Frequent Vacuuming is Key
Many people may not be aware that frequent and thorough vacuuming is one of the most important (and easiest) things you can do to help retain your carpet's original appearance.
With that being said, choosing the right vacuum cleaner to handle your carpet cleaning needs is extremely important. While household tools such as carpet sweepers can remove surface dirt, vacuuming prevents deep abrasions that can ruin carpet. When shopping for a vacuum, one of the most important things to look for is the vacuum's filtration abilities. Vacuums with dual motors, or those with one motor to provide suction with the other motor powering a beater bar to loosen dirt, are excellent at removing dirt and grit, particularly upright vacuums with this feature. Also, vacuums with beater bars or rotating brushes are better at loosening dirt than standard canister vacuums. In addition, be sure that the vacuum you choose provides the correct height adjustment for your specific type of carpet
Because vacuuming helps remove dirt particles which can degrade and dull the appearance of carpets and rugs, carpets should be vacuumed at least once a week and perhaps even more frequently in heavy traffic areas. Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing any buildup of gritty debris that can cut up carpet fibers, and every few weeks, you should use your vacuum's crevice tool to clean the tight areas around baseboards, radiators, and other difficult-to-reach places.
Reduce Traffic and Retain Your Carpet's Texture
To prolong the appearance and overall life of your carpet, reduce the amount of traffic in heavily traveled, carpeted areas, as these areas will receive the most wear. Use rugs under and in front of heavily used furniture such as chairs, and clean these rugs on a regular basis. Furniture and area rugs should also be moved periodically to reduce the wear on these paths.
Heavy furniture can also cause permanent indentations in your carpet, and it is important to use furniture glides or cups under the legs of heavy pieces. Temporary indentations can be remedied by working the carpet back in place with your fingers or with the edge of spoon, dampening the area in question, and heating the carpet with a hair dryer.
Fluffing, Shedding, and Sprouting
You may sometimes find tiny balls of fluff or loose fibers on your carpet or in your vacuum cleaner. Fortunately in most cases, this is not cause for alarm, as it is the normal result of fiber that is left in the carpet during the manufacturing process. Proper vacuuming with a high quality vacuum cleaner will usually cause this shedding this disappear if your carpet is relatively new, and removing these large fibers will not affect the life or appearance of the carpet.
In some cases, you may even notice a yarn tuft or two sprouting above the pile surface of your carpet. Simply snip off these large tufts with a pair of scissors to the level of the carpet, but never pull these out. If sprouting proves to be a persistent problem, contact your carpet's manufacturer or flooring representative.
Address Carpet Stains Immediately
Even with the utmost of care, carpet staining is inevitable. Therefore, it is important to understand that when spills occur, time is of the essence, as the sooner a stain is cleaned, the easier it will be to completely remove. Don't be fooled by stains that appear to be clear, as these can change color and be quite visible over time. For even additional cleaning, look to wet/dry vacuums which not only have the ability to suck up dust and debris, but also liquid spills as well.
The first step in removing a carpet stain is to blot any excess liquid with a paper towel or clean cloth. Liquid stain removers should not be initially added to the stain, as they will only make the spot larger and cause it to sink deeper into the carpet. Once the liquid has been absorbed, if a special cleaning solution is to be used, first test it on an inconspicuous part of the carpet to prevent any possible staining. If the solution proves to be safe to use, try to use the least amount of solution possible and work from the outside of the stain toward the center to prevent any spreading. To prevent fiber damage, don't rub the carpet with too much force, and be sure to dry the area with a hair dryer or fan when you are finished.
Also keep in mind that not all stains can be removed: bleached areas caused by chlorine bleach or sunlight are impossible to get rid of, and liquids like urine, if allowed to dry, will leave permanent stains.
