Know Your Upholstery Before Cleaning It
No matter how careful you are around your upholstery, it happens – you spill a drink or food, resulting in a stain or your sofa or favorite chair. When this occurs, you might be tempted to run and grab some soap and water to remove that nasty stain before it sets in permanently. But wait – before you attempt to clean your upholstery, you need to know a few rules on how to do so properly. Rule #1: Check the Label Always check the care label on your upholstery before you try to clean it; it will indicate exactly what cleaning methods you can use on that item. You can typically find the care label sewn into a seam on the bottom or back of furniture items. You’ll see one of four different codes on the label: W – This code means that you can spot clean your upholstery with a water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner; it does NOT mean that the item is machine washable. Fabrics with this code are usually the easiest to clean. S – This code means that the fabric can only be cleaned with solvents (i.e. dry cleaning). If you do it yourself with a water-free solvent or dry-cleaning product, make sure to clean the item in a well-ventilated room and keep away from open flames. W/S – This code means that you can use a mild detergent, steam or dry cleaning. Whichever method you use, it’s always a good idea to do a spot test on a hidden area of fabric in order to make sure that you don’t make things worse. X – This code means that only vacuuming or light brushing are permitted. Using water, water-based cleaners, or solvents may end up staining the fabric. If the upholstered item has a W or W/S code, you can try a do-it-yourself cleaning solution. Dilute a gentle detergent with water (1 part detergent to 4 parts water) and gently blot the stain with a sponge or soft brush. Blot any remaining water with a dry cloth. Remember to check the care label first before trying this method! Rule #2: Blot, Blot, Blot Always blot a stain or spill on upholstery with a clean, absorbent cloth – never scrub. Scrubbing can drive the dirt deeper into the fabric fibers, and can sometimes damage the fabric. Rule #3: Vacuum Regularly For everyday cleaning of your upholstered items, vacuum them on a regular basis (ideally once a week). Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to do this, and be sure to vacuum underneath those sofa and chair cushions, as well, where dirt and crumbs love to hide. Rule #4: Apply a Protectant As the name suggests, fabric protectants can help protect fabrics on upholstery from stains and dirt, and are especially good for pieces of furniture that get a lot of use. You can apply fabric protectants yourself, or better yet, get a professional to do it. Rule #5: Get Regular Professional Upholstery Cleaning Even if your upholstery is free from stains, it will get dingy and dirty from everyday use, so it’s a good idea to have it regularly cleaned by a professional upholstery cleaning company like A Personal Touch. From sofas to armchairs to pillows, we’ll treat your upholstery with care no matter what fabric it’s made of. We can also apply a fabric protectant to extend the life of your furniture and make everyday cleaning much easier. If you need upholstery cleaning and are in the Centennial, Littleton, or Greater Denver, Colorado area, contact us any time for a free estimate! Remember at A Personal Touch, we don’t cut corners, we clean them!
Get Your Carpets Ready for the Holidays
It’s December, and the holidays are upon us! With the holiday season we welcome friends, family and guests of all shapes and sizes to our homes (along with a few furry friends, as well). Parties and get-togethers are a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays, but all that extra foot traffic can wreak havoc on your carpeting. So how can you protect your carpets this time of year? Here are a few suggestions. Remove Your Shoes Upon Entering Your Home Shoes can track in dust, dirt and debris from outdoors, all of which make your carpets look dirty and dingy. In our humble opinion, the number one way to keep your carpeting looking its best is to take off your shoes when you enter your home. Keeping shoes out of the house will prevent dirt and debris from accumulating in your carpets and getting into the carpet fibers. Shoes can also bring in pollen, bacteria, and germs from outdoors, which can aggravate asthma and other respiratory problems in some people. Taking off your shoes and wearing just socks (or going barefoot) may therefore help improve the quality of the air in your home and keep respiratory issues at bay. As a reminder to remove your shoes, keep a shoe rack near each door or entryway. Make sure your guests take off their shoes, as well. We suggest keeping several pairs of slippers available for your guests to wear when they visit if they don’t want to wear just socks. Vacuum Regularly Regular vacuuming will pick up larger dirt and debris, so be sure to do it at least once a week, or more often if your carpets get especially dirty from day to day. High traffic areas will probably need to be vacuumed more often. Oh, and while you have the vacuum cleaner out, don’t forget to vacuum the upholstery – you’ll want to make sure your furniture is clean and tidy for guests, as well. Cover High Traffic Areas Carpeting can become matted and less plush in high traffic areas, resulting in an old, tired look. You can place floor mats and rugs in these areas to prevent matting and help keep the carpeting from looking worn. Bonus: Using floor mats and rugs will also help dirt, debris and germs from getting ground into the carpet fibers in high traffic areas. Consider Using a Protective Spray A protective spray can help carpeting stay cleaner, brighter, and fresher by repelling soil and dirt. It’s best to apply the spray after a professional cleaning. The treatment will generally last about two or three years, after which it can be reapplied by a professional carpet cleaning company. Get Regular Professional Carpet Cleaning Speaking of carpet professionals, a professional cleaning will help your carpets look as good as new and ready to welcome guests into your home for the holidays! Here at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning Services, we pride ourselves on providing top-notch cleaning services – not only do we clean carpets, but we clean upholstery and area rugs, too. It’s not too late to get your carpets ready for the holidays – if you’re in the Denver/Littleton area, contact us today for a free written estimate!
