Great Green Recipes For Home Carpet Cleaning

Synthetic Carpeting

Synthetic fibres are machine-made coverings. You cannot find these naturally. As a rule of thumb, natural fibres are more eco-friendly and safer for humans. That’s my personal opinion thugh. I am old school – analogue and natural stuff works for me. Same goes for carpets. Synthetic fibres are made from various chemical compounds mixed in labs by mad scientists (ok, not really mad). Nowadays most commercial floor coverings (carpet tiles) are synthetic due to the ease of cleaning and maintenance. Among the most popular types are polyester, nylon and polypropylene.

How to Maintain Man-Made Carpets

Homemade recipes are great for cleaning synthetics. DIY cleaning solutions always have to be rubbed deeply in the fibres using white cloth just to be on the safe side that there is no colour bleed.

Avoid pouring the liquid directly on the stained surface. Apply the solution to the spot only after testing your homemade recipee onto a small part of the stained fibres.

You can mix dish soap (1/4 tablespoon) with a cup of white vinegar. If any grease removal is required then add a solvent solution which can eliminate oil spots and traces of fat. A nail polish remover free of acetone is also a good choice to eliminate stubborn stains embedded into synthetic carpet.

Carpets With Natural Fibres

One of the most effective ways for treating natural fibres is high-quality dry cleaning liquid. For regular maintaining, you can use a vinegar solution. For deep cleaning, try two tablespoons of ammonia product and one cup of warm water.

If you have a bunch of larger rugs or wall-to-wall carpeted areas it is a good idea to employ the services of a professional Brixton carpet cleaning company. They will manage to do them quicker, safer and better (no offence to your carpet and rug cleaning skills, knowledgeable Brixton resident :)). They use products and equipment not available in supermarkets. Add to the mix the fact that they have been doing this job for years and it becomes a no brainer. You can rest assured your precious investment in soft furnishings will be well looked after.

Useful Tips

Spills accidents occur often, fact. In homes where little people roam the house (kiddies, pets) these are almost a daily occurrence. Mums and babysiters better be prepared at all times. Food and drink stains dry quite quickly and become an unpleasant gunky mess if left untreated. Delaying the clean only makes the problem grow worse.

Synthetic floor coverings require a little bit of pressure if you want to successfully pull out the small pieces and microscopic parts of organic residues hiding deeply in the tissue.

Please, always read manufacturers lists of recommendations as to how to best keep your new purchase clean and healthy. Regular and mainly correct cleaning technique will prolong the life of your carpet with a few years and will keep it at its best looks. Definitely worth going for it. Follow their instructions to ensure a good condition of the strands despite frequent washing, scrubbing and treatment.

One of the essential tricks is to use a clean white cloth asyour main tool of maintenance. As we mentioned above, printing and colours can damage the fibres.

Dampen the cloth with the cleaning solution and dab repeatedly. Then press onto the spot for a few seconds and leave the wet cloth for about 20 minutes to soak the dirt substance properly. After the stain breaking down process, remove the excess liquid and dry with a paper towel or another white cloth. A terry towel will do an excellent job. For better final results and longevity of the cleaning effect repeat the process with white vinegar. Soak the carpet or rug and let it sit for an hour to give it more time with the natural product. It can work over the stubborn spots and spills, lighten blots, but most crucially – vinegar eliminates residual detergent, which will attract grime and dust if left in the fibres.

When are struggling with unsightly marks you want to get rid of from synthetic carpets and rugs, try one handy trick. Put a stack of white paper towels over the spot you have been working on and place over a glass type of baking dish to improve the lightening process.

You can do the same with natural fibre carpets. Before the vinegar solution, carefully treat the stains with ammonia solution for precisely that type of carpet material and again dry with a white terry towel.

The washing process’ previous steps are also available for dirt and mud removal but do not forget to vacuum extensively prior to starting the wet process. Do it before applying the homemade and vinegar solutions.

The abovementioned cleaning ideas for DIY carpet maintenance and spot removal are suitable also for different types of grease traces and residues like butter, oil dressings, eggnog, cheese, cooking oil, etc.

How to Get Rid of Chewing Gum and Spilled Wax

That could be a considerable challenge. Rub the spots gently with a bag full of ice cubes to make the dirt hard. Then shatter it with a spatula and vacuum after that. Treat the area with a small amount of suitable cleaner, blot and then rinse with a white cloth and lukewarm water.

