Carpet Cleaning Services in Indianapolis - Removing Stains
Installing great-looking flooring in your house, condo, or apartment can really add elegance, class, and style to any Indianapolis home or office. However, spill a cup of juice or coffee (or worse case is if you notice the pee from your dog that was deposited a few days ago) on that new plush and you'll understand how the professionals make their living and earn their keep. Let's put it this way, you won't call it classy or elegant again until those stains are permanently removed, and the stench is gone. Stains and carpets just don't really go well together, do they? It's worse than an oil and water mixture because with that combination, they at least separate into two distinctive liquids. Stains and spills are just put a blemish on an otherwise fine floor.But the truth is - and you probably know this already - professional floor cleaners really make their job look incredibly easy when they do it well. Most professionals from athletes to service employees are like this (then when you try to replicate what they do, you wonder why it takes so much out of you and is difficult). But if you've ever tried to get out a spot, you'll realize that hiring a professional to get that blemish out is well worth the money spent. They know the flooring types and piles, stain characteristics, and what cleansers work well with both. Like any good professional, when they do their job correctly, it looks easy. And don't forget about the smells that can accompany some of those stains (think urine and other nasty odors). Those need to be eliminated too.
There are five overall types of stains: pet (most likely to cause odor), tea and coffee, grease and oil, messy juice, and food-related spills that lead to near-permanent spots.
So, when's the best time to wipe up and annihilate that nasty-looking stain? Glad you asked. Many professionals in the business will tell you that the absolute best time to deal with a spilled stain is moments after it occurs. (Actually, it's best not to make the stain in the first place but that's not the point, is it?) The drier the stain gets, the more difficult it is to remove. It makes sense if you think about it (but doesn't make sense at all if you don't think about it). As the liquid dries, it sticks to the pile fiber and solidifies. Hardens. Ultimately it could become a permanent stain, but rug care professionals around the country all know there really is no such thing as a permanent stain, unless of course the carpet has been charred or burned. Then replacing the flooring is the only solution.
Indianapolis Carpet Cleaning Services
The first step you need to take in eliminating a stain is to remove the excess liquid or solid from the pile. Why? You don't want the excess liquid to spread to other parts of the floor. If the stain is solid, such as food or pet feces stains), get rid of the solid particles. In the case of dog or cat feces, get the substance as far from your nose as possible - but you knew this already! If the stain was caused by a liquid and is still wet, simply blot over it with paper towels or with an absorbent cloth towel. Don't rub it; just blot at it. Turn the towel over and blot some more. You want as much liquid and solid removed as possible. That's the first and most important step.
There are a number of brand-name detergent solutions on the consumer market that can tackle and virtually eliminate these stains nicely, There are also relatively inexpensive home-made solutions such as laundry soap, white vinegar, and ammonia solutions. Be careful, though, when working with ammonia because mixing that with bleach can cause you to get very ill in a hurry. I know about that from personal experience, and what a fool I was too. You just do not want to mix the two (I know, bleach wasn't one of the ingredients but it doesn't hurt to be cautious nonetheless). You will also want to test apply your detergent solution in a small inconspicuous place...just in case. I do not have the mixture ratios at my disposal right now but be sure to mix it with hot water. Again, you'll need to blot blot blot. Your best bet between a home grown solution and something that is on the shelves at your supermarket, get the ready-made solution. Why? It's been tried and tested for great results. There is a risk you can damage your carpet if you don't know what you're doing with the home made stuff.After blotting the stain, let it dry thoroughly, and vacuum it right up. That should prevent any stains from permanently sticking to your carpet. The alternative and probably the best way is to call the nice technicians at most industry stores. They also perform cleaning and restoration services on oriental rugs, vacuum out dryer vents, and much more. They'll drop by and help you with your blemish. They can also help you clean your entire home from tile and grout to your Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. They will make their tasks look easy.
Of course when you are using chemicals on your flooring, you should always spot test first in an inconspicuous area. That way if the chemical discolors the material, you'll only be a little upset about it because it was in an out of the way location. Otherwise you'll be kicking yourself and beating yourself up for the next few months or until you finally figure out that you need to install new carpeting. On the other hand, your wife may be calling the replacement people within the hour of your "smarter than the rug people" cleaning. Of course, if you would have called the right professionals when you first thought about it, you wouldn't be in this jam. But, it does make a great story to tell later, doesn't it?
