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Carpet Cleaning and Carpet Spot Removal
Introduction
Stains are something everyone who has carpet has to deal with. The real trick to avoiding stains is to address the spill immediately. Carpet spots and stains that only take seconds to create can linger in a carpet long after multiple carpet cleanings if they are not addressed properly. If not cleaned properly carpet spots can get worse and even grow over time.
Many of the portable upright type carpet cleaners give you a lot of the cleaning power. Ideally you would use this to clean a whole room not just a few minor spots on a carpet. If you want to stay on top of your carpet spots read this article for some tips on dealing with some common carpet spots. You can get rid of unwanted odors, carpet stains and clean with a solution of hydrogen peroxide and fresh smelling citrus oils. Blood spots are the hardest to remove and can cost hundreds of dollars to clean if you call in a carpet cleaning company.
Removing Carpet Spots
The question we get asked most often is how to treat spots on a carpet between professional cleanings. To remove the solids from your carpets get something with a wide flat edge and scrape the solids up from the carpet. When you are lifting the debris from the carpet be careful not to push it down into the fibers. Now you can deal with the spot.
Most carpet manufacturers advise using cleaning solutions and patting the area dry. Towels make a excellent blotter, they are great for absorbing most liquids. Press firmly with the towel over the carpet the spot. It should easily transfer to the towel which is more absorbent. You should note that rubbing the carpet may cause irreparable damage and push the stain deeper into the carpet. TV commercials have trained us to spray cleaning agents directly on a spot and attempt to remove it by blotting. If the spot remains at this point, it may require professional cleaning.
When using any type of carpet spot remover be sure that it does not contain bleach. Always test it in an inconspicuous area before applying to the spot. Although most carpets manufactured nowadays are color fast, meaning as long as the carpet spots are aggressively and completely rinsed the dyes will adhere to the carpet fibers, be sure to TEST first.
Using a Cleaning Solution to Remove Stains
Always follow the instructions on the cleaning solution bottle. In general apply several drops of the solution and blot the area gently with a clean white towel. If no color transfer occurs, apply the solution again. Wait half an hour to one hour and inspect for any damaging color changes. Allow the solution to remain on the spot for the recommended length of time before removing the detergent. Treat the stained area with the proper spotting solution until the stain is removed. Always use small amounts of the cleaning agents and blot frequently.
It is very important to NEVER pour a dry cleaning solution directly onto the carpet or allow a dry cleaning solution to reach the carpet backing. Dry cleaning fluids may destroy the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Please remember to exercise caution when using any dry cleaning fluid.
Using a Machine to Clean the Carpet
When using a carpet cleaning machine the water is mixed with a cleaning detergent and the resulting solution is sprayed onto the surface to be cleaned. A vacuum motor is used, (similar to a vacuum cleaner) to generate suction to remove the cleaning solution and the trapped dirt back into the cleaning machine.
When using a steam cleaner the spots on a carpet may need to be gone over more than once to completely remove them. Steam is pumped to the nozzle where it is brought into contact with the carpet being cleaned. You can use water or ideally a cleaning solution, (usually recommended by the manufacturer), with the steam cleaner. The more up market steam cleaners have controls to manage the delivery of the vapour to your carpet.
When the heated cleaning fluid is applied to your carpet the cleaning fluid is cooled. This decreases the cleaning ability of the cleaning solution. Heating the cleaning fluid to a higher temperature to compensate for this will overcome the problem, but with an increase in energy required. Not a problem for those few small stains ?
Conclusion
There are many types of cleaning solutions, machines and spot sprays to clean your carpets. Removing the spill or spot immediately is the best way to avoid a long term stain. A clean towel pressed firmly on the spot is the most effective way to address an immediate spill. Heavy traffic areas required more assistance. Steam is the best way to clean those heavy traffic areas and stubborn stains.
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