Archive for cleaning

How to remove gum from carpet

Anyone who has children old enough to chew gum has had to find out the hard way how that it sticks to hair, carpets, clothing, the inside of your dryer or some other place that you wouldn’t want gum. If you find yourself with gum stuck in your carpet there are several ways to remove this mess without ruining your carpet.

One popular way is by using a bag of ice to freeze the gum and then peel it neatly out of the carpet. This can be done by placing the ice on the gum for fifteen minutes or so to freeze it solid then the gum should peel away from the fibers. This might be a good method to start with since you’re not introducing any new liquids or products to the carpet to clean the gum from it.

A faster way to freeze the gum and remove it from your carpet is by using a can of air meant to clean your electronics. These cans are meant to be used right side up, but if you shake them or turn them upside down you will find they become cold. Turning the can upside down while spraying the gum will spray a shot of liquid onto the gum that freezes it instantly. Once the gum is frozen you can whack it with whatever is close by (hammer, umbrella handle, broom or whatever) so that it shatters into pieces and then you can vacuum it up or pick up the pieces.

Goo-Gone is a product you can purchase to remove gum and other sticky substances from your carpet and other furnishings. This is an oily product that cuts through the gum in no time. The stickiness is completely removed with a little rubbing.

If you don’t have any of these products and ice isn’t working for you, there is always peanut butter or shortening. These work on hair and on carpets. Putting a little oil in the gum and rubbing it in will help to break up the elasticity in the gum and it removes it. If you use this method you have to clean the area well immediately after getting the gum out of the carpet. Baby oil, vegetable oil, butter and any other oily substance works just as well. On the downside, this can also stain the carpet with the oils involved, so be very careful and make sure to test this in an inconspicuous area before you begin. Trading gum for an oil stain isn’t very helpful.

Some people have good results with steam. Using a high pressure steam cleaner can remove the gum and any stain that it might leave. If you are using a rented steam cleaner you may have to go over the area many times and in the end bend down and use your fingers to pick up the gum once it is loosened.

Scrubbing with multipurpose cleaners or a spray foam carpet cleaner can also work. Be careful when scrubbing, you don’t want to damage the carpet’s fibers when you are removing the gum.

Before trying any of these methods, make sure that the products you have chosen to use won’t damage the carpet. Test them on an inconspicuous area to find out if they will stain or damage the carpet fibre before going straight for the gum. Every carpet is different and will react differently to certain products. Take your time and be patient when trying to get the gum out, rushing will only make the mess bigger.
Visit us for more information on dry carpet cleaner machine, chemical carpet cleaning and dry carpet cleaning machine

Comments

How to not screw up when cleaning black mold

“There have been numerous times where as a black mold specialist, people tell me I used bleach to clean this black mold and it now comes back. So many of us seem to never be able to get rid of soap scum and black mold. ”

A word of caution:

Bleach is not the answer for cleaning black mold. While some misinterpret natural cleaning products and use bleach, they are simply in for some trouble. The truth is bleach will remove the black mold. Although, it will only remove this mold temporarily because of the DNA of the black mold is not been destroyed and that is just the beginning..

Besides cleaning the black mold you really must focus on preventing the mold from coming back. Mold and mildew are pretty toxic, thus natural cleaning products or “Green” products are being formulated to solve these problems with out needing to evacuate your home while cleaning it.

Believe it or not, most natural cleaning products are not really that strong. This is the challenge of natural cleaning products. But before I jump into details let me explain what happens when you do get the right solution that can remove mold and prevent in one single solution.

As you probably know Green cleaning products are an excellent alternative to a safe environment. What happens with powerful natural cleaning products is applying a liquid solution that can settle on the surface of the problematic area and at the same time destroy the DNA makeup of the mold. Then you can apply that same solution over the area again to use the solution as a safe shield to cover the surface and prevent future amplification. Since the solution is a natural cleaning solution you have the luxury of using it as a maintenance product in the home, not harming you, your children, or your pets.

Bottom line is you need to understand natural cleaning products and be sure to use what professionals are using to clean black mold and mildew. Most contractors may be using the wrong solution or too harsh of a chemical thus that is why you pay them the dollars needed to get the job done correctly.

At the moment you can research some natural cleaning products to help you in your battle with black mold and janitorial cleaning. Better yet you can try a product with a full guarantee. If the problem is black mold then be sure to attack the source, break up the DNA, and use a prevention method. This is truly the only way to rid your self of black mold. Always try to use green cleaning products when in your home so you do not pose a risk with your health and if the mold problem is large do look into a professional to consult with.
Discover a natural cleaning products for black mold that kills and prevents future breakouts of black mold by changing the DNA make up of the mold.
Educate yourself on black mold so you are safe from the spores creeping up on you.

