First, remove solid matter if possible. Use an over the counter carpet cleaning solution to get rid of the stains; they also sell a cleaning solution specifically for cleaning up pet urine. It’s very important that you clean up as ...

Read Full Entry]]> DO NOT MIX CLEANING AGENTS.

Pet stains (urine and feces):

First, remove solid matter if possible. Use an over the counter carpet cleaning solution to get rid of the stains; they also sell a cleaning solution specifically for cleaning up pet urine. It’s very important that you clean up as much as you possible can because harmful bacteria will linger. If an odor is still left, use a carpet deodorizer to eliminate the strong odor. For more information read our tips on removing pet urine from carpet.

Makeup

Both liquid and powder types of makeup will leave a stain on the carpet; you need to determine the makeup’s oil content in order to sufficiently remove the stain. Powder makeup is typically non-oily. Liquid foundation, lipstick, and mascara have oil in it. Majority of stains can be removed by spraying a household carpet cleaner. Allow the carpet cleaner to sit for 10 minute and break the stains down, and this will cut down on having to scrub the carpet. After the stain is removed gently dab away the solution. For oil based cosmetics try using Goo Gone, if you don’t have Goo Gone try alcohol. Take a clean white cloth and moisten it with the alcohol, gently blot the lipstick stain.  More tips on removing makeup from carpet.

Remove Fingernail Polish Stains.

Paint, Oil and Grease

If the stain is only a small, sizeable amount keep the area wet and covered with a moist towel to avoid drying. It is essential to keep the spot moist for as long as needed until the cleaners come. Call a professional carpet cleaner immediately!

Plant Stains

Remove the remaining soil off of the area. Soak the carpeted area with a moistened cloth with warm water. It’s best to use an over the counter carpet cleaning solution, make sure you let the area sit for 10 minutes before wiping up the cleaning solution.

Food & Beverage Stains

When cleaning simple spills try to remove all solids first, and pat dry with a clean towel .It’s important not to scrub, you can even fold up a towel and stand on it. For simple food stains use a good over the counter carpet cleaning solution. Coffee stains are very concentrated and will require a professional carpet cleaning. For best results use steam cleaning to penetrate the sub layer of the coffee stain.

Removing Ketchup and Mustard Stains.

Remove Kool-Aid Stains.

Upholstery Stains

First consider what kind of fabric your upholstery is, check with the manufacturer. For grease stains, first apply baby powder to absorb the grease. After the grease has soaked up, remove the powder then reapply. Before treating the stain, test a small piece of fabric to make sure it will not damage the furniture. After absorbing the stain, use a brush and gently scrub the area with upholstery cleaner. Dishwashing liquid also can work well to eliminate the grease. Continuously blot the excess cleaner with a damp cloth, repeat as much as needed. If the stain will not come out, call a professional carpet cleaning company that uses hot water extraction, this process will be the most effective and very gentle for majority of upholstery fabrics.

Removing Furniture Stains.

Ink, Crayon and Marker Stains

Use an over the counter foam or dry chemical cleaner, and use as directed. If the stains haven’t set (dried) yet, the easier it will be to clean them up. You can also try using hairspray on the area, and wash after treating the area. For ballpoint ink use rubbing alcohol on the stained area.

Read more on removing crayon stains from carpet.

Vomit

Keep the spot moistened and covered until you can get a professional carpet cleaner to come, due to the biohazard that could produce harmful bacteria. Steam cleaning would be recommended because it will penetrate the surface and the bottom layers.

Red Wine Stains

Blot the liquid as much as you possibly can. Use an unflavored club soda to treat the area, carefully blot the club soda on and off, it’s important not to scrub the stain! Second, make a mild detergent solution (dishwashing soap) with warm water in a bowl. Then alternate using a ½ glycerin and ½ water solution, continue to dab the stain.

High Traffic Stains

Before cleaning the area, make sure you thoroughly vacuum to get all the debris that is trapped into your carpet. If the area is small try wetting the area with a warm wet cloth. Use a specific over the counter carpet cleaning spray or high traffic powder to clean the designated area.

Water Damage

If the water that has leaked onto your carpet is sanitary you may be able to restore your carpet back to its original condition. If dirty, contaminated water has flooded your carpets need to be replaced as soon as possible.