How to Remove Candle Wax From Carpet
There’s a chill in the air and the leaves have fallen off the trees – these are signs that winter is on the way, and with it the holiday season. Now that it’s getting colder, it’s tempting to light a few candles. After all, what’s not to love about candles? Their ambiance and scent can make any home feel warm, cozy and inviting. There’s a downside to candles, however, aside from the fire hazard – melted candle wax can drip onto your furniture or carpets if you’re not careful. So what can you do to remove candle wax from carpet? Here are the steps you need to take to prevent that melted candle wax from becoming a permanent stain. 5 Simple Steps to Remove Candle Wax from Carpet 1. The first thing you want to do is to get the melted candle wax to harden as quickly as possible. Grab an icepack, a bag of ice, or even a bag of frozen vegetables and use it to freeze and harden the wax. This will help to keep the wax from seeping further down into the carpet fibers, which will make it even more difficult to remove. 2. Once the wax has hardened, scrape as much of it off as you can with a butter knife or other dull object (don’t use anything sharp – you could end up cutting the carpet fibers). You can even break off the larger chunks of wax and scrape the rest off as best as you can. 3. Get out your vacuum cleaner and vacuum up the wax pieces. Still have wax in the carpet fibers? Try using heat to get the rest of it out. 4. For this step, you’ll need an old (but clean) cloth or T-shirt, if you can spare one. Otherwise you can use a paper towel or brown paper bag. You’ll also need to use an iron set to the lowest heat setting. Put the cloth, T-shirt, towel or paper bag on the wax and slowly run the iron on top of it. The heat from the iron will soften the wax, while the cloth or paper will help draw the wax out of the carpet fibers. You may need to do this step more than once to get all of the wax out. Remember to put the hot iron on a book or baking sheet to prevent it from burning your carpet if you accidentally knock the iron over. We have repaired burned carpets from hot irons, so this step is critical! 5. If the above steps fail to remove the melted wax from the carpet, then call A Personal Touch for professional carpet cleaning. We serve the Denver metro area including Littleton, Parker, Castle Rock and more! We use a powerful truck-mounted steam cleaning system that can help remove not only candle wax from your carpets, but also gum, tar, rust, pet stains and odors. We also offer upholstery cleaning services, so if you’ve spilled candle wax on a sofa or chair, we can clean that, too. Having your carpeting professionally cleaned once a year is your best bet for keeping it clean and allergen-free all year long. If you’re due for a professional cleaning, contact us today so that your home will be ready to welcome your holiday visitors! Remember at A Personal Touch, we don’t cut corners, we clean them!
Cleaning Carpets Yourself May Do More Damage
Carpeting is one of the most valuable assets in your home, adding beauty, warmth, and comfort to any room. However, it also takes a beating from spoils, pet accidents, dust, dirt tracked in from outdoors, and constant foot traffic. If your carpets are beginning to show their life with some wear and tear and dirt or grime, you’ve probably thought about cleaning them yourself. Maybe you’ve walked by the carpet cleaning machines in your local store, or seen commercials for them on TV, and thought to yourself, Why not just clean the carpeting myself with one of these machines? It’ll save me some money and get the carpeting just as clean as a professional cleaning will. Yes, it’s tempting to rent a carpet cleaning machine and do the job yourself in order to cut costs and not have to hassle with hiring a professional carpet cleaning company. But hold on – you may be doing more harm than good by taking the DIY option. Let’s take a closer look at carpet cleaning machines and what they can do to your carpets (and you!). The Downside of Carpet Cleaning Chemicals While you may think you are saving money by renting a carpet cleaning machine, keep in mind that you also have to buy the cleaning chemicals, which adds to the expense. If you have a large house with a lot of carpeting, that added cost can pile up fast! And have you ever thought about exactly what’s in those cleaning chemicals? The exact formula will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but carpet cleaning solutions generally contain solvents, surfactants, foaming or defoaming agents, optical brighteners, emulsifiers, dyes, fragrance, and a host of other ingredients that if not handled correctly may be hazardous to your health. If you or anyone else in your household has asthma, allergies, or other respiratory problems, these chemicals can irritate the lungs and cause breathing problems. DIY Carpet Cleaning Machines Can Damage Your Carpets, Too Let’s move on to how these carpet cleaning machines work and how that can affect your carpeting. Typically these machines saturate your carpet (and the padding beneath) with water and cleaning chemicals. If the carpet gets too wet, or the padding gets wet and cannot dry thoroughly, then you are at risk of mold and mildew. As with harsh chemicals, mold and mildew can cause breathing problems for those at risk. Not to mention the fact that walking on wet carpeting is not fun! Carpet cleaning machines also use brushes to agitate, brush and loosen dirt and stains, while their vacuum suction lifts it away. Depending on how the machine is used, the brushes could damage the carpet fibers. Professional Carpet Cleaning to the Rescue! Carpets can last as long as 20 to 25 years in good condition as long as they are maintained properly. Unfortunately, improperly cleaning them yourself can cause damage, and using unapproved cleaning methods can even void the warranty. That’s why it pays off in the long run to have your carpeting professionally cleaned. A pro will know how to properly clean and treat your carpets so that they will keep looking fresh and beautiful. At A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, we use a powerful steam cleaning system that eliminates the need for extra chemicals, removes tough stains and odors, and leaves your carpets looking like new. We serve customers throughout the Denver, Colorado area and offer carpet repair, upholstery cleaning, and rug cleaning services, as well. If your carpet is showing its age, don’t be tempted to go the DIY route – contact us today for a professional carpet cleaning and let us bring your carpets back to life! Remember at A Personal Touch, we don’t cut corners, we clean them!
