Tag: carpet cleaning

Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning Tips

Remember what your brand new carpet looked like when you first had it installed? Frustrated that only a short time later it looks like it needs to be replaced again?

Keeping your carpet clean and looking new is no longer an easy job.

To get the most wear out of your carpet, use the following do-it-yourself carpet cleaning tips.

Regular upkeep is vital to the life of your carpet. By vacuuming your carpet weekly and not allowing shoes to be worn in your house, you can extend the life of your carpet by five years or more. Vacuuming regularly keeps dirt and grime from becoming ground in to the carpet fibers. Allowing only socks or slippers on your carpet keeps it from becoming soiled by hard to remove stains such as mud and oils.

If your carpet does become stained or overly dirty, there are numerous homemade products and easy carpet cleaning tips that you can use to make it look new again.

When cleaning the entire carpeted area, always use a warm water solution. The warm water allows the grime and oils to be broken down more quickly and completely. For the cleaning solution you can use any of the numerous commercial products available but a simple mix of water and vinegar works just as well. The white vinegar will pull residue from the fibers making your carpet softer and cleaner.

For stains, there are numerous treatments. Club soda works great on red wine stains. Brake cleaner works great on tough food stains and WD40 works great on oil or grease spots.

To use brake cleaner, simply apply the cleaner to a cloth and then blot the stain. Once the stain is removed rinse the area with a vinegar and water solution.

To use WD40, simple spray the stained area and allow the cleaner to sit for 30 minutes. Blot the area dry and then rinse it well with a mixture of dish soap and water.

The best carpet cleaning tip for removing general stains is shaving cream. Shaving cream, when applied directly to the stain and allowed to set for 30 minutes, will remove just about every type of stain. After the cream has set, gently blot it away with a dry white cloth. Be sure to rinse the area with a vinegar and water solution after cleaning.

When cleaning a carpet stain it is important to remember to blot the affected area and never rub it. Rubbing causes the particles to ground into the carpet fibers and it can also lead to the premature breakdown of those fibers.

By using these simple carpet cleaning tips you can make carpet cleaning and upkeep a breeze. Plus, you can save money on products and still have clean carpets that you are proud to show.

How To Make Money By Starting A Carpet Cleaning Business

If you want to make money working for yourself and be your own boss carpet cleaning is an easy business to get into. When you start up a business there are two key components that you need, a product to sell and someone who’s willing to buy it. Carpet cleaning is not rocket science but does require knowledge on general carpet cleaning, stain removal and knowing the limitations of what your equipment can handle.

There are three main types of carpet cleaning; dry foam carpet cleaning, liquid extraction carpet cleaning, and hybrid liquid extraction using a bonnet to thoroughly scrub the floors. Most carpet cleaners use the liquid extraction method because it most cost effective. When starting your business you need to lay out a business plan. To develop a carpet cleaning business you must have money for start up because your business is equipment based.

When you first go to purchase carpet cleaning equipment you’ll be amazed at how many different types of extraction equipment is available. To find carpet cleaning equipment it is advisable to shop at a local cleaning supplies and janitorial equipment distributor or look on line at vacuum cleaner and carpet extractor websites. There are many types of carpet cleaning units available, some of these types include carpet spotters, portable carpet extractors and truck mount carpet extractors.

Carpet spotters are made for cleaning smaller spaces and areas that are not flat like cars, boats and furniture. Carpet spotters are also great at removing small spills and stains and are light and easy to transport. A great way to expand what you offer in your carpet cleaning business is to offer mobile auto detailing. Mobile auto detailing is quickly catching on and people will pay good money for this extra service.

Portable carpet extractors are what you are probably going to be looking at if you’re just starting out in the carpet cleaning market. There are two types of portable carpet extractors, tank and wand units and portable walk behind. Tank units are the best if you are going to be cleaning a lot of carpets frequently. Tank units allow you to attach carpet wand tools for a variety of jobs and are the most versatile. Tank extractors also come with heaters that super heat your extraction solution which in turn yields a cleaner carpet. Tank portable carpet extractors usually range from $1200 to $7000 dollars new and are available with many options.

