Carpet Cleaning in Sun Valley and Twin Falls

Super Bowl Sunday is February 1, 2009! It’s a day for friends, family, food, and of course FOOTBALL! No matter which which team you’re rooting for you’re sure to have a great time. In all the excitement someone is bound to spill some bean dip or chilli but you can just relax and take in the festivites because we’ve got you covered. Just go to http://www.mrsteamsvalleysteam.com/manufacturerrecommend.php for specific tips on how to remove those nasty spills and have a great Super Bowl XLIII!

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 of about 5 or 6, which is on the acid side of the pH Scale. It is easier to remove right then when it is fresh. Once it dries it turns “alkaline” or to a high pH between 10 to12 on the scale and becomes more difficult to remove. The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately. In this original acid state the urine begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which will become permanent if the urine is not removed immediately. Some of this color change can be attributed to the strong ammonia that forms as the urine passes through bacterial and chemical change. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it will 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.

There are two sources of odors associated with urine. The first comes from bacteria that grow abundantly in dark warm places with a never-ending food source. A pet can feed the bacteria daily! This bacteria growth and breakdown of the urine creates amino acids. These complex organic compounds will often work deep into the fibers to a point of becoming part of the fiber. This can present a challenging situation. The waste materials and gases from the decomposing urine create an unpleasant odor. When dried urine is remoistened, it gives off an ammonia gas. If smelled once it is seldom forgotten.

The second source of odor is chemical odor that is present even when the bacteria have been killed. This explains the reason that more than sanitizing is necessary to neutralize odors from urine. Urine also presents additional odor problems when the relative humidity is high. The salts and crystals that are left behind as the urine dries are hydrophilic and draw water to them. Dried urine is often easy to smell in the humid months because the salts attract the moisture, the moisture evaporates putting out a greater proportion of odorous ammonia gas. You must get rid of the urine salts in and under the carpet to get rid of the odor. That’s why cleaning existing urine spots WILL NOT remove any associated odor. In fact, it could INCREASE the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time.

Do-It-Yourself Pet Stain Removal
The best tool to have is a small one gallon wet vac or small spot removal machine. A small wet vac can be purchased for under $30.00. We recommend a small machine because the more convenient, the more likely you are to get it out for an accident.

If you can get the urine up while it is fresh you will have a better chance of 100% removal. Simply suck the urine right out of the carpet. Then apply some of Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam’s Avenge and let it sit a few minutes. Then pour a measuring cup of warm water on the spot and suck it out to rinse the carpet. Always dry the carpet as much as possible and never scrub or rub the carpet. This will distort the face fiber and break down the fiber protection and allow for easy staining.

If the urine spot is older than 24 hours, apply Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam’s Avenge, rinse the carpet with warm water and wet vac. Then you can mix 1 part white distilled vinegar with 2 parts water and apply it to the spot, rinse with warm water, and wet vac. Do not use the vinegar on fresh spots as the acid from the vinegar can not counter the acid from fresh urine. The vinegar works best after 24 hours when the urine has become alkaline.

The Best Cleaning Agents For Urine
Enzymes are the best cleaning agent for urine, vomit and feces. An enzyme is the only cleaning agent that actually eats up the bad bacteria. For the best results use an enzyme spotter after you have rinsed the carpet, especially if the spot is not a fresh one. We recommend Nature’s Miracle, which can be purchased at any local pet store. Always read the directions before use!

Products to Avoid
Try to stay away from products with high pH such as ammonia, Resolve and oxygen bleaches. These products will leave the carpet with a residue and in a high pH state, which will enable the carpet to attract dirt like a magnet. In some instances the use of the wrong product can cause the urine stain to be permanent. Please call Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam first if you are not sure about a product you may want to try.

How Professionals Remove Odor
Remember, in order to remove the odor, all of the alkaline salt deposits the urine leaves behind must be completely removed. This can be quite extensive and time consuming. In worse cases, all of the following steps will be done. When damage is not so bad a few steps are left out.

• Step 1: Pull up carpet.
• Step 2: Remove affected pad.
• Step 3: Clean back of carpet.
• Step 4: Treat floor with an enzyme treatment.
• Step 5: Seal floor if needed with an odor barrier.
• Step 6: Treat back of carpet with enzyme treatment.
• Step 7: Install new tack strip.
• Step 8: Install new pad.
• Step 9: Re-install carpet.
• Step 10: Clean carpet.
• Step 11: Topically apply enzyme.

