There’s no question that your daily or weekly vacuuming makes your carpet look fresh and newer but it’s not enough to protect your carpet from dirt, debris, and oily film deposits that go with this debris. You can’t avoid the oily debris. It comes from cooking vapor, the air, the bottoms of your feet, your pets, and a host of other places. So you’ll need to clean your carpets regularly. Follow these carpet cleaning tips to get the best job done.
Clean Frequently
Carpets should be cleaned every 12 months. This ensures that the oil film doesn’t get so thick it discolors your carpets. If you live by yourself or there’s just two of you then every 18 months will probably be suffice. If there is more than 5 of you then you’ll probably need to do your carpets every 6 months.
Hiring A Professional
You should consider hiring a professional to clean your carpets. A professional cleaner is trained, that’s why he or she is a professional and they will know which type of cleaning is best for your carpet. The professional will come with a heavy duty hot water extraction system which will be used to spray your carpets with water and detergent and then to suck back the water and oil into a tank in their vehicle.
Do It Yourself
If you decide to rent a steam cleaning machine and do your own carpets you need to realize that the rental equipment is not nearly as powerful as the pro’s equipment so you won’t get as deep a clean. You also need to realize that some of these machines can damage your carpet so be sure you know what you are renting.
Powerless Retail Rentals
Choose your retail rental carpet cleaner carefully because many of these lack power meaning you might land up with a carpet that’s too wet and not enough power to suck the water up. This could end up damaging your carpet. Make sure you do your research and that you know what you are renting
Easy On The Water
Pretend like there’s a water shortage and use water sparingly. If you use too much water and your carpets are wet for more than 24 hours you can develop mold and mildew growth which is bad for your health. Never mind those interesting odors that seep out of the carpet.
Leave No Trace
Choose a solution that leaves no or little residue behind. The PH of the cleaning solution should be around 9 and it should always be less than 10. If you are left with that sticky residue your carpets will pick up more residue and pick it up quicker.
Wool Carpets
Wool carpets are different than the synthetic blends. They require a special solution that is designed for wool and the natural fibers. Make sure the solutions PH is no higher than 8 and no lower than 5.
Stop The Stains
If your carpets are already treated with a stain resistant treatment you need you use a cleaner that’s designed to work with this treatment. Any other cleaner will destroy the stainguard treatment already on the carpets which could cause discoloration and void the warranty.
Less Dry Time
After you’ve cleaned your carpet places fans around the room to push air across the carpet. This will reduce the time it takes to dry the carpets and the risk of mold and mildew. If you have a dehumidifier use it to pull the moisture out. An air conditioner will also pull moisture out. Your carpet should be dry in 12 hours or less.
Following these carpet cleaning tips will have your carpets looking fresh and clean and it will extend their life. Carpets are expensive so the longer you can make them last the better!
John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.
Tags: 12 Months, Bottoms, Carpet Cleaner, Carpet Cleaning Tips, Carpets, Clean Carpets, Debris, Detergent, Dirt, Extraction System, Feet, Fire Tips, Hot Water Extraction, Oil Film, Oily Film, Pets, Rent, Steam Cleaning Machine, Steam Machine, Tank, Water And Oil, Water Shortage
Carpet stains are unsightly and degrade the overall quality of any carpet. This piece is about carpet cleaning and removing stains from your carpet, as well as helpful tips on how to do so properly, keeping your carpet looking as new as the day you bought it.
If you have children, running around the house it is almost guaranteed you will incur many stains throughout the childhood years. These stains seem to appear out of thin air, of course there is always the “not me” monster that loves to spill things. Different stains require different measures of removal.
The first measure to take when carpet cleaning is to be aware of the directions from the manufacturer. If you decide to use a commercial carpet cleaner, it is wise to make certain that you have taken separate measures for individual stains, carpet cleaners are typically only good for deep cleaning of an entire carpet, not for individual stains.
Here are some helpful tips that you can try without the need for a commercial carpet cleaner. If you have company over and someone accidentally spills any type of wine, soda, coffee or beer on your carpet, blot the area instantly with a paper towel to remove as much of the liquid as you can. Then use a vinegar solution that contains ¼ cup of white vinegar with ¾ cups of water mixed. Soak the spot with the solution then blot again to remove the moisture.
With juices like fruit or berries, remove what you can with a knife, a wet vacuum works typically well for this type of stain. If the juice has dried, saturate it with water and life the excess liquid. You can mix a ½ of teaspoon dish soap with 1 quart of water, apply to the stained area, and blot. Once the stain is removed rinse the area.
Every child has accidents that will involve blood or vomit on your carpet, never fear help is here. This even works well on Catsup, blot the area well and as much as you possibly can. Then you should neutralize the stain with an ammonia solution. This solution should contain 1 tablespoon of ammonia and ¾ cup of cold water. Mix this in a spray bottle and saturate the area well, but ensure that you are not wetting the carpet backing. Blot with a paper towel to remove the moisture.
For those fun crayon or paint stains, remove as much as you can by blotting with paper towels. Then apply rubbing alcohol to a white cloth or cotton ball and blot some more. You may have to apply extra if the crayon goes deep into the pile but make sure the backing does not get wet. First mix up a solution of 1-quart water and ½-teaspoon dish soap. Then apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Blot to work the detergent into the affected area.
Remember always follow the manufacturers instructions for stain removal. This Combined with the above carpet removal tips should have you lifting the toughest stains in no time flat.
Tags: Ammonia Solution, Carpet Cleaner, Carpet Cleaners, Carpet Cleaning Tips, Carpet Stains, Catsup, Childhood Years, Cleaning Carpet, Commercial Carpet, Deep Cleaning, Dish Soap, Helpful Tips, Juices, Paper Towel, Removing Stains, Thin Air, Vinegar Solution, Vomit, Wet Vacuum, White Vinegar
