As dedicated professional cleaners, Wizard knows the importance of cleaning and caring for your carpet. This is why we use only the best method for carpet cleaning and provide you with resources to help you care for your carpet in between professional cleanings. In this article, we provide you a guide to carpet cleaning, with useful cleaning tips and practical information about carpet cleaning.
General carpet cleaning tips
Carpeting is an investment that not only creates a beautiful and comfortable living space for you and your family, but it also adds value to your home. Unfortunately, our carpets can experience wear and tear especially if we have a big, active family or if we keep pets inside the home. Here are some carpet cleaning and care tips that can help extend the life of your carpet.
Keep the dirt outside the home – If possible, remove shoes when entering the house or use indoor slippers. Our shoes carry dirt, which when tracked onto a carpet eventually sifts down to the carpet backing and grinds away at the fibres, wearing it out. If leaving shoes outside the house is not possible, use entry or door mats to help minimise the dirt coming into the house.
Cover main walkways – Use area rugs and runners to cover the main walkways in your home such as the hallway or the stairs. Having these on top of the carpet can protect the fibres from wearing down.
Vacuum regularly – When it comes to carpet cleaning, don’t neglect vacuuming your carpet. With an active family, you should vacuum two to three times a week. Aim for 4-6 passes in high traffic areas and 2-3 passes in low traffic areas.
How to clean spills on your carpet
Most of us may be inclined to spot-clean carpet stains ourselves. This is completely fine, but be careful using commercial cleanings agents such as carpet cleaning foams. If not tested before hand, carpet cleaning foams can cause discolouration and soiling of your carpets. When spot-cleaning, we recommend using the following items you already have in your pantry, that are safe and effective in cleaning carpet stains.
Baking soda – Extremely helpful in cleaning up spills on your carpet, pour a little onto the fresh spill, don’t soak it, and leave for a minute or so – it will bubble and foam. Use a sponge to remove the baking soda and spill from the carpet, make sure that you get it all. But don’t use too much backing soda or leave it for too long on the carpet as it can cause a stain!
Ice cubes – These are an easy fix to get chewing gum off your carpet. Get ice cubes from your freezer and apply them to the gum. The gum should freeze in around 30 seconds. Once the gum is solid, lift it off the carpet with a spoon. Gently cut any strands of carpet that are attached to the gum as close to the gum as you can.
Dishwashing detergent – Grease on your carpet can be cleaned using a dishwashing detergent. Add some dishwashing liquid to a spray bottle and apply to the stain. Blot it up with a clean cloth. For large stains, repeat the process until the area is clean.
Heat – Candle wax spilled on your carpet? Place a white towel over the wax (coloured towels can bleed colour onto your carpet when heated) and use your iron over the wax (no more than 30 seconds otherwise you may burn your carpet) to heat it up. When the wax has melted, remove it with the blunt side of a knife. Then lay paper towel on the wax and apply the iron and the remaining wax should attach to the paper, repeat this process until all the wax is removed.
Salt – Red wine is a common spill especially if you enjoy entertaining. Straight after the spill blot the liquid up as much as you can. Add a small amount of cold water to dilute the wine and blot again. Once you have removed as much liquid as possible cover the entire spill with salt. The salt absorbs the liquid over time and will change to a pinkish colour. Remove the excess salt and vacuum the area.
How to remove common office carpet stains
Most of us treat our workplace as our second home, which is why it’s helpful to know how to remove common office stains in order to maintain the cleanliness of our workplace. Here are some common office carpet stains and how you can remove them:
Coffee stains – Blot with clean and dry cloth. Press the cloth with your palm and don’t rub the spot. Leave the cloth so it can absorb a significant amount of liquid. Put 1/4 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to a cup of lukewarm water, and then blot the stain from the edge of the spot inward. If the stain is still visible, repeat blot-drying technique using the solution.
Food grease stains – Pick traces of food solids using a spoon and avoid rubbing them on the carpet. Next, dampen a clean white cloth with a one cup of lukewarm water and a cup of vinegar. Blot the area dry using the palm of your hand. Repeat blotting but be sure to use a new clean cloth.
