Some Techniques For Microfiber Upholstery Cleaning

Professional Cleaning Services|Remove Cola Stains|Carpet Or Upholstery

Professional Cleaning Services|How To Remove Cola Stains From Carpet Or Upholstery

Cola stains are among the more difficult to remove during carpet cleaning without the professional cleaning services of a certified cleaning company. This is because of the chemical composition of the various cola drink formulations. While there are many secret formulas for cola drinks, it is widely known that the basic ingredients include caffeine, sweeteners, caramel colors, citrus oils, flavorings like vanilla and cinnamon, and phosphoric acid. Natural sugars like high fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners like aspartame or saccharin may be used.

Most of these ingredients are soluble in water, but serious staining on the carpet or upholstery fabric may occur in the presence of phenols, tannins and some colloids in the drink formula. Nevertheless, stain removal from carpet, including coffee stain removal, may be accomplished by using some common household solvents, and following a few simple steps. Here are some suggestions:

Materials

Vinegar Solution - Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. A 5% dilute acetic acid solution may be used instead of vinegar.

Detergent Solution - Mix a quarter to a half teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water.

Warm Water - Lukewarm tap water for rinsing.

Ammonia Solution - Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water.

Baking Soda - Mix 1 part baking soda with 2 parts water in a plastic container. Shake well.

White Cotton Or Paper Towels

Trigger Sprayer

Spatula Or Spoon

Procedure:

Tackle any spill as soon as it is observed. Your best prospect for successfully removing a spill is to handle it immediately. Fresh spills are much easier to remove than stale ones. That is because the longer the chemicals in the spill remain in contact with other materials in or on the carpet fibers, the greater the chance of developing undesirable by-products from adverse chemical reactions.

First, use the spoon or spatula to scrape off any solid material from the carpet. Then, wet the area with cold tap water and blot with a clean white towel. Avoid rubbing the stain from side to side as this may cause it to spread. You may observe the color from the stain being transferred to the towel at this stage. This is good. Repeat the process, moving the towel to a new area each time until you can’t see any more color transfer.

Now pour one of the solutions listed above, into the trigger spray bottle and apply liberally to the stained area. Begin with the dilute vinegar or acetic acid solution. Work it in with the spatula and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Flush with luke warm tap water and rinse thoroughly by blotting with the towels. Watch for color transfer and repeat as necessary until no more color appears on the towels.

All cola stains should have disappeared by now, but if not, repeat this process using the other solutions in sequence.

Be careful not to use detergents containing brighteners or fluorescent dyes that could transfer new dyes to the fibers. Also do not use bleaches, like automatic dishwashing fluids that could remove all the original dyes.

Remember to avoid using solutions stronger than what is recommended, and remember also to rinse out the solvents as thoroughly as possible. If some of these chemicals are left in the carpet, they could cause the carpet to be re-soiled rather quickly.

Finally, if this procedure doesn’t work for you, or if you don’t care to try it yourself, just call for the professional cleaning services of a certified carpet cleaner.

Victor Nugent is Owner and President of AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc. with over 11 years experience in the Carpet Cleaning business.

For more information call 801 368-0705 or visit our website at AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc. or Utah County Carpet Cleaning

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Carpet Cleaning With A Portable

DIY Carpet Cleaning – How To Deep Clean Your Carpet With A Portable Extractor

A portable carpet cleaning extractor can be a very effective tool in helping to maintain clean carpets in your home. Portables are available in all sizes and configurations, ranging from a small house hold upright vacuum type to a fairly large commercial type that has on board heaters. These usually can generate high vacuum, and solution pressures in excess of 300 psi. Most house holders either use the small vacuums they own outright or rent a portable from a convenient supplier. With proper cleaning procedures, they are very good for light carpet maintenance. However, they cannot substitute for the powerful truck mounted machines used by professional cleaning services now a days.

Here are some useful carpet cleaning tips for DIY cleaning with small portable carpet cleaning machines.

