Author: apluscarpetcle

Despite your best efforts at cleanliness, your carpet will eventually become the victim of drops, spills, accidents, and whatever’s on the bottom of your shoes. To learn how professionals handle problem areas and keep carpets looking new, we spoke with cleaning expert Bob Williams, the owner of A+ Carpet Cleaning and Restoration 360-578-2439 Longview WA 98632 www.carpetcleaninglongview.com who has more than 15 years of experience.
 

1. Blot Stains, Don’t Rub Them
   Dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towels, or a sponge. “The key is blotting. Blotting puts a small amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up,” Williams says. “Rubbing causes the particles to get ground into the carpet fibers, and this can lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers.” Always blot from the outside of the stain inward, as blotting outward can spread the stain
   
   2. The Club Soda Process
   You may have heard that club soda is effective against beer and wine stains. It’s true-if you use it correctly.
   Blot the area with the soda on a cloth. If that doesn’t work, mix one part white vinegar with one part water and pour it into a handheld sprayer. Spray the solution on the entire stained area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to soak in. Then press a clean sponge onto the area to soak up the solution and the stain. Williams says you may have to repeat this process to eradicate the stain. 

Once the stain is gone, rinse the spot with warm water. Use your hand to brush the carpet strands into their natural direction. Finally, lay white paper towels over the area and weigh them down with something heavy, like a phone book. The towels will absorb the dampness from the carpet. Leave the towels in place until the carpet is dry, usually about one day.

3. Try Shaving Cream
   Williams says the best carpet cleaner for general stains is ordinary shaving cream—”It will remove just about every type of stain.” Apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and let it set for about 30 minutes, Williams says. Once the shaving cream has set, blot it away with a dry white cloth. Finish by spraying the area with one part vinegar mixed with one part water and then wiping away the solution with a cloth.
   
   4. Freeze-Dried Gum
   You step in chewing gum out on the street but don’t realize it until you tracked that gross, sticky mess onto your carpet. To get it out, head to the freezer and grab a couple of ice cubes. “Freeze the gum with ice cubes for about 30 seconds.” Williams said. Once the gum is frozen solid, use a spoon to lift up the glob and cut the strands of carpet as close to the gum as possible. If you cut only a small amount of carpet, the spot shouldn’t be noticeable. 
4. Dishwasher Detergent vs Grease
   The best method against difficult-to-clean grease stains is to use a drop or two of a grease-cutting dishwashing detergent, such as Joy, in a cup of water. It’ll cut through the grease in the carpet just the way it does on your dishes. “Put the solution in a spray bottle and spray it on the stain,” Williams says. “Then blot it up.” Again, you may need to do this multiple times for larger stains. 
5. Heat Wax 

Burning candles in the house can result in wax dripping onto the carpet, where it quickly dries and gets embedded. Williams recommends heating it back up to remove it. Place a white cloth over your iron, then put the iron on top of the wax to warm it up. Finally, scrape off the wax with a butter knife.
“When you are done doing that, lay a paper towel over the surface area and iron on the paper,” Williams said. “The wax is melting and binds to the paper, and the wax will be gone after a few more applications.”
Important note: Don’t use the iron this way for more than 30 seconds or you risk burning the carpet. And be sure to use a white cloth and white towels since colored ones can transfer the color onto the carpet when heated up, especially if you have a light-colored carpet.
Few carpet stains are as obvious as blood. But suffering a paper cut on your finger and getting a few drops on the carpet doesn’t mean your shag is ruined.
“Hydrogen peroxide will get out blood all day long,” Williams says. First, loosen up dried blood with water mixed with a mild detergent. Then scrape off as much blood from the fibers as you can. To get the remainder, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain. The solution will immediately foam when it contacts the blood, so don’t be surprised. Then dab the hydrogen peroxide with towels to dry the carpet.

7. Clean Pet Accidents Organically 

Even well-trained pets can have an accident on the carpet. Williams prefers organic cleaners, which can costs about $10 for a spray bottle, rather than using chemicals. Spray the cleaner at the strain. “Some scrubbing will be necessary,” Williams says. Then wipe up the cleaner with a cloth or towels. Eco-Spot and similar cleaners can also be used to remove other types of stains, including coffee and sauces.

