edwards jeffery carpet cleaning

Top 10 Carpet Cleaning Tips

Our Top 10 Carpet Cleaning Tips

If you’ve been a recent customer of ours then you will have received a handy little booklet with our top 10 carpet cleaning tips. It is a useful guide to caring for and maintaining your flooring after professional cleaning.

If you implement these tips, you will not only keep your carpets looking new…you will also protect the fibres from wear and tear and therefore extend their lifespan.

And, let’s face it, I very much doubt you want to be spending your hard earned money on monthly professional cleaning!?

Top 10 carpet cleaning tips:

Vacuum regularly: At least once a week if you’re a bachelor without a busy (and messy!) family. More regular vacuuming will be necessary if you have children and pets. Regular vacuuming not only keeps your carpets looking clean…it also removes unseen dust and soil that will embed and destroy the carpet fibres.

Deal with spills quickly: If you don’t have a homemade stain remover to hand, then place some paper towels over the stain and…

Blot, don’t rub: If there is anything that has the potential to make a stain even more difficult to remove, it is rubbing it. Vigorously rubbing a stain also increases the chances of spreading the stain into the surrounding carpet fibres.

Remove candle wax with heat: Candle wax can be the cause of much tearing out of hair! Some customers have even hacked and snipped away at the wax and carpet with scissors in order to remove brightly colored candle wax. There really is no need. Simply take a blunt knife  and slide it under the wax and remove as much waxas will easily come away. Then put a couple of paper towels on top of the remaining wax and, using an iron, run the iron over the spot (covered by the towels). The wax should come away and transfer to the cloths.

Use a good stain remover: There are many ways of making your own stain remover. Some possible ingredients include baking powder and white vinegar. Some professional carpet cleaning companies sell their own general purpose stain removers (contact us for details) and these are usually safe and very effective. Whatever you do, please do not use supermarket bought stain removers. They are responsible for ruining so many carpets and sofas.

Avoid excessive water: If you insist on hiring a rental machine, be very careful not to over-wet your carpets. Use as little water as possible and ensure your house is adequately ventilated. Saturated carpets can shrink and cause some pretty horrible odours due to the growth of mold.

Quality mats: Honestly, do you and your family ALWAYS remove your shoes EVERY-TIME you enter your home? Even if you’re pretty vigilant, there are usually daily occurrences that cause you to dash through the house with soiled and abrasive footwear. Buy good quality mats for your outside doors. It may sound a simple and obvious tip, but it makes a huge difference to keeping your carpets clean and ensuring they last far longer.

Carpet identification: Synthetic carpets are more forgiving than wool or oriental carpets and rugs. If you have a wool based carpet, NEVER attempt to self clean with a Rug Doctor or any rental machine. The potential for damage is great. Call a TACCA registered professional carpet cleaner in your area if you require assistance in identifying fibre types.

Regular professional cleaning: Professional carpet cleaning extends the life of quality carpets and ultimately saves you money. It also keeps your carpets looking beautifully clean if carried out regularly. More importantly, it helps improve the health of your home and reduce allergens. Try not to leave it longer than 18 months between professional cleaning.

Carpet protector: Premium quality carpet protection helps protect your flooring from stains and spills and ensures common stains are easier to remove. It also helps prevent dry soil from bonding to the fibres and causing permanent damage. I would recommend carpet protector if you have carpet in a particular area that is exposed to high traffic such as hallways and stairs.

 

 For friendly (no hard sell!) stain removal advice, or if you would like to purchase one of our professional stain removers, simply call Melissa today on 07530 532208 or send an email enquiry via this site.

Carpet Cleaning Gwent

Award Winning Carpet Cleaning Newport and Gwent

We are a family owned, award-winning business providing 100% guaranteed and insured upholstery, rug and carpet cleaning in Newport and the surrounding Gwent valleys.

We have invested in the absolute best machinery and products in the industry and I take enormous pride in the results and service that we deliver to our customers.

Hiring an experienced carpet cleaning company will save you a significant money in comparison to replacing your carpets and upholstery.

But it is important you make an informed choice so you get a company you can trust to get the best results possible.

If you live in Newport or Gwent, here are just 3 reasons why you should choose us for carpet and upholstery cleaning:

1. Our method of cleaning (HWE) is recommended by most carpet manufacturers. Our methods  extract all the soiling and excess moisture from your carpets and upholstery, leaving them beautifully clean and dry.

2. We’re use a truckmounted machine. Our Hydramaster machine achieves better results and faster drying times than electric portable machines.

