If you want your carpets to look their best, clean them about once a year. An annual steam cleaning will remove the normal dirt that can become stuck in the carpet fibers. You may also have times when you need to clean your carpets more than once a year. Here are four situations that may require an additional visit from your carpet cleaners.
Potty training is a major childhood milestone. But this also comes with challenges. To offset the issues that come along with potty training, a diaper-free technique is often a popular pick among parents. Even though the go-without-clothes method can work efficiently and effectively, it can also leave behind a major mess — especially if you have carpets.
If letting your child go au naturel is your strategy of choice, look at what you need to know about keeping your carpets clean.
You've finally found your dream home. It's the perfect size for your family, it has just the right number of bathrooms, and the yard is ideal for backyard barbeques. The only flaw is the flooring. The carpets range from so-so to seriously stained.
What should you do about your new home's worn and dirty carpeting? You have two options: clean the carpets or replace them. If you need help deciding, take a look at what you need to know about cleaning your new home's carpets versus replacing them.
What should you do about your new home's worn and dirty carpeting? You have two options: clean the carpets or replace them. If you need help deciding, take a look at what you need to know about cleaning your new home's carpets versus replacing them.
When you have your carpets cleaned professionally at least once a year, you're doing your part to extend the life and beauty of your carpets. However, stains in carpets do happen. When you're prepared for even the worst stain culprits, you can keep your carpets in better condition between professional cleanings.
The following are common serious carpet stain offenders and tips on how to treat them. If the stains spread or will not lift out when you tend to them, discontinue home treatments and consult with your professional carpet cleaning specialist for assistance.
Wine
Wine, especially red wine, can destroy carpet quickly. Immediately blot what you can out of your carpet with a clean, dry cloth. Apply salt liberally to the stain (salt absorbs the staining liquid), and allow it to set for several minutes before you blot the salt away. The stain should be gone after several blotting attempts.
Never rub a wine stain, as this will cause the stain to spread. You should also never apply bleach or other harsh chemicals to your carpet.
The same method that works for wine stains can also work for other dark liquid stains, such as tea and coffee stains.
Nail Polish
Nail polish is a serious carpet danger. When nail polish spills on your carpet, blot the wetness out as much as you can, making sure not to blot the area. Scrape dried polish with a knife or other utensil, being careful not to tear carpet fibers.
After removing as much of the dried polish as you can, use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover applied to a cloth to blot out the remainder of the stain.
Permanent Marker
Luckily, a permanent marker or pen stain doesn't have to remain permanent on your carpeting. To remove this type of stain, blot out the stain with a clean towel moistened with a basic dishwashing liquid. Continue to blot the stain until all color is removed or your cloth comes away clean.
Blood
A bloodstain in your carpet will leave behind a rusty-hued residue. Clean bloodstains with a mild dishwashing-detergent and water solution. You can also use ammonia and water if you have non-wool carpet (speak to your carpet specialist before using bleach or ammonia for a bloodstain).
Cigarette Burns
A cigarette or other type of burn in your carpet is best removed by using a dull knife or other utensil to scrape away burned areas. If the burn goes to the base of your carpet, the affected portion will have to be removed and replaced.
Glue
Glue that has set into your carpet is easily removed with rubbing alcohol and a rag. Dab the area until the glue is soft, then pick off the sticky residue with your fingers. Repeat with rubbing alcohol and dabbing until the entire area is clean.
A deep-set stain of any kind is much harder to remove. Address stains in your carpet as soon as you see them to get the best results in removing them. Urine and feces stains should be professionally treated because, otherwise, they will leave behind bacteria and odors.
If you try the above steps and the stain is still there, contact your carpet cleaning specialist. They have the equipment needed to remove deep-set and stubborn stains, such as paint or wax stains.
Keeping your carpets clean requires regular maintenance. Our team of specialists at AAA Carpet Care is able to remove many types of stain, as well as dirt and debris that you may not notice is there. Schedule an appointment with us today to keep your carpets in their best condition.
