Plush Carpet Cleaning and Maintenance
By admin | December 22, 2010
A plush carpet is generally chosen for its soft, cushy and luxurious feeling. It is also quite attractive and brings us comfort. To maintain its looks and lush feel you need to follow a couple of steps.
First and foremost carpet cleaning must be done regularly. It is crucial in plush carpet cleaning to regularly vacuum at least 2 times a week. If this is not done then grime and dirt will wear away at the carpeting and this will discolor the carpet fibers. You also need to keep in mind that because the carpet fibers are longer than the standard, you need to move the vacuum cleaner a bit slower to ensure maximum cleanliness.
Next, sharp items as well as high heeled shoes need to be avoided as much as possible. Loose ends which can lead to unraveling are caused by sharp objects. Snipping off loose ends can help avert the threads from unraveling.
When liquids are spilled on the carpet it must be taken care of as soon as possible. Paper towels or clean white rags can be used to blot the spill and dry the carpet. It is noteworthy to remember that one has to blot and not rub the spill as that would embed the liquid more.
Doormats may seem low tech but they are a very effective way to maintain the look and feel of your plush carpet. Placing doormats at your home’s entry points will greatly lessen dirt and grime on your carpets and will make carpet cleaning easier.
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Using Ammonia for Carpet Cleaning
By admin | December 20, 2010
For some odd reason I have always loved to clean. It must be the kid in me because when I was a child it seemed like one was able to accomplish much when one moment a spill or stain was present then the next moment it was gone. These days however with all the responsibilities in our adult life cleaning has become a chore and not the fond memories of mom allowing us to “help” her. I suppose that is the reason why when cleaning whether carpet cleaning, dusting or mopping we want our clean-up methods to be 1. Easy and 2. Readily available.
For carpet cleaning stains one of the easiest to use and readily available in our own home is an ammonia solution. For tough stains and spills like soy sauce, spaghetti sauce and curry you first need to blot the excess liquid from the carpet with paper towels or a clean white rag. It is important to blood the spill from the outer edges working it toward the inner edges to prevent further spreading it. Next, mix a teaspoonful of liquid dishwashing detergent with two cups water in a pail. Use a sponge to apply the mixture on the stained area careful not to soak the carpet too much. Once again blot the area removing as much of the mixture as you can. Repeat the process several times. If the carpeting still has stains make a simple ammonia solution of one tablespoonful of ammonia with half a cup of water and use this to sponge the stain the same way as the dishwashing mixture. Once the stain is gone sponge the area with water to rinse out the ammonia and blot dry with paper towels.
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Steam Type Carpet Cleaning Equipment
By admin | December 18, 2010
The holidays are in full swing and I’m sure you are now experiencing carpet cleaning issues right about now. Spills and stains from food and drinks served during celebrations are now regularly visiting your carpeting and you are thinking that investing in good equipment might not be a bad idea. Although professional cleaning services still need to be done at least once a year, having or even renting a carpet cleaning steam machine can certainly help keep your carpet cleaner longer.
I know what you are thinking…it probably costs too much. The fact of the matter is with all the options available you can find one to fit your budget like the Bissell QuickSteamer PowerBrush Deep Cleaner. This straightforward cleaning tool is only around $110. It is perfect for maintenance clean ups after celebrations where spills are a certainty. It is in fact quite light and compact considering it is a steam machine. The tanks are simple to fill and empty plus operating the controls are a piece of cake. It has also garnered favorable reviews from home owners who have bought and tested it. However since it is a barebones model no stair,upholstery or hand tools come with it.
If you have a bit more extra money to spend on a carpet cleaning machine then the Bissell ProHeat 2X Healthy Home Deep Cleaner could be the steamer for you. It is quite pricey at around $330 but the Good House Keeping magazine tested it and found that is was able to perform at par and for some even better than models that were more expensive than it. It is powerful enough to clean high-traffic areas inyour home and is able to extract water from the carpet well so carpet drying time is faster than with other steamer machines. It is also easy to use but is quite heavy push around.
These are just two examples of steam machines that can help your home carpet cleaning. There are many models in the market and it is advisable to shop around and compare prices and reviews from reputable sites as well as asking friends, family and acquintances.
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Basic Equipment for Carpet Cleaning
By admin | December 15, 2010
Although some carpet cleaning equipment are a bit pricey, stores like home depot have found a way around the dilemma. The costly Do it yourself equipment can now be rented out instead of outright purchasing it. So the next question is…is it a good idea?
