Greener Southwest https://www.greenersw.com/ A greener alternative to cleaning your carpet & upholstery in your home! We'll also clean your kids rooms for FREE!! Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:27:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.greenersw.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cropped-favicon-source-32x32.png Greener Southwest https://www.greenersw.com/ 32 32 What You Should Know About Scheduling Tile Cleaning Services in Naples, FL https://www.greenersw.com/what-you-should-know-about-scheduling-tile-cleaning-services-in-naples-fl/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:46:25 +0000 https://www.greenersw.com/?p=663 No matter how pretty your tiles are, if they are dirty, it can totally take away from the look of your space. While you might do a good job of cleaning your tiles regularly, the grout can hold dirt that you just might not be able to remove as easily. If you are considering booking tile cleaning services in Naples, FL, here's what you should know.

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What You Should Know About Scheduling Tile Cleaning Services in Naples, FL

No matter how pretty your tiles are, if they are dirty, it can totally take away from the look of your space. While you might do a good job of cleaning your tiles regularly, the grout can hold dirt that you just might not be able to remove as easily. If you are considering booking tile cleaning services in Naples, FL, here’s what you should know.

Maintaining Your Tiles

While it is a good idea to book a professional tile cleaning about once or twice a year, the frequency depends on how well you maintain your tiles between services. It is important that you have a regular DIY cleaning schedule so that grime, dirt, et cetera doesn’t cause buildup. Any spills should be dealt with quickly as you don’t want them to have time to settle into the grout and cause stains.

Best Products To Use

There are so many types of products that can work well, however, you want to choose something that is compatible with your type of tile. Some products might be too harsh, so keep this in mind when searching for a cleaner.

When looking for tile cleaning services in Naples, FL, you can ask a friend or neighbor for a recommendation. However, if you are looking for a tile cleaning company online, reading the customer reviews tends to be a huge help with the selection process. Remember, in order for you to get the most out of your cleaning service, you must do your part when it comes to maintaining it.

For more information, contact Greener Southwest Carpet Tile & Upholstery Care.

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How to Hire the Best Carpet Cleaner for Your Home https://www.greenersw.com/choose-best-carpet-cleaner/ Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:36:30 +0000 http://www.greenernw.com/?p=499 Whether it is a few specific stains you want to treat or major traffic areas that have become trouble spots, a carpet cleaning company will know how to treat these marks efficiently and quickly.

When it’s time to call a carpet cleaner, you might be hesitant to take that step without a little more information.

Here's the complete guide to finding and hiring a reputable carpet cleaner that is right for you. From cleaning methods to costs, from the 7 critical red flags to what to expect from a pro - it's all outlined for you in this guide.

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How to Hire the Best Carpet Cleaner for Your Home

When you were growing up, did you have that one piece of furniture that seemed like it was placed oddly in your living room?

This would have been years before we knew what feng shui was, so it was obvious that your mom was trying to cover something up.

She always hoped that no one would ever know…

That carefully placed piece of upholstery was actually covering a wine stain on the carpet. A memento from a too tipsy guest who had attended her famous New Year’s Eve party years prior.

Everyone has a spot here and there that needs to be cleaned.

Maybe it’s from the kids, or that rambunctious puppy you brought home one day….

Thankfully we live in a time when it is easy and convenient to get our carpets cleaned by a professional. As every mom knows, any time you mix kids (or tipsy party guest) and light colored carpets, you are setting yourself up for some trouble.

Whether it is a few specific stains you want to treat or major traffic areas that have become trouble spots, a carpet cleaning company will know how to treat these marks efficiently and quickly.

When it’s time to call a carpet cleaner, you might be hesitant to take that step without a little more information.

Which Carpet Cleaning Method Should You Choose?

Are you surprised to learn that there are several carpet cleaning methods?

There are advantages and disadvantages of each, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with each type in order to choose the best method for your situation.

Standard vs. Green Carpet Cleaning

One first factor to consider is whether you want a green cleaner or conventional cleaner. Conventional cleaners are by far the most common and may be cheaper, but what might you be compromising to do so?

Today’s green, sustainable, and eco-friendly cleaners create just as powerful a clean with a professional green carpet cleaning company.

Green Balance Neutralizing Carpet RinseThey also are better for the health of your family and pets by using safe and biodegradable ingredients. You don’t have to worry about them rolling around on the carpet… or for that matter rolling around on the carpet yourself!

With the trend in natural and ecological living, there are a rising number of carpet cleaning professionals who use these green methods. Especially so in cities like Naples, FL with a lot of consciousness around natural living and health.

Steam Cleaning/Wet Carpet Cleaning

This is a hot water extraction method that most people are probably familiar with.

The carpet is pre-conditioned with a chemical that turns oil and oil-based substances that are found in the carpet fibers into liquid.

The carpet cleaner then heats water to almost boiling, pressurizes it, and injects it into the carpet. After fifteen minutes, the liquid gets vacuumed up.

Getting soil out from down deep in your carpet is one of the advantages of the wet carpet cleaning method.

  • It facilitates chemical reactivity with agitation by an extraction wand
  • It allows the use of high pressures, temperatures, and chemical concentrates
  • And it allows for an extended time for the cleaning solvents to react

It is the most common method used.

But nothing is without disadvantages…

  • It requires a pretty long drying time, though that can be lessened with the right equipment and knowledgeable technicians.
  • Since an efficient and effective steam cleaning requires specialized equipment, the service can be one of the more expensive methods.
  • It typically needs driveway access for the truck-mounted equipment, along with the long hoses to reach the carpet.

Absorbent Pad Cleaning

Also called bonnet cleaning, this method of carpet cleaning is usually considered for routine light maintenance, but it can also be used for normal carpet cleaning.

When the carpet is first vacuumed, a chemical solution is sprayed onto it with an electric sprayer or hand pump. This solution is permitted to soak into the carpet for a specific reaction time.

A rotary floor machine with an absorbent pad placed on its drive block is spun over the carpet at 100 to 300 rpm. The spinning then saturates the carpet fibers with the solution, which releases the dirt that gets picked up later.

This inexpensive method is also simple and quick, and can give you great results with carpets that are only lightly soiled.

But if you’re hiring a carpet cleaner, you probably want more of a deep clean.

The disadvantages include:

  • Its inability to reach deep down in the carpet, since it can only clean the top one-third of the carpet fibers.
  • It can leave chemicals and dirt to collect down at the bottom of the carpet fibers.

Encapsulation or Absorbent Compound Dry Cleaning

There are a few “dry” methods available to carpet cleaners.

Encapsulation is a more modern method first introduced in the 1990’s that uses low moisture methods, and is more effective than the previous dry powder methods as well.

With dry cleaning powder methods, special solvents and cleaning agents are mixed with a powder and spread over your carpet. The machine then works it into the carpet fibers and allows the powder to absorb the grime and dirt particles. They are then thoroughly vacuumed up along with the absorbed particles.

With Encapsulation, compounds are used that literally encapsulate the soil and other particles, enabling them to be picked up by the powerful brushes of the portable machine used in the process.

This is a fast drying method, using less water and less energy than other methods. And it’s very portable.

It can be a good method for hard to access locations and apartment/office buildings.

A good technician can do an extremely thorough job with Encapsulation

Its disadvantages include:

  • It’s not as common to find and not often used for homes where a truck-mounted steam cleaner can be used.
  • Using the powder methods (instead of Encapsulation methods) can lead to a buildup either under the pile or as dust in the home.