Smoke Damage

If only a small fire occurred all that’s needed is a thorough cleaning and deodorizing. If major smoke damage is left on the carpet and someone is able to salvage and professionally clean your carpet this would be the better choice. It’s going to always be more expensive to buy new carpet and have it installed. Disinfect your carpet with a homemade bleach solution using a few tablespoons of bleach dissolved in warm water

Fiber Damage

With only minor fiber damages (small burn or stain) it may be easy to carefully trim the damaged carpet fibers off. Using a sharp pair nail clippers or scissors cautiously trim the stained carpet ends. If you have major carpet damage you will either need to replace the carpet area or get your carpet professionally cleaned. Getting your carpet professionally cleaned tends to be much less expensive than buying new carpet.

Carpet Yellowing

Yellow is usually the strongest dye in carpet. Carpet yellowing is a result of urine, pesticides, mill oil (loom/yarn oil) Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT) yellowing which mostly occurs in homes with very low air circulation. Detergents with a pH over 10 on stain- resist nylon fiber carpet will create a yellow effect on your carpet. Optical brighteners are used by some carpet manufacturers who don’t know about the effects of carpet yellowing. Optical brighteners are special dyes that are applied to carpet making it brighter than it really appears. Direct sunlight and ozone fading can remove the colors out of your carpet and leaving a yellow color. Chlorine bleach can strip various colors from carpet fibers leaving behind a yellow color. Also, an application of a silicone protector on stain resistant nylon fiber carpet can also yellow.

Carpet Darkening

Causes for carpet darkening include water damage, high traffic, pets and soil. The best alternative to cleaning your carpet would be to hot water extraction or “steam cleaning”, because this process will not only clean the surface but get to the bottom layer of dirt and debris embedded into your carpet. Izf

Fire Damage

In a house fire if a lot of plastic was burned, enormous amounts of an oil residue will be stuck into the carpet fibers. The burnt carpet will have to ultimately be replaced. It’s recommended to call a professional carpet cleaner that uses hot water extraction because this involves a gentle process that will work well with the different residues that have been burned into the carpet.

Just like they do in your home, carpets in the workplace contribute ...

Read Full Entry]]> Could dirty office carpets be costing you money? If your cleaning service skimps on carpet care, they might be. While it may seem far-fetched, studies show that improperly maintained office carpets can contribute to absenteeism and decreased employee productivity.

Just like they do in your home, carpets in the workplace contribute to the overall quality of your indoor air. Why does indoor air quality matter? Poor indoor air quality can be responsible for some very serious health effects including dizziness, nausea, headaches, fatigue, respiratory illnesses and inability to concentrate – not exactly a recipe for maximum productivity.

Individuals with weakened immune systems, allergies, asthma or other underlying respiratory conditions are particularly at risk, but anyone can be negatively affected by poor air quality. And not only can office air quality impact your employees’ productivity; it can also have a cumulative effect, contributing to more serious illnesses that could cause your employees to miss work.

While most commercial cleaning services focus on visible surface dirt, many ignore the dust, mold spores, bacteria and allergens that can be harbored deep within the carpet’s fiber. Each time someone walks across the carpet, those irritants are re-dispersed into the air. Following are just a few of the most common contributors to poor indoor air quality and their associated health effects.

Office Mold

Mold spores can be present in your office carpet even when no mold is visible. For some people, even a small amount of mold can cause health problems. Mold spores in the air can contribute to inflammation, allergic reactions or even infections – some of the most common symptoms associated with mold exposure are cough, nose and throat irritation, eye irritation and headaches.

Dust Mites

Although most people are aware of the potential health effects of dust mites in the home, most of us never consider the potential for dust mites in the office. Whether in your home or in your workplace, just one square yard of carpet can be home to over 100,000 dust mites. And unfortunately, vacuuming alone is not sufficient to remove them. Dust mites can cause allergic reactions such as eye irritation, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and skin problems. In some people, such as those with asthma, more severe symptoms can occur.

Other Allergens

Try as we might, we can never completely avoid bringing allergens from our homes or the outdoors into our places of business. While it’s not uncommon to remove one’s shoes when entering a home, not many offices take kindly to sock-footed employees. Allergens – like pollen and pet dander – are tracked inside on your employees’ shoes and worked deeper and deeper into your office carpet as your employees walk around. Continued exposure to these allergens can contribute to the development of chronic conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and sinusitis.

