Tag: carpet care

How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date February 20, 2021

The worst thing imaginable just happened; you spilled nail polish on your carpet while painting your nails. You start to panic and think, “how do I get nail polish out of the carpet?”.

Nail polish, no matter what color, is one of those things that make your heart palpitate when you think of the possibility of getting it on your carpet. Or one of your favorite rugs.

First, don’t panic. We are here to help you abolish that nail polish stain from your carpet or beloved rug.

If you have a dried nail polish stain that won’t budge, contact TLC Cleaning to get the job done. We will get your carpets clean and stain-free while you finish your polish job.

How to Get Nail Polish Out of Carpet: Blot Don’t Smudge

If the spill just took place, grab some paper towels and gently blot up any excess nail polish. Take care not to smudge, scrub, or smear the remaining nail polish. Doing so will only spread the existing stain and drive it further into the carpet fibers.

If the polish is already dry, use a dull knife to scrape off excess before bringing out the cleaning solutions.

Always Do a Patch Test

Testing your solution and assessing what it does to your carpet or rug is essential when choosing a cleaning solution.

No matter what solution you use, you should do a patch test on your rug or carpet first. It is best to do a small, barely visible area for the test. If you see any color transfer on your clean cloth or discoloration, change your solution.

Try Pantry Staples Vinegar and Baking Soda

You read that right; in some cases baking soda and vinegar can be a solution for how to get nail polish out of carpet, depending on the type of carpet you have.

Vinegar: Use plain white vinegar and soak the stain entirely. Once saturated, place a vinegar-soaked paper towel over the stain and let the solution sit for ten minutes. After ten minutes of soaking in the solution, gently blot the area until the stain is removed.

Baking soda: Generously sprinkle baking soda onto the polish stained area. Once covered, soak the area with club soda and allow the mixture to sit for ten minutes. Then gently scrub and blot the stain until lifted. Once removed, rinse the area with warm water and rag or a carpet cleaner.

Common Household Cleaners

Depending on your carpet, baking soda or vinegar might not do the trick. If this is the case, two common household cleaners have shown results: Windex and Goo Gone.

Good Ol’ Nail Polish Remover

Before you grab your 100% acetone nail polish remover and slosh it all over the stain, there are a few caveats. Acetone is a powerful solvent that can potentially chew through the fibers of your carpet or leave it discolored.

You want to use a small amount of the non-acetone, dye-free nail polish remover. This solution can be very effective on light or white colored carpets.

Apply the solution to a corner of a cleaning cloth, cotton ball, or paper towel and gently dab the stain. Be mindful not to scrub the stain into unaffected areas.

(Pro Tip: Nail polish remover is most effective on a fresh stain, so be quick. Don’t forget your patch test!)

Products You Can Find in Your Bathroom

Time to check under your bathroom sink. Your solution for how to get nail polish out of carpet could be there – hairspray and rubbing alcohol.

It’s important to note these solutions work best on dried stains. Dampen the stain with cold water, generously spray with hairspray, and follow up with about three splashes of alcohol.

Once you apply the solution to the carpet, gently scrub with a toothbrush for about sixty seconds. Slowly add more water as you scrub. Once you notice the stain is lifting, blot dry.

Does the Color of the Carpet matter?

As a general rule, different solutions work best depending on the color of your carpet. But this is why it is crucial to do a patch test to see for yourself.

Dark: For dark carpet, it is better to use hairspray and rubbing alcohol. Using nail polish remover, you may risk bleaching your carpet.

Light: As mentioned earlier, non-acetone nail polish remover works best on light or white colored carpets. Just make sure you’re using one that is dye-free, or you’ll risk dying your white carpet!

However, no matter your carpet’s color, it is important to keep them stain-free and clean to keep your home warm and healthy!

Kitchen Dish Soap

You can mix up a small amount of dish soap with water, but this method is best when combined with one of the other solutions. The smell of the dish soap will help combat the strong odors from the other solutions.

If you are going to use dish soap, make sure there is not an excessive amount of bubbles in the mixture. The bubbles and surfactants in the soaps will make it hard to see if the stain is being lifted.

Stubborn Stains Got You Down?

The truth is that there are just some stains that are better off left to the professionals. Depending on the fibers of your carpet and the size of the stain, you may struggle to lift the stain yourself.

If you’re in the Fargo, Grand Forks, North Dakota, or Detroit Lakes, Minnesota area, TLC Cleaning can help with stubborn stains. Let us do what we love and worry about those impossible stains for you!