To wash smaller cotton or wool-rich rugs at home, but without damaging their precious natural fibres, choose to do it by hand with a soft detergent (must be woolsafe though) and a mild brush or sponge. During the rinsing process add 2 cups of white vinegar, which can lend additional shine and sense of perfect cleanliness.

Regular machine washing keeps small synthetic rugs in great nick (they are very easy to maintain) but keep in mind to use gentle cycles/programmes.

Deep cleaning every 6 months, regular weekly vacuuming and immediate reaction when spill accidents occur is the perfect way to maintain the beauty and longevity of home carpets, rugs and upholstery.

Instead Of Conclusion

Armed with the right knowledge, desire to learn new things and generous amounts of elbow grease you will certainly be able to protect, clean and maintain you home carpeting’s fibres. Removing spots will become a breeze and keeping in green and eco will be a walk in the park. All these yummy stains will not look that scary now.

Adequate Home Carpet Care-Quick Notes For Rapid Cleaning Results

Beauty And Comfort

Carpets, rugs and upholstery are beautiful accents in the dwellings. Their softness creates a sense of welcoming warmth and cosiness. 

They lend colourful brightness to the room and add a lovely atmosphere to the entire indoor environment.

Shared Moments

They can often be the heart of the home where family members are together, sharing a glass of wine in the evenings or a cup of coffee in the early working mornings.

Soft flooring is much more than a textile covering. Clean carpets, rugs and upholstery are ideal space for sweet conversations, kinder games and pets’ adventures.

Forget Rapid Tear and Wear Through Quick Carpeting Care Tricks

The fibres’ longevity depends on the quality of the material and manufacturing process but also and mainly the excellent condition is a reflection of the way we keep it.

Small particles, sands, outside polluters and mud can be like a sharp blade that cuts threads, destroying their wholeness, reducing the carpet’s shelf life.

Besides that, walking across the dust and grime causes additional pressure over them and forms noxious soil, suitable for mould and mildew growth in-depth.

Throughout a long period with bad habits in maintenance and a permanent lack of cleanliness, all that dulls the sheen. The consequence is that high-traffic zones look different from the rest of the carpeting. Over time dirty particles cause severe tear and wear, making carpets and rugs stain much more quickly.

Every owner would be calm for one of the largest investment in the whole household using a professional service-expert deep purifying and regular washing.

The Vacuuming Process Is Not for Underestimating

Everything starts with a perfect state of the clean bag and filter.

Please, take care of that and do not allow for cutting the suction power in half. Change the filters frequently. Replace or wash, but always observe the condition of the tools that help you to protect carpets’ longevity.

Choose the Right Speed of the Vacuum

Experts advise in the beginning to go through the textile covering as slowly as possible to collect as much dirt as possible.

Be ready to make after that quick passes over the whole carpet, paying attention to the high-traffic zones.

How Often Is Necessary To Vacuum?

No, seriously, how often should carpet be vacuum cleaned? The correct answer is – depending on the area, dwelling and state of the material. The truth is that entrances require frequent treatment; high-traffic zones are among the most problematic indeed. The good news is that twice a week is not hard to achieve but guarantees the fibres’ perfect condition. 

Remember that a dirty surface attracts more grime and becomes a contaminated soil of bacteria and mildew growth. Frequent and diligent care can stop such processes, protecting the colours, patterns and the fibres’ durableness.

Doormats Are an Ideal Carpet Protecting Solution – Utilise It

The usage of the walk-off mats in front of your home can help you maintain the floors’ cleanliness, no matter what type of material are they. Keep the rough dirt and grime outside the house through coarse-textured mats. They remove mud, soil and even pathogens. Water-absorbent doormats prevent from slipping and spread of outside pollution over the soft carpet coverings.

Please, Get Rid of the Spots Right Away After They Occur

That is the only way to increase the chance of a successfully clean result. The immediate reaction is significant when it comes to adequate and accurate house maintaining. The longer a stain responds chemically with the threads, the harder it is to eliminate.

Absorb the spill and remove the formed colouration using a dry white cloth. Repeat if it is necessary, and be patient. Work water over the problem zone and blot until the smear is gone. When the situation requires additional treatment, you have to cope with a stubborn spot, use a particular store-bought cleaner, and avoid homemade experiments.

