Before Buying a Carpet Steam Cleaner, Read This

If you have pets or kids, you probably need to clean your carpet a lot. If you're tired of renting carpet steam cleaners from a grocery store, then you should think about buying your own.purchase though. This article will tell you everything you need to know about a carpet steam cleaner.

Power

You may be tempted to run out and buy the most powerful carpet steam cleaner you can find. Instead of doing that, you need to look for a balance between power and handling. Your powerful carpet steam cleaner will be useless if you can't even maneuver it around the room. Try to find a cleaner that is light yet has enough power to clean your carpets well.

Brushes

Carpet steam cleaners use rotating brushes to get dirt out of the carpet. Most cleaners come with four to six brushes. The more brushes your carpet steam cleaner has, the easier it will be to clean your carpet well. Just remember that those extra brushes require more money.

Design

Like vacuums, all carpet steam cleaners come in canister or upright form. If you need to clean large areas, then you should choose an upright. The downside is that they are usually heavier. You should opt for a canister carpet steam cleaner if you're only cleaning a small area or interior of your car.

Tank

Carpet steam cleaners have a tank filled with hot water and a cleaning solution. The tanks on upright cleaners only hot a gallon of the two. Canisters will hold more than that, but the downside is that the water will cool down much faster. If you buy a canister design, make sure to choose one that has a water heater. Also, you should consider getting a carpet steam cleaner that has two separate tanks for the water and solution. This will keep the cleaning solution from mixing with the dirty water.

Accessories

If you want to use your carpet steam cleaner to do extra stuff, you will need a few accessories. If you want to clean furniture and stairs with it, you will need to buy the upholstery and stair attachments. You can also get auto cleaning tools or a bare floor attachment so you can clean hardwood floors.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Tips for Keeping Your Carpets Clean

Have you wondered why one person’s carpet stays clean with three kids and numerous pets and another’s looks like a battleground of grime, Kool-aid, and odors? It might be because one of these people understands that to keep your carpets clean and fresh, you have to act before the accidents. There are a number of preventative measures for keeping your carpets clean, even if you have four kids, two dogs, and a cat.

No Shoes

This one rule can make all the difference in the livelihood of your carpet. Too often, we start with good intentions-we will ensure the no shoes rule all the time. But laziness tends to set in, and before you know it, everyone is traipsing on your nice clean carpet with their nice, grimy shoes. It’s simple—enforce the no shoes rule at all times and your carpet will remain permanently cleaner.



Avoid Food

Another common sense rule, but nevertheless important, is a no-food-on-the-carpet rule. Understandably, this rule is harder to enforce if you have kids, but do your best. Food and liquids, in addition to pets, are your carpet’s worst nightmare.

Vacuum

Vacuum at least once a week, but preferably more. This keeps dirt and dust from building up, and has the added advantage of keeping dust allergies at bay. Remember to vacuum beneath your furniture as well.

Steam Clean

Steam cleaning your carpets is great way to ensure their longetivity. Hire professionals or rent a steam cleaner every four to six months, depending on the state of your carpet. Shop around if you’re worried about price, because price ranges can differ dramatically for the same service..

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Clean Carpets with Homemade Environmentally Friendly Solutions

Cleaning your carpet does not have to cost a lot of money nor does it have to entail using harsh, toxic chemicals in your home. In fact, it does not have to mean using any special store bought rug cleaning homemade environmentally safe solutions to clean my home for years now because I am against animal testing for household products and deeply connected to the environment. Over the years, I learned how to safely and inexpensively clean my home. Because of this, I know my family, pets, and the Earth are all the better for it!

Clean Your Carpet the Simple, Cheap, and Environmentally Safe Way!

1. Vacuum. This is the first step to take in cleaning any carpet. Vacuuming picks up dirt traces and dust mites that "wet cleaning" can not do. Consider vacuuming at least twice a week.

2. Freshen Your Carpet. This will help eliminate most carpet odors and help keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

Carpet Freshener: Pour baking soda on your carpet. Let stand for at least ten minutes before vacuuming. (If you have the time, leave it on for an hour. You will notice more of a dramatic difference this way.) What some fragrance with it? Try mixing baking soda with ground cinnamon and cloves and sprinkle the mixture on your carpet. You can also try adding a few drops of lavender oil to the baking soda before sprinkling it onto your carpet. Again, let stand at least ten minutes before vacuuming.

3. Spot Clean. If you have problem areas such as a spill, stain, or smear, spot clean them with a damp cloth/paper towel. Use a spoon to scoop up any sticky debris. Then, using this mixture below, apply it to a damp cloth and soak the area/areas. Allow to soak for at least ten minutes. After time has elapsed, continue to wipe with a damp cloth/paper towels until the stain is gone.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell Proheat 2X Steam Cleaner Product Review

The Bissell Proheat 2X Steam Cleaner is part of a line of Bissell floor cleaning appliances. The Bissell steam cleaner is a great machine for keeping the carpets in a home clean and stain free for years.use, works wonders and has many valuable features. This machine is an excellent product for any household, especially those with children.

