Below are simple steps and cleaning techniques for keeping your carpet looking great!
- Vacuum – This could be the most important tip we have! Vacuuming is key to maintaining your carpet! Carpets need to be vacuumed once a week and more often in areas of heavy traffic. Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing a buildup of gritty particles that can cut carpet fibers. Pay special attention to the areas where people sit and move their feet. Vacuum these areas of heavy traffic with a crisscross pattern of overlapping strokes.
- Clean spots and spills quickly with products that do not damage the carpet or cause it to resoil more quickly.
- Professionally clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove embedded dirt and grime.
Stop dirt at the door! Preventing dirt and grime from getting on the carpet in the first place is a great way to start keeping it clean. The following helpful hints can stop dirt in its tracks:
Use mats — Outdoor and indoor mats or runners can reduce the amount of dirt that enters the house.
Take off your shoes — You can save wear and tear on carpet by asking everyone to take their shoes off before entering your home.
Change your air filters — Change air filters in your heating and air-conditioning systems as recommended by the manufacturer’s directions. The more dust and particles removed by the filter, the fewer that fall onto the carpet.
Act Quickly! - Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment; so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.
Blot liquids - Use a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white paper toweling (no printing).
Fresh liquid spills and urine: For fresh spills and accidents, sprinkle a fair amount of baking soda on the spill immediately and allow it to absorb the liquid. Letting the baking soda sit for as long as possible will allow it to pull the moisture out completely. After 30 minutes to an hour, use a hand brush and dustpan to remove the bulk of the baking soda and vacuum the area afterwards. Doing this keeps the spill from seeping into the padding of your carpet which can cause mold, mildew and odor
Do not scrub the area - Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed.
Pretest any spot removal agent – Before using any new spot cleaner on your carpet, test in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected. We also offer a Home Pro Spotter that is great for cleaning spots and spills!
Dents in your carpet:
To get rid of dents in your carpet left by large furniture, use ice cubes! Place an ice cube or 2 in the dent and allow the cubes to melt. Once melted, use a soft bristled brush to raise the nap if needed!
Mud Removal:
Step 1: Allow the mud to dry completely, then brush the excess mud to loosen it and vacuum up as much as possible.
Step 2: Mix 1 teaspoon mild detergent, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, and 1 quart warm water and apply solution to the spot. (you will likely not need to use the entire quart of fluid, unless the spot is very large.)
Step 3: Brush with soft brush. Blot the area gently (do not rub) with a terry cloth towel. Allow the carpet to dry. Step 4: When the spot is completely dry, vacuum gently.
Cigarette Burn Holes:
For small round burns in your carpeting caused by the end of a cigarette or sparks from your fireplace, follow these simple steps to remove the burn:
Step 1: Vacuum the area well to remove any remaining ash or burnt fibers.
Step 2: Using a quarter turned on the side, rub the burned area of carpet vigorously with the rimmed edge of the quarter. This will loosen all of the burnt fibers.
Step 3: Once loosened, vacuum up the loose fibers.
Step 4: Follow this up with cleaning the area with a 2 parts vinegar 1 part hot water solution. Blot up the wet area with a dry, white towel.
Step 5: Use a soft/medium bristled cleaning brush to raise the surrounding fibers. The black burned spot will be gone!
Finger Nail Polish:
Finger nail polish end up on more than just your nails? If it lands on your carpet, try these steps to get it out:
Step 1: Blot up the excess(if there is any)from the outside of the stain inward.
Step 2: Using a cotton ball and a solvent based cleaner, like Acetone or Goo-Gone,(making SURE to test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure you do not fade the color of your carpet or cause bleaching), blot the stain from the outside towards the center. Remember, when cleaning carpet stains, especially those made by nail polish, it's important to blot. Don't rub or the nail polish will spread.
Step 3: After all of the polish is gone, blot with a clean cotton ball and water to remove any residue.
Finger nail polish end up on more than just your nails? If it lands on your carpet, try these steps to get it out:
Step 1: Blot up the excess(if there is any)from the outside of the stain inward.
Step 2: Using a cotton ball and a solvent based cleaner, like Acetone or Goo-Gone,(making SURE to test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure you do not fade the color of your carpet or cause bleaching), blot the stain from the outside towards the center. Remember, when cleaning carpet stains, especially those made by nail polish, it's important to blot. Don't rub or the nail polish will spread.
Step 3: After all of the polish is gone, blot with a clean cotton ball and water to remove any residue.