3. Unbeatable results and honest pricing. Our results and testimonials speak for themselves. Years of experience have enabled us to build the knowledge to tackle all stains and spots – there’s literally nothing we haven’t seen. And the price we quote is the price you pay, with no hidden costs.

“But my carpets don’t look dirty.”

Well, appearance isn’t everything!

Regular professional carpet cleaning is firstly for your family’s health, and only secondly for appearance.

The average home harbors over 2 million dust mites that feed off dead skin and other debris. Microscopic mite faeces and dead mites are so small that they blow up into the air as you walk around your home.

Eighty percent of people who suffer from allergies are allergic to dust mites.

They are one of the biggest causes of many common allergies!

To limit the effect that dust mites have on your family’s health, you need to have your carpets and upholstery regularly professionally cleaned.

How often?

I recommend once every 12 months with perhaps a 6 month clean if you have children and pets.

Getting a quotation for carpet cleaning in Newport

If you think that you would benefit from our professional carpet and upholstery cleaning service in Newport and Gwent, please do give us a call.

A free quotation only takes about 10 minutes and and there is absolutely no pressure to book our services at any point.

Call us now on 0800 028 2788 or 07530 532208

How much does professional carpet cleaning cost?

How much does professional carpet cleaning cost?

Like many other homeowners thinking about getting their carpets cleaned, you’ve probably wondered…”how much does professional carpet cleaning cost?”

Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer…

Several factors can influence the cost of professional carpet and upholstery cleaning. An obvious one is the size of the rooms being cleaned; it’s logical that a larger room will cost more than a smaller room.

Stain Removal

The number and type of stains can also be a factor (although we don’t think it should be!). Some companies may charge extra for individual stain removal despite having already agreed a price to clean the whole room. (Most companies have a basic call out charge and so it’s often worth having the whole room cleaned if you are already paying for stain removal – it may work out to a similar price!)

 

Cost of equipment

Another factor that will influence price is the quality of machinery operated by the company (and therefore results!) Part-time operators are generally restricted by a small budget due to not having the large number of customers of a full-time professional company. Therefore, they rarely generate the income necessary to fund and maintain the best equipment and so results are compromised and it must be accounted for in their prices!

Insurance & Training

Does your carpet cleaner have full insurance and recognised industry approved training? The cowboys in the industry invariably need to cut costs in order to keep their prices low enough to secure at least a few jobs per month. And, insurance is often the first expense deemed non essential by unscrupulous companies.

*** If you do receive a surprisingly cheap quote for carpet or upholstery cleaning, make sure to check that the individual or company is fully insured. Otherwise, if your carpets are damaged, you will be footing the bill!!!***

How much does professional carpet cleaning cost?

But I can rent a rug doctor for £30 and clean my whole house!!!

In theory you could. But not in reality.

If you were to only hire the machine and none of the recommended chemicals, then perhaps it would only cost you about £30-£40 if you shopped around.

But the results attained do not compare to a professional machine and you are risking all sorts of potential problems that would leave you uninsured. And that’s without the costs you’ll incur if the machine breaks down.

Also, once you add the cost of their branded chemicals, the real price becomes apparent and is no longer so appealing…

I covered some of the risks and costs in a recent blog post here.

But I’ve had so many different quotes!!!

Every company will have their own pricing policy and it will often depend on their experience, ability, overheads, quality of machinery and level of business.

If they are an established and respected company, with years of positive results and reviews, then they will most likely be in high demand for their services.

Conversely, a part-time operator who’s hired a rental machine and thrown it in the back of his boot with a handful of cheap chemicals is going to be able to keep his price at rock bottom.

Value for money…

If you’re not being over-charged for fictitious “extras” (cleaning chemicals should be included in your price!) and it represents a significant saving on replacing your carpets then that’s always a good start.

If you then follow this up with a good check of their online reviews and photos, you’re then in a good position to decide whether the prices you’ve been quoted represent good value to you…

 

If you’d like a free same day quotation for carpet or upholstery cleaning in South Wales, I’m more than happy to talk through any concerns you may have and give you a realistic idea of results: Melissa 07530 532208

 

 

 

 

 

How to clean your rugs at home

How to clean your rugs at home

Rugs can add warmth and style to your home, but if you want to keep them in tip-top condition and ensure they last for years, you’ll want to check out our tips on how to clean your rugs at home…

There comes a time when despite your best efforts of caring for your rugs, you’ll need them professionally cleaned. You can, however, take steps that will prolong the intervals between professional cleaning.

The easiest way to prolong the life and appearance of your rugs is to……

You guessed it…..

Vacuum!

