Everyone knows that taking care of a carpet means to vacuum it regularly, fairly frequently, depending on usage and soiling, but what’s to be done about those a dropped chocolate cake, spilled alcohol, or cigarette burns? Carpet Cleaning New York tips can help.
Spot removal means carpet cleaning NYC but in a particular area of the carpet or rug, removing specific stains or soiling. Here are some of the most common situations confronting horrified homeowners with carpets and carpeting; remember well these carpet cleaning techniques and may your fine carpets live to see a thousand generations as an heirloom!
For candy, chocolate, and sweets in general, try scraping off as much as you can first. Note that that’s “scraping,” not “scrubbing.” Do not scrub, as this may result in vigorous abrasive actions which prematurely wear out your carpet fibers! Scrubbing also typically spreads a stain. Scrape instead, with a dull butter knife or some such similar implement. Sponge in a mild detergent solution, while alternating the scraping motion. Most common household dishwashing detergents should do just fine; just make sure that their pH balance is neutral or not rated as being more than “10,” and dilute at a 20:1 ration with tap water. It is absolutely important to make sure that no traces of sugar are left behind in the carpet, as they tend to promote rapid re-soiling.
Spilled alcohol will probably prove easier to resolve, though it could seem like the bigger catastrophe in comparison with most sweets. First blot the area, sponging in that neutral dishwashing detergent diluted 20:1 with water. Now apply some white vinegar, mixed with water in 1:1 proportions, and then blot again. If necessary, try bleaching the stain with three-percentage grade hydrogen peroxide. Then rinse with cold water and blot, blot, blot some more.
For cigarette burns, the rug or carpet cleaning should be done by rubbing (that’s “rubbed,” not “scrubbed”) with dry steel wool. Unfortunately, that might not be enough and it could be necessary to trim your carpet with a good razor. Worse yet, grafting fibers from another part of the fabric may be the only solution. Grafting would be performed using fibers from a hidden area of the carpet, like underneath furniture, and gluing them where needed.
Remember that all soiling ought to be addressed right away. Waiting will only decrease your chances of completely removing the stain, as precipitously as 75% or more! Also note that heat will set in most stains, as will vigorous scrubbing (as previously mentioned). Finally, refer to all your manufacturer’s instructions. Familiarize yourself with them beforehand to avoid any unfortunate surprises. For example, many carpets are treated with stain-resistant chemicals which may react adversely if in contact with certain other chemicals.
