Author: apluscarpetcle

Tips for Removing Common Stains in Carpet

Written by apluscarpetcle on February 19, 2014. Posted in Carpet Cleaning. No Comments on Tips for Removing Common Stains in Carpet

For carpet care a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is the best way to effectively remove stains. Use the attachment with the best suction and vacuum as much of the stain as possible, continuing to add water to the stain as you go. Treatment of the affected area should begin immediately upon discovery. The more time that elapses before treatment, the more difficult a stain will be to remove. For the best results, useMohawk FloorCare Essentials Carpet Spot Remover and Cleaning Kit.

First scrape the food spill gently with a spoon or dull knife, or a Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Carpet Cleaning Key, removing as much solid material as possible. If detergent is required, use it sparingly and gently rinse the area with water while moving the vacuum wand back and forth. Use a towel to absorb all moisture.
If spot removal solvent is necessary use Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Spot Remover or other low residue carpet spot remover that has been approved by The Carpet and Rug Institute of America, apply several drops to a clean white cloth and blot the carpet in an inconspicuous area. If a color change occurs or color transfers to the cloth, consult a professional carpet cleaner.
Place towels or cloth over wet areas and weight with a heavy, colorfast object to absorb moisture. Leave overnight.
If stains remain after cleaning, moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for one hour. Blot and repeat until the carpet is stained–free. No rinsing is necessary. Apply a pad of paper towels and weigh them down, allowing the carpet to dry.
Some stains cannot be removed because they permanently alter the carpet’s color. These stains include acid toilet bowl cleaners, acne medication, alkaline drain cleaners, chlorinated bleaches, hair dyes, iodine, insecticides, mustard with turmeric and plant fertilizers. For these types of stains, call a professional. In order to maintain and protect your warranty coverage under the terms of these warranties, you must do the following: A minimum of one professional cleaning every 18 months is required.
To schedule a carpet or furniture cleaning call A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning 360-578-2439 www.carpetcleaninglongview.com serving Longview Kelso Kalama Castlerock Vader Ryderwood Clatskanie Rainier Scapoose Goble Vancouver Ridgefield Battleground

Upholstery Cleaning Tips – DIY or Go Pro?

Written by apluscarpetcle on January 23, 2014. Posted in Upholstery Cleaning. No Comments on Upholstery Cleaning Tips – DIY or Go Pro?

Spills, stains and normal wear and tear can leave your upholstered furniture looking less than fresh. Should you clean it yourself or leave the job to the pros? That depends.
While manufacturers often recommend professional cleaning, many spots and stains can be treated at home without risk to the furniture. To help you decide, consider three main factors:
1. Fabric type
2. Size and location of stain
3. Type of stain

First, look at the manufacturer’s label to identify the fabric content. (If necessary, ask your retailer or check with the manufacturer). If the fabric is synthetic, you can usually safely clean it at home, since synthetic fabrics were designed for ease of care. If the fabric is a natural/synthetic blend, however, use caution and test a small, hidden patch first. If the upholstery is more than 50% cotton, professional cleaning may be your best bet if the stain is large, dark or in a very noticeable area.

The easiest upholstery stains to clean are those that are treated while they are still fresh. The hardest to clean are grease and oil. Any very large stain may be best left to a professional. Some tips on increasing your chance of successful results:
1. Moisture is not your friend. Use as little water as possible to clean upholstery. Try a spot remover first, but if you must use a water-based approach, use it sparingly for best results.
2. Upholstery sprays are inexpensive and often work well on organic stains, but they are ineffective on grease or oil.
3. Baby wipes are surprisingly effective for cleaning upholstery because they deliver the right amount of soap and water, are quite gentle, and evaporate quickly.
4. Coffee Stains: Combine a small amount of dish detergent, water and vinegar and dab sparingly until coffee disappears.
5. Mold or mildew: Mix a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide and a quarter teaspoon of color safe bleach. Lightly rub the stain with a clean cloth dipped in the solution. Rub area with fresh water applied sparingly and let dry.
6. Stubborn Stains:
Crayon: Try using non-gel toothpaste to remove crayon marks from water-safe upholstery. Rub it gently on the surface, a small section at a time, then wipe off with a damp cloth.
Grease or Oil: Sprinkle salt, cornstarch or talcum powder on the spot as soon as you discover it. Rub in carefully, allow grease to lift off upholstery and absorb into spot remover. Brush off grease and powder and wipe with a damp cloth.