So what can be done to improve the air quality at your office? While regular removal of surface dust and allergens is important, deep cleaning your office carpets is also a necessity. If your office is on the ground floor, most experts recommend a professional cleaning every three to six months (more often in high dust conditions). If your office is on an upper floor, your carpets should be cleaned every six to 12 months.

In February of 2009, an article published in the Dallas Morning News told the story of a north Texas family that became unwitting victims of the illegal drug trade. The Rodgriquez family purchased a home in Grapevine that had previously been ...

Read Full Entry]]> Meth Houses – The Hidden Dangers for Future Residents

In February of 2009, an article published in the Dallas Morning News told the story of a north Texas family that became unwitting victims of the illegal drug trade. The Rodgriquez family purchased a home in Grapevine that had previously been in foreclosure and promptly moved in with their three children. But it soon became apparent that something was wrong.  As the article states, soon after they moved into their new home, the family’s dog began experiencing seizures and ultimately had to be euthanized. Subsequent tests of the home revealed that several rooms and the attic were contaminated with traces of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine contamination is more common that you might think; and the problem is not limited to houses. Vehicles, hotel rooms, apartments and storage units are frequently used to manufacture methamphetamine, creating health hazards for unsuspecting future inhabitants.

Although meth is made from legally available, relatively common household substances, the manufacturing or “cooking” process releases highly toxic fumes and residues. Acute exposure to these contaminants, such as police officers encounter when they first enter a meth lab, can result in burns to the skin and severe lung damage. Longer term exposure to even small amounts of these contaminants can cause breathing problems, eye irritation, skin irritation, nausea, dizziness and headaches.

Once a meth lab has been dismantled, many of these contaminants remain—on walls, in carpets and in ventilation systems. And meth doesn’t have to have been manufactured in a home for the home to become contaminated. Heavy meth use by previous residents can also leave behind traces of the toxic substance, exposing future inhabitants to health risks from exposure.

Although laws in many states require sellers or their agents to disclose any known use or manufacture of meth within a home, the activity often goes unreported. When the presence of meth is suspected, or a homeowner is concerned about the activities of a home’s previous occupants (as in a foreclosure scenario), the home may be tested for the presence of meth-related toxins.

If chemical residue related to the manufacture or use of methamphetamine is detected, extensive and specialized clean-up is necessary. It is recommended that the property be thoroughly aired out—for several days at a time—and cleaned by a company specializing in hazardous materials removal. Ventilation systems should be cleaned and all filters replaced. If visible staining or odors are present in carpets, drapes and other soft surfaces, replacement may be necessary. If not, all soft surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly to remove any dusts, powders and vapors from the materials used in meth manufacture. In most cases, walls and ceilings will need to be cleaned, and a new coat of paint applied to create a barrier between any residual contaminant and the air inside the home.

Because it is certainly better to be safe than sorry when it comes to potential health hazards in the home, re-testing for meth-related residues is recommended after a thorough cleaning has been completed.

Many popular flooring types raise serious environmental concerns. Most carpet is made from nylon – a petroleum-based product – and its manufacture requires ...

Read Full Entry]]> As the environmental movement gains steam and green ideas are becoming more and more mainstream, natural and renewable materials are gaining popularity with builders and home buyers alike.

Many popular flooring types raise serious environmental concerns. Most carpet is made from nylon – a petroleum-based product – and its manufacture requires the excessive use of fossil fuels. Vinyl, another widely-used flooring material, is also petroleum-based. Furthermore, neither carpet nor vinyl is biodegradable, making landfills the only option for their disposal.

But the trend toward natural, renewable building materials goes beyond environmental responsibility. Many consumers are becoming aware of the potential health benefits of natural materials. There is growing concern that some types of standard flooring – including popular nylon carpets – may create a health hazard for home and office inhabitants thanks to chemicals used in their production and the methods used to install them.

While many longtime homeowners may assume that upgrading to green materials is cost-prohibitive, renewable flooring options are becoming more affordable and more widely available. And because of their popularity with home buyers, particularly young families, green floors can actually add value to your home and help to distinguish it in a crowded real estate market. Following are just a few of the most popular renewable flooring options.

