Carpet Care Tips

Carpet maintenance should be a scheduled program, rather than being a random series of reactions to soiling conditions and infrequent cleaning. Most complaints of poor appearance, rapid soiling, and poor performance are due to a lack of a scheduled maintenance program. Your carpeting represents a substantial investment and deserves adequate care to prolong it’s life. With proper vacuuming and a regular carpet cleaning program you can extend the life of your carpet. If the maintenance is neglected then you risk having to replace carpet prematurely.

Here are a few guide lines to help develop a maintenance program.
Frequent vacuuming is an important element in good carpet care. Research has shown that 85 % of the soil tracked in is dry and the other 15 % is oily. Daily vacuuming is best for controlling dry soil especially in high traffic areas, but if not possible, try to vacuum at least two to three times a week. This is the best way to remove loose dirt and soil, which can scratch the fibers leading to premature wear of the carpet.

Prompt attention to spots and spills is essential. Immediately scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Then blot, DO NOT RUB, as rubbing can alter the carpets texture, with a clean, white absorbent cloth or paper towel to remove excessive moisture. Most stains clean up with warm, NOT HOT, water applied to the stained area. Blot excess moisture and vacuum when dry to restore texture. See stain removal chart for more help with specific stains.

Even though vacuuming can remove most of the dry soil, it is also necessary to clean your carpet on a regular basis to remove the 15 % of soil, which is oily or sticky. Having your carpet cleaned regularly, prevents it becoming so dirty that it can no longer be cleaned satisfactorily. The carpet in a typical household should be cleaned before it becomes excessively soiled; the cleaning will be more successful.

A cleaning system should clean the carpet without leaving a detergent residue. Leading carpet manufacturers recommend the hot water extraction method, also called “steam cleaning”. The process consists of spraying a heated solution of mild pre-conditioner and water to suspend the soil. Then rinsed and extracted with hot water and a mild detergent with a powerful truck-mounted unit. It is to your advantage to use a professional cleaner because his experience enables him to do a better job than you can do yourself. Our equipment has more extraction power than the rental units available to you. We are also trained to know the proper cleaning agents for the situation at hand, and to recognize the differences in fibers and carpet construction.

One way to locate a professional cleaner is to contact the Institute of Inspection. Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) at 1 800 835 4624. This organization maintains a national directory of independent professional cleaners who are trained and certified in a variety of cleaning specialties. Call and let them know you would like the name of a cleaner near you who uses the hot water extraction system.

If you choose to steam clean your own carpets, here are some common problems that you would want to avoid.
Over-wetting the carpet and excessive detergent.
The carpet should dry or be relatively dry in six to twelve hours with adequate air circulation. If the carpet should dry for more than 24 hours, you are risking the potential for mold and mildew growth.

increasing the detergent beyond the recommended amount, this DOES NOT increase the cleaning power. If you leave excessive detergent in the carpet, this residue will be more difficult to remove and will collect soil more quickly, which result in having to clean the carpet sooner.

Most of the today’s stain resistant carpets are required to be cleaned with products formulated for these carpets, or the stain resistance could be damaged and the warranty voided. There are other systems for cleaning carpet, but for most households we would recommend the “steam cleaning system”. This process is the only one with a rinse and extraction method, which actually removes all dirt and any residue.
We hope that this helps you keep your carpets looking their best. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we offer free estimates for all your cleaning needs.