Did you know you can reduce overall grime and soiling of your upholstered furniture by vacuuming it regularly? Special upholstery attachments for your vacuum system can make it easy to reach small corners and creases, and are safe for use on fabrics. Vacuum furniture at least every two months, or weekly if you have pets or allergies.

Top 10 Carpet Care Tips

Written by apluscarpetcle on January 13, 2014. Posted in Carpet Cleaning. No Comments on Top 10 Carpet Care Tips

At A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning, we want your carpet to look its best 365 days of the year. That’s why we’re sharing these carpet care tips to help you maintain your carpet until our next visit. Following these tips will not only help to keep your carpet looking its best, but it will help to extend the life of your carpet and increase the amount of time between regular, professional carpet cleanings.

Vacuum heavy traffic areas 2 to 3 times a week, and the rest of your carpet once a week.
Use an indoor and an outdoor welcome mat to reduce the amount of dirt that enters your home.
Use a Professional Spot Remover to treat spots and spills. If it’s not handy, you can make your own spot removing product by mixing ¼ teaspoon bleach-free liquid detergent with 1 cup cold water.
Re-apply stain-resistant protectors to your carpet regularly and after cleanings; the original protection naturally wears down over time.
To prevent permanent damage when a stain or spot occurs, act immediately with a spot removal plan. Remember, stain-resistant does not mean stain-proof.
Test spot removal products for colorfastness—before you use them. This is best accomplished in an inconspicuous area.
Test area rugs for colorfastness before placing them over your carpet. Some rugs may bleed their colors.
Vacuum under area rugs periodically. This removes any loose dirt that may be trapped between the rug and your carpet.
Leave the protective blocks in place for a couple days after a carpet cleaning. This helps to avoid any color transfer from your furniture to the floor.
Clean your furniture and your carpet at the same time. A professional cleaning gets rid of the everyday dirt and soil.

At A+ we clean carpets, upholstery, cars, trucks, rv’s , motorhomes, businesses, and rental homes in Longview, Kelso, Vader, Castlerock, Kalama, Vancouver, Battleground, Woodland, Salmon Creek, Hazel Dell, Camas, and even Rainer, Clatskanie, Scapoose and St. Helens. Don’t get overcharged call A+ first. Don’t forget we also re-stretch and installed carpet. We are the flooring experts.

Carpet cleaning myths – A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning

Written by apluscarpetcle on January 6, 2014. Posted in Carpet Cleaning. No Comments on Carpet cleaning myths – A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning

Myth #1: Wait as long as you can before you have your carpets cleaned

This is an old myth but we still hear it today. This myth was prevalent when the majority of people cleaned their carpets themselves. The portable, store rented equipment along with operator error resulted in too much soapy residue being left behind in the carpet. After a while this residue would attract more dirt and the carpet would look worse than before it was cleaned.
Today professional carpet cleaners have more powerful equipment and better products to eliminate residual soapy residue. If you wait too long before having your carpets professionally cleaned you may actually wear out your carpet faster as the dirt and grit will damage the fibers as traffic occurs.

Myth #2: Carpet cleaning can damage my carpet.

