Remove Spots From Carpets The Easy Way

Choose the right carpet

There are as many types of carpet as there are types of people, and choosing which one to live with can be a daunting process. Discuss your living situation and your carpet needs with your supplier in depth prior to making any purchase.

Almost all carpet samples are now labeled as to their suitability for use in different areas of the home, .Before finally deciding on which material is to be installed, check carefully that it is suitable for the location for which it is intended.

In general, long piled carpets are not suitable for use on stairs. Secondary backed carpets, fitted over a good underlay, will give a better performance in heavy wear areas such as living or dining rooms, hall, stairs & landings. Plain carpets, especially velour's, will always show marking of any kind much more than a heavily patterned material.

First Steps

Carpet care and protection goes beyond vacuuming and cleaning. The first steps that a visitor makes on to your property are usually via an external walkway or path.

Keeping the exterior areas of your building, especially those that are walked on prior to entering your home or business, clean, can make a huge difference to the amount of debris that is tracked on to your carpets and flooring.

It should be remembered that 85% of the dirt and dust that exists within a building is carried in, on the feet of the buildings inhabitants.

Mats

Laying mats down at the buildings entrances can greatly reduce the amount of dirt tracked in,.

Maintenance

Air pollution within the home or workplace has assumed greater significance as buildings became more airtight to improve energy efficiency. Carpets, by nature, trap dust, dirt, fumes, and other contaminants.

Proper vacuuming is necessary to remove dust and other contaminants from the carpet, for better indoor air quality, as well as longer carpet life

The best way to prolong the life of your carpet is to vacuum on a regular basis, at least once a week for areas that receive minimal use and daily for high traffic areas such as hall, living and dining rooms and door ways. Ensure that you pay adequate attention to the corners and edges.

Pollen, dust and particulates invisible to the naked eye can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms and lead to a host of other ailments that compromise building occupants' health.

Daily vacuuming can contribute to better indoor air quality but using the wrong vacuum cleaner - or failing to maintain it properly - can actually do more harm than good.

One of the most important differences between a traditional vacuum and a healthy one is the level of filtration. Make sure your vacuum has an adequate filtration system; this will ensure that you are picking up the dirt and dust, and not blowing it back into the atmosphere.

When it comes to maintaining a vacuum cleaner, distributors say common sense prevails. The main thing is to change the vacuum bag on a regular basis. Don't wait until it's full. Three-quarters is as full as you want them to get...changing at half is better still.

In addition to changing vacuum bags, distributors recommend cleaning or changing the filters frequently. Some vacuum cleaners will let you know when the filter needs to be changed. Other vacuums, you'll notice it's not picking up properly, which means the bag needs to be changed.

Spot Removal Tips

Food, beverage and animal stains are a part of a carpets life, but the impact they have can be greatly reduced by following these simple steps.

Act Quickly!

The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Always test any detergent on an inconspicuous area of carpet prior to treating a stain.

Use natural detergents at recommended dilution ratios.

Gently scrape up or blot up any access prior to treatment.

Never rub or scrub, this will make the stain worse.

Do not over wet into the carpets backing materials, this can cause water stains.

Do not use inappropriate detergents on carpets or upholstery i.e. washing up liquid, wash powders, household bleach, disinfectants etc

Always work from the out side of the stain inward to avoid spreading

Always apply the cleaning fluid to the absorbent spotting material, not directly onto the carpet or fabric

Keep the fabric or carpet as dry as possible to prevent water stains.

Greasy Stains

Chocolate, Butter, Lipstick, some Oily Food stains, some Ink

Apply small quantity of Surgical spirit to some cotton wool or Q-tip.

Using the lightly soaked cotton wool apply to the edges of the stain working inwards to the centre.

Gently press (Blot) either Terry towel, or plain white kitchen towel, and repeat as necessary until the stain no longer transfers. Do not allow penetration into the back of carpeting or foam filling materials! Some fabrics may darken initially during this process.

Using a detergent solution on cotton wool, dampen the area and follow up by blotting with kitchen roll or terry towel.

Dry, using hair dryer, continually moving over the damp area. This will help to prevent water marking

Water Based Stains

Tea, Coffee, Fruit juices, Wine, some Basic Food stains

Soak up immediately using absorbent material or suck up with a wet pick up vacuum.

Rewet the area using tepid water on a small piece of sponge or cotton wool.

Blot with dry absorbent material Terry towel, kitchen roll, Repeat as necessary

Dry with hair dryer keeping the dryer moving all the time, this will help to prevent watermarking.

Dried In Stains 

Detergent Solution: Two liters of tepid water + a quarter of a teaspoon of carpet shampoo + one eggcup of white vinegar

Rewet the stained area using the detergent solution applied on a piece of cotton wool.

Blot using kitchen roll or terry towel as above.