Tags carpet, carpet care, carpet cleaning, common household messes, messes, nail polish, stains

Why Robot Vacuums Can’t Beat Traditional Vacuuming

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date February 18, 2020
No Comments on Why Robot Vacuums Can’t Beat Traditional Vacuuming

woman vacuuming with a dog in the background

We all love those little gadgets in our lives that make life easier. As years have gone by, tools for cleaning have seen some major upgrades. One device that stands out, in particular, is robotic vacuums. While convenient and incredibly cool, they just aren’t the same as traditional upright vacuums with bags or canisters.

Vacuuming is a critical part of keeping your carpets and home clean. Some may even consider it a “necessary evil.” But the fact remains, it is necessary.

If you love your robotic floor cleaner and simply don’t want to pick up a vacuum, call TLC Cleaning.

As a premier cleaning company in Fargo, North Dakota, our employees would love to pick up your Roomba’s(™) slack so you can put your feet up (above your spotless carpets) and relax.

Don’t worry, you can keep your Roomba(™)

Some people get really attached to their robot vacuums. So much so, that sometimes they are often affectionately given names by their families.

That’s okay. In fact, we love that a cleaning tool could be so near and dear to your heart that you want to name it Rosie after The Jetsons’ robot housekeeper.

You can love your robot floor cleaner, but that doesn’t mean they can completely replace a good old-fashioned upright vacuum.

When robotic vacuums work

woman watching TV with her feet up while a robotic vacuum runs

The main perk of having an artificially intelligent floor cleaner is the sheer convenience.

Some can even connect to Wi-fi so you can start and schedule them through an app when you’re away on vacation or while you’re at work.

But, robotic vacuums are still useful for when you are home. You can do other cleaning tasks, like folding laundry or dusting, while your Roomba(™)gets the whole lower half of the room.

Delegating some household responsibilities to a robot is a simple solution to cutting back on the time you spend cleaning.

Even if you just use your robotic vacuum to get all the Cheerios every day after breakfast, you don’t have to spend precious morning minutes picking up the mess. Or, even worse, come home to clean up the cereal after a long day at work.

Robot floor cleaners are also great for pet owners. If you own a pet with fur, you know you’ll find hair everywhere. Pet owners the world over know frequent cleaning comes with the territory of sharing your home with a little (or big) fluff ball.

No matter how much you love your pets, there probably hasn’t been a single person to say they love the pet hair situation.

Roombas(™) or Ecovacs(™), or Deebots(™) don’t work as well on large quantities of longer pet hair. But, if you have a short or medium-haired family member, a robotic vacuum may be a good investment.

With a robotic floor cleaner, you can effortlessly minimize unwanted pet hair in your home.

While there are some things robovacs are great for, there are some things that set them back from a traditional upright vacuum.

When robotic vacuums don’t work

Autonomous vacuums work best in rooms without tons of furniture and clutter. So that means your little Rosie isn’t the greatest for any of the kids’ rooms.

Also, your little cleaning buddy isn’t suited for cleaning rooms with thicker rugs, like shag. Thicker carpets can tire out your robovac. When floor coverings are thicker, they tend to use more battery life than on shorter lengths of carpet.

If your robot runs low on battery, it will return to the docking station, sometimes before it finishes the whole room.

Dark floors may also be an obstacle your sweet Rosie has a hard time overcoming.

And, due to their small internal dustbin, they aren’t capable of doing a whole house, weekly type vacuum.

Additionally, because they are robots, there are some things they just might miss.

And while Roomba’s(™)or other robotic vacuums are great for pet hair, they aren’t necessarily great for all pets.

If you have a new puppy, you may want to think twice before allowing your robot floor cleaner to work unsupervised.

These little robots can’t avoid obstacles that come with a new pet that isn’t potty trained. There may be a certain viral video on the internet of a very smelly encounter a robovac had in a home with a little puppy accident.

While kind of funny to see happen to others, this incident is never something you want to happen to you. Please don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Let’s sum it up

Robotic vacuums are super good for:

-Homes that are typically picked up and tidy

-Households with lots of extra fur from pets

-Homes with messy eaters

-Pets that are potty trained

-People who want to spend less time cleaning, and more time living

-Living in a home where you don’t remove shoes upon entry

Avoid robotic floor cleaners if:

-Your floor or home has a lot of clutter

-You have a lot of furniture or crowded space

-You consider it a substitute for vacuuming entirely

-Your home is really big

-You have a lot of area rugs or thick carpet

-You have floors that are dark in color

-Others tell you that you like to micromanage tasks

-You have a fear of artificial intelligence

Call TLC Cleaning

a man playing air guitar on a traditional vacuum

If you love the feeling of freshly vacuumed floors regularly, call TLC Cleaning in Fargo, North Dakota.

