Traditionally, a majority of the homeowners take their drapes and curtains to the professionals for cleaning services. This explains why it has not been a common practice to find homeowners undertaking drape cleaning services on their own. However, if you want to clean drapes at home, some approaches follow.
1. Identify the Material
You should know that different drape materials will always require other cleaning methods. Therefore, the first step is to identify the fabric of your drape. This way, you will be able to determine the most appropriate cleaning method and products. Some materials are delicate, and they might require hand washing, while others can do with machine washing.
2. Check the Care Label
If you want to clean your drapes at home, check the care label. The care label will usually have all the instructions you need to follow in cleaning your drape without causing any damage. Carefully follow all the instructions provided on the care label. Traditionally, most drapes will have a “dry clean only” label.
3. Start by Dusting
You should also start by dusting your drapes before you can proceed to any other form of cleaning. Dust accumulates on curtains, making the fabric look dull. You can use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to dust your drape. Ensure that you vacuum both sides of the drape to remove all the dust.
4. Test the Cleaning Products
You should also test the cleaning products before using them on your drape. This is because some materials are sensitive, and they might get damaged by some cleaning products. To test the products, you should apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area of the drape and observe to see if there are any adverse effects.
5. Wash According to the Instructions
Once you have tested the products, you can proceed to wash your drape according to the instructions provided. If you are hand-washing, you should use cool water and a mild detergent. You should also use cool water and a mild detergent for machine washing. Avoid using hot water as it might damage the fabric.
6. Dry Your Drapes
After washing, you should proceed to dry your drapes. You can either air dry or machine dry. However, you should avoid using high heat when machine drying as it might damage the fabric. Drying drapes and curtains can be challenging, and it might take some time. However, you should be patient and allow them to dry completely.
You can also iron your drape after it has dried completely. This is an optional step, but it will help remove any wrinkles on the fabric. You should use a cool setting when ironing and avoid using high heat as it might damage the fabric.
Conclusion
Cleaning your drapes at home is not as demanding a task as it might seem. With the right approach and products, you can easily clean your drape without causing any damage. However, in some instances, you’ll need professional drape cleaning services. Reach out to Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center for your drape cleaning needs.
Although appropriate maintenance can significantly increase the life of a carpet, every carpet that is regularly used will ultimately require replacement. Some signs that your carpet needs replacement are obvious, but others are more subtle. The following are some signs that your carpet requires replacement.
Stains
Most carpets have a stain-resistant finish. However, with time, it fades and ultimately makes the carpet vulnerable. Fortunately, professional carpet cleaners have the expertise to eradicate stains. Nevertheless, tough stains sometimes do not go away. Plant food, tea, Bleach, mustard, and wine are typically the most stubborn stains.
Stains due to pet urine, vomit, feces, mildew, and mold are generally easy to remove if you act fast. However, these substances ultimately infiltrate the carpet padding, resulting in mildew and mold accumulation under the carpet. In case these stains are in many places, you should consider replacing your carpet to avoid health risks with mold.
Wear and Tear
Significant wear and tear on the walkways and matted carpetare key signals that your carpet needs replacement.
Polyester gets matted easily, losing its form. When the carpet loses its tuft, it does not go back to normal. Nylon carpets, however, are generally hardier than polyester ones and respond well to cleaning.
You can carry out carpet repair on small wear and tear. However, large tears and rips signal the need for carpet replacement, more so if they are present on major walkways.
Stinky carpet
If you have not cleaned your carpet in a while or own a pet, you might sense a persistent odor on your carpet, but the scent should disappear or be markedly reduced after an appropriate cleaning. If it does not, it implies that the scent has gone deep into the fibers of the carpet, the carpets pad, or the subfloor, and might also indicate mildew and mold growth.
In these circumstances, it would be more cost-effective to do carpet replacement to fully eradicate the odors.
Carpet padding condition
Carpet padding assists in supporting the carpet making it comfortable to lay and walk on. It absorbs sounds, keeping a room quieter and even enhances insulation. Nevertheless, carpet padding absorbs spillages, and cleaning the carpet does not essentially clean the padding. Signals of old padding are wrinkles, unevenness, and a creasing sound when you walk on it.
Persistent allergy symptoms
Regularly, older carpets get and hold more allergens, causing allergies to escalate. If there is an upsurge in allergies, your older carpet might be one of the sources. A solution could be engaging specialized carpet cleaners. Nevertheless, it might be helpful to your health if you replace the carpet.
Old carpet
Believe it or not, a carpet does not last forever, even with utmost care. According to most manufacturers, carpets can last for around ten years with appropriate care.
Afterward, signs of wear and tear appear on the main walkways, and fibers begin losing their tuft and texture. Some common signs of old carpet are fading, color loss, wrinkles, ripples, matting, and lack of padding support.
Not many businesses will think about stripping and waxing the floors. However, even though it may seem to be unnecessary, stripping and waxing have many benefits that you may not know about. Whether you have a business office, hotel, or any other type of commercial property, here is why you should think of stripping and waxing the floors:
To Maintain Cleanliness
One of the main benefits of stripping is waxing is to give the flooring a fresh, new, and clean look. It is quite hard to keep flooring in businesses clean because of the large space and heavy foot traffic. Moreover, usually, business owners do not ask their clients and visitors to remove their shoes before stepping on the floor. For this reason, businesses should consider stripping and waxing that will help the flooring look cleaner and make it last longer.
To Eliminate Moisture
Another benefit is that floor waxing and stripping help keep moisture off the flooring. Water and moisture are not good for the floor because they lead to mold formation, make the flooring look darker and harming it. Moreover, floors with moisture can be slippery and dangerous for anyone who steps on them.
