Upholstery Cleaning Tips

The easiest upholstery stains to clean are those that are treated while they are still fresh. The hardest to clean are grease and oil. Any very large stain may be best left to a professional. Some tips on increasing your chance of successful results:    1. Moisture is not your friend. Use as little water as possible to clean upholstery. Try a spot remover first, but if you must use a water-based approach, use it sparingly for best results.    2. Upholstery sprays are inexpensive and often work well on organic stains, but they are ineffective on grease or oil.    3. Baby wipes are surprisingly effective for cleaning upholstery because they deliver the right amount of soap and water, are quite gentle, and evaporate quickly.    4. Coffee Stains: Combine a small amount of dish detergent, water and vinegar and dab sparingly until coffee disappears.    5. Mold or mildew: Mix a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide and a quarter teaspoon of color safe bleach. Lightly rub the stain with a clean cloth dipped in the solution. Rub area with fresh water applied sparingly and let dry.    6.)Stubborn Stains:     >CRAYON: Try using non-gel toothpaste to remove crayon marks from water-safe upholstery. Rub it gently on the surface, a small section at a time, then wipe off with a damp cloth. >GREASE OR OIL: Sprinkle salt, cornstarch or talcum powder on the spot as soon as you discover it. Rub in carefully, allow grease to lift off upholstery and absorb into spot remover. Brush off grease and powder and wipe with a damp cloth. Did you know you can reduce overall grime and soiling of your upholstered furniture by vacuuming it regularly? Special upholstery attachments for your vacuum system can make it easy to reach small corners and creases, and are safe for use on fabrics. Vacuum furniture at least every two months, or weekly if you have pets or allergies.   Courtesy Of:http://www.cleanhomeideas.com/tips_upholstery.html

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Simple methods for special carpet problems

Ever wondered how to fix carpeting that has been burned,stained or discolored? Try one of these simple methods to restore your carpet to its former glory.

> If you used a spot remover that altered the color of your carpet, try using artists' acrylic paint to touch up the affected area. Or, you can use a felt-tip marker or a permanent-ink marker of the appropriate color.

> To repair a small burned area, snip off the charred fibers and put white glue in the opening. Then snip fibers from a scrap piece of carpet or from an inconspicuous part of the carpet. When the glue gets tacky, poke the fibers into place.

> To repair a large carpet burn, simply cut out the damaged area and subsitute a patch of identical size and shape securing the piece with latex adhesive.

> If a carpet thread is loose, snip it level with the pile. Do not pull on it as you will run the risk if unraveling part of the carpet.

                                                                                                      Editors of Consumer Guide
                                                                                                      TLC Home

Frequently Asked Questions...

How long do I have to wait until my carpets are dry?

Your carpets should be dry within 4-6 hours, however, factors such as humidity, temperature and the flow of air can extend the drying time. To help accelerate the drying time, use fans or turn on your air conditioner or heating system. Please remember to keep the protective blocks under your furniture until your carpet is completely dry to avoid any color transfer.

How can I keep my carpet looking fresh after cleaning?

Regular vacuuming will help your carpet stay clean and fresh. We recommend that your carpets be professionally cleaned twice a year.

Why should I use a stain protectant?

Most carpets come from the manufacturer with stain protection, but that reduces in effectiveness over time. CarpetUp’s 3M Scotch Guard protectant refreshes the performance of stain resistant carpets and can help your carpet resist soiling from dirt, oil and water based spills. The protectant also will give you more time to remove spills before staining can occur.

Do you move furniture?

Yes, we do move furniture. It would be helpful to us if you removed any items on tables, etc. to a secure location. We suggest it is not feasible to move such large items as pianos, big screen televisions, waterbeds, dressers with attached mirrors, china cabinets and the like.

Do I need to vacuum my carpets before the professionals arrive?

There is no need to vacuum before we arrive. If needed, our technicians can pre-vacuum the area that needs to be cleaned.

Do you guarantee the removal of all stains on my carpets?

While we would like to say yes, the reality is that there are some substances that can permanently discolor fabric fibers.

Do you have a customer satisfaction guarantee?

Yes, all our work comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are unhappy with any part of our work, simply call us with 24 hours and we will return to address those areas of concern at no cost to you.

 

Common Carpet Cleaning Myths

Myth # 1... Wait as long as you can to have your carpet cleaned the first time, because once you have it cleaned it never looks the same again.

First of all, if you wait too long to have your carpet cleaned, there has already been permanent damage done to the fibers. The main reason for this belief can be attributed to carpet cleaners who leave the carpet either too wet, full of residue, or both. Too wet leaves suspend soils in the excessive moisture. When it dries, this soil will wick up to the top surface of the carpet fiber. Remaining residues leave fibers unclean which will attract new soils quickly, whether the carpet has been wet or dry cleaned.

Proper analysis of carpet prior to cleaning is needed to determine the correct method of cleaning. This needs to be done by a professional whose main concern is doing the job properly, no matter how much time it takes.

If your carpet is cleaned properly, there will be maximum removal of residues, quick drying, and a fresh clean carpet under your feet for months to come.

Myth # 2... The store where we purchased our carpet said it had to be dry cleaned only.

We hear this one a lot. This could not be further from the truth.

This consensus of opinion among carpet retailers (salespeople) is derived from carpet cleaners who consistently leave the carpet too wet. This causes a great amount of soiling to be left behind, which wicks back to the surface after drying finally occurs. This opinion has no factual or proven claims to back it up, it is just that — their opinion, and it is WRONG!

Shaw Industries, the largest manufacturer of carpet in this country, states that hot water extraction is their recommended method of carpet cleaning. They also recommend PROFESSIONAL carpet cleaning using this method. This would include someone who has proof of complete training, an established track record of professional ethics and necessary training, and a price that is NOT too good to be true!

If your retailer says dry cleaning only, challenge them and ask for written proof of such claims on their part. More than likely you will leave them going into their double-talk speech routine to give you an (incorrect) answer.

Myth # 3... If I have my carpet steam (wet or hot water extraction) cleaned, it can shrink, mold, mildew,split at the seams or otherwise ruin my carpet.

Again, this can only happen if the cleaner leaves the carpet extremely wet. In the case of a professional, removing all excess moisture is one of the most important steps in the hot-water extraction (steam) cleaning process.

Modern hot water extraction equipment is designed to do just that — remove all excess moisture and leave only what the carpet fiber itself will absorb.

A professional carpet cleaning company will properly use this cleaning process which only penetrates to the base of the carpet fiber, and does not penetrate the carpet backing (either primary or secondary), pad, or your floor underneath.

Even some of the dry cleaning companies actually use water, so it is not dry at all.

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