Even our basic cleaning service includes floor cleaning and vacuuming. If you schedule a recurring cleaning with us, you’ll spend less time tidying your floors and home, and more time doing all of the things that you love.

While your Roomba(™) or robotic vacuum is great for touch-ups, nothing beats regular cleaning with a traditional upright vacuum. And the only thing that is better than that is when a member of TLC’s well-trained staff is doing the vacuuming.

Your robotic vacuum might even be out of work entirely, after a basic or deep cleaning from TLC.

Tags carpet, carpet care, floor care, flooring, robot vacuum, Roomba, vacuuming

Carpet Care Floor Care

How Often Should You Clean Your Carpets?

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date December 10, 2019
No Comments on How Often Should You Clean Your Carpets?

No part of your home is more exposed to dirt and grime than your floor. Thanks to that pesky system known as gravity, anything which can fall off a body, a coffee table, out of a dirty cup, or off a pair of shoes will land on the floor. Unless you want to spend most of your time at home wiping up spillages, those falling objects will cause stains on your carpets and rugs. So how often should you clean your carpet, and what is the best way to do it?

The short answer is that your carpets should be professionally deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Keep reading for the long answer to how often your carpets should be cleaned and why it is important.

Cleanliness is next to expectedness

A clean home benefits the people that live there. It’s not just for aesthetic purposes but also for considering the health and wellbeing of its occupants. Not cleaning your home thoroughly and often is an invitation to dust mites, germs, and bacteria, and like unwelcome party guests, they don’t leave willingly.

The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors advises that carpet is a high-risk area for growing mold and all the dangers this represents. Regular cleanings can help keep your carpet looking great and keep it hygienic.

How clean is “clean?”

You might be one of those people who are happy with a simple vacuum, dust, mop, and wipe down once a week. If there are no children, pets, smokers, or anyone suffering from respiratory illnesses living in your home, that is fine for short-term purposes.

But even in these households, the basic once-a-week routine will remove surface dirt and grime from your floors and carpets, but it can’t beat a deep, thorough, professional carpet clean.

And how dirty is “dirty?”

man and woman covered in dirt holding cleaning supplies. how often should you clean your carpets?

We humans and our pet companions harbor bacteria, germs, and dirt and shed hair and skin on a disturbingly regular basis, so it’s fair to say that our home environment doesn’t stay pristine without help.

But there’s no need to go entirely overboard. Having a fair idea about how often you should clean your carpet and rugs will go a long way to maintaining a clean and inviting home.

But I am not dirty!

Actually, you’re not as clean as you might think you are. Intentionally or otherwise, we shed hair and skin, we track dirt into the home, and even the most careful of us will occasionally drop food crumbs and spill drinks. Philip Tierno, the author of The Secret Life of Germs, estimates that carpet can absorb so much dirt that it can be 4000 times dirtier than the toilet seat.

So what can I do about this?

Not a lot, as far as creating a mess goes – that is, to some degree, unavoidable. But you can do something about cleaning up the clutter once it occurs. Unfortunately, it takes more than a quick regular vacuuming or mop on a once-weekly basis to change your living space from a haven for bugs, dust, and allergens into a haven for humans.

Some handy tips to keep your place clean and limit how often you should clean your carpet

little girl feeling bad about leaving muddy footprints in rug. how often should you clean your carpets?

Keep food mess to a minimum.

Having a set area for eating is one way to avoid food messes from migrating into the carpets all over. If possible, have that eating area in a room with lino floors, which are far easier to clean. Wiping up spilled milk or juice from a linoleum floor rather than a shag carpet is much easier.

The hazards caused by the small generation

Fact – children are messy. Even the cutest kid will drool, diaper leakage happens even in the most carefully cultivated homes, and no child is shy about wandering from room to room with a handful of food.

Hansel and Gretel may have had birds cleaning up their food scraps, but your kids won’t so mop up after them before the stains caused by these food scraps become permanent.