Disclaimer: Use these techniques at your own risk. Always read directions on any spotter before using. Pre-test each spotter in an inconspicuous area before using. If the stain or odor persists, call Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam.

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 of about 5 or 6, which is on the acid side of the pH Scale. It is easier to remove right then when it is fresh. Once it dries it turns “alkaline” or to a high pH between 10 to12 on the scale and becomes more difficult to remove. The warm acid state of the urine offers a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which begin to flourish almost immediately. In this original acid state the urine begins to oxidize and react with the carpet to create a color change, which will become permanent if the urine is not removed immediately. Some of this color change can be attributed to the strong ammonia that forms as the urine passes through bacterial and chemical change. If left for days or weeks, depending on the fabric or floor type, it will 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.

There are two sources of odors associated with urine. The first comes from bacteria that grow abundantly in dark warm places with a never-ending food source. A pet can feed the bacteria daily! This bacteria growth and breakdown of the urine creates amino acids. These complex organic compounds will often work deep into the fibers to a point of becoming part of the fiber. This can present a challenging situation. The waste materials and gases from the decomposing urine create an unpleasant odor. When dried urine is remoistened, it gives off an ammonia gas. If smelled once it is seldom forgotten.

The second source of odor is chemical odor that is present even when the bacteria have been killed. This explains the reason that more than sanitizing is necessary to neutralize odors from urine. Urine also presents additional odor problems when the relative humidity is high. The salts and crystals that are left behind as the urine dries are hydrophilic and draw water to them. Dried urine is often easy to smell in the humid months because the salts attract the moisture, the moisture evaporates putting out a greater proportion of odorous ammonia gas. You must get rid of the urine salts in and under the carpet to get rid of the odor. That’s why cleaning existing urine spots WILL NOT remove any associated odor. In fact, it could INCREASE the odor in the air space for a temporary period of time.

Do-It-Yourself Pet Stain Removal
The best tool to have is a small one gallon wet vac or small spot removal machine. A small wet vac can be purchased for under $30.00. We recommend a small machine because the more convenient, the more likely you are to get it out for an accident.

If you can get the urine up while it is fresh you will have a better chance of 100% removal. Simply suck the urine right out of the carpet. Then apply some of Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam’s Avenge and let it sit a few minutes. Then pour a measuring cup of warm water on the spot and suck it out to rinse the carpet. Always dry the carpet as much as possible and never scrub or rub the carpet. This will distort the face fiber and break down the fiber protection and allow for easy staining.

If the urine spot is older than 24 hours, apply Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam’s Avenge, rinse the carpet with warm water and wet vac. Then you can mix 1 part white distilled vinegar with 2 parts water and apply it to the spot, rinse with warm water, and wet vac. Do not use the vinegar on fresh spots as the acid from the vinegar can not counter the acid from fresh urine. The vinegar works best after 24 hours when the urine has become alkaline.

The Best Cleaning Agents For Urine
Enzymes are the best cleaning agent for urine, vomit and feces. An enzyme is the only cleaning agent that actually eats up the bad bacteria. For the best results use an enzyme spotter after you have rinsed the carpet, especially if the spot is not a fresh one. We recommend Nature’s Miracle, which can be purchased at any local pet store. Always read the directions before use!

Products to Avoid
Try to stay away from products with high pH such as ammonia, Resolve and oxygen bleaches. These products will leave the carpet with a residue and in a high pH state, which will enable the carpet to attract dirt like a magnet. In some instances the use of the wrong product can cause the urine stain to be permanent. Please call Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam first if you are not sure about a product you may want to try.

How Professionals Remove Odor
Remember, in order to remove the odor, all of the alkaline salt deposits the urine leaves behind must be completely removed. This can be quite extensive and time consuming. In worse cases, all of the following steps will be done. When damage is not so bad a few steps are left out.

• Step 1: Pull up carpet.
• Step 2: Remove affected pad.
• Step 3: Clean back of carpet.
• Step 4: Treat floor with an enzyme treatment.
• Step 5: Seal floor if needed with an odor barrier.
• Step 6: Treat back of carpet with enzyme treatment.
• Step 7: Install new tack strip.
• Step 8: Install new pad.
• Step 9: Re-install carpet.
• Step 10: Clean carpet.
• Step 11: Topically apply enzyme.

Disclaimer: Use these techniques at your own risk. Always read directions on any spotter before using. Pre-test each spotter in an inconspicuous area before using. If the stain or odor persists, call Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam.

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.