Which Methods Cleans Best?

Dry foam: The carpet cleaner applies shampoo to your carpet,

allows it to dry, and then, without rinsing, sucks the dried

shampoo into a vacuum. Can you imagine applying shampoo to

your hair, allowing it to dry and then removing the shampoo from

your head with a vacuum? This method leaves dirty residue in

your carpet, which is one reason dry foam is not too effective.

Absorbent pad (bonnet cleaning): This method is similar to dry

foam, except that the company sets a large cotton bonnet on your

carpet and with a floor polishing buffer machine on top ““buffs””

the carpet. The rotating motion causes the bonnet to absorb dirt

from your carpet. This method is also called bonnet cleaning.

Bonnet cleaning is like trying to use a large cotton towel or mop

to rub the dirt out of your carpet. It’’s not very effective.

Dry, absorbent powder: The dry-compound method spreads a

moist, absorbent powder through the carpet. The powder is

allowed to dry and then sucked into a vacuum. This method

leaves dry sponge particles at the base of the carpet yarn. And

because the carpet is not rinsed, this method is not very effective.

Hot water extraction: This is a fancy way of saying that a hot

water cleaning solution under high pressure is forced into your

carpet and then sucked out of your carpet.

In a recent Technical Bulletin, Shaw Industries, the world’’s

largest carpet manufacturer, ““recommends the hot water

extraction system, which research indicates provides the best

capability for cleaning. Combined with our RotoVac carpet

restoration cleaning system, the RotoVac patented vacuum heads 

use Rotary Jet Extraction which thoroughly cleans the carpet fibers

from all directions with hundreds of cleaning passes per minute. 

This system produces dramatically superior cleaning results with minimal 

drying time. 

Spot Removal Guid for Carpets

Step by step advanced treatment recommendations (see bottom for spotting solutions)

BLOOD:

1. Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
2. Apply cool ammonia solution, blot.
3. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
4. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
5. If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
6. Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide may be necessary.

BUTTER AND MARGARINE:

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
2. Apply detergent solution, blot until dry.
3. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
4. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

CANDLE WAX:

1. Scrape away as much wax as possible with spatula or dull knife.
2. Apply dry cleaning solvent.
3. Apply POG, blot.
4. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.

*Refer to general recommendation for hot iron treatment of wax.

KETCHUP & TOMATO SAUCE:

1. Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
3. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
4. If stain remains, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.
5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot dry.

CHOCOLATE:

1. Scrape away as much as possible with spatula or dull knife.
2. Apply cool detergent solution, blot.
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
4. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
5. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
6. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

COFFEE:

1. Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently.
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
3. Cover with dry towels until dry.

CRAYON:

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
2. Apply POG, blot.
3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
4. Apply detergent solution, blot.
5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

FOOD COLORING:

1. Apply detergent solution, blotting frequently. A dried stain of food coloring will most likely spread when wet. Repeat until color is no longer transferred to towel.
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

FURNITURE STAIN:

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
2. Apply POG, blot.
3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
4. Apply detergent solution, blot.
5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Unfortunately, a furniture stain is nearly impossible to remove completely.

GRASS:

1. Apply amyl Superiortate if available to remove chlorophyll, blot.
2. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
3. Rinse with water, blot.
4. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
5. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
6. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Bleaching or professional stripping may be necessary.

INK(Ballpoint):

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
2. Apply POG, blot.
3. If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.

INK (India):

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
2. Apply POG, blot.
3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
4. Apply detergent solution, blot.
5. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
6. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

JAM & JELLY:

1. Apply detergent solution, blot.
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
3. Rinse with water, blot.
4. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

LIPSTICK:

1. Scrape off excess with spatula or dull knife.
2. Apply POG, blot making sure not to reapply stain into fabric.
3. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.
4. Apply detergent, blot.
5. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
6. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
7. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

Try to avoid wet cleaning on wool.
Use POG and dry-cleaning solvents as long as possible.

MILDEW:

1. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot.
4. Apply solution of oxidizing bleach (chlorine or perborate) Do not use chlorine bleach on wool or silk.
5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

MUD:

1. Brush or scrape away as much excess mud as possible.
2. Apply detergent solution, blot.
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
4. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
5. If stain remains, apply POG and dry-cleaning solvent alternately, blot until dry.

MUSTARD:

1. Apply detergent solution, blot.
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
3. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
4. If stain remains, rust remover (Oxalic acid solution) or bleaching may be necessary.

Do not use ammonia or alkalies.

NAIL POLISH:

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
2. Apply amyl Superiortate if available or nail polish remover -PRETEST INCONSPICUOUS AREA FIRST.
3. If stain remains, apply detergent solution, blot until dry.
4. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
5. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
6. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

PAINT (Oil based):

1. Apply detergent solution, blot.
2. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
3. Rinse with water, blot until dry.
4. Apply POG, blot.
5. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot.

