Carpet, Rug and Tile Cleaning Tips by the Expert in Sun Valley

Act Quickly! Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment, so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or white paper toweling (no printing).

Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed. If the spot can be identified, locate the substance in the spot removal computer and follow the directions carefully.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white terry cloth and work in gently.

Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not scrub! Blot in order to absorb as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill.

Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times. After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to accelerate drying time. For more detailed information on a specific spill please go to www.mrsteamsvalleysteam.com. Many fiber manufacturers provide a toll free cleaning assistance and advice (consult your warranty).

Rugs deserve the same care as wall-to-wall carpet and, in some cases, require special attention.

• Washing Rugs - If your rug is small and the label says “machine washable,” shake the rug outside first and then put it in the washing machine at the recommended tempurature. Use warm water (90 to 105 degrees) and a mild detergent. Tumble your rug dry at the lowest heat setting.
• Beating larger rugs- If your larger rug is easy to pick up, shake it outside first; then put it over a clothesline and beat it. Next, take the rug inside and vacuum it. If the label says dry clean only, then roll it up and take it to a professional rug cleaner. Save time and aggravation by calling first to see if the cleaner does rug cleaning- many do not.
• Vacuuming area rugs- Area rugs with fringe require special technique. Use gentle suction and start from the center of the carpet, vacuuming toward the fringe and being careful not to catch the strands in the beater bar. Lift the carpet edge to vacuum beneath fringe.
• Caring for Oriental, Turkish or Persian rugs- Clean imported rugs according to your carpet manufacturer’s specifications or bring in a professional cleaning service. Be gentle with fringe. For heirloom-type rugs, you need professionals.

One of the most crucial areas of carpet maintenence is removal of spots and spills. Acting quickly when anything is dropped or spilled, and always having the necessary cleaning materials at hand are of the utmost importance. We recommend a “WoolClean Spot Removal Kit,” which can be purchased from a Wools of New Zealand Partner Retailer. Call 800-367-0462 or check the Wools website at www.woolsnz.com for the Partner Retailer nearest you.

Frequent vacuuming is a wool carpet’s best friend.

• An upright vacuum with a beater bar/brush is the best type for cut pile carpet. A suction-only vacuum may be required for loop pile Berber carpets to prevent excessive fuzzing. Vacuum cleaner dust bag should be emptied when half full.
• Exercise prevention maintenance by placing absorbent mats at the most frequently used entrances to your home. Change or launder when these mats become dirty. Filters in your heating and air conditioning systems should be changed regularly.
• Periodically clean traffic lanes and the areas in front of frequently used chairs with an absorbent powder.
• Keep absorbent cloth or paper towels and cleaning solutions on hand for quick response to spills and accidents.
• DO NOT apply stain repellent treatments which contain any silicone as they tend to accelerate carpet soiling. (Some carpet manufacturers do not accept responsibility for complaints where such treatments have been used).

Preventing dirt and grime from getting on the carpet in the first place is a great way to start keeping it clean. The following helpful hints can stop dirt in it’s tracks.

• Use mats- Outdoor and indoor mats or runners can reduce the amount of dirt that enters the house.
• Take off your shoes- You can save wear and tear on carpet by asking everyone to take their shoes off before entering your home.
• Change your air filters- Change air filters in your heating and air conditioning systems by the manufacturer’s directions. The more dust and particles removed by the filter, the fewer that fall onto the carpet.

Thank you for trusting Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam with your carpet, upholstery, leather and hard surface needs. Here are some suggestions that will help both of us as you prepare for your cleaning:

1. Please remove magazine racks, floor plants, and small items etc. from areas that are going to be cleaned.

2. Please remove all breakable items from furniture which will have to be temporarily moved, cleaned under, and placed back.

3. Please pin up any full-length draperies so that they will be at least 6 inches off the floor.

4. Please pin up any skirts on upholstered furniture and beds, which may be touching the carpet.

5. Computer equipment, china cabinets, sectional sofas, entertainment centers, antique and fragile furniture cannot be moved. However, carpet underneath such items can be cleaned where sufficient room is available, or we can edge right around the base.

6. During the pre-inspection walk-through with your technicians, please advise them of any special instructions to follow when moving your furniture. It is helpful to know about weak legs, loose tops or previous repairs.