Shoes: on or off?

muddy toddler with dirty pants and shoes

On cold, wet days, all you can think of when you get home is to get inside where it’s warm and dry, but unfortunately, it’s not just you who enters. Walking on stone, gravel, soil, and grass inevitably means dragging some of the outdoors to the indoors, and no amount of wiping the shoes on the doormat can avoid that. So kicking your shoes off at the door is a simple trick to prevent bringing nature indoors.

Pets and their problems

beagle dog laying on clean carpet. how often should you clean your carpets when you have pets?

Your pet can be as much a member of your family as your child, but Fido, Felix, or Polly are not known for their hygiene or clean habits. Cats and dogs shed fur, cats spit up furballs, birds drop feathers, furry animals harbor fleas, toilet training takes time and usually involves a few “accidents,” and you know full well that your pet won’t use a napkin when it’s eating.

So if you live with animals, your home needs a little bit of extra care and attention.

Enough of the messy part; what about the cleaning?

If you have been nodding your head in agreement here, you will realize by now that keeping your home and carpets clean is a lot harder than just a quick flick of the vacuum once in a while. Your home needs proper care and cleaning by professionals.

Why a professional clean?

Those stains can be stubborn. Even if you attack the spilled coffee, red wine, or cheese spillage as soon as it occurs, you’re never going to get that mess out properly.
Professionals will ensure the carpet is cleaned down to the base and properly dried afterward. The last thing you want is a clean but damp carpet that will start to smell in a few days and grow mold and mildew.
Many carpet manufacturers and sellers stipulate that you get your carpet professionally cleaned regularly – at least once a year – to retain its warranty.

Call the professionals and never wonder how often should you clean your carpets again

Get a serious, deep clean done by the experts at TLC Cleaning. Choose from a range of services, from cleaning one room only right up to full and thorough cleaning and deodorizing of every carpet fiber and mat in your home. Let TLC Cleaning implement your ultimate cleaning schedule to tend to your floors and every part of your home.

Get an instant quote for professional carpet steam cleaning or any other services today.

Tags carpet, carpet care, carpet cleaning, floor care, vacuuming

Carpet Care Floor Care

How to Get Rid of Pet Hair and Stains in Your Home

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date August 9, 2019
No Comments on How to Get Rid of Pet Hair and Stains in Your Home

When you’re tired of pet-stain DIY, call TLC Cleaning.

Having pets in your home is not always synonymous with having a clean house. Even the tidiest people sometimes have to deal with figuring out how to remove pet stains from the carpet, or finding the best vacuum for pet hair.

No matter how much you love your four-legged best friends, they can take a toll on your home.

From wiping muddy footprints from the floors to cleaning up hairballs or pet hair, your dogs and cats will keep you on your toes when it comes to cleaning up after them. It seems like having pets inside your home doubles the amount of housework you have to complete.

If you didn’t love your furry family members so much, you would likely consider making them stay outside.

If you’re tired of continually sweeping up pet hair, cleaning up unfortunate accidents, or keeping your furniture clean, the experts at TLC Cleaning are here to help. Our experienced staff knows how to clean up after pets and people.

Your house will shine with some help from TLC Cleaning. Whether you need deep cleaning services every now and then or need weekly cleaning services, we have what you need.

At TLC Cleaning, we give you back one of your most valuable assets: your time. Leaving the housework to us allows you to enjoy your hobbies and loved ones more.

two guinea pigs taking a bath in a bathroom sink

Instead of cleaning up after your pets incessantly, take the time to go on an extra walk or spend the afternoon at the dog park. You can fully enjoy your pets more when you don’t have to worry about the constant messes.

While you prepare to set up your cleaning services with TLC Cleaning, try these helpful tips for cleaning up after your sweet pets. Having pets in your home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice cleanliness, air quality, or aesthetics. You can take care of stains, odors, and hair with ease.

Hairy Situations

white golden retriever outside with a lot of hair around

Pet hair seems to be everywhere if you have a cat or dog in the house. Certain breeds of dogs shed more than others.

Depending on the type of dog or cat you have, you might find pet hair tumbleweeds in the corners of your home, or find that your furniture is covered.

Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors

Sweeping or vacuuming pet hair off of hardwood floors causes a hurricane of hair blowing all around the room. There are a few solutions for combating pet hair floating around on your hardwood floors.

A damp terry cloth mop is a fantastic way to catch loose pet hair off of the floors. Another option is an electrostatic mop, which is an ideal alternative to a vacuum, as it won’t blow the hair around.

