Carpet cleaning tips

Here we have a few tips on carpet upholstery and home cleaning for you to try at home.

Remember always try on an inconspicuous area first, please call a professional if unsure!  

Cleaning tips

Carpets need to be vacuumed once a week and more often in areas of heavy traffic. Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing a build-up of gritty particles that can wear carpet fibres. Every few weeks, take a little extra time and use your crevice tool for cleaning around skirtings and radiators and in other hard-to-reach places. 

When vacuuming fitted carpeting, divide the floor into small sections and vacuum an entire section before moving on to the next. 

Take your time when you vacuum a carpet, especially a plush carpet in which dirt is sure to be deeply embedded. One pass with a high-powered upright is not enough. Go over each section of carpeting several times, and work slowly to allow the suction to remove all the ground-in dust and dirt. 

Pay special attention to the entrance areas, traffic areas and where people sit and move their feet. Vacuum these areas of heavy traffic with a crisscross pattern of overlapping strokes. 

Soil retardants can be applied to new carpets or to newly cleaned carpets. Follow manufacturers' advice. Apply soil retardants only with professional equipment using the recommended application techniques. call carpet cleaning Nottingham 0115 9718323 for more details 

Add baking soda to the bag in your vacuum to help neutralise odours. 

Remember carpets should be cleaned before soiling becomes too apparent, manufacturers recommend carpets should be professionally cleaned every year to 18 months call a professional cleaning company such as S.P.carpet and upholstery care, carpet cleaning Nottingham 0115 9718323 carpet cleaning Derbyshire 01773 749003, carpet cleaning Derby 01332 565376

Treating spots and spills

Here's Rule No. 1 regarding spots and spills on your carpets: Clean them immediately. If you catch the spill when it's fresh, you've got a good chance of removing it totally. If you do not have the confidence to deal with the stain yourself call for professional guidance as soon as possible, 

Consider these tips, too:

· Carefully blot or scrape the entire area before applying any cleaning solution. Remove as much of the spill as possible. 

· Before using any cleaning solution, test your carpet in an inconspicuous area to make sure the cleaner won't damage or discolour it. 

· Do not rub the spill -- that might spread the problem to a larger area. 

· When you apply spot cleaner, work from the outside of the stain toward the inside to avoid spreading the stain. After applying a cleaning solution, blot up all the moisture. 

· A clean white towel is unsurpassed for drying carpet and brushing the nap back up to a standing position. 

· If you feel that there is still too much moisture after blotting the carpet, place a stack of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object.

· If the staining is still present call the professionals for further advice on

As a general cleaning agent for small spots and stains, mix a solution of 1/2 tsp mild liquid or soap flake laundry detergent and 500ml warm water. 

Do not rub the stain that might spread the problem to a larger area. 

· When you apply the spot cleaner, work from the outside of the stain toward the inside to avoid spreading the stain. After applying a cleaning solution, blot up all the moisture. 

Do not rub aggressively at stains this can damage the carpet pile, and never over wet with cleaning solutions, use lightly and repeat if necessary.

General household cleaning tips using safe natural solutions:

Bicarb

Bicarb breaks down grease and added to vinegar or lemon juice makes a mild abrasive cleaner.

Bicarb can also be used as deodoriser in fridges and dish washers as well as a water softener. 

Mix it with a bit of water to dissolve grease and grime. Bicarbonate of soda neutralises most strong odours. 

Use it dry on carpets to help absorb spills and lift out stains. 

Use to unblock drains, pour ample amounts down the plug hole and then pour vinegar over to loosen blockage or grease build-up follow with boiling water. 

Use on a damp cloth or sponge to remove stains on general surfaces. 

Bicarbonate of soda can also be sprinkled on carpets before vacuuming this will help freshen them up. 

If your grout is looking a bit grubby between the tiles, mix a small amount of Bicarbonate of Soda with a little distilled malt vinegar (the white one) to a smooth paste. Press into the grouted area and leave for 1 hour, scrub the paste out with a tooth brush, the results will amaze you.

Boost the performance of your liquid laundry detergent by adding a few tablespoons of baking soda. You can even skimp on the soap and save some money. The soda will also help brighten your whites more gently than bleach.

Make a paste of baking soda, salt and hot water for a great oven cleaner.

Lemon juice 

Use this to dissolve scum build-up, particularly in hard water areas. It can be mixed with bicarb to make a paste that will get rid of heavy staining from surfaces and is also useful as a bleaching agent.

Mix 250ml of olive oil with 125ml of lemon juice and pour into a spray bottle for furniture polish. Spray a little on and then rub it all over. The lemon juice cuts through the dirt and the olive oil gives it a nice shine. Buff with a dry cloth. 

Lemon juice is good for removing microwave smells - add a few slices of lemon to a bowl of water and microwave on high power for a couple of minutes. 

Mix some olive oil with lemon juice to make furniture polish. (Double amount of olive oil to lemon juice)

Vinegar 

White vinegar (white wine vinegar is best) can be used as an all-purpose general cleaner. It will clean and deodorise at the same time. 

Use vinegar to get rid of finger marks on stainless steel surfaces and kitchen utensils. 

Clean your windows with vinegar and water and polish with old news paper. 

Clean glass with vinegar and water.

Use mixed 50/50 with water and place in a spray bottle to use as a cleaner in your bathroom and kitchen. 

Put 25ml in your washing machine instead of softener. 

Use as a lime descaler. Soak cloths or paper towels in vinegar, wrap them around taps then cover with plastic bags and secure in place with elastic band, leave for a few hours this will loosen even heavy lime build-up. 

Remove sticky labels and glue just soak for a few min this will loosen making easy to remove

Make Your Own Natural Air Freshener 

Once you have carried out all your cleaning, you will want to create a nice relaxing atmosphere. Why not make your own Air-Freshener, much better than the toxic variety! Take a small spray bottle and fill with cold water. Add to this about 12 drops of Organic Lavender Oil or Citrus oil and a ¼ teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda, shake gently and spray.

Don’t use vinegar or lemon juice on limestone, marble or calculus surfaces 

Always test in an inconspicuous area first.