Guest Blog from Tiffany Olson – So Many Carpets!

You walk on carpet all the time. Between your office and home, you might even spend 100% of your non-travel hours on top of carpet in one form or another, office carpets especially under your desk and living room carpets in front of your sofa or favourite chair, these are both places where your feet spend a majority of the time when you’re in those rooms. Carpets are a standard indoor floor-covering, primarily due to their low cost, functionality and how easy it is to get carpet repairs should they get damaged. But have you ever evaluated the various types of carpets available? If you’ve ever built a home or installed new carpet, then of course, the answer is yes… unless you went with hardwood. But not everyone can be that awesome, so many people haven’t the slightest of clues when it comes to carpet variety – varieties of carpets as diverse as the techniques used to clean them. But don’t worry! We’re here to give you the 411 on carpet varieties. If any of the types of carpet in this article catches your eye, talk to your local carpet installation company Austin to see if they have it in stock.

1) Plush Carpet
In the cut-pile category, Plush carpet is the most versatile. It can be used for many different decorative purposes. Its textured surface does wonders for hiding foot and vacuum imprints. The texture holds well between cleanings and the casual look can easily enhance the look of almost any room. It’s a popular choice and fantastic all-purpose carpet.

2) Saxony Carpet
The Saxony carpet has a more refined, luxurious look and feel to it. It is the carpet of choice for more traditional interior designs, adding a certain elegance to the decor of any room. Saxony carpet is very commonly used for both living and dining rooms.

3) Berber Loop Pile Carpet
The Berber Loop Pile carpet uses a rugged loop surface to offer a thick wooly feel. The uneven surface gives the carpet an almost handmade feel, creating a pleasantly warm atmosphere in the room. Berber carpet is highly durable so it is perfect for families with pets or young children as well as office or business spaces. The subtlety of the patterns makes it a versatile choice, and the texture conveniently obscures foot and vacuum imprints.

4) Loop Carpet
Another versatile carpet, Loop carpet blends extremely well with a wide variety of interior designs. This carpet tops the list in durability and is engineered specifically to accommodate high-traffic areas. The textured surface allows for subtle highlights, and a wide range of color options can allow Loop carpet to be used for a wide variety of purposes.

5) Cut Loop Carpet
This unique carpet style blends loop pile with cut pile, creating a very unique look that holds well between vacuumings. The style results in an almost multi-colored look, hiding stains well and enhancing your floor surface. Cut Loop carpet looks great in both soft and bold color tones.

6) Frieze Carpet
Frieze carpet combines the look of Cut Berber with the feel of Plush. A variety of colors can be used to elegantly enhance a room, and the subtle changes in color inherent in the carpet style do wonders for hiding stray dirt in between cleanings.

Surprised that there are so many carpet styles? There are actually many more! And the carpet cleaning techniques change for every single one. These are just six basic carpet varieties to get you started, but hopefully you now have a better understanding of carpets than you did before reading this article.

Author Bio
Tiffany Olson is a blogger from Redding, CA. She writes for small, local businesses in order for them to increase their online presence. This article was written on behalf of Heidemann Cleaning, who specialize in carpet cleaning in Redding.

Twice as Nice Carpets | Heidmann Cleaning

April 9, 2013August 7, 2018

Carpet Stain Removal Tips

Different Carpet Stain Removal Methods For Different Stains.

Carpet Stain Removal
There’s lots of things to remember when removing stains from your carpet. The number one rule for carpet spills is to clean them immediately. This way, you have a good chance of removing it totally. If you aren’t quick enough, or if they are damaged beyond repair then you’ll find yourself looking up the number for a company similar to this Flooring Cardiff company in your area, so you can replace your carpet.
With so many different items that can stain your carpet, there are just as many remedies available that can help get rid of them. Many common stains can be taken care of with natural ingredients. However, some really stubborn stain marks are hard to clean, which then might require the tools and skills of professional carpet cleaners like Chem-Dry (who are known to be popular San Diego carpet cleaners). But before contacting an expert, check out what kind of stain mark does your carpet have? If it is a common stain, then you can follow this guide here. Apart from the ones mentioned below, there could also be stains due to roof leakage, for which we would have to contact professional roofing experts like Precision Roof Crafters to learn more about their services. Also, note that I have given you natural (and commercial to some extent) carpet cleaning solutions for all your every-day messes.

1. Crayons and Glue Carpet Stain Removal:
If you have kids, then you might find mysterious crayon stains or globs of glue on your carpets. Both of these can be removed with undiluted vinegar. For carpet stain removal of crayon stains, dip an old toothbrush in vinegar and scrub the stained area. White glue on your carpet can be removed with a vinegar and water solution, just blot it with a sponge soaked in the solution. It that does nothing, you can warm up the vinegar and dab it on the stain, undiluted. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrape it away.

2. Grease Carpet Stain Removal:
An easy to pick up grease from your carpet; just sprinkle a little cornmeal down and leave it for 5 minutes. Then sponge the area with vinegar and water.