Reputation is Everything

If you are unfamiliar with carpet cleaning processes, you may fall prey to an unscrupulous carpet cleaning company.

And, in some cases, it can take weeks before you’re able to see that a bad carpet cleaning job was done.

So, how can you protect yourself?

How can you find a reputable carpet cleaning business?

One big one is to check out their reviews on places like Yelp, Google maps, even their business page on Facebook.

Other directories will have reviews as well, such as Angie’s List.

There are no real industry standards or licenses like practicing law or practicing medicine, so reviews tend to be your best way to check a company out before meeting them for the first time.

7 Red Flags to Watch Out For

It is common for every carpet cleaning company to boast that its cleaning methods are the best and that it provides incredible service.

Don’t always trust what a company representative or website says.

Always make sure to do your own investigation work. To help you identify who might be not as great as they first appear, here are a few red flags of warning:

1. Misleading claims – Beware of anyone saying they have “exclusive” endorsements or equipment. One carpet cleaning company’s advertising claimed that it had the exclusive endorsement of Shaw Industries, and made it sound like it had special equipment from Shaw Industries. In reality, Shaw Industries indicates that the best possible cleaning comes from Truck Mounted Hot Water Extraction, as noted in its technical bulletins and carpet care guides. Since most professional carpet cleaners also utilize this carpet cleaning method, any company saying its equipment has a special endorsement is a misleading claim.

2. Disguising the cleaning process – A pro won’t have a problem being open about what carpet cleaning processes and equipment they use. When a cleaning company refers to its “unique” cleaning process and describes how different it is from other cleaning methods, but in actuality, it is the same process that many companies use, such as hot water extraction, you may want to think twice about hiring that company. This misleading claim tries to make you think the company is using a new and special way to clean, like touting a new revolutionary “Circular Dry Foam” process that has actually been around for 30 years.

3. Mystery Testimonials – When a carpet cleaning company includes glowing testimonials that omit names, can you be sure they are real? Plenty of satisfied customers will be happy to include a name with a review to be used as a reference, so it is possible that when you see generic testimonials they are actually fake.

4. Unmarked Vehicles and Attire – While there are many one person carpet cleaners doing their own thing, be wary of how professional they are and how much they’ll back their work if they don’t have basic business things like company trucks and shirts.

5. Dirty/Beat-Up Vehicles and Bad Personal Appearance – If they don’t take care of themselves, they won’t take care of your home. Unlike someone doing dirty work like plumbing, a carpet cleaner should be clean and be particular about looks from the beginning… or they won’t be clean and particular about the look of your home.

6. Do They Wear Booties Over Their Shoes? – A good sign of a pro is that they will put booties over their shoes to protect the carpet and make sure they don’t reintroduce grime to your carpet they just cleaned.

7. One Flat Price or Giving a Firm Quote without the Details – Quoting a home takes some knowledge of the size of the carpet to be cleaned, state of the carpets and any stains, maybe even what kind of carpet it is and if they can access it with truck mounted equipment or not. If they just have one flat price or aren’t interested in the details, be wary! They may either do shoddy, rushed work or may charge you more later.

When companies use misleading and deceptive advertising to get your business, you definitely need to doubt their service and quality. If they are lacking in integrity and honesty, that should be a huge red flag.

What it Costs to Get Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned

When having the carpets in your home or business cleaned, it’s not a one-size-fits-all job.

If fact, if they have one flat price and don’t want more information – be very wary!

For example, it often makes a difference to the carpet cleaning company which type of building it is and what kind of access they have.

It’s also critical to assess the building’s size and the type of stains you have.

Also if you have any other needs for the carpet cleaner to consider.

Generally, carpet cleaning can range anywhere from $75 to $350+ depending on the situation, as reported by HomeAdvisor.

In higher cost of living cities like Naples, FL, it can be higher than in lower cost of living cities.

The cost of the cleaning is primarily determined by two different factors, per room or square foot and the cleaning method.

When a carpet cleaning company charges by the room, there will be a flat cleaning rate for the room with a size cap limit. If the room goes over the cap limit, the company will then charge you for cleaning two rooms.

Other companies will charge per square foot, which is commonly seen with commercial space and many residential companies.

For example, depending on where you live, you can see prices ranging from:

  • $80 and $150 for a home carpet of 200 to 400 sq. ft.
  • 1000 to 1500 sq. ft. might cost between $200 and $350.
  • 2000 to 3000 sq. ft. might be estimated at $400 to $650.

For private homes, size determines the optimum fee rate. So owners of smaller homes may find a higher per square foot rate, because the cleaning company will need to compensate for the cost of travel and materials in setting up for a smaller job. Owners of larger homes will see a better rate as the costs are fixed for the materials and equipment setup.

And when it comes to stains and not just regular cleaning, the type of stain will factor in to the work involved to remove it… if it’s possible to completely remove at all.

Some stains are particularly difficult even for a professional. Others just take some work, so be sure to mention if you have stains that need to be removed in addition to general carpet cleaning overall.

Additional Carpet Cleaning Cost Factors

Type of Cleaning

Depending on the carpet cleaning method, the chemicals that are used, and the equipment required, your cost can fluctuate. The most popular kind of cleaning, hot water extraction, has hot water and chemicals inserted into your carpet with pressure to loosen up all the debris and dirt. The machine then suctions up all the dirty water from your carpet.

Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning your carpet allows you to use a small amount of water and chemical to clean your carpet quickly. It requires the use of a rotary machine with brushes and sprayers to get all the dust loose and then it immediately vacuums up all the debris and dirt.

Carpet Type

Depending on the type of carpet you have, it may be more difficult to clean than others. Here are a few common carpet types and their difficulty level and cost to clean:

  • Berber – It is the easiest to clean
  • Cut and level loop – A little harder to clean
  • Cotton and wool – This is the hardest to clean and most expensive

As you can see, the type of loops you have in your carpet determines the best method of cleaning it. The type of fibers in the carpet and how they are twisted – either tight, medium, or loose – determines the amount of debris and dirt they are covering up.

Stain Removal

If you have a lot of stains, or your carpet is soiled in some pretty heavy traffic areas, this will add to your overall cost.

The stain’s size and type will increase your carpet cleaning cost. Pet stains tend to need more attention since they sink farther into the carpet’s pile and often take a lot longer to remove from the carpet, while food spills are easier to remove and will cost you less.

Stains can run anywhere between $40 to $300 to remove, here are a few common stains that will cost you more:

  • Pet
  • Coffee
  • Blood
  • Heavy traffic

Green Carpet Cleaning Methods

Special methods like using green cleaners instead of the standard more toxic chemicals may factor in the price of on carpet cleaner vs. another.

In many areas, green cleaners won’t be a major price factor at all, especially compared to the benefits of using them. But in some areas green carpet cleaners may charge a premium.

However, choosing to use an ecological and natural carpet cleaner will be more of a personal decision than cost decision for most people.

Should You Do It Yourself?

If you are budget minded, it may occur to you to do the carpet cleaning job yourself. It is easy to rent a machine from your local supermarket instead of paying a professional carpet cleaning company…

But, will there be a big difference in the end product?

In comparison to the equipment that professional carpet cleaners use, rental machines tend to be less effective and underpowered. And it’s very easy to over-wet the carpet or simply make a mistake in how to properly use the machine – resulting in sometimes disastrous results before they even realize their carpet is flooded and taking days to dry.

