:: Carpet Questions and Answers

How long does it take to have my carpet deep cleaned by a professional?
The general answer is approximately 1 hour per 400 sq ft; depending on how well you have prepared the space, how much furniture will need to be moved, and how many people are doing the cleaning. If your carpet has never been deep cleaned in the 20 years you've owned your home, the process could obviously take significantly longer.

Should I move my furniture?
Moving the furniture is usually up to the owner. Some cleaning companies will move it as they go, and will place plastic sheeting over the feet and legs of your pieces to avoid staining the upholstery or having the stain of wooden furniture rub off onto the floor (when using a wet cleaning method). Others will simply clean the carpet as close to the edge of your furniture as possible and leave it where it is.

How do I keep dust from taking over my home?

• Avoid decorating with soft upholstery, tapestries, thick drapes or long, heavy curtains that are difficult to wash and attract dust. Instead, use shutters, blinds, or light, washable curtains on your windows. If you have washable curtains, remember to wash them! Try to use furniture with canvas, leather, or some other dense, easily cleaned fabric.
• Encourage your family to use the doormats at each entrance, to diminish the amount of pesticide, dirt, and other outdoor items tracked onto the carpet.
• Vacuum at least once, and preferably 2-3 times each week; this cuts down on the amount of dirt and other particles that are ground into the fibers of the carpet.

Are there any special recipes for using household items to remove stains from my carpet?

• Alcohol, Coffee, Tea, Liquid Foods and Urine.
  Blot up the spill using white paper towels, or white towels (avoid using colored fabrics as the dye my leach into the carpet and make the stain worse). Use a solution of detergent and vinegar (1tsp of dish or delicates detergent to 1 cup of water plus 1 tsp of white vinegar). Carefully scrub the stain, working from the outside in and blotting the excess as you go. Rinse by spraying the affected area with a solution of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water, putting pressure on the spot to soak up all of the remaining liquid.
• " Chocolate, Sweets, Blood, Glue, Ice Cream, Milk, Soft Drinks and Vomit.
  Scrape up the excess as well as possible using a blunt knife to agitate the fibers. Use a detergent solution starting at the outer edge and blot the excess liquid dry as you go, using clean, dry cloths. Follow up with 1 teaspoonful of household ammonia (available from hardware stores) to 1 cup of warm water, again working from the outer edge of the stain to the center. Rinse by spraying the affected area with a solution of 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water, putting pressure on the spot to soak up all of the remaining liquid.
• Candle Wax
  Use an ice cube to harden gum and candle wax, then scrape off.
• "Grease Stains
  Sprinkle greasy stains with baking soda, corn starch or corn meal. Let stand six hours or overnight. Then vacuum. Baking soda can also be used to help eliminate the odors in your carpet, simply sprinkle soda on the carpet, let it stand for 15-30 minutes, and vacuum thoroughly.

My pipes burst and my carpets were flooded, what should I do to keep them from smelling and becoming moldy?
Call a professional for advice. Depending on your carpet, there are several options available to you. One thing that is recommended you do immediately is to vacuum as much of the water from the carpeting as you can, using a WetVac.

Can you clean carpet or rugs over hardwood floors?
Yes, as long as you use as system that avoids saturating the back of the rug and seeping onto the wood beneath.

My carpet has bleached or faded spots, can that be corrected?
Color loss in the carpet can only be repaired by replacing that area of the carpet with a piece cut from the excess leftover when the house was carpeted, or from a closet. If the spot is small enough, it may be able to be spot dyed, but the color match is not always perfect.

Indentations from heavy furniture
Depending on how long the furniture has stayed in one place, the carpet can usually be coaxed back to its original fluffiness. However, if the backing of the carpet has been indented, or the actual pile crushed completely flat, there is very little to be done. Sometimes heat and moisture applied by hand to the affected area can help. Other tips include:

• Hold a steam iron over flattened carpet to pull the fiber up.
• Place an ice cube in indentations left in the carpet by furniture, then let it melt. It'll help the carpet fibers fill out and rise again.

What types of carpeting can be cleaned?
Most types of carpet can be cleaned, although your local cleaners may each specialize in only 1 or 2 types of carpeting. Some carpet types that are regularly included on cleaners' lists include Berber, Sisal, Cotton, Silk, Rayon, and Chintz rugs.