3. Brown Foods/Drinks Carpet Stain Removal:
Things like Cola, Chocolate, and Coffee can be removed with a vinegar and water solution. First, you mix 1 cup of vinegar with 2 cups of water.

For chocolate, liberally sponge in the solution, but make sure to blot, not rub, to keep the stain from spreading. Continue to blot, rinse, and wring out your sponge until the water runs clear.

A coffee, tea, or cola spill on the rug should come up easily if you catch it right away, but if the stain is set, then you can use the vinegar and water solution to pick it up. Just sponge it in, then rinse and wring until the water runs clear.

4. Red Wine Carpet Stain Removal:
For any fresh red wine spills, sprinkle with salt and let sit for 15 minutes. The sale will absorb the spill and turn pink. Brush or vacuum the salt away, then finish it off by cleaning the spot with a 1/3 cup vinegar to 2/3 cup water solution.

5. Commercial Cleaner Tips
When natural products aren’t working, you can always try a commercial carpet cleaner. Remember these tips before tackling any carpet cleaning jobs. Before you start, test the cleaner in an inconspicuous place to make sure there won’t be any damage or discoloration. Remove as much of the spill as possible from the carpet before applying cleaner; make sure not to rub or you may spread the stain to a larger area. For spot cleaners, make sure to work from the outside of the stain to keep it from spreading. However, if your store-bought cleaner does not do its trick, professional cleaning services such as the ones at Hydra Clean Northwest or alike could assist you in getting your carpet looking as good as new.

6. Potty Training “Accidents”
Sponge at the stain with a mixture of 1tbsp dish soap, 1tbsp white vinegar with 2 cups of warm water. Blot at the stain until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat if necessary until the stain disappears or is no longer absorbed into the sponge. If the stain is persistant, then carefully apply hydrogen peroxide with an eyedropper, and then apply a drop or two of ammonia. Then sponge with cold water and blot dry.

7. Blood Carpet Stain Removal:
Absorb as much of the blood as you can, then apply a solution of 1tbsp dish soap and 2 cups warm water. Sponge the stain with the detergent solution, blotting until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat until the stain disappears. If the stain remains, mix 1tbsp of ammonia with ½ cup of warm water and sponge the stain. Blot until absorbed, then go over the stain again with cold water and blot dry.

8. Gum or Wax Carpet Stain Removal:
To remove chewing gum or candle wax from your carpet, rub with an ice cube until the blob hardens, then just pull off the carpet.

9. Mud Carpet Stain Removal:
When mud is tracked into your house, just wait for it to dry and vacuum. For carpet stain removal of lighter carpets, if there are brown stains, then blot, do not rub, some club soda onto the stain repeatedly until the stain is gone, then vacuum once it is dry.

10. Mildew Carpet Stain Removal:
Mildew forms in your carpet is damp. This can be done a number of ways; your bathtub overflows, your roof has a leak, you spill something on the floor. It’s easy for a rug or carpet to have mildew, as they are very good at retaining dampness. You can kill mildew with a 1:1 ratio of vinegar to water. But you have to make sure the rug is dried thoroughly or all the effort will be in vain. If you can’t set it out in the sun, try using a hair dryer or pointing some electric fans at the spot until it dries.

Suggestions for some common items to remove rug stains.

Special Carpet Problems
When your carpet is burned, stained, or discolored, you could simply move a big chair over the spot and forget about it. Or you can use one of the following simple methods to restore your carpet to its original good looks.

1. Discoloration
Try touching up discolored spots on your carpet with acrylic paint. If that doesn’t work you can use a felt tip marker or permanent-ink marker of the correct color. Slowly blend the color into the fibers.

2. Depressions
To raise depressions left in a carpet by heavy furniture, try steaming it. Hold a steam iron close enough for steam to reach the carpet, but don’t let the iron touch the fibers, especially if they are synthetic, because they could melt. Left the fibers by scraping the with a spoon.

3. Burns
For larger burns, cut out the damaged area and replace it with a patch that is the same size and shape. Secure it with double-sided carpet tape or a latex adhesive. For fibers that are a little charred, just snip the burnt part off. No one will notice that the fibers are a little shorter in one area.

Other Carpet Tips
1. Vacuuming
Vacuuming your carpet regularly prolongs it’s life. It is suggested to vacuum your carpets once a week, and sometimes more in higher traffic areas. Go over a spot more than once, especially with plush carpet where it is easy for dirt to hide. Add baking soda to the bag to prevent odors.

2. Prevention
One of the easiest things you can do to prevent your carpets from getting dirty is taking off your shoes at the door. This will keep you from tracking in anything from outside. You do still want to wear socks, though, as the natural oils in your feet attract dirt.

3. Removing Odors
An easy way to remove odors from your carpet is to sprinkle baking soda on your carpet. Leave it for 30 minutes to an hour before vacuuming. Baking soda absorbs odors and moisture. Try adding some lavender oil to further improve indoor odor.

