If you have a carpet you know that you will get spots on it. No ifs ands or buts, you will get spots. Read this article for some tips on spot cleaning your carpet when the worst does happen.
The first step in spot cleaning is to scrape away as much of the solid material as possible. Use a dull instrument such as a spoon to gently remove solid material. Never use anything sharp like a knife. The next step is to blot up as much of the spot with a clean white towel or dye free paper towel. Dab, do not rub as that could damage the carpet. Next you will get your spot cleaner out. Before you use any spot cleaner for the first time be sure to test it on a hidden area of your carpet such as a closet. Spray the spot cleaner on a rag and then dab the spot until the stain is removed. You want to dab to avoid damaging the carpet and you want to spray the rag not the carpet to avoid spreading the stain. Work from the outside in until all of the stain is removed. Be careful not to get the area to wet since this can lead to the stain wicking back and returning later. Finally you will let the area dry well before putting it back to use. If possible place a fan on the spot to speed dry it.
That is it, Your carpet is now beautiful again. Regular spot cleaning like this can help you maintain your carpet so that you get the most enjoyment out of it and so it lasts for years. If you can not get a spot out with a general spotter you should call a cleaning professional in instead of trying other chemicals. You do not want to make it worse by playing chemist.
Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=166114&ca=Home+Management
Carpet is a great all purpose flooring to have in your home. It looks great, is comfortable and is very affordable compared to other types of flooring. It is not without its share of problems however. Read this article and learn about two of the more common types of carpet problems.
One common type of carpet problem that typically affects higher end carpets is called pile reversal. Pile reversal is caused when the carpet fibers actually shift. You have probably noticed that carpet appears to have a dark side and a light side depending on which way you look at it. When pile reversal occurs you can see what looks like a dark section on the carpet usually in the pattern of a wavy line. It looks a little like a water mark. Pile reversal can not be fixed and is not considered a defect as it is a natural trait of carpet.
The other common problem with carpet is traffic lane gray. This occurs when the carpet fibers are worn down from foot traffic. The traffic wears down the carpet fibers changing the way it reflects light. Since it no longer reflects as much light it appears darker. This results in traffic lanes that appear dirtier than the rest of the carpet. If you get up close however you will see that it is actually not dirty at all. Traffic lane gray can also not be corrected as the carpet is damaged. You can help prevent it though by vacuuming often and rearranging your furniture to change the wear patterns in your home.
As I said earlier, carpet does have its share of problems. Most of them are minor however and many can be avoided with regular maintenance. Good luck with your carpet and remember to have it cleaned by a professional on a regular basis.
Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=165931&ca=Home+Management
If you are having your carpets replaced you will be in the position to choose a new carpet pad as well. Read this article for some information that should help you make this decision. Hopefully it will make your decision easier.
The first thing you will have to decide is what kind of pad you want. The most common type of padding is rebond which is made of recycled material. Besides rebond there is also prime pad which is made of all new materials and several specialty pads that offer resistance to staining and odor. In most cases it is not worth the expense of upgrading to a pad other than rebond so that is normally your best choice. After you have selected the type of pad you will be using you will have to choose the thickness. The most common density is probably 3/8 of an inch and will suit most people just fine. If you want something more plush you might want to upgrade to a thicker pad. I would not suggest using a thinner pad than 3/8 because it will be very hard to step and walk on. Your last choice in pad is density given in terms of pounds. The most common is 6 pound pad which is fine for most people. The denser it is though the longer it will last so you might consider upgrading to an 8 pound pad. That is about all there is to choosing a pad. Basically if you are not picky a 6 pound, 3/8 inch rebond pad is a good all around choice. You can go up or down from there if you want a cheaper pad or a more comforatable one.
I hope this article has given you some insight into the world of carpet pads. It is not the biggest choice you will make when it comes to flooring but it is important. Good luck with whatever decision you make.
Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=165834&ca=Home+Management
If you are in the carpet cleaning business you know that it is important to separate yourself from the competition. One way to do that is to be professional. Read this article and learn some things you can do to present yourself and your company as professional.
The number one thing you can do to appear professional is to wear a nice uniform. This is something that a lot of carpet cleaners do not do. Do not simply show up at a house wearing an old t-shirt and jeans. Instead why not get some polo's embroidered with your company name and a nice pair of khakis. Your customers will look at you in a whole new light. If you are the type of person that sweats a lot be sure to also wear a clean undershirt and bring an extra polo to change into half way through the day. Image is everything in this business.
Another way to set yourself apart from the competition is to have a professional invoice. Do not simply buy the generic invoices available at most office stores. You will find that it is surprisingly affordable to have some invoices custom printed with your company information. It might even be cheaper than the generic invoices if you buy in bulk.
The last thing I will discuss is manners. You should always treat your customer and their home with respect. Always say maam and sir even if you are older than your customer. If you need to park in the driveway or enter a room they do not expect you to be in ask first. Also be aware of how you look while in the home. Act as if you are being filmed all of the time, who know you might be.
These are three easy things that any company can do if they take their company seriously. Put these tips into effect and I assure you that you and your customers will feel better about your company.
Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=165821&ca=Business
The Life Cycle of the Spot:
There are actually three different stages a substance takes to become a stain. If you spill your soda on the carpet and ignore it, you'll see that it is first a spill, then a spot, and finally it will morph into a stain that is permanent.
The first step is the initial spill. The substance is still fresh on the carpet and hasn't had time to soak in and attach to the pile. Reacting quickly to a spill is the best solution to avoid a terrible stain. You'll want to blot the spill with a white towel, and be careful not to rub.
The second step is when the spill dries up and becomes a spot. Usually the substance has attached to the carpet pile and is very difficult to remove. You may have to call in a professional service to get the spot out for good. If you have an idea of what the spot is comprised of, you may be able to use a store product or home remedy to get it out.
Last, we have the stain. Stains are not good and tend to be permanent. However, if you have an expensive carpet you can rely on a professional dye specialist. They bleach out the stain then re-dye your carpet to the original color.
So how do you avoid this step at all costs?
Follow the tips below to learn how to save your carpet from the dreaded stain.
1) React quickly:
Your first instinct may be to wait until the party ends or until the kids go to bed to tackle that spill. At all costs, resist! Despite what the salesman told you when you bought the carpet, no carpet is stain-free. Acting quickly is the most important key to keeping the spill from becoming a permanent stain.
- It takes time for a spill to become a stain because the coloration must attach itself to the carpet pile. Most carpet these days is treated chemically to help resist stains, so some substances will take longer than others to set in and become permanent.
- Once the substance settles and soaks in, it may attach itself to the carpet backing. This is bad, since the stain on the backing spreads over a larger area. When moisture in the carpet evaporates, the stain is pulled from the backing back up into the pile, making a once-removed stain reappear!
2) Do not rub at the stain:
As tempting as it may be to scrub stains away, don't. Scrubbing a stain brings about more problems and may make it so that the stain is impossible to get out of the carpet. Rubbing distorts the pile in your carpet and can set stains even deeper into the rug.
- Blot with dry cloth towels or paper towels until the area is dry.
- If you must rub the stain, use a brush and rub ten times in one direction, then rub ten times in an opposite direction to keep the pile from becoming distorted.
- Work from the outside of the stain and move inward. Apply the stain removal solution or water to a white towel and blot. Don't put a solution or water straight onto the carpet because if you get the backing too wet, the backing sections may separate.
3) Do you know what substance is on your carpet?
Knowing what is spilled or spotting your carpet can help you remove it. Different spot compositions react in different ways to a variety of stain removal products or solutions.
The basic spot groups are: protein, oil and dye based.
Protein-based stains are ones like coffee, blood and milk.
Oil-based stains include furniture polish, candle wax and lipstick.
Dye-based stains come from substances such as Gatorade, soft drinks and pen or marker.
- The Carpet and Rug Institute (http://www.carpet-rug.com) has a spot removal computer to help ease your carpet stain woes. Simply select the stain type and you'll be brought to a detailed section that tells you how to remove the stain, step by step.
- If you call in a professional, let him know what created the spot. They can bring the appropriate cleaning solutions to help clean up your carpet as good as new.
4) How do you remove a spill, stain or spot?
Knowing how to remove the spill or spot is very important. Below are general steps to follow to help you get your carpet clean after a spill disaster.
- Scrape up semi-solids with a spoon.
- If it's a solid spill, break up and vacuum.
- As you read above, never rub the spill. Always blot with a white towel or paper towel.
- If you know what is on the carpet, use the appropriate solvent to remove it.
- Always pretest the carpet solvent or solution in an inconspicuous area, such as under the sofa or a chair.
- Use the solvent until the paper towel or linen towel comes away from the carpet clean and free of the spill.
- After the area is clean, rinse well. Have you ever wiped up a spot and found that it returned the next day? Chances are you didn't rinse the solvent completely from the carpet. Some solvents will absorb dirt, resulting in a new spot in the exact same place as the old one.
- To help absorb the rinse water when finished, put a towel or thick wad of white paper towels over the wet area and weigh it down with something heavy. Change the towel and paper towel as they become wet. Do this until the carpet is dry.
5) Know when to call in a professional.
There are times when you just need to call a professional in to get your carpet back into shape. Some stains, such as blood, ink, rust and nail polish may need professional attention if you weren't able to work on them promptly. Also, an occasional deep cleaning will help rejuvenate your carpet and add years to its life.
- Call a professional for a deep cleaning service if your carpet is looking soiled and dingy all over.
- Call a professional if you've tried to remove a spill or spot and have been unsuccessful. Remember to mention what substance made the spot in the first place.
- Have your carpet protection (i.e. Scotchguard) re-applied every 2-3 years to prolong the life of your carpet.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/five-surefire-ways-to-remove-stains-from-your-carpet-601687.html
Do you have allergies? If you do then you more than anybody should appreciate the benefits of carpet cleaning. Read this article to see how carpet cleaning can improve the quality of your life if you are living with allergies.
