Carpet Cleaning For Homeowners With Pets

Carpet Maintenance For Pet Owners

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How To Maintain Your Carpets In A Home With Pets

Treating pet stains and odours is a regular perk task for a professional carpet cleaner!

And no matter how conscientious you are about keeping your carpets clean, if you own a pet, you’ll know that the odd accident can appear from nowhere!

Carpet Cleaning For Homeowners With Pets

There are, however, some things you can do to keep your carpets looking as clean and fresh as possible.

Here are some of our tips:

Regular grooming and raking

Pet hair that is embedded into carpet fibres can be pretty stubborn and resistant to most domestic vacuum cleaners.

To keep the hair that gets trapped in your carpets to a minimum, it makes sense to groom your pets regularly to remove loose hairs.

And to keep your carpets hair-free, we actually recommend using a squeegee. Simply run it through your carpets every few weeks and you’ll be amazed how much hair is easily removed.

Treating urine stains

With urine stains, speed is of the essence and so it’s important to try and clean up pet urine while it’s still damp and fresh.

Once urine dries, it is likely to be almost impossible for you to remove it yourself and the odour will also increase with the inevitable growth of bacteria.

To treat a urine stain, place a few paper towels over the wet area of carpet and press down to dab and absorb as much of the urine as possible.

Invest in hot water extraction carpet cleaning

If you own pets it is important to get your carpets professionally cleaned a little more regularly.

Muddy paws, fur and slobber all take their toll no matter how careful you try to be!

Hot water extraction cleaning is by far the best method of cleaning carpets in a home with pets. The combination of heat, moisture and suction is unbeatable at removing ingrained hair, soiling, odours and bacteria.

If you’re based in South Wales or Bristol and would like a free quotation, simply call us today and we’ll be delighted to help.

Carpet Cleaning Birmingham

How Professional Carpet Cleaning Can Help You Sell Your Home

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Putting your house on the market? Here’s why carpet cleaning can help you close a quick sale

Carpet Cleaning Help Sell Home

Whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, it’s important you maximise the sale price of your home while avoiding it sitting on the market for too long.

Converting a garage, adding a bedroom, replacing old flooring and renovating kitchens and bathrooms are all proven to add value to a property.

But if you haven’t got thousands of pounds to invest, how do you do add value and make your home a more attractive proposition to potential buyers?

Clean carpets can make or break a sale

What do your carpets look and smell like?

What might be a charming ‘lived-in’ appearance and smell to you, will almost certainly put off buyers. While colour schemes and design are a matter of personal taste, there’s nothing more off-putting to house hunters than dirty, smelly carpets. (Especially carpets that emit the smell of dog or cat urine!)

But should you replace them if they’ve seen better days?

This is not usually necessary in our experience.

Replacing carpets usually runs into the thousands of pounds, and causes too much upheaval while you’re in the process of trying to sell your home.

By choosing to have your carpets professionally cleaned, you minimise disruption and save a small fortune.

Do you need to clean your carpets?

If your carpets have any obvious stains or odours, or simply haven’t been cleaned in a long time, it is wise to get them professionally cleaned before putting your home on the market.

The longer you have lived in your home, the more your senses will have adapted to the appearance and smell of your carpets and flooring.

Potential buyers on the other hand, will quickly pick up on any unsightly stains and curious odours.

Clean, fresh smelling carpets will project a positive first impression to viewers, and, if they don’t need to replace the carpets, it’s one less cost that they will be concerned about when considering purchasing your home.

 

If you’re thinking of selling your home, we provide professional carpet cleaning in Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea and throughout South Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

7 Carpet Cleaning Secrets (As Used By The Pros)

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7 Carpet Cleaning Secrets (As Used By The Pros)

If you’ve read any of our previous articles, you’ll probably be aware of the value of regular professional carpet cleaning in prolonging the lifespan of your carpets.

But how do you maintain the appearance and condition of your carpets in between professional cleans? And how do you tackle spillages and stains?

Here’s how we recommend you deal with stains and keep your carpets looking like new.