As with any other carpet cleaning system, the basic principles of carpet cleaning apply here also. The critical factors are:

• Pre-Vacuuming To Remove Insoluble Solids. This step is most important because small portables are not strong enough to extract all of the dirt and soils, so when the carpet is wet the dirt will turn to slush which will then be just pushed around on the carpet surface and it will look even dirtier than before. Get all the dry soil, dust and dirt out before attempting to deep clean the carpet.
• Heat. The hotter the cleaning solution is, the more efficient it will be as a solvent. Many small cleaning machines are not equipped with a heater, and even the big portables with on board heaters rarely approach the heating capacity of large truck mounted machines. You can try using boiling water to mix the chemicals, but of course, without continuous heating, particularly in the winter, even the best carpet cleaning solution becomes cold rather quickly. Try your best to keep it as hot as possible.
• Agitation. This helps to accelerate the chemical reaction of the solvent, and is a major limitation with many small portables, even those equipped with a beater brush. You could try spraying the cleaning solution lightly on the carpet, after vacuuming, and then working it in with a carpet rake before extraction.
• Time. This is another limitation with some portables which are operated with a one-pass spray and vacuum cycle. Again the solution to this problem, is to pre-spray with a manual pump sprayer you can buy at a department store. Leave the chemical to react with the soil or stain on the carpet, for at least 10 to 15 minutes before extraction.
• Concentration Of The Solvent Used. If you are not familiar with the chemistry of cleaning, just use the chemicals recommended by the machine supplier. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully, and do not attempt to over concentrate or over dilute the mixture, or to add other chemicals that could cause undesirable reactions.

Great results may be achieved when doing your own deep carpet cleaning with a portable extractor, if these steps are followed. Remember however, that DIY cleaning with a small machine is only suitable for interim maintenance, and is not ideal for carpet stain cleaning. Annual deep steam cleaning by a certified carpet cleaning professional, using a powerful truck mounted system, is necessary for compliance with your carpet warranty.

Victor Nugent is Owner and President of AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc. with over 11 years experience in the Carpet Cleaning business.

For more information call 801 368-0705 or visit our website at AJS Carpet Cleaning, Inc or AJS Carpet Cleaning In Utah

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Carpet Cleaning To Control Carpet Beetle Infestation

Carpet beetles will usually deposit eggs near sources of food for their larvae. The adult beetles won’t eat carpet fibers but their larvae will thrive on any kind of organic material, including cotton, wool, silk, furs, dead insects, pet hair, human hair, skin scales,dried plant products,food scraps or leather.

Wool rug cleaning is particularly important because wool carpets or carpet and other fabric made from natural fibers are particularly susceptible to carpet beetle attack. Over 90 percent of carpet manufactured nowadays, is made from synthetic material like nylon which is not readily eaten by carpet beetles, except where they are tainted or infused with contaminants like food or drink stains, urine, sweat or other body fluids.

Apart from actually destroying the carpet, by eating it up, carpet beetles may also shed tiny hair strands that can cause the development or escalation of allergic reactions, when inhaled.

Carpet beetles are hard to see because they are so small, and sometimes their presence may not become apparent until damage has already been done to the carpet or upholstery. They like to hide in dark secluded areas like corners, crevices drawers and closets.They can also be found on the underside of rugs. Especially wool rugs. Tell tale signs of the presence of these pests may be a bunch of fecal pellets, each pellet about as big as a grain of salt, or shed pupal skins.

Adult beetles are attracted by sunlight, and feed outside on pollen and nectar from flowers. When they are ready to lay their eggs, they will fly into your home through open windows or cracks and crevices, or they are sometimes carried in on flowers cut from the garden.

Here are some great  carpet cleaning tips for controlling carpet beetle infestation:

Locate the beetle source. Check to see where the larvae are feeding. Look for places where there may be dead insects, food scraps, hair, other natural fibers, or larvae food sources. This is particularly essential for wool carpet.

Keep adult beetles out. Make sure doors and windows are properly secured, and that weather-strip guards are always in place, especially in spring and summer.

Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum. Vacuum your carpet and furniture frequently. It is recommended that this be done at least once per week, but it should be done more frequently if at all possible. You will want to use a powerful vacuum to suck up all the eggs and larvae together with all the food sources that will allow the beetle larvae to thrive. Make sure the dust container is emptied outside the house.

Remove infected items. Get rid of items like rugs, furniture or old clothes that may be infested with carpet beetles. Throw them in the garbage or destroy them otherwise. Don’t give them away.

Clean carpets and furniture regularly. Carpet beetles and larvae will be killed at a temperature above 140 degrees F. This temperature can be maintained at the carpet surface by a truck mounted deep steam carpet cleaning service. Their powerful on-board vacuum will also suck out living and dead organisms, their byproducts, and food stock from your carpet.

In situations where the carpet beetle infestation is severe, it may be necessary to call in a pest control professional. Regular and frequent vacuuming and steam carpet cleaning by a professional cleaning company however, will usually be adequate for control of carpet beetle infestations.

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Carpet Cleaning – Top 7 Reasons To Use A Professional Carpet Cleaner

Top 7 Reasons To Use A Professional Carpet Cleaner

Regular cleaning is considered by all the experts to be the most effective way to preserve the beauty of your carpet and extend its useful life. Most people understand this, but many simply do not know what to do, or when and how carpet cleaning should be done. It is always best, however, to follow the advice and recommendations of the carpet manufacturers. They all maintain that carpet cleaning by certified professional cleaning services should be done at least once every 12 to 18 months depending on prevailing circumstances. Here are some valid reasons.

Carpet cleaning should not be put off until the carpet looks dirty. By then, millions of microorganisms, microbes, and all kinds of pathogens may have built up in the carpet and could cause serious health problems, especially for the young, the elderly, or people suffering from allergies.

Regular cleaning is considered by all the experts to be the most effective way to preserve the beauty of your carpet and extend its useful life. Most people understand this, but many simply do not know what to do, or when and how carpet cleaning should be done.

Sometimes a do-it-yourself approach is favored, and this is good for frequent, routine carpet maintenance. There are many small portable household appliances that will be quite suitable for this.

It is always best, however, to follow the advice and recommendations of the biggest carpet manufacturers. They all maintain that carpet cleaning by certified professional cleaning services should be done at least once every 12 to 18 months depending on prevailing circumstances. Here are some carpet cleaning tips with seven valid reasons:

1. Professional carpet cleaners are usually trained in the science and art of cleaning, and certified by a recognized authoritative organization to be able to provide the best carpet cleaning service.
2. They will use powerful equipment that will lift out deep down deposits from the carpet and thoroughly remove all residues.
3. They will use only safe, approved and effective chemicals. This is a very important consideration. Use of inappropriate chemicals could lead to negative reactions that could cause stains to be permanently fixed to the carpet fibers. Many other harmful consequences could ensue, including permanent damage to the carpet.
4. Household type carpet cleaners are not powerful enough to develop the high temperatures and vacuum necessary to do a good deep cleaning job.
5. Professional carpet cleaners are trained in how to identify the various types of carpet fibers, and will know how to apply appropriate measures and systems to clean them properly.
6. They are skilled, practiced, and well-informed in the techniques of stain removal. We all know by now, that different stains may require specialty chemicals to effect complete removal.

7.     Carpet cleaning once every twelve to eighteen months by a certified professional using the deep steam truck mounted system, is necessary to satisfy the carpet manufacturers warranty.

So, while it is important and very wise to clean your carpet frequently with a household portable machine, remember that this should only be considered to be light interim maintenance for esthetics. Deep steam cleaning is essential and should never be totally neglected.

Cost is often a major factor, but consider this. What is the relative value of preserving your health and extending the life of your carpet?

Negative assessments and myths about truck mounted steam cleaning by professional carpet cleaning companies may be addressed by just doing a little research. Just make sure the company is licensed, bonded, insured and certified by an authority like the I.I.C.R.C. or the Carpet and Rug Institute.