This can even cause your carpet to shrink or discolor.

It’s important to know that carpets staying wet for too long will develop must and mold, leading to potentially permanent damage and negative health effects from mold spores.

So if you go the route of renting a machine, be vigilant about following the instructions to a “T”.

These machines are also not as thorough and don’t clean as deep – often leaving and accumulating dirt in the lower two-thirds of your carpet.

Seems kind of obvious, right?

Professional equipment run by a professional technician is naturally going to be a more powerful clean.

Rental machine chemicals can be cheap but they simply don’t do the same job… and can do damage if used incorrectly. You also don’t get the professional expertise of the professionals when dealing with various situations, like that big stain next to the couch!

But they can be fine if used correctly for doing touch-ups once and a while when there isn’t a lot of traffic or stains.

Professional carpet cleaning companies have higher-quality equipment and a trained staff that know how to deal with specific stains. You should expect a high-quality cleaning experience for what you are paying including:

  1. A pre-inspection of your carpets to identify existing stains, the type of carpets, and how the carpets are constructed.
  2. On cleaning day, technicians move furniture, if necessary.
  3. Technicians surface clean your carpets with a strong industrial vacuum cleaner.
  4. A special pre-conditioning agent may be used in heavy traffic areas to help heavy soiling to break down. Any other stains are treated with an appropriate treatment to make sure that they are completely removed.
  5. Using a strong, top-spec carpet cleaning machine, your carpets are steam-cleaned to remove all the allergens, dirt, and stains. The machine also sucks out all the moisture in your carpet possible to prevent them from getting too wet.
  6. Afterward, a technician performs a thorough inspection to follow up on any stubborn stains in the event that they need to be treated again.
  7. Using a professional grooming tool, your technician will often groom your carpet to help it dry, as well as lift the carpet pile to make it look as good as new.
  8. A final inspection and, if requested, a stain protector treatment is applied, to make sure that you are happy with the results.

Spot Cleaning Carpets

A professional will know the best way to treat a stain without causing undue harm to your carpet or causing the stain to set.

But if you just have a spill or stain you need to spot clean right away, and want to try to clean it naturally, we have a great guide to natural carpet cleaning and stain fighting recipes and ingredients.

The quicker you react to a new spill or stain, the more likely you are to have success!

So it pays to have DIY recipes like these on hand for emergencies.

Getting a Quote from a Reputable Carpet Cleaner

One would think that with all that is possible on the internet right now, you would be able to get a carpet cleaning quote that is accurate and easy.

There are a lot of different variables that will go into your quote.

It is really important to meet or talk with the company beforehand to receive the most accurate quote possible. This is also a good time to check out the company, ask questions, and make sure it’s reputable.

Even though you can get a basic quote over the phone or the internet, you will have the most accurate quote from a physical inspection. Nothing is worse than expecting to pay one price that you were quoted over the phone, only to have it go up substantially when the technicians actually see your carpet.

But a phone or internet quote can be good for getting you a good ballpark.

A reputable company will be able to identify the correct cleaning agents to handle specific fibers to give you the best results.

The first thing you need to think about is access. Will they be able to access the carpet with truck mounted equipment?

Typically they just need to be able to park near a door through which they can route their hoses.

If it is less accessible like apartment buildings, office buildings, and some condos, then you’ll want to discuss it with them first.

The Quote Process

Also, keep in mind that one company may charge you per hour while another company may charge you a flat rate based on your answers to important questions over the phone or through a website form.

Most companies tend to base quotes on the square footage, as this can alter the price dramatically based on the duration of use of its machines and how long the job should take. Square footage can also help determine the amount of soap and chemical agents that will be needed to treat the surface area.

If you use an online quote form, it should ask for details about the job, especially square footage, location, and maybe some other details like location type and if they can access it with truck-mounted equipment.

Letting your carpet cleaner about the state of the carpet, any stains, and how heavily trafficked your home is (number of people, pets, etc.) will help them be prepared and give you a more accurate quote.

More people living in the home tends to correlate with more wear on the carpet fibers, so a stronger cleaning chemical may be necessary to treat the carpet. The technicians will then know to come prepared with special spot removers used when dealing with pet stains.

You may also be asked if your floor has been receiving any routine cleaning service. This is to make sure that the chemicals used won’t damage the carpet, as a floor that has already been receiving regular prior cleaning with chemical agents may now need a less powerful agent.

Things to do Before the Carpet Cleaners Arrive

Making your carpets look like new again can be a time-consuming task, even for the pro’s.

Before the carpet cleaners arrive, it helps immensely to make a few preparations which will help the technicians do their jobs quickly and efficiently:

Vacuum – It is very helpful to remove as much dirt and debris as possible from the carpet prior to having it cleaned to guarantee that your technicians can focus on the soil that is deep down in the carpet. There are some carpet cleaning companies that will vacuum prior to cleaning, but others depend on you to do it, so it is a good idea to find out the company’s expectations ahead of time.

Clean and dust your baseboards and HVAC registers – This won’t hinder the carpet cleaning process, but it helps to clean these areas prior to your carpet cleaning, so the debris and dirt from the registers and baseboards don’t make your newly cleaned carpet dirty again right after it is cleaned.

Remove valuable and fragile items – If you have lots of breakable knick-knacks such as porcelain and fine china, it is a good idea to put these items away so they aren’t broken. Collectibles and other potentially fragile items should all be removed to a safe area.

If You’re Wary, Hide Anything Small and Valuable – Hopefully, if you have chosen a reputable company, it has vetted its employees and screened out any unscrupulous job candidates. But, it help your peace of mind to make sure anything of value is put away safely from the rooms where the technicians will be cleaning. Just remember to bring them back out before you forget where you put them!

Ask if it Helps to Move furniture – Always good to ask before they arrive. Some carpet cleaning companies take care of it. Others may charge extra. It’s best to ask before hand so you are prepared.

Remove small items from the floor – Anything that is on the floor being cleaned, like floor lamps, toys, waste baskets, and clothes or shoes, need to be picked up and moved out of the way. Also lift up anything that may hang on the carpet, like drapes, bedspreads, or dust ruffles, to make sure they are all out of the way.

Make sure there is parking room for the company vehicle – Most carpet cleaners will come with a truck, so you want to make sure you have moved your vehicles out of the way to allow their truck enough room. You want to make sure the technicians can easily access their equipment and materials, so they can run their hoses from the truck to your home to do their job.

Point out areas of concern – If you have specific stains you want your carpet cleaner to focus on, make sure to point out these spots and high traffic areas so your technician is aware of the areas that you are most concerned with so they don’t miss anything during the cleaning process. It’s best to mention these before they arrived during the quote process.

Keeping Your Carpet in Warranty

Usually, you need to have your carpets cleaned at least once a year. If you have higher traffic areas, you may need more frequent cleanings.

Another thing to check is the carpet manufacturer’s carpet cleaning guidelines to make sure you are keeping the warranty in force. Most warranties will require a cleaning every 12 to 18 months, even if you don’t think your carpet is dirty. And keep all your carpet cleaning receipts as your carpet warranty requires.

As you read your carpet warranty, make note of all the carpet maintenance suggestions as this will help you make sure your carpets last as long as possible. Spot cleaning will help in between professional cleanings, but use only approved carpet cleaning products.

Make sure you have the correct warranty information for your carpet when you leave the store.

This information is normally found on the back of the carpet sample you looked at in the store when you were purchasing your carpet. The responsibility falls on you to make sure you have the right warranty and that you are following the guidelines correctly.