This is another common misconception in regards to carpet cleaning. This myth originates from bargain basement carpet cleaners that don’t take the time to properly extract your carpet after cleaning. Leaving too much water behind can allow for mold and mildew to set in. This is not a concern with a professional carpet cleaning service. All good carpet cleaners will have an extraction process to remove any excess water.
Many times home owners call a carpet cleaner as a result of a really low price such as $9.99 per room. In these cases, unless you purchase their “deluxe” cleaning package costing hundreds of dollars more, chances are you are only getting water clean without extraction which can do more harm than good.
In fact the world’s leading carpet manufacturer Shaw Carpet recommends Steam Cleaning as their preferred method. Here is what Shaw Carpet has to say:

Shaws choice: Hot water extraction

Research indicates that the hot water extraction system provides the best capability for cleaning. This system is commonly referred to as “steam cleaning,” although no steam is actually generated. The process consists of applying a cleaning agent into the carpet pile and using water in the extractor to recover the used solution and soil. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and wand brought inside or by a portable system brought into the home.
Shaw warranties require that the homeowner be able to show proof of periodic cleaning by hot water extraction (commonly called “steam” cleaning) by a professional cleaning service.

Myth #3: Steam can damage the color of my carpet.

Another myth as a result of the word “Steam” being commonly used instead of Hot Water Extraction. Most systems today and especially truck mounted systems will heat the water to a safe temperature for your carpets. The water exits the wand as a fine mist to carefully apply just enough hot water to clean the carpet. This can look like steam but is rather a mist. A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning serves Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Kalama, Cathlamet, WA, Rainier, Clatskanie, Scapoose, St. Helens, OR we are trained, certified, licensed, bonded, and insured. We also provide emergency water extractions 7 days a week 24 hours a day, we can bill your insurance for you, and we have all the latest drying equipment to get your home dry fast after a flood.

Water damage tips

Written by apluscarpetcle on January 2, 2014. Posted in Water Damage Restoration. No Comments on Water damage tips

When it comes to water damage, it is critical to act fast if you want to salvage your possessions. Your first goal should be to remove as much moisture as possible from all surfaces. Below are some helpful tips that you can use immediately in a water damage situation:

Depending on the amount of damage, you can try to dry out books by putting unfolded paper towels between groups of pages and standing the book up on its edge in a fan shape. If the covers are also wet, place paper towels under the book and periodically replace them when needed. Also, remember to flip the book on the other edge to ensure even drying.
Make sure that the seals on every window are tight. Replace the caulk as needed, to avoid any water seepage.
Inspect your shower for leaks and replace any old or brittle caulking. Check your sink and toilet as well. Water stains around the toilet may be indicative of some kind of damage to the rim and tank seals.
Regularly examine your ice maker, dishwasher, sinks, and garbage disposal for any kind of leak. Also, replace the hoses to these appliances every five years, this will significantly reduce the chance of leaks.
Inspect the washing machine hose for signs of brittleness or corrosion. We recommend changing from the standard rubber hoses to stainless steel reinforced hose. This reduces the likelihood of leaks, and works towards a longer life for your appliance. Also, consider installing a water supply box to your washer. This shut-off valve can come in handy during vacations.
Check your hot water heater for leaks and corrosion. Rust is a sign of tank failure and it is important to rectify that quickly.
Keep valuables, keepsakes, and other memorabilia not often used or displayed in plastic storage containers. They are relatively inexpensive and are good for weathering flood conditions.
Winterize any exterior faucets (if it applies).
Turn on the air conditioning to help dry your home out in the summer. Open the windows in the winter to release trapped air.
Remove artworks and paintings from the walls if necessary.
Hang area rugs to dry outside or inside.
Wet upholstery cushions should be removed from the frame and propped up to dry immediately.
Place plastic under all furniture legs if the furniture is not plastic to prevent discoloration or bleeding.
If your ceiling is sagging, punch tiny holes in it to relieve trapped water. Make sure to place something underneath the holes to avoid further water damage.
Electrical appliances should be turned off while standing on wet carpets, floors or concrete floors. If you are electrocuted it will only add to your problems.
Report water damage to your insurance company.
Call a professional water damage restoration service.