PAINT (Water based):

1. Check label on paint or specific thinner or solvent OR
2. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
3. Apply POG, blot.
4. Apply dry-cleaning solvent, blot
5. Alternate steps 2 and 3 until stain is removed.
6. If stain persists, weight down the stain with towels dampened with dry-cleaning for several hours to loosen, blot with solvent.
7. Apply several drops of detergent solution and work into the stain, blot.
8. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
9. Alternate steps 2 and 3 and 6 until stain is removed.

Rinse thoroughly with warm water, blot until dry.

SHOE POLISH:

1. Apply dry-cleaning solvent.
2. Apply POG, blot.
3. Apply dry-cleaning solution, blot.
4. Apply detergent solution, blot.
5. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
6. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
7. If stain persists, bleaching or professional stripping may be necessary.

URINE:

1. Blot as much as possible if still wet.
2. Apply detergent solution, blot.
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot
4. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.
6. If stain remains, apply rust remover or oxalic acid solution.
7. Bleaching with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate might be necessary.

Urine stains may cause permanent dye removal from fibers.

VOMIT:

1. Blot as much as possible.
2. Apply enzyme detergent, blot.
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
4. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
5. Rinse with water, blot until dry.

WINE:

1. Apply detergent solution, blot.
2. Apply vinegar solution, blot.
3. Apply ammonia solution, blot.
4. If necessary, bleach with 3-5% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.
5. Rinse thoroughly with water, blot until dry.

(If all else fails, switch to Chardonnay)!!

Spotting Solutions

AMMONIA SOLUTION

- Mix one tablespoon of clean household ammonia with one-half cup of water.

BLEACH -

Use hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate (present in Snowy or Clorox II).DO NOT use chlorine bleach.

DETERGENT SOLUTION -

Mix one teaspoonful of a colorless, mild detergent or dishwashing liquid in a cup of lukewarm water.

DRY-CLEANING SOLVENT -

Volatile dry spotter or a commercial spotter such as Thoro, Energize, K2R. Use in small amounts…can be harmful in sizing, backings or stuffing material.DO NOT use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.

POG -

Paint, oil and grease remover; available in hardware stores. Use extremely small amounts with extreme caution!

© Copyright 2012. All rights reserved | Links

Before You Hire A Carpet Cleaner Read This!

Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake#1

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on equipment alone.

 No question, your carpet cleaner needs first-rate equipment. But he also needs something else. He needs employees who are skilled at operating that equipment. Many companies own hot water extractors, but very few companies teach their employees how to use them properly. The best way to know that the carpet cleaner’s employees have been properly trained is to make sure the cleaner has been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company’s and the technician’s IICRC certification.

MISTAKE #2:

Low price could be a problem in three ways:

 (1) Low price can be the bait that attracts your phone call. But once the cleaner gets into your home, he pressures you into a much more expensive job. (2) Low price can be for single-process cleaning. Rarely does the consumer know what this means and, when told, asks s for dual process cleaning instead, which costs much more. (3) Low price means the carpet cleaner has cheap equipment, which will not effectively clean your carpet.

MISTAKE #3:

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on a single telephone call.

Instead, invite the person to your home and ask for a specific written quotation. Then you’ll know exactly what the carpet cleaner recommends – and you won’t be the victim of high-pressure tactics when the technician steps into your living room.

What to Expect from a Good Cleaning Company

Knowing what questions to ask is essential in avoiding problems. The Institute of

Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification is a non-profit certification body

that sets and promotes high standards and technical proficiency within the cleaning

industry.

Here’s what they say you should expect:

•

 No hidden costs. Expect itemized costs for services and firm prices before

technicians begin each portion of the work sold. Consumers should never feel

pressured to accept anything more than the services they request.

• Customer satisfaction. Cleaning firms should offer workmanship guarantees in

writing.

•

Vacuuming. The cleaner should start by vacuuming high traffic and open

areas where soils accumulate.

• Moving furniture. Unless clearly specified, moving of most furniture to clean

carpet underneath should be considered part of the normal cleaning job.

•

 Spot-cleaning. Special attention to spots is included in normal job

performance. However, time-consuming specialized spotting may incur an

additional charge. Customers should be advised of additional charges before

extensive spotting procedures are undertaken.

•

 Preconditioning. Special treatment with “preconditioning” agents in heavily

soiled entry, traffic and general areas should be included in the cost of the

cleaning.

•

 Minimal drying time. It is the cleaner’s responsibility to ensure that the

carpet is dried and returned to normal use within a reasonable time frame.

The amount of time required for drying will vary with different methods, the

degree of soiling and the aggressiveness of cleaning necessary. But under no

circumstances should drying require more than 24 hours with proper

ventilation. However, the consumer’s cooperation in providing continuous air

flow and/or ventilation to expedite drying cannot be overemphasized.