To Protect the Flooring From Scratches
If your business has a lot of foot traffic, the flooring will probably develop scratches and marks over time. As a result, the floor will look worn out and dull. To prevent permanent scratches or make them look less obvious, you should have your flooring stripped and waxed regularly.
To Prevent Discoloration of the Flooring
If the flooring does not have property protection, it may become discolored over time. Debris and dirt can penetrate the floor, creating stains that are hard to remove. With the help of commercial floor waxing and stripping, you can remove these stains and provide your floor with the necessary protection. As a result, your floor will not only look better, but it will also serve your business longer.
Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center – Get Your Flooring Stripped and Waxed by Dedicated Professionals
Are you looking for a company specializing in stripping and waxing in New Jersey? Then, you should contact the experts at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center who will make your flooring look new again. When it comes to stripping and commercial floor waxing, we are experienced, trained, and equipped to perform it safely and efficiently. To schedule a service or get a consultation, do not hesitate to contact a member of our team.
We all love the warmth and beauty that oriental rugs add to our home décor. While they are designed to withstand all manner of treatment, including being stepped on, oriental rugs deserve proper care to maintain their beautiful colors and character. That means not waiting until you have a big stain or spot a dirty patch to consider cleaning your rug. So, after how long should you consider oriental rug cleaning? This article will help you learn how often to clean a rug.
How often should you clean your oriental rug?
The frequency of cleaning an oriental rug may vary from one home to another. One of the main factors is usage. For instance, bigger homes with more children are likely to clean their oriental rugs more often than a home with fewer children or pets. Oriental rugs are professionally woven using heavy textiles like silk, wool, and cotton. Their intricate designs may sometimes hide dirt, making you think your rug doesn’t need cleaning. With that said, oriental rug cleaning should be done every six months to one year, depending on traffic and soiling. Below are other reasons to clean your oriental rug.
If you can still feel or see dirt after vacuuming
The best method for maintaining and preserving rugs is vacuuming. We recommend using a soft-bristled beater bar in the vacuum. The beater bar can vibrate the fibers to shake the dirt off and loosen it. Once the dirt comes loose, the vacuum can suck it up effortlessly. If you vacuum your oriental rug every week, but it still feels dirty and dusty, it’s time to give it a wash. Remember, vacuuming only removes the topsoil from the surface but may not reach a million particles at the bottom of the rug.
If your rug is frequently walked on
You also want to schedule routine cleaning if many people step on your rug. For instance, rugs placed around the front door that everyone steps on when entering or leaving the house should be cleaned more often as they’re more likely to trap dirt than other rugs in the house. Rugs in the bedrooms are rarely stepped on, which means they can take longer to get dirty.
If you have children and pets in your home
If you have children, pets, or both running around your home, you may need to clean your carpet more often — maybe every three months. If your pets like to sleep on the rugs, their greasy coats may soak into the rug’s natural fibers, which leads to dirt sticking on the rugs.
After an accidental spill
Depending on the brand and material used to make your oriental rug, some simple spills may require special cleaning right away. Some stains can be easy to remove, while others require professional cleaning. For instance, spills like grape wine, ink, blood stains, and coffee can be particularly challenging to remove.
If you don’t remember the last time you professionally cleaned your oriental rug
Oriental rugs are pretty good at hiding dirt, making it difficult to track the number of times you have cleaned them.
If you don’t remember the last time you washed your rug, consider scheduling a professional cleaning with Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We offer a wide range of cleaning services for all types of floors, rugs and carpets in more than 20 cities in New Jersey. Ready to book for your oriental rug cleaning? Just give us a call at (732) 721-1582 anytime.
Shag carpets used to be a thing of the ’60s and ’70s. Back in the day, they came in many unique colors and thicknesses. Due to the overall thickness of the carpet, shag was known for being harder to care for. It has always been a lot harder to vacuum and have cleaned. Shag carpeting has made a comeback in more recent times, and it’s important to know how to care for thicker carpeting. Here are a few tips and guidelines that can help you keep your shag carpeting looking nicer and stay cleaner.
Vacuuming Is Very Important for all Carpeting, Especially Shag
Regular vacuuming for most carpeting is very important. This is especially true for shag carpeting. Dirt particles, human and pet hair, and all sorts of other debris can get down into the base of your carpet. Dirt and other particles can wear against your carpet fibers, leaving them looking worn out and dingy. They can especially get trapped in thicker, shag carpet.
It’s important to vacuum often and thoroughly with shag carpeting. Going slower than you would with a normal, shorter to medium-length carpet is essential. You may want to move along a north and south path, and re-vacuum it, going in an east and west path.
Purchase a Carpet Rake for Shag Carpeting
A solid carpet rake is a valuable tool to help keep your shag carpeting in top condition. There are numerous types of carpet rakes to choose from. A typical carpet rake may have nylon fibers and be used for fluffing up your shag carpeting. This can help it look less matted and fluffier in appearance. It will also loosen up debris, making it easier to vacuum when it’s time to do that.
Other kinds of carpet rakes deal with pet hair more specifically. These rakes look somewhat like oversized pet brushes with long handles. Ensure that the rake head is clean after each use, as they will collect pet hair and other debris.
Carpet Brushes
Hand-held carpet brushes are great for light cleaning and can keep shag carpet and rugs looking much nicer. You should first vacuum to loosen the dirt. Next, mix a little dishwashing liquid and water in a bucket and dip in the brush so it is damp but not dripping water.
Clean small areas at a time with the brush, working the liquid into the stains and dirty spots. You can vacuum up any excess water with a shop vac. If the shag rug or carpets have numerous spots or dirty areas, the process may take a bit of time.
Using these tips on your shag rugs or shag carpeting will help keep them looking better and extend life. You can easily make shag carpet improvements with a few little tricks and extra effort to keep them looking their best.
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