General Cleaning Information, and tips on
Carpet - Upholstery Care and Deodorizing
Daily vacuuming is the most important cleaning activity, but deep extraction
cleaning must be performed to remove stubborn or embedded soil. The Carpet
and Rug Institute recommends that carpet be dry- or wet-extraction cleaned a
minimum of every 12 or 18 months before it shows soiling. You may want to use a cleaning
method recommended by the carpet manufacturer to maintain their warranty.
TLC methods are approved by all
manufactures
Carpet should undergo regular deep cleaning to maintain its appearance. A
carpet cleaning professional may be hired or carpet cleaning equipment may
be purchased or rented for do-it-yourself cleaning. There are obvious
pitfalls with do-it-yourself cleaning and the value of a
Professional Cleaner like TLC
follows:
The fiber system used should be the primary factor in selecting a
cleaning method. The majority of carpet and upholstery
manufactured today is constructed with synthetic fibers such as
nylon, polyester, or olefin, and may be cleaned with most cleaning
methods, but some are obviously better and minimize damage to
fibers and dyes.There are five
accepted methods for cleaning carpet made from synthetic fibers. Rely on the
carpet manufacturer's recommendations. When choosing any cleaning method,
be certain that your service company uses cleaning agents sold especially for stain resistant carpet cleaning.
If you want
to risk doing small areas yourself, never use
soap, laundry detergent, automatic dishwasher detergent, or any of the
strong household cleaning agents intended for use on hard surfaces such as
woodwork, linoleum, or tile. For best cleaning results, always prevacuum the
area to be cleaned and apply a preconditioning solution prior to cleaning. A
precondition solution is a detergent solution applied to the carpet prior to
cleaning to begin loosening soil. These solutions typically require 8-10
minutes to begin the soil loosening process. It is usually best and less
risk to utilize professionals like TLC.
Professional Cleaning Services
Utilize the services of a carpet cleaning professional before your carpet
and rugs begin to show soil. Allowing carpet and rugs to become excessively
soiled will make cleaning more difficult and will shorten its useful life.
Recommendations can be
obtained from TLC's satisfied
customers, carpet retailers, the Better Business
Bureau, and local business groups for reliable, certified cleaning
professionals in our area. Choose a carpet cleaning professional who is
properly trained for the following services. Prior to using these services,
you may wish to contact the carpet manufacturer to prevent voiding
warranties. TLC has a full knowledge of
most manufactures warranties and follows their methods for:
- Fire and Water
Damage Restoration (For water damage we follow guidelines in the IICRC
Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration)
- Topical Treatments
(soil-removal and stain-resist treatments)
- In-plant Cleaning
(for rugs)
- Odor Control
(nuisance odors such as: mildew, tobacco, and pet)
- Carpet Redyeing
(color repair)
- Spot Removal
- Repairs,
Restretching, Reinstallations
In order to determine
the amount and type of cleaning services needed, have a representative of
TLC come to your home to make a visual inspection.
Our professionals can inspect the carpet for problem stains or
excessively soiled areas that may require additional attention. We offer a
written agreement for all work to be performed. Under normal circumstances
there should be no extra charge for activities, such as moving furniture,
preconditioning, and routine spot and stain removal.
Beware of cost
estimates that
are "too good to be true." Professionals charge only for services that are
authorized in writing before cleaning begins. Most cleaning is based on the
total number of square feet to be cleaned. Many firms do have cleaning
specials; however, pricing by the room or low prices quoted over the phone
may have hidden restrictions or required add-ons. A reliable firm will tell
you the what they are going to use to clean your carpet and provide a
written agreement before the work is started. Should you question the need
for any required add-ons, contact the carpet manufacturer for assistance.
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Getting
rid of Odors - Types of Carpet and Upholstery Fibers, and
what you need to know |
Deodorizing and Sanitizing
The need to remove mildew, odors, stale smells, bacteria, and
smoke odors is extremely important to your family's health.
TLC applies
specially formulated industrial strength yet family friendly chemical with
biocide to remove the source of the odor and enhance the air quality in your
home providing a pleasant fresh environment.
Companies that apply deodorizing products and services
that to not have a biocide ingredient is a waste of time and your money.
Since it will fail to kill all germs and bacteria in the carpet.
Cotton/Rayon -
Cotton and rayon are cellulosic fibers and may be cleaned using all cleaning
methods. Cellulosic fibers are subject to browning when prolonged drying
occurs or if alkaline solutions are used. Shrinking may occur if these
fibers are over wet. Excessive agitation should be avoided.
Wool
- Wool
fibers may be cleaned using many cleaning methods, although excessive
scrubbing and excessive heat should be avoided. Wool is easily damaged by
bleaches and alkalis. Wool should be cleaned with neutral detergents and dried quickly to limit yellowing or browning.
Plant Fibers
- Plant fibers used in carpet construction, including sisal, cotton, jute,
coconut (coir), pineapple, ramie, and hemp, have characteristics similar to
cotton. These fibers may be cleaned with all cleaning methods, but dry
extraction and dry foam extraction are most often recommended. To limit
color change or odor transfer, a low pH should be used and precautions
should be taken to expedite rapid drying. It is best to use a carpet
cleaning professional
Silk - Silk
should be cleaned using a dry cleaning process. These fibers may be damaged
by high temperatures, high pH, sunlight, and will lose strength when
wet. The cleaning of silk fibers is best left to a carpet cleaning
professional.
Methods:There are five
accepted methods for cleaning carpet make from synthetic fibers. When choosing any cleaning method,
select cleaning professional utilizing products especially for stain
resistant carpet cleaning, and proper methods as below.
Dry
Extraction (Polymer Compound) Method
An absorbent compound saturated with detergents and solvents is brushed in
and around the fibers with especially-designed machines or brushes. The
compound attaches to the soil particles, and both the soil and compound are
then removed by vacuuming.
Dry Foam Extraction Method
In dry foam cleaning a detergent solution is whipped into a foam and applied
to the carpet. The foam is worked into the carpet by a especially-designed
machine with reel-type brushes, followed by wet vacuuming.
TLC machines
have their own extraction capabilities, while others need thorough vacuuming
after the carpet is dry.
Absorbent Pad (Bonnet) Method
The absorbent pad method should be used only by a properly trained cleaning
professional. The rotary bonnet method uses a machine similar to a floor
buffer with an absorbent spin pad attached to remove the soil. The spin pad
absorbs soil onto the pad, and soil is removed when the pad is rinsed.
Rotary Shampoo
The rotary shampoo method uses equipment similar to the rotary bonnet
method, except that a cleaning solution is injected onto the carpet before
cleaning or through especially-designed brushes. Never use a do-it-yourself
machine designed for hard surface floor covering with counter rotating
(rotary) brushes. Pile distortion or untwisting of the fiber can occur.
Hot
Water Extraction Method
This method is sometimes called "steam cleaning." Areas of heavy use are
preconditioned to suspend ground-in soil, then a pressurized cleaning
solution is injected into the pile. Suspended soil and solution are
immediately extracted
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