NORMAL VS. SPECIAL

There should be no differentiation between a “normal” cleaning job and “special”

cleaning job. Cleaning is cleaning. Diligent effort must be made to remove as much

soil as possible from the carpet. And technicians must take steps to leave fibres as

residue-free as possible to prevent accelerated resoling.

Do not expect an exact price quote over the phone. Honest, reputable carpet

cleaning companies almost never price carpet cleaning by the room. Carpet cleaning

is usually priced by the square foot; if you’d like to know the exact cost, you need to

know the exact number of square feet you want cleaned. To get an accurate

measurement, cleaners should use a measuring wheel or tape measure to calculate

the exact size of the carpet area.

Other variables affect the price as well:

• The type of carpet. Some are harder to clean than others.

• The amount of soiling. Carpet that hasn’t been cleaned for 10 years will take

longer to clean than carpet that was cleaned within the past six months.

• The amount of furniture that must be moved. In many cases, if you move

your furniture, you’ll save money.

DIFFERENT METHODS AVAILABLE

In shopping around for a cleaner, you’ll find out that there are several different

cleaning methods offered. Obviously, each company will be biased toward their own

method. And each method does have advantages. But most carpet manufacturers

recommend only hot water extraction cleaning (steam cleaning), so check your warranty before

making a final decision.

Dirty Carpets

Question: Why does my carpet seem to get dirtier, much more quickly, after I've had it cleaned, than when it was new?

Answer: The reason for premature soiling of carpets after having been cleaned is due to a number of factors.
  
There are four methods of carpet cleaning commonly used. These different methods of carpet cleaning should not be considered equal in either effectiveness or their ability to maintain a carpet in like-new condition.

Bonnet pad, rotary shampoo, dry foam shampoo and hot water extraction cleaning are the most common methods used today to clean your carpet. Some of these methods, such as bonnet pad cleaning or dry foam cleaning are considered low moisture, interim cleaning methods. These methods have the disadvantage of having no extraction capabilities whatsoever, and thus permit excessive dirt and sticky residue to build up in the carpet fiber and backing material.

These methods also rely heavily on potentially damaging physical agitation and abrasion of the carpet, along with the use of harsh detergents or soaps. Soaps are formed by combining animal fats or vegetable oils with a strong alkali. Soaps are nearly impossible to remove from a carpet once they are applied. Detergents rely on phosphates and require high pH levels to clean, but break down the manufacturer's built-in fabric protection.

The carpet manufacturer generally includes an integrated fabric protector during the carpet manufacturing process. The harsh detergents and soaps used by some carpet cleaners can destroy this fabric protection. If this protection is destroyed, the carpet will no longer resist dirt, grease and grime, and stains from contrasting coloured spills. Once the protector is destroyed, the carpet will appear old and soiled, quickly.

As well as destroying the inherent carpet protection, these soaps and detergents stay in the carpet after cleaning. New dirt and grease are attracted to these soaps and detergents. Over time, the leftover soaps and detergents adhere permanently to both the carpet fires and the new dirt and grime. In effect, these harmful cleaning agents become a glue, bonding dirt and grime to your carpet. This causes the carpet to quickly look old and soiled, while making the carpet substantially more difficult to clean properly in the future.

Nothing cleans your carpet more thoroughly, and protects your investment more effectively, than the hot water extraction technique of carpet cleaning. Hot water extraction is the preferred carpet cleaning technique recommended by the majority of carpet manufacturers, including Shaw Industries, the largest manufacturer of carpet in the world.

When hiring a professional carpet cleaner, ask what method of carpet cleaning they use and what type of cleaning product will be used on the carpet. Make sure that the carpet cleaning company is IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified. Be sure they use non-phosphate, emulsified, neutral pH level, cleaners. Most carpet manufactures' warranties now require your carpet cleaning company to be IICRC certified, or your manufacturer's warranty may become void.

Carpet Masters is an independent locally owned and operated company. We are a professional, IICRC certified company. We are a reliable and trustworthy team that offers amazing value along with impeccably high standards of cleaning.

Carpet Masters Video

WELCOME

Welcome to our blog! At Carpet Masters, we're environmentally friendly carpet cleaning professionals, serving Cambridge Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and surrounding regions. We raise the standard for carpet and upholstery cleanliness. Our RotoVac Carpet Cleaning System produces incredible carpet cleaning results with minimal drying time. We uses non-toxic, "certified green" cleaning and treatment products to clean your carpets. And our carpet cleaning is 100% Guaranteed!

The law of gravity states that what goes up, must come down - onto your beautiful carpetl. Carpet Masters thoroughly cleans the carpet fibres in your home, providing incredible cleaning services to ensure that you are 100% satisfied.

Carpet Masters specializes in cleaning Area Rugs, Upholstery, Mattresses and Tile/Grout for total cleaning of your living and working environments. We also offer an effective Odour Removal Service, to remove those unwanted smells.

Contact Us for your free carpet cleaning estimate and to learn more! We look forward to cleaning your world.