Monday, April 18, 2011

Spot Removal in Carpet and Upholstry

It's that one little spot...you know the one that you just can't get clean. You've tried powders, shampoos, and myriad other solutions. Here, I will discuss ways to spot clean those small areas that appear hopeless.

First, if possible, you need to know what is causing the stain. Most of the products you buy at the store will easily, and effectively clean pet stains, wine, food, and plain dirt. Hydrogen Peroxide based cleaners (think Oxy Clean etc) will work best on organic stains such as grass, wine, and pet stains. Detergent based products work well on dirt and other general stains.

If you have really tough stains like ink, try Go-Jo or similar hand cleaners. Believe it or not, they are phenomenal at removing grease, oil and ink based stains. You will have to carefully rinse and blot several times but they will do the trick. The only drawback, is that it can lighten fabric that isn't color fast. It's generally a good idea to try it out on a small inconspicuous area when you can.

Believe it or not, a lot of stubborn or recurring stains, are caused by having too much soap (carpet shampoo) in the fabric. Soaps work, because they attract dirt. If you don't get the fabric thoroughly rinsed after cleaning, the left over surficants will continue to attract dirt. The stain will remain after cleaning, and may even darken over time.

The best solution in these cases is to gently rub the area with a damp sponge or cloth, then blot dry. Repeat this process until the stain is gone. If it's really bad, you can try using a soft scrub brush to help loosen the soil. Be very careful not to rub too hard or you will damage the threads in the fabric.

If you've tried all these and the spot still remains, you have one trick left before shelling out the money for a professional. STEAM! Steam is the trick the pros use to deep clean fabric. Caution is advised here, because you can easily burn yourself or damage your fabric.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

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