Bissell Steam Cleaner Features: The Bissell Steam cleaner features a 12 AMP motor which powers the machine and creates some seriously strong suction. For ultimate floor cleaning, the Bissell steam cleaner heats the water in the machine to an astonishing 25 degrees hotter than the tap water that you place in the machine. The hot water really helps to remove those tough stains on the carpets.

The Bissell steam cleaner has numerous cleaning brushes and attachments. From the dual floor cleaning brush, the powerlifter stair cleaning brush, the scotch guard applicator, and the bare floor attachment there is basically an attachment for every type of fabric cleaning. The Bissell steam cleaner makes it easy to clean upholstery, carpets, rugs, and bare floors all with one machine.

Bissell Steam Cleaner Quality: The Bissell steam cleaner is a very high quality product. The machine comes with a one year manufacturer warranty and is very well built. The entire Bissell steam cleaner is built with very strong plastic that is durable enough to withstand very tough cleaning. The Bissell steam cleaner is comparable to a professional type carpet cleaner and truly makes carpet cleaning simple.

With the Bissell steam cleaner there is no need to pay costly fees to a professional carpet cleaning company to clean your carpets annually to maintain the warranty. The Bissell steam cleaner is recognized as a professional tool to many carpet manufacturers and using the Bissell steam cleaner will not void the warranty that you have on your carpet like some machines will.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Most Effective Methods of Carpet Cleaning Spot and Stain Removal

There are so many different carpet cleaning products on the market it is difficult to know which is most effective. At costs ranging from a couple dollars to twenty on up the test run method adds up products and have great news for you; the most effective method I have found is also the cheapest! After having a carpeted dining room with three small children, I can assure you that I've used more products for stain treatment than I care to admit.

Steam Cleaners:

Perhaps you've already invested in a carpet "steam cleaner". If you have limited time and the budget for it I highly suggest Hoover. I had previously owned a Bissell Steam Cleaner and the day the warranty ran out it literally fell apart. It was very touchy and has a price tag a hundred or so over the Hoover models on the market. If you're not prepared to go that route effective carpet cleaning can be done without it, but be prepared for a bit of elbow grease. Either way always work with the hottest water possible when cleaning the carpets. It tends to bring up more dirt.

When it comes to the steam cleaner don't expect miracles. Do expect wet carpet and some spendy solution to be marketed as the only product that can be used in it. That's simply untrue. You can use just about anything. The most effective pre-made I've purchased is called Kids and Pets and can be put in the water holding tank just as the brand name solutions. It's also an effective spot cleaner for the most part; although there is something better and I will get to that. I've even used Pinesol to steam clean tile floors- worked beautifully!

Alternative to Steam Cleaners:

Best cheap alternative is a good old scrub brush. I prefer a flat backed wooden hard bristled brush for the job. You will also need a small pitcher of hot water and a bucket of water with the cleaning solution. Towels, or better yet white dish rags, are also a must. An old Shout bottle or other bottle that is able to spray thicker solutions is a handy tool as well.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Easiest Do it Yourself Upholstery Steam Cleaning

Once a year or more, I steam clean my upholstery to keep it fresh and looking good. When I had two cats, it was especially important because they were allowed outdoors and even kitty litter can leave several hand steam cleaners that got clogged with cat hair or were awkward to use, I tried a new method that worked well and with far less effort. Try these upholstery steam cleaning tips to maintain your upholstery fresh and clean.

Steam Cleaning Upholstery Supplies

· Black and Decker Wet/Dry Vacuum with wet intake filter

· Rug Doctor or Bissell Steam Cleaning Solution

· Rug Doctor Spot Removal Solution

· Rug Doctor Pet Odor Removal Solution

· Scrub brush

· Bucket (preferably with pouring spout)

· Vacuum

Steam Cleaning Upholstery Preparation

Before steam cleaning your upholstery, vacuum and clean the area that you will work in as well as the furniture you plan to clean. If you've never steam cleaned your upholstery before, you should try the cleaning solution mix you plan to use on some of the fabric on the underside of your furniture's upholstery to ensure the product won't bleach the color. I've never had any problem with bleaching of my upholstery.

Treat any spots on your upholstery with spot removal solution.

Steam Cleaning Upholstery Set Up

Mix ¼ cup Rug Doctor or Bissell Cleaning solution and one ounce pet odor solution to one gallon of hot water in a bucket. I prefer a bucket with a pouring spout on the side. Place the scrub brush inside.

Plug in your Black and Decker Wet/Dry Vacuum with the wet intake set up. This is a filter that fits over the intake valve. The liquid will go into the inside of the vacuum, so no vacuum cleaner bag is needed.

Remove the pillows from your furniture and set them aside.