The third type of carpet extraction unit is the truck mount. Having a truck mount unit for commercial carpet cleaning is the ultimate way to go. Truck mount carpet extractors are usually mounted in a truck, van or trailer and contain very large suction motors which are run off the vehicles own power. Truck mount carpet extractors come with super heating heaters that heat the carpet extraction solution up to high temperatures. Truck mount units are usually self contained so the both the solution tank and the waste liquid tank is contained in the vehicle. Truck mount setups can range any where from $10,000 to $60,000 dollars depending on the options you choose. If you are starting out your own carpet cleaning business a used truck mount systems is a great way to go.

The basic equipment needed to start your carpet cleaning business is a vehicle to get to your carpet cleaning location, a carpet extraction unit and carpet cleaning chemicals and cleaning supplies. After you have acquired all your cleaning equipment it’s time to get insured. It is not recommended that you clean someone else’s carpets without insurance and most people who hire you will require proof that you are insured and bonded for their own protection. Knowledge of carpet cleaning is required for cleaning carpets. There are many books and internet sites that are devoted to commercial carpet cleaning from which you can gain knowledge about the carpet cleaning industry.

After you have learned and practiced with your own equipment its time to get some clients. A great way to learn and get experience is to offer to clean your friends and relatives carpet for free or at a discounted price. This is a great way to gain experience and knowledge about carpet cleaning and sometimes learning by making mistakes is the best way to perfect your carpet cleaning skills. The most cost effective way to get clients is networking. Tell people about your carpet cleaning endeavors and ask them to spread the word. Advertising in smaller local newspapers is also a great option because ads are usually cheap and they are targeted to specific communities. When you first start out you should run some good deals even if you are breaking even on the actual carpet cleaning costs at your jobs. You will want to get the word out there as much as you can, and if you do a great job word will spread fast.

When you are cleaning your clients’ carpets it is important that you look and act professional. Remember that you are in someone else’s house and that you are being paid as a service to clean their carpets. Before you start cleaning your clients’ carpets, have them show you all the trouble spots and let them know if it is possible to get stains out. Many people believe that professional carpet cleaners can remove every stain from carpeting but this is not true because some stains can be ground in and permanent. It’s ok to let the client know if you are unable to remove a stain. After you are done cleaning the carpets take the client around and show them any trouble spots before you leave. Explain to them why you can’t get the stain out and what other treatments such as dying can be done to the carpet. Make sure before you leave that the client is happy, just as good carpet cleaning spreads by word of mouth news of bad carpet cleaning will spread even faster and could give you a bad reputation in the carpet cleaning world. Make sure to keep a list of all your clients and follow up with them over the year to see if your carpet cleaning skills are needed again. Over time you will build up repeat clients to add to your new clients which will in time expand your carpet cleaning business.

Carpet Cleaning Myths to Junk

Carpets have been around since time immemorial and so have carpet cleaning methods. However, new methods of professional carpet cleaning have given rise to a lot of myths related to carpet cleaning which dissuade people from getting and keeping their carpets clean. A dirty carpet is not just full of dust and grime; it is a breeding spot for germs and diseases. In fact, dirty carpets pollute the air inside your house resulting in a number of ailments that your family might suffer from. Therefore, in order to keep your family healthy and your home clean, it is necessary to clean your carpet regularly. If the myths given below have been keeping you from cleaning your carpets, then we bust them here so that you may give yourself and your family a cleaner and healthier home.

You Should Not Vacuum Carpets Too Much

When we see small balls of fluff getting sucked into the vacuum cleaner every time we vacuum, we think that we are losing portions of our carpet. However, research has proved that vacuuming does not really destroy your carpet or make it thin and you can easily vacuum a carpet three to four times a week without losing it for a large number of years. Considering that an average carpet is vacuumed only three to four times a month, it is imperative that you increase the frequency of your vacuuming.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Shrinks Carpets

Gone are the days when carpets used to made out of shrinkable natural materials like pure wool and silk on a jute base. The majority of carpets today are made out of nylon tied on a synthetic base. Since almost all of us know that synthetics do not shrink even in hot water, there are absolutely no chances of your carpet shrinking or losing color due to steaming or hot water extraction. On the other hand, if you actually have a woolen or silk carpet, then hiring professionals for cleaning it is a better option since they will know what to use while cleaning it so that it loses neither color nor size.