A standard new carpet warranty may require you to

  • Retain your receipt of purchase either in a bill, invoice, or statement to show when you purchased the carpet and what you paid for it, minus the labor and pad.
  • Make sure your carpet is installed according to the guidelines set forth in the Carpet and Rug Institutes’ Installation Standard CRI-105.
  • Keep up your carpet maintenance according to the recommendations in your carpet’s manufacturer’s warranty.
  • Keep all invoices, bills, and statements to prove that you did have the recommended frequency of carpet cleaning by a Certified Carpet Cleaning Company.
  • Follor the required carpet cleaning schedule, depending on your carpet manufacturer’s warranty.

Conclusion

If you follow the guidelines of your carpet warranty, your carpet should enjoy a nice long life before it falls victim to the long-term effects of stains, abrasion, and dinginess.

Carpet cleaners are an integral part in the life cycle of your carpet, so remember to include an annual visit to keep your carpet clean and abrasion free.

Finding a reputable carpet cleaner can often be a challenge when you are faced with many unscrupulous companies in the market. Remember that in-home estimates will not only help you get the most accurate picture of what tasks the carpet cleaners will need to perform and what it will cost you.

This meeting will also help you determine the quality and reputation of the carpet cleaners, which should give you peace of mind while they are in your home.

Remember, carpet cleaners are your friends!

When you are ready to give your carpets new life and a clean bill of health, a carpet cleaning company will be there to ensure it is done quickly and effectively. And you will definitely need it when you are faced with a house full of guests come holiday time.

About the Author:

We are a green carpet cleaning company in Naples, FL and are happy to give you a quote!

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Clean Carpet Stains, Spills, and Disasters Naturally (with Recipes) https://www.greenersw.com/naturally-clean-carpet-stains-recipes/ Tue, 15 Nov 2016 02:29:24 +0000 http://www.greenernw.com/?p=445 Kids, pets, houseguests, that clumsy relative… never fear again.

That’s right, be prepared for the disasters that will happen knowing you have the solution, it’s ready to whip out at a moment’s notice, and you don’t even have to worry about the toxic chemicals of standard cleaners.

You are golden.

Your home is healthy.

And you don’t have those spill spots constantly reminding you of that frustrating accident that happened two and a half years ago.

The post Clean Carpet Stains, Spills, and Disasters Naturally (with Recipes) appeared first on Greener Southwest.

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Clean Carpet Stains, Spills, and Disasters Naturally (with Recipes)

Kids, pets, houseguests, that clumsy relative… never fear again.

That’s right, be prepared for the disasters that will happen knowing you have the solution, it’s ready to whip out at a moment’s notice, and you don’t even have to worry about the toxic chemicals of standard cleaners.

You are golden.

Your home is healthy.

And you don’t have those spill spots constantly reminding you of that frustrating accident that happened two and a half years ago.

Natural carpet cleaning can be very effective when done right. This guide will orient you to:

  • All of the key ingredients and their unique powers
  • When to use what… and step-by-step instructions how to use them
  • The natural cleaner recipes to attack spills and stains from blobs of greasy food to that splashed wine
  • Tools for storing and applying these natural cleaning solutions
  • And a special recipe and essential oil guide for keeping your carpets smelling fresh
Do This First

Before Anything Else, Always Do This One Thing…

Act Quickly!

I can’t emphasize this enough…

Get on it NOW.

Act quickly enough and in many cases you can gently work out the scariest spill with the simplest methods. Many modern carpets are even treated to be stain resistant, but only to a point.

Right away, gently scoop up any solids and excess mess by starting from the outside and moving inward (so as to minimize spreading). DO NOT rub it in. Pick it up, scoop it up, blot it up, but do not rub it in.

Rubbing will damage the fibers and rub the stain in further.

Next, use a clean white towel and gently blot up the remaining spill. Sometimes gently blotting (not scrubbing!) can be all you need if you’re quick.

And now it’s time for some natural cleaning.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to spills and stains. If a natural cleaner doesn’t do the job, or the entire carpet needs cleaning, there are professionals to help.

But if you’re looking for a safe, natural, and homemade cleaner you’d gladly use on the same carpets that your kids, pets, and loved ones are on every day… well, you’re in the right place.

Quick Reference: What Stain Fighting Ingredients to Use When

Greasy StainsAlkaline followed by Natural Soap and Acidic

Non-Greasy Food StainsNatural Soap and Acidic

ChocolateClub Soda

Liquid StainsNatural Soap

Wine Stains: Salt

Blood StainsHydrogen Peroxide

Ink StainsCorn Starch

Disinfecting or De-Musting – Acidic

Dirt and Grime StainsNatural Soap and Acidic

MoldMold Fighters

Freshening CarpetsHomemade Carpet Deoderizer

The 10 Key Natural Cleaning Ingredients (with Recipes)

Everyone should have these on hand.

The beautiful thing about green cleaning is that the ingredients are pretty simple and have been around for a long time… if not since the very beginning.

In fact, many of these are food safe, may already be in your kitchen, and can do double duty for cooking, first aid, or maybe even a cocktail or two.

Water

Sometimes water is all you need when it comes to wet stains, and it is a common ingredient of green and natural cleaners.

It’s your first line of defense.

Water is a miracle. And for many stains it can do wonders to get most, if not all, of the stain out. Water’s just not good to use on any kind of grease or oil, which repels water.

The trick with water is usually to do it fast!

Otherwise, tougher stains and dried stains may need some help from its friends, below.

Natural Soap

Drops of natural castille soap, like Dr Bronner’s, added to plenty of water makes a multi-purpose cleaner you can use to clean many standard spills before they become a permanent stain. Or add some “oomf!” by using natural soap in combination with other natural cleaning ingredients.

To start, simply use natural soap with plenty of water. But don’t overdo the soap or you’ll end up leaving a residue on your carpets. Gently blot the stain with a white cloth conservatively dipped in your highly-diluted water and soap mixture.

This may take some time and work, but shouldn’t require a lot of heavy elbow grease. In fact, grinding hard into your carpet can actually damage your carpet more than help it.

And then there’s soap nuts…

This may sound strange, but these actually do grow on trees. They are a berry-like fruit which contain saponins (in other words, a natural source of soap).

Strange but true! They are very versatile cleaner. Google it, and you’ll find a lot of recipes using this odd soap-fruit.

But something like Dr. Bronner’s will definitely be easier to find!

Fresh Scented Natural Soap Cleaner

Featured recipe from Nature Moms Blog »

  • 6 qts HOT HOT water
  • 4 teaspoons Dr. Bronner’s castille soap
  • 25-30 drops of essential oil (peppermint, lavender, or tea tree)
  • 30-50 drops GSE (grapefruit seed extract)
  • 1-2 scoops OxiClean (optional)

This will clean carpets and make them smell wonderful too!

Acidic Ingredients

Acidic cleaners are particularly good for alkaline stains like soap scum and rust, and help with biological issues like musty smells or those stains that also need disinfecting. They are also a good to use as a follow-up cleaner after cleaning with natural soap.

Acidic cleaners are also a very common, and multi-purpose type of cleaners to have on hand for almost any general cleaning.

Just avoid vinegars that have a tint, such as apple cider vinegar, because those can leave discoloration.