Steam Cleaning Upholstery Method

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

How to Make Your Own Natural Carpet Cleaners and Deodorizers

All of your carpet cleaners and deodorizers can be made by common household products. This is a great way to both remove the unhealthy chemicals from your home, but also save quite a bit of money.RECIPE 1:
Mix white vinegar and baking soda into a paste. Work the paste into the stain with an old tooth brush. When dry, vacuum up baking soda. Depending on the stain, this process may need to done twice.

RECIPE 2:
Soak spot immediately in club soda and blot until spot is gone.

RECIPE 3:
To remove grease spots, blot up as much liquid as possible then rub a liberal amount of baking soda or corn starch on the spot. Let sit overnight then vacuum in the morning.

CARPET DEODORIZER / FRESHENERS:

RECIPE 1:
Sprinkle baking soda on carpet, leave on 15 minutes or longer, then vacuum as usual. This will naturally remove pet and other odors from your carpet.

RECIPE 2:
For a fragrant carpet freshener, combine 4 cups baking soda, 35 drops Eucalyptus essential oil, 30 drops Lavender essential oil, and 25 drops Rosewood essential oil (or any combination of essential oils), mix in a bowl breaking up any clumps to disperse the essential oils. Sprinkle mixture on carpet and let sit for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming.

CARPET STEAM CLEANER SOLUTION:

Fill the carpet cleaner with a mixture containing equal parts of white vinegar and warm water, then clean according to the manufacturer's instructions.

CARPET CLEANER FOR PET ACCIDENTS:

First blot area, then add a solution of white vinegar and water. Blot again until almost dry. Sprinkle baking soda over the area then let dry completely. Vacuum up the baking soda residue the next day.

INDOOR / OUTDOOR CARPET CLEANER:

Mix a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar in 1 bucket of warm water. Scrub carpet with a brush or broom then hose off.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

How to Choose the Right Home Carpet Cleaning Machine

There is no denying the fact that if you have carpet in your home; it is going to get dirty. It's even more true when you have kids running in and out every day. This makes having a home carpet cleaning machine a must. But how do you choose the right one?

You may feel that vacuuming the floor is really all you need to do, but carpets still get dirty regardless if you vacuum them every single day. Dirt, stains, spills and more, all get into the fibers and don't come up with a vacuum. So a carpet cleaner is inevitable.

When it comes to choosing a home carpet cleaning machine, you have many different makes and models. It can sometimes be confusing as to which one is the right one for you. Before you buy a carpet cleaner, ask yourself a few questions first.

1. How will you use your carpet cleaner?

Will you be using it to clean the carpets in your entire home on a regular basis? Or do you only need one to clean up the occasional spill or stain? If so, a smaller, more compact machine will be your better choice. Not only is it smaller, but also it is less costly.

2. Do your carpets get a LOT of traffic?

If you have a family or your home gets quite a bit of foot traffic over the floors on a daily basis, you will want to opt for a carpet steam cleaning machine. These cleaners have built-in heaters on them that heat up the water in the line to really deep clean your carpet. The result is much cleaner carpets that look fresh and new again.

Finally, once you know the type of home carpet cleaning machine you need, it's time to decide on a specific model. I would suggest looking online at the different reviews for particular models. You will also find which brands stand out better from actual customers who have used them. This will all help you to make the right choice in getting any cleaning machine.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Comparing Carpet Cleaning Methods

You've installed a beautiful carpet in your family room. Now how do you keep it looking like new? The answer is daily vacuuming, accompanied by routine professional cleaning. The carpet industry recommends that home carpets be cleaned by a

professional at least once every 18 to 24 months.

Professional carpet cleaners usually follow one of two methods: steam cleaning or chemical cleaning. While chemical cleaning was once the industry standard, steam cleaning has gained much popularity over the years.

Chemical cleaning involves applying a foaming cleanser to your carpet, and then suctioning away the foam. Sometimes the foam is allowed to dry before vacuuming. Professionals that use this method will argue that the dirt sticks to the foam and is then sucked away, leaving your carpets very clean.

The problem with chemical cleaning is that the foaming cleanser leaves behind a sticky residue, which will actually cause more dirt to stick to your carpet. This causes your carpet to look dirty sooner. Eventually, after several chemical cleaning treatments, your carpet will become permanently soiled and even the best cleaning process will not be able to salvage it.

Over the years, consumers have begun to voice concerns about the chemicals used in the process, and the chemical residue left behind. These consumers wonder about any health effects associated with allowing their families to play on carpet that contains chemical residue.

Most professionals will agree that steam cleaning is the best way to get your carpet clean and to help it stay that way in between cleanings. Carpet steam cleaner machines can be either truck-mounted or portable. A professional using a truck-mounted system will bring only the water and vacuum hoses into your home. These hoses are connected to the truck parked outside, and all water reservoirs are in the truck. A portable carpet steam cleaner is small enough for the professional to bring into the house. This machine usually resembles a large vacuum.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Carpet and High Traffic Areas

Carpet for high traffic areas in your home needs to look good and last a long time. These are some tips for choosing the best carpet for high traffic areas.

