Infloormation

From time to time, we will be sharing expert advice from our own Bill Gamsby. Bill is a master cleaner registered with IICRC and currently is a salesman for The Carpet Barn (www.cbarn.com) His experience includes previously owning his own carpet cleaning business for 16 years. He still does this from time to time to stay in practice and stay up to date on cleaning and new developments. Because he likes people so much and enjoys solving problems, he plans to share his expert advice that he’s learned over the years in order to help the readers of Infloormation!

Here’s his first advice on how to get chewing gum out of carpet:

1. Put an ice cube on the gum for 5 minutes.  (This will harden the gum so you can hit it with a table knife handle and  break it up. Once it is broken into smaller pieces the back of a table knife works well. Firmly slide the knife across the effected area always going the same direction. DO NOT try to cut the gum out.

If you didn’t get all of the gum out:

2. Now reach for the peanut butter jar.  Place a 1/2 tsp of peanut butter on the gum, let it sit for 20 minutes.  This will soften the gum and
dissolve it.  Using a clean white cotton rag, gently pick up the peanut butter.  Usually the gum comes with it.  If not, squeese each remaining fiber that has gum on it with the rag and slide the rag up the fiber starting as close to the base as possible.
3. To remove the peanut butter residue. Have Fido lick it:)  Seriously,  put 1/2 tsp of dawn (or other mild liquid detergent)  into a cup of cold water, dip a clean rag into the mixture and gently message the peanut butter out of the carpet.  DO NOT RUB! This creates heat and distorts the carpet fibers.  Treat your carpet as though it were your skin. Go one direction carefully then go another direction carefully. I usually take 3-4 strokes per direction.  The detergent mixture will remove the oils and residue from the peanut butter.
TaDa…. no gum!

We hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day yesterday!  Just in case some delicious chocolate was dropped on the floor, here’s a few tricks to getting it out of the carpet!

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together.  Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.)  Care should be used in selecting a detergent.  Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution.  It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change.  Be sure to test a hidden area.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills.  Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.  Carpet & Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846

This room is well proportioned with a powerful focal point in the floor-to-ceiling fireplace and surround. The window to the right with its dramatic fabric treatment also carries the space well, and the taller tree connects the ceiling with the rest of the room.

Is this enough to link that high vault to the rest of the room? It seems that although the room is beautifully decorated, there is a sense of unevenness created by the strong emphasis on the lower part of the space. The large expanses of white wall to either side of the fireplace diminish the power of the ceiling’s reach.

What changes could the homeowner make to help link the ceiling more effectively with the rest of the room? One option involves bringing those lower colors up by painting the back wall in a mid-range tone captured from the furniture such as a dusty rose or soft green. Adding artwork further up the walls could also strengthen the connection of all the elements in the room.

A vaulted ceiling offers a design opportunity as well as its own design challenges for a homeowner, from selecting just the right window treatments to addressing how to make the whole space work together. But many people feel that the added advantages of elegance and spaciousness offered with a raised ceiling is worth the extra effort.

Are you one of those people who plan ahead? If so, you are probably starting to prepare your calendar for 2011. By writing in birthdays for family and friends, anniversaries and any special holidays, you can be prepared for every event.

As you plan for next year, you may want to consider including your home on your calendar. How about scheduling any special requirements such as sealing stone floors or granite countertops? Do you have your carpets cleaned quarterly? Why not choose dates that will work well for your schedule and pre-plan? For example, you may want to schedule one of those carpet cleaning appointments after your son’s 6^th birthday party.

When you make those home maintenance appointments, add in your contact names and phone numbers so that it’s even easier to call and schedule events as they appear in your calendar.

Once you have everything planned, you can relax with the realization that you are ready for the New Year, and don’t have to worry about remembering your home responsibilities. Let your calendar take care of that for you and enjoy 2011!

After a professional carpet cleaning, a successful end result depends on you managing the drying process. Particularly in the winter, it can be challenging to get your carpet dry quickly, but delays can lead to problems with mold. A few simple steps will keep your drying process straightforward.