The golden rule for perfect and fresh home carpeting is never to apply with immense pressure, scrubbing and rubbing. Use only gentle movements and blotting. Follow experts’ recommendations to wash from the edge toward the centre of the spill because otherwise, it is possible to make the stain larger.

The Basic Principle Is to Wash Your Carpets and Rugs Diligently and With Love

Never lose the festive mood and patience while taking care of the home textile coverings. They are a symbol of your comfort. Threads need adequate, thorough and careful purifying regularly.

Besides that, if you meet difficulties in that chore, remember that professionals possess many incredible possibilities to help you. Rely on them at least once a year if you want to be proud of perfect carpets’ appearance and to impress your guests.

The Types Of Customers You Will Have As A Carpet Cleaner

As professional carpet cleaners, we more often than not concentrate on the spots and stains, on the mould and dirt smothering. We try so hard to revive the carpet that we forget we also have to deal with its owner. 

If you are a successful carpet washer in London, you likely meet dozens of customers every week. And while we say that we should treat every person and peculiar case individually, we cannot escape the classification of the clients. I have learned to admit that fact and to turn it to my advantage. Moreover, I can recognise the type of customer when I first meet them and react accordingly. 

Here are the most common customer types you will encounter in your daily work and best to work with them.

The Hassle-free Customer

These are usually bachelors or young women in their late 20s and early 30s with busy careers, 60-hour working weeks, and a fast lifestyle. They live in nice modern flats in fashionable residential areas like Putney, Winchmore Hill, Kentish Town or Victoria, and pay good money to delegate as many of the housekeeping chores as possible to professional cleaners. 

The last thing these people want is to know what you do or why and how you do it. They are looking for a hassle-free customer experience – a five-minute phone call to book an appointment, 30 seconds of polite talk on the first meeting, and then they leave you to your duties. In most cases, such customers even give you keys to their apartments so that you can clean their carpets while they are at work or having a round of golf on one of the post suburban courses near London.

The hassle-free side of the exchange cuts both ways – the customers are not interested in the service (except for the overall results), but they do not give you much trouble as well. There are a few things, however, that you should always keep in mind.

These are young professionals who enjoy the high-end lifestyle, know good quality when they see it and aspire to do the good things in life. They do not make compromises with quality and expect top-notch results for the money they pay. Do not ever let your performance slip – they will cut you immediately and look for someone else to do a better job.

The Apologising Customer

These are usually people with too much on their mind – too much work, too little time, too many chores, too many kids. They try their best to keep the household in order, but carpet cleaning proves too much, and they hire someone to do the steam washing.

I feel great compassion and sympathy for these housewives (usually), who almost feel embarrassed that they haven’t managed to keep their carpet in better shape. The irony is that in most cases, the hot water extraction delivers excellent results, and these are some of the easiest jobs you will ever have. The customer sees a terrible dirt-smothered carpet, a constant source of anxiety – you see a perfectly normal floor, a bit worn-out from the kids running around, that will look like brand new after the shampoo.

An added bonus – these clients often feel obliged to offer you a piece of cake, a fresh-baked cookie or a glass of excellent homemade lemonade before you start the job. Well, how bad could one more cookie be for your waistline?!

The Professor In Carpet Cleaning

They have read dozens of articles on how to remove wine stains, what is the best natural carpet cleaner for mould, and why dry carpet cleaning is better than steam washing. They are better prepared to clean a carpet than your veteran NCCA instructor. They will hover and hum around the house while you do your magic, throwing a sceptical glance in your general direction.

These are the “professors in carpet cleaning” or as one of my colleagues call them – “the eye-rollers”. I know, I know – you are going to ask if they know so much and they have read a volume on carpet fibre treatment, why wouldn’t they do the cleaning themselves? A perfectly legitimate question, my friends! I am often tempted to ask the same, but I wisely bite my tongue.

So how do you deal with such “armchair” carpet cleaners? First and foremost, be patient. The worst thing you can do is to start an argument, even if you know they are blatantly wrong. It’s much better to keep silent and politely nod than to cause an earthquake by pointing out that baking soda and lavender oil will not be enough to remove the deeply embedded dirt.

Second, go the extra mile on the first job if they have booked you for regular treatment. Show them that you are on top of your game and their property is in safe hands. 

Last but not least – if they book you a second time, bring the heavy guns. Nothing shuts the professors up like the site of a heavy-duty RotoVac or a Karcher steam washer. 

What about your experience? What is the most common type of customer you meet in your daily rounds?