Carpet for High Traffic Areas: Performance Rating Guideline Purchasing carpet is expensive and complicated. The Carpet and Rug Institute makes choosing carpet for high traffic areas a little bit simpler by developing performance rating guidelines that you can find on the label of many home carpet brands. They use a scale of 1 to 5 to represent a carpet's ability to withstand wear. A rating of 4.0 or higher indicates excellent durability suitable for heavy traffic areas such as family rooms, playrooms, hallways and stairways. Not all brands participate, but this is a helpful resource to consider. For more information about choosing the right carpet, visit their website (carpet-rug.org).

Home Depot also offers performance appearance ratings (PAR) for carpet wear. They recommend a PAR of 4 to 5 for carpet for high traffic areas.

Carpet for High Traffic Areas: Shop by Features

Consumer Reports is another excellent resource for independent information on features to consider in choosing carpet for high traffic areas. Local carpet professionals and specialty stores like CarpetMax can also be helpful if you don't want to go it alone at a big box store. Overall, you need to consider fiber content, pile weight and style. Wool is extremely durable but expensive and requires high maintenance including mothproofing. Nylon and Olefin are popular choices for high traffic areas. Polyester is often less expensive but tends to pill and shed. For high traffic areas, you usually require high tuft density, highly twisted yarn and high density level loop or frieze styles.

Carpet for High Traffic Areas: Carpet Squares

Carpet square or carpet tiles are another popular option for high traffic areas. As the name suggests, they are sectionalized so you can replace soiled or worn areas without replacing the whole carpet. They're economical and durable. You can have them professionally installed or do it yourself.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Preparing for Your Carpet Steam Cleaning

Some carpet dirt and stains are too much for standard cleaning methods. In order to clean the biggest carpet messes, many people choose to have a professional carpet steam cleaning, while others choose to complete the work on their own. Rates for

professional carpet steam cleaning vary, but you can expect to pay about $60 to have carpet steam cleaning completed for 2-3 rooms. This compares to paying $25-$30 for rental of carpet steam cleaning equipment or hundred of dollars for the purchase of carpet steam cleaning equipment. Whether you choose to have your carpet steam cleaning completed professionally or you choose to do it yourself, you will want to prepare by completing some pre-work before the carpet steam cleaning begins.

First, clear out the room as much as possible before your carpet steam cleaning. Portable items should be moved to another location and items should be removed from entertainment centers or other large storage units if you want these items to be moved during the carpet steam cleaning. Make sure to also vacuum your floors thoroughly prior to the cleaning.

In order to maximize the results of your carpet steam cleaning, note which carpet areas are high traffic or have existing stains. These problem areas should be pretreated prior to the work and will be most successful when the problem area is darker than the color of the actual carpeting. For example, carpet steam cleaning should be successful in removing a dark "dirt spot" from light-colored carpeting, but would not be as successful in removing a spot that is lighter than the actual color of the carpeting.

Make arrangements to be outside of your home after the carpet steam cleaning is completed as you will want to remain off of your carpets for about 24 hours after the work is complete. This will ensure that your carpet dries properly and will keep you and your family safe from the chemicals that are used in the carpet steam cleaning.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Stanley Steemers Carpet Cleaning Services

I decided to hire professional carpet cleaning instead of replacing carpet since my budget is tight. I called Stanley Steemer and this is a review of their service. Stanley Steemer carpet cleaning has an 800 number to set appointments. Then a loca office calls to confirm and send a crew. Our localOklahoma City office is good about scheduling and answering questions on prices and what to expect with professional carpet cleaning.

I scheduled a date and time when our crew would arrive which was between 9:00 AM to noon. The local Stanley Steemer carpet cleaning office called the morning of our appointment to confirm. They then called again when the crew was thirty minutes away.

The Day the Professional Carpet Cleaning Crew Arrived

A crew of two young men arrived in their yellow Stanley Steemers truck about 10:30 AM. They introduced themselves and explained their carpet cleaning process as I showed the house. They wore uniforms and were so personable I felt at ease with them in our home. They worked fast and answered all our questions.

I have leather furniture so no upholstery cleaning was needed. I had already removed the majority of household contents to make it easier for the carpet cleaning services. Our crew pre-treated spots, moved furniture, steamed carpets and then sprayed protective coating.

I felt the protective coating was a little high priced but I didn't use coupons and they counted our small joint living/dining as 2 rooms. However, they have a crew, chemicals, professional equipment and profit to consider.