Ink stains – Get a dry cloth and blot the spot with spilled ink. Be sure not to rub so as not to spread the ink. Dampen the clean dry cloth into a dishwashing liquid solution. Then, blot the spot from outside-in with the liquid then blot dry with another dry cloth. Pen ink stains cause severe carpet staining, so best to call a professional carpet cleaner right away.
The three different types of soiling and how to clean them
The type of soiling will determine how deeply it embeds itself into the fibers of your rugs and carpets. Each type will require a different approach to carpet cleaning. Here are our tips on how to remove carpet spots and stains based on their type of soiling.
Insoluble spots and stains – Insoluble soiling is the most common spot type, and the harshest on your floors. Since they are dry in nature and more particle like, the soiling works against your carpet fibres and weakens them. Insoluble dirt include sand, hair, grit and so on.
How to clean insoluble spots and stains – This is the easiest stain type to remove with regular vacuum cleaning, and by regular we mean at least 3 times a week. If the spot is stubborn, there are general cleaners that can be used or simple spot removal home grown methods such as detergent and warm water or vinegar and water.
Water soluble spots and stains – This includes a range of protein based materials such as egg, general food spills, mud, bodily soils and blood to name a few.
How to clean water soluble spots and stains – Detergents or enzyme based stain removers are most suited for protein based spots. These spots do not need to be dried with heat because heat will cause the spot to stick to the fibres as opposed to removing them. Read the instructions carefully and be sure the spot is completely remove before allowing the area to dry. Remember to always blot the spot with a paper or non-coloured towel, working your way from the edges of the spot into the middle.
Solvent soluble spots and stains – These are oily and/or greasy, and will repel against water based cleaning agents. These soils will settle into the carpet fibres faster than other spot types.
How to clean solvent soluble spot and stains – Such spot types require a more organic solvent as the spot needs to be broken down, dissolved and then removed. To avoid any harm to the carpet fibres when attempting to remove the spot, be sure to apply your solvent to a paper towel and blot from the outside of the spot into the middle. In most cases here, clean the spot as best as you can and be sure to book your professional carpet cleaner.
What is steam carpet cleaning?
When it comes to professional carpet cleaning, steam carpet cleaning is a cleaning method favoured by many carpet manufacturers, as less harsh chemicals are used and therefore less damaging to the carpet fibres. This method will also prolong the life of the carpets and invigorate the appearance.
Steam carpet cleaning, or hot water extraction, is a deep clean of carpets. This method not only removes stains but also dust, allergens and bacteria and odours trapped in the carpet fibres. Upon entering a home or business, professional carpet cleaners like the Wizard team inspects carpets. Stain pre-treatment is applied to soiled areas and high traffic areas if any are discussed with the customer and then the cleaning process takes place.
Carpets vary so different pressures and temperatures are applied for each carpet. Depending on the size of the job, the process does not take too long. Carpets are left looking fresh and hygienically clean and the property smells great.
Most real estate agents request this method of cleaning on vacates. This method is also recommended for businesses. It not only gives a warm welcoming feel but also limits allergies, respiratory problems, or itchy watery eyes that can affect employees.
How often should you have your carpets steam cleaned? In general, you should have your carpets professionally cleaned every 12 months. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, Australian Standard 3733 recommends carpets in domestic premises be professionally maintained every 12 months at a minimum.
Secondly, and probably to be in line with Australian Standards, most quality carpet manufacturers also recommend professional cleaning at least every 12 months to meet warranty requirements. When your carpets are cleaned regularly, it prolongs carpet life.
If you have children or pets at home, you will need to have your carpet professionally steam cleaned more frequently, every 6 to 9 months.
Wizard is a professional cleaning company that offers steam carpet cleaning, couch and mattress cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and duct cleaning. We are a family owned business and do not outsource any work. Working in teams of two, we only use eco-friendly, pet-friendly, and child-friendly products in our cleaning services.
We are passionate about the work we do and we value our customers, providing them with tips on how to care for their carpets upon completion of work. Call us on 0438 554 830 and book our professional cleaning services for a thoroughly clean and healthy home.