Category: Carpet Cleaning Care

Cleaning Wool Carpets Vs Cleaning Synthetic Carpets

It’s one of the big choices faced by everybody who’s browsed a carpet seller’s catalogue or wandered into a Battersea carpet store. Should you choose nylon carpets (or polyester carpets), or do you opt for the natural wool option? What’s the difference, apart from the price? And does it make a difference when the time comes to deep clean the carpets?

Let’s take a look at each type of carpet (nylon, wool and polyester as a bonus) and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. However, it’s important to remember that all carpets need regular vacuuming and deep carpet cleaning once a year – and if you spill something on the carpet, you need to deal with it ASAP and contact your nearest stain removal specialist as well.

Cleaning Synthetic Carpet

Nylon: The Pros

Nylon carpets are by far the most common type of carpet, and you can find a nylon carpet in just about every colour under the sun and in every style. These colours tend to be fade-resistant as well – in fact, nylon carpets are believed to be the most fade-resistant. They tend to be cheaper than woollen carpets. Nylon is also long-lasting and tough, meaning that it’s great for high-traffic areas. In fact, it’s perfect for high-traffic areas, as it has what’s known as “fibre memory”, meaning that it bounces back into shape easily rather than being crushed and felted. Nylon carpets are also considered to be super-easy to deep clean and respond well to all methods, including the vigorous ones like bonnet buffing and the wet ones like carpet shampooing and steam cleaning.

Although nylon carpets are made from non-renewable resources, it’s possible to recycle a nylon carpet at the end of its life, although you may have to hunt around a bit to find a centre that does this.

Nylon: The Cons

Nylon is the type of carpet that’s most prone to static, although it’s possible to treat the carpet for this. If you get annoyed by the snap, crackle and pop of static when you walk or work out on a carpet, then nylon might not be the best choice. Nylon is also pretty nasty if someone puts something really hot on it by mistake, such as hair straighteners. Whereas wool will just singe and smell of burnt hair, nylon will melt and give off vile toxic fumes. However, it’s not super-flammable. Nylon is also dyed, meaning that it can become stained unless it’s been treated (many modern nylon carpets will have been treated for stain resistance, but you might want to talk to your local professional carpet cleaner about Scotchgard stain protection). Out of all three types of carpet, nylon tends to be the least soft, although modern nylon carpets tend to be pretty soft all the same.

Nylon is also a synthetic fibre that’s derived from petrochemical sources, so it’s not sustainably sourced. Any little fibres it sheds will also contribute to the traces of plastic in the air, soil and water, which may be a concern.

Polyester: The Pros

Polyester is by far the most stain-resistant of all carpet types, as it is made in the colour you buy it in; nylon and wool, on the other hand, are dyed. If it can be dyed, it can be stained. This makes it a good choice in areas where spills and stains are likely (kindergartens and early childhood centres where softness is important but where small people spill things). Polyester carpets also tend to be quite cheap as well; however, this does depend on the quality of the carpet fibre, and a good quality polyester will be more expensive than a low-grade nylon. Although they are made from artificial fibres, it’s possible to make polyester out of recycled materials (e.g. old PET plastic bottles). Polyester also tends to be softer than nylon, although this does depend on the quality.

Polyester: The Cons

Polyester carpets are more prone to wear than any other type of carpet. This means that they become threadbare more quickly, especially in high-traffic areas. They also show “tracking” and don’t bounce back after being crushed. This means that you’ll get weird-looking marks on the carpets in the areas that get the most use. It can also pill and felt up pretty easily, so it’s best not to deep clean a polyester carpet via a vigorous method such as bonnet buffing.

Although polyester carpet is often made from recycled materials, it’s harder to recycle the old carpet itself, which is a nuisance from an environmental perspective. Maybe you can get lucky with a recycling centre somewhere in Battersea, where carpets are accepted and recycled. Good luck!

Cleaning Wool Carpet

Wool: The Pros

The big advantage of wool is that it is a natural fibre that comes from a sustainable source: the back of a sheep that eats grass – although you may find this to be a disadvantage if you are a vegan who extends the “no animal products” to interior decoration as well as what you eat and wear. However, for the rest of us, a sustainable natural product that doesn’t produce toxic gases is a real plus. On top of that, wool carpets tend to be naturally stain resistant (at least up to a point) and slightly fireproof. Some claim that they’re hypoallergenic, but I’m not so sure about that, as any carpet can be a hazard for those with severe asthma, as carpets are a lurking place for dust mites – if this sound like you, then opt for a jute mat instead. However, wool does absorb some of the nasties out of the air, meaning that the air quality in your home can be better with wool. Wool also absorbs moisture without feeling wet to the touch – this can help keep your home dryer, but it can also be a problem when it comes to deep cleaning time, as the drying time for wool carpets will be longer. As it’s a natural product, wool is also biodegradable at the end of its life and can be composted easily enough – it may take a while, but old wool carpet will break down eventually in a domestic compost heap (hint: old wool carpet makes a good weed mat for planting around trees in the garden – it will last long enough to suppress weeds while the tree gets underway, then breaks down into the soil).