When Professional Carpet Cleaning is Done

Plastic squares are placed under furniture feet and carpet takes 8 hours to dry. However, carpet under furniture takes 3 days to dry. Our carpet was still damp 10 hours later in places but we are happy with it. The solutions Stanley Steemers use to clean and treat carpets left no odor and they aren't sticky. There is a precaution about slippery tile floors. They are wet from walking across damp carpet so keep a towel handy to wipe feet.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Fly Control: Weird Things You Can Do with Baggies, Plus Shaving Cream Carpet Cleaning Tips

Fly Control with Ziploc Bags, Water and Pennies? Be Patient, I'll Explain.

Lindy Lou gets soooooo many invitations, and at a patio party this weekend I saw something so weird I said "wow, that's weird." There were Ziploc bags full of water pinned to posts, with pennies in them.Holy Homemaker! What's this all about?- I cleverly queried my hostess who said and I am not making this up: "Fly control."

Ziploc bags for fly control! I repeated.

My hostess is not one baggy short of a lunchbox, she is a brilliant pesterologist! The bags of water and pennies act like prisms in the sun, giving off shafts of moving light, even reflecting nearby people, and practically blinding all 136 eyes every fly has. (Of course I haven't actually counted.) Flies are scared of Ziploc bags full of water! Who knew? In fact they get so scared they stop buzzing and start whining.

"Water in a plastic bag as an organic fly repellent."

Lest you scoff, let me elaborate: Water molecules seen through plastic look like little disco balls to flies, and they are not into disco. Also, flies are slightly paranoid about the fact that so many other species regard them as yummy snacks. So they stay away from strange flashing bags of water that might want to eat them, plus they are morbidly afraid of water, being as they can't swim.

Yes it's true, and if you don't believe me, just ask the Dirt Doctor who said: "I've seen the use of water in a plastic bag as a fly repellent for over a year and it seems to be growing in use. What an "expert" from my area claimed was that the fly mistook the bag as a large spider web. Something about the way the water bulging in a clear plastic bag causes a prism effect and confuses the fly." (These people are Fly-Whisperers.) Now do you believe me? Oh, go Google it. There are 7,970 entries in Google for "baggies for fly control."

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

The Best Carpet Spot Cleaning Machines

There are just a few carpet spot-cleaner machines on the market, and the highest Amazon.com user ratings go to the Bissell carpet cleaning machines. The units researched have several things in common: they really are spot cleaners, meant to clean very small areas; they lack the rotating-brush and suction power of full--size machines; and, although they can be used to clean upholstery, users find them awkward and cumbersome for this purpose. That said, all three carpet spot cleaners seem to perform well for their intended uses.

With Sixty-four percent of Bissell SpotBot consumer reviews on Amazon.com giving this machine five stars out of five, the Bissell SpotBot takes first place. It boasts "WalkAway" technology that allows the machine to clean carpet stains unattended when it's placed on top of the spot and set to the "set-in stain" option. Users report the SpotBot does an excellent job at removing stains, whether the automatic "set-in staine" setting or the manual setting is used. They note, however, that the automatic setting uses a lot of cleaner and leaves a distinct circle on the carpet where the round scrubbing brush cleans the stain. Some users surmised that the cleaning may have taken some color out of the carpet, but most agreed that the color difference is due to the area surrounding the circle being dirty. "Clean circles" notwithstanding, the Bissell SpotBot reportedly is highly effective at removing stains.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Removing Carpet Stains, Naturally

Spending money on commercial deodorizers and cleaning products for your carpets is, for the most part, unnecessary. Just look to your cupboards and refrigerator for these jobs. And if you have small

children or pets,all the more reason to go natural.To remove stains from your carpet, mix 2 cups water to 1 cup lemon juice and pour it into a plastic spray bottle. Spray the stained area liberally and gently scrub with a soft to medium bristled brush. The lemon juice and water mixture is a great deodorizer too. Spray the carpet lightly and allow to dry. Then sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For more stubborn carpet stains, make a paste with 1/4 cup each of borax, salt and vinegar. Rub this paste into carpet and leave for a few hours; vacuum.

Following are solutions for removing specific type stains:


For pet stains, mix 1 teaspoon isopropyl alcohol to 1/2 cup cold water. Use the solution in a spray bottle. Spray onto the stain and blot with a paper towel and allow to dry completely. Repeat if necessary.

To remove gum from your carpet, simply place an ice cube onto the gum until it hardens enough to break off.

For removing glue from your carpet, pour white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth. The glue will rub off easily.

Sprinkle some talc on grease stains in the carpet. Leave alone for a few hours to absorb as much grease as possible. If it is an immediate spill, sprinkle the area liberally with salt and let it sit for awhile, until the grease is absorbed into the salt.

Chocolate and coffee stains can both be cleaned with 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Soak a sponge with the mixture and blot until the stain is removed. You may have to repeat this process a few times before getting these stains completely out.