If you have kids in the house, it’s only a matter of time before candy ends up in the carpet. “Try to scrape it with a spotter brush or a butter knife,” Williams says. Then, using a sponge, apply water mixed with a mild soap. “It is important to get all of the sugar out of the area on the carpet,” he points out. “Failure to do so will result in that area attracting dirt and debris easily.” Once the candy is removed, dry the spot by blotting it with a cloth or towels.

Cleaning the carpet is essential to keeping it looking fresh and new. Steam cleaning involves using a cleaning solution under pressure injected deep into the carpet via water-jet nozzles. Then the machine extracts the solution along with the dirt and debris in the carpet. 

“The water will penetrate the fiber all the way down to the backing and loosen any embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been,” Williams says. He recommends deep cleaning every six months for a family of four.

Whether it be from a pet, dirt, smoke, mildew, or other odor, you need to:

• Prevent it
• Identify it
• Fix it

Before it’s too late!
Rug and carpet odors can come from a variety of sources and often we might not notice them until they get unbearable and we don’t know what to do about it! Here are a few tips to prevent odors from developing, identify them if they occur and what steps to take in order to eliminate them.

Prevent it:
Sometimes it is inevitable, life happens and your rug ends up with a mysterious odor but taking steps to prevent it can save headaches later. Be careful of food or drinks on the counters and tables because a small spill can contribute to causing an odor on your rug or carpet. If there happens to be a spill make sure you clean it as soon as possible to avoid leftover residue that could cause harmful bacteria to grow.
If you recently encountered water damage, a pipe leakage, indoor flooding or any type of water damage your rug or carpet can be severely affected if not cared for properly. You must take the necessary steps to ensure your rug is fully dried. Water left in the rug can cause bacteria to grow and can lead to mold or mildew.
This is also true for snow this time of year – make sure that you are not leaving your rug or carpet wet from the snow that is coming in from the outside!
If you have a pet they can cause many of the odors as well. A precaution you can take is to clean any mud or dirt that may be on your pet’s paws after outdoor activities. If your pet has had an accident, take the necessary steps to thoroughly clean the soiled areas to avoid bacteria growth which causes unwanted odors.

Identify it:

It can be difficult to identify an odor, but through the process of elimination, you can have an idea of what the odor might be. Ask yourselves these questions, to have an idea of what might be causing a certain odor.

• Do you have pets?
• Are they allowed around the carpeted area?
• After outdoor activities do they come in contact with a rug or carpet?
• Over time has your pet had accidents on the rug or carpet?
• Was there any food or beverage that spilled on the rug or carpet?
• How long was it there for?
• How well was it cleaned up?
• Do you have children who might walk into carpeted areas with their sneakers on?
• Was there any water or smoke damage that might have occurred near or on the rug or carpet?
• What was done to dry up the water?

Fix it:
Carpets and rugs capture odors and hold onto them. However, these odors can be removed, and the time and effort will depend largely on the type and intensity of the odor. If the odor is strong, be prepared to have an expert spend some time removing the odors from your carpet or rug. When possible, adding fresh air always helps to expedite the process.
Tweeds Rug and Carpet Cleaning can gently and safely eliminate most offensive odors caused by mildew, pets, smoke and other causes. If your rugs have an odor problem, ask us about our cleaning and deodorizing processes.

Which Cleaner is Best For You?

Read Vacuum and Steam Cleaner Reviews and compare prices at Consumer Guide Products before you buy.

Vacuuming is where most people start when maintaining their carpeting. That, then, is where we’ll start this article on carpet-cleaning tips. But that isn’t where the article will end. We’ll present all sorts of guidelines for cleaning, removing stains, and dealing with various other problems.

For now, though, we’ll get to the basics:

Carpets need to be vacuumed once a week and more often in areas of heavy traffic. Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing a buildup of gritty particles that can cut carpet fibers. Every few weeks, take a little extra time and use your crevice tool for cleaning around baseboards and radiators and in other hard-to-reach places.