1. Blot Stains – Don’t Scrub Or Rub

If you need to tackle a spillage, simply blot the spill or stain from the outside-in using a clean cloth or paper towel. Don’t be tempted to scrub or agitate the stain as this can damage the carpet fibres and cause the stain to spread to the surrounding area.

2. Never Use A Shop Bought Stain Remover

Without mentioning any particular brands, we see the damage these products cause every week. Not only are they usually ineffective, they also often cause irreparable  damage to carpets to carpets and fabrics.

If unsure, just use plain cold water, a mild vinegar solution, or ask us for a bottle of our safe professional stain remover. Avoid any stain removal product sold in high street stores and supermarkets.

3. Easily Remove Wax Using Heat

Many of our customers have the odd candle wax spill here and there. And at first attempt, it can appear impossible to remove without pulling a bunch of fibres out with it! But candle wax is usually easily removed by safely applying heat. Simply place a clean cloth over the wax that is embedded into the carpet and place a warm iron on top of the cloth to heat the wax. Then use a blunt knife or similar instrument to scrape off the wax.

4. Vacuum Regularly

It’s just good common sense to vacuum your carpets every few days. Regular vacuuming keeps your carpets looking great, and more importantly, removes the dust and soiling that agitates and degrades the carpet fibres. Adhering to this simple step will add years to the life of your carpets.

5. Invest In Quality Carpet & Fabric Protection

Carpet Cleaning Secrets

Carpet protection such as Scotchgard helps to protect your carpets and upholstery from spills becoming permanent stains and makes them easier to remove. It also helps prevent dry soils from sticking to the carpet fibres and acting as an abrasive. If you’ve invested in high quality carpets, then a good stain protector is worth the small cost.

6. Follow A Proven Safe & Effective Stain Removal Process

Here’s how you can safely deal with many common spills and stains using vinegar and water:

  • Blot up the immediate visible spillage with a clean white cloth or paper towel
  • Continue to blot the stain with dry cloths until as much as possible of the surface stain is removed
  • Then, mix fresh water and white vinegar at a ratio of 4:1
  • Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray over the area a small amount at a time
  • Blot the area to remove excess moisture and repeat by separating and blotting until the stain has been removed
  • Spread kitchen towels over the area and place a weight on top of the towels to absorb and dry
  • Leave for a couple of hours – if there is no transfer of stain onto the paper and no stain is visible, then it has been successfully removed. If any stain remains, call a professional carpet cleaner to remove the stain

7. Invest In Professional Carpet Cleaning (Every 6 – 18 Months)

If you’re living alone without pets, a thorough deep clean every 18 – 24 months should suffice. But if you have a busy family home then it makes sense to thoroughly cleanse your carpets at least annually (and perhaps every 6 months if you have dogs or cats). The difference this will make to the appearance of your home is enormous.

Leaving it too late to get your carpets cleaned will cause damage to the fibres and can somewhat hinder the results of the clean.

Indeed, experience shows us that our most frequent repeat customers have the best looking carpets and that they last for many years longer!

For a free quotation for carpet cleaning in Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff and throughout South Wales, call us today on 0800 028 2788

Are Your Dirty Carpets Making You Sick?

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Are Your Dirty Carpets Making You Sick?

Dirty Carpets

Most people only get their carpets professionally cleaned when they look dirty to the naked eye.

But the most important reason why you should be keeping your carpets clean is not actually for aesthetic reasons, but for health.

While most people are usually pretty good at minimizing obvious health risks in the home (turning off the oven, keeping young children away from fires etc) everybody forgets about the health risks posed by dirty carpets and furnishings.

A carpet that isn’t regularly professionally cleaned accumulates bacteria, fungus and other irritants at an alarming rate. Indeed, an old carpet can harbor up to eight times its weight in toxic dirt trapped deep in the fibers!

Carpets are also able to trap the toxic residues of pesticides and toxins from paints and cleaning sprays for many, many years unless removed by a deep, professional clean.

While your carpets may look clean, if they haven’t been treated in a couple of years they are likely to be a significant health risk to your family.