There are a number of different reasons that carpet cleaning is beneficial to people with allergies. For starters it reduces the amount of contaminants in the air. Your carpet acts like an air filter actually pulling contaminants out of the air. When this filter gets full it stops being effective and can have the effect of actually making the air worse. Clean your carpet at least once a year to keep this air filter working at the top efficiency that it is capable of. Clean it more often if you live in particularly dusty areas. Another benefit that carpet cleaning can have for allergy sufferers is to remove dust mites from your home. You can not completely remove dust mites because where there is dead skin (which we are constantly losing) there will be dust mites. But you can reduce the level by cleaning your carpet often to remove dead skin cells and dander. Reducing the amount of dust mites reduces the level of dust mite waste which is what affects allergies. The last reason that I will give for cleaning your carpet is that it removes contaminants from your carpet that you might be sensitive to. Think of what is in your carpet like pollen , dust, pet dander, cooking grease, etc. Remove this material and breath cleaner and purer air.
A you can see from this article, there are many reasons to clean your carpet on a regular basis. If it has been a while since your last professional carpet cleaning call your local cleaner today and schedule a cleaning appointment. Allergy relief is just a short phone call away.
Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directoryhttp://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=164655&ca=Home+Management
When it is time to clean the carpet you have several cleaning methods to use. One of the most popular methods in the past was a method called Shampoo Carpet Cleaning. Hot water extraction has since become more popular but shampooing still has its place in carpet cleaning and has come a long way. Read this article and learn more about this method of carpet cleaning.
The most important factor in shampoo carpet cleaning is the use of a good carpet shampoo. The cleaning chemical is the most important part of the cleaning equation. A good shampoo cleaner must have the following traits. It must be able to form a thick and long lasting foam, t must help to lubricate the carpet and it must dry to a brittle non residual form that can be easily vacuumed out of the carpet. When using this method the carpet cleaner will begin by thoroughly pre-vacuuming your carpet. This is important since most of the soil in your carpet is dry ad can be removed easier and more completely with a good vacuuming. Next the cleaner will apply the shampoo to the carpet with a machine that will turn it into a thick foam. The foam will break down and absorb soil in the carpet. The cleaner might then use his cleaning machine to extract the foam or might simply let the foam completely dry in your carpet. When it dries it will turn into a brittle substance that is easy to remove. The last step in the process is to then vacuum the carpet again to remove the shampoo. The result is a clean carpet that is residue free and dry very quickly.
Hopefully this article has given you some good information on carpet cleaning. If you would like to learn more about this method, open the phone book and find a shampoo cleaner in your area. They will be more than happy to explain the process and its benefits to you over the phone. Good luck.
Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=164122&ca=Home+Management
A quality carpet is an expensive venture. I am not talking about small size but the ones that we use in the living rooms. They range anywhere from 6 to 10 feet long and may be 5 to 7 feet wider. Such expensive carpet need extra attention and regular care like cleaning and vacuuming to extend their life. The length of the carpet's life is a determining factor in the value of the investment. Below are eight guidelines in obtaining a longer carpet life and thereby adding value to the carpet investment.
1. Vacuum frequently to remove tiny impurities that descend into the carpet. Frequent vacuuming reduces wear on the carpet.
2. Purchase a quality vacuum cleaner. Verify that the suction is sufficient to remove the deep grit. The dirt infiltrated into the carpet chafes and wears the carpet materials. A quality vacuum cleaner is much more cost efficient than replacing worn-out carpets.
3. The life of the carpet is extended when the pad is replaced during installation. Use the proper padding for the new carpet type. New padding reduces stretching and sagging and gives the new carpet an enhanced appearance. Evading the replacement of the pad nulls the warranty in addition to decreasing the carpet's life.
4. Use a cleaner at least once a year. High traffic areas may require more frequent cleanings. Grit, grime, stains, and oils should be removed to reduce wear on the fibers. Use only non-residue cleaners. A residue can draw dirt that creates more wear. In addition to extending the life, cleaning the carpet improves its look also.
5. Grit, grime, and oil are tracked in on shoes. Request that shoes be removed when a person enters the carpeted area. The removal of shoes will improve the looks and lifetime of the carpet.
6. Bare feet are as harmful to carpets as shoes. Human skin is covered with an oil film. Bare feet leave an oil residue on the carpets. Socks should be worn to protect the carpeted areas.
7. Use area rugs or runners in high-traffic areas. The can enhance the décor of the area as well protect the carpet. The smaller area rugs are easier to clean and less expensive to replace.
8. When a stain occurs, remove it immediately. Keep a bottle of all purpose cleaner on hand for emergencies. Once a stain is set, it is difficult or impossible to remove. Staining creates the most damaging wear, robbing the carpet of a longer life.
Following the preceding guidelines will provide longer carpet life and better looking carpets. Protect the investment of quality carpet. A little effort can extend the lifeand value of your investment.
Roy is writing great gardening, home improvement, Kitchen remodeling and home decoration on budget articles. Learn great money saving tips on his blog Discount Cabinet Hardware which is full of Kitchen remodeling ideas and Tips on buying cabinet hardware like Satin Nickel Cabinet Knobs. Also Read Reviews on Kitchen Hardware also on his site Decorative Discount Kitchen Cabinet hardware
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Kresge
