As a homeowner, you have many options when it comes to installing new flooring. You can choose hardwood floors, tile floors or carpet, but it’s up to you to figure out which material is right for you and your household. What do we mean by “the right material”? Some may see one type of flooring material as safer, more attractive or easier to keep clean over another. In the case of carpet, it’s unfortunately common to see its fibers as allergen trappers.
With this in mind, is there a link between carpet flooring and allergies? Read on for some facts from a professional carpet cleaning company in South Amboy, NJ.
The studies
In the past, people with asthma or severe allergies have been told to remove all carpet in their home to get relief. But is it true that carpet fibers can make these respiratory issues worse, or even cause them in the first place? Here’s where various studies come in. The past couple decades have seen studies challenging the claim that carpeting is a problem for allergy sufferers. Some studies are scientific, while others received funding from the flooring industry. Some studies actually suggest carpeting actually helps alleviate allergy symptoms.
Between the year 2000 and 2010, several reputable scientific studies—including the European Community Respiratory Health Survey and the German Allergy and Asthma Society—contradicted views that carpeting materials pose problems for those living with asthma or allergies. Findings came from studies that measured the volume of allergens in rooms with bare floors and again in rooms with carpeting. The central result of some studies was that wall-to-wall carpeting minimizes risk of allergens, while bare floors encourage more airborne particles.
Carpet holds particles: Good or bad?
Many people didn’t read the studies and sit there shocked staring at the findings. You don’t have to be a researcher to understand that carpet fibers have the ability to hold common allergens like dust, dirt, hair, pet dander, pollen and more. The thing about some of the studies is that instead of this being a drawback, it highlights it as an advantage, especially for very sensitive allergy sufferers. The agreement is that carpet holds onto the allergens, which prevents the particles from getting kicked up into the air. They are trapped in the fibers and get sucked up during the next vacuuming session.
The fact of the matter
Regardless of studies and views, the fact of the matter is that cleaning your floors is essential. If you want hard flooring, be sure to clean and maintain it properly with vacuuming, sweeping and damp washing from time to time. If you have carpeting, regular, thorough vacuuming and the occasional shampooing is the key to removing allergens from your home. You’ll breathe more easily and feel better overall. Another step to consider is going to a local flooring installer or even a doctor for advice on the best flooring material options for allergy sufferers like yourself.
A professional carpet cleaning company in South Amboy, NJ can get your carpets fresh and clean in no time. Call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today to book your appointment!
A majority of Americans consider their pets beloved members of the family—and just like family, cats and dogs can drive you crazy and frustrate you. The problem is that you can’t voice your irritation with pets like you can with your human family members. You love your cat, but you don’t love the smells he sometimes leaves behind. For instance, that urine odor wafting throughout your house is unpleasant and no way to greet guests when they enter the front door.
Luckily, the awful scent your dear old kitty has left behind does not have to be a permanent feature of your home. Below are some tips to help any pet parent remove cat urine from fabrics and carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ.
Clean up what you can
The first thing to do is remove as much of the cat urine as possible, because less urine means less of a need for deep cleaning. It’s for this reason that you should clean up as much of the mess as you can as soon as you notice your cat has peed anywhere other than in his litter box. According to the Humane Society of the United States, urine spots on fabric furniture or carpet should be blotted away with an absorbent paper towel. While it won’t pull out all of the urine, there will be less remaining to treat later.
Your cat may have urinated on other fabrics, like drapes, clothing or linens. In cases like these, wash or dry clean the items as soon as possible. Urine odor becomes more stubborn the longer it stays on fabric, so don’t wait to clean it out using baking soda or enzymatic additives.
Use an extracting wet vac
It’s important to note that while you can use an extracting wet vac to remove cat urine, you should always avoid steam cleaners. A wet vac cleaner expels clean water onto the carpet or furniture fabric, then sucks the dirty water back up into the tank. This step rinses the area rather well for carpet flooring. Unless you want to enhance the urine smell, avoid using a steam cleaner. The heat from this device can cause odors to set into the fibers of the carpet, making the odor removal job more difficult.
Sprinkle baking soda afterward
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which does a fantastic job of absorbing odors from carpet. To use baking soda as an air freshener, sprinkle it on carpets or upholstery after you have cleaned off the urine and the area has had time to dry. Sprinkle and let it set for at least one hour, then vacuum it up.
Prevent accidents
The more your cat pees outside of his litter box and on your indoor surfaces, the harder it’ll be to keep the odor under control. Try some methods like litter box retraining, laying down absorbent pee pads, getting your cat spayed or neutered and adding more litter boxes. You should also consult your veterinarian, as inappropriate urination may be a sign of underlying medical issues.
If you need your carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ professionally cleaned, contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. Reach out today to schedule an appointment!
Dealing with a flooded room is something that nobody wants to think about. From replacing your belongings to taking care of inspections and mold remediation, the whole ordeal is a huge pain in the neck, even if you have flood insurance. The only way a flood could get worse is if you have carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ.
Though the severity of the situation depends on a few different factors, anyone who’s dealt with a flood in a carpeted room can attest to the fact that it’s a nightmare. Let’s hope you never have to worry about it, but in the event that you do, this post will teach you what you need to know to get started on dealing with your carpet after a flood.
Where did the water come from?
You may just think, “Water is water.” Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The source of the floodwater makes a huge difference in the steps you’ll need to take going forward. If it’s clean water, like from a burst pipe or an overflowed tub, you can clean the carpet yourself. If the flood water is “gray water,” meaning it’s unsanitary water from a dishwasher, washing machine or similar source, your carpet is ruined and you’ll need help from a professional. The same is true for “black water,” which is unsanitary and dangerous water from rivers or streams that contains pathogens.
What can professionals do?