Carpet experts agree that although do it yourself equipment is a step above a regular vacuum cleaner it still cannot take the place of a professional carpet cleaning crew. What it can do is keep the carpet looking like it has been newly cleaned by professionals longer. So for example because you have children, beverage spills and foot traffic are the norm. Then instead of having a professional carpet cleaning crew clean the carpets once every six months, if you use carpet DIY equipment you may need to only call professionals once every 9 to 12 months.
There are several types of these carpet cleaning DIY machines in the market today and to help you decide on which kind is best suited for your needs we will discuss them. First we have Upright Extractors which are commonly used for large floor areas. Water and soap are sprayed on the carpet and the machine also takes out the dirty water. It usually has 2 tanks, one for clean water and another for the dirty liquid extracted from the carpeting.
The next type of carpet cleaning equipment is the steam machines. These are different from professional grade steam machines because professional equipment can achieve the right temperature to make steam. This type of “home machine” needs for hot water to be placed in the tank. Lastly there are hand held machines. These are made and used more for spot cleaning a small area or stain.
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Holiday Carpet Cleaning Solutions
By admin | December 11, 2010
Christmas holidays have always been a time for family reunions and lovely memories. Unfortunately not all the memories of this season will be as pleasant as we would like, the day after a celebration for example is a bit of a horror story. Tidying up after these momentous occasions for most involves one of the most used parts of our home, the carpet. Carpet cleaning during December is a bit different because of the kinds of stains that your carpet will be exposed to. Below are stain remover solutions for different situations that will help you in your Yuletide carpet cleaning. First, the extra food debris has to be scrapped off and/or excess liquid blotted off. Before using any of the stain removal solutions pretest it on a not easily seen part of the carpet to make sure it will not fade or harm it. Once we prove that the solution is safe to use dab it onto the stains carefully using a sponge. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Blot with paper towels or a clean rag until there are no stains being transferred to the towels or rag. It is important to note that rubbing instead of blotting will cause the stain to go deeper into the carpet fibers so do not rub. Next, rinse the carpet of the solution used by spraying it with water (use an empty spray bottle and fill with water). Finally blot the area dry. You may repeat the process if some stains remain.
For our favorite Christmas drink, eggnog:
Combine 2 Tbs of white vinegar and 4 cups tepid water.
For our favorite Cranberry sauce or gravy:
Use 1/4 tsp of dish washing liquid and a cup of warm water.
For our favorite Christmas mood maker, candle wax:
Apply a liquid spot remover to a white cloth or rag then dab it onto the stained area. These spot removers can be bought from a grocery or hardware store.
Happy Cleaning!
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Carpet Cleaning Pet Urine Stains
By admin | December 8, 2010
Whenever we realize that our family dog or cat has had an accident we usually sigh deeply. Pet urine on our carpet feels like a daunting chore and for some actually happen more often then they should. This is possibly because our dogs and cats have a natural habit of “marking their territory”. The implication is that a pet owner has to remove all traces of the urine in order to stop the pet from returning to the same spot and urinating there again. Since an animal’s sense of smell is around 10 times stronger that ours then the stain cleaning method of choice should include deodorizing the area.
Theare are products in the market that are classified as a “general carpet cleaner” and we may be tempted to buy however we are also targetting the odor in this type of carpet cleaning. There are three elements in a urine stain; urea, urochrome plus uric acid crystals and salts. The first two are easily cleaned as it is only the pigment and sticky feeling. The crystals and salts are the difficult components to eliminate. This causes the scent that one still smells on hot days and what our pets also look for.
Experts often recommended products that are enzyme based like Urine Off as these are able to destroy the uric acid crystals. You can also ask your veterinarian if the have any suggestions or preferences.
You may also try a homemade solution, of 75% water and 25% white vinegar. Once you have removed as much of the urine as possible blot the area with the vinegar solution hen blot dry. Repeat this a couple of times then air dry.
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Basic Facts about Dry Carpet Cleaning
By admin | December 6, 2010
A majority of us had carpets at home while growing up and now that we have a place of our own whether it’s a rental or our own house we are now faced with the task of maintaining the carpet that came with the apartment, house or the one we bought.
The basics steps in carpet cleaning are quite simple, vacuum the carpet at least once a week, use a door mat to lessen the dirt that ends up on the carpet and when there are spills on the carpeting make sure to address it quickly to prevent stains. The confusing part is probably the carpet cleaning services that professionals offer or if you want to take the chance and deep clean your carpets on your own. Remember these deep cleaning services need to be done at least once a year and for places or rooms in your home that have high foot traffic or if you have children or pets you may need the service done more frequently.