Ultimately, regularly vacuuming your carpet and spot cleaning will prolong the appearance and life of your carpets. Professional carpet cleanings every 18 months are also an important part of a regular carpet care regimen, and investing in a carpet shampooer, wet/dry vacuum, or steam vacuum is also a good idea for interim carpet maintenance.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/easy-carpet-maintenance-tips-371797.html
In an age of DIY, many of us want to clean our carpets ourselves using professional methods instead of hiring professional cleaners. This can be a great idea because DIY carpet cleaning has a number of advantages and it can be a simple process.
The most important advantage of do it yourself carpet cleaning is that you will save a lot of your hard earned money. Getting your carpets professionally cleaned can cost you hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. Add a hundred more for every post cleaning treatment that you want for your carpet-anti staining, anti mold, anti odor, etcetera.
However, if you go for DIY carpet cleaning, you can professionally clean your carpet for a fraction of what professionals would charge.
On the other hand, there are a number of professionals who botch up carpet cleaning jobs badly. When you clean your carpet that cost you thousands of hard earned bucks, you will most probably take more care of your carpet than any professional will. It is not hard to find people who have had very bad experiences with carpet cleaners and the only way to ensure against this kind of experience is to do your carpet cleaning at home.
You can clean your carpets as nicely as professionals do by using the right kind of equipment and carpet cleaning products.
However you will need to read up well about how to clean your carpet yourself if you do not want to mess your DIY carpet cleaning. If you take some care and use a little common sense you can get great results and it makes more sense than leaving the marks on your carpet too long and taking a chance that the damage is permanent.
A small step by step guide on how to clean your carpet yourself is:
First decide on whether you want to go for wet or dry cleaning. Since most professionals use wet cleaning methods, we will talk about that here.
Vacuum your carpet thoroughly. Replace all furniture from the carpet surface and put aluminum foil or plastic wrap under the feet of furniture that still stays on the carpet.
Use the most powerful extractor that you can find. Most extractor machines wash well, but all do not extract equally well. The more powerful your machine, the more dirt and water you will be able to extract from your carpet.
Follow the instructions that come with your carpet cleaning machine and products. Using little or more than what is advised may end up ruining your carpet for good.
Clean your carpet using the extractor, starting from a corner and ending at the door so that you do not have to step over wet carpet. Remember that the slower you move the wand the more water that will be removed.
After extracting as much water as possible, let your carpet dry for at least 12 hours.
Ventilate the room well and keep the fans and AC on to prevent your carpet from acquiring wet moldy smells.
Once your carpet is fully dry, vacuum again and replace furniture.
If you take the time to purchase a good steam cleaner or carpet shampooer you will save even more money than renting, it is much more convenient and this is an excellent method to keep the carpets cleaner and you can still periodically get a professional cleaning.
By: Jim Thornton
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Berber Carpet Cleaning - Tips for the Proper Care of Berber Carpet
0 comments Posted by ariya at 01:15Carpet is the most practical, fashionable and versatile flooring choice and it accounts for more than half of all flooring purchases made each year. In fact, carpet has outsold every other type of floor covering for many years.
It is the foundation for decorating any room and because it is available in so many textures and colours it creates an unlimited number of possibilities. Carpet introduces colour and texture to your decorating scheme, while generating the feelings of warmth, comfort and Beauty to your home.
One of the most popular types of carpet available for your home today is Berber carpet. Berber carpet is not a specific type of carpet; it is a weave of carpet consisting of dense small loops. It is durable carpeting, constructed of rugged looped pile running in parallel lines. The loop lengths are short so footprints don't show and compressed traffic patterns and wear aren't a problem. One of the biggest reasons that many people choose a Berber carpet is for its ease of care.
One of the best ways to clean your Berber carpet is to develop some habits to keep it clean. The reason for this is that with certain types of Berber carpet they can be very difficult to clean once stains start to appear.
Taking your shoes off at the door is one of the best ways to prevent dirt damage to your carpets. Dirty feet are a major enemy of Berber carpeting because thy can be more susceptible to showing traffic patterns because of the low pile. Shoes are in contact with all kinds of dirt and grime, like oil, mud, and bubble gum, and not tracking that in will keep your carpet clean.