7. Please, call attention to any spots or stains which may require special cleaning techniques.

8. Please put you pets in a safe, quiet place where our cleaning won’t disturb them.

9. A special note about odors: We do everything possible to reduce or eliminate pet odors. However, due to depth of contamination, 100% success may not be attained. Also for several days after cleaning you may notice an elevated odor due to higher humidity levels.

10. For Safety sake, be sure to keep a very close eye on your curious little ones.

Special After-Care Information:

1. Please leave your plastic “tabs” and “blocks” under your furniture for 48 hours after cleaning.

2. As a safety precaution, please do not let your children or pets crawl or lie down on the carpet until it is completely dry.

3. Please use extreme caution when walking from the damp carpet to any hard surface area.

Thank you for working with us. We look forward to serving you.

Carpet cleaning is just like exercise! If you get into a routine and keep it up, you will see great results and feel better for it. Understanding the right way to clean carpet will help you save time by doing it correctly the first time with products that do the job right from the start. Not only will Seal of Approval cleaning products help keep your carpet looking great, they can also help meet the warranty requirements of the carpet manufacturer. Below are three simple steps to keeping your carpet clean and looking great:

1. Vacuum at the right frequency with a CRI-approved vacuum.

2. Clean Spots & Spills Quickly with products that do not damage the carpet or cause it to resoil more quickly.

3. Professionally Deep Clean your carpets every 12 to 18 months to remove embedded dirt and grime.

Pet urine can cause permanent damage to your floors and fabrics. It can also create an unhealthy indoor environment. When urine is first deposited onto a floor or fabric, it has a pH value that it almost neutral when it is fresh. However, once it dries, it turns “alkaline” and becomes more difficult to remove. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it will permanently change the dye structure, therefore causing permanent staining. Even if the soluble deposits are removed, the damage to the dye structure may already be done.

***This means that no one can guarantee complete removal of all urine stains. Please consult with your technician if you have questionable urine spots on your carpet.

To prevent permanent staining in the future, clean urine spots immediately by blotting with a white terry cloth towel or plain white paper towels until no more moisture transfers.

To clean the spot, either get our special spot remover, “Mr. Stuff”, or mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water and massage (don’t rub) into the spot with a white terry cloth. Once you have “flushed” as much of the urine as possible, blot with dry cloths until dry to the touch.

*If you have a small extraction machine, flush with fresh water until spot is removed.

*DO NOT USE OVER THE COUNTER, GENERAL SPOTTERS OR EXTRACTION DETERGENT.

Please note that when cleaning urine spots, there is a difference between cleaning the urine soiling and treating for odor. Cleaning existing urine spots MAY NOT remove any associated odor. In fact, cleaning could INCREASE the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time.

If you are experiencing an odor problem, have us out to give you a quote on your PET ODOR REMOVAL SERVICES.

Call Mr.Steam’s Valley Steam and let us take a look. We specialize in saving heavily soiled carpets. Our $60,000 truck-mount machines and certified technicians are the best in the business. Owner, Brian Ritchie, will give you an honest assessment and a free estimate concerning the viability of the carpet.

A spot is defined as “foreign particles on the carpet that have not affected the dye sites of the fiber that can be removed.” A stain, on the other hand, is “when the dye site of the carpet fiber is permanently altered with the addition of dyes.” Damage is “when the carpet is physically damaged or color has been removed permanently by bleaching.

There are many factors that influence the outcome when attempting to remove spots and stains from the carpet such as: the fiber type, the age of the carpet, the length of time a spot or stain has been on the carpet, previous cleaning attempts, improper cleaning and using the wrong solution.

Our technicians have all the most technologically advanced tools and education to not only determine whether you are dealing with a spot or a stain but also what type of treatment the concerning area may need. After a thorough inspection and some questions for you like, “Do you know what was spilled here?” and “Did you try to remove the spot yourself?” The technician will be able to determine the possible outcome of removal with you.

With the experience and expetise our company has, we are known for being able to get out difficult spots. If a spot is removable, we have what it takes to get it out. However, if there is a permanent stain, which can be caused by any of the factors mentioned above and more, the likelihood that it will be completely removed is greatly reduced. Remember carpet cleaning does not reverse previous damage to the carpet.

Our misssion is to provide you with the best carpet cleaning experience EVER and to maintain the highest level of service imaginable. We are committed to showing up on time, and communicating with you throughout the service experience. Our staff will show up in a professional lettered vehicle, in uniform, ready to serve you in the most corteous manner possible.