Pre Move-In Pet Allergy Deep Cleaning

Deep stone floor cleaning for an allergy-sensitive family

Retired NBA player Jason Smith and his family recently purchased their “forever home” in Moorestown, NJ. The property is impressive in every way—Cathedral ceilings. Expansive rooms. Thirteen-foot interior doors. At over seven feet tall, Jason wanted a home where he could move freely without ducking. This home delivered.

Location mattered just as much. Moorestown is close to where his wife was raised, and returning to South Jersey brought them closer to family roots. The area’s strong community, award-winning schools, and proximity to Philadelphia made it the perfect fit. And also for Jason, it was perfect given his love of Italian food and Cheese Steaks! The house checked every box — space, structure, and setting.

However, there was one major concern: pet allergens rampant within the home

The previous owners were devoted pet lovers. ( A vet and his wife, owners of a large and local, very successful Vetinarian Hospital- they lived and breathed pets.) The home had multiple dogs. Several cats, and years of full access throughout the home.For most buyers, that may not be a problem. But for this family, it was.

Both mother and daughter suffer from pet allergies. So before moving in, the home required deep allergen removal — especially from porous stone and hard surfaces where dander and saliva proteins settle below the surface.

And that is where our work began. For an allergy-sensitive family, that reality changed everything.

Pet dander, saliva proteins, and microscopic debris embed deep into porous surfaces — especially travertine, marble, grout lines, carpets, air ducts, and soft interior finishes. Even when a home looks pristine, allergens remain suspended in surfaces and circulate through the air.

For Jason, this wasn’t optional; from a deep cleaning and allergen removal perspective, the home had to be reset.

Not cleaned for appearance, it needed to be cleaned for health. That decision led to a comprehensive, deep-dive allergen removal plan — including stone floor steam cleaning, hard surface extraction, carpet cleaning, air duct cleaning, and detailed interior surface treatment throughout the home.

In fact the timing was crucial, our work and others was cooridnated precisely. We cleaned immediately after settlement. Only then would it be truly “move–in” ready.

Key surfaces needed priority within the home where allergens hide: natural stone & hard surfaces.

While every surface in the home required attention — from carpets to air ducts — amongst the critical areas were the natural stone floors and tiled bathrooms.

Travertine covered much of the main living space. Marble anchored the grand foyer. Stone and tile surfaces, as well as carpet extended into the bedrooms. Tile adorned the master bath and additional bathrooms. In addition to the stone surfaces, all the areas also needed attention too… including porcelain tile, hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, and even concrete.

So on the punch list, each surface needed to be deep cleaned and sanitized. However, natural stone demanded special focus.

Why travertine and marble trap pet allergens

Travertine and marble are timeless, durable materials. However, their natural composition makes them highly vulnerable to allergen accumulation.

Unlike manufactured flooring, natural stone is inherently porous. Travertine contains open voids and surface pits. Marble, though denser, still features microscopic capillaries and absorbent grout joints. These tiny openings act as reservoirs for pet dander, saliva proteins, dust mite debris, and fine particulate matter.

Over time, contaminants settle below the surface.

Routine mopping addresses only what is visible. It does not extract allergens embedded within grout lines. Nor does it penetrate deep enough to decontaminate what has settled inside the stone’s pores. In homes with multiple pets, that buildup can be significant — even when floors appear clean.

For an allergy-sensitive family, this is not simply a maintenance issue. It is a health concern. The work had be done before each of these critical time lines, which means before:

• The furniture arrived

• And the family unpacked

• Before they could sleep comfortably in their new home

The travertine and marble floors needed deep steam cleaning. This cleaning we provided utilized high-temperature extraction designed to flush contaminants from within the stone — not simply from the surface.

And this is where our team thrives and delivers…

Our level of cleaning proficiency and expertise was perfect for the project. To truly get the desired results the work required specialized equipment under controlled pressure along with neccesary vacuum extraction. But it also needed experienced technicians who understand both natural stone and allergen decontamination.

And that is where the highly specialized and real work began.