The final procedure for carpets following the wetting and blotting procedures should be as follows: -

Place 5-6 layers of kitchen roll on the affected area and place on top a telephone directory. Allow to dry over 24 hours, this will absorb any stain in the base of the fiber's that are likely to wick up to the surface during the drying process.

Whilst the stain removal guide may be simple and basic, it will assist in the professional's chances of success should you find expert assistance required. If followed it should help prevent some quite common and expensive DIY stain removal damage.

Easy Carpet Maintenance Tips

Because carpet acts as a floor covering, carpeting can be subjected to quite a beating. Over time, carpet can look prematurely dirty or faded, and carpet fibers can actually start to lose their fullness.

However, with routine care and maintenance, years can be added to the life of your carpets and rugs. Follow these simple guidelines and learn how to keep your carpet looking its absolute best.

Frequent Vacuuming is Key

Many people may not be aware that frequent and thorough vacuuming is one of the most important (and easiest) things you can do to help retain your carpet's original appearance.

With that being said, choosing the right vacuum to handle your carpet cleaning needs is extremely important. While household tools such as carpet sweepers can remove surface dirt, vacuuming prevents deep abrasions that can ruin carpet.

When shopping for a vacuum, one of the most important things to look for is the vacuum's filtration abilities. Vacuums with dual motors, or those with one motor to provide suction with the other motor powering a beater bar to loosen dirt, are excellent at removing dirt and grit, particularly upright vacuums with this feature.

Also, vacuums with beater bars or rotating brushes are better at loosening dirt than standard canister vacuums. In addition, be sure that the vacuum you choose provides the correct height adjustment for your specific type of carpet

Because vacuuming helps remove dirt particles which can degrade and dull the appearance of carpets and rugs, carpets should be vacuumed at least once a week and perhaps even more frequently in heavy traffic areas.

Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing any buildup of gritty debris that can cut up carpet fibers, and every few weeks, you should use your vacuum's crevice tool to clean the tight areas around baseboards, radiators, and other difficult-to-reach places.

Reduce Traffic and Retain Your Carpet's Texture

To prolong the appearance and overall life of your carpet, reduce the amount of traffic in heavily traveled, carpeted areas, as these areas will receive the most wear.

Use rugs under and in front of heavily used furniture such as chairs, and clean these rugs on a regular basis. Furniture and area rugs should also be moved periodically to reduce the wear on these paths.

Heavy furniture can also cause permanent indentations in your carpet, and it is important to use furniture glides or cups under the legs of heavy pieces.

Temporary indentations can be remedied by working the carpet back in place with your fingers or with the edge of spoon, dampening the area in question, and heating the carpet with a hair dryer.

Fluffing, Shedding, and Sprouting

You may sometimes find tiny balls of fluff or loose fibers on your carpet or in your vacuum cleaner. Fortunately in most cases, this is not cause for alarm, as it is the normal result of fiber that is left in the carpet during the manufacturing process.

Proper vacuuming with a high quality vacuum cleaner will usually cause this shedding this disappear if your carpet is relatively new, and removing these large fibers will not affect the life or appearance of the carpet.

In some cases, you may even notice a yarn tuft or two sprouting above the pile surface of your carpet. Simply snip off these large tufts with a pair of scissors to the level of the carpet, but never pull these out. If sprouting proves to be a persistent problem, contact your carpet's manufacturer or flooring representative.

Address Carpet Stains Immediately

Even with the utmost of care, carpet staining is inevitable. Therefore, it is important to understand that when spills occur, time is of the essence, as the sooner a stain is cleaned, the easier it will be to completely remove.

Don't be fooled by stains that appear to be clear, as these can change color and be quite visible over time. For even additional cleaning, look to wet/dry vacuums which not only have the ability to suck up dust and debris, but also liquid spills as well.

The first step in removing a carpet stain is to blot any excess liquid with a paper towel or clean cloth. Liquid stain removers should not be initially added to the stain, as they will only make the spot larger and cause it to sink deeper into the carpet.

Once the liquid has been absorbed, if a special cleaning solution is to be used, first test it on an inconspicuous part of the carpet to prevent any possible staining. If the solution proves to be safe to use, try to use the least amount of solution possible and work from the outside of the stain toward the center to prevent any spreading.

To prevent fiber damage, don't rub the carpet with too much force, and be sure to dry the area with a hair dryer or fan when you are finished.

Also keep in mind that not all stains can be removed: bleached areas caused by chlorine bleach or sunlight are impossible to get rid of, and liquids like urine, if allowed to dry, will leave permanent stains.

Ultimately, regularly vacuuming your carpet and spot cleaning will prolong the appearance and life of your carpets. Professional carpet cleanings every 18 months are also an important part of a regular carpet care regimen, and investing in a carpet shampooer, wet/dry vacuum, or steam vacuum is also a good idea for interim carpet maintenance.