Comments

How to remove sour milk stains

Don’t waste time crying over spilled milk!

Get to work quickly to blot up the excess and try to prevent it from being absorbed into the fabric and resulting in a stain.

If milk, milkshakes or ice cream is spilled on the carpet or furniture, grab some paper towels or very absorbent soft cotton rag. Blot up any that is still on the surface, and then press the paper towels or rags against it several times to bring out as much moisture as possible.

Any milk remaining in the material will spoil and you’ll be stuck with a foul odor for months so it’s important to act as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that milk, milk shakes and ice cream are organic and do not react favorably to cleansing agents with chemicals that may “cook” the milk right into the material you are trying to remove it from.

After you’ve blotted up as much as possible, grab a household sponge and wet it with clean, cold water. Apply the wet sponge over and over to the still wet stain, alternating with a clean paper towel.

Tips For Removing Milk Stains From Furniture

If the stained area is on a sofa or couch, it’s pretty difficult to get to the bottom of it. You can try using a wet-dry shop vacuum to remove as much moisture as possible from the padding. If this sounds like it might work (we don’t know what your situation is), flood the spot with clean cold water and allow it to penetrate for a few seconds - you be the judge. Then use the shop vacuum and suck up as much of the moisture as possible. Some steam cleaners also have wands or tools for upholstery. It’s worth a try to fill the reservoir with a cleaning solution or just plain cold water and go over the entire surface of the sofa, chair or carpet.

If the milk has spilled onto a scatter or throw rug, there’s not much of a problem unless the rug is too big to go into your washer or not made of washable material. However, in this case, we will assume you can throw the rug into the clothes washer. Fill the tub with cold water, soak for five or ten minutes, add detergent and allow it to go through a cycle. When the cycle is complete, take the rug out and examine it for staining. If it looks clean, go ahead and dry it as you normally would do.

Removing Ice Cream And Milkshake Stains

If the spill is from a milkshake or melted ice cream, it’s even more important to get at it right away with cold water. The sugar in the drink and ice cream makes a nasty, sticky mess and if it’s chocolate, it’s even worse.

Remember, milk is an organic product. Organic stains respond well to organic cleaners and brighteners. I often take garments out of the washer and don’t put them into the dryer at all. I hang them outdoors where the sun can draw the stain out and dry the material at the same time.

If the stain is stubborn, you may also sprinkle a little lemon juice on the stain while the fabric is still wet. Then go ahead and lay it where the sun can reach it. The lemon juice and sun together will lighten and brighten most organic stains unless they are old or have already been treated with a chemical that has cooked it into the fabric.

Another nice thing about using lemon juice is the fact that it acts as a nice deodorizer at the same time. Removing and Treating Sour Milk Odors

Speaking of deodorizer, another method that works well in some cases is using baking soda.

1. Blot excess milk with a sponge or paper towel.

2. Sprinkle baking powder on the stained area.

3. Using a small spray bottle of water, lightly mist the baking powder making sure it absorbs the water.

4. Allow the wet baking powder to dry overnight.

5. When it has completely dried, scrape off the excess; using a small brush, give it a light brushing to loosen the rest of the baking soda.

6. Vacuum the whole area.

7. If the stain remains, treat with lemon juice.

8. Allow the lemon juice to remain for about 15 minutes.

9. Then spray with water and blot with a paper towel

Comments

How to remove wax from carpet

Wax can easily get into your carpet. Those times when you light up candles for birthdays, romantic dinners, anniversaries, special get-togethers and a host of other occasions are times when your carpets become victim to wax. Unless you know how to remove candle wax from carpet each time, don’t expect your carpet to remain looking nice and new.

You can use two techniques to remove wax from carpets: the icing technique and the scraping technique.

The Icing Technique

It can be a fun activity although I wouldn’t advice you take this on as hobby. For the icing technique, you’ll have to completed freeze the wax. As soon as you see wax on your carpet, take some ice cubes, put them in a plastic bag and place them over the wax. The ice cubes will make the wax harden and become even more solid.

After a few minutes, you can pick open the hardened wax with a blunt object. Do this to loosen up the wax. Next, vacuum over the carpet, making sure that waxy debris is removed from the carpet. If the vacuum doesn’t completely take off the wax, you can scrape the remaining wax with a blunt object. Do not use scissors, knives or sharp objects as they can damage the carpet fiber.