Wool is also the softest of all the possible carpet fibres and is also the warmest. After all, wool keeps a sheep warm all through the rigours of harsh winters!

Wool: The Cons

Wool is a lot more expensive than synthetic carpets, which is nuts if you really think about it, given that humans have been breeding and raising sheep for wool and making woollen carpets for centuries if not millennia. Wool can be stained by a combination of heat and acid (you can dye wool for craft purposes this way), which means that you have to be careful when removing stains and deep cleaning wool carpets. Wool is super-soft but it can also crush and felt easily, which means that it’s not so good for high-traffic areas such as corridors and business premises – however, it’s fine in bedrooms. Because it’s natural, wool looks like one big tasty feast for clothes moths unless the carpet is treated against this – and that means introducing insecticides into your home; as we all should know, insecticides don’t just kill unwanted insects like clothes moths, but they also kill the beneficial ones like bees and ladybirds. The absorbency of wool also means that it’s more prone to mould and mildew if it gets wet – double that if the wool is worked through a natural jute backing. There is a downside to being biodegradable… This is why low moisture deep cleaning methods are best for natural wool carpets unless you’ve got a lot of patience and good ventilation to put up with a very long drying time.

The Carpet Cleaning Hacks You Must Try to Save Your Carpets

Are Ready To Take Good Care of Your Carpeting?

We all know how carpets make every place cosy, warm and comfortable. Once we buy them, we have to take the proper care to make them last longer and be in the same superb condition. Simply vacuum cleaning just won’t do the work. You have to think of other ways to sanitise your favourite carpets, rugs and soft floor coverings. Here you will learn some useful tricks you can apply to extend the lifespan of your carpets. They are with ingredients you probably have in your home.

Candy Crushed Removal from Carpets

If you have kids, you may often need to clean candy that has stuck on the carpets of your home. Here are some useful solutions to this problem. The first thing you should do is scrape off as much as you can from your carpet using a butter knife. This is the suggestion of the professionals. Next, the carpet cleaning process goes on with soaking the dirty area with a sponge dipped in a solution of water and mild soap.

What matters the most is to remove as much sugar as you can. Otherwise, the sugar will attract much more easily dirt and debris compared to the other carpet areas. After you have removed the crushed candy, blot the spot with a cotton cloth or paper towels to dry it completely. This should be enough.

Clean Carpets with Lint Rollers

Are you annoyed that no matter how much you vacuum and clean, there just seems to have more and more dirt on carpets? To ensure deeper carpet cleaning, you can use a lint roller. You can buy it in every store.

Lint rollers are very effective for problematic areas. They collect the tiny particles you seem to miss every time. Cleaning with lint rollers won’t take you too much time. On average, you may spend no more than 5-minutes covering the whole carpet. So, go ahead and try this method!

Stain removal with an Iron

Stains are a common issue for carpet owners and there are different techniques and ways to get rid of them.  Here we will present a 3-step process. First thing you need to do is the preparation work. Vacuum the stained area to remove hard particles. Second, make a mixture of water and vinegar with the ratio 3:1 and apply this cleaning solution to treat the spot. Let the mixture work into the stained textile leaving it for about 5 minutes.

The third step is placing a towel over the stained area and using a heated iron to apply over it. The heat combined with the pressure will make the stain transfer from the carpet to the towel. This works just like a reversed temporary water tattoo. It’s a clever and effective method for carpet stain removal you must try!

Use Home-made Carpet Cleaning Detergents

Of course, you can buy cleaning products as much as you want and use them to clean. This is a must especially if you have a professional carpet shampooing machine. Still, if you are devoted to the eco and organic way of living and want to reduce your footprint, there are ways to do that. Here is a recipe for a homemade carpet cleaning detergent. It doesn’t affect nature and others’ health in a bad way.

The ingredients you need are the following:

●     a ¾ glass of Hydrogen Peroxide;

●     a ¼ glass of white vinegar;

●     2 tablespoons of dish soap;

●     2 tablespoons of fabric softener;

●     5 drops of essential oils;

●     1 gallon of hot (not boiling) water

Mix all these ingredients for your shampooing carpet cleaning machine. Now you can use this healthier cleaning detergent instead of the ones you buy from the market.

