Many people are desperate to know how to clean carpet stains, and in their desperation, they often make mistakes that can damage their carpets or make the stain worse. We want to help you ensure you don’t make some of the most common mistakes when cleaning your carpet.
Do Not Rub
Rubbing the carpet aggressively is bad for the fibers of the carpet. You can worsen the stain by rubbing it harshly. It is better to dab at the stain to get it out from the surface without deepening it into the fibers.
Do Not Wait
While you may need to call in a professional cleaner, you don’t want to wait to deal with a stain. You’ll want to deal with any stains as quickly as possible, even if you can’t get perfect results right away. It’s best to prevent spills from soaking into the carpet as soon as possible.
Watch for Chemicals
Chemicals aren’t evil, but using a lot of them isn’t for the best. You don’t want to just dump all the cleaners you have on the stain and see what works. Using too many chemicals can cause damage to the carpet and leave an unsightly residue. Always be sparing with the chemicals you use and add chemicals gradually.
Always Test Your Product
People often just attack the stain without testing the cleaning product. This is a mistake because you always want to test the product on a small patch of your carpet before using it on a large patch. Products can cause discoloration or other fiber issues. Thus, it is best to test products on a small part of your carpet in a discrete area (such as a corner rather than in the middle).
All Spills Don’t Require the Same Treatment
Many people have a go-to treatment for their carpets, but the issue with this mindset is that not all stains respond to treatments in the same way. Thus, it’s so easy to use a product you think will work but isn’t actually designed to fix your problems.
Deodorizing Products Are Damaging
Deodorizing products market themselves as being great for making your home fresher, but the issue with these products is that they can hurt the fibers of your carpet, making it look worn and dingy before its time. Don’t use deodorizing powders on your carpet!
Choose a Professional Cleaner
Too many people are hesitant to involve professionals. It’s normal to want to fix spills or other floor issues yourself, but when you try to do it all on your own, you can make stains worse or simply don’t have the quality tools required to get the best results. Just like you have to see a doctor for regular check-ups, regular cleanings from professionals is vital to your floor’s health.
What Is the Best Carpet Cleaner?
At Lov ‘N Care Carpet Center, we are a company in South Amboy, NJ, and we have the full range of floor-care services you need for your home to feel like home because the best carpet cleaning products will depend on the nature of your damage and floor.
Having stained or dull floors can be stressful and discouraging, but whether you need your carpets cleaned or services for hardwood and tile floors, we’ll give you the help you need for your home to sparkle like it’s new. We’ve been doing this since 1948, serving those living in South Amboy, Perth Amboy, Old Bridge Township, East Brunswick, and Hazelet. Our experts will be glad to help.
Are you wondering how often you should get your carpets cleaned? Why should you get your carpets professionally cleaned? Well, there are many reasons behind this. However, depending on your living space and how much traffic you have on your carpet, etc., the amount of time you should go in between cleanings will vary.
Getting Your Carpets Cleaned
Vacuuming Carpets
When it comes to vacuuming your carpets, you should do this at least once every week if you and your family are rarely ever home. If you are home more, you should consider vacuuming twice or more a week. Cleaning your carpets on a daily basis can reduce allergens and dirt, especially if you have pets or children running around your home. With that being said, if you have children or pets, you should clean your carpets daily or at least twice every week.
Shampooing Carpets
When it comes to shampooing your carpets, you should probably do this once a year to have all grime, dirt, and allergens removed. However, this can also vary depending on several factors in your household. For example, if you have children or pets, you may want to shampoo your carpets on a regular basis, whether that be every 3-6 months or 6-12 months.
Cleaning Carpets With Kids
Kids are not the cleanest, especially younger children. Older children also have the ability to get germs and dirt on them. Some kids are better than others, but you will still have to clean up spilled juice and muddy messes from time to time. You should vacuum every few days, if not daily. Shampoo your carpets every 6 months. Additionally, you should have the professionals come out and clean them for you. If you are wondering, "Why should professionals clean your carpets?" it’s because they can ensure a good, quality clean. Professionals are equipped with high-quality equipment that you won’t be able to get on your own, which will ensure deep cleaning.
Cleaning Light Colored Carpets
If you have light-colored carpets, they will easily show dirt. This type of carpet will require more frequent cleanings. You will also want to make sure you are diligent in your cleaning routine if you have light or white carpets, which means you should vacuum at least twice a week and shampoo once every 6 months. If you notice more dinginess, you should shampoo them more often.
Cleaning Carpets for Allergy Sufferers
Carpets can filter out allergens and dust. However, they are not great when they do build up. If you are using a HEPA filter with your vacuum, you are already one step ahead at keeping those allergens at bay. However, no matter how much you clean your carpet, allergens tend to build up over time either way. This is why you should shampoo your carpets every two months to get rid of these allergens. If you have severe allergies, consider having a professional come shampoo your carpets every three months.
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.