Review the seven reasons enunciated above, and evaluate the merits of the cleaning company you choose to do the job for you.

Carpet Cleaning Utah|Carpet Maintenance

AJS Carpet Cleaning Utah|Carpet Maintenance

You can save quite a bit of money when cleaning carpet in Utah, or anywhere else, on your carpet maintenance program, by following just a few simple steps on a regular basis. Good carpet cleaning always involves vacuuming as a first step, so this is one very important item to have on your carpet cleaning list or maintenance schedule.

Vacuum your carpet regularly in order to remove all those abrasive particles that will ultimately fall on your carpet and get lodged among the  fibers. If you leave them there for too long, they will be ground in as people walk on the carpet. They act like sandpaper, grinding on the soft fibers and causing excessive wear. At least two bad effects will soon become apparent.

1. The carpet will lose its light refractive properties and will appear dull, even after cleaning.

2. The stain resistant protector on the carpet will be worn off and the carpet will get stained or soil much more easily. You will not be able to clean up spills or avoid staining of the carpet as easily as before.

You will then have to call in a professional more often than would otherwise be necessary, and your carpet cleaning expenses will soar. Also, your carpet will not last as long and will have to be replaced sooner that you might have wanted.

Incidentally, with proper care, most carpeting manufactured over the past twenty years should last 20 – 30 years before replacement becomes necessary.

Another key action that will save you money on carpet maintenance, comes from the realization that “wet soiling” is always easier to clean up than “dry soiling” .

Always, always, always clean up spots, spills and stains immediately if you possibly can. And remember to blot, not rub. Just soak the water based spot with fresh cold water and blot with a clean white cotton, terry cloth or paper towel.

Oil based stain spots may need a slightly different treatment but the procedure is the same. Instead of water, you may need to use an organic solvent like paint thinner, citrus oil, alcohol or ether.  Read instructions for use of these chemicals carefully, and if in any doubt whatsoever, be sure to call in a professional carpet cleaner.

How To Remove Pet Urine Smell From Carpet

In order to remove pet urine smell from carpets, it is important to first understand how the odor is caused, and what deodorization implies. It will then be easy to choose and apply the most effective and relevant procedures.

The main component of freshly excreted urine is uric acid, which is just slightly acidic. Other constituents include enzymes, cholesterol, urea and trace amounts of other chemicals. The offensive smell is quickly generated as the water evaporates and it is transformed into a mild alkaline. That is why it becomes stronger under humid conditions, or when the carpet is wet.These urine salts also provide a perfect breeding ground for many kinds of microorganisms, whose metabolic byproducts also contribute to the bad odor.

Incidentally, the yellowish color is a result of rapid oxidation of acidic components in the urine.

Generally, deodorization of carpet is accomplished by applying the following types of chemicals:

Odor Substitutes. These will mask the smell by exchanging it for one with a more pleasant odor – like perfume.

Combiners. These will pair and react with the odor molecule and neutralize it.

Enzymes. These will break down proteins and digest waste solids so that the odor causing microorganism dies for lack of food.

Disinfectants. These will also kill bacteria, but will have no effect on other chemicals which may be the source of the odors

One potential problem with urine smell removal from carpet, is that the urine spots may not always be readily visible. Sometimes, the yellow stain may not appear, and this is particularly problematic, especially when the carpet is orange or brown in color. The solution to this, is to use an ultraviolet or “black” light to locate the stains, which will show up in the dark under these conditions.

If there is too much lighting in the room, it will probably be necessary to use a high intensity UV light source.

Once the problem area is identified, it should be sprayed with an acidic solution to decompose the alkaline salts and residues on the carpet fibers. Most janitorial or cleaning supply shops will carry suitable tannin, coffee or urine treatment spotters which will do the job. The chemical should then be groomed into the fibers and left to react for at least 10 minutes.

Next, rinse the area with warm water and spray with an enzyme complex designed for urine neutralization treatment. Leave this on the carpet for 15 minutes.