Pet Hair and Carpet

happy yellow lab on carpet, under a yellow rug

Carpet can seem like it is trapping the pet hair. It’s essential to find a vacuum that is designed for pet hair. A vacuum with a high-performance filter will help as well.

Depending on how many pets you have and what type of coat they have, you may find that vacuuming frequently is your best bet.

Pet Hair and Furniture

Pet hair on furniture can be a nuisance. Using a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down furniture is an optimal way to trap and remove pet hair. If you don’t have the heart to tell Fido he can’t come up on the couch, then wiping down your furniture with a damp cloth will help keep it looking its best.

A Groomed Pet is a Happy Pet

woman in yellow shirt combing white bunny

Another way to help prevent pet hair throughout your home is to practice proper grooming with your companion. Frequent brushing and bathing can help reduce shedding. Keep your pet looking their best, and your house as well.

Accidents Happen

One of the most unfortunate events in pet ownership is an occasional accident. Whether your new puppy hasn’t quite gotten the hang of making it outside to go, or your best friend ate something he shouldn’t have, accidents happen.

Cleaning them up is not much fun, but living with a stain on your carpet is worse.

Blot and Blot Some More

white and orange cat next to wet spot on carpet

One of the most effective ways to remove pet stains from carpet is to use the blotting technique. Use a cloth to absorb as much of the mess as possible.

Don’t rub the mess, risking spreading it or driving it deeper into the carpet. Instead, blot the stain a few times to remove the excess liquid. Treat the stain with your stain remover of choice, and then continue blotting until the stain is gone.

When it comes to treating the stain, you can choose a store-bought stain remover, or try some home remedies. Whichever the case, it’s wise to test a hidden area of carpet to ensure it’s safe. Some effective household products include:

-Dish soap

-Vinegar

-Baking soda

-Hydrogen peroxide

Blotting the stain, then applying whichever solution you choose, and then blotting again, will help remove the stain effectively. Time is of the essence with pet stains, but if you can’t clean it up in a timely manner, you can often still successfully remove a set-in stain with this method.

Call in the Professionals

If cleaning up after your pets is becoming tiresome or challenging, let the professionals at TLC

Cleaning take care of business for you. We strive to provide exceptional service to all of our clients. Our goal is to not only provide you with a sparkling clean house but to free up your time to enjoy the important moments in life.

If you’re ready to leave the cleaning to a team of experts, contact TLC Cleaning today. Set up recurring cleaning services and start relaxing.

parents and two daughters petting family golden retriever

You can depend on us to take care of the dirty work and leave your home looking its best.

Give yourself the gift of time. Worry less about the condition of your home, and use your free time to enjoy the people and pets in your life. You’ll love working with our experienced team and reap the benefits of a professionally cleaned home.

Tags carpet care, pet, pet care, stain removal

Carpet Care Floor Care

How to Remove Set-In Stains in Your Carpet

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date July 19, 2019
No Comments on How to Remove Set-In Stains in Your Carpet

Muddy footprints. Kids’ spilled Mac n’ Cheese. Dog vomit. Red wine from a mom’s night-in. What do all of these sloppy substances have in common? If you have carpet in your home, just reading this list might prompt you to think about how to remove set-in stains.

Keeping the carpet in your home fresh and clean can be a challenge. If you have kids or pets, your carpet is even more at risk.

The truth is, regardless of your household size or lifestyle, chances are, you’re going to need to attend to a carpet stain or two at some point. Accidents happen, and when they occur on your carpet, you’ll want to know how to remove set-in stains.

woman cleaning rug in slippers and pink cleaning gloves

If cleaning your home and your carpet is something you frequently don’t have time for, maybe hiring a professional cleaning service is the right choice.

TLC Cleaning, your cleaning experts, are ready to help you keep up on the housework.

Whether you’re looking for weekly services, or deep cleaning once a month, we are here to get your house looking its best. Our experienced staff will make your home shine. You’ll love having extra free time to spend doing things you enjoy, instead of working on chores.

While you wait to set up your cleaning services with TLC Cleaning, you might be facing a mess on your carpet. If you need to remove stains right away on your own, take a look at these helpful hints.

You might find just the remedy to get your carpet looking new again. When tough stains hit, you don’t have to worry.

Pet Stains

yellow lab puppy smelling a spill on carpet

Let’s start with some of the worst of the worst when it comes to how to remove set-in stains. Pet stains.

