Friday 10 June 2011

Removing Pet Stains From Carpet

There are many different products available on the market that will help you to remove almost all types of carpet stains. The ideal solution in minimizing or totally removing stains is by simply cleaning the spills and dirt the moment they crop up.  Cleaning them up won't even require you to leave your home just to rush out and buy the expensive types of cleaning products.

There are several ways to clean up stains simply by using products already available in your home which you use on a regular basis, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc.  Its simply a matter of knowing how to use these common household products and the procedures involved to clean up stains. 

Below, you'll find some tips on how to clean up pet stains and some other types of common carpet stains.

Pet stain

For your first option you can use one teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of cold water.  You can use this solution in a spray bottle or apply it to the carpet directly.  It is very important not to wet the carpets backing when you apply the solution.  After you have applied the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely.

For a second option, you can use detergent solution made of hand soap or dish soap.  The combination
is one quarter of a teaspoon detergent to one quart of water.  You should always make sure the soap doesn't contain bleach or lanolin.

The third and best option, is to use water, it can re-hydrate the stain to help with removal.  Most types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner.  Once you have finished, be sure to dry the area as thoroughly as possible.

Ink stains

1.  You can purchase isopropyl rubbing alcohol at your local department or grocery store.

2.  You can apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth.  You can use paper towels as well, as long as they are white.

3.  Blot the stain as much as possible until it is removed.

4.  Make sure you be careful, because if the stain is small, you need to blot in one direction only so you don't spread the stain.

Beer and wine stains

1.  Mix a solution with one part white vinegar and one part water.

2.  Apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate.

3.  You should allow the stain to sit around ten to fifteen minutes.

4.  Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.

5.  Rinse the area with warm water.

6.  Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.

7.  By using layers of white paper towels, place paper towels on top of the area, then something with weight on the paper towels.  Allow everything time to sit like this until the area has dried.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

3 Ways To Remove Red Wine Stain From Your Carpet

Spilling red wine on your carpet is one of your worst nightmares. Over every other type of fluid to spill, red wine shows up the most. There are a few ways to tackle the problem, though, but you'll have to be quick.

Whichever cleaning method you decide to try, the first step is to mop up the surplus wine with a fresh cloth or kitchen towel as soon as possible. This is important: DO NOT RUB as this may cause the wine to soak into the carpet fibres, and will make the whole cleaning process harder. Carefully blot with the towel to remove as much wine fluid as possible, Keep using a clean towel, and blot again, until there is no more wine to extract. This will help reduce the stain.

If you can not clean the spillage right away, scatter some salt on the carpet when it is wet. The salt will also help to absorb some of the wine on the surface of the carpet. Once the stain dries, the salt can be cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner before the thorough cleaning treatment can be started.

As with any commercial cleaning solution, it is always prudent to test it on an obscure part of the carpet before using it to clean the spillage. Different carpets are made of different fibres, dyes and various manufacturing techniques, which can lead to varying results. The last thing you want is to make the stain worse by bleaching your carpet!

Use a sponge to apply a small quantity of odourless baking soda. Then mix a small amount of washing-up liquid. Just place a small amount of washing-up liquid in a clean bowl or sink. Add tepid water until the soap and water mixture has diluted fully. Use a clean cloth to dab the concoction of detergent on what remains of the stain.

Alternatively, a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent glycerin can be used to make the task easier. For most carpets, this should remove the spillage completely. However, if the stain remains, try applying a small amount of hydrogen peroxide.

Purchased retail solutions

Many oxygen bleach sprays for cleaning carpets are very effective in removing wine stains from most types of carpet.

Seek specialist cleaning

If you are concerned about cleaning the carpet yourself, you may prefer to call in carpet cleaning experts who will be happy to remove the stain for you.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Steam Carpet Cleaning

The process of steam cleaning your carpet involves hot water being fed to a spray extraction tool or wand, coupled to a pump vacuum power unit.  The cleaning solution is injected under pressure deep into the carpet through water jet nozzles.

The water will then penetrate the fiber all the way down to the backing.  This action will loosen any embedded soil, remove oil and grease deposits, and get your carpet cleaner than it has ever been.

There are many types and makes of steam carpet cleaners available on the market, ranging from small
portables to the large and very powerful truck mounted units.  The principle is the same no matter what model you pick.

The models that are truck mounted are designed so that only the hose and the wand are taken into the area being cleaned.  These units are very powerful, delivering hot water and generating a high vacuum recovery that can be powered by diesel fuel, gas, propane, or even by the motor of the truck.

Most carpet manufacturers, fiber producers, and professional cleaners endorse this process for achieving soil removal efficiency.  With the present state of art equipment and technology, we are more than capable of high production and cleaning of carpet.

The real disadvantage to steam carpet cleaning are the problems that are associated with over wetting and longer drying times.  These can be eliminated however, by a skilled operator who uses equipment that is well maintained and in good overall operating condition.

Currently, there are two methods being used with steam carpet cleaning.

 1.  This method involves a traffic lane cleaner being sprayed onto the traffic lanes and then agitated into the fibers.  The entire area is then cleaned by using a hot water extractor that has a cleaning solution being injected into the fibers through the wand.

 2.  The second method involves a free rinse emulsifying pre-spray being sprayed onto the entire carpet, then agitated into the fibers.

Steam cleaning procedures

 1.  Prepare the equipment and supplies.  In a pump or power sprayer you should mix the free rinsing pre-spray.  In the solution tank of the extractor, mix the rinsing agent.
 2.  If you have a lot of furniture to move, make yourself a floor plan.

 3.  If the area being cleaned has furniture, you should remove as much as possible.

 4.  Thoroughly vacuum the carpet.  If the pile is crushed or matted, use a pile brush to loosen the soils which will make vacuuming more effective.

 5.  Pre-spray a good amount of the pre-spray.

 6.  Using a grooming tool, agitate the pre spray deep into the fibers then let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes, making sure that it doesn't dry out.

 7.  Extract the area using a portable, truck mounted, or automatic carpet cleaner.

 8.  Repeat steps 5 through 7 until the entire area has been cleaned.

 9.  Groom the cleaned area, replace all furniture that was removed, then clean all equipment that you used.