At A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning we provide emergency water extractions 24 hours a day, and have structure drying equipment to quickly get your home dry again, we can even bill your insurance for you. www.carpetcleaninglongview.com 360-578-2439

Water damage

Written by apluscarpetcle on January 2, 2014. Posted in Water Damage Restoration. No Comments on Water damage

Depending on the amount of damage, you can try to dry out books by putting unfolded paper towels between groups of pages and standing the book up on its edge in a fan shape. If the covers are also wet, place paper towels under the book and periodically replace them when needed. Also, remember to flip the book on the other edge to ensure even drying.
Make sure that the seals on every window are tight. Replace the caulk as needed, to avoid any water seepage.
Inspect your shower for leaks and replace any old or brittle caulking. Check your sink and toilet as well. Water stains around the toilet may be indicative of some kind of damage to the rim and tank seals.
Regularly examine your ice maker, dishwasher, sinks, and garbage disposal for any kind of leak. Also, replace the hoses to these appliances every five years, this will significantly reduce the chance of leaks.
Inspect the washing machine hose for signs of brittleness or corrosion. We recommend changing from the standard rubber hoses to stainless steel reinforced hose. This reduces the likelihood of leaks, and works towards a longer life for your appliance. Also, consider installing a water supply box to your washer. This shut-off valve can come in handy during vacations.
Check your hot water heater for leaks and corrosion. Rust is a sign of tank failure and it is important to rectify that quickly.
Keep valuables, keepsakes, and other memorabilia not often used or displayed in plastic storage containers. They are relatively inexpensive and are good for weathering flood conditions.
Winterize any exterior faucets (if it applies).
Turn on the air conditioning to help dry your home out in the summer. Open the windows in the winter to release trapped air.
Remove artworks and paintings from the walls if necessary.
Hang area rugs to dry outside or inside.
Wet upholstery cushions should be removed from the frame and propped up to dry immediately.
Place plastic under all furniture legs if the furniture is not plastic to prevent discoloration or bleeding.
If your ceiling is sagging, punch tiny holes in it to relieve trapped water. Make sure to place something underneath the holes to avoid further water damage.
Electrical appliances should be turned off while standing on wet carpets, floors or concrete floors. If you are electrocuted it will only add to your problems.
Report water damage to your insurance company.
Call a professional water damage restoration service.

Pet accidents on area rugs

Written by apluscarpetcle on December 31, 2013. Posted in Pet Odor, Stain Cleaning. No Comments on Pet accidents on area rugs

Pet activity may happen on your favorite rugs this season. Guests in the home, or you away from home, restless pets can end up doing things they should not.
With an inexpensive tufted rug, this can be a blessing because it is protecting a much more valuable wood floor underneath it.
With an oriental rug (hand woven), this can be a curse because pet urine on a rug is one of the most dangerous spills on a textile – not only for the rug itself, but for the occupants if you allow the accidents to happen over and over.
With woven rugs, the foundation fibers are typically cotton. This means the wool fibers are tied around cotton warps. So pet urine (or vomit or #2) will penetrate the wool fibers – because this accident is hot and acidic – and will become absorbed by the cotton interior fibers. This means the accident you see is only the tip of the sewage iceberg.

Ideally, when you notice an accident has happened – you jump to action. These are your spills steps:
1) If there is anything to scoop up – scoop it up. Blot up what you can with a cotton towel.
2) Pour some club soda (or if you have no soda water – a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and cool water) into a container. Use a sponge, wringing out the excess, and DAMPEN the affected area. Then blot with a cotton towel to pull out the urine or vomit or fecal matter.
3) Blot until you see nothing coming into the towel. Then take a hair dryer on warm (not hot) and dry the fibers. Ideally raise the rug up in this area so air flow is along both sides.
WARNINGS! If you see the rug dyes transfer into the towel, you need to stop getting the rug damp, and blot and dry as quickly as possible. If you get a woven rug too wet you will risk potential mildew and mold problems, so do not get the fibers WET, just damp. If you SCRUB wool instead of blot, you can potentially create fiber distortion/breaking.
The bigger problem with rugs comes when you allow repeated pet accidents on your rugs. The stains will be permanent, the odor strong, and long term exposure can lead to mildew and dry rot of the rug.

