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).

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.

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.

1. REDUCES PERMANENT STAINS

A GREAT LOOKING CARPET CAN BE RUINED BY AN UGLY SPOT. UNPROTECTED CARPET DOESN’T REPEL SPILLAGE AS WELL AS PROTECTED CARPET. BEING ABLE TO REMOVE SPOTS AND SPILLS MORE EFFECTIVELY, YOU CAN AVOID PERMANENT STAINING.

2. HELPS SAVE YOUR TRAFFIC AREAS FROM BEING DESTROYED

TRAFFIC AREA SOIL IS VERY ABRASIVE AND CUTS CARPET YARNS LIKE A KNIFE. THIS DAMAGING SOIL CAN EASILY BOND TO AN UNPROTECTED CARPET. BY APPLYING PROTECTOR, YOU WILL INCREASE THE LIFE OF YOUR CARPET DRAMATICALLY. WHEN YOU VACUUM YOUR PROTECTED CARPET THE SOILS WILL RELEASE FROM THE CARPET PILE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY.

3. MAKES SPOTS EASIER TO REMOVE

THE EASIER THE SPOT IS TO REMOVE, THE LESS CLEANER YOU WILL HAVE TO USE. THE LESS AGITATION YOU WILL HAVE TO USE, THE LESS TIME IT WILL TAKE. MANY SPOTS CAN BE REMOVED EASILY WITH JUST WATER.

4. MAKES YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL CLEANING MORE EFFECTIVE

HAVING PROTECTOR APPLIED TO YOUR CARPET WILL ENHANCE YOUR NEXT CLEANING. MORE SOIL WILL BE REMOVED THE NEXT TIME YOUR CARPET IS PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED.

5. HELPS AVOID COSTLY SERVICE CALLS

ALTHOUGH YOU WANT US OUT TO HANDLE ANY SPOT THAT YOU CANNOT REMOVE IMMEDIATELY, CARPET PROTECTOR HELPS YOU REMOVE MORE SPOTS THAN YOU COULD WITHOUT PROTECTOR. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE A MINIMUM CHARGE BY REMOVING THE SPOT YOURSELF.

FABRIC PROTECTOR IS GUARANTEED TO WORK OR YOUR MONEY BACK!

What should you do when your pet “goes on the carpet”? Are puppy puddles putting you in a particular predicament? Well, not to worry, that’s what we are here for.

First of all, if you have a pet that is prone to urinate on the carpet, take a quick walk through your home each day when you get home. The quicker you get to a pet stain the better.

Some technical tips on urine: When urine is first excreted, it is on the acid side of the pH scale and very easily removed. Within hours of being exposed to oxygen it turns to an alkaline pH. When this happens it will coninue to increase in alkalinity to the point of becoming practically ammonia. This explains the ammonia like odor. At this stage the urine dramatically affects the dye structure of the carpet.

To clean the urine spot: Mix 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water and clean with a white terry towel. If you have a small extraction machine, it would be ideal to use it. DO NOT USE OVER THE COUNTER SPOT REMOVERS OR ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS ON URINE! YOU MAY SET THE SPOT PERMANENTELY! IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE REMOVING IT, CALL US IMMEDIATELY.