To keep your home’s carpeting smelling fresh and looking good, you will want to opt for professional carpet cleaning services on an annual basis. And why not hire an expert? After all, the pros have the right equipment, machines and cleansing solutions, and they will perform all the necessary cleaning steps from start to finish. All you need to do is schedule an appointment and let the cleaners know where to clean, then watch as your carpets are magically transformed from grimy to bright!
However, there are still some things you can do throughout the year to extend your carpet’s life. Here are some of the best ways to take care of your carpets and rugs in between appointments for professional carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ:
Vacuum thoroughly and often: Dust, dirt and other debris are quick to get trapped in carpet fibers. Unfortunately, too much carpet debris buildup leads to a grungy appearance, and high-traffic spots will yield ground-in dirt that produces a flattened path. Not only does vacuuming remove debris, but its suctioning power also fluffs carpet fibers back to a soft and plushy state. A good rule of thumb is to vacuum carpets at least once a week. If you have pets or kids, or suffer from allergies—especially dust mite and pollen allergies—it’s not a bad plan to vacuum a few times a week, if not everyday.
Vacuum more slowly: If you are like many homeowners, then you don’t take pleasure in having to vacuum the entire house. This can make you want to run the vacuum over the carpet very quickly, which means the debris deep down in the carpet’s fibers will not get sucked up. To make sure the vacuum can extract dirt and other debris, make slower passes over each area, and perhaps even slowly pass back over each spot a couple times. It’s better to take a few extra minutes to thoroughly vacuum your carpets than to zoom over the surface and miss grabbing most of the dirt.
Protect high-traffic areas: As mentioned earlier, carpeted areas that are subjected to high foot traffic are liable to have excessive amounts of dirt ground in and have the appearance of being smashed down. It’s important to give extra attention to these areas by vacuuming more often to fluff fibers back to their original form or putting down rugs to prevent carpet wear.
Leave dirt outside: There are two kinds of people: those who take off their shoes immediately upon entering their house, and those who walk on the carpet with their shoes still on. To cut down on the amount of dirt that’s tracked inside, leave shoes outside or in the entryway and go barefoot or change into indoor slippers. If you have pets, wipe their feet of dirt, pollen, grass and other particles before letting them back inside.
If you need professional carpet cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, look no further than Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We are your go-to carpet experts for regular cleanings, new carpet installation and water damage restoration.
As a homeowner, you may have experienced water seeping into your home through a busted water pipe or rising rainwater. No matter how little the amount of water, home flooding is a major inconvenience that can be costly—and if the invading water is left for too long, it can lead to mold growth. If possible, it’s best to clean up as much water as you can right then and there, but also consider calling a professional carpet cleaner in your area for help.
The key to saving your carpeted floor, furniture and other possessions from mold growth is to take swift action and seek water damage restoration in South Amboy, NJ. Here are some steps you can take, whether you decide to start tackling the cleanup job yourself or wait to get started when the pros arrive.
Don’t wait to remove water
A carpet cleaning company that specializes in flood damaged carpets will have all the equipment necessary to remove water and moisture to avoid the need for a total replacement. They will use powerful, professional-grade wet vacuums to suck up as much water as possible before moisture has a chance to give life to mold and mildew, because once mold forms and spreads, the carpet may not be salvageable.
If the water leak is small, or if you want to try cleaning the water up on your own, you may be able to rent a wet/dry vacuum from a home improvement store or carpet cleaning business. While you’re locating cleaning equipment, use old towels to soak up some of the water that’s collected around furniture legs to protect the wood. Better yet, remove furniture pieces from the flooded area entirely.
Use fans and a dehumidifier
Unfortunately, your carpets (and quite possibly the padding underneath) are still going to be damp even after a water extractor or wet vacuum has been used. For this reason, you will want to use fans to prevent mold growth and avoid further damage to your home and furniture. Depending on the severity of the water damage, leave fans on for a few days to a week to ensure mold does not get the chance to form. You likely don’t own high-power drying fans, but you can find them at a home improvement store that rents out tools and other big carpet cleaning equipment.
