How to Keep Your Carpets and Rugs Clean
You can reduce the dirt and allergens in your carpeting with regular professional Carpet Cleaning El Dorado Hills CA. Carpet and rug fibers act as giant air filters, trapping and collecting dust, dirt, and other pollutants. Vacuum regularly to remove loose soil and pretreat stained areas with baking soda and water. This method works well for most types of carpets and dries quickly.
Vacuuming is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your carpets and floors looking their best. It removes dirt, dust and other debris that can wear down the fibers of yozur flooring and cause a variety of health problems, including allergies and asthma. Vacuum at least once a week and more frequently in high-traffic areas. When choosing a vacuum, be sure to select one with the CRI Seal of Approval that will remove soil effectively without damaging the surface of your floors or carpets.
If you have pets, kids or both, your carpets and rugs are a magnet for stains, spills, pet odors and other grime. While sprays and scrubbing can remove some of the surface-level dirt, a good carpet cleaner will take your carpets to a whole new level of clean. Whether you’re looking for a commercial-grade, professional-strength machine to rent for deep cleaning, or just a smaller, portable unit to tackle spot-cleaning, we have the carpet cleaners and stain removers that will give your floors and furniture the clean they deserve.
Before beginning a spot or deep cleaning process, always vacuum the carpeted area to remove loose dirt and soil from the surface and from within the fibers of your carpet. This step will help prevent dirt and debris from being pushed deeper into the carpet by the cleaning solution or abrasive scrub brush.
Most carpet manufacturers recommend that you use a commercial-grade vacuum with a HEPA filter and a rotating power head to prevent the risk of damage. If you plan to use the machine often, a powerful upright model with a large tank and a sturdy construction is the way to go. However, if you’re just using the machine occasionally to tackle occasional spots or spills, a portable carpet cleaner with a small tank and powerful suction should suffice.
It’s also important to remove as much furniture as possible before your carpet cleaner arrives. This will allow the machine to reach all areas of the floor and will ensure that the furniture doesn’t get wet during the cleaning process. Once the cleaning process is complete, it will take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours for your carpet to dry completely.
A spot cleaner is a hand-held machine used to clean small stains, spills and other deposits on carpeting or area rugs. It is generally equipped with a reservoir for the solution, a pump to pressurize the solution and a drive block or brush to work the cleaning solution into the carpet. Spot cleaning machines are often available for rent at supermarkets and some big-box stores. Some are portable and can be taken home for occasional use.
There are three main types of spot cleaning solvents. Non-flammable products based on methyl chloride (dichloromethane), or methylene glycol are probably the most widely used, followed by flammable products with acetone as the primary solvent. There is also a class of spot cleaning solvents with low-vapor properties containing a blend of volatile chemicals that can be vaporized and evaporated into the air without leaving residue.
The spot removal process starts with a thorough vacuuming to remove as much dirt and debris as possible from the affected area. If the soiled area is large, it may be necessary to move furniture and other objects in the affected area. Then a prespray is sprayed over the entire area of the soiled surface. The soiled areas are then treated with either dry or wet cleaning agents.
Often, the soiled area will not be entirely removed and will reappear as a ghost spot. This is particularly true if the cleaning agent is one of the inexpensive, off-the-shelf super market spot cleaners that contain optical brighteners to mask the residual spots left behind when the carpet or fabric is rinsed and dried. A thorough, hot water extraction cleaning will usually remove most if not all of these spotting agents, but some may remain.
A professional spot removal technician should be called if the soiled area cannot be completely removed, especially on fabrics labeled as “Spot Clean Only.” A few well-placed strokes with the right spotting agent can help prevent a major disaster that could result in ruining an expensive piece of clothing or furnishing. If a fabric is labeled as spot clean only, it is likely because washing or other wet cleaning methods will damage the fibers or leave unsightly discoloration and odor.
Carpets act like giant air filters and if not kept clean, can trap dirt, allergens, bacteria, pet dander and other particles that can make people and pets sick. While the vacuum cleaner removes much of this, it’s important to have a professional service clean the carpet every 12-18 months to get the deep down dirt that is unable to be removed by vacuuming alone. These technicians have access to special equipment including UV lights for spotting pet stains, hot-water extraction that uses extremely high temperatures and long hoses to spray the carpet with water, removing ground-in dirt and leaving the carpet clean and fresh.
If your carpet needs to be cleaned, you should use a cleaning solution that does not contain solvents that may leave behind dangerous chemical residue or other toxic chemicals. AFM Safecoat offers a carpet shampoo that is non-toxic and gentle to the fibers but highly effective at releasing loose soil, leaving the carpet ready for the next step in the process, sealing.
After cleaning, seal the carpet using a product such as AFM Safecoat’s Carpet Seal which is designed to coat and seal the back of the carpet where the highest concentration of caustic adhesives are found and to reduce off-gassing. Apply the carpet sealer liberally and evenly while the carpet is still damp from shampooing, using a hand-held pump sprayer (similar to a garden-type sprayer) to mist the carpet with a light application of the product. After the application of Carpet Seal, work it into the fibers with a rotary brush, polishing machine or clean garage broom, just enough to assure uniform contact of the sealer on the carpet backing.
Lastly, it is important to use a seam iron that is properly adjusted to create proper and lasting carpet seams. Seams that aren’t properly sealed can cause tuft swelling, pile reversal and discoloration. Seam weights that aren’t made of the proper materials can also cause problems such as seam shadows, which are created when light shines through the fabric and casts a darkened seam against a surface.
These tools are not available to rent at the hardware store, but can be purchased through carpet dealers. A proper seam is a critical component in the life of your carpet and can prevent it from needing expensive repairs in the future, including re-stripping.
