Cleaning
Tips from Carpet Cleaning in Los Angeles Professionals
Accidents and spillages don't have to become stains. The sooner
you treat a spill, the more easily the dirt will come out.
However, there are a number of tips and tricks that could
help you finally remove that stubborn stain and stop you discarding
or replacing a cushion or carpet that you thought was ruined,
but can be rescued!
Determine what you're up against: The first thing you need
to do is determine of what material your carpet is composed.
Certain materials will be ruined with the application of heat,
bleach, or other chemicals, so it's important to know the
material involved to make the best decision in regard to cleaning
products and processes.
What to use: Once you
know the material with which you're working, what kind of
stains are involved? This will establish just what kind of
cleaning solution you need to use, as well as what cleaning
process will work the best. You don't want to just rinse the
carpet; you need a product that will actually break down the
dirt and remove not just the grime, but the bacteria, grease
and germs while preserving the beauty of your carpet.
Preventative measures
count: Keeping your carpet clean and vacuumed before any deep
cleaning will not only prolong the life of your carpet, but
make it that much easier to deep clean when the time comes.
Preventing the build up of gritty particles can not only extend
the life of your carpet, but also prevents the growth of unhealthy
bacteria and germs.
Prepare and pre-treat:
For carpet stains, it's best to take care of them as soon
as they happen. If that's not possible or doesn't happen,
before the deep clean pre-treat your stains as appropriate.
Sometimes, the best carpet cleaning tips are the old ones
-- such as club soda for red wine stains; brake cleaner for
food stains; WD40 for grease, ink or magic marker; ice cubes
for gum. Make sure to spot test your carpet in an inconspicuous
place first.
Follow these carpet cleaning
tips for the best result possible when deep cleaning your
carpets. It will certainly pay off in the long run, and hopefully
you won't need to repeat this onerous household chore for
a long time!
Adhesive
tape
This can be removed by sponging or soaking the dry upholstery
or fabric with a laundry pre-soak or spot stain remover. Even
soaking it in kerosene or a grease solvent will work, however
it will require a second clean with soapy warm water following
this.
Alcohol
Alcohol stains must be cleaned as soon as possible, as they
are often colourless initially, but will brown if left to
stand or following a later wash.
As soon as it has been spilt, sponge it clean with warm water.
To remove any remaining marks, pour some glycerine on the
stain and rub gently, and then rinse with warm water using
a spray bottle if it is a carpet stain.
For stubborn and dried stains, use a solution with equal measures
of methylated spirits and ammonia. First test the solution
on an unseen patch, and if successful, sponge it on the dry
fabric and then clean again with warm water. If the material
is white, laundry bleach can also be used.
Wine
The key to removing wine stains is to clean them as soon as
possible starting with the mildest solutions. Combat red wine
stains by pouring white wine over the top and soaking it up.
Wash with cold water and ammonia and then rinse thoroughly.
For white wine, use cold water and ammonia, or go onto other
treatments seen under Alcohol.
Baby
oil
Use dishwashing liquid and rub it into the stain. Leave it
for 10-15 minutes and then wash with hot water and laundry
detergent or a similar solution if it is a carpet stain. Repeat
the process if necessary.
Make
up
To begin, blot or scrape off as much of the make up stain
as possible. Then, using a white cloth, paper towel or cotton
ball, blot a deep stain with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. If
the stain is only on the surface, rub it in one direction.
Using a circular motion can destroy the texture of carpeting.
Nicotine
and tobacco
First pour some glycerine over the stain and rub gently between
the fingers or with a cloth. A spot stain remover can also
be used. Leave this for half an hour and then wash or rinse
off. If this is unsuccessful, try thiosulphate or trisodium
phosphate to wash and rinse.
Ball
point pen
To remove ball point pen marks from leather sofas, use hairspray
on the mark and then wipe off.
Candle
wax and Chewing gum
If you find these on a moveable fabric, put the stained article
into a freezer until the wax or gum hardens. Once it has become
brittle, you should be able to scrape and chop at it until
it comes off.
To remove the wax or gum residue, place a clean white blotter
over the stain and press with a warm iron. You can then sponge
it with a stain remover. If there is still stain from coloured
candle wax, this can be removed with an equal solution of
methylated spirits to water.
Crayons
First, scrape off any excess with a butter knife. Wash the
stain with hot water and cup of baking soda for about 10 minutes,
perhaps longer if it is a carpet stain. If it is still being
stubborn, rub soap paste into the stain and rinse off after
5 minutes. To remove any remaining colour, use a beach or
colour remover that is safe for the fabric.
Hair
dye
Dabbing the stain with a cotton wool ball doused in hydrogen
peroxide can remove these dye stains.
Egg
Scrape off as much as you can straight away and sponge with
slightly warm water. Hot water will only set the albumin in
the egg. If you need something more, cover the stain with
a paste consisting of water, cream of tartar, and a crushed
aspirin and leave for about half an hour before rinsing.
Glue
1. Mix a teaspoon of a pH balanced detergent that is non alkaline
and non bleaching with one cup of lukewarm water and blot.
2. Mix a tablespoon of ammonia with 1/2 cup of water and blot.
3. Repeat step 1
4. Sponge clean with plain water.
Rust
There are 3 combinations that can be tried. All are safe for
white materials, but for coloured fabrics you should test
on an unseen area first.
1. Lemon juice - This works on slight stains on delicate materials.
Spread the fabric over a bowl of boiling water and sprinkle
lemon juice over it. For carpets and other non-moveable items,
hover a hot iron above the sprinkled stain. Rinse well in
each case.
2. Lemon juice and salt - Sprinkle the salt over the stain
and rub it with the lemon. Position it in the sunlight and
keep it wet with juice until the stain is gone. Rinse.
3. Cream of tartar - For slight stains, dampen the area and
cover with the cream of tartar. Either hold it in the steam
of a boiling kettle or hover a hot iron above it. As soon
as the stain disappears, rinse it. For more extensive staining,
boil in a liquid made from the tartar and 600 ml of water,
or apply the solution to the stain. Do not use fabrics that
should not be washed in hot water.
Motor
grease and oil
Scrape off any excess to start.
Washable materials: Use a spot stain remover, or rub lard
or Vaseline onto the dry stain. Wash it in a quality washing
detergent.
Unwashable materials: This may prove difficult. Repeatedly
blot the area with dry cleaning fluid (you will need to change
your pad or cloth frequently). Sponge off with lukewarm water
and detergent, and then finally clean warm water alone.
Shoe polish
Sponge and blot the stain with a little bit of dry cleaning
solvent, then mix a teaspoon of mild pH balanced detergent
with a cup of lukewarm water. Blot and sponge the stain with
clean water.
Unknown
If you encounter a stain of unknown origin, first try to clean
it with cool water and sponge it with a liquid detergent.
If this has no effect, try a solution with equal measures
of methylated spirits and ammonia. Always test it first, and
if the colour is affected leave out the ammonia. As a last
resort, try a mild bleach.
Urine
As urine differs in composition, so do the stains and the
solutions to clear them. Normally urine is acidic, and so
the fabric should be soaked or sponged with a sanitizer containing
sodium percarbonate, or with a solution of ammonia and cup
of warm water.
If this is unsuccessful, try a solution containing equal measures
of vinegar and warm water to see if the stain is alkaline.
Stubborn stains may require sponging with diluted hydrogen
peroxide.
Vomit
Once you have scraped off as much as possible, sponge the
stains with warm water and some ammonia. If the vomiting is
extensive, dampen the area and sprinkle on pepsin powder,
leaving it for 30 minutes.
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