Posted by Stephanie Webb on Thu, Jun 24, 2010 @ 02:31 PM
The beauty and life of a carpet depends largely on the care that it is given. Proper maintenance can add years of attractive life. For carpeting, proper maintenance includes regular vacuuming and periodic cleaning by a professional.
Regular vacuuming should be done every 1-2 weeks, and even more often in high traffic areas. It is important to use a well-maintained, good quality vacuum.
Professional cleanings are essential to maintain the life and beauty of your carpet and should be done every year. But before having a carpet cleaned, you may find it helpful to understand a few of the carpet cleaning methods.
- Hot Water Extraction or "Steam" Cleaning. In this method, hot water mixed with cleaning solution is sprayed on the carpet and immediately extracted (along with the dissolved soil) by an extraction machine. Hot water extraction is often referred to as "steam" cleaning. Most carpet manufacturers reccomend this method to sustain the life of your carpets. Carpet Tech utilizes this method as well.
- Shampooing. In this process, a cleaning detergent is whipped into a foam against the carpet by a floor machine. This suspends the soil, and the wet/dry vacuum removes it.
- Bonnet Cleaning. A special detergent is applied to the carpet, then agitated and absorbed, along with the soil, into the padding of the machine.
- Encapsulation Cleaning. An encapsulant is sprayed onto the carpet and then agitated by a machine. The encapsulant suspends dirt and soil, and then dries to a brittle crystal that is vacuumed off later - taking the dirt with it!
Posted by Stephanie Webb on Mon, Jan 04, 2010 @ 09:59 AM
The holiday season is time for food, family, fun and all sorts of stains on clothing. Here are a few tips on removing some of the most common stains you'll find this season.
Alcohol and Wine - Soak in a mixture of 1 quart cool water and 1 tablespoon vinegar. If stain remains, sponge with rubbing alcohol or detergent. Launder in hottest water safe for the fabric. If the fabric is dry-cleanable, be sure to tell the professional dry cleaner the stain contains alcohol so the proper cleaning methods are used.
Chocolate/Hot Chocolate- Rinse the fresh stain with cool water. Treat the stain with a laundry pre-treating product (such as Shout®). Wait at least 30 minutes then wash as usual. Rinse with the hottest water safe for the fabric.
Coffee and Tea - Soak in cool water, work in 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Do not use soap; it could make the stain permanent.
Cranberries - Soak in cool water for 30 minutes or overnight. Work in a detergent. Then force extremely hot water through the stain by putting the stain over a bowl in the sink and pouring water through it. Launder in hottest water safe for the fabric.
Eggs and Eggnog - Rinse the fresh stain in cold water. Apply oxygen bleach and soak for 30 minutes in warm water. Launder in warm water. Do not use hot water; it can set the stain.
Turkey Fat - Rinse fresh stains in cool water. Saturate the area with an aerosol pretreatment laundry stain remover. Wait for a minute and launder with detergent. Wash in the hottest water safe for fabric.
Posted by Stephanie Webb on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 @ 10:57 AM
The best way to keep your carpets cleaner longer is simply to vacuum on a regular basis. Particles of dry soil get tracked in to your home on shoes, clothing and even gentle summer breezes through open windows. If not removed, they'll settle deep into the pile of the carpet, actually damaging the fibers and making it look dull and dingy... as well as dirty!
To do all you can to keep your carpet fresh and looking new, keep these tips in mind:
1) Go the extra mile when shopping for a vacuum. Cheap vacuums don't reach down deep into the carpet fibers, so a great deal of soil is left to accumulate deep down.
2) Use the correct vacuum tools to care for your floor covering. Thick, loop pile, if brushed the wrong way, can shorten a carpet's life. Combination beater/brush bars agitate pile and loosen it down deep for removal. Describe your carpet type to your vacuum salesperson for the right fit.
3) Many vacuums today offer bagless technology, which is downright convenient when it comes to disposing the dirt you've trapped. However, paper bags tend to do a more efficient job trapping particles. If you find bags that trap particles smaller than two microns in size, you've got a winner. Don't forget to replace bags when they're between one-half to two-thirds full for maximum efficiency.
4) If your vacuum has an adjustable height mechanism, start at the highest setting then lower it until it just touches the pile. Your vacuum should slightly vibrate carpet. If the brush is set too low, you'll wind up overworking the motor and possibly needing to purchase a replacement vacuum sooner than expected.