts for updates on how you can contribute.

The mission of the National Breast Cancer Foundation is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. This mission includes: increasing awareness through education, providing diagnostic breast care services for those in need, and providing nurturing support services. Breast cancer is one of the leading health crises for women in the United States. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. There is currently no known cure for breast cancer, and its early diagnosis is critical to survival.

As the owner of Neighborhood Chem-Dry, I am honored to work with the Chem-Dry organization and to support the "Cleaning for the Cause" program.  This program if very personal for me.  My mother was a breast cancer survivor, and her illness deeply affected our family.  It is my hope that I can pay tribute to my mother, Laretta Whitworth, by giving back through the "Cleaning for the Cause" program.

Thank you for your support of "Cleaning for the Cause!"

Mark J Whitworth, Owner
Neighborhood Chem-Dry
469.248.6388

Don't Miss The Bus . . . For A Clean House Use These Back To School Tips From Neighborhood Chem-Dry.

For most families, the start of a new school year is hectic and filled with activities that make it a challenge to keep an orderly, clean home.  Here are some tips that may help you remove some of the most challenging back-to-school stains.  If these don't work, consider giving Neighborhood Chem-Dry a call at 469-248-6388!  We will use our safe and non-toxic cleaning solutions for a deeper and longer-lasting carpet cleaning.

Crayons -- vacuum all crayon particles out of the area.  The remaining small crayon bits that have adhered to the carpet fibers can be removed by placing a brown paper bag over the area and applying a heated iron to the bag for 10-15 seconds.  Repeat, if needed.

Water Colors --using a paper towel, blot the stain with warm water, pressing gently to draw up as much paint as possible.  Next, mix two tablespoons of ammonia with one cup cold water in a spray bottle, and spray the solution over the stain, letting it sit for two-to-three minutes.  Blot up more of the water color stain with fresh paper towels.  Then, mix one tablespoon of clear liquid dishwashing soap with two cups of water in a spray bottle, and spray the stain.  Blot the final traces of the paint with fresh paper towels.  Finally, rinse the soap out of the carpet with tap water, and dry the area with a white towel.

Mud -- Don't be too quick to scrub the stain.  Instead, allow the mud to dry, and then vacuum the area.  Next, mix 1/4 teaspoon of a clear liquid dishwashing soap with two cups of water, and use a white towel to gently dab the spot repeatedly until the stain is gone.

Neighborhood Chem-Dry is always looking for ways to give back to our community, and we encourage you to provide school supplies for disadvantaged children.  Neighborhood Chem-Dry recently donated crayons, markers, and pencils to the Network's "Tools 4 School Project."  They were very appreciative and are always in need of additional donations.  To make a monetary donation, please go to:  www.thenetwork.org, or contact them at: 

Network

741 Sherman Street

Richardson, TX 75081

972-234-8880

www.thenetwork.org or info@thenetwork.org

HAVE A GREAT 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR!

Neighborhood Chem-Dry Segues into Commercial Cleaning

My wife, Laurie, was joking with me that this picture makes me look like Paul Blart/Mall Cop -- ready to hop on his "Segway" and patrol the area.  But, in a way, I did segue into commercial cleaning in July as I was able to clean the Grand Ballroom at the Westin Dallas Park Central Hotel.  I was particularly excited that I was offered the Westin job because this is the first hotel Laurie and I stayed in after we were married!  It is a beautiful hotel with many fond memories for us.

 

My cleaning was focused on 23,000+ sq. ft. of ballroom/meeting space, and I was able to use my Chem-Dry expertise on not only routine carpet cleaning, but also on some heavy-duty stain removal, including:  multiple food and coffee stains, areas with tape/glue residue, and other miscellaneous stains of unknown origin.  I was pleased to be able to restore their much-used carpet back to the Westin standards through my tried and true Chem-Dry cleaning methods.  I enjoyed working with Chase Marstella, and I appreciate his willingness to work long hours so that we could complete this project on time.   Many thanks to the staff at the Westin; they were top-notch, and I enjoyed working with them. 

 

Now is a great time to take a closer look around your home...do you have some tough or stubborn stains (perhaps pet-related?) on your carpet, area rugs, or even upholstery that need removing, but you aren't sure how to tackle them?  If so, give me a call, and I will be happy to get to work on restoring the condition of your items as well.  And, if you're looking for a nice staycation getaway this summer, please consider the Westin Park Central Hotel!  Visit http://www.westindallasparkcentral.com for more info or to make a reservation.

 

In Honor Of My Dad Larry Whitworth

When the subject of my dad, Larry, comes up with family or friends, I almost always hear, "He was a really good guy!"  I really feel my dad made a difference in our small town of Rexburg, Idaho.  He was an insurance agent for State Farm for many years, and he received calls day and night to help people with their car accidents, home emergencies, and other personal problems associated with their insurance coverage.  My dad was a very spiritual man as well and enjoyed serving in our church. He was also a Boy Scout leader, and I know those in his Troop really looked up to him.  He was definitely an inspiration to me as I worked to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

My dad was also very generous and giving.  He enjoyed the outdoors and was willing to share his boat for church youth activities.  He was an excellent water skier.  In fact, I was a little jealous that he could ski slalom, as well as backwards, but I could never reach his level!  He was also an amazing fisherman and spent as many weekends as possible at the lake.  I also remember him giving money to those in need, and I remember dropping off Christmas goodies to less fortunate families.  I am sure he also did a lot of service and giving that I did not even know about.  He was a humble man, and I don't ever remember his bragging.

I also remember my Dad being very strong, physically.  I am sure he had great strength from growing up on a farm and from performing the hard labor associated with that.  He told me that sometimes he would work all day and be so tired that he did not even eat dinner but instead went straight to bed.  My dad enjoyed sharing his love of running with me as well, and I appreciate his being my physical fitness “coach.”  One year we were part of the running and jogging program with the Ricks College PE department.  Monday through Saturday we ran together in the morning until we had both run over 250 miles during the program.  He also encouraged me when I was on the swim team by driving to and attending my swim meets, by supporting the team financially, and by serving as an officer/meet chairman.    

Now, as I have started my own business with Chem-Dry, I admire him even more!  It has become perfectly clear to me why he spent so many long hours building his business.  I know he was honest in all his business dealings, and what a great example I have to follow as I build my own business and as I strive to follow in his footsteps to provide for my family, to serve in the community, and to help others.  

 

My dad showed his ultimate strength when he battled, and eventually succumbed to thyroid cancer at the way-too-young age of 55.  Cancer has affected my family very deeply, as I also lost my mother to cancer.  In honor of Father's Day, and in honor of my father, I will be making a donation to Stand Up 2 Cancer.  I want to be a part of finding a cure for this horrible disease.  If you, too, have been affected in some way by cancer (or know someone who has), I invite and encourage you to visit www.standup2cancer.org to make a donation.  Click on the "Get Involved" tab…choose "Start a Team"…then Browse Teams – put “Stand Up For Larry” in the search box and click "Go."  Thanks for your support, and HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the dads out there!