Tip 1
Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet as often as it is needed. To achieve a clean carpet, you’ll need to have it cleaned by a professional or you’ll need to use a deep cleaning machine. There are advantages and disadvantages to this method, although a thorough cleaning is needed every six months or so.
Tip 2
Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them in a quick manner to keep your carpet clean. Simply using water on a spill will help most of them. If that doesn’t work, simply expand your search. You’ll find several products out there on the market that can help you get rid of spills quick.
The products range in use and can be helpful when matching them with the different types of spills. You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar to help you keep stains out. By taking immediate action you can prevent spills from becoming stains that leave you with a dirty and messy carpet.
Tip 3
A clean carpet is a carpet that has been taken care of very well. You should always take the time to vacuum your carpet often and make sure you do a good job. This means going over the floor in several directions to allow the vaccum time to pick up all it can. High quality vacuums are the best choice, as they get up the most debris.
Tip 4
The proper use of entrance will greatly help to clean off people’s shoes and keep most of the tracked soils off the surface of the carpet. You should always use entrance mats outside of your doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off of their shoes before they enter. You can also take off your shoes and request that guests do the same, prior to entering your home.
Around 80% of the soils that enter a building or home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils, and starches. The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed on a daily basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet.
Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than just healthy, as it can also help to prolong the life of the carpet. If you have just laid the carpet, you are already aware of the expenses involved with doing so.
Even if you haven’t had this done, you probably know the benefits of keeping a clean carpet. A clean carpet will add value to the home if it is maintained well. It will also help to keep the home free from odors as well. Also, it will help to make a comfortable living area for your friends and your family.
There are many different products available on the market that will help you to remove almost all types of stains. The ideal solution in minimizing or totally removing stains is by simply cleaning the spills and dirt the moment they crop up. Cleaning them up won’t even require you to leave your home just to rush out and buy the expensive types of cleaning products.
There are several ways to clean up stains simply by using products already available in your home which you use on a regular basis, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. Its simply a matter of knowing how to use these common household products and the procedures involved to clean up stains. Below, you’ll find some tips on how to clean up pet stains and some other types of common carpet stains.
Pet stains
For your first option you can use one teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of cold water. You can use this solution in a spray bottle or apply it to the carpet directly. It is very important not to wet the carpets backing when you apply the solution. After you have applied the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely.
For a second option, you can use detergent solution made of hand soap or dish soap. The combination is one quarter of a teaspoon detergent to one quart of water. You should always make sure the soap doesn’t contain bleach or lanolin.
The third and best option, is to use water, it can re-hydrate the stain to help with removal. Most types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a steam cleaner. Once you have finished, be sure to dry the area as thoroughly as possible.
Ink stains
1. You can purchase isopropyl rubbing alcohol at your local department or grocery store.
2. You can apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth. You can use paper towels as well, as long as they are white.
3. Blot the stain as much as possible until it is removed.
4. Make sure you be careful, because if the stain is small, you need to blot in one direction only so you don’t spread the stain.
Beer and wine stains
1. Mix a solution with one part white vinegar and one part water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate.
3. You should allow the stain to sit around ten to fifteen minutes.
4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.
5. Rinse the area with warm water.
6. Brush the carpet pile back into the natural direction it has.
7. By using layers of white paper towels, place paper towels on top of the area, then something with weight on the paper towels. Allow everything time to sit like this until the area has dried.
by Domestic Technicians on December 1, 2009
in Floors,How To
In order to enjoy the full benefits of a hardwood floor, you have to apply the right maintenance techniques. Since hard wood, no matter how sturdy, is organic, it can be susceptible to wear and decay if you do not take care of it. Thus, if you want it to last for a long time, you must be diligent enough to maintain it with proper cleaning and waxing.
Hardwood floors are somewhat expensive. And because they are an investment, it is but prudent to make sure that you get the maximum value for your money as the years progress. Thus, we face the question. How do we take care of our hardwood floors? Consider the tips below.
Avoid too much sun exposure
If the room where your hardwood floor is has a large window, protect it from the sun using sheer curtains or blinds. Ultra violet rays are said to have ill effects on hardwood floors.
Don’t drag your furniture around
This pertains particularly to the large furniture. If you want to move your oak sofa to another location, use a dolly or have people lift it. Never drag it across the floor as it may scar the finish or dig deep into the wood itself. Also, use felt contacts under the furnitures’ legs to prevent their weight from creating scratches and dents on the flooring.
Clean up spills and stain immediately
If your hardwood floor has a good and intact finish, then you have nothing to worry about. But if it has already been there for a while, the finishing might already be stripped off and allow the water to seep into the wood. When this happens, sanding and refinishing the part of the floor that got wet is a good idea. If this technique fails, you might have to replace that particular plank with a new one.
Sweep your hardwood floor regularly
Use a broom with fine exploded bristles as they are most effective in trapping grit and dust from the creases and corners of your flooring. Broom bristles that are too soft might only drag the dust further into your flooring and fill the cracks.
In conclusion, the way you care for your hardwood floor should mirror how you care for things you value. Your hardwood floor not only provides physical beauty to your home but also ushers in a sense of homey comfort that will forever be absent with a concrete floor.