Remove Nail Polish with Rubbing Alcohol

If you have stains from nail polish on your carpet, you must find a way to remove these before they become permanent. The first thing you need to do is wait for the nail polish to dry completely and harden. Next, chip off and remove as much polish as you can from the stain using a blunt tool. For this purpose, you can use a butter knife.

The final step is gently dabbing with a paper towel or a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. Do this until you see the nail polish dissolving and getting absorbed into the material. This is the only way to save your expensive oriental or other kinds of carpets and rugs.

Use Baking Soda to Refresh Your Carpet and Clean After Pets

Cleaning after pets is not an easy task as pet owners well know. You can use baking soda to remove discolouration and smells caused by pet urine. Spread a liberal amount of baking soda over the wet area. It will absorb the smell and then you can blot away what’s left of the mess. This is a safe and effective cleaner if you own a pet and one that won’t cost you too much.

Another useful application of baking soda is one of the main ingredients in a homemade carpet freshener. Mix a 16-ounce box of baking soda with 10 to 20 drops of some essential oil. The quantity of oil depends on how strong and fragrant you want your freshener to be. You can choose an essential oil you like, but better go for something fresh like citrus fruit.

Use the created mixture after shaking it in a bottle and sprinkle it on the whole carpet area before guests. You can apply this solution also for some special occasion or whenever you like. Leave it to work for 5-10 minutes and then vacuum clean the carpet. That’s all you have to do to deodorize your carpets and rugs.

Rejuvenate Your Carpets with Vinegar and Ice Cubes

Similarly to baking soda, vinegar can be used in many ways for cleaning and refreshing. One of its suitable applications is to refresh carpets that look too used and when the fibres have flattened. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply to the affected carpet areas. After the fibres have soaked the liquid, use a spoon to run sideways along the carpet. This will loosen its fibres and revive its original texture.

There is a way to fluff areas in your carpets, on which have been placed furniture or other heavy items for a long time. This is by using ice cubes. Put an ice cube on the dents and places where the heavy object has rested and leave it to melt completely. Then, blot the water and use an iron to remove the moisture putting a towel between the iron and the carpet area. After the carpet area gets fully dry, you can fluff the fibres by hand. Then, you can go on and rearrange your room the way you want to without unsightly carpet spots.

Final Words

There are tons of clever ways you can use to revive, freshen up and clean your carpets and rugs. Most of them are with the help of household ingredients and things you probably have at home. Use the presented above tips and tricks for speedy and effective carpet cleaning in different situations. You might find that you don’t have to buy so many different cleaning products. Now that you can make better substitutes, you don’t need to. Not only that, but yours will be safer for your health and that of your family and pets.

Carpet Cleaning Guide for Pet Owners

Pet owners are lucky to have lifetime companions living with them and making their days joyful and fun. Dogs and cats are loved by many, but along with the great many benefits of having a cute pet with you, you need to be extra cautious about the hygiene in your home. 

The best way to tackle stains, urine and pet hair is by cleaning it as soon as it appears. Do this regularly and immediately after accidents. Pet hair can be a huge problem and the allergens can spread fast in the air and create health issues. If you want to learn how to take care of your home properly as a proud pet owner, keep reading. This carpet cleaning guide is the solution to your problems. 

What are the most urgent and frequent problems for Pet Owners?

The most common problems associated with pets at home are the following:

• Pet hair accumulated on all surfaces
• Urine smell 
• Odour on your carpets
• Stubborn stains on carpets

Get Rid of the Nasty Pet Hair Accumulating Everywhere

Both cats and dogs tend to shed their hair all over the place wherever they are, which can eventually become a problem. While you may not notice this as something alarming in the beginning, over time you will come across pet fur. It can spread on your sofa, carpets, floor and almost everywhere. Carpets are favourite places for fur to pile and if you do nothing about it, it can spoil them and spread bacteria around the room. You might try to vacuum a trail of hair from your carpet. Unfortunately, this is not effective and can even clog the vacuum cleaner, that’s why it isn’t a solution.

To tackle the problem, make a huge DIY lint roller. You can do this by wrapping masking tape around a paint roller you don’t need and attaching it to an old mop handle or broom. Use this device as a huge lint roller to attach the pet hair from the carpet before vacuum cleaning it. 

Another option to collect pet hair before vacuum cleaning is using a rubber-bristled carpet rake and applying it to rake the area. Then, you can hoover the carpet well. We recommend you also to vacuum it 3 times per week or more using a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, which in the best case should be bagless. This machine will help you reduce the spreading of pet hair. Onto your carpets and upholstery. 

