Tips for Keeping Upholstery Looking Good

1. Clean spots or soil right away. Upholstery doesn't have the stain resistance that carpet does so it's important to do so to prevent permanent stains.

2. Keep furry friends off the furniture. Pets can cause a lot of damage to upholstery with their claws that can destroy the fibers of the upholstered item and accidents that can get deep into the foam (which can be impossible to remove).

3. Avoid direct sunlight.

4. Keep transferrable dyes (like newspaper, blue jeans, etc.) a safe distance away from the upholstery.

5. Schedule regular professional cleanings BEFORE your upholstery looks dirty. If you wait for it to look soiled, permanent damage may have already been caused.

Four simple ways to take care of your carpet:

1️⃣ Remove your shoes when you walk into your house. Taking your shoes off before you enter a carpeted room can save your carpet from unnecessary wear and tear. Just think of all the dirt, dust, and bacteria that could be tracked into your home from the bottom of your shoes. 👟

2️⃣ Vacuum frequently. A great way to maintain your carpet is to vacuum at least once a week. If you have kids or pets we would recommend vacuuming more often. Make sure to empty the canister or change the bag in your vacuum cleaner consistently in order to get the most out of your vacuum cleaner. 🐶🐱

3️⃣ Try to protect your carpet from being in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. With too much sunlight in certain spots, those areas could begin to fade and age quicker than they would otherwise. A practical solution could be as simple as closing the blinds or drapes when you leave the house. ☀️

4️⃣ Create a carpet care kit. At your next cleaning appointment, ask our technician for their expert advice on what you should include in your kit. Note: Only use products that have been recommended by our cleaning experts. Some products could cause spots on your carpet to become permanent stains. The best solution for any spot removal would be to hire a professional cleaner to help. It may seem like a cheaper option to treat the spots yourself but it could end up costing you more money in the long run. We are here to help! 👍

Carpet Cleaning Myth: Dry cleaning is better than “steam cleaning.”

Each method of cleaning has its place but for typical residential cleanings, hot water extraction (most often referred to as “steam cleaning”) is going to be your best bet if you’re looking for a deep cleaning. Dry cleaning is more of a surface cleaning so the carpet stays drier, which can be of the utmost concern to some individuals and important in specific situations and on certain types of carpeting. Steam cleaning on the other hand, is a more thorough cleaning process but has a longer dry time. It’s also the process required by most manufacturers to maintain the carpet warranty. If you’re unsure of what cleaning process would work the best for you, let us know. We are happy to help!

Carpet Cleaning Myth: New Carpet Doesn’t Need Cleaning.

Carpet Cleaning Myth: New Carpet Doesn’t Need Cleaning. Oftentimes when people refer to their carpet as “new", it’s already a few years old. Since carpet is designed to hide soils effectively, it’s important to keep up with a regular carpet cleaning schedule (typically between 6-12 months but definitely before the 18 month mark), rather than waiting for it to “look dirty.” By the time a carpet “looks dirty,” damage to the carpet fiber has already occurred. Also, most carpet manufacturers require professional carpet cleanings to maintain the warranty on the carpet so it’s a good idea to read the fine print to ensure compliance.

Will This Spot Come Out?

One question we occasionally get asked during booking is “Will this spot come out?”. Unfortunately that question is impossible to answer by phone or email due to factors such as: what caused the spot, what was used to treat the spot, how the spot was treated (there could be damage to the carpet fiber if it was scrubbed), how much time has passed, etc. Substances that contain dye (for example: juices, jelly, sodas, sports drinks, etc.) can penetrate the dye sites of the carpet, causing permanent stains that cannot be removed with cleaning. It’s important to clean up spots and spills right away for the best chance at removal. If you need a little extra help, let us know. We can help!

How to extend the life of your upholstery:

1️⃣ Choose a fabric that works with your lifestyle. Choosing the right fabric can extend the life of your upholstery and make it easier to maintain it. For example, synthetic fibers are a good choice for upholstery that is used often.

2️⃣ Alternate your cushions. Periodically turning over loose cushions is a simple way to ensure a more even distribution of wear and tear. Changing the cushions around will also help as some seats are used more often than others. Also, make sure to keep those cushions fluffed!

3️⃣ Vacuum your upholstery regularly. Vacuuming your upholstery weekly will help to keep dirt and soils from becoming embedded in the upholstery fibers.

4️⃣ Position your upholstery away from direct sunlight in a well ventilated area. Too much sun can damage your upholstery causing it to fade or fray. Good ventilation is key as upholstery absorbs odors easily so smoke or cooking fumes could damage it.

5️⃣ Call a professional to help! The most helpful thing you could do to extend the life of your upholstery is schedule a professional cleaning, especially when something is spilled on it. The application of fabric protection is also extremely helpful. If it is time for your upholstery to be cleaned again, give us a call and don’t forget to ask the technician about the benefits of fabric protection for your upholstery!

Carpet cleaning myth: Bad for carpets to get wet

Carpet Cleaning Myth: It’s bad for carpets to get wet. Fact: This is true if you’re referring to a water damage or intrusion. However, if you’re using it as a reason not to have your carpet professionally cleaned, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Most carpet manufacturers require annual professional cleanings using hot water extraction (most often referred to as “steam cleaning”) to maintain the carpet warranty. Unlike dry cleaning and other cleaning methods that just clean the surface of the carpet, steam cleaning is effective at removing odor causing bacteria, spots, and other unwanted things from your carpet while leaving them virtually residue-free (which is safer for your family and pets).

Carpet Fun Fact

While regularly vacuuming your carpet is important to remove dry soil that sits on the surface of your carpet, professional cleanings are crucial to rinsing out all the undesirable things found in the carpet fibers. Our highly educated cleaning experts, along with their modern cleaning technology, are able to provide the deepest level of clean.