Many homeowners are surprised to learn that their carpeting and rugs need professional cleaning regularly. They often worry that the process will damage or degrade their investment, but proper care will minimize wear and tear and extend the life of your carpets.
Regular vacuuming using a Seal of Approval-certified vacuum cleaner, blotting spots, and marks immediately, and cleaning with SOA-certified products will keep your carpets healthy and beautiful. Contact Carpet Cleaning El Dorado Hills now!
Vacuuming is one of the simplest and most effective ways to maintain carpets, keeping them healthy and looking their best. It gets deep into the nooks and crannies of your carpet fibers, removing embedded dirt, bacteria, dander, and pollen before they become airborne, where they can cause respiratory and health issues. It also helps to re-fluff your carpets, making them look and feel their best.
Vacuum regularly, with a special focus on high-traffic areas and pet zones. Use the correct vacuuming pattern, utilizing overlapping and crisscross strokes for maximum debris recovery. Using a variety of attachments for hard-to-reach spots, corners, and baseboards can help with the cleaning process.
It’s also a good idea to have your carpets cleaned professionally once or twice per year to eliminate deep-set dirt and revitalize your carpet fibers. The right frequency depends on your home’s environment, soiling levels and the type of carpet you have.
Proper vacuuming after a professional cleaning can help to prevent re-soiling and prolong the life of your carpets. Be sure to wait for your carpets to dry completely before resuming normal activities, and vacuum often with a quality cleaner, preferably without a beater bar.
Depending on the policies of your carpet cleaner, you may be expected to handle the vacuuming pre-cleaning process yourself. Be sure to clarify this with your cleaner, and ensure that they understand the importance of preparing the surface for cleaning by removing all visible dirt and debris from the fibers. This will make the entire cleaning process more efficient and result in a better overall outcome. In addition, vacuuming the day after a carpet cleaning can help to restore the fibers’ natural shape and texture, which may have flattened or mat down during the cleaning process. This step is especially important for dry-cleaning processes, as it can minimize the risk of resoiling. The vacuuming action also helps to break up and dissolve any residue left behind by the cleaning solution, preventing it from re-adhering to your carpets. Regularly emptying or replacing your vacuum cleaner bag will maintain optimal suction as well.
Stain Removal
Stains are a part of life, but they don’t have to be permanent. Stains from spills of wine, coffee, and dye can easily be removed using the right technique and carpet stain removers. Jill Nystul, author of the popular One Good Thing by Jillee blog, shares her expert tips for removing spills and stains from carpet.
The first step is to act quickly when a stain occurs. This will help minimize the amount of liquid that soaks into the carpet fibers, which can make it more challenging to remove. Then, it’s important to blot the stain, rather than rubbing, to avoid transferring the dirt and stain into other parts of the carpet. Finally, it’s essential to identify the type of stain. This will help you decide which cleaning products to use and what techniques will be best.
If the stain is solid or semi-solid, such as mud, food or pet excrement, scrape off as much as possible with the edge of an old credit card or thin spatula. Then, gently blot the remaining stain with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Always blot, never rub, as this can permanently damage the carpet fibers. Keep blotting and changing out the cloth or paper towels frequently to avoid transferring the stain.
For liquid stains, Leverette suggests mixing a solution of one teaspoon dishwashing detergent with two cups of water. Dip a clean white cloth or brush in the solution and work it into the stain, starting from the outside of the stain toward the center to prevent spreading. Once you’ve soaked up the stain, rinse the area with plain water to avoid leaving any soapy residue that can attract dirt and cause the stain to reappear.
Another effective stain-removal product is hydrogen peroxide. This can be applied with a spray bottle, and it’s helpful for water-soluble stains like juice, berries, and wine. Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) can also be used as a stain removal agent for various types of substances including ink, grease, and oil. But it is important to test the rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous spot before applying to the carpet, as this can discolor some types of carpet.
Dry Cleaning
This method of carpet cleaning uses significantly less water than wet methods, making it a quick and efficient way to keep your carpets clean. It is also an environmentally friendly method. The process involves spreading a special chemical on the carpet, which is then brushed into the fibers. This chemical binds with dirt and grime, making it easy to vacuum up. This helps to remove even stubborn stains.
The next step is to pre-vacuum the carpet using a powerful industrial vacuum cleaner. This will help to remove loose dirt, and any traces of the dry cleaning solution. It is important to do this thoroughly and make sure that you get all the corners and edges. This will help to improve the quality of your final clean.
After this, you need to apply the dry cleaning powder, which is usually a granular formula. You can find this at most general stores, and you may also be able to purchase a special carpet brush that is designed to use with this compound. This is a good idea, as it will have a threaded handle that you can hang from the wall to avoid having to bend down when brushing.
Once you have applied the granules, you need to leave it alone for about 30 minutes so that it has time to work. If you have a lot of stains, you may want to leave it longer, as this will allow the chemicals to penetrate deep into the carpet and break down any stubborn grime.
During this time, you can still walk on the carpet, as it will not be wet. However, you should not let children or pets walk on the carpet while it is drying, as this could cause them to be soiled by the dry cleaning compounds.
Once the encapsulants have had time to dry, you can then vacuum the carpet again. This will lift up the granules and leave you with a clean, sanitized carpet. This is an effective way to get rid of stubborn stains, and it can also be used for spot treating.
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is one of the most common ways to clean carpet, but it’s also often a last resort when other methods don’t work. The process uses hot water and cleaning solutions that are injected into the carpet fibers under high pressure, then pulled out with a vacuum cleaner. It’s a great way to lift dirt that vacuuming hasn’t been able to dislodge and remove tough, long-standing stains from your carpet.
Steam cleaners can be used by home owners or they can be rented from cleaning services. For home use, there are a number of different models available that range from small upright units to huge truck-mounted systems. They all have their benefits, but the most important thing to remember is that you need to be careful when using them. Always do a test patch in an inconspicuous area to ensure that your carpet won’t react negatively to the steam. If your carpet seems to have no reaction, you can start to apply the steamer to the entire room.
Before steaming a room, it’s essential to clear all toys, papers and general clutter from the floor space and to move all tables, chairs and furniture out of the way. If you have heavy furniture that can’t be moved, place squares of foil, wood blocks or wax paper underneath the legs to protect them from moisture damage. Once the carpet is steamed, you’ll want to leave it alone and out of bounds for at least 24 hours so that it can dry completely.
It can be helpful to break up rooms into smaller sections so that you can more easily manage the steaming process and the drying time. Keeping the room well ventilated by opening all internal doors and cracking windows will also help speed up the dry process. If you do have to walk on the room during the drying period, try to cover your shoes with plastic bags so that you don’t track any additional dirt onto the freshly cleaned carpet.