Eliminate Urine from Your Carpets

The main rule when accidents happen on your carpet is to make sure to react immediately. First, soak the urine with a terry cloth towel to remove the moisture. Then, clean the area using several drops of dishwashing detergent dissolved in warm water. You can use the mixture to remove the urine stain. The last stage of urine elimination is rinsing the place with a clean towel and water. To protect your carpet from further soiling, bloat it with a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. Cover the area with paper towels and heavy objects such as books or others on top to absorb the moisture. Replace them as needed until the carpet is completely dry. 

Treating Pet Stains Properly

Getting rid of pet stains from feces, urine, vomit and blood from carpets and upholstery can be a tough task and a real challenge for all pet owners. One way to solve the problem is hiring a professional carpet cleaner to deal with them. One thing you need to avoid is using steam cleaning machines on your stained carpets. These can make the smudges even harder to remove and turn them into permanent stains. 

Another way to cope with the pet stain efficiently is by buying products designed especially for removing obstinate pet stains. If you decide to go for it, always follow the instructions of each product explained on the label. And be prepared for much more elbow grease with this compared to the normal carpet cleaning you usually do. 

Odour Removal – Carpet Cleaning Tricks

No doubt pets can make your expensive carpets smell unpleasantly. To eliminate the odours you have at least two tricks you can apply. The ones we offer are:

1. Apply enzyme treatment on the spoilt carpet area. This is done with the help of specialised detergents and requires knowledge how to do the process properly. Before doing so, though, you can hire a professional carpet cleaning technician to apply hot water extraction. This is steam cleaning done with specialised steam cleaning equipment using only purified water injected under high pressure into the carpet. It is the best method for odour removal after pets known so far. Moreover, the process extracts all chemicals left in the carpet fabric from previous cleaning sessions. This is necessary for pet odours to be eliminated since enzymes can be inhibited by chemical residues and this way they get trapped in your carpet for long. So, steam carpet cleaning is perfect for odour elimination. 

2. Another trick you can apply is using specialised powdered odour eliminator on your dry carpets. Consider purchasing liquid odour removal products that use bio-enzymatic ingredients. They are ideal for eliminating the pollutants that originally cause the odours. Make sure to check the products’ instructions first and plan the carpet cleaning process. 

Some of the odour removal detergents require soaking the carpet with the product and leaving it to do its magic for a very long time. This can be up to weeks, during which time you should leave the detergent to dry on the carpet without having to bloat or extract it. There are liquid odour eliminating detergents you can apply using a tank sprayer as well. These are very handy for covering large smelly areas on your carpets and rugs. 

To Sum It Up

Carpets are valuable investments and having dogs, cats or other pets at home can clog them with hair, spol them with odours and smudges. If you want to keep your carpets for a long time in a great condition, you should clean them properly and in depth. Otherwise, you risk the health and wellbeing of your loved ones. If you feel like you’re not competent enough and can’t remove obstinate staining and odours yourself, it is always better to contact professionals. Carpet cleaning is not an easy  task and when done properly, it can have the desired results. When neglected, on the other hand, carpets can darken, trap bacteria and become a threat to your health. Use store-bought products and the services of professional carpet cleaning technicians for expert advice and urgent help. We hope you apply at least some of the tips presented above to maintain your home in hygienic condition even with extra pets. 

What is Necessary to Know About Cleaning and Maintaining When Having a Carpet?

Spill accidents and stain removal are an inevitable part of having a carpet at the home or office. I know, it is quite frustrating, especially if the spillage involves items of your clothing. But hey, the carpet is more important, right.

In a typical scenario out of a Murphy’s Law script, an accident involving spilling decent amounts of (preferably hot) and sticky liquid on a lightly coloured carpet (preferably cream/champaign colour) occurs at the most inconvenient of times.

Experts recommend that you always:

• be prepared for such occasions (sounds a bit silly, I know, but preparedness for the unexpected is a fine form of think out of the box state of mind, which is highly advisable to have);
• have carpet cleaning solutions on hand (the ones that normally work);
• use suitable washing tools and spray bottles;
• be careful with DIY home-made experimental techniques for getting rid of dirt and dust;
• read the notices and warnings on the labels of any shop-bought products;
• use professional carpet cleaning services when possible (a professional will do the job a lot better than any DIY enthusiast).

Avoid treating your expensive investment in expensive (and very dear and precious to you) soft furnishings without being well informed of the basic principles of professional carpet cleaning. Watching Youtube videos is cool, however not everything seen online will work in your particular circumstances. Be wary of (almost) magical-disappearance-of-stains claims by strange individuals pertaining to be experienced carpet cleaners online.

Trust your instincts. Sometimes a DIY experiment can lead to undesirable effects and consequences. Be careful when working with unknown substances. A simple mistake can cost you a lot.

Be safe and happy cleaning!