It is important to have a basic idea of the kinds of dry carpet cleaning that are available before you start calling carpet cleaning companies or decide to do it yourself. Basically the most common types of dry carpet cleaning are steam cleaning, foam cleaning and compound cleaning. Steam cleaning uses hot steam, carpet shampoo or pretreatments and specialized equipment. Foam dry cleaning is also similar to steam cleaning but instead of carpet shampoo, a foam based solution is used. Lastly, compound cleaning also involves specialized equipment and in this case a compound cleanser. The cleanser is made of an absorbent material similar to sawdust in appearance. This is brushed into the carpet and allowed to sit. Afterwards the compound cleaner equipment’s vacuum function will draw out the resulting dirt.
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Hi-Tech Carpet Cleaning
By admin | December 3, 2010
I’m a big fan of science fiction movies and most are set in the not to distant future where technology has been fully integrated in the daily lives of the characters. In these films we often find mundane chores like carpet cleaning, cooking etc. already taken care of by computers or robots. I would often find myself thinking “I wonder how much longer till that happens”. Well we might be closer to it than you think with Neato XV-11.
Although this type of vacuum cleaner has certainly been around for a couple of years we have seen more than a few upgrades that has definitely improved its cleaning capabilities. This little bare floor and carpet cleaning helper priced at around $399 is not only wonderfully high tech looking but has improvements that can place earlier versions to shame. This cleaning robot has a D-shape body that allows it to navigate more closely around corners and walls ensuring that our floors and carpets are maintained more efficiently. Another technological advancement it offers is that is can map the room’s floor space; it “senses” obstructions and avoids them so no more bumping into furniture. When it has finished mapping the floor it will proceed to vacuum in a systematic back and forth motion, this is a step up from the hit and miss random cleaning pattern earlier machines operated under plus it will return to its starting point or charging base when done.
Experts are always telling us that to prolong the life of our carpet we need to make sure it is vacuumed as often as we can manage it, some going as far as advising it be a daily routine. With the Neato we will not have an excuse not do this. You might think its a bit pricey but if you consider the time you’ll save not cleaning it yourself and the longevity of your carpet you might find this a good investment.
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Hydrogen Peroxide a Partner in Carpet Cleaning
By admin | December 1, 2010
Hydrogen Peroxide is a staple in many first aid kits. It or providone-iodine (Betadine) is often used to clean cuts or scrapes before it is covered with a band-aid or gauze. Hydrogen Peroxide however is quite versatile as it not only disinfects our wounds but it can also effectively help us clean our house specifically in carpet cleaning.
When it comes to most carpet stains the procedure is relatively the same. First if there are any solid particles from the spill or stain you need to remove it. Next, using paper towels or a clean white rag you need to be able to blot off most of the liquid from the carpet taking care not to spread or rub more of the spill onto the carpet fibers. Then if the spill or stain is serious meaning the liquid will most possibly result in a stain like in the case of red wine mix ½ cup Hydrogen Peroxide with 1 cup dish washing liquid. Sponge this liquid onto the carpet then blot it off with paper towels or clean white rags. Keep blotting the area till it is just damp. Afterwards rinse the spot with water using a spray bottle. It is best to just spray the water on the spot so it does not become too damp and therefore prone to mold growth. Then blot the area several times to dry it. Repeat this several times to ensure all the hydrogen peroxide and soap are removed. Finally allow the carpet to air dry or use a blow drier in its lowest setting then fluff the carpet fibers with your fingers.
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Cheaper and Greener Carpet Cleaning Products
By admin | November 29, 2010
Being environmentally friendly is not just something we rally around in order to force large companies to comply; it is a way of life. In the things we do daily we have to incorporate both big and small adjustments to make sure that nature is better preserved for future generations. The use of non-commercial or chemically based cleaning products on a daily basis can significantly lessen the harmful chemicals we unintentionally introduce to our environment. I’m sure that most of us would like to make these changes however not all of us know how to start or where to get the information. In my opinion it is always easier to start change with the simple things. Although a majority of us have grown up using commercial products to clean our houses replacing those solutions with earth friendly choices are not as hard as one would think. Carpet cleaning for example is a process that may utilize quite a substantial amount of chemicals if we use dry cleaning formulations or the very popular carpet stain removers on spills.
Two of the environment friendly options we can use to clean our carpets are vinegar and baking soda, both readily available in stores. They are also cheaper to use than the commercial brands. Just to compare the Spot Shot instant carpet stain remover (14 oz) is priced at $7.29 at Walgreens and another known brand the Woolite heavy traffic carpet cleaner (22 oz) is priced at $6.49. If you use our eco-friendly options white vinegar a 32 oz bottle is only $2.19 and a 16 0z baking soda a mere $1.29.
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