Dirt weakens carpet fibers, so carpets need to be vacuumed and cleaned regularly, even if they don't look dirty.
Offices and industrial areas should be professionally cleaned every six months or more frequently, depending on the amount of foot traffic. Residential homes should be professionally cleaned once a year or more. Pet owners will want to clean more frequently--at least every six months.
If a carpet cleaner has been called in to help remove a stain, do not "set" the stain by allowing it to dry while waiting for the carpet cleaner to arrive. Remove excess solids or liquids then cover the stain with a damp towel.
If possible, do not walk on a damp carpet. Wet carpet can re-absorb stains from padding. Wet carpet can also pick up stains from the bottoms of shoes.
A professional carpet cleaner should not saturate your carpet. Carpets feel slightly damp to dry and should be completely dry within 24 hours. To speed drying, or in humid weather, direct fans onto the carpet and run air conditioning or heat depending on the season.
For cleaner, longer lasting carpets, adopt a "no shoes" policy and remove shoes at the door. Shoes can cause not only dirt, grass, grease and scuffing stains but also tar stains from recently paved driveways, parking lots and streets. The tough soles of shoes are also more wearing on carpet fibers.
It is very important to clean a spill before it becomes a stain. For liquid stains, blot up as much as you can immediately.
Never clean stains by pouring water or spotter onto them—this will push the stain further into the carpet and padding. Always blot stain before applying a spotter. Spray or sponge spotter onto a stain.
Spotters can cause further damage when they are not used correctly. Soap residue from spotters attact dirt and dust which eventually causes stains to "return." Always rinse spotters by alternately sponging with cold water and blotting with a dry towel. Remove excess spotter with a wet vac or blot with a towel until dry.
Always use a white cloth or towel to blot up stains. Dyes from colored clothscan transfer onto the stain and cause further damage.
Begin at the outer edges of a stain and work toward the center. Always blot stains. Never rub – this will push the stain farther into the carpet.
Gum is best removed with ice cubes. Hold an ice cube against the gum until it becomes hard and brittle. Then break it apart with a butter knife and lift off. Remove any remains with a spotter and cold water.
If your carpets smell musty even after you've cleaned them, the problem is probably in the padding. But this doesn't necessarily mean it needs to be replaced. Sprinkle the affected areas with baking soda or cat litter and let stand for two hours. Vacuum well. This treatment works well with mildewed carpet also.
Pet hair becomes trapped in carpet fibers and can become extremely difficult to remove by vacuuming. If you have pets, frequent vacuuming and regular cleaning is essential.
Clean pet stains as quickly as possible. The ammonia in urine and acids in vomit can cause bleaching or permanent staining to your carpet. Furthermore, pet urine can also damage not only your carpet padding but also the underlying floor boards. Instinctively, pets often return to the scene of the crime. If your pet is a repeat offender, your odor and stain problem can quickly escalate. When pet accidents are not immediately and thouroughly cleaned, home owners often find the only solution is to replace the carpeting and the padding and to bleach the floorboards. In extreme cases, even floorboards need to be replaced.
To clean, remove any solids, blot up excess liquids, then alternately sponge with carbonated water and blot until the stain is removed. Clean with spotter or vinegar and blot dry.
To remove wax spills from a carpet, let cool and scrape up excess wax. Then cover the spill with a paper grocery sack and iron on a low setting. The paper sack will absorb the wax. Clean any remaining stain with a spotter.
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