Cleaning A Carpet Makes It Get Dirtier Fast
This actually happens to a lot of us. We notice that a carpet’s propensity for becoming dirty increases exponentially the moment it gets cleaned. Unfortunately this is not due to cleaning but because of ‘dirty’ cleaning. If your carpet does not get cleaned properly and remains of cleaning chemicals are left in it, then it is bound to attract more dust and grime than it was doing earlier.

Therefore, it is important that the carpet is cleaned properly and remains of chemicals totally removed. If this is done, your carpet will not pick up any more dirt than it was doing earlier. In fact, getting a Scotchgard coating will ensure that it remains neat and clean for a long time to come. The trick here is to hire a good professional carpet cleaning company that knows its job instead of trying to do it yourself or hiring cheap but incompetent people.

Carpet Cleaning Machines

With the invention of Carpet, the invention of a Carpet cleaning machine was not far away. The first hand held Carpet cleaning machine was designed and tested in the 1860’s in Chicago, while the first power operated vacuum machine was invented in the early 1900’s by an English man named H. Cecil Booth.

At around the same time as H. Cecil Booth’s invention, a man by the name of James Murray Spangler came up with his own vacuum cleaner invention, which he later sold to his cousin Hoover. As you well know, Hoover has become one of the most prominent names in the vacuum cleaning machine business and is certain one of the most popular household names in the western world.

The vacuum cleaner was heralded as a blessing in disguise for many housewives, whose weekly task it was to keep the house clean. Initially, vacuum cleaners were only capable of sucking up dust and dirt, but with modern technology inventors were soon capable of designing a wet-cleaner that can steam carpets and kill germs.

Carpet was capable of covering the floor of a house, flat, or bungalow and keeping peoples feet warm in winter. Initially, people needed to sweep their floors, or carpets, but with the invention of the vacuum cleaner, people could easily detract the dirt and dust from their carpets with less effort. It was also realized that businesses, apartments and corporations would need someone to clean their carpets too, so the invention of the commercial carpet cleaners was next.

Essentially, the vacuum cleaner operates using a pump system. The pumping device sucks up air from a house, which in turn sucks up the dust and dirt from anything in front of the house opening. Inside the vacuum cleaner is a filtering system that collects the dust and dirt that can later be placed in the garbage outside.

Currently there are seven main types of vacuum cleaners; the upright vacuum cleaner, the Canister vacuum cleaner, the back-pack style vacuum cleaner, the built-in vacuum cleaner, the robotic vacuum cleaner, the hand held vacuum cleaner and the wet/dry vacuum cleaners. These different types of vacuum cleaners are available in different styles, sizes and have various voltage/power potentials.

One of the most significant developments in carpet cleaning machines has been the invention of the cyclone carpet cleaner. Unlike previous carpet cleaning machines, the cyclone carpet cleaner collects dust and dirt in a large cylinder type container. The cyclone carpet cleaner operates using a central air force and a number of filters. These filters filter the dust and dirt into stages, so that the air being sucked up into the cylinder container can then be cleaned and re-released into the air through a central outlet.

Robotic vacuum cleaners are also a relatively new invention, enabling the carpet to be cleaned by a carpet cleaning machine without the need of people power. Using a simple control mechanisms, the robotic vacuum cleaner can navigate its way around the floor of an apartment, or home, cleaning dust and particles from the floor and then return to its docking station for re-charging.

Cleaning service in your area

Take advantage of one of today’s many cleaning services. They offer full time cleaning services for those days when your schedule is too full to fit in house cleaning needs.

Regular cleaning services are available on weekly, or bi-weekly basis. The cleaning industry has two primary market groups: consumer and commercial.

The consumer arena consists primarily of residential maid services, along with carpet cleaners, window cleaners and a variety of other cleaning services required on a less-frequent basis.

The commercial arena is dominated by janitorial services, which typically provide a wider range of services than maid services, along with other cleaning companies, such as carpet and window cleaners that target businesses rather than individual consumers.

Cleaning Services currently employs around 200 cleaners, mostly on a part time basis, either early morning or evening. The cleaners carry out a daily cleaning service to almost any home, and office.

They can mop, dust, vacuum, wash, disinfect and clean up every corner of your house. Not a superficial, cover it up, but a deep, thorough, complete cleaning.

Cleaning includes all services normally associated with a house cleaning company, including emptying all trash, dusting, vacuuming carpet, cleaning mirrors and insides of windows, and cleaning the bathroom toilet, shower/bath, sink, and floor.

