Carpet Cleaning Tips & Hints
Here are simple tips and hints to keeping carpet clean
Vacuum your carpets often. Carpet wear and tear accumulates when dirt is not removed on a frequent basis. When your carpets become stained, attack it quickly with cleaning agents. The longer a stain remains without being removed, the more difficult it is to eliminate it.
If you have an unusual stain, consult a carpet cleaning service immediately. Some carpets may not react well to acid type cleaners and may discolor your carpet. Do not use harsh or abrasive spotting agents.
When cleaning a spot, do not brush it or dig at it. Tap the spot with a white towel or cloth. Believe it or not, a meat tenderizer works great. Never go crazy when using detergents or shampoos. You can leave a residue if using too much.
Perhaps the biggest mistake is to not over-wet carpets. Many have chemicals that can cause the carpet to look worse. Be careful when using products like "carpet protectors." Over time they may actually make future carpet cleaning more difficult.
And finally, vacuum again. You can never vacuum a carpet too much. Ok, so maybe that's not true. But how many of us actually over-vacuum? Do it often.
Do it Yourself or Hire a Professional?
Should you rent a carpet cleaning machine and clean your own carpets, or hire a professional. Many carpet manufacturers would recommend a homeowner hire a professional. Those rental carpet machines may not be clean and could discharging the wrong amount of detergent or be properly adjusted and could cause damage such as resoiling, over wetting, cause damage to rug fibers, or leave yellow stains. Many of those "do it yourself" rental units are not regularly cleaned and could damage your carpet.
Cleaning Stained Furniture
When your upholstery is stained, it is best to take immediate action. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove. Your local grocery store sells upholstery cleaners and some do a nice job. Apply or spray the cleaner to the affected area. Brush the area gently or use a sponge. Rinse with clean, warm water and a soft rag. You may even attempt at this point to apply the end of a wet vaccum to further penetrate penetrate and remove coagulated dirt. One of the biggest stains is from coffee. Here is a tip if you have a coffee stain. Mix water and white vinegar in equal parts and blot the affected area. Of course, the best advice may be to simply contact us immediately.
Cleaning Pet Stains
Clean the area with a white paper towel. Do not use paper towels with color as they could potentially bleed through. Blot the area, do not rub hard. Add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to warm water. Do not use dishwashing detergent or anything that contains bleach or lanolin. Use the agents sparingly.