Two of the most common acidic ingredients are:

Distilled Vinegar

Vinegar is a great, multipurpose carpet and upholstery cleaner ingredient that works well on its own or in combination with other ingredients or cleaners. For example, after using of a soap cleaner, following up with a vinegar cleaner helps remove any soap residue and adds a little more stain-fighting power.

You can also use an acidic cleaner like vinegar after using an alkaline cleaner like salt. The acidic ingredient adds that extra layer of cleaning power once the alkaline method has done its best and soaked up most of the problem.

DIY Vinegar Carpet Stain Removal Cleaner

  1. Mix equal parts WHITE vinegar (other vinegars may discolor) and water.
  2. Put it in a spray bottle (you can generally get these from any household store, garden store, or thoroughly clean a used spray bottle).
  3. Spray on the stains and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Clean with a sponge or soft brush.

Optional: For a little extra power on tougher stains, you can add just a couple drops of dishwashing liquid to the vinegar/water mixture. Or use warm, soapy water when cleaning with a sponge or soft brush.

Bonus Tip: Make Some Orange Scented All-Purpose Cleaner!

Local Naples, FL green housecleaner Michael Freeman swears by the power of the fresh orange scent, including researched effects like:

  • Uplifting your mood
  • Boosting your productivity
  • Making people more positive

And if you live in Naples, FL in the winter, you know we need all the help we can get!

So make some vinegar cleaner ahead of time for those everyday uses to freshen up your home, and get all of those juicy mood and productivity enhancing effects! It’s just a standard steeping of vinegar with orange peels, and incredibly easy to do in no time at all, and with no special equipment.

You’ll Need:

  • Quart-sized Mason jar
  • Some oranges
  • Distilled white vinegar (avoid other vinegars for cleaning as they can stain)

Directions:

  1. Shave off the peels of some oranges and put the peels in the Mason jar. No more than half full.
  2. Pour heated distilled white vinegar into the jar to nearly full.
  3. Wait at least 24 hours and then strain.
  4. Put the vinegar in a spray bottle and dilute with water (see below).

Diluting Options:

1 part vinegar to 2 parts water for general cleaning.

1 part vinegar to 1 part water for more intense applications, like the carpet stain removal cleaner in this section.

You can also try Jillee’s original recipe and see more information at One Good Thing by Jillee »

Lemon

Mildly acidic and entirely natural, lemon is a great natural stain cleaner and mild bleach. Fresh is best but bottled works as well. As always, be sure to test, and be careful with colors.

Add it as an acidic ingredient with or in place of vinegar, apply directly and rinse thoroughly, or add to a natural soap cleaner.

Alkaline Ingredients

Alkaline cleaning ingredients and methods are the best options for battling grease, soaking up liquids, and attacking some of those tricky spills.
Alkaline cleaners include:

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is a multipurpose ingredient most often used for soaking up carpet stains. An absorbent cleaner, you can try these two cleaning methods for helping battle grease stains.

Pure Cornstarch Method:

  1. Pour cornstarch liberally on the stain and let sit until dry, 15-30 minutes.
  2. Vacuum it all up.
  3. Then follow up with a vinegar cleaner.

Ink Stain Removal from Carpets using Cornstarch and Milk!

Milk and Cornstarch Method:

  1. Mix milk and cornstarch to form a paste.
  2. Apply the paste directly into the stain and let dry (takes a few hours).
  3. Vacuum up the dried paste thoroughly from the carpet.
  4. Follow up with a vinegar carpet cleaner, if needed.

On wet ink stains people have had success with using the salt method to soak up the ink. Using the Hydrogen Peroxide method is another option for ink stains.

Salt

A natural absorbent, salt is a handy option for liquid stains and greasy spills. It soaks up spills like a champ, and is super easy, plentiful, and cheap! There’s not much not to like about the Salt method.

Here’s how to use the Salt method:

  1. Soak up the liquid as much as possible with clean, white towels
  2. Apply salt liberally to the area
  3. Allow it to soak up the liquid
  4. Vacuum it all up
  5. Do again if you need to
  6. Follow up with the vinegar method

“Red wine stains are a nightmare for every housewife, but we have an amazing solution for them, too. First you have to blot the liquid gently, but very quickly. After that sprinkle some salt and leave it for 12-15 minutes to absorb the remaining wine. Put away the salt, which will have become pink by that time. The final step is to wipe the stain with a cleaning solution of 1:2 white vinegar and water and rinse well.”
From Urban Naturale »

Baking Soda

A natural wonder for cleaning and freshening, baking soda is a multipurpose cleaning ingredient that can scour, deodorize, and clean, yet is gentle enough for most surfaces. Plus, it’s a natural source that you may already have in your fridge or cupboard. It has been used for over 150 years, and continues to be extremely versatile.

You can use it similar to salt by applying to wet stains, letting it soak up the spill, and vacuuming up when dry.

It can also be used to freshen your carpets.

See the infographic guide to creating your own carpet deodorizer and DIY mason jar shaker here »

Hydrogen Peroxide

A natural ingredient to help with stains, hydrogen peroxide is both effective and non-toxic.

Since it is essentially water with an extra oxygen atom, it harmlessly breaks down to water and oxygen, making a very green cleaner.

It is also anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mold, and anti-mildew… making it good for what you’re cleaning as well as for the sponges or other cleaning tools you are using to clean with.

Before using, be sure to test it to make sure it won’t remove color.

But this handy item has so many more uses, you’ll always want it in your cupboard. Just check out this list of surprising uses for hydrogen peroxide in your everyday life:

Hydrogen Peroxide Magic – via One Good Thing by Jillee

DIY OxiClean Stain Remover

Featured recipe by Organic Authority »

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
  • 1/2 cup washing soda*

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Pour into an opaque spray bottle (hydrogen peroxide will lose its potency if exposed to light long term). 3. Spray on soiled laundry and allow to sit overnight. Or, for a large batch of soiled clothes, soak clothes directly in the liquid.

*Be sure to find washing soda, not regular baking soda for this recipe.

Always test your homemade stain fighters on an inconspicuous spot before treating a stain to make sure the clothes you’re treating are color fast.

Hydrogen Peroxide on Stubborn Stains like Blood Stains:

As long as a natural bleaching effect is OK, spray a standard 3% hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let it sit to do its work. Wait at least a minute, then thoroughly rinse and soak up the hydrogen peroxide and stain with cold water.

Precautions:

Clean Mama brings us some important insights into some precautions when using and storing hydrogen peroxide:

“Hydrogen Peroxide is unstable when it comes in contact with light so you need to keep it in the original brown bottle.  If it comes in contact with colored clothing, carpet, towels, etc. it will bleach the fibers.  It also has an acidity of 11.75 so DO NOT use it on stone (granite, marble, etc.) as it will etch the surface over time.”  – from Clean Mama

Club Soda (with sodium citrate)

Most of us have heard of the club soda trick for spilled wine and other liquids on fabric. Club soda is an excellent stain treatment and can also help loosen dirt and soften water, and for those reasons, is also great in cleaning glass and appliances.

Kendra at Our Homemade Happiness has nothing but good things to say about using club soda as a cleaner, and provides super easy directions:

“Not only does it work, it works quickly and without much effort. Woot woot!”

So grab your club soda and let’s go!

1. Pour club soda on the stain and watch the cool bubbles.
2. Blot with a dry absorbent towel. Don’t rub.
3. With your left-over club soda, try one of these problem-solving uses.

http://www.ourhomemadehappiness.com/2012/05/club-soda-carpet-cleaner_7299.html

Fighting Chocolate Stains

It happens. Kids happen.