Environmentally Friendly Flooring Types

Bamboo

Both eco-friendly and attractive, bamboo has become a popular alternative to hardwoods. Because bamboo grows quickly and is easy to replenish, it eliminates the deforestation concerns associated with wood floors. Bamboo also has several other benefits. First, it’s extremely strong and durable, making it a long-lasting option for even very highly trafficked areas. Second, it’s versatile – there are a wide variety of colors and finishes to choose from. Last, bamboo flooring is exceptionally cost-effective thanks to its wide availability and ease of installation. For these reasons, bamboo is quickly becoming the hottest trend in hard floors.

Wool Carpet

Although the vast majority of carpets manufactured in the U.S. are synthetic, there is a high-quality natural alternative. While sometimes hard to find, wool carpet is a safe, renewable alternative to petroleum-based nylon. And although wool can be a bit costly, it offers a soft, natural feel and loads of aesthetic appeal. Wool is also naturally soil and stain resistant, making it relatively easy to care for and particularly resilient.

Recycled Carpet

A recent and rather surprising addition to your eco-friendly flooring options is recycled carpet. Inexpensive , colorfast and, according to several manufacturers, more durable than virgin fiber carpet, recycled carpet is a win-win for the environment. Usually made from recycled plastic soda bottles, recycled carpet helps to keep non-biodegradable materials out of landfills while providing a flooring material with great looks and resiliency. Recycled carpet requires less energy than nylon to manufacture, and no special installation is required. While recycled carpet is not as widely available as nylon, expect it to become more popular in the coming years.

When the time comes ...

Read Full Entry]]> Considering a professional carpet cleaning? Chances are, you should. According to The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, most households should have their carpets cleaned at least once per year. Households that include pets or smokers should have their carpets professionally cleaned at least twice per year.

When the time comes to select a professional carpet cleaner, you will likely want to know more about the cleaning methods they use, including the safety, effectiveness and environmental impact of each. A quick search of the Internet will probably yield a multitude of local carpet cleaners, each offering their own spin on one of three basic carpet cleaning methods – shampooing, “dry cleaning” (using a dry cleaning solution or powder), and hot water extraction.

Of these methods, hot water extraction is the most popular. But what is it? And why is it the right choice?

Sometimes incorrectly referred to as “steam cleaning” (no steam is actually used), hot water extraction involves the use of a stream of highly heated water to force dirt and soil out of the carpet while a vacuum whisks it away. First, excess soil is removed with a dry vacuum. Next, a pressurized, heated, water-based cleaning solution is injected into the carpet. As the injected solution pushes dirt to the surface of the carpet, it is removed by a wet vacuum.

So is hot water extraction the best choice for your carpet? Here’s what you need to know about this popular carpet cleaning method.

Recommended by Manufacturers

Most major carpet manufacturers recommend hot water extraction as the most effective way to clean their carpets. And for some types of carpet, hot water extraction is the only safe method. Unless you’re sure that your carpet will not be damaged by alternate methods, opt for hot water extraction – better safe than sorry!

Deeper Clean

Hot water extraction offers a much deeper clean than its alternatives, namely shampooing and dry cleaning, which only provide a surface clean. Hot water extraction is also much more effective at removing stains and odors than surface cleaners.

Less Residue

Other carpet cleaning methods—those that involve the use of shampoo, a dry cleaning solution or powder—can leave behind large amounts of residue. When performed properly, hot water extraction leaves your carpets virtually residue-free.

Environmentally Friendly

When performed using natural, non-toxic cleaning solutions, hot water extraction can be an eco-friendly approach to carpet cleaning. Many alternative cleaning methods rely on harsh chemicals that can pose health risks for people and pets. Thanks to the power of highly-heated water, gentler solutions are sufficient to produce a satisfactory result.

Requires Precision and Skill

When selecting a carpet company that uses the hot water extraction method, be sure that the company provides thorough training and that your technician is experienced. Although hot water extraction is extremely effective, it is a more difficult technique to learn than some of the alternatives, and overwetting can occur if your technician has not been properly trained. Poke around carpet cleaners’ web sites – if their technician training requirements are not mentioned, be sure to ask about them before booking your appointment.