Other resources:

What are the Most Effective Natural Cleaning Products?

April 1, 2013December 15, 2013

Must-Haves for Your Cleaning Kit

Things to Have for Your At-Home Cleaning Kit

It’s important to keep your house clean. You should always look for a company that offers professional home cleaning services in Denver or whatever city you’re in at least once a year. But you obviously can’t get your house clean yearly and think that’s good enough, you need to get into a weekly routine. But sometimes cleaning can seem like more of a chore than it really is. You’d be surprised how fast you can get work done when you stay organized and take things one at a time. Plus, if you buy the best quality cleaning products then it makes the whole process a lot easier. But that’s a very open statement. What is the best canister vacuum cleaner to buy? What type of cloth is the best? Who does the best bleach? All this can be found out through a little research. The point of this guide is to give a list of the items you’ll need to make an easy-to-carry cleaning kit that you can take around the house without hassle. First of all, start with a cleaning caddy to carry all of your things in.

Sponges
The sponge is a well-used tool used in a lot of light cleaning. It is much more eco-friendly than paper towels, as it is reusable and a lot more durable. And while sponges are known for carrying lots of germs, they can also be cleaned.

To clean your sponge, rinse it in hot, soapy water then put them in the microwave for a minute. Doing this will kill 99% of the germs in the sponge, so you don’t have to worry about spreading around those dirty germs. If you’re concerned about coming into contact with germs and spreading them about the surfaces of your house, you may want to carry a bottle of Hand Sanitizer Canada around with you for quick germ-killing action.

Toothbrush
A toothbrush is a really handy cleaning aid. They’re nice because, when your toothbrush is past it’s prime, you don’t have to throw it away; you can repurpose them to scrub places that other cleaning supplies can’t get into.

Whether it’s scrubbing away limescale or soap scum, a toothbrush makes the perfect handheld fixer upper.

Duster
You probably use a feather duster or dusting cloth, but one thing that’s good to remember is that dusters need to be cleaned too. By not cleaning out the dust, you’re actually making it harder to pick up more. I suggest vacuuming your duster after each job. This way it will be ready to go next time. You’ll pick up more dust this way too.

Along with a regular duster, you might want to consider picking up a specialty duster. You don’t absolutely need it, but getting dust off of your mini-blinds, ceiling fans, and such will be much easier. These dusters are shaped to reach those places where dust loves to hide, so with just a quick go-over with a specialty duster and you’re done.

The Only 3 Cleaners You Need
There are only 3 cleaner that you will need for your cleaning kit, and below I’ve explained the uses for each.

All Purpose Cleaner: All purpose cleaners are a housekeepers dream. You don’t have to keep switching cleaners every time you change surfaces. All-purpose cleaners can be used for a number of things: counters, floors, sinks, oven, toilets, windows, tile and more. While you may not want to use an all-purpose cleaner on all surfaces, this cleaner will usually get the job done.

Wood Polish Cleaner: Wood polish is great for keeping your wood looking clean, new, and dust-free. Use wood polish on sealed wood furniture, cabinets, wood floors, banisters, etc.

Scrubbing Cleanser: If you can’t seem to get tough stains out, that’s when you switch to a scrubbing cleansers. Scrubbing cleansers get tough dirt and grime off of sinks, toilets, bathtubs, ovens, pots, grout/tile, and more.

The Natural Alternative
If you’re looking for more natural alternatives to the commercial cleaners, then look no further. There are many supplies you probably already have in your kitchen that can get the job done.

Vinegar: Vinegar kills 98% of bacteria and germs, and you don’t have to worry about it being toxic.

Baking soda: Baking soda is naturally abrasive, so it can remove dirt and grime. It also absorbs odors.

Olive Oil: Olive Oil can polish naturally, and it doesn’t dry or leave sticky residue.

Alternatively, if you are looking for tips on how to disinfect your home you can visit https://grootrealtyco.com/how-to-disinfect-your-grand-rapids-mi-home/ to learn more.

Handheld Vacuum
A handheld vacuum is great for doing small jobs that don’t require the attention of your full-sized vacuum cleaner. If you keep a handheld vacuum on hand, then it will be much easier to keep from doing those jobs that you’d otherwise leave for next time.

Magic Eraser
Special eraser sponges make dirt and grime disappear like magic. They’re made of a soft but strong material called melamine foam that can get to that dirt embedded in your wall or floor without using abrasive action that could damage your surfaces. They take care of scuff marks on your floor, and even get crayon off the wall; all without you having to use tons of elbow grease. All you have to do is add a bit of water and scrub.

Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber fabric is specially made to be good at grabbing and holding onto dust. It’s great for cleaning electronics, which always seem to attract a lot of the dust in the air. Microfiber cloths are handy too keep around for dusting purposes. They are available in both washable and disposable varieties.

Now that you’re well-equipped with the right tools, grab your cleaning kit and tackle those tasks!