Maintenance

Carpet Cleaning & Maintenance Tips:

What's in there.
Common asthma inducers are pollen, molds, dust mites and animal secretions that can be found in unclean carpet.

Blot, never rub.
Rubbing a stain can cause the stain to spread or penetrate deeper. Blot gently with a clean white towel or paper towel. See our stain guide for instructions to deal with specific stains.

Suck it up.
Regular vacuum cleaning of your homes carpets and cloth upholstery will extend their life. Solid particulate such as dirt and sand will act abrasively on fibers as you walk or sit on them.

Just like clothes.
Most fiber manufactures recommend hot water extraction (also known as steam cleaning) as the best method to clean your carpets and cloth upholstery. This process is similar to washing clothes in a washing machine as it rinses hot water through the fibers and then vacuums them dry.

Blow it dry.
It takes between 3 and 12 hours for carpets to dry after hot water extraction cleaning. Drying time depends on outside humidity and inside conditions. Drying time will be shortened by using fans (including bathroom and kitchen fans), having the furnace fan running, and opening windows.

Raise the furniture.
Styrofoam pads or foil squares keep furniture from contacting wet or damp carpet. This prevents dyes from the furniture from bleeding into the carpet and can aid air movement for drying the carpet.

Sealed for good.
After steam cleaning, it is strongly recommended that you re-protect carpets and cloth upholstery with a fiber protector such as Stain Shield or Scotchgard. Almost all carpet and upholstery is treated when manufactured. This process seals the fiber, preventing dirt from penetrating it.

Pets and kids.
Disinfecting your carpets helps to control bacteria, fungus, and mold and destroys much of the environment that produces them. Remember that your pets and kids are often in close quarters with your carpets.

We guarantee it.
It is crucial to ensure that the cleaning company you use guarantees the work and is reputable enough to back the guarantee.


The Stain Guide for Carpets & Upholstery:

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS VERY CAREFULLY:

Act Promptly
The older the stain the more difficult it is to remove. Absorb liquid with clean white towel or paper towels and scrape up solid material. Work from the outside spot toward the center to avoid spreading it.

Never Use Bleach
Bleach can remove lots of stains, unfortunately it will also remove the color from your carpet.

Blot Gently Between Steps. Never Rub!
Rubbing or aggressive blotting can cause a stain to spread or penetrate deeper. A clean white towel or paper towel allows you to see when you are no longer absorbing the spot or stain.

Be Patient!
Repeat the procedure several times until no more residue shows on your towel.


ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS USED IN THIS GUIDE:

Ammonia Solution:
One tablespoon of household ammonia (Sudsy) to half a cup of lukewarm water.

Detergent Solution:
One teaspoon of laundry detergent (Tide) to one cup of lukewarm water.

Non-Oily Nail Polish Remover:
Use undiluted as directed.

Enzyme detergent:
Use any laundry detergent that contains enzymes. Mix as detergent above.

Unscented Hair Spray:
Great on ink and small tar spots.

Vinegar:
Plain undiluted white table vinegar.

Alcohol/Whiskey
1. Flush with warm water or soda water.
2. Blot dry.		 Animal Stains
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply ammonia solution.
3. Apply vinegar solution.
4. Rinse and blot.		 Artificial Colors
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply enzyme detergent.
5. Rinse and blot dry.
Beer
1. Flush with warm water.
2. Blot dry.		 Blood
1. Apply cool detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply enzyme detergent.
5. Rinse with cool water.
6. Blot dry.		 Chocolate
1. Apply none-oily nail polish remover.
2. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
3. Repeat step.
4. Apply detergent solution.
5. Apply ammonia solution.
6. Rinse and blot.
Coffee/Tea/Cola
1. Flush with cold water or soda water.
2. Blot dry.		 Crayon
1. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
2. Repeat step 1.
3. Apply detergent solution.
4. Rinse and blot.		 Fruit Juice
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply enzyme detergent.
5. Rinse and blot dry.
Glue
1. Professional Cleaning Recommended		 Grass Stains
1. Apply cool detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply enzyme detergent.
5. Rinse with cool water and blot dry.		 Gravy
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar solution.
3. Apply enzyme detergent.
Grease/Oil
1. Apply none-oily nail polish remover.
2. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
3. Repeat step.
4. Apply detergent solution.
5. Apply ammonia solution.
6. Rinse and blot.		 Gum
1. Chill with ice cube.
2. Scrape of as much as possible.
3. Apply none-oily nail polish remover.		 Ink (Ballpoint)
1. Spray with unscented hair spray (yes, this really works!)
2. Apply pain/oil/grease remover.
3. Repeat 1 and 2.
Jello
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply enzyme detergent.
5. Rinse and blot dry.		 Ketchup
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar solution.
3. Apply enzyme detergent.		 Lipstick
1. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
2. Repeat step 1.
3. Apply detergent solution.
4. Rinse and blot.
Milk
1. Apply warm water or soda water. Dry cleaning solution may also be used.
2. Blot dry.		 Mud
1. Let dry.
2. Brush, scrap or vacuum off as much as possible.
3. Apply detergent solution.
4. Rinse and blot dry.		 Mustard
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar solution.
3. Apply enzyme detergent.
Nail Polish
1. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
2. Apply none-oily nail polish remover.
3. If stain remains apply detergent solution.
4. Apply ammonia solution.
5. Apply vinegar solution.
6. Rinse and blot dry.		 Paint (latex)
1. Blot up.
2. Rinse with detergent solution.		 Paint (oil base)
1. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
2. Apply none-oily nail polish remover.
3. If stain remains apply detergent solution.
4. Apply ammonia solution.
5. Apply vinegar solution.
6. Rinse and blot dry.
Rust
1. Apply vinegar.
2. Let sit 5 min.
3. Repeat twice if stain remains, Professional Cleaning Recommended		 Soda Pop
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply vinegar.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply enzyme detergent.
5. Rinse and blot dry.		 Tar/Shoe Polish
1. Apply none-oily nail polish remover.
2. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
3. Repeat step.
4. Apply detergent solution.
5. Apply ammonia solution.
6. Rinse and blot.
Urine
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply ammonia solution.
3. Apply vinegar solution.
4. Rinse and blot dry.		 Vomit
1. Apply detergent solution.
2. Apply ammonia solution.
3. Apply vinegar solution.
4. Rinse and blot dry		 Wax
1. Apply paint/oil/grease remover.
2. Repeat step 1.
3. Apply detergent solution.
4. Rinse and blot.
Wine (red)
1. First blot with white wine, if stain remains...
2. Apply detergent solution.
3. Apply vinegar solution.
4. Apply ammonia solution.
5. Rinse and blot dry.