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Cleaning Tips
Carpeting can be one of the most durable investments you make for
your home - provided you care for it properly. With routine cleaning
and basic maintenance, a quality carpet can last 20 years or more.
Today's carpets are designed to hide soil and even repel it, thanks
to advances in chemical treatments.
However, carpet fibers can still trap and hide dust, dirt, bacteria
and other pollutants. Over time, that can lead to matting and a general
deterioration of your carpet.
Regular Carpet Cleaning has a number of benefits that we sometimes forget:
- It extends the life of your carpet.
- It gives a fresh, clean look to a room.
- It makes a room smell better.
- It eliminates dust and particles that bother people with allergies and asthma.
Vacuuming
Regular vacuuming is perhaps the easiest and most dependable way to
giving your carpet a longer life. Here are a few tips to keep in mind
when you're vacuuming at home or shopping for a new vacuum:
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Choose a vacuum cleaner with dual motors, one for suction and
the other for the beater bar that loosens dirt. (Canister vacuums
and 'electric brooms' don't have a beater bar.)
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Make sure your vacuum cleaner has adjustable and rotating
brushes that can loosen ground-in soil, and a strong enough
airflow to penetrate to the backing.
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Make sure the filtration bag is enclosed and adequately limits
particles from re-circulating into the air.
Rug Cleaning Tips:
A Rug can be a purchase for a lifetime and for generations if cared for
properly.
The information contained herein offers simple, basic tips on cleaning
and protecting your rug.
These Rug Cleaning Tips are merely suggestions and you may wish to contact
your Rug Cleaning professional for advice.
Depending on foot traffic your rug will need periodic washing by a rug
cleaning professional.
- Rotate your rug periodically for even wear.
- Vacuum on a regular basis. Be careful of fringe and the height of
the beater bar. Consider not using the beater bar.
- Use a quality pad or cushion to allow for cleaning and prevent slippage
Blotting Stains:
When stains occur, dilute with water. Do not soak the area. Work quickly;
do not allow stains to set. Blot from the edge of the spill towards the
center using a clean white paper towel or cloth. Avoid as much as possible
rubbing the area or pushing the stain further into the pile. For semi-solid
or solid spills use a spoon to scoop up as much as possible. Allow to air
dry or dry with a fan or hair dryer. Avoid excess heat if a hair dryer is
used. Once the area is dry, lightly brush the pile to restore its texture.
You never know when a spill will occur. To expedite the clean-up please
consider keeping the following items in a small kit for this purpose:
- Clean white cloth
- A soft bristle brush, like a clothes brush
- Mild detergent, it must not contain bleach or alkaline
- White vinegar
- Dry cleaning fluid
- Weak ammonia
- Clean sponge
- Alcohol
- Glycerin
Upholstery Cleaning Tips:
Upholstery Cleaning & CARE
With the appropriate care, your upholstered living room, dining room,
and bedroom furniture can provide many years of splendid use. By carefully
following the upholstery maintenance, cleaning, and stain removal information
provided below, you can greatly extend the lasting beauty of your home living
room, dining room, and bedroom furniture.
GENERAL UPHOLSTERY CARE GUIDELINES & Cleaning Tips
Follow the simple guidelines below to keep all your upholstered furniture
looking like new.
- To avoid fading, keep upholstered home furniture away from direct sunlight.
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Vacuum upholstered furniture as often as possible. Even if your
home furniture has seen little use, the abrasive action of dirt and
dust particles can wear the fibers of your upholstery fabric. For
high-use furniture, it's a good idea to frequently beat the cushions
and then vacuum and rotate them.
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Damp-dust arms and headrest areas with a cleaning solution to prevent
body oil accumulation on the upholstery fabric (be sure to follow the
manufacturer's recommendation as to the type of Upholstery Cleaning
solution to use)
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Avoid placing newspapers directly on home furniture upholstery fabric,
since ink will accumulate and is difficult to remove.
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Never cover your upholstered home furniture with dark-colored blankets,
sheets, etc., because the dyes can rub off onto fabric when dry or
bleed when wet.
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Avoid the use of dyes, paints, inks, nail polishes, and Mercurochrome
around your upholstery fabric, since these substances alter color and
will stain.
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Never remove cushion covers for dry cleaning or machine washing, even
though they have zippers.
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Periodic professional cleaning will keep soil accumulation from marring
the beauty of the upholstery of your home living room, dining room, and
bedroom furniture.
Upholstery Cleaning - FIRST AID
You've just spilled a glass of wine on your living room sofa—what do you do
now? It's important to act promptly but not to panic. Follow these guidelines
to control a spill and prevent a stain.
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Act quickly before a spill spreads or dries.
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For liquid spills:
Blot lightly with a dry paper towel to start. Increase pressure and use
a fresh paper towel until no more liquid is absorbed. DO NOT RUB! If
residue remains, see the stain removal guide below.
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For solid or semi-solid spills (such as foods):
Gently lift the substance from the upholstery with a spoon or dull knife,
scraping carefully toward the center of the spill. Treat any wet residue
as a liquid spill. If residue remains, see the stain removal guide below.
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For dry spills (such as ashes or dry cosmetics):
Adding any liquid to a normally dry substance, such as ashes, may cause a
permanent stain. Vacuum, beat the area with a ruler or similar implement,
vacuum again, and then use the adhesive side of masking tape to remove any
residue. If residue remains, see the stain removal guide below.
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Check the manufacturer's label for any cleaning instructions and/or fabric
cleaning code.
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The following are the standard fabric cleaning codes used by furniture
manufacturers. Use these codes to determine what types of cleaning methods
are appropriate for your fabric:
W Use water-based cleaning agent
S Use mild (water-free) cleaning solvent
WS Use water-based cleaning agent, or use mild (water-free) cleaning
solvent
X Clean ONLY by vacuuming or light brushing
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Always test water or a cleaning agent by applying to the same upholstery fabric
on a hidden area of the upholstered piece. Allow to dry completely, and then
check its effect on the fabric.
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Apply water or a cleaning agent (as recommended in the stain removal guide) in
small doses to avoid spreading the stain or causing a ring. Be patient; apply
several times, blotting firmly with a dry paper towel to soak up the liquid
after each application.
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Never rub a fabric; rubbing could result in damage to the nap, loss of color,
or spreading of the stain.
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Restore the nap on velvet by brushing gently before it dries.
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To avoid water spotting, use a fan or cool blow dryer (on a cool setting) to
accelerate drying. Dry from the outer edge of the affected area toward the
center.
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If the stain persists, seek professional cleaning assistance
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