Cleaning services are available Monday through Friday. Requests cannot be made for same-day service. Service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment must be received at time of request, and can be made by check.

Importance Of The Carpet Dry Cleaning

Even though a lot of carpet maintenance might seem like a lot of extra work, you’ll definitely find that it is worth it when you get several more years out of the carpets in the home. Additionally, proper carpet care will keep your home looking beautiful as long as you live there. It is advisable to ensure the long life of the carpet people should contact the carpet cleaning service San Jose California for the maneuvering life of the carpet in uphold way.

There is no doubt regarding the health benefit that people may obtain while choosing the right carpet cleaning methods or the resources, as there is nothing like the feel of walking barefoot on a freshly cleaned carpet. When a carpet is installed for the first time, it exaggerate the look of the house flooring and the walls.

Whether it’s from stains, tears, or just general wear and tear on a carpet, you will start to notice signs of aging as your carpet gets older. However, this does not have to be the case! With proper carpet care and maintenance, you’ll be able to keep your carpet looking newer for longer by hiring reliable and professional carpet cleaning Orange County, and you’ll even be able to prolong the lifetime of your carpet.

The most important things that you need to remember regarding carpet care are also the easiest things to do. First of all, you should clean up any spills as soon as they happen. This will reduce the chances of stains, and will also keep the spills from soaking too far into the carpet. You should also make sure that you carpet dry cleaning regularly – at least once a week if you can manage it. That way, you’ll be able to keep the dirt that gets tracked onto your carpet from getting ground too far into it. You will also reduce the mess that occurs when there are spills.

You should make sure that you get your carpet fully cleaned once every one to three years depending on how much wear and tear it sees during those years. For children’s rooms and other areas of the house that see a lot of wear, you may want to consider best carpet cleaners for cleaning the carpet at least once a year. For other rooms of the house, you may only need to do a full cleaning once every few years.

Should You Hire A Professional For Cleaning Your Carpets?

No matter how much care you take of your carpet, there comes a day when it demands a professional carpet cleaning. It is true that keeping your carpet coated with Scotchgard and cleaning spills the moment they occur will keep your carpet cleaner for a long time, but eventually a time will come when your carpet will need to be properly cleaned using steaming and hot water extraction methods. You might be shifting out of a house or planning to throw a grand party and a major decision you might find yourself making is whether to clean your carpet yourself or get it done by professionals.

There are both advantages and disadvantages associated with cleaning your carpet yourself. One of the most important disadvantages is that you do not know what kinds of results you will get since you are no expert on carpet cleaning and do it a maximum of once in two years. Knowing what chemicals to use and in what quantity is something that you might not be very sure of. On the other hand, hiring a carpet cleaning machine that you do not know how to operate properly might end up leaving your carpets wet and prone to molding, with the cleaning being nothing to write home about. However, if you are sure that you will be able to do the job yourself and really know how to use carpet cleaning machines, how to use chemicals, which ones to use and where, then you should go for cleaning your carpets yourself and take advantage of the major benefit of cleaning your carpet yourself extremely low costs.

One thing that you should keep in mind when cleaning your carpet yourself is to use chemicals that are not really harmful for you and your kids. It is advised that you keep your kids out of the house for at least a day after the carpet cleaning since chemicals in carpet cleaners can bring on asthma and allergy attacks in a number of people. Make sure that you read all the warnings and precautions given on the carpet cleaner packs and follow them to a T.

Hiring a professional carpet cleaner comes with its own pros and cons too. For one, professional carpet cleaning services are generally costly and if you are somehow unlucky enough to hire the wrong kind of people, they may end up ruining your carpet and floor permanently. On the other hand, if you actually manage to hire good professional carpet cleaners, then you will not only be saved from the hassle of doing the job yourself, you will also be guaranteed a good job and a very clean carpet for months to come.

Therefore the key to getting your carpet cleaned is to save up a little and hire a reputable carpet cleaning firm for doing the job. This way, you will not have to worry about handling dangerous chemicals, handling a carpet cleaning machine or getting your carpets spoiled. Make sure that you hire a company that is recommended by a lot of people instead of hiring just anybody who says he can clean a carpet and you will end up with nice and clean carpets.