Friday, September 30, 2011

Comparison Guide for Rug Shampooers and Carpet Cleaners

Rug Shampooers are something that everyone uses and it is such a drag to lug a big heavy rental machine home one day and then back to the store the next. Not to mention the cost. And the fact that you do not know who used it before you did. There is a wide range of prices for rug shampooers today. There are models that can go for over $1,000 but unless you have a mini mansion, something that big and powerful is just not necessary. I have picked four of the top rug shampooers from different manufacturers. Each one of them is one of the best in their price range. Take a look at what carpets you have and look at machines right for the size of your job. You do not have to buy the most expensive on the market. Small space, small rug shampooer, big space, big rug shampooer. The prices are the suggested prices. If you see one you like shop around and get the best deal you can.

Oreck
http://www.oreck.com/floor-cleaners/rinse-a-matic_ultra.cfm?keycode=DI445
We have all seen the Orcek commercials on TV for their vacuum cleaners, but they also have a line of rug and carpet shampooers and this is the top of the line coming in at $400.00 but with a lot of extras including tons of shampoo. The Oreck Rinse-A-Matic Steemer Ultra® SKU: M800A

cleans not only carpets and rugs, but also floors. It has a special rinse cycle and when you are done washing, it will dry also.

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Why I Recommend the Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaning Machine

Recently my husband and I moved into a new rental home. A condition stipulated in our leases was that we would receive a discount on the deposit if we agreed to have the carpets shampooed or do it ourselves. Not wanting to spend a small fortune to have the carpet professionally cleaned, we decided to rent a Rug Doctor Carpet Machine. Having never used this machine before we were not sure what to expect or how difficult it would be to use. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised.

The most difficult part of the whole process was filling out the paperwork at the store before we left with the machine. According to the manufacturer only Rug Doctor brand solution should be used in the machine, but a friend of mine recommended using Oxyclean instead of purchasing the expensive solution and anti-foam. This worked wonderfully and saved us nearly twenty dollars which we certainly did not complain about.

Working the machine was simple. All we had to do was mix the Oxyclean with water as directed on the Oxyclean label. This mixture was then placed in the bottom tank of the machine and we were off and running. In a time period of about two hours we were able to clean three large rooms in our home without any complications, though I would recommend using less Oxyclean than you think you will need. If you use too much of the cleaner you may have residue left on your carpet. The rotating brushes on the machine worked well in removing stains that seemed to be set into the carpeting. The only complaints we had about the machine were that it is difficult to transport because of its weight and that the machine is difficult to clean after use.

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Cleaning Your Carpets to Perfection

When you move into a new home you're probably wondering what has happened to your carpet and feel it needs to be cleaned. This is one of the smartest ideas anyone can have when they move into a new home. Even if it was done by the previous owners after they moved everything there is still the chance of the carpet being dirty.

Carpets hold all the dirty little secrets of everything that's occurred in a home, whether it's been dirt tracked through or soda pop spilt its still there after the carpet has been vacuumed on many occasions.

There are many carpet cleaning companies available, but not everyone can afford to have someone come and clean the carpets. Finding a carpet cleaner yourself may not be as complicated as you think. Many stores have rental services available where you can rent a carpet cleaner for a day or how ever many that you need it. All you will need to do is purchase their cleaning products, pay the rental fees and you'll be on your way to cleaning your carpets.

If you do end up purchasing carpet cleaning services you may see better results then doing it on your own as the equipment they use is heavy duty, unlike the rental carpet cleaner you may get in a store. With carpet cleaning services it would be wise to do it the day before you move into your home so there is nothing in the way. This allows the cleaners to get everything from corner to corner. Just ensure if you do this people take off their shoes when they come in to keep your carpets in tip top shape.

Ref: associatedcontent.com

15 Key Points and Tips for Carpet Installation

Depending on the size of the installation job, installing wall-to-wall carpet can be overwhelming and an intimidating task. However, with the correct tools, small jobs can be done by the average do-it-yourself homeowner. Some tools you will need, such as a knee kicker, seam heater and carpet stretch can be rented from a hardware store or check on line for a tool supplier near you. It is also recommended you attend a training class at your local home improvement center for a complete understanding of the carpet installation process.

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Dye Your Old Carpet and Sell Your Home

Carpet can get pretty dingy, especially when it was once a light creamy white, only to turn a deep shade of brown eggs, oatmeal's and burnt toast look-alikes. Carpet stains can be unmistakable in lighter carpet shades and textures that tend to show it. But replacing carpet can be expensive. So what's the alternative? Steam cleaning only gets the job part way done. Expensive bleaching chemicals take the spot out, but only make the spot more noticeable. The tried and true alternative is carpet dying.

So what's carpet dying? It's the process of using matching carpet dyes to spot treat stains that just won't go away in an otherwise impeccable carpet. Bleach is no problem. Dog and cat troubles are eliminated. Juice and other dark colors are deleted.

Typically, a professional carpet dye company is located and requested to do an in home inspection to give an estimate. A carpet sample is taken from a closet or other unnoticeable area. Then the company manufacturers an exact dye to match the particular shade of carpet.

After a brief questionnaire and sample have been sent to the manufacturer, a sample will then be applied to an inconspicuous area of the carpet and allowed to dry. Once you're happy with the match and the contract is then signed, you can begin dying the carpet.

In many cases, the spot treatment will cover those few troublesome areas you may have had. But other factors apply when dying carpet. Carpet that has been tamped down from years of use can't be dyed clean. They have simply lost their spring and require new carpet be installed.

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Our Experience with this Carpet Cleaning System

We recently had occasion to rent the Rug Doctor electric deep steam cleaner for carpets, rugs, and upholstery. We had three carpeted rooms to clean--two bedrooms and the living room, plus some smaller rugs in the hallway. In a household with two small children it can be difficult, if not impossible, to keep the carpets looking clean and fresh, even with frequent vacuuming and spot cleaning.

Some of the stains/problem areas we had to deal with were urine, glue, play-doh, ketchup, tea and coffee, colas, shoe polish, tomato sauce, milk, and the marks that come as a matter of course to heavy traffic areas. We rented the Rug Doctor machine (they also have a larger, "Wide Track" model) and their "Upholstery Hand Tool" from our local A&P. Check the hand tool, though, to make sure that there are no breaks or splitting in the tubing (we had to tape ours a couple of times to make sure it kept up suction).

We were provided with a "How To" brochure as well as one entitled "Stain Removal Guide" which lists a multitude of stains....ink, blood, gravy, lipstick.....and others more numerous to mention here. This list is actually very useful as it notes which of the Rug Doctor products are best utilized to remove particular stains. As well as the soap specially designed for the Rug Doctor itself, there are separate preparations for "High Traffic" areas (this has a spray nozzle) as well as three removers: Odor Remover, Pet Stain Remover, and Spot Remover.

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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.

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