Red wine spills can be removed by first blotting the area with paper towels, followed by covering the area with salt. Let the salt sit until it has turned pink. Next, clean with a sponge that has been dipped in a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part lemon juice.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Folex Instant Spot Remover Eradicates Carpet Stains

Carpet accidents happen, especially in households with children and pets. Spills and carpet stains are unavoidable, and carpet cleaners are regularly put to the test. I've tried many different brands of spot remover

on my carpet stains, with disappointing results. The carpet cleaners either didn't completely remove the carpet stains, or if they did, they made my carpet look ratty. When a friend recommended Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover, I was skeptical. I'd never heard of this carpet stain remover with a funny name, and doubted it would perform any better than the myriad of carpet cleaners I'd already tried.

Boy, was I was wrong! I don't know exactly how Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover works, or why it outshines the other carpet cleaners I've used. But then, I don't really need to know this; what's important to me is that Folex removes my carpet stains easily and thoroughly. It works amazingly well, therefore I don't question the how or why.

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is a water-based, non-toxic, non-ionic surfactant. In layman's language, this means that Folex uses water instead of solvents or toxic chemicals to safely wash away carpet stains. Unlike some oil-based carpet cleaners, Folex carpet stain remover is virtually residue free, odor free, non-flammable, and doesn't require rinsing or vacuuming. Non-ionic means that Folex Spot Remover has neither a positive or negative electrical charge, so it won't attract dust and dirt back to the cleaned area. Lastly, the term surfactant means that Folex is an emulsifying agent that breaks up the carpet stains so they can be removed by blotting them with a dry cloth.

Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is effective on virtually all carpet stains, including pet accidents, grease, ink, red wine, coffee, blood, rust, food, cosmetics, dirt and more. Folex will even remove old carpet stains, as long as they haven't dyed or bleached the carpet fabric. Unlike many carpet cleaners, Folex Spot Remover doesn't contain oily solvents or leave a soapy residue, so the carpet stains won't come back.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Confess Your Carpet Stains: You Could Win Fabulous Prizes

What's that stain on your couch or carpet? Are you too embarrassed to talk about it? Did you cover it up with a blanket or lamp? Well tell your carpet stain stories and you could win a trip to a event with a famous Hollywood Soap star. That's right my klutzy friend, you gotta spill a little to get fabulous prizes!

Spot Shot, a leading carpet stain remover and odor eliminator, is partnering with Soap Opera Digestmagazine and soap star Austin Peck for the Confessions of a Carpet Stain Contest.

"My experience working on soap operas helped to make the Confessions of a Carpet Stain photos and video vignettes entertaining, comical and a little over-the-top"

The Contest, which launches Aug. 24 and runs through Oct. 31, 2010, asks consumers to tell Spot Shot about their most dramatic carpet stain story. One grand-prize winner will receive a trip to a red carpet event with a friend. Spot Shot will also give away a free product coupon and a one-year subscription to Soap Opera Digest to the top five stain story submissions each week during the contest period.

"The Confessions of a Carpet Stain Contest was born from the dramatic carpet stain stories that we all share - whether it is a red wine spill, spaghetti sauce or a pet mess," said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of U.S. marketing for the WD-40 Company, maker of Spot Shot. "By partnering with Soap Opera Digest and Peck, we bring these stain stories to life in a dramatic and fun way while showing how Spot Shot's line of aerosol and trigger products can help remove the drama of stains from your life."

Former "Days of Our Lives" and "As the World Turns" soap star Peck is the spokesman for the Confessions of a Carpet Stain campaign. Peck will confess to his most dramatic carpet stain in the Oct. 19, 2010 Spot Shot advertorial in Soap Opera Digest magazine and on the contest websitewww.spotshot.com/stain-contest. Fans can also watch dramatic stain story video vignettes, starring Peck, on the Stain Fighting Community Facebook page www.facebook.com/stainfightingcommunity.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Tips for Getting a House Sold Quickly

I've seen it time and time again- you go to look at a house and the place is full of furniture, knick knacks and piles of laundry. There are crayon marks on the walls, and beneath the crayon is a weird

burnt sienna wall color. This is no way to sell a house. Houses like these get noticed for what you can tell about the occupants- not what you can picture about the house itself.

The key to getting a house sold is to present it in its best light. This means moving a lot of your crap out. Get a storage locker and move furniture that you don't use regularly, as well as large and possibly obnoxious knick knacks into the locker. Storage lockers are cheap, and there will be that much less to move out of the house when the house sells. Clearing out items works on buyers in two ways- it makes the spaces seem bigger, and it makes the house seem a little more neutral.

Neutral is a big buzz word in the real estate world- making your house seem neutral means that the buyer will be able to picture themselves in it. This means neutralizing the paint colors with nice cream, white, or light beige paint, and getting rid of wallpaper and borders.

