Vacuuming 101

Time is precious so here are 5 ways to make the most of your time when vacuuming:

1. Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. These filters are very efficient at removing pollutants for the carpet. They are especially helpful for people who have allergies and/or pets.

2. Vacuum regularly, at least once a week, or twice a week (if not more) if you have kids or pets in the home.

3. Before you start vacuuming, make sure that the bag/canister is empty. Starting with a full bag/canister will impede the effectiveness of the vacuum. It is also advantageous to replace the filter when needed.

4. Don't forget the corners when you are vacuuming. Pollutants like dirt, dust, pet dander, and other debris like to hide in corners that are hard to reach. If your vacuum has attachments, this would be the perfect opportunity to make use of them!

5. When you are vacuuming, it can be helpful to go over the areas multiple times in different directions. This makes it possible for the vacuum cleaner to pull hidden particles out of the carpet that may have been trapped underneath the fibers.

Carpet Care Tip: Avoid DIY Carpet Cleaning Machines

DIY (Do it yourself) carpet cleaning machines bring to mind the saying “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Advertisements make them look easy to use and more economical but in reality they oftentimes cause more harm than good. Home carpet cleaning machines lack the power truck mounted units provide, and with limited extraction ability, the carpet can easily be left too wet and full of solution. This can be disastrous as carpet that is overwet can mildew, grow mold, and the damage can permeate the padding and into the subfloor as well, which would result in the need for replacement (which costs $$$). Other issues lie with the products used in conjunction with the machine and the human error when using it. Carpet cleaning is a science that heavily relies on chemistry. Using the wrong chemical or mixing chemicals can result in permanent discolorations caused by the cleaning processes and set in stains that would have been able to be removed by a cleaning professional. They’re also time consuming to use so they’re not as economical as they appear to be when you factor that in. If you’ve had a mishap from a home carpet cleaning machine or want to save yourself the time/money/effort/panic by booking a professional cleaning, let us know. We can help!

4 Reasons to Consider Scheduling a Professional Carpet Cleaning if You're Expecting

One of the most important things that new parents will think about is the health of the environment that their new baby will be living in. While you are preparing your home for its newest resident, one important thing to consider is the carpet since babies and small children tend to spend a lot of their time on the floor. Having your carpets professionally cleaned has four key benefits:

1️⃣ Dirty carpets contain pollutants that are tracked onto the carpet and release into the air. A professional cleaning removes these unwanted guests.

2️⃣ Carpet cleaning also eliminates dust mites that can cause allergies and asthma.

3️⃣ If you have pets in the home, cleaning can dislodge pet hair trapped deep in the carpet fibers that cannot be removed from vacuuming.

4️⃣ It’s good for your carpet. Routine cleanings will extend the life of your carpet. If your family is expecting a baby, we are here to help you get your home prepared! 🏡

One Important Reason Not to Use Over the Counter Spotters

We warn about the dangers of using over the counter spotters quite frequently on our blog and social media posts due to the potential for color loss to your carpet. We see color loss often as carpet cleaners but it might not sound like that big of a deal if you haven't personally dealt with the disappointment of realizing you inadvertently ruined your carpet. This carpet had quite a few areas of color loss. Since color loss can't be fixed with cleaning (cleaning makes no improvement as the dye has already been removed from the carpet), the only ways to "fix" color loss are to have the carpet dyed (depending on the carpet fiber) or to replace the carpeting. The best preventative measures you can take to avoid this is to refrain from using over the counter spotters and keeping products that remove color (think bleach, benzoyl peroxide, Resolve, etc.) away from your carpet.