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Carpet Maintenance: There IS a Right Way to Vacuum
Most people believe that vacuuming a carpet is a relatively straight-forward task. Vacuuming your carpet is also a great way to remove dust and dirt, and keep it looking clean. What most people do not know is that there actually is a right way to vacuum your carpet. Here are a few tips to help keep your carpet looking its best.
Choose the right vacuum
Not all vacuums are created equal and they do not all treat carpets equally. With so many vacuums on the market today, how do you know that you are getting the right one for your carpet?
- Check with your manufacturer or carpet installation company. Either source should be able to recommend at least a vacuum type the best fits the need of your carpet your carpet.
- The Carpet and Rug Institute has created a rating system that rate vacuums on three factors: dust removal, carpet appearance retention, and soil removal. Look for the Carpet and Rug Institute seal of approval label when choosing your vacuum.
Use the right features
Therotating brush in your vacuum’s head --the beater bar -- is designed to agitate the carpet fibers in order to loosen up dust and dirt, but that agitation can hurt certain types of carpet like Berber or frieze styles. If you have this type of carpet in your home just use your vacuum’s suction with the beater brush turned off.
Most vacuums come with upholstery attachments. Using the crevice attachment to vacuum the edges of your carpet, along the walls and in corners, will keep your carpet fresh and help prevent filtration soiling.
Use the right technique
In order to properly vacuum a space, you cannot rush. Push the vacuum slowly in one direction, away from you, and pull it back slowly toward you. Move on to the next section of carpet, slightly overlapping the last area you just vacuumed. Here are some other quick tips:
- Start along the edges of the room. Using your crevice attachment, get the edges of the carpet and in the corners – the areas where the vacuum head simply cannot reach.
- Move light and small furniture and vacuum those areas. Vacuum under and around heavy furniture.
- Vacuum in one direction (east-west) and then in the opposite direction (north-south). This will help ensure you lift up as much dirt and dust as possible.
- Start on the side of the room furthest from the door and vacuum your way out of the room.
Vacuum Frequently
You should vacuum your carpet at least once a week. However, if you have carpet in high traffic areas, pets, or kids, you may want to vacuum more often – up to three or more times a week. This will help get rid of dust, dirt, and allergens trapped in your carpet, and help keep your carpet looking its absolute best.
To extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking its absolute best, in addition to vacuuming, you should have your carpet professionally cleaned. To find out more information about carpet cleaning services, area rug cleaning, and other related services, please call Dr. Carpet at 647.800.5199 today!
How to Maintain Your Carpets In Between Professional Cleanings
Your carpet is one of the biggest investments you will make for your home. Carpet is designed to hold up to everyday use, but it still needs to be taken care of. By applying these tips and tricks, homeowners can keep their carpet in decent shape in between professional cleanings.d again.
Please note, unless you are a professional carpet cleaner, the remedies available to you are limited. Professional carpet cleaners are fully trained and have professional-grade tools and solutions. Only your local Toronto carpet cleaning company can fully restore the look and feel of your carpet.
Don’t Scrub Spills
When you scrub a spill you are merely pushing the stain particles deeper into the carpet. Scrubbing the stain will make it harder to remove and accelerate the deterioration process. To ensure that you get the stain up and off your carpet, blot it right away. Start from the edges of the spill and work toward the center. Generally, you should be able to get most of the spill up without need of further cleaning solutions. But if you do need to use cleaning chemicals…
Don’t Use Bleach
Unless your carpet is pure white, bleach will cause a stain that will result in your having to have the carpet repaired or replaced. There is generally a simple approach for every type of stain and you can achieve excellent results if you employ the right solutions.
Club Soda and Vinegar
If you have spilled beer or wine, club soda is the trick to use here. Pour a bit of unflavored clear club soda on the stain then blot it up. If the club soda isn’t getting all of the stain up, try mixing a little distilled white vinegar and club soda in a spray bottle and spraying the stain. Let the solution sit for 15 minutes or longer – but don’t let it dry – then blot it up. You should notice an improvement.
It is worth noting that club soda can actually set certain types of stains, like oil or grease. So make sure that you do not use this trick if you think it might be an oil or grease stain.
Scrape Up the Stuck-on Stuff
If you have kids, you know how quickly they can turn your nice carpet into a minefield of sticky messes. If your little ones have gotten gum, candy, or other sugary snack stuck into your carpet, try scraping off as much as you can before applying a cleaning product.
The best tip is to make sure to have your carpets professionally cleaned at least every six months, or more frequently if you have pets or kids. Not only will a professional carpet cleaning company keep your carpets clean, but it will save you money in the long run by helping you prevent the need for a carpet replacement.
TTo find out more information about carpet cleaning services, carpet repairs, area rug cleaning, and other related services, please call Dr. Carpet at 647.800.5199 today!
How to Choose a Carpet Repair Service
Before you spend hundreds of dollars replacing a carpet, you may way to consider simply repairing your carpet. When you use an experienced carpet repair service they can affordably solve problems resulting from things like wrinkling, stains, fading, and snags. Repairing a carpet does not take a long time, but it does take a professional to get the job done correctly.
What is carpet repairing?
Carpet repairing is simply removing a damaged piece of carpet and replacing it with a matching piece. This piece may be a leftover remnant from the original installation, a sample piece from the shop, or it could be a piece taken from a closet or other area that isn’t likely to be seen every day (the bad patch of carpet may be used in the spot where the patch was taken from).
Once the professional carpet repair technician has found a suitable replacement, he or she will carefully cut out the part of the carpet to be replaced. The replacement piece is attentively fitted into the hole in the carpet and is glued in place. Seams are rendered invisible and the carpet is trimmed to match the surrounding areas.
What to look for in a carpet repair service.
While there are many services out there that advertise carpet repair and even do-it-yourself kits available, it’s always the best choice to a professional carpet repairing company. A professional carpet repair service will:
- Be licensed, bonded, and insured
- Have trained technicians on staff
- Provide a thorough and detailed quote
- Confirm pricing before the job begins
- Warranty their work
When determining which Toronto carpet repair service to use, you should get several quotes and compare them. A reputable company will provide a detailed quote that will include the price for materials and labour costs associated with the scope of work, and not include any hidden fees. The company should also be able to provide you with a quote, whether in person, on line, or over the phone. Some other things to consider when choosing a carpet repair service provider:
• Are they able and willing to provide MSDS for the materials they use? A good service should be able to provide MSDS for the materials they use when you request them.
• Do they call to confirm your appointment before arriving? Courtesy is a benchmark of professionalism.
• Is their pricing competitive within the current market? A professional carpet repair service will have their finger on the pulse of their industry and know what the market can support.
If you have further questions about carpeting repair services, or to get your free quote, please feel free to contact Dr. Carpet at 647.800.5199. We specialize in all kinds of carpet repairs for loose, buckling, frayed, torn, stained, and water damaged carpets in the Greater Toronto Area.