• To vacuum wall-to-wall carpeting, divide the floor into quadrants and vacuum an entire quadrant before moving on to the next.
• Take your time when you vacuum a carpet, especially a plush carpet in which dirt is sure to be deeply embedded. One pass with a high-powered upright is not enough. Go over each section of carpeting several times, and work slowly to allow the suction to remove all the ground-in dust and dirt.
• Pay special attention to the areas where people sit and move their feet. Vacuum these areas of heavy traffic with a crisscross pattern of overlapping strokes.
• Soil retardants can be applied to new carpets or to newly cleaned carpets. Follow manufacturers’ advice. Apply soil retardants only with professional equipment using the recommended application techniques.
• Add baking soda to the bag in your vacuum to fight odors.

Odors are one thing – spots and spills are quite another. Spots and spills happen to just about every carpet and can be difficult to remove. In the next section, we’ll offer some pointers for getting rid of those blemishes.

Professional carpet steam cleaning by a licensed business with years of experience will yield best results.

Most carpets are stain-resistant, meaning that the manufacturer has treated them to reduce staining. However, no carpet is stain-proof. Over time, the carpet’s fibers trap dirt, oils and bacteria, which can discolor the material and cause unpleasant odors and stains. Use a few tips, tricks and secrets to steam clean your carpets, as needed, and then keep them cleaner longer with some simple suggestions for the whole family.

Tips

Test a hidden area of your carpet, such as inside a closet, before using an extra-strength or homemade steam-cleaning product to make sure that it does not burn the carpet or lift the color. Steam cleaning is hard work. There’s a lot of back and forth movement and bending; you’ll also be lifting and carrying buckets to empty and refill the dirty and clean water – don’t forget to stretch before, during and after this physically demanding chore. Contact the manufacturer of your steam cleaner to ask for recommended or non-chemical cleaning solutions. If you venture out on your own and use homemade concoctions or non-recommended solutions, they could void the cleaner’s warranty.

Tricks

Loose dirt and grime hides in carpeting. Vacuum the floors before you set to work with the steam cleaner. By running the vacuum cleaner slowly and repeatedly over one area at a time, you will reduce the amount of dirt or “mud” pushed through the carpet by the steam cleaning process. As a matter of course, blot stains as they happen; club soda or a mixture of one part white vinegar with three parts water remove colorful stains, such as red wine, pop and juice.

Secrets

Sometimes the simplest cleaning solutions are right under your nose — or, in this case, right out of the tap or inside of the kitchen cupboard. Because steam already reduces or destroys most bacteria, pure water may be all you require to freshen your rugs. Use baking soda to remove odors and stains: dissolve 1-tsp baking soda in a cup of water to pour on pet stains or other smelly messes before steam cleaning. Don’t steam clean on humid summer days or cold winter days. On warm, dry days, you will be able to dry the carpeting and air out the space. This avoids an overly steamy home by opening windows.

Keeping Your Carpets Clean

Just as there are many tips, tricks and secrets for steam cleaning carpets, there are also lots of ideas and ways to keep them clean longer. The longer your carpets stay clean, the less often you will have to drag out the steam cleaner. Set doormats at every entryway and ensure that everyone wipes by hanging a friendly – or cheesy – sign as a reminder; “Please be Sweeties and Wipe Your Feeties.” Even if family members occasionally forget to wipe, the mats will catch some of the dirt as they walk over them. Vacuum thoroughly at least twice a week by running a strong-suction vacuum cleaner with a rotating power head over the floors. Have all family members remove their shoes at the door. You can keep slippers available at the door for everyone, including guests.

Despite your best efforts at cleanliness, your carpet will eventually become the victim of drops, spills, accidents, and whatever’s on the bottom of your shoes. To learn how professionals handle problem areas and keep carpets looking new, we have this input from a cleaning expert.

1 Blot Stains, Don’t Rub Them

Dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towels, or a sponge. “The key is blotting. Blotting puts a small amount of pressure on the stain to soak it up, Rubbing causes the particles to get ground into the carpet fibers, and this can lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers.” Always blot from the outside of the stain inward, as blotting outward can spread the stain.

