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[C232]Carpet And Rug Cleaning

by John Braun, Joh

Myth #1: You should wait as long as possible to clean your carpet or rug. Many years ago this was true as shampooing was the primary method of carpet cleaning. Even today, many homeowners can receive poor cleaning jobs by low priced cleaners that soak their carpet, which can cause all of the spots to return days after the cleaning. As well, the carpet can be filled with residue, which will cause it to get dirty FAST. However, if carpet is cleaned correctly, it should be rinsed residue free and dried within 8 hours. Your carpet and rugs will last much longer and look beautiful after cleaning.

Myth #2: Your carpet and rugs should only be cleaned when they look dirty. Just like the sheets on your bed, your carpet is a fabric. Do you wait until your sheets LOOK dirty before you wash them? Of course not! Every day you are tracking grease, dirt, pollen, dust, and outdoor pollutants on your carpet and rugs. They are made to hide these soils very well. If you wait until it looks dirty, it will have an extreme soil build up by that point. Every carpet and rug manufacturer recommends professional cleaning at least every 12-24 months. If you've been using it for two years and it looks clean, it still needs cleaning to maintain a good appearance.

Myth #3: One method of carpet cleaning is as good as another. It's recommended you choose a company who is experienced in all cleaning methods. However, there are important facts I have discovered. The dry-cleaning methods-which are dry foam, dry chemicals, carbonation, and dry compound do not rinse your carpet with water. Carpet makers for residential carpet rarely recommend these methods. Instead, they recommend hot water extraction from a truck mounted cleaning unit. Hot water extraction means a hot water cleaning solution, under pressure, is forced into your carpet and then sucked out of your home. The most widely used method for carpet cleaning is truck mounted cleaning. It works well, but has a drawback with carpet and rugs being left wet for too long. It's best to use a company who cleans with steam cleaning and uses air movers or some type of forced drying mechanism to quickly dry your carpet.

Myth #4: Bleach is a good stain remover. First, bleach is NOT safe for humans. Furthermore, it isn't good for your carpet or tile as it bleaches all colors. If your carpet has any nylon, the fiber will turn yellow. If the fiber is wool (as in a wool rug), the fiber will actually dissolve. Besides, pouring bleach on a carpet can cause the backing to separate which will cause the carpet fibers to fall out. DON'T USE BLEACH ON YOUR CARPET.

Myth #5: There is a space-age revolutionary stain remover that will remove any stain and odor in carpet. If you believe this, you've been watching too much television. True professionals carry several different spotters when they come out to clean your carpet. Each spot remover works better on different types of stains. As well, there are completely different cleaning agents used for pet odor problems. If there were one "all purpose" miracle cleaner, it would be sold to professional cleaning companies for $100 a gallon. However, it doesn't exist.

Your carpet is an expensive investment. Educate yourself on how you can keep it beautiful.

If you have children you appreciate the incredible value that goes along with having the proper carpet and rug cleaning equipment. Of course there are always situations in which you aren't exactly certain which carpet cleaning device to use. A good rule of thumb is to first address the stain and then plan your line of attack. For the most part,the smaller the stain the smaller the proper piece of equipment will be.

Home Cures for Little Stains

If you have small stains you should try using some of the small attachments that come with most steam cleaning machines. These are designed for the sole purpose of spot cleaning and should be used in order to get the maximum effectiveness from your equipment.

Another factor to consider is how recent the stain you are cleaning is. Fresh spills are easiest to clean and should be blotted in order to remove the moisture before anything else is done. The quicker your blot,the less likely your spot will have time to set in. A word of caution however,excessive blotting can actually cause more damage to the fibers of your rug rather than the deep cleaning benefit most people assume.

If you feel you need a little something in order to get a sufficient clean you should keep a supply of baking soda,vinegar,and rubbing alcohol on hand for spot removal of stubborn rug stains. Also be sure to keep plenty of paper towels and a spray bottle on hand for these occasions. Amazingly enough,carpet and rug cleaning tools can be anything from paper towels to much more expensive commercial grade carpet cleaning machines.

While stains in your carpet and rug can be a pain to remove,its important to remember to never rub a stain. Continue to blot the stain until it comes clean. Rubbing will break down the fibers of your carpet and may even spread the stain.

If you have a red dye stain (as found in popsicles,cat food and drink mixes),use a 30/79 solution of peroxide to water. Its very important to keep in mind however,that peroxide is bleach,so test a small,inconspicuous area of the carpet to test for color fastness. Apply the mixture and wait for 30 minutes,and then remove as much moisture as possible and be sure to rinse with a water and vinegar solution. If the stain is still there,add more peroxide (just a bit) and retreat.

One of the toughest stains to remove is that from ink. The majority of department store and janitorial departments carry a product called DeSolvit. WD40 and Orange Clean can also do wonders getting rid of these stubborn stains. Remember to blot on,set for 30 minutes,and blot to remove. Rinsing with sudsy water will also help. Magic markers are usually permanent,so you may not be able to remove them.

No need to be afraid of finding the right carpet and rug cleaning tools for your home. If you take the proper action immediately after a spot is created,you can usually find all the answers you need right around your home to remove its unsightly scene. If all else fails, commercial carpet cleaning equipment does exist to help you out. While some may be expensive,its still a cheaper alternative to replacing the carpet. Just remember that learning what the stain is made of,how old the stain is and of course, the size of the stain,will help you in establishing how to get rid of the stain.

Article Source : Best Digital Camera Consumer

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Both John Braun & Christopher Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

John Braun has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Consumer and Carpet Cleaning and Upholstery. John Braun is a certified Master Cleaning Tech and owner of Premium Carpet Care in Pensacola, Florida. To get your FREE Guide on How To Choose A Professional Carpet Cleaner, visit. John Braun's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.

Christopher Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Finances and Botox. . Christopher Smith's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.