A new baby in the household is a joyous occasion, and you’ve prepared for this moment for many months. As the due date nears and your new baby is soon to arrive, don't forget to have your carpets cleaned as part of the preparation process.
Here are a few reasons your carpets should be professionally cleaned before the baby comes home from the hospital.
You Remove Harmful Bacteria From the Home
Bacteria gets embedded in carpet fibers that cannot be removed via vacuuming alone. While your immune system is mature enough to withstand and fight the harmful bacteria that exist in your carpeting, your newborn baby has yet to develop an immune system that recognizes and fights common diseases and illness-causing bacteria.
In short, your carpet can potentially make your newborn baby sick. Bacteria commonly found in residential carpeting include:
- E. coli
- Salmonella
- Staph
As a general rule, you should have your carpets cleaned every year to keep your flooring as clean as possible. Speak to your carpet cleaning specialist about how often you should clean your carpets based on your family size and whether you have pets in the home or not.
You Remove Irritating Allergens
Carpet contains harmful allergens that can irritate your newborn's maturing senses. The average home carpet has as much as 40 pounds of dirt and debris stuck inside the carpeting fibers, such as hair, pollen, dust mites, dirt, and other irritants. Hire a professional carpeting cleaning company that uses steam-cleaning methods to make your carpets cleaner and safer for your new little one to come home to.
Keep in mind that the same allergens and bacteria that get stuck in your carpet can also be found in your upholstery. Ask your carpet cleaning professional to clean your drapes and furniture to make your home as bacteria and allergen-free as possible for your new baby. You should schedule professional cleaning services within a few weeks of your baby's arrival so your home is fully ready to welcome your new little one.
You Get a Jump-Start on Home Maintenance
Once your new baby arrives, you will discover a huge shift in your normal routine. Housework and other traditional tasks you could perform with ease now fall to the wayside as your newborn adjusts to your home.
Having your carpets professionally cleaned gives you an edge on your housekeeping duties and can help you feel confident that your home is still intact and well-maintained, even if you miss a few days' worth of dishes and laundry while you and your new little one bond and adjust to your growing family.
Remember this as well: carpet cleaning helps preserve the life span of your existing carpeting, so you can focus more on your new family and less on your flooring needs.
Many carpet cleaning companies use green cleaning products that are free of chemicals that can harm children and pets. Choose a carpet cleaning company that uses natural solutions to keep your carpets as clean as possible and much safer for your baby.
Clean carpets make your home's air quality better, give your home a more welcoming appeal, and make your entire family less prone to carpet-related bacteria, germs, and illness. After you bring your baby home from the hospital, continue regularly having your carpets cleaned to maintain the safety and cleanliness of your residence.
Your carpet cleaning specialist will clean every room in your home, treating each carpeted area's stains and odors with care. Our team of specialists at AAA Carpet Care will work with you to make your home's flooring as clean and comfortable for your new baby as possible; call us today.
The cleanliness of the carpet in your house affects your health. Unfortunately, if your home experiences unexpected flooding, water quickly seeps into carpet and leads to serious damage such as mold and mildew. After a water emergency, take these steps to minimize the damage and preserve the carpet.
Act Fast
Carpet is a porous material that absorbs water fast. Ideally, water should be removed from the carpet within 24 to 48 hours to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. If you wait longer than that, then the carpet may require replacement.
Identify the Type of Water
Floodwater is classified according to its source and contents to determine the level of potential contamination it causes. You will first need to determine if the water on your carpet is clean, gray, or black.
Clean Water
Clean water is usually the type you find after a pipe that brings water into your house bursts or leaks such as around the hot water heater. This type of water typically does not carry large amounts of bacteria, and carpet that is soaked in clean water should be salvageable using normal extraction methods if you act fast.
Gray Water
After 24 hours, clean water may be classified as gray water due to contact with other types of materials. Gray water can also come from sources that are suspected of carrying contamination. For example, water coming from the drain lines of appliances such as dishwashers could carry decaying matter that increases the risk of bacterial contamination.
Black Water
Black water flooding comes from natural causes such as having river water rise and come into your home. You may also have black water damage if a sewer pipe has burst. Since this type of water carries a high health risk, special precautions must be taken during the water removal and cleanup process.