But don’t let the chocolate sit and stain… fight the stains with our chocolate stain cleaning instructions here »

Whether a recent spill or a stubborn stain, this process will fight it in layers, with a second layer in your arsenal for those chocolate carpet spills that simply won’t give up.

It starts with club soda, and it’s all you need if you’re able to act quick.

You won’t be any happier with your kids, but at least you’ll have some relief for your carpet.

Sun – The Universal Cleaner and Disinfectant

The most overlooked cleaner of them all is direct sunlight (careful, sun has a bleaching effect!).

The UV light of the sun is an effective addition to your arsenal when it comes to gentle cleaning, disinfecting, and refreshing. It can help kill germs, reduce musty odors, and refresh rugs that have been in the dark and dank too long.

Heavy-Duty Recipes: Use at Your Own Risk

Here’s more of a nuclear option of natural, homemade cleaners. This one is pretty intense and a bit messy to do.

Like all cleaners, but especially for heavy-duty applications, it’s best to test somewhere for any unexpected effects (particularly discoloration or bleaching).

  1. Mix equal parts salt, borax, and vinegar to form a paste.
  2. Rub this mixture into the carpet stain.
  3. Wait for it to dry (a few hours).
  4. Vacuum up thoroughly.

Use the other methods above if any part of the stain remains (such as Vinegar methods).

Freshening Things Up: Deoderizing

You battled the stain and won!

But now your carpets could use some freshening up…

We have the perfect DIY carpet freshener for you using one of our natural stain fighting ingredients – baking soda. Combine it with essential oils and you get an additional fresh scent boost.

Carpet Deoderizer Infographic

Carpet Deoderizer Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 DIY Mason Jar Shaker (see the instructions below)
  • 1 Cup Baking Soda
  • Optional: 20-30 Drops Essential Oils

Directions:

  1. Sprinkle over your carpet
  2. Let it do it’s thing for at least an hour, or overnight
  3. Vacuum thoroughly
  4. Enjoy that extra fresh scent

 

 

Want to use this infographic on your site? All I ask is that you add a link to this post where you publish the infographic, and you keep the infographic as is.

DIY Shaker:

Ingredients:

  • Wide Mouth Mason Jar
  • Sheet of Stiff Paper
  • Scissors
  • Something to Punch Holes in the Paper

Directions:

  1. Take off the ring from the Mason Jar and put aside the lid.
  2. Cut a circle out of the stiff paper the same size as the top of the mason jar lip. It should fit inside the metal ring when you are done.
  3. Punch multiple holes through the paper.
  4. Fill the mason jar with your prepared deoderizer.
  5. Use the metal ring to secure the paper to the top of the mason jar between the metal ring and the lip of the mason jar.
  6. You should now be able to use the mason jar to shake out your deoderizer.

Additions: Essential Oils

Whether cleaning or deodorizing, essential oils can add that extra touch and leave a fresh scent behind.

For deodorizing, see our deodorizing guide. For cleaning, adding drops of essential oils directly to the natural cleaner creates a pleasant scent and can help with its antibacterial properties.

One thing you want to be careful with, however, is to avoid letting it touch your skin directly. These are highly concentrated oils that need to be well-diluted.

lavender essential oil

Lavender

Calming as well as antibacterial and antifungal. One of the most common and safest to use.
Lemon or Orange essential oil

Lemon or Orange

Mood lifting, enhances productivity and positivity.
Tea Tree essential oil

Tea Tree

Calming and antibacterial and antifungal.
Eucalyptus essential oil

Eucalyptus

Effective as antibacterial agent.
Peppermint essential oil

Peppermint

Energizing and uplifting scent.

The Extras: Tools to Use for Your Natural Cleaning Recipes

Mason Jar Storage

Mason Jars

These are perfect containers for really any cleaner that isn’t sprayed on, including all of the dry ingredients like salt and baking soda. And you can create an easy to use shaker for dry ingredients and recipes, just check out the Carpet Deodorizer recipe which shows you how to make your own easy-to-make shaker.

White Towels

White Towels/Cloth

These are easily found in kitchen sections of the store, and are essential for making sure you are cleaning without unintentionally adding new stains to your carpet. Simple white kitchen towels or cloths are all you need.

Spray Bottle Cleaner

Sprayer Bottles

You can get sprayer bottles in many grocery stores, garden stores, and of course online… or clean and reuse used ones. You can fill them with any of the liquid, spray-on recipes and use them as you need them. Always having a vinegar cleaner on hand is perfect for general purpose cleaning around the house.

Ziplock Bag

Ziplock Bags

These handy zip seal bags can be used to store ingredients and can help shake out dry ingredients as well. If the recipe calls for making a paste, you can use these bags to mix the ingredients… and then just snip off the corner to pipe out the paste exactly where you need it.

You Are Now Ready for Anything

The next time your heart jumps at the sound of “Uh-oh!” or clanging dishes in the middle of a party, or when your youngest clumsily knocks over a plate of spaghetti, you now know what to do.

And when your carpet needs more care than what a little spot-cleaning can do, you have green, non-toxic professionals to help you out.

What’s your favorite cleaning trick?

We’d love to hear, just leave a comment below!

The post Clean Carpet Stains, Spills, and Disasters Naturally (with Recipes) appeared first on Greener Southwest.

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The Complete Carpet Care Guide: Keeping Your Carpets Super-Fresh and Smelling Wonderful https://www.greenersw.com/fresh-carpet-care-guide/ Thu, 21 Jul 2016 22:09:44 +0000 http://www.greenernw.com/?p=418 "How often do you clean your carpets?"

It is one of the most common questions I get.

Or...

“How can I freshen up my old carpets?”
“How do I protect my carpet from spills and stains?"
“How do I remove carpet indents?"
“What do I do about moldy odors?"

Of course, the answer depends. So I’ve put together this handy guide to keeping your carpets clean, fresh, and… most importantly... lasting for years and still looking great.

The post The Complete Carpet Care Guide: Keeping Your Carpets Super-Fresh and Smelling Wonderful appeared first on Greener Southwest.

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“How often do you clean your carpets?”

It is one of the most common questions I get.

Or…

“How can I freshen up my old carpets?”

“How do I protect my carpet from spills and stains?”

“How do I remove carpet indents?”

“What do I do about moldy odors?”

Of course, the answer depends. So I’ve put together this handy guide to keeping your carpets clean, fresh, and… most importantly… lasting for years and still looking great.

natural-carpet-deorderizer-diy-infographics-01If you want a simple and easy way to keep your carpets fresh and smelling wonderful, this the cheatsheet, including:

  • How often to vacuum and clean your carpets
  • Natural DIY carpet deodorizer recipe to keep your carpets fresh
  • Reversing indentations
  • What to do about those musty smells

The Carpet-that-Lasts Cheatsheet

Want to use this infographic on your site? All I ask is that you add a link to this post where you publish the infographic, and you keep the infographic as is.