Professional carpet removal is required if the flood water is gray or black. Luckily, that’s one of our specialties! Here are the steps we take to help get your life back in order after a flood:
Remove the carpeting and furniture: After the water has stopped flowing, we’ll get to work removing all of the carpet, padding and furniture from the room. The longer wet carpet and furniture sit in the affected area, the greater the chance that microbes begin to grow, which poses a serious health threat for everyone. Remember to leave removal to the pros. We have all of the proper safety gear to ensure nobody gets sick from microbes.
Bring in fans: The best way to dry out a flooded room is to bring in industrial-strength fans, and that’s exactly what we do after we haul out your old carpeting and furniture. How long we leave the fans running depends on the severity of the flood, but rest assured the fans will eventually get rid of all the water from your home.
Inspect for mold: Mold growth is one of the biggest dangers from water damage, especially if the water is gray or black. Once the room is dry, a full mold inspection will need to be performed. If any mold is found, you’ll need to have that professionally taken care of as soon as possible.
Replace the flooring: Finally, once everything is dry and mold-free, our team can install new flooring. If performed correctly, you’ll never be able to tell that a flood happened in the first place.
If your carpet is soaked, be sure to pick up the phone and call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. From simple cleaning to water damage restoration and even new installation, we’re your one-stop shop for carpet flooring in South Amboy, NJ!
Whether it’s caused by a spilled beverage or a pet accident, your carpet flooring is always in danger of getting stained. Luckily, if you act fast, you can remove that stain and ensure that it doesn’t ruin your carpeting. There are plenty of commercial products you can buy to get rid of that stain, but did you know that one of the best stain cleaning and odor removing products is likely sitting in your kitchen cupboard already? White vinegar is a cure-all for many carpet conundrums. Continue reading to learn more about using vinegar for spot cleaning in South Amboy, NJ!
Stain removal
Dumping a bottle of vinegar onto a stain won’t help remove the stain—all that’ll do is make your carpet wet and make the whole room smell like vinegar. The first step is to scoop up any solids left on top of the carpet. Next, blot the stain with a solution of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water. Be sure that the towel you use to blot the area is safe for the carpeting and won’t bleed, as that’ll just lead to a bigger mess. Repeat this as many times as necessary until the stain is fully lifted. The damp area will smell like vinegar for a few minutes, but the smell will subside before you know it.
Deodorizer
The stain may be gone, but that doesn’t mean the smell is removed. Before you go out and purchase an odor-fighting chemical, turn to your handy bottle of vinegar. A mixture of one tablespoon of vinegar, one teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of warm water is just as effective as anything you can buy at the store. Pour that mixture into a spray bottle, shake it up and lightly spray the smelly area. Again, the vinegar smell will be overpowering at first, but once the carpet is dry, the whole room will smell like new.
Steam cleaning
Does your carpet need a deep steam clean? If so, consider swapping out the traditional chemicals for white vinegar. All you have to do is pour white vinegar into the steam cleaner where you’d usually pour the cleaning solution, and then run the machine as normal. Once the carpet is dry, your room will smell just as good as if you’d used harsh carpet cleaning chemicals. No rinsing is necessary after you’re done with the job!
Other uses for vinegar
Vinegar is a great product to have around the house. In addition to cleaning carpets, it’s handy in everyday cleaning and works to ward off bugs and kill weeds. From helping in the kitchen to the bathroom and even outdoors, vinegar should be your new go-to grocery item.
If your bottle of vinegar doesn’t do the trick, pick up the phone and give Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center a call. We’ll come out as quickly as possible to professionally clean your carpet and ensure it looks as good as new. We have years of experience with spot cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, so you know you’re in good hands with our team.
Not all carpet fibers are created equal. Carpet comes in a wide variety of materials, and each type has its own pros and cons. If you are considering new carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ, you should start this process by deciding what type of carpet fiber is best for your home and lifestyle. To help you do that, our team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center has put together a list of some of the most common carpet materials:
Polyester: Polyester may be one of the most commonly-used fibers in carpets. Polyester is remarkably stain-resistant, easy to clean and non-allergenic. It also comes in a wide range of colors, patterns, styles and textures, making it one of the most versatile fibers for your home. Keep in mind, however, that it is not as durable as other fibers and may not be best for high-traffic areas.
Nylon: Looking to carpet a high-traffic area? You may want to consider a carpet made with nylon fibers. Nylon is a strong fiber and is highly resistant to crushing and other damage. Nylon is also hypoallergenic, easy to clean and resistant to mildew. On the downside, nylon can be prone to static.
Wool: Wool has long been and will continue to be the fiber known for offering the utmost in style and comfort. It has a rich, deep feel to it that many people find appealing. Wool is also a natural fiber that doesn’t waste natural resources, which makes it good for the environment. Wool also compares favorably with manmade materials in other departments—for example, it’s naturally stain-resistant and durable. Keep in mind, however, that wool is also the most expensive carpet fiber.
Polypropylene (olefin): While this carpet is not nearly as expensive as wool, it gives the impression of wool fibers, which means you can get the look of wool without having to pay top dollar for it. Olefin is perfect for areas that are likely to experience moisture. Because this type of material is dyed before being made into fibers for carpeting, it is quite colorfast. However, it can lose its color if it is frequently exposed to direct sunlight.
Acrylic: Unlike polyester and nylon, carpet made from acrylic fibers is less likely to fade in direct sunlight. This fiber is also easy to clean and, in many ways, it mimics wool fibers in texture and feel.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a carpet, including color, style and budget, but the most important thing is to determine what type of carpet fiber will best meet your needs. If you are unsure how you can get a carpet you love that will also be functional for your home and family, the experts at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center can help! We do more than just carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ. We also offer carpet repair and cleaning services, which means we have valuable insight into what works and what doesn’t. To learn more, just call us today!
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