Remove Anything on the Surface
When you know that you are dealing with clean water, you can start to preserve the carpet by removing any items that sit on the surface. Not only will this help to save things such as furniture, but it can also prevent damage to the carpet fibers.
For example, wood furniture is often treated with stains and paint that can seep into the carpet fibers if it gets wet. Once this happens, the stains left behind may be difficult to remove.
Avoid Walking on Wet Materials
Although you do need to move furniture and other items to dry ground, you must minimize the amount of walking that you do on the carpet once you are done. Wet fibers in the carpet are more vulnerable to damage, and your shoes can track in mud and mold spores that lead to further contamination.
Arrange for Water Restoration Services
Although a water emergency may look minor on the surface, you need to keep in mind that moisture on the surface of the carpet soaks into the padding. For this reason, professional water extraction is often required to fully remove the deeper layers of moisture that continue to destroy carpet if it is left behind.
After the water extraction process is complete, you might need to clean and sanitize the carpet may also need to further reduce the risk of mold growth.
Continue to Dry Out the Room
Dry carpet should not come in contact with other wet areas of the room. Therefore, you will need to replace or dry out waterlogged drywall and other soaked building materials using additional methods such as dehumidification. Be sure to check the room thoroughly for other signs of moisture so that the carpet does not get wet again.
At AAA Carpet Care, our water removal team is available 24/7 to treat your carpet before the critical 24 to 48 hours are up. Give us a call today to preserve your property after a water emergency.
Parties can be a lot of fun, but they can also wreak havoc on your carpets. Fortunately, with a little preparation on your part, you can protect your carpets from party-related stains. These tips will help protect your carpet while you enjoy a fun time with friends.
Lay Down Runners and Extra Mats
Lay down extra mats at the door where your guests will be entering your home. If possible, place mats in front of the door and just inside the door. Put up a cute sign on the wall to remind people who enter to wipe their feet.
Also, consider laying down clear carpet runners in high-traffic areas to prevent foot traffic from grinding dirt into the floor. Or request that all guests remove their shoes in the entryway.
Think Twice About Serving Dark Red Foods and Drinks
Dark red foods and drinks like red wine, beets, and tomato sauce can all stain your carpet if something gets spilled. If you can avoid serving dark red foods and drinks altogether, then you may be able to save your carpet from a hard-to-remove stain. If you feel that you must serve red wine or a meal with tomato sauce, consider moving your party outdoors where it won't matter as much if people have accidents and spills.
Keep the Party Contained
Keep your party contained to a small area in your home. Doing this gives you less to clean up when the event is over. Close doors to guest rooms, bedrooms, and other parts of the house where partygoers have no reason to go.
Set Out Garbage Cans in Every Room
Make it easy for guests to throw away trash by placing trash cans in each room. This simple action helps ensure that people will dispose of their unwanted food rather than leave it in a place where it could make a mess.
Use disposable cups and plates so that your guests will be able to throw away food and drinks they don't want.
Stain Guard Before Your Party Begins
Homeowners can easily apply a typical stain guard to their carpets. You can buy a can of your preferred brand at a local home improvement or hardware store. Follow the instructions and give yourself adequate time to apply the stain guard. Many formulas require that the carpet be left to dry for several hours after the product is applied.
Check the Carpet for Stains Once Guests Have Left
Once the guests are gone, check the carpet for stains. If you happen to find any stains, treat them right away to make the cleanup job easier. Dab gently at stains with a rag. Do not rub the stains as this will cause them to spread.
To clean up red wine, mix one tablespoon ammonia with one cup of water to clean the stain, unless the carpet is made of wool. If the carpet is made of wool, mix mild detergent with water. To clean up mud on any type of carpet, use nonbleach detergent mixed with water.
Schedule a Cleaning Immediately After Your Party Ends
Even if you are able to spot treat the worst stains in your carpet, you may still need a carpet cleaning after the party is over. Contact a reputable carpet cleaning service in your area. If there are any stains on your carpet that you aren't able to treat, tell your carpet cleaning service when you schedule the appointment.
