Carpet Longevity Tips:

  1. Vacuum regularly helps to avoid soil from being rooted in the carpet. The soil in your carpet is usually dry and can be vacuumed easily. Frequent vacuuming will also ameliorate your home’s air quality.
  2. Sending your carpet for a professional cleaning every 12-18 months helps to extend the lifespan of your carpet. Cleaning will remove the soiling. bacteria, and allergens that vacuums can’t take out, and will help keep your carpet looking great over time.
  3. Remove stains as quickly as possible. When a spill occurs, blot up as much as you can as quickly as possible using a clean white towel. It is important to blot and not scrub the area as this can cause pile distortion. Do not use store-bought cleaners without calling us first. While there are many good products sold to consumers, there are also some that will set the stain or bleach the dye in your carpet. We’d rather help you over the phone now than have you call us later to patch or dye an avoidable situation.

Common Home Stain Removal Methods

  • Beer, wine, coffee, milkand tea:  Absorb the excess liquid:  Dilute ¼ teaspoon of mild detergent (i.e.Dawn) with 1 quart of water and apply to the affected area. Apply water with a spray bottle and blot until the spot is completely removed then apply paper towels and weigh them down until the spot is dry.
  • Mud and dirt:  When the mud is completely dry, break down the dried mud using a knife and vacuum any residue. Dilute ¼ teaspoon of mild detergent (i.e.Dawn) with 1 quart of water and apply to the affected area. Blot the affected area with a white paper towel to facilitate the penetration of the detergent mixture. Repeat the process until the spot is eliminated. Rinse the treated area with water using a spray bottle and blot off any excess moisture.
  • Blood:  Absorb as much of the blood as you can by gently blotting. Blot with rubbing alcohol. If that does not remove the stain completely, mix 1 teaspoon mild detergent like Dawn to 1-quart cold water and blot. Be careful not to overwet the spot, this will cause spreading.
  • Ketchup:  Blot a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 2 cups water until the stain is gone.
  • Ink:  Apply rubbing alcohol with a damp white cloth gently. Be careful not to let the ink spot spread. Allow the alcohol to dwell and remove any excess moisture with a vacuum.
  • Chocolate:  Immediately remove as much chocolate from the carpet as possible by blotting. Mix 1 teaspoon mild detergent, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, and 1-quart warm water. Apply the solution to the spot. Rinse well. Vacuum gently.
  • Crayon, Candle wax, Chewing Gum:Press an ice cube against the spot. It will harden and can then be pulled off or scraped. Next, spray water and mild detergent mixture (1/4 tsp detergent per 1 qt. of water) on the spot and place a wet white towel over the stain. Press with warm iron until the towel absorbs the melted crayon, moving the towel as it stains. Move the towel frequently so that it doesn’t get over- Let the carpet dry.
  • Pet Stains:Clean up as much as possible. For feces, dispose of as much as possible. For urine, blot to soak up until the carpet is almost dry. Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar, 2 tsp. mild detergent with a quart of warm water and spray on the stain. Allow to dwell for several minutes and continue blotting until the stain is gone and the spot is dry.

Call our office a call and we’ll be happy to help you over the phone with any home spot removal issue.