Here’s why:

  1. Allergies. A carpet can hide many allergens that are responsible for common allergic symptoms including sinus issues. These symptoms are often dismissed by doctors as something to be medicated without treating the underlying cause. Recycled dust, fungus, per hair, dander and the ugly dust mite are some of the most common and troublesome allergens that your carpet will be harboring.
  2. Skin and eye conditions. Itchy, unexplained rashes in young children, along with athlete’s foot and other fungal conditions have been attributed to dirty carpets. Most carpets harbor bacteria and fungus picked up from outdoors and deposited into the carpet pile by shoes (another good reason to take them off!) For the bacteria and fungus to multiply and release spores, all that is needed is a small spill of water…
  3. Respiratory irritation. Pet dander is a common allergen for many and the tiny flakes of skin from pets easily nestles deep into the carpet pile, safe from the domestic vacuum! Proteins found in the urine, saliva and feces of cats and dogs also causes many people a problem. Some people are already allergic to certain pets but many are unaware that asthma is often triggered by an allergy to dander.  A build up of toxins and allergens in a dirty carpet can also affect the ability of otherwise healthy lungs to function correctly.

Common symptoms associated with a dirty carpet:

If you have any unexplained and troublesome skin, respiratory or allergic symptoms that haven’t responded to conventional medical treatment, it is common sense to eliminate any potential allergens in the home as soon as possible.

Symptoms to look out for include:

  • Nasal congestion
  • Excessive sneezing
  • Runny nose
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Wheezing
  • Red eyes
  • Itchy eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Rashes
  • Itchy skin

If you or your family are suffering from any of the issues then it goes without saying that you should first seek medical advice.

But as far as making your home a healthier, allergen-free environment, getting your carpets and furnishings professionally cleaned should be your first step.

 

6 Christmas Cleaning Tips To Keep Your Carpets Clean & Fresh

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Christmas Cleaning Tips To Keep Your Carpets Clean & Fresh

With Christmas fast approaching, you’re probably going to be having more guests over than usual. And with December being such a wet month here in the UK, your carpets can take quite a beating over the festive period.

Although nothing beats a full professional carpet clean in terms of results, there are a few things you can do to minimize staining and keep your carpets in good condition.

1) Floor mats

There’s always that one guest who will walk straight in your home with muddy shoes. And so it’s worth spending a few pounds on some inside and outside floor mats. Even if you don’t usually use them, they will prevent too much dirt being carried onto your carpets.

2) Shoe racks

Simply putting a cheap shoe rack outside or just inside your front door is an effective prompt for your guests to remove their footwear without even having to ask. The number cause of traffic staining and the quick wear of carpets is walking with shoes on.

3) Seal your carpets and flooring

If you’ve recently had your carpets, upholstery or flooring cleaned, it makes sense to get them stain protected as soon as possible. High quality stain protection means that any spillages will much easier to clean up afterwards and will make your next professional carpet clean so much more effective. This is because any stains will stay at the top of the carpet rather than seeping deep into the fibers.

4) If you have a real Christmas tree, water it frequently!

If you keep your Christmas tree fully hydrated, it will shed fewer needles. Not only does this mean you’ll be cleaning up less frequently, it also prevents the needles embedding into the carpet or being transferred throughout the home – causing abrasion and wear and tear to the carpet fibers.

5) Hoover regularly

You may be able to get away with a quick vacuum once a week the rest of the year, but you won’t at Christmas. And it’s not just about keeping everything looking clean for your guests – it is important to avoid excess grit getting into the base of your carpets and furnishings, causing them to age quicker. A quick vacuum every other day will keep them in good order.

6) Don’t use shop bought stain removers

This is the time of year when popular stain removers see a huge boost in sales.

DON’T USE THEM!

They don’t usually work very well and in many cases they can completely ruin your carpets or upholstery. They contain harsh chemicals that can “set” stains into the carpet or even cause permanent color damage.

We come across this damage on a daily basis and so we know it is very common. By treating any stain with a shop bought product you will likely reduce the future chance of successful stain removal by a professional carpet cleaner. You’ve been warned…

If you would like to buy a reliable and effective stain remover then please get in touch with us – we stock a great product that carries very minimal risk of any damage.

Finally, have a great Christmas! And if your carpets, hard flooring or sofas need bringing back to life in the new year, don’t hesitate to give us a call!