Carpet Cleaning

Usefull carpet cleaning tips….

By: Ben | Filed Under Carpet Cleaning Resources, Carpet Cleaning Tips

Here are some golden rules to remember when cleaning carpets…..

  • Always deal with stains as quickly as possible for a greater chance of cleaning success.

  • Never over wet carpet when cleaning, always try and keep carpet as dry as possible.

  • Never use inappropriate household detergents on carpets i.e. (washing up liquid, wash powders, bleach, disinfectants etc.)

  • Never apply the cleaning fluid directly onto the carpet, always apply to the absorbent spotting material i.e. cloth or sponge.
  • Always test any detergent on an inconspicuous area of carpet prior to treating a stain.

  • When using detergents always use the recommended dilution ratios

  • Always mop, scrape or blot up any excess prior to treatment.

  • Never rub or scrub, always work from the out side of the stain inward to avoid spreading.
  • Try and encourage quick drying by leaving windows doors open etc.

Removing Carpet Stains:

Greasy carpet stains - (i.e. chocolate, butter, lipstick, oily food, sauce, ink):
ketchup stainAdd a small quantity of Surgical spirit to some cotton wool or cotton bud (Q-tip). Using the lightly soaked cotton wool apply to the edges of the stain working inwards to the centre. Gently press (blot) either Terry towel, or kitchen roll, and repeat as necessary until the stain no longer transfers. Some carpets may darken initially during this process. Using a detergent solution on cotton wool, dampen the area and follow up by blotting with kitchen roll or terry towel. Finally, dry with hair dryer continually moving over the damp area to prevent water marking.

Water based carpet stains - (i.e. tea, coffee, fruit juices, wine etc.):
redwinestain2Soak up immediately using absorbent material or if affected area is large use a wet suction vacuum. Then, re-wet the area using tepid water on a small piece of sponge or cotton wool and blot with dry absorbent material i.e. Terry towel or kitchen roll. Repeat until stain is no longer visible. Finally, dry with hair dryer continually moving over the damp area to prevent water marking.

Dried in carpet stains:
dried_stain4Firstly create a detergent solution (2 litres of tepid water + ¼ of a teaspoon ONLY of carpet shampoo + 1 eggcup full of white vinegar). Secondly, wet the area using the  detergent solution applied on a piece of cotton wool. Dry the excess solution by blotting using kitchen roll or terry towel. Finally follow the wetting and blotting procedures, placing 5-6 layers of kitchen roll on to the affected area and place on top a telephone directory. Allow to dry over 24 hours to absorb any stain in the base of the fibre’s.

Although the above tips seem a little basic it is essential that you follow the appropriate procedures before consulting a professional to clean the carpet. The above Home Repair Tips combined with some professional help (if necessary) will guarantee the best results.

If you have any carpet cleaning tips or old wives tales of your own that you would care to share then please leave your comments in the box below:

What should i consider when choosing a carpet cleaning product?

By: Ben | Filed Under Carpet Cleaning Resources, What should I consider when choosing a carpet cleaning product?

There are several contributing factors when it comes to choosing a carpet cleaning service or product the most common being the type of carpet, the type of stain and carpet cleaning prices. There are many carpet cleaning products on the market today, however instead of naming the common brand names I’d thought id detail the main type of carpet cleaning products and their different effects:

Carpet Detergents:
Detergents often come in two formats, liquid based or powder based which are both easily dissolved in hot water and applied to the carpet area. A detergent is probably the most common cleaning product and will often form a lather or soap suds on the carpet area which can then be wiped of with warm or hot water. Never over wet the carpet when using a detergent based cleaning product and always use the correct ratio of detergent to water, otherwise you could end up with a soapy nightmare. This type of product would be recommended for a shorter pile of carpet.

Soap Free Carpet Cleaning Products:
Soap free carpet cleaning products are increasingly popular as there is no soapy by product which would normally, in the case of a detergent, require excess water to clean off. Soap free cleaning products can be odor free and non-toxic, but are all chemical based which prevents a soapy sticky residue from being left behind on the carpet from traditional detergent carpet cleaning products, reducing rapid re-soiling so carpets stay clean longer. This type of product would be recommended for a longer pile of carpet.

Carpet Spot and Stain Removers:
Carpet spot and stain removers for carpets are generally used on specific stains and come through a variety of different products depending on what the stain is. Normally they come with a soft water conditioner which leaves the carpet looking brighter and feeling softer. They are commonly used for the removal of stubborn stains like oil, grease and ink and applied through either spraying or blotting the product on the stain and waiting for a specified amount of time before being wiped clean. Spot and stain removers can often works as a carpet pre-stain remover prior to using a detergent or soap free cleaning product.

Carpet Protectors:
Carpet protectors can be effectively used to provide a protective finish that can be applied, to virtually any type of carpet to protect against dirt, spots, and stains. On application it forms an invisible protective shield around each individual carpet fibre which normally then repel both water and oil-based spots and spills.