Vacuuming:

  • General – 5-7 days
  • High Traffic – 3-5 days
  • With Children – 3-5 days
  • With Pets – 3-5 days
  • With Children and Pets – 3 days

“Frequent vacuuming helps reduce the level of dust mites, which trigger asthma and allergy attacks. It also means getting rid of surface dirt on carpets before it has a chance to get ground in. A vacuum cleaner with strong suction, rotating brushes and a HEPA filter (so the dirt and dust won’t get blown back out in the exhaust) is best. Go back and forth over the same spot several times, especially in high traffic areas, to get all of the dirt and dust.” http://www.healthychild.org/easy-steps/clean-carpets-without-dangerous-chemicals/

Professional Cleaning:

  • General – 12 months
  • High Traffic – 6 months
  • With Children – 6 months
  • With Pets – 6 months
  • With Children and Pets – 3 months

Don’t forget the carpet warranty – recently bought carpets will include instructions for carpet cleaning, often requiring professional cleaning at least once a year.

What’s that Fresh Scent? It Could Be Your Carpets

There’s clean, and then there’s clean smelling.

Imagine waltzing into the room, the carpets are clean, fluffy, and looking fresh… and a natural, uplifting scent gently floats to your nose.

Your day is officially brightened.

Your mood brightens just a little at the natural scent, without a chemically induced Glade plug-in deoderizer in sight.

Your kids are safe, your pets are safe, but there’s that little extra in the air making you feel good.

Cleaning and vacuuming will get rid of the dirt and keep your carpet healthy, but why stop there? Carpets can be the armpits of your home, and could use a little deodorizing of their own to keep them and the entire room smelling wonderful.

A few simple make-at-home, natural solutions will help between cleanings to keep your carpets smelling fresh and wonderful.

They are super-easy, natural, and can shaken over the carpet shortly before vacuuming to further clean and deodorize. Baking soda, as seen in our green cleaning recipe guide, also helps to add a little extra cleaning power. Just vacuum it up after it’s had some time to do it’s magic!

deoderizing-carpet-guide-01

Want to use this infographic on your site? All I ask is that you add a link to this post where you publish the infographic, and you keep the infographic as is.

For more information be sure to check out these great resources:

“Oops!” Emergency Response: Stains, Spills, and Sticky Messes

Of course, not all cleaning is set to a schedule.

  • Your beloved guests spilled that delicious, fruity wine…
  • That little guy dropped his gum right on the carpet with that oh-so-innocent look…
  • The furry beast you just can’t stay mad at peed inside… yet again…

Alert the emergency response team!

Quick action is critical for those sudden surprises to keep your carpet clean and get the best results before you call in the professionals.

Critical Stain and Spills Quick Tips:

  1. Carefully pick up the solids, taking care not to spread or rub it in
  2. Don’t scrub – carefully blot the stain!
  3. Be gentle and patient
  4. Test stain solutions on an out-of-the-way section to make sure it doesn’t bleach or discolor

(Stay tuned for our complete reference to natural cleaning recipes for your carpet, rug, or upholstery)

But be careful. If it’s just not coming out, hire a professional. Overdoing the DIY stain removal can make the situation worse, and actually make it harder for the professional to clean out the stain.

Quick Tip: Magically Reversing Indentations in Carpet

Carpet indentations not rebounding to that smooth even surface you want? I know, as soon as you notice them they stand out like a giant zit on the face of your carpet. But… as we revealed in our article on reversing carpet indentations, there’s a magic trick to try.

If nothing else worked, try placing small cubes of ice in the indentations. (Don’t overdo it! Just small pieces so you don’t soak your carpet) As they melt, watch them help bring those downtrodden indents back to life.


“Oh no, I’m Smelling Mold!”

You know the smell…

That musty, moldy smell that seems to infuse the room.

Yet it’s not just the smell, it’s the health effects…

“In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children.”
the CDC »

So what do you do?

Sad news, friends… if mold has truly set hold, it’s already too late. So clean early and often and don’t ever leave a water saturated carpet.

If you sense a slight moldy smell happening, get it professionally cleaned right away in the hopes you got it early enough.

Too often, here’s what happens:

Jarod thinks, “That rental steam cleaner is so cheap, I’ll just do clean my carpets myself.”

He lugs the big heavy machine into his living room and jumps into running it thinking,”How hard can it be, these things should be pretty foolproof since it’s a rental.”

Next thing he knows, the carpet is dripping wet for hours…. for a day… then two days…

The moisture is seeping into his furniture and starting to mold in the carpet. Mold spores are spreading deep in the fibers. It’s growing into the padding beneath the carpet. The problem is all of the microscopic pores in the fibers and the padding for the mold spores to hide in and make it impossible to thoroughly remove.

If you catch it early enough, a good, thorough carpet cleaner can help. If it’s really set in, it may need to be replaced.

But there are some natural methods to at least help with just some musty smell:

  • The deoderizer recipe shown above, given ample time to do it’s it thing, before vacuuming thoroughly.
  • Diluted white vinegar – equal parts water and vinegar sprayed lightly to the musty area and blotted up with a white cloth or sponge. Dry as quickly as possible, and check for any discoloration effects first.

If the musty smell is coming from the padding beneath the carpet, I’d hire a professional.

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Revive Your Dented Carpet or Rug Quickly and Easily https://www.greenersw.com/remove-carpet-rug-dents/ Thu, 21 Jul 2016 03:04:45 +0000 http://www.greenernw.com/?p=412 You can’t stop looking at it...

That blaring indentation in your carpet or rug, just staring at you, taunting you.

You moved the furniture, and now there are seemingly permanent valleys and sinkholes in the carpet where they once stood… a blemish on your otherwise clean, healthy carpets.

The post Revive Your Dented Carpet or Rug Quickly and Easily appeared first on Greener Southwest.

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You can’t stop looking at it…

That blaring indentation in your carpet or rug, just staring at you, taunting you.

You moved the furniture, and now there are seemingly permanent valleys and sinkholes in the carpet where they once stood… a blemish on your otherwise clean, healthy carpets.

(Are the dents from some kind of sticky spill? I’d call a professional carpet cleaner before making it worse and damaging your carpet.)

You tried waiting, hoping it would come to it’s senses and rebound eventually. You tried teasing it out like a scared puppy, but it’s clear that it’s not going to come out on it’s own.

It happens.

The fibers can take only so much smashing down before they start to stay that way. Yet, carpets are generally resilient, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve to show you.

Time for action:

Step 1: Vacuum and Brushing

First step is to do some light brushing to fluff up the fibers and give them space to breath. Followed by vacuuming to try and revive the natural pile of the carpet again.

Still nothing?

There’s a chance that older carpets may not have resiliency to bounce back…

“There are, however, limitations by the type of pile fiber. If the pile is made of non-resilient olefin, as in olefin Berber or level-loop olefin commercial carpet, the indentation may be permanent. That’s a characteristic of the fiber. This is why non-resilient olefin often is combined with resilient nylon in several popular carpet styles.”

But don’t give up yet! I have some tricks up my sleeve yet…

Step 2: Advanced Measures

Option A: Damp Towel and Iron Method

The IICRC recommends trying a damp towel, laid on the carpet indentations, then using an iron to essentially steam the carpet through the damp towel. Then while it is still warm, you do some brushing to further tease out the smashed fibers back to life.

You could try that, or you could try…

FB-remove-carpet-indents-01

The Magic Option: Simple Ice Solution

This one is fascinatingly simple. Lay small ice cubes in the indentations and let melt.

Magically, it enlivens the flattened fibers back to life.

Just be careful not to drench the carpet. Use just enough for the indentation.

That’s all there is to it!

Protecting Your Carpet from Furniture Dents in the Future

Okay, you got it bouncing back… now what?

How do you avoid stamping a new canyon into your beautiful carpets in the future?

Sometimes you just can’t avoid it, but here’s a tip if you’re concerned:

Use larger pads beneath the feet to spread out the impact.