Mold and mildew are drawn to moist, humid environments—especially indoor areas, like your flooded home. Since mold and mildew thrive on moisture, get a dehumidifier to cool the air and remove lingering moisture. Put a dehumidifier to work as soon as possible to help speed up the drying process.
Call a professional
When the flooding or cleanup steps become too much, let the pros take over. Our experience in restoring carpets after a home flood includes using professional water extracting machines, drying equipment and, oftentimes, special drying agents to remove moisture from carpeting. We can also follow up with a thorough steam cleaning to sanitize and deodorize.
For prompt and professional water damage restoration in South Amboy, NJ after a home flood, don’t hesitate to call on the team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center!
Just as you need to regularly clean your carpets to remove all dust, stains, grease, dirt, pet dander, odors and various allergens, you must also regularly have your tile and grout cleaned for aesthetic and health reasons. Doing this will improve the lifespan of your tile and grout, whether on the floor or the wall, and also keep your family healthy.
Here are a few reasons why professional grout cleaning in South Amboy, NJ is so important:
Maintain beauty: Over time, debris such as dirt, mold and bacteria will build up on the surface of your tiles, working its way deep into the ground. Simply put, this just causes an ugly appearance in your tile. Who wants to have visitors over to your home when there is so obviously something growing in between the tiles? It looks bad, and reflects poorly on your home, even if the rest of your home is generally clean.
Improve health: Unhealthy irritants that build up in the ground can create an unhygienic surface. This is especially true in the heavy traffic areas of your home, or areas in which mold is far more likely to grow. The grout in areas such as poorly ventilated bathrooms, showers, kitchen backsplashes and various other areas is far more likely to be in poor condition than grout in other areas of your home. It needs to be regularly cleaned to keep these irritants from spreading around the house and getting your family sick.
Solid work: Even if you try to clean the grout yourself from time to time, you can always benefit from having a professional come in and do it for you, simply because they do it every single day and know how to get the job done in a way that will last.
Longer tile life: Tile or grout that is either poorly cleaned or has never been professionally cleaned can age prematurely, which could make it harder to clean down the line and make you want to replace it earlier. This means you can save money in the long run by having a professional come and clean your tile and grout for you.
Have pride in your home: If you like to host people, it can be embarrassing to have them walk into a kitchen or bathroom and see the tile in such poor condition. Whether you have guests coming for the holidays, on a vacation or simply for a dinner party, you’ll want to have tiles and grout that look like you’ve taken good care of them.
At Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center, we carefully review your tile, determine the best methods for cleaning and then get to work on making your tile and grout look as good as new. We then carefully seal the grout to prevent dirt, water and debris from becoming trapped inside the surface moving forward. However, this sealant can wear off over time, meaning you should always be on the lookout for when your next cleaning is due.
For more information about the services we provide, including grout cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, contact our team today and we will be happy to answer your questions.
For many people, throw rugs and area rugs are not just a way to add color and beauty to your home; they can also have a lot of sentimental value. Therefore, you need to know how you can clean the rug if anything gets spilled on it. Even if you do not have children or pets, it’s essentially an inevitability that, at some point, the rug will get some sort of spill or dirt on it.
Here are some simple instructions courtesy of your trusted source for rug cleaning services in South Amboy, NJ. You will need the following materials and tools: a vacuum, rubber gloves, a mild dish detergent or special rug shampoo, a bucket, a sponge, a squeegee, a soft-bristled brush, and lots of water.
Vacuum: Your first step whenever cleaning any rug or carpet should be to vacuum it to remove any loose dirt or debris. With an area rug, you will need to vacuum both sides, as each side could have debris on it.