Besides of course the fact that this becomes an open pet toilet in your living space – which is not good for the health of you or your family.
The only way to remove the urine from the inside of these rugs is to have them completely immersed in a plant specializing in washing rugs. The rug needs a thorough bath.
Cleaning rugs like these in the home only surface cleans them. It gets the top fibers cleaner, but does nothing to the inside fiber contamination.

They may spray some disinfectant, or deodorizer on the rug to make it smell “good” – but smelling good does not mean it is CLEAN. This is not any different than spraying fragrance on a diaper, and then expecting it to be used again. It may not smell bad – but you know that would be completely unacceptable and unhealthy.
Proper cleaning presents a catch 22 though, because what is needed is a good thorough soak for an extended period of time. You soak it first in white vinegar (acetic acid) to penetrate the inside of the rug to liquify and help remove the urine salts from the inside of the rug – many times you can see the water literally run gold from pet problems.
However, pet urine stains, if they have sat on the rug for longer than a week, can create a break in the dye bond to the wool and can make even very colorfast rugs “bleed” during the wash.

The catch 22 is that because there are pet urine stains, the rug needs to be soaked completely… but because there are pet urine spills the dyes will likely bleed if the rug is washed, no matter what a professional cleaner does to stabilize dyes during cleaning.
It is important, if you are a rug cleaner, to inform your client of this, and to make sure they are informed of these four things:

1) the rug must be given a wet wash to remove the odor causing contaminants from the inside of the rug;

2) that pet urine stains are permanent;

3) that even though white vinegar will be used to remove the urine salts, and stabilize dyes during the wash process, pet affected areas are likely to bleed despite all of your best efforts; and

4) that pet urine causes damage to rugs that devalues them permanently.
If a rug can be cleaned properly soon after any significant pet accident, you can avert permanent damage.

If a rug cleaning cannot happen quickly, then the steps outlined in this post can help you minimize the damage.

It might be a good idea to either toss some cheaper rugs over the top of your valuable ones during the hectic holidays, or roll them up until your company – and happy chaos – passes and your pets get back to being wonderfully well-behaved.

Why your carpets need professional cleaning

Written by apluscarpetcle on December 31, 2013. Posted in Carpet Cleaning. No Comments on Why your carpets need professional cleaning

Many people think that a regular vacuum cleaning is all their carpeting needs to stay fresh and clean looking. However, while most home vacuum systems are great at cleaning dust and dirt, they are not as good as removing ground in dirt that accumulates over time. Left untended, this grime simply builds up in your carpeting and makes it look dingy even when you know it is clean. Here are some of the things you can do to help your carpet stay new looking longer as well as extend the life of your carpeting.
Clean all spills immediately – When something is spilled on your carpeting, it is important to clean it up immediately. If there are any leftover stains, they should be treated immediately. A safe at-home remedy for many stains is a mixture of baking soda and water. If this does not remove it a commercial stain remover may be used after testing your carpet to ensure it will not cause any damage.
Vacuum regularly – Depending on the traffic on your carpets, they may need to be vacuumed daily. In high traffic areas, regular vacuum cleaning will help stop the pile from being matted down. Low traffic areas may need vacuuming only once a week while higher traffic areas may need vacuuming several times weekly or daily.
Hire a professional – At least one time annually, and preferably twice annually, you should hire a professional carpet cleaning company. A good contractor will come in, use the safest and most effective cleaning methods based on your particular carpet type. A professional will also evaluate how dirty your carpet is to determine which cleaning methods will work best.
Carpeting is a significant investment and should be cared for properly. While it may be tempting to clean your carpet at home, a professional carpet cleaning service will help extend the life of your carpeting and keep it looking like new. Only with deep cleaning done by a professional can you rest assured that your carpet is getting the best possible care and maintain its beauty.