There are a lot of real estate agents who also like a home to be staged, which is just moving stuff around to make the most of the space and present a pleasant look to a room. Practice walking into rooms and noticing what your first impression is. If your first impression is the mountain of toys you see, move the toys to a different part of the room and put a flower vase where they used to be. First impressions are very, very important.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

How to Get the Cigarette Smoke Smell Out of Your Life

If you're a non-smoker, but have happened across a smoker's furniture, house or car, you can pick up on that smell right away. Don't despair; there are some things you can do to try to get that smoke smell out of your inheritance. The lighter the smell, the easier it will be to get out.

Furniture:You can try various sprays like Febreeze, but quite honestly you'll wind up with a couch smelling like smoke mixed with flowers. It's worth a shot if you want to give it a try. More realistically, you can rub down your furniture with baking soda to neutralize the odors. Let it sit for a while, and then vacuum up. Or, you could invest in having it steam cleaned, either with your own machine or professionally.

Carpets:
Rent a carpet shampooer, this is your best chance to get the smell out. Apply baking soda liberally to the carpet, let it set and then shampoo. It might take you a few pass-overs to get the smell out.

Walls:
Mix a cup of vinegar with two cups warm water, add a scoop of baking powder and wash. You will have a fizzly, bubbly mixture, but it helps to break up the "scum" that has built up on the walls. You might have to use a little extra elbow grease.

If all else fails, paint. Make sure you do the best cleaning job you can, and if it doesn't come off, you'll have no choice but to paint.

Car:
Use the vinegar, water, and baking soda mix and rub down your windows and anything plastic or metal. Treat your fabric seats in the same way you would treat your furniture. It's best if you can let the baking soda sit overnight on your seats, and then vacuum up the next day.

You can leave a bowl of vinegar on the front seat and run the heat with all the windows closed for roughly an hour. I honestly haven't tried this trick. The vinegar smell dissipates fairly quickly, so it might be worth a try.

Try leaving a bag of charcoal in the car overnight, it will absorb the smells leftover.

If all else fails, you might have to cut your losses. Some cigarette smoke can be fairly easy to remove, but if you're dealing with a heavy smoker, it can get difficult. Do your best, but be prepared for the worst.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Refurbish Old Carpet with Carpet Dye

It was exciting when you picked your favorite carpet and spent thousands of dollars having the carpet installed. Now, your carpet looks older than the house. Stains, bleached spots, fades, and dingy high traffic areas can't be removed by cleaning. Before you rip out your carpet consider refurbishing it yourself using carpet dye. Ugly carpet is an embarrassment. Carpet that needs to be replaced also reduces the value of your home. Replacing the carpet, which is probably still under warranty for wear and tear, will cost thousands of dollars. Carpet dye may be the better answer to refurbishing the carpet in your home. Carpet dye can make your carpet look like new. If you are still hesitant, think about it. All carpet is dyed in the first place. It takes place during manufacturing. Color restoration is accomplished by dying the carpet again. If you are too timid to try dying your carpet on your own, there are professional carpet dying services that will help you refurbish your carpet for less than half the cost of replacing the carpet. If you want to refurbish your carpet on your own, there are plenty of materials available to help make your carpet dyeing project a success.

Know Your Carpet Fiber

Refurbishing your carpet with dye first requires that you know what your carpet is made of. You need to know if the nap is wool, nylon, or another synthetic fiber. You also need to know if your carpet is stain resistant. All of these factors will influence what type of carpet dye you use, whether your carpet will accept the dye, and how to best apply carpet dye.

If you are not sure, have a professional identify the composition of your carpet fibers or order a carpet fiber identification kit online for around $20.

If you mention carpet dyeing to your professional carpet cleaner or carpet retailer be prepared for a tirade on the evils of carpet dye. Remember, they want to sell you new carpet or a cleaning job. Don't get sucked into their trap. You are going to save money by doing this carpet refurbishing project on your own.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

DIY: Spot Cleaning Your Carpet with Everyday Household Items

Families with kids and pets soon discover that carpets can get dirty very quickly. While all carpets should be shampooed on a regular schedule to extend their wear, in between shampooing, carpet spills should be dealt with as soon as possible using a technique called "spot cleaning." Spot cleaning your carpet means hand cleaning a spill on your carpet when it happens, instead of waiting for a carpet shampooer. Taking care of a spill immediately means lowering the chance of a permanent stain on your carpet.

Even if you don't have a commercial carpet cleanser in your house, you can still take care of that stain using common household items. Here's how it's done:
Step 1: Use a spatula or wall paper scraper to gently lift off the "solids" in the spill. Do not press down on the spatula as this can cause the particles to lodge deep into the carpet, making it harder to remove.
Step 2: Next, use a paper towels or clean kitchen towel to gently blot up the liquid part of the spill. If the spill has dried, use the nozzle attachment of your vacuum cleaner to loosen the particles.

