 Everyone knows that they should sweep, mop, and vacuum at least once each week. However, between work, school, errands, and being a parent, there’s often not enough time to keep up with your cleaning needs. After a few weeks of neglect, you notice that your floors are now a few shades darker and that your house is beginning to smell musty. That is because lingering cooking smells and oils, pet dander, and dirt and dust are all working against your home’s level of cleanliness. Vacuuming floors that have gotten too dirty will do next to nothing to restore them. It isn’t until you apply safe cleaning materials that you can hope to pull away odors and stains. It doesn’t take long for carpet floors to start looking gross. While you know you can count on KZOO Carpet Cleaning to renew any carpeting and/or rugs, sometimes you only have one or two problem areas to remove. When it doesn’t make sense to hire a carpet cleaning service, you need some simple home remedies between visits. Diluted White VinegarDistilled white vinegar is a product made from corn that has worked well as a natural green cleaning agent for generations. Vinegar remains effective at breaking down substances, especially when they’re sticky or simply difficult to remove. On its own, it will most likely discolor colored rugs and darker carpets, so it must first be diluted with water. Once you have it diluted to a safe ratio (80 water/20 vinegar is recommended, at least to start). Spray the diluted solution over the spot and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, so it can soak deep into the carpet fibers and begin to loosen the stain. After it has sat for a while, all you must do is dab away at the spot (do not scrub, it will irritate and break down the pile of your carpet, risking it's ability to bounce back and look full like it should) with a white terry cloth over and over until the spot has been removed. You may be tempted to combine this process with other items such as baking soda. Make sure to test it out on an area that isn’t as heavily trafficked to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration. Baking SodaBaking soda is a natural soapy sodium-based product that has worked well as laundry detergent, surface cleaners, and even pool chemical treatments. Baking soda is a mild enough cleaner that some dentists have even recommended sprinkling some on toothpaste to fight stains and whiten teeth naturally. Most carpet deodorizers have a baking soda base that allows it to absorb smells before getting vacuumed. However, when used with hot water, it also creates an efficient cleaning paste. Just rub some baking soda into a stain with some water or mix a solution up and work the spot. You just need to use a terry towel or even a soft bristled brush (such as a toothbrush) if used very lightly to get into the fibers to remove the stain. Note: baking soda often leaves behind a faint soapy residue that needs to get cleaned out well and flushed with water and followed up gently with a terry cloth to absorb the excess water. AmmoniaAmmonia is a unique cleaning solution that continues getting mass produced for a variety of uses. One reason why more homeowners skip this suggestion is often that of its pungent, off-putting aroma. Ammonia gets made from nitrogen and hydrogen gases, and it can prove hazardous if not used in ventilated areas. However, most people find that correctly diluted with water, it acts as powerfully as bleach without stripping away fiber colors. You’ll probably want to wear gloves for working with ammonia but dilute it as you would with distilled white vinegar above. From there, just work it into the spot, and see if it breaks down. You must follow up with clean water to completely remove the residual chemicals. Otherwise, you will probably bleach out whatever surface. Club SodaClub soda has been the go-to home remedy for clothing stains. However, most people forget that you can use it on the carpet as well and many other surfaces. Best of all, you can purchase a two-liter bottle of store brand club soda very cheaply. Just a couple of bucks will arm you with a natural stain-fighting solution, and you might have some left over for drinks later! Club soda is basicly mineral water that has become carbonated, like a can of cola. The added bubbles can help expose stains and odors to air molecules, helping to break them down further as the water dilutes the mess. Club soda is also an incredibly mild cleaner, meaning you’ll need repeated applications for especially troublesome spots. However, you can’t beat its price or versatility, and it’s always good to keep a bottle on hand. Corn Flour or CornstarchUnfortunately, not all stains are caused by red wine, black coffee, or pet accidents. Sometimes, it’s from an over excited group of eaters dropping hot wings during the big game. Greasy stains become even more challenging to clean because now you have more oils and fats to break down in addition to the sauces and spices. You can’t dive right in, however, because you can easily smear the grease around, making the mess even worse. Before using one of the above cleaning methods, try sprinkling some corn flour or powdered cornstarch over the spot first. What this will do is pull out the excess fats and oils, allowing you to now focus on eliminating the stain out of the carpet. Depending on the food item that fell, you may need to try several different cleaning methods to see results. Always try a small amount of product to see if it will discolor your rugs first before using more. Call in the Experts You can only spot treat for so long before realizing that you need your entire home serviced. Once the stain reaches the padding and subfloor, you’re not going to get it out with soap and water or any other D.I.Y method.
When Do It Yourself measures don’t go far enough, you need an affordable choice in professional carpet cleaning solutions. Call KZOO Carpet Cleaning today for your most stubborn flooring stains.  Owning a pet is a wonderful thing, cleaning up after them is not that great. Keeping a home clean with furry friends running around can be a challenge, especially when you have carpets. Pets can produce a surprising amount of fur, dander, dirt and various types of liquids and solids. Staying on top of cleaning up after them requires an arsenal of cleaning products and preventative tricks. Lucky for you we are experienced in such things! So here is a list of tips and tricks to keeping your carpets clean and your family happy. Get to the dirt before it gets into your carpet! After letting the dog out, wipe down their paws before they run through the house. Keep a towel dedicated to your pet’s paws by the door so that you are ready to remove the dirt before it becomes a problem. Placing door mats or runners near the entrance of your home can also limit the amount of dirt you and your pet will bring into the home. Regularly grooming your pet will significantly cut down on the amount of fur and dander your pet will leave around the house. If getting your pet professionally groomed is too pricey, then get a pet brush that to comb out any loose fur. If you can, brush your pet outside so that all the loose hair will be contained outside and not in or around your house.  Avoid chemicals when you can, pets can be sensitive to different detergents and cleaners. They can get rashes and sometimes poisoned by different cleaning products, which will result in hefty vet bills. Baking soda and vinegar can work magic on carpet stains. Here’s how to do it:
Vacuum as much as you can possibly handle! Fur and dander are always going to be present and will cling to your carpet. Vacuuming on a regular basis will keep the fur from building up and turning into a bigger problem. And don’t forget to vacuum the couch or chairs where your pets like to sit.  Cleaning up solid messes with a paper towel can sometimes make the problem worse. By blotting and dabbing you are pressing the mess further into the fibers of the carpet. Instead try using something flat like a putty knife or a stiff piece of cardboard to scoop up the mess. Then if there is any saturation, try a non-chemical alternative to clean up the stain. Sometimes the messes can add up and become too much for you to handle on your own. When that time comes, it is best to call in the professionals to have your carpet cleaned. Having your carpet cleaned on a regular basis will prolong the life and beauty of your carpet, and will help keep you sane.  Whether you’re looking for the best in local carpet steam cleaning service or helpful tips to maintain your floors, you’ve come to the right place. KZOO Carpet Cleaning assists Kalamazoo, Michigan residents every day.
From providing the lowest carpet cleaning services prices for any job to helping you understand how floor stains and odors form, we remain the best choice for anyone hoping to preserve their carpets longer. If you continue checking back on our blog, we’ll give you tips directly from our expert cleaning staff, keeping your home or office appearing its best. No matter what type of carpet fiber your building depends on or its age and level of wear and tear, we guarantee better professional results each cleaning. When you follow our floor maintenance tips, it will help extend you're level of cleanliness between service visits. If you discover that you still have concerns or questions regarding our posts, or you merely want an experienced service technician to help you, you can always reach out to us. You won’t find a more qualified and thorough team of residential or commercial carpet cleaning service anywhere in the community. |