The final step is to clean the carpet thoroughly, with the regular carpet cleaning procedures. Deep steam cleaning with truck-mounted equipment is the preferred method.

In cases of severe contamination, a disinfectant may be injected directly into the area, or sprayed directly over it. It may also need to be sprayed directly unto the carpet backing and substrate.

Generally speaking, odor substitutes should rarely be used, because they really do not remove the smell from the carpet, and only postpone the problem.

When all else fails to correct the problem, replace the pad under the carpet, treat the back and substrate, and then re-install and clean the carpet.

Carpet Cleaning|Prevent Soiling Damage|Maintain Clean Carpet

When contemplating carpet cleaning, most people will only consider the aesthetics or appearance factor, but there are also other important health and financial issues to be borne in mind. Soiling on your carpet is obviously not good for several reasons, as outlined below. Soiling diminishes the beauty of the carpet. It harbors insects, microbes and pathogens. And some types of soils cause wear and tear. Regular carpet cleaning by efficient professional carpet cleaners is therefore essential.

Fortunately, almost all carpeting being sold today, comes with a soil and stain resistant finish that repels soiling, but this obviously does not guarantee that your carpet will remain clean indefinitely. The finish will wear off with time, or with treatment by harsh chemicals, and will need to be replaced eventually. It is also not effective for all types of stains, and often, the soiling just lodges on the surface or between the carpet fibers. There are basically three types of soil.

1. Water Soluble – Usually consisting of soluble sugars, starches, and other food residues.
2. Organic or Inorganic Solvent Soluble – Like oils, tar, grease, make-up, paint, etc.
3. Insoluble – Sand, quartz, pollen, hair, mites, etc.

Most of the soil in your carpet will be insoluble, and this will cause the most physical damage. This type of soil is usually hard and abrasive, and with wearing, will cause the carpet fibers to be scratched and chafed. Over time, the light reflecting properties of the carpet fibers will change, and this will cause it to look worn.

The other kinds of soil also cause damage if not removed quickly. Water soluble soils from food or drink spills are usually acid in nature, and may react with the dyes in the carpet and cause the color to fade. Solvent soluble soils will cause yellowing as they react with the oxygen in the air and generate resinous by-products.

Insects and mites cause damage by sometimes feeding on the carpet fibers, but mostly by excreting products that are harmful. Bacteria also multiply as they feed on the insect excrement, and they themselves carry or generate pathogens that are deleterious to your health.

Your carpet is indeed a filter. In fact I believe it is the most efficient filter in the home. It collects everything, from particulates tracked into the home on the soles of busy feet, to dust, pollen, and atmospheric pollution in the interior environment. Sometimes the existence of soiling is not apparent. The carpet may appear to be clean, because it is not showing up any ugly stains. Don’t get complacent. Unseen pollutants may still be steadily and actively causing damage to your carpet, and harm to your health.

Vacuum. Often. Clean up spots, spills, and stains immediately you become aware of them. Call in a professional carpet cleaner to deep clean your carpet at least once a year. Carpet manufacturers actually recommend a deep steam carpet cleaning every 18 to 24 months, but it is certainly better to do it more often if you can.

A word about vacuuming here. “Often” means at least once per week, but if you can do it every day, that’s great! It is particularly important to vacuum daily if you have kids, pets or heavy traffic in the home. Also, maintain your vacuum properly, according to the manufacturer’s operating instructions. Above all, do not allow the dust collector to become overloaded. By consistently following these tips, you will avoid damage to your carpet by soiling, and extend its lifetime considerably.

For more information call 801 368-0705 or visit our website at Carpet Cleaning Salt Lake or Utah County Carpet Cleaning

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Victor Nugent – EzineArticles Expert Author

Spots On Your Carpet|Cleaning Tips|Prevent Spots From Returning

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4 Carpet Cleaning Tips | Upholstery Cleaning Tips

More Cleaning Tips From AJS Carpet Cleaning

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