Carpet
Cleaning 12 Things To Know About Carpet Cleaning
Carpets, there in all of our homes. Of course it's a given that
at some point you will be doing some carpet cleaning. Here are 12
things to know about carpet cleaning that will make your life easier.
1. Toxic
Most of the products on the market for carpet cleaning are safe
and will have a minimal impact on the environment. However some
of the carpet cleaning products do contain toxic chemicals which
can be hazardous to the person using them as well as other people
in the house or pets. So be sure to read the labels carefully before
using. Always try to choose a product with the least amount of chemicals
and in the mildest you can find that will work.
2. Clean Often
It's always best to clean your carpets on a regular basis. If you
do not clean your carpets on a regular basis you will need to use
a stronger chemical product because the dirt will have ground itself
deeper into the carpet and it becomes more difficult to lift. Cleaning
your carpets on a regular basis is easier on the environment, your
health, and it will help extend the life of the carpet.
3. Use Caution
Read labels very carefully. Not only on the product but on any documentation
provided with the carpet. Should you use the wrong product or a
product with stronger chemical than your carpet can handle you could
damage the carpet.
4. Hire The Pros
If you are not comfortable with cleaning your carpets yourself or
you can't be bothered to rent a carpet cleaning machine, drag it
home, and get to work, then hire the pros! There are many professionals
that will clean your carpets for a very reasonable fee and give
you a guarantee on the work they do.
5. Installation
If you are laying new carpets chances are the reason you are doing
this is because you want them to look appealing and accent the room
while at the same time providing functionality. If you install the
carpet poorly or install the wrong type of carpet for the area you
will have a higher maintenance cost and the carpets will need to
be cleaned more frequently. So make sure you choose the correct
carpets. Regular vacuuming and spot removal will also lower your
cleaning maintenance costs.
6. The Right Underlay
The underlay is more important than you might think and is directly
related to carpet cleaning. You need to match the underlay to the
type of carpet you will be installing. Carpet should not be placed
in areas were water, chemicals or hard to clean products could be
spilled on the carpet. Kitchens, copy rooms, lockers, and entrances
to buildings are not a good location to place carpets because your
carpet cleaning costs will be high. Poor grade underlay will affect
how the stain soaks into the carpet and how difficult stain removal
becomes.
7. Stop The Worst
The worst soiling on your carpets comes from outside. So if you
stop outside soil from coming in contact with your carpet you will
reduce the amount of chemical cleaners you will have to use. Place
a large walking mat at all outside entrances Every few days you
should vacuum the mats this will prevent soil from entering the
carpeted areas of your home. Have visitors remove their shoes so
that they aren't dragging that loose dirt across the carpets.
8. Vacuum Often
Believe it or not daily vacuuming with a good vacuum cleaner that
has good suction and a power head with a brush type power bar will
help to eliminate soil build up and reduce the amount of times you
will need carpet cleaning performed. That's because the dirt gets
picked up before it has a chance to get ground in and soil the carpet.
9. No Drinks
Limit the places you allow the kids to have drinks and messy foods.
If you have young children make them stay seated while drinking.
If you are really concerned about reducing staining then don't let
any family member's family drink or carry soft drinks, coffee or
other food items across the carpet.
10. Act Fast
If you can react to the spill immediately and any spots you see
with a good spot remover you will help prevent stain from becoming
permanent and it will save you having to use a carpet cleaner. Be
careful what you use to remove stains because if you use the wrong
chemicals you could smear the stain and spread it further and deeper
into the carpet. Always first try clear cold water and blotting
with a cloth to remove the stain and only move on to a stronger
product only as a last resort.
11. Toxic Chemicals
You should know that carpet spot removal cleaning products contain
some of the most dangerous chemicals found in any cleaning products.
If you us these products be sure to wear gloves and use the cleaner
according to the manufactures directions. Avoid all type 4 spot
removers because they contain Tetrachlorethylene which is very toxic
to people and pets.
12. Steam Cleaners
Steam or rotary cleaners for carpets use a fairly mild products
so they are an excellent choice. But you can still misuse them so
follow the directions carefully. If you use this type of cleaner
you will have to be careful that you do not saturate the carpet
with hot water because if you do it will take longer to dry and
may result in damage to the carpet.
Some of the cleaners supplied with the machines you rent from the
local store are highly toxic so be sure the room or rooms you are
working in have a good supply of fresh air. Be sure to keep kids
and pets off the newly cleaned carpets until it is dry because there
is always a residue left on the carpets that can be harmful to kids
or pets. Always let the carpets dry completely and then vacuum right
after it is dry to remove any residual contaminants.
These 12 things to know about carpet cleaning that will make your
life easier much easier and keep you on top of the carpet cleaning
game.
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