Pet stains not only look terrible, but they can smell horrible as well. Even when you think the stain is gone, the smell can linger.

Your pet might be one of the loves-of-your-life, but their messes on your carpet are anything but lovable. If your four-legged best friend has left you a surprise on your carpet, don’t stress. You can take action to take care of the stain.

If the stain is fresh, use a towel to soak up the mess. Blot the stained carpet until it is virtually dry. If in the unfortunate event, you find the stain too late and it’s already dried, you can re-wet the stain to clean more effectively.

a calico cat watching human clean carpet stain

If you like to clean using natural household products, give white vinegar a try. Mix with warm water and spray on the stain.

The vinegar will also help neutralize the yucky smell. Let the vinegar solution sit on the stain for a few minutes. Blot the stain with a towel until it is gone.

Do you want an alternative to vinegar? Try using laundry detergent mixed with water instead. Use the same technique as the vinegar mixture, but rinse the stain with warm water after and then blot dry.

Coffee Stains

blonde woman in robe pouring coffee on to counter and missing her glass

A morning isn’t morning without your cup of Joe. But what do you do if you have a spill?

It happens all too often. In your still half-asleep stupor, you clumsily knock over your mug, creating a hard-to-remove stain right on your beautiful carpet.

Like with any stain, the first thing to do is to blot the stain to dry it up. Don’t rub or smear, just dab with a dry cloth.

To clean, try either a vinegar and water mixture or a laundry detergent and water mixture. Both solutions are gentle on your carpet but effective on those spills.

You can also try and use a store-bought carpet spray cleaner to try and remove the stain. Always do a spot-test first. Test the product on a hidden spot, such as in a closet, to make sure the carpet won’t discolor.

Blood Stains

young girl pointing to a band aid on her elbow

Did the kids’ roughhousing go too far, and now you have blood on your carpet? Or perhaps a wounded pet is responsible. Whatever the case, blood in your carpet can be a difficult stain to battle.

Just like treating laundry with bloodstains, use cold water instead of warm. Bloodstains might be one of the more stubborn stains to tackle, but there is hope.

Add about two teaspoons of dish soap to a spray bottle of cold water. Saturate the bloodstain and use a white towel to blot up the blood. Use cold water to rinse the spot and continue to repeat until the stain is no more.

Mystery Stains

Set-in stains can make your carpet look old and nasty. If your carpet has mystery stains throughout, several home remedies may be effective in removing them.

If you have these ugly spots on your carpet, invest in a stiff brush, and get to work getting rid of these unsightly stains.

Hydrogen peroxide is an inexpensive possibility for removing set-in stains. Soak the stain with hydrogen peroxide, but only after testing on an out-of-sight area.

Once you soak the stain with peroxide, let it sit for fifteen minutes. Take your stiff brush and scrub gently to loosen the stain.

If you have a steam cleaner, feel free to use that to suck up the peroxide. If not, go back to the trusted blot method using towels.

Club soda is also a tried and true method for stain removal. If you like home remedies, you can use club soda to try and remove set-in stains. Club soda is a fantastic choice for laundry stains as well.

Let the Professionals Take Care of Your Carpet Woes

If you’re reading over this list thinking you’d prefer professionally cleaned carpets instead of working through your set-in stains, TLC Cleaning is ready to help.

Let us take the stress and time out of cleaning your carpets. You’ll enjoy a thoroughly clean home as well as extra time to relax, regroup, and live your life.

Don’t let household chores and stained carpet keep you from the things in your life that matter most.

Tags carpet care, carpet cleaning, floor care, floor cleaning, stains

Carpet Care Cleaning Tips Deep Cleaning Floor Care

How to Deep Clean Carpet and Upholstery the Right Way

Post author By Trisha Lake, Owner of TLC Cleaning
Post date September 13, 2018
No Comments on How to Deep Clean Carpet and Upholstery the Right Way

Deep cleaning your carpet and upholstery is a wise move. It helps keep your home clean, lengthens the life of your furniture and carpets, and prevents illnesses. Knowing how to deep clean carpet and upholstery the right way can avoid problems and help you get the job done right the first time.

Why Should You Deep Clean Your Carpet and Upholstery?

More often than not, it’s less expensive to regularly deep clean your carpet and upholstery, especially when compared to the cost of purchasing new carpet. When it comes to stains, germs, and allergens, a deep clean is usually the cost-effective way to go.