Ideally, vacuum your rugs at least once per week; preferably twice. If you have an upholstery or stair attachment on your vacuum, all the better. You want to catch any dust and soil before it gets worked into the base of the rug.

Ingrained soil works as an abrasive that will wear and break down the fibres over time!

If you don’t have an upholstery attachment, then vacuum your rug side to side in order to avoid sucking up the tassles!

An important tip is to turn over the rug every month or two on a clean surface and vacuum the back of the rug. Remember to turn over again and complete the front once finished.

How to clean your rugs at home

Give it a shake!

If you have enough space and your rugs are easy to handle (and your neighbors aren’t downwind!) then it’s a good idea to occasionally take your rugs into the garden and give them a good shake. You’ll be surprised how much soil will come out!

Re-position your rugs to avoid uneven wear

As well as turning your rugs to vacuum the back of them, I recommend turning them 180 degrees once or twice year. Foot traffic and the sun can wear your rugs, and turning them will even out the wear.

Professional Cleaning

Due to the differing fibres and colouring of some rugs, it is advisable to call a professional rug cleaning company for stain removal advice. DON’T be tempted to use shop bought carpet cleaning detergents or scrub away with hot water!!!

I advise that quality rugs be professionally cleaned at least every 2 years, and if you have a busy family home, every 12 months to ensure they maintain their composition and appearance.

For FREE stain removal advice, don’t hesitate to call me on 07530 532208.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to remove common stains from your carpet

How to remove common stains from your carpet

Spillages are inevitable, but it’s important you know how to remove common stains from your carpet without causing further damage…

When a spill occurs and lands on a carpet, most peoples first reaction is to grab a cloth or sponge and scrub vigorously before applying washing up liquid or some kind of shop bought carpet detergent and scrubbing away again. This is the worst thing you could do!

Despite many products being labelled as “safe for carpets & upholstery” it very often isn’t the case. Some of these products are very harsh and are not suitable for use with certain fibers or specific stains.

We are often called to homes where customers have first attempted to remove a stain with these products. Common problems include colour loss, sticky carpet and stains that have been “set” by use of an inappropriate chemical; Once a stain has been “set” there is little chance of effective removal!

How to remove common stains from your carpet

Don’t panic!

Accidents will always happen, and most stains can be removed, if not by yourself, then with the help of a professional carpet cleaner. (Check for approved TACCA members in your local area)

Here’s are the do’s and dont’s for dealing with stains and spills:

  • Use a clean white cloth or towel
  • Never scrub the carpet
  • Scrape or blot any excess prior to treatment
  • Do not use too much water and over-wet the carpet
  • Always test any cleaning product on a small hidden area of carpet to test reaction
  • Do not use washing up liquid, washing powders, bleach or disinfectant
  • Work from the outside of the stain inward to avoid spreading the stain
  • Apply the cleaning product to the cloth and not directly onto the carpet or upholstery
  • Encourage quick drying and keep the carpet of fabric as dry as possible
  • Deal with the stain immediately

Putting it into practice

Applying these rules to common spills such as alcohol, tea & coffee, here is how you would deal with these stains safely and effectively:

  • Blot up as much of spillage as possible with clean white cloth
  • Use a Vinegar Solution, a small amount at a time (working out to in!)
  • Continue to blot the stain with dry cloths until most of stain is removed
  • Then, mix water and white vinegar at a ratio of 4:1
  • Pour mixture into a spray bottle and spray over the area
  • Blot area again to remove excess moisture
  • Spread kitchen towels over the area and place a weight on top of the towels
  • Leave for a couple of hours

This procedure can be repeated a couple of times if necessary.

If you would like emergency advice on stain removal, then please feel free to give us a call. We do not charge for stain removal advice. 

 

 

 

Why hire a professional carpet cleaner?

Why hire a professional carpet cleaner?

If you’ve been thinking about getting your carpets cleaned, you may have asked yourself the question… “why hire a professional carpet cleaner when I can do it myself?”

Carpet adds warmth and style to a home, but understanding how best to clean and maintain your carpets can be confusing at the best of times as there is so much conflicting information out there!

Here are some points to consider when thinking about getting your carpets cleaned…

The health risks of a dirty carpet

A dirty carpet is not just an eyesore – it also poses a health risk. Carpet can store allergens that over time will affect the health of you and your family. Dust, pollen and pet hair can all be trapped in the carpet and then released into the atmosphere every time you vacuum or walk on it.

DIY carpet cleaning machines don’t come close to the effectiveness of a professional machine in removing soiling and stains. A professional carpet cleaning company will ensure a thorough deep clean that will minimize potential allergens.