Because of the design of Berber carpet with the tight looped pile, it is easier to keep the carpet clean by vacuuming frequently. Removing the dust and dirt before it embeds itself deep in the carpet make the job of keeping it clean much easier. Make sure that when you use a beater bar that you don't go over any snags in the carpet. They could catch on the beater bar and cause permanent damage to your Berber carpet. Pets with long nails and children with sharp objects, toys or other playthings can easily cause pulls. If you find a snag, do not continue to tug on it. Call a professional and have it repaired.
Berber carpet comes in different fibers and each one requires a different method of cleaning. The most popular Berber today that has all the cleaning problems is made of Olefin. The best way to clean this type of Berber carpet is to use hot water extraction. The biggest complaint is that it turns grayish, yellowish or brownish after cleaning. If you drag a heavy piece of furniture across it, the Berber will have scorch marks left on it, which are impossible to remove. Any oil based stains bond to olefin and become permanent. The only way to make olefin Berber carpets restore to a clean condition is to use cleaning solution with a high PH. This usually means the carpet will get dirty faster.
Nylon Berber carpet is a good choice for those looking for the elegance of Berber carpeting without the expense of wool Berber carpet. It holds up to stains and traffic better than olefin fibers. The first reason is that it resists stains, mold, and mildew. By cleaning a stain to as soon as possible when it happens, it will most likely come out with very little work. It is also crush resistant, which is great for high traffic areas. The best method of cleaning the nylon Berber is a low moisture cleaning method. This will generate better results and the carpets are dry very quickly.
If your budget can handle the cost of wool Berber, you will be thrilled with the performance. Wool as naturally occurring stain resistant and wear resistant qualities that are not found in synthetic carpets. You need to use very low moisture methods of cleaning with wool Berber carpets but they clean extremely well.
With the many choices of Berber on the market today and with a proper cleaning and maintenance program, you will enjoy the benefit of Berber carpets for many years.
Tag : carpet,carpet cleaning,berber carpet,outdoor carpet,carpet shampooer
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If you find yourself feeling hypersensitive to your home because your eyes itch and you're sneezing and coughing whenever you're at home it may be time to look at what's causing this. Assessing the cleanliness of your home will be step one. Starting from the flooring up you should analyze what might be instigating these irritating reactions. Sure you're carpets look reasonably clean. But you wonder just how much dust has accumulated since you last had them cleaned. In fact, now you're trying to remember when you last had them cleaned.
Some carpets may appear to be fairly clean but underneath it may be a different story. Carpets can trap things such as pet dander, mold and fungus spores, bacteria and dust mites. Dust mites can be especially troublesome. These microscopic creatures live in carpets, beds and other furniture. Some dust mites can survive year round. Because of this, many allergies can persist no matter the season. A single dust mite produces 200 times its body weight in waste in its lifetime. The waste product they produce is a protein, which is what causes allergic reactions.
According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, "Approximately 10 percent of Americans exhibit allergic sensitivity to dust mites." This can pose serious problems for people who are prone to allergies or asthma. It can also be troublesome for small children that are still crawling as their exposure to these allergens may cause undesirable respiratory reactions. The answer lies in getting rid of the germs, bacteria and dust mites that are trapped in your carpet. You might find different home remedies simply don't work.
The best idea would be to call a carpet cleaning company that uses a truck mounted steam cleaning system. These systems utilize a hot water extraction method. This method will help loosen these particular allergens. With the combination of hot water and the right cleaners your carpets will be thoroughly cleaned. A deep down cleaning is the only way to rid your carpets of these pests. Using a portable rug shampooer will not have the power to loosen or remove dust mites or their waste product.
Find a company whose technicians are certified in using this particular method. If they aren't certified, the cleaning may not be done properly. Also find a company that stands behind their work. Find a company that guarantees your carpet will be cleaned to your satisfaction or you simply won't pay. When it comes to your family's well being you don't want to compromise. Try to create a home that is healthy and free of irritating allergens. Finding the right, reputable carpet cleaning company can help you reach this goal.