If you have more questions about how you can protect your carpet during a party, contact AAA Carpet Care for advice and high-quality cleaning services. We're happy to help!
As a homeowner, you can best clean and protect your residential carpets and upholstery by using a professional cleaning service. To maintain your carpets and upholstery between professional cleanings, you can use your upright or canister vacuum. The proper technique to use your vacuum requires a little preparation and the use your vacuum attachments. Here is the procedure to maintain your residential carpet and upholstery between professional cleanings.
Dust Your Room
Use a lamb's wool duster or damp microfiber cleaning cloth to collect accumulated dust on your wood, metal, and plastic furniture and shelves. This may cause a few dust particles to land on your carpet, but you will eliminate them when you vacuum.
Take your duster outdoors every few minutes and shake it to get rid of dirt and dust. If you want to use a dusting spray on your wood furniture, spray it lightly on your duster and not directly on your furniture as that can leave a residual film.
Prepare the Room
Remove all items except large furniture to another room so that you have clear areas to vacuum. Shake your curtains to allow any dust to fall on the carpet before you start.
Move couches, sofas, and other furniture away from the walls so that you can vacuum behind and under them.
Prepare the Vacuum
In order for your vacuum to have the greatest suction power, empty the collection bag before you begin. Never allow your vacuum bag to be more than half full when you vacuum.
Clean the vacuum head with a bristle brush to remove any dust or dirt and adjust the vacuum head to it's lowest carpet setting height.
Vacuum the Furniture
Place a small brush attachment on the hose and vacuum the tops and arms of your upholstered furniture. Remove the cushions and vacuum under them to get any dirt or crumbs that may have fallen.
Use a larger brush attachment on the hose and vacuum underneath and behind all furniture, including couches, sofas, entertainment centers, tables, beds, and bookshelves.
Vacuum the Edges and Corners of the Room
Place the crevice tool on the attachment hose and vacuum the baseboards of your room and the edges of the carpet near the walls. If there is any lingering dirt on the baseboards, wipe them with a microfiber cleaning cloth moistened with water or household cleaning fluid.
Vacuum the Carpet Horizontally
Start in the back of your room and use your upright vacuum, or the largest attachment on your canister vacuum, to go over the carpet in straight passes from left to right. Overlap your passes to suction up the most particles. Work slowly to allow your vacuum to collect all of the dirt and dust that has fallen into the carpet fibers.
Vacuum the Carpet Vertically
Next, start at one side of your room and vacuum the carpet from back to front crossing over the areas you just cleaned. Overlap and work slowly on this second pass.
Use Carpet Freshener
Occasionally, you may want to deodorize and freshen your carpet. To make your own carpet freshener, mix 2 cups of baking soda with 10-20 drops of essential oil in a 16-ounce canning jar. Use a kitchen knife to blend the ingredients together.
Punch holes in the canning jar lid and sprinkle the freshener on the carpet in the middle of the room. Allow the powder to remain on the carpet for a few hours before you vacuum.
Professionally clean your carpets and upholstery once or twice a year to keep them in top condition. This schedule will depend on the environment where you live and the amount of traffic in your home.
For professional residential carpet and upholstery cleaning, contact AAA Carpet Care. Our technicians have years of cleaning experience and can customize their service to your needs.
Winter is a hard season, not only on the exterior of your home, but also in the interior — including the carpet. From salt stains to moisture damage, your carpet can suffer a lot of wear in a few short months if you're not careful. Follow these five tips to take better care of your carpet in the winter months.
Your crafty kid would paint, color, glue, and glitter the entire house if you let them. But you'd rather save your home from the artsy mess. That doesn't stop your tot from occasionally getting their craft supplies on your home’s carpets.
You may flood a spill, splash, or some other sort of crafting accident with water, hoping to remove any stains, but you need to take caution. Before you rush to rub the growing pool of tempera into your bedroom rug, take a look at which children's art materials are easy to clean out of your carpets and which ones need a professional's touch.