One of the biggest reasons for the indents is all the weight of the furniture and everything the furniture carries is concentrated in one little spot, or one thin line. By spreading out the weight a little with a pad that is larger than the original feet means you are also spreading the impact.

Use the extra-thick, extra-stiff pads cut into as large a shape as you can reasonably use and place them beneath the feet.

It’s won’t 100% eliminate compaction, but it will help for the future of your carpet.

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Do You Encapsulate? https://www.greenersw.com/encapsulate/ Wed, 10 Oct 2012 23:01:42 +0000 http://greenernw.wpengine.com/?p=182 Encapsulation cleaning is a great process for residential customers who have lightly soiled carpets or who are just looking to have their carpets and rugs touched up and don't want the hassle of the hot water extraction process.  Low-moisture carpet cleaning is a process that allows carpet fibers to dry to their natural state in two hours or less.  This is a true minimum-moisture method to cleaning the carpets and rugs in your home.

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Encapsulation cleaning is a great process for residential customers who have lightly soiled carpets or who are just looking to have their carpets and rugs touched up and don’t want the hassle of the hot water extraction process.  Low-moisture carpet cleaning is a process that allows carpet fibers to dry to their natural state in two hours or less.  This is a true minimum-moisture method to cleaning the carpets and rugs in your home.

Why is low-moisture carpet cleaning important?  First and foremost, carpets dry faster.  Waiting several hours or even days can be disruptive.  Also, faster drying means there is less chance for mold, mildew, or fungi to develop while the carpet is drying.  Because of this, low-moisture carpet cleaning is also viewed as more environmentally friendly.  There is also less chance of shrinking or re-soiling of the carpet after it is cleaned.

Traditional hot water extraction cleaning can easily consume 50 gallons of pure clean water or more to clean 1,000 square feet of carpet.  By comparison, if that same carpet were cleaned using the Encapsulation method, the cleaning would only consume 3.5 gallons of water.  That’s less then 10% of the water consumption of a traditional hot water extraction.  With the Encapsulation method the water consumption is drastically reduced, there’s no waste water, and the cleaning agents are safe for the environment.

Additional impact to the environment occurs with traditional hot water extraction when a truck-mount system is used, including fossil fuel consumption and the emissions of carbon monoxide through engine exhaust.  By comparison, the Encapsulation method is performed using a machine with a electric motor running on a standard 15 amp electric circuit.

With that being said, consider having your carpets and rugs Encapsulated next time they need a cleaning.

 

 

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Cleaning your carpets. https://www.greenersw.com/cleaning-carpets/ Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:12:11 +0000 http://greenernw.wpengine.com/?p=173 New carpet can improve the appearance of any room, but how can carpet that is walked on every day continue looking new?

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New carpet can improve the appearance of any room, but how can carpet that is walked on every day continue looking new? To keep your carpet clean, it’s necessary to vacuum regularly with a strong, well-functioning and properly-filtered vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, due to traffic, children, pets and normal wear, carpet fibers inevitably become soiled, and a dull appearance results. And no matter how much you vacuum, eventually you will need to call a professional carpet cleaner.

Regular professional cleaning is as important to your carpet as having a trained mechanic perform routine tune-ups on your car. While your carpet may appear clean on the surface, periodic cleaning by a professional carpet cleaner can remove what you can’t see and help your carpet retain its fresh, beautiful appearance.

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5 Common Carpet Owner Mistakes https://www.greenersw.com/5-common-carpet-owner-mistakes/ Sat, 11 Aug 2012 04:24:42 +0000 http://greenernw.wpengine.com/?p=152 Don't make this easy-to-make mistakes that are seen far too often with homeowners when it comes to their carpets. I'll guide you through each one and give some advice to avoid each mistake.

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1. Rub

Rubbing your stain off of your carpet is definitely a carpet cleaning mistake that will just make this worse. The stain will may bet rubbed into the carpet even deeper which will make it harder to get it out.

2. Dry With Hair Dryer

Many people like to clean their carpet and then dry it with a hair dryer. This is a carpet cleaning mistake that you should definitely avoid. This could ruin your carpet by the forceful hot heat.

3. Wait

Some people spill something and tell themselves that they will clean it up later. This is one of the worst carpet cleaning mistakes that one can make. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get the stain out.

4. Use Appropriate Cleaners

There are certain types of cleaners that you should use for certain stains and spills. Some cleaning supplies are great for dirt while others work better for red stains.

5. Never Researching Before You Choose a Professional

Sometimes people may call a professional to clean their carpets and not think of the choices that they have. It is important to call many different companies to figure out which are the best ones. Make sure that they have the right equipment, have a guarantee, and can come out the same day.

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How to Get Chocolate Stains Out of Your Carpet https://www.greenersw.com/care-hot-chocolate/ Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:12:31 +0000 http://greenernw.wpengine.com/?p=143 When tackling chocolate stains in your carpet, we have a multi-layer approach for both light and stubborn chocolate spills. First, make sure to BLOT up any remaining liquid or solids. Do not rub. Once you’re down to just the stain, grab some club soda and let’s get started: 1. Apply club soda with a damp towel […]

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When tackling chocolate stains in your carpet, we have a multi-layer approach for both light and stubborn chocolate spills.

First, make sure to BLOT up any remaining liquid or solids. Do not rub.

Once you’re down to just the stain, grab some club soda and let’s get started:

1. Apply club soda with a damp towel to the remaining stain; leave on for 3 to 5 minutes. Then blot it up – don’t rub.

2. If stain is removed, finish with a water rinse. Blot up again and then apply a pad of weighted paper towels.

If stain is not removed, continue as follows: (note: best to test this next part in an out of the way spot in case of discoloration, particularly bleaching)

3. Apply a mix of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia; let stand for 2 to 3 hours under a weighted sheet of plastic wrap.

4. Repeat application of hydrogen peroxide/ammonia solution and allow to dry under weighted plastic wrap until removal is complete.

5. Apply water with damp towel.

6. Blot up and finish with weighted pad of paper towels.

7. To neutralize the area, apply white vinegar only after stain is removed. Always rinse with water and blot dry as the last procedure.

Now with all this cleaning you may find your entire carpet needs a clean now. Or you may need the help of a professional.

If you’re in Naples, FL, feel free to give us a try with a free quote. Otherwise, make sure to research a reputable carpet cleaner who won’t make matters worse or leave a residue behind in the fibers.

 

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Kids love candy but carpets don’t. https://www.greenersw.com/kids-love-candy-carpets-dont/ Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:36:23 +0000 http://greenernw.wpengine.com/?p=134 Helpful tips on how to remove candy from your carpet. 1. Gently scrape or blot excess spill/dropped candy. 2. Apply club soda with a damp towel. let detergent sit for 3 to 5 minute. Make sure that you blot; don’t rub. 3. Apply water with a damp towel. 4. Blot dry. You want to make sure […]

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Helpful tips on how to remove
candy 
from your carpet.

1. Gently scrape or blot excess spill/dropped candy.

2. Apply club soda with a damp towel. let detergent sit for 3 to 5 minute. Make sure that you blot; don’t rub.

3. Apply water with a damp towel.

4. Blot dry. You want to make sure to use a weighted stack of towels to soak up the excess water.

5. As an added measure you may want to apply vinegar to the effected area once the stain is removed.

 

The post Kids love candy but carpets don’t. appeared first on Greener Southwest.

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