At A+ Carpet & Furniture Cleaning located in Longview Washington we have experienced, trained, certified carpet cleaning technicians who care about cleaning your carpets right.

Carpet Stain Removal Guide

Written by apluscarpetcle on January 15, 2013. Posted in Carpet Cleaning. No Comments on Carpet Stain Removal Guide

Hello Friends,
While there is no substitute for a powerful truck mounted steam clean with hot water extraction. We realize it’s not always necessary to call a professional cleaner for one or two small stains. Especially in these tough economic times and that’s why we have provided some tried and true home remedies to get out those tough stains with ordinary products most people have at home.

Disclaimer:

Although these stain removal procedures have been tried and tested, you do run the risk of color loss if you do not thoroughly rinse out and extract anything applied to your carpet. Feel free to call us if your problem is not listed. We love to help!

All Purpose Stain Removal Solutions

Windex : Windex removes most stains from carpet, but it does contain ammonia which can bleach carpet if left on it too long. So rinse thoroughly with hot water and extract.

Shaving Cream: Shaving cream works wonders on many stains when nothing else is available.

Old Stains: Mix together two tablespoons of vinegar and one quart of warm water.

Water Soluble & Grease Stains: A mixture of 50/50 water and ammonia with a few drops of liquid soap. Don’t let the solution stay on the carpet long, have a wet/dry shop vac ready to extract the solution after scrubbing. Next rinse carpet thoroughly with water and extract again. Repeat until the stain is gone.

Gum in Carpet: Use WD-40 or lighter fluid to loosen the gum before trying to remove it then clean thoroughly with water and a shop vac.

*Peanut Butter can be used also, but it can leave a stain!

Nail Polish and Ink Stains: Spray hairspray on the stain then blot with paper towel. CAUTION: some ink stains will get bigger if there is a large amount of ink that has gone into the carpet pad!

Mud, Red Lipstick, or Pastel Chalk: A bar of soap works well on these carpet stains and if you can find an organic bar of soap sometimes you will have even better results.

Tar: WD-40 works great at dissolving tar and so does eucalyptus oil. Do not use eucalyptus oil on olefin carpet!

Pet Stains: Start by placing a diaper or towel over the stain then place something heavy on it. After a few minutes sprinkle with baking soda, then vacuum with a shop vac. Next use an all purpose stain releaser on the stain. Recipes can be found on our website. Finally flood the stain with rubbing alcohol to kill bacteria that forms in the carpet which produces the bad smell. We do rent out ozone machines that kill mold, pet odors, and especially cigarette smoke odors.

Coffee, Tea, and More: Soda water can remove some of these tough stains. As always, rinse with hot water and extract with a shop vac.

Cat and Dog Vomit: After blotting up most of the mess with a towel or rag, sprinkle the area with salt and cover it with a damp cloth then leave it on for several hours.

Grease Stains: Lemon juice, Paint thinner, mineral spirits, or pinesol works well along with a good rinse and you guessed it extract with a shop vac.

Candle Wax: First remove as much wax by hand or scrape as much as possible. Credit cards work well! Next place a piece of brown paper bag or a wet towel over the wax and place a warm NOT HOT iron on the bag the heat will draw the wax into the bag. This takes a long time but works. DO NOT use paper with ink on it. Also DO NOT leave the iron on the carpet too long. Any residual can be removed with WD-40.

Blood Stains: First blot with a towel or rag. Next neutralize the stain with a solution of ½ cup of cool water and 1 tablespoon of clear ammonia. Next try to use 1 quart of cool water with ¼ teaspoon of dish soap. If stain persists use hydrogen peroxide on it then let set for 5 minutes with a towel over it and a brick on top to provide pressure. Rinse with cool water thoroughly after each application.

As with anything these tips are not going to work 100% of the time, but they will work the majority of the time. Patience is the key ingredient of any problem. If in doubt about your particular style of carpet give us a call at 360-578-2439. From our family to yours Thanks for coming to our website!