The Hot Iron Technique

You’ll need the following: alcohol, clean rags, rolls of paper, irons, sponges and putty knife. First, begin scraping off the bigger chunks of wax on your carpet. Next, place a sheet of paper over the remaining wax on the carpet. Gently sweep a hot iron across the paper. The wax should melt and attach itself onto the paper. Gently lift the paper. If you see a stain on the carpet, dab some alcohol on the spot and the stain should be gone.

Comments

How to clean a hardwood floor

Home floor cleaning is probably on your mind if you’ve recently moved into a new home with hardwood floors, or renovated your existing home’s floors. Unlike carpeting, which is simple to clean and maintain, hardwood floors do require a bit more care. Fortunately, once you learn how to properly maintain your hardwood floors you will be able to look forward to years of easy care with stunning results.

The first thing you will need to do before cleaning is to figure out what kind of floor you have. If you are lucky to have a new sealed floor, it is probably a surface sealed floor which requires relatively little care. If your floor is older, it is probably a penetrating seal treated floor. This type of floor needs more involved care with waxes and oils.

For cleaning hardwood floors, in the case of a surface sealed floor, you merely need to mop using a product recommended by your flooring manufacturer. Products like Oil Soap solution (which don’t generally contain oil) are usually safe. A damp mop and a little soap are often also safe for this type of floor. Make sure to dry the floor completely when you’re done, since sitting water can damage a surface sealed floor.

If you have a penetrating seal treated floor, you will not be able to mop with water-based products. Instead, for routine cleanings, you can simply sweep or vacuum your floor. Every once in a while, for a deeper cleaning, you will need to strip the old wax coating and apply a new one. You can do this once or twice a year, if you like.

Use a stripper, and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Allow the hardwood floor to dry and try to ensure proper ventilation. Then purchase a product for waxing your floor that is approved by your floor manufacturer. Follow directions and apply one or two coats, or as many as desired.

The final - and most important - step is applying a hardwood floor buffer. This process is necessary to allow the wax to properly sink in and seal the floor, as well as to achieve a beautiful shine. Most people opt to rent or purchase a hardwood floor buffer machine, since it makes the job much easier. You may be interested in knowing that by purchasing the hardwood floor buffer machine, it will pay for itself after just three to four cleanings!
Visit us for more information on how to install hardwood floors, tips for refinishing wooden floors and how to install bamboo hardwood floors.

Comments

How to make carpet cleaner at home

Be aware that like floors, carpets will receive a lot of abuse over the course of its life. Dust, dirt, stains, spills, pet urine and similar stuff are going to adversely affect the way your carpet looks as well as determine how long it lasts before you have to replace it with an entirely new one. In reality, many of the carpet problems you’ll face are near impossible to avoid. However, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t do anything to keep your carpet clean and looking nice.

You may be worried that it’s going to cost you a lot of money to maintain and clean your carpet. On the contrary, you can make it yourself and save a ton of money in the process.

-Making Your Own Natural Carpet Cleaner

You can make this particular homemade cleaner quite easily. All you need are the following ingredients: baking powder, corn flour, dried bay leaves and potpourri.

In container, mix 1/2lb backing powder with up to 3.5-oz. corn flour. Crumble the dried bay leaves before adding them into the mixture. Add a handful of potpourri to give your natural carpet cleaner a fresh smell. Cover the container and shake the mixture thoroughly.

Apply some of the powder onto the stained area and leave it overnight. Wipe off the powder the next day and then vacuum to make sure no residue remains in the carpet.

-Making Your Own Homemade Carpet Shampoo

To make this particular homemade carpet cleaner, the ingredients you need are: 1/2 cup cleaner liquid (no bleach), 1/2 cup Downy, 1 cup ammonia, and 1 gallon of water. Mix the ingredients together. Scrub the solution over the stained areas of your carpet. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. If residues form overnight, vacuum over the area.

-Making Your Own Homemade Spot Remover

You can easily and quickly remove small spots on your carpet with the help of this easy to make homemade spot remover. You need three ingredients, which you should already have in your kitchen: vinegar, water and baking soda.

Mix the vinegar and baking soda. Dilute the vinegar-baking soda solution with some water before applying it on your carpet. Scrub the solution over the spot using a small brush (e.g., old toothbrush). The vinegar works to dissolve the stain while the baking soda works to clean up the stain.
Niv Orlian is an experienced Home Improvement Adviser who writes articles for his Flooring & Carpet Cleaning online guides.

Comments