2 The Club Soda Process

You may have heard that club soda is effective against beer and wine stains. It’s true—if you use it correctly.
Blot the area with the soda on a cloth. If that doesn’t work, mix one part white vinegar with one part water and pour it into a handheld sprayer. Spray the solution on the entire stained area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes to soak in. Then press a clean sponge onto the area to soak up the solution and the stain. You may have to repeat this process to eradicate the stain.
Once the stain is gone, rinse the spot with warm water. Use your hand to brush the carpet strands into their natural direction. Finally, lay white paper towels over the area and weigh them down with something heavy, like a phone book. The towels will absorb the dampness from the carpet. Leave the towels in place until the carpet is dry, usually about one day.

3 Try Shaving Cream

The best carpet cleaner for general stains is ordinary shaving cream – ”It will remove just about every type of stain.” Apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and let it set for about 30 minutes, Tarbox says. Once the shaving cream has set, blot it away with a dry white cloth. Finish by spraying the area with one part vinegar mixed with one part water and then wiping away the solution with a cloth.
 

4 Freeze-Dried Gum

You step in chewing gum out on the street but don’t realize it until you track that gross, sticky mess onto your carpet. To get it out, head to the freezer and grab a couple of ice cubes. “Freeze the gum with ice cubes for about 30 seconds. Once the gum is frozen solid, use a spoon to lift up the glob and cut the strands of carpet as close to the gum as possible. If you cut only a small amount of carpet, the spot shouldn’t be noticeable.

5 Dishwasher Detergent vs Grease

The best method against difficult-to-clean grease stains is to use a drop or two of a grease-cutting dishwashing detergent, such as Joy, in a cup of water. It’ll cut through the grease in the carpet just the way it does on your dishes. “Put the solution in a spray bottle and spray it on the stain,then blot it up.” Again, you may need to do this multiple times for larger stains.

6 Heat Wax

Burning candles in the house can result in wax dripping onto the carpet, where it quickly dries and gets embedded. We recommend heating it back up to remove it. Place a white cloth over your iron, then put the iron on top of the wax to warm it up. Finally, scrape off the wax with a butter knife.

“When you are done doing that, lay a paper towel over the surface area and iron on the paper, “The wax is melting and binds to the paper, and the wax will be gone after a few more applications.”

Important note: Don’t use the iron this way for more than 30 seconds or you risk burning the carpet. And be sure to use a white cloth and white towels since colored ones can transfer the color onto the carpet when heated up, especially if you have a light-colored carpet.

7 Hydrogen Peroxide to the Rescue

Few carpet stains are as obvious as blood. But suffering a paper cut on your finger and getting a few drops on the carpet doesn’t mean your shag is ruined.
“Hydrogen peroxide will get out blood all day long,”  First, loosen up dried blood with water mixed with a mild detergent. Then scrape off as much blood from the fibers as you can. To get the remainder, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain. The solution will immediately foam when it contacts the blood, so don’t be surprised. Then dab the hydrogen peroxide with towels to dry the carpet.

8 Clean Pet Accidents Organically

Even well-trained pets can have an accident on the carpet. Most people prefer organic cleaners, which can cost about $10 for a spray bottle, rather than using chemicals. Spray the cleaner at the stain. “Some scrubbing will be necessary,” Then wipe up the cleaner with a cloth or towels. Eco-Spot and similar cleaners can also be used to remove other types of stains, including coffee and sauces.
 

9 Candy Crushed

If you have kids in the house, it’s only a matter of time before candy ends up on the carpet. “Try to scrape it with a spotter brush or a butter knife,” Tarbox says. Then, using a sponge, apply water mixed with a mild soap. “It is important to get all of the sugar out of the area on the carpet,” he points out. “Failure to do so will result in that area attracting dirt and debris easily.” Once the candy is removed, dry the spot by blotting it with a cloth or towels.
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10 Deep-Clean Regularly

Cleaning the carpet is essential to keeping it looking fresh and new. Steam cleaning involves using a solution under pressure injected deep into the carpet via water-jet nozzles. Then the machine extracts the solution along with the dirt and debris in the carpet. “The water will penetrate the fiber all the way down to the backing and loosen any embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been,”. We recommend deep cleaning every six months for a family of four.