Step 3: Before attempting to remove the stain, it's recommended to test a discreet area of the carpet first for color fastness. How this is done is by applying the cleaning solution to a small area, and then blotting the areas with a white towel. If the color of the carpet now appears on the towel, then the cleaning solution will damage your carpet. You can either try another cleaner or do what I do, which is to use a mild mixture of laundry detergent and hot water. Other cleaning solutions that will also work (don't forget to pretest!) include :

Vinegar and water in a 1:10 ratio
1 teaspoon of dish detergent to 1 gallon of hot water
Hot water
A mild solution of ammonia and water

Step 4: After you've safely pre tested the cleaning solution, you can begin blotting the stain with a clean, white towel that has been dipped in the solution. Working from the outside in, blot the stain repeatedly until the stain has completely lifted.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M: Professional Quality Carpet Cleaning Made Easy

There is no need to worry about changing or dumping dirty water on a regular basis, as the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M is specifically designed to cut down on the amount of time required to clean carpets. The single tank in this model holds both the clean and dirty water, while the cleaning solution is easily placed into a small inner container, which disperses the required amount of cleaning solution during each and every use.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Many heavy duty carpet cleaners used by professionals leave carpets feeling wet or damp for hours and hours after cleaning. The Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M quickly sucks up excess water and cleaning solution, leaving carpets clean and barely moist after use....bissell carpet cleaners.

I would absolutely recommend the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M to anyone and everyone seeking an effective and fairly-priced alternative to professional carpet cleaning and renting carpet cleaners.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Sources:

Experience

Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M product booklet

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M: Professional Quality Carpet Cleaning Made Easy

Despite the specific color, design, brand, or type, keeping carpet clean can be quite the challenge. Weather conditions, pets, small children, and lifestyle all offer wear and tear to carpets, generally in the forms of staining and discoloration.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Anyone with wall-to-wall carpet in the home knows exactly how pricey professional carpet cleaning services can be. The prices are often increased when carpets are stained, discolored, or damaged in any noticeable way. Renting professional-strength carpet cleaners is also expensive and requires tons of time and energy.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Rather than paying for someone else to clean your carpets or renting unreliable and time-consuming carpet cleaners, take the time to research the fairly-priced miracle that is the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M. Offering professional quality cleaning without high prices and the inconvenience of having strangers inside your home, this amazing carpet cleaner from Bissell provides impressive cleaning power.... bissell carpet cleaners.

The Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M is a lightweight and extremely durable carpet cleaner that is easily maneuvered under and around large pieces of furniture and household appliances. Unlike heavy and bulky carpet cleaners, the Model 1697M from Bissell is easy to use and does not cause any sort of unnecessary strain to the arms, neck, back, or legs.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Designed with easy to understand and user-friendly features, the Bissell PowerSteamer Pro Model 1697M is ideal for cleaning heavily trafficked as well as heavily soiled areas of the home. The effective yet gentle rotating brush works to lift out stains and discolorations, while the automatic cleaning function quickly adjusts to the amount of cleaning solution required to clean various types of carpets.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care

Bissell SpotBot ProHeat... bissell carpet cleaners.

I first tried the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat on the cat vomit stain which, by this point, had set in for several days and would not come up otherwise. Since the spot was stained red from dyes in the cat food, I chose the Set-In Stain Cycle with a combination of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula. It took two six-minute cycles, but it did get up the stain successfully. I have since used it on several more cat throw-up stains which were caught more quickly, and always succeeded in getting up the stains after a single run of the 6-minute Set-In Stain Cycle while using Oxy GEN2 formula.... bissell carpet cleaners.

After the success of using the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat on these cat stains, I decided to see if I could get up any of the dirt and traffic stains in my family room carpet. I used the manual spray nozzle, and again a combination of Oxy GEN2 and Bissell 2X Little Green formula to really work on the stains. Although it required some time, and a full tank of combined solution, I was able to lift up all of the dirt stains successfully and the carpet looks nearly brand new. Considering the SpotBot cost $149.99, I was incredibly pleased by this as I was already contemplating whether I would have to get entirely new carpets for the family room - which would have been considerably more expensive.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Overall I have very few complaints about the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. It does run through cleaning solution quickly: a full tank lasts for only three Set-In Stain Cycles. A 32 oz. bottle of Oxy GEN2 retails for $6.99 and will only fill the cleaning tank twice. 32 oz. of the Bissell 2X Little Green formula retails for $9.99 and will last longer, as you only use a small amount for each tank refill. When using the hands-free cycle, the clear round window and scrub brushes do leave marks in the carpet that need to be hand-brushed out, otherwise it looks like you have "crop circles" all over your carpet.... bissell carpet cleaners.

These issues aside, I thoroughly recommend the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat. Whether you have pets, small children, or just want to be prepared for any kind of carpet-stain "accident" that can happen, the Bissell SpotBot ProHeat can successfully get up both set-in and surface stains quickly and easily. Cleaning the SpotBot itself is simple, and it is lightweight and compact enough to move around the house and store in just about any closet space. For the price, it's a solid investment for maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of your carpets.... bissell carpet cleaners.

Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines

Products I Like To Clean My Carpets:Febreze Carpet care