Allergens – Dust Mites

Many people have a dust mite infestation without even realizing it. Dust mite allergies are associated with eczema, asthma and rhinitis.

A shop bought carpet cleaning detergent and under-powered machine will not effectively remove mites. Professional hot water extraction cleaning (steam cleaning) is necessary to ensure the effective removal of dust mites.

Many carpet cleaning companies will also offer a dust mite spray treatment that can be used to kill the mites.

Why hire a professional carpet cleaner?

All carpets, rugs and upholstery are different and are made up of different fibers. A professional carpet cleaner will know how to treat each type and the appropriate solutions to use for specific stains and spots.

Hiring a machine and attempting to remove stains from an expensive carpet can prove disastrous. Possible damage includes shrinkage of carpets, browning, setting of stains and lingering odours caused by over-wetting.

Regularly hiring a professional cleaner (every 6-18 months depending on soiling) will reduce allergens, improve your health and help prolong the life of your expensive carpets and upholstery.

Finally, the reason most people book a professional is due to the results they can achieve.

After-all, when was the last time you saw a rental machine achieve results like this???

Why hire a professional carpet cleaner?

 

P.S. If you do decide to deal with a stain or spillage yourself, then take a look at the tips provided by the NCCA for dealing with common spills and stains.

Beware the Cost of the Lowest Price

If you think a good, professional carpet cleaning company is expensive, you should look at the cost of hiring a bad carpet cleaner..

Let’s imagine for a moment you’ve decided that you need your carpets and upholstery cleaned…

There are 2 immediately apparent options: You can either rent a supermarket machine (no names mentioned!) or search the internet for a professional company that will do the work for you and (hopefully!?) obtain better results.

Upon ringing around various companies, you find that there are differences in prices. In fact, there seems to be 2 distinct pricing camps; Fair or very cheap!

There is a usually a good reason for this…

 

Let’s take a look at what every conscientous carpet cleaning company should be able to demonstrate as standard:

Full insurance (to protect you against accidental damage!)

Valid 100% guarantee

Top of the range, expensive machinery and equipment 

Safe and effective premium products

In depth knowledge of specialist stain removal

Training in carpet fibre identification

Fully trained and qualified staff

There is always someone who will do it cheaper…

As I’m sure you can appreciate there are costs associated with maintaining these standards and obtaining results you just can’t get from a rental machine or a company employing cheap labour and using sub-standard equipment.

Carpet cleaning as an industry has a low barrier of entry. After all, anybody can hire a mchine from their local shop, throw it in the boot of a car, print some cheap leaflets and, hey presto, they are in business!!!

But, is this the type of company you want to clean your carpets and upholstery???

Skilled and effective carpet and upholstery cleaning can save thousands of pounds in alternative replacements. It can even prolong the lifespan of your expensive investments…

Why would you risk losing these benefits – or even worse – damaging your expensive furnishings, all for the sake of saving a very small amount of money?

It is worth remembering the old adage: “Beware the cost of the lowest price”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Carpet Cleaning Video

Check Out Our Professional Carpet Cleaning Animated Video!

Rather than make a factual and technical carpet cleaning video that would only bore you with specifications…

We thought we’d have a little fun whilst aiming to convey the benefits of our services!

Our animated video can be viewed below:

Professional Carpet Cleaning in Cardiff and throughout South Wales

 

Carpet Cleaning & Allergens In The Home

Allergies

In recent years there has been a significant increase in reported allergies.

The symptoms can range from mildly blocked sinuses to swelling and redness of the eyes. Some symptoms of allergies can be very distressing and uncomfortable and some of the major causes can be found in our homes…

Pets

You may love them, but your cat or dog can be one of the more obvious causes for that runny or blocked nose you just can’t seem to shake off.

Skin particles (dander) and hair that has not been sufficiently vacuumed can often be problematic.

Dust Mites

Invisible to the naked eye, these scary looking critters are found lurking in carpets, sofas and mattresses; there are between 2 to 3 million that reside in the average mattress!!

Dust mites feed off skin particles and are the cause of many allergies; most asthma sufferers react to them.

How can I reduce allergens and mites in the home?

Control Humidity

Dust mites love high humidity. Open your windows regularly and do not over-heat your home.

Bathing (Quality time with the dog or cat!)

Bathe and groom your pets to reduce dander and improve hygiene.

Bed Linen

Your mattress is the dust mites favourite home. Wash your linen at 60 degrees to kill off the mites!

Professional Cleaning

Regular professional upholstery and carpet cleaning (steam, not dry carpet cleaning!)  will significantly reduce the amount of allergens in your home and alleviate family symptoms.