Most people search for deep cleaning solutions and ask about how to deep clean carpet and upholstery the right way after they have an existing problem caused by a spill. Pet, wine, and coffee stains are the most common culprits, but any substance can create a problem, even if you remove the stain on the surface.

Aside from getting rid of those visible, unsightly stains, there’s also the matter of what’s living in your carpets and on your upholstered furniture. Mold, dust mites, and bacteria inhabit your carpet, even if you and all your guests regularly remove their shoes.

All of these creepy crawlies are alive: and they can make you and your family sick. Mold is shown to cause and worsen autoimmune conditions. Salmonella is another culprit, which can result in inconvenient short-term illnesses (diarrhea and vomiting) as well as long-term complications, especially for kids and the elderly.

How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Upholstery and Carpets?

It varies depending upon your needs. If you have COPD, asthma, allergies, or autoimmune conditions, you’re likely to be more sensitive to unwanted materials on your carpets and furniture. If you have pets, kids, or many individuals in your business or home, you’ll need a more frequent clean just because there’s going to be more wear and tear.

For most structures, we recommend deep cleaning annually or twice per year. A good way to remember it: schedule your deep clean after an annual landmark, such as a birthday, anniversary, or holiday. If you do big holiday parties, a post-holiday deep clean makes a lot of sense because the spill, germ, and grime levels will be high, especially during flu season.

Highly trafficked offices require closer attention, as more people occupy the space. A clean environment can result in fewer employee illnesses and absences and can keep employee morale high. After all, everyone enjoys a clean workspace—and your customers will appreciate it, too.

How to Deep Clean a Carpet and How to Deep Clean a Couch

Before you begin, make sure you pick up any objects in the way. This includes moving furniture around as you go—you’ll want to make sure you cover the entire carpet because germs and other creepy crawlies can live anywhere. Take care moving furniture—especially those heavy office desks. You may benefit from using furniture sliders or aluminum foil under furniture feet.

Before you do your deep clean, vacuum your carpet and furniture as you usually do. This helps pull some of that dirt and dust up and provides a good preliminary base for the deep clean. As you go, look for stains you might not have spotted before, so you know to concentrate on them when it’s time for the deep clean.

Pre-treat the stains. We recommend eco-friendly cleaning products, especially if you’re in an office setting and are unaware of everyone’s allergies. Note that each type of upholstery and carpet has different cleaning instructions, so be sure to find out what works best for that material.

For your sofa, in particular, consider an additional pre-treatment of baking soda. Those upholstery fabrics are a bit more sensitive than carpets, and this will provide some extra freshness before you begin. Again, upholstery cleaning varies heavily based upon the fabric. Some are no-suds projects. If it has an “X” on the tag, that means vacuum only. If you can use gentle soap on it, dish soap may work:

Suction (with vacuum)
Spot removal (with dish soap)
Sudsing (if possible)

Purchase or rent a carpet cleaner. It must have a steam cleaning ability. Transport the cleaner to your desired location before filling it with water, as adding the water makes it very heavy. If you’re treating both carpet and upholstery, make sure you get a machine that does both (or acquire two separate machines).

Add the recommended amount of water to the machine. If you rent a cleaner, you’ll have to buy the cleaning solution. Hopefully, the store you rent it from (Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other home improvement stores rent them) will recommend something, but if not, you can find it next to other cleaners in Walmart.

Fill the machine before you plug the machine in. Once it’s filled, plug it in.

Beginning away from the door, find a stubborn stain and clean it as a test. Make sure the machine is effective before you proceed. Once complete, you’ll want to be at the door or the exit of the room, so you can leave with the vacuum without walking over your clean carpet.

Let your office or home dry by opening the windows and using fans. Keep employees, customers, kids, and pets away from the carpet and upholstery while it dries. Make sure you ask the rental place or the local water treatment facility about disposing of the chemical-infused water; different areas have different laws.

Don’t Want To Tackle That Deep Clean Yourself?

It’s a big chore, and we don’t blame you. If you’d rather not rent and haul cleaning equipment or spend the time learning how to do this, we’re here to help. Save time and improve the cleanliness of your business or home with the help of TLC cleaning. Got a busy store, office, or other business? Based on the type of business and amount of foot traffic you get, we’ll help you determine how often you need a deep cleaning–and we’ll put together a schedule with you. Call us today to get started.

Tags carpet care, carpet cleaning, floor care, upholstery cleaning

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