See how colorfast your rug is: This is an important step that many people skip, but doing so could lead to damage to your rug. Either follow all of the mixing instructions on your rug cleaner or shampoo, or put a couple cap-fulls of a mild dish detergent into a bucket of warm water. Never use hot water, as this could fade the color of the rug or shrink its fibers. Once you’re ready, test your solution on a small portion of the rug just to make sure it doesn’t do anything to dull or run the colors. If it looks good, you can move on.
Wash the rug: Using either a soft-bristled brush or a sponge, begin washing the rug. Make sure to work up a lather on the surface and get it deep into the rug. Allow your cleaning solution to sit on the rug for several minutes before you proceed to rinse.
Rinse: Depending on where you are cleaning the rug, you might have to alter how you are going to rinse it, but the most effective way is to use a garden hose and spray it off. Whatever method you use, make sure you have removed all suds before you proceed to the next step.
Get out all excess water: Use a squeegee to get out as much excess water as you can. Just make sure you are using the squeegee in the direction of the rug’s nap so you avoid causing any damage to it.
Dry it out: After you’ve removed as much excess water as possible, lay the rug out flat to dry. Once the top is dry, flip it over and continue the drying process. Having fans blowing on the rug can help to dry it out quicker.
Loosen the rug’s fibers: Some of the fibers of the rug can become compacted during your washing and drying process. You can gently loosen them back up using either a vacuum or a soft-bristled brush, so it will be soft and plush once again. Then your process is complete, and you can return your rug back to where it sits in your home!
Note: You should only really wash rugs when they need it. A good test is to let a corner of the rug drop onto the floor, and if a dust cloud appears, it’s time for a cleaning.
Contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today for more information about rug cleaning services in South Amboy, NJ.
An Oriental rug can be stunning, but it can also be costly, which is why you want your rug to last as long as possible. Oriental rugs are like an investment, and as with any other investment, they require special attention and care. To help guarantee a long life for your Oriental rug, here are a few proper care tips to put into practice:
Take your shoes off: Not only do your shoes track in all the dirt and grime from the outside world across your beautiful carpet, but the tread on your shoes works to grind that dirt into the very fibers of your Oriental rug. To increase the life of your Oriental rug, it’s best to adopt a “no shoes in the house” policy and ask guests and family to leave their shoes at the door. However, if shoes do find their way onto your rug, getting a regular Oriental rug cleaning in South Amboy, NJ can help prevent permanent damage to your rug.
Watch out for pests: Moths and certain beetles may find the fibers of your Oriental rug the perfect nesting place. Most genuine Oriental rugs contain wool and cotton fibers, which can be a tasty snack for the larvae of moths and certain types of beetles. Larvae tend to reside in areas of the rug that see little traffic, so it’s important to vacuum the entire surface of your rug weekly. The back of your rug should also be cleaned roughly once a year by a professional cleaner.
Keep plants off the rug: Water may be the singular most damaging thing that can happen to an Oriental rug. Water that is not completely dried up can actually cause the cotton backing of your rug to rot. Planters that are kept on top of the rug and are regularly watered can cause a dampness underneath the rug that never has the chance to completely dry. To avoid this, it’s best to keep plants at the periphery of your room and not on the rug.
Clean up accidents and spills immediately: Should something spill on your rug or a pet have an accident, it’s important to clean the affected area as soon as possible. Try to sop up as much liquid as possible using paper towels. Then use a carpet cleaner to clean the area and rinse thoroughly. If a stain or bad odor persists, call for professional Oriental rug cleaning in South Amboy, NJ.
Schedule regular cleanings: Just like regular carpets, oriental rugs can become home to dust mites, allergens, dead skin and the everyday dirt that goes along with our daily lives. To ensure the longevity of your rug and the health of your home, your rug should be professionally cleaned at least once a year.
Your Oriental rug is more than a rug—it is a valuable work of art and should be well cared for. For help with keeping your Oriental rug clean and beautiful, give Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center a call today!
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