Some types of carpet stains are easier to remove than others. Wine, coffee and blood can all cause tough stains that normal cleaners and cleaning techniques won’t remove. When dealing with these types of stains, you have to be extremely careful, as you could accidentally damage your carpet.
Below, we provide information on tough carpets stains and the best ways of removing them.
Bloodstains
A small cut could result in a bloodstain on your carpet. These stains are usually difficult to remove, though a little cold water and dish soap might do the trick. As opposed to warm water, cold water keeps blood from solidifying. Simply fill a bottle with cold water, and add 2 tablespoons of mild dish soap. Thoroughly spray the stain, and dry with a soft paper towel or rag.
The best way to remove a bloodstain is by tackling it as soon as possible. If the bloodstain has had time to set, you’ll likely need a professional cleaning service to remove it.
Pet stains
It’s hard to find your pets cute when one of them makes a mess on the carpet. It’s especially annoying when said mess leaves a tough stain. As with blood, it’s important to attack the stain as soon as you notice it. Pick up any solid waste, and blot any urine spots. This could take care of the stains; however, urine that has already had a chance to dry will be much harder to remove.
To remove set-in pet stains, you’ll need to moisten the carpet and apply a specialized cleaning product. You can also try spraying the area with a white vinegar solution. After spraying, blot the area, and allow it to dry. Once dry, apply a little baking soda to the area, and leave it for 24 hours. After that, simply vacuum the area.
Ink stains
Ink stains are one of the most difficult to remove from carpets. Try dabbing the stain with a clean cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Nail polish removers and certain hairsprays can sometimes remove ink stains as well; however, it’s important to be cautious when using either product, as they could damage your carpet. Be sure to avoid leaving alcohol, nail polish remover or hairspray on your carpet for very long.
Kool-Aid stains
Kool-Aid is a popular treat for children of all ages. It’s easy for a child to trip and cause a bright red stain on your carpet. If this happens, don’t panic. Soak up the excess Kool-Aid with a clean towel, and spray with a mixture of 1 tablespoon of dish soap and ¼ cup of white vinegar. Let the mixture soak into the carpet for about 10 minutes; then dry the area with a clean towel.
Contact the right carpet cleaning service
No matter how hard you try, it can seem almost impossible to remove tough stains—that’s when it’s best to contact a professional carpet cleaning service. A professional cleaning service knows how to remove the toughest stains without causing damage to your carpet.
If you’re in need of top-quality carpet cleaning services at fair prices, contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center today.
As fall gets in full swing, you can count on wet weather and lots of leaves, both of which can easily be tracked inside the house and take a toll on your carpets. By being proactive about carpet cleaning and maintenance during the fall, you can preserve the appearance and plush comfort of the flooring throughout your home.
Here’s what you need to do to make your carpets ready for fall:
Invest in a shoe rack
One of the best ways to prepare your carpets for fall (and for any season, really) is to enforce a no-shoes policy in the house. It’s all too easy to track in dirt, mud, leaves and other landscaping debris during the fall, so getting your kids or guests to kick off their shoes the moment they enter the house can save your carpets from extensive damage. Buying a shoe rack can help you enforce your no-shoes policy, acting as a silent reminder that shoes come off as soon as you enter the house.
Vacuum regularly
When fall arrives, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and vacuum carpets more regularly than usual. As a general rule, vacuum high-traffic areas at least twice a weekly and all other carpeted spaces at least once weekly. Frequent vacuuming reduces soil buildup, preserving the appearance of your carpet. When vacuuming, always start with a clean bag or filter, and make sure to vacuum slowly enough to suck up all dirt that may have been tracked into the house.
Invest in protective rugs
Carpeting is meant to be walked on, but fall weather conditions often make it a challenge to keep carpets clean. Consider purchasing some protective rugs to cover high-traffic areas like foyers, living rooms, dining rooms and hallways. Many homeowners find that it’s wise to leave the rugs in place even after the fall season to protect carpet from showing wear patterns from heavy foot traffic.
Rotate furniture
Every time the seasons change, it’s a great opportunity to rotate furniture and prevent premature wear areas. Even the highest-quality carpets can wear at confined areas of the carpet pile, and it’s easy for dirt to work its way into both the pile and backing. Move the furniture around if your room layout allows to preserve your flooring.
Consider professional carpet cleaning
Sometimes all it takes is a deep cleaning to get your carpets looking their best for the fall season and beyond. Professional carpet cleaning not only gets your floors in better visual condition, but it also makes them plusher and softer, providing long-lasting comfort underfoot. Carpet cleaning in the fall ensures that your home is well prepared for upcoming holiday gatherings with family and friends, instantly making your home more inviting and welcoming.
Now that you know exactly how to prepare your carpets for fall, take some time to implement the steps listed above, and reach out to your local carpet cleaning experts for a deep, thorough clean. Contact Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center to discover more carpet care tips and to schedule your cleaning before the holiday rush.
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