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

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.

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.

We are now offering a spotting kit which includes:

1 -8 oz bottle of “Mr. Stuff” (professional spotter)

2 -spotting towels

1- $35 off your next carpet cleaning (Minimum charges still apply)

1- Consumer’s Awareness Guide to Carpet Cleaning

1 -How to Select a Professional Cleaner brochure

1- Consumer’s Spot Removal Guide

You get all of this for only $15!