Turn your heating system fan from auto to on. Your goal is to ventilate the house and get the humidity out. You may also want to turn on any bathroom or kitchen fans that vent to the outside. Turning the heat up a few degrees will also speed the drying process. If it’s warm enough, open some windows – not energy efficient, but your goal is to get the carpet dry.

Turn on all ceiling fans, and position any portable fans you have on areas not reached by your ceiling blowers. If you rented a professional fan, start it on a broad area, and move it around over the rest of the day. Press your hand hard on the carpeting to see if an area is dry.

If you have pets that like the furniture, cover any upholstery with towels to avoid wet paw prints on your sofa.

Any transition from carpeting to a hard surface can be slippery, because the water migrates to those areas. Wet shoes can also make you slip when you move to tile or other hard surfaces from the damp carpet. Make sure to dry those areas off and place a towel or rug at thresholds to keep you and family members safe.

Your carpet should be pretty dry by the evening, or the next day at the latest. Then you are free to enjoy your new-looking flooring!

As you prepare for the holidays, now is a good time to have your carpeting cleaned. A good professional cleaning every 3-6 months, depending upon traffic, helps keep carpeting in good shape and looking new. Here are a few steps to take before you bring in a professional cleaner so that the process goes well.

Find a reputable firm: Recommendations from friends and a check with the better business bureau is strongly advised when having your carpets cleaned. See how long they’ve been in business, and what type of equipment they use. The best option is a truck-mounted deep steam cleaning system without soap, which can make a carpet dirty faster afterwards. Also, ask if they have professional blowers to help dry your carpet – many cleaning companies have those available for a nominal fee, and it makes drying your carpeting faster and easier.

Prepare your home for the cleaning: Remove all light pieces of furniture to locations with no carpet. Take breakables off any pieces too heavy to move. Pick up any fabric-based items such as curtains so that they don’t get wet (Either pin them up or lightly tie them to lift them off the floor. For any wood pieces too heavy to lift, place doubled-up wax paper squares under the legs – the wood coloring can come off on the damp carpet and cause a permanent stain.

If you have spots that you are concerned about, make sure to note them and point them out to the cleaner so that they are not missed. Some spots – particularly red ones – may not be removable by the cleaning firm.

Place pets in a separate room before the carpet cleaner comes. The equipment can scare your animals and the cleaner may be uncomfortable around your pets. Also, generally the front door stays open during the cleaning, allowing pets to slip out.

Finally, if you are happy with the work, let the cleaner know, and keep track of the company the next time you need your carpets cleaned.

It’s getting close to that time of year! Pumpkin carving time!! This year, before you get started – take a few moments to bookmark or print this page so that in the event that you have a pumpkin mess during your carving, you won’t have to worry.

Below are some easy to follow instructions for removal of pumpkin stains from carpet.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

When in doubt , Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.

Would you like to keep your floors looking new and limit carpet cleaning to once a year or less? Consider taking a no-shoes approach for family and guests. This is common in Japan, where many traditional homes require family and friends to leave their shoes at the door. Here in the U.S., it’s rare but still a good way to keep more dirt, germs and allergens outside.

If you would like to try this, plan on a few adjustments to make your no-shoes policy work well for visitors. Take a look at your main entryway. If possible, plan to include a bench for removing and replacing shoes, a shelf for slippers and shoe cubbies to hold guest footwear.

Give guests a heads up when you invite them over, so that they have an opportunity to pre-select the best footwear for their visit. You can encourage people to bring their own slippers if they choose, but let them know that you have a good selection of machine-washable slippers if they prefer not to wander your home in just socks.

It may take a while to get all family members to adjust to a shoeless home, but having a place to put their shoes by the door will help. When you invite guests, make sure you and your family members are also shoe free.

As people leave your home, be sure to thank them for supporting your no shoe home. You may find that many people actually enjoy attending events in your home wearing only socks or slippers, and you will have cleaner, nicer floors.

Before Valentine’s Day gets here…….we want to let you know that if you are the lucky recipient of a box of chocolates you don’t have to worry if some of it ends up on the floor! Below are some easy tips on how to remove chocolate stains from your carpet.

Easy instructions for how to remove chocolate stains:

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Not sure? Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846

Happy Valentines Day!