Carpet Styles – What’s Best for Your Home?
If you’ve ever done any remodeling or redesign in your home, you know there are lots of decisions that must be made. Paint colors, furniture styles, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures…the list goes on! And if you’re thinking of replacing your carpeting (or adding carpeting to a room), there are decisions to be made there, as well. Six Carpet Styles to Choose From First you need to decide what carpet style you want. There are 6 basic carpet styles to choose from: Textured: This carpet style features alternating twists of yarn, resulting in a two-toned appearance. It’s durable, hides footprints and vacuum marks, and is a great choice for anywhere in the home, especially high-traffic areas. Plush: This style is similar to the textured carpet style, but the fibers are generally longer, and it has a “velvety” look. It also shows footprints and vacuum marks more readily than the textured style, so while it’s still a good choice, it’s better for low-traffic areas (think bedroom or dining room). Frieze: This carpet style features a high-cut pile with a twist that curls at the end; it’s sometimes referred as the “modern shag” carpet. It’s durable, resists showing footprints or vacuum marks, and is a great choice for high-traffic areas. Cable: This style features long, thick yarn, and is best for low-traffic areas, since it can become crushed with lots of foot traffic or heavy furniture on it. Berber: This carpet style features bulk yarn that is looped but not cut, and it tends to be shorter than other styles. It’s very durable and is perfect for high-traffic areas (it’s also the easiest to keep clean!). Cut-and-Loop: This style is made of a combination of cut and looped yarns, which can be used to create a wide variety of patterns in the carpet. It’s quite durable and is great for areas that get a lot of traffic. Carpet Fiber Material Options In addition to choosing the carpet style, you’ll also need to choose the pile height, color, and carpet fiber material. Here are some of your options for fiber materials: Acrylic: This synthetic material offers the look and feel of wool, but without the high price tag. It’s a great choice if you have family members with allergies, as it is also hypoallergenic. Nylon: This synthetic carpet material is extremely durable, making it perfect for high traffic areas. Like acrylic, it’s also quite affordable. Olefin: This synthetic fiber is created from melted plastic, and is mold and moisture resistant. It also resists staining – great for areas where you tend to have accidents! Wool: This natural material can last for years if cared for properly, but it will cost you quite a bit more than carpeting made from synthetic material. No matter what type of carpeting you choose, you need to take care of it properly – that means following the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically you’ll want to have it professionally cleaned at least once a year – that’s where A Personal Touch comes in! We’ll have your carpeting looking as good as new in no time, so that you can enjoy it for years to come. If you’re in the Denver area and are ready to schedule a professional carpet cleaning, contact us!
Tips for Carpet Protection in High Traffic Areas
Every home has them – high traffic areas with lots of foot traffic and activity. Entryways come to mind here, as well as kitchens and hallways. High traffic areas tend to get dirtier than other areas of the home, and if those areas are carpeted, the carpeting can look grimy and worn down in no time. So how can you keep carpeting in high traffic areas clean and in good condition? Here are a few tips that will help. Use Door Mats and Area Rugs Be sure to use door mats at all doors and entryways – they can help catch much of the dirt, debris and germs that can be tracked in from the outside. Otherwise the dirt that gets brought into the house will get trapped in the carpet fibers, and in high traffic areas that dirt will be ground in especially deep and will be difficult to get out. Oh, and pets can bring in dirt from outdoors, as well – wipe their feet after bringing them inside. Area rugs can also help prevent dirt and debris from getting into carpeting. A few strategically placed rugs can help prevent premature wear and tear of carpets and keep them cleaner. Take Off Your Shoes We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – not wearing shoes on your carpeting is the best way to keep it in tip-top shape. Leave your shoes at the door and go barefoot, or walk around in your socks or a pair of indoor slippers. And make sure your guests follow this rule, too – who knows what kind of grime they have on the bottom of their shoes! Keep a shoe rack by each entryway as a reminder to remove your shoes before coming inside. And if for some reason you need to keep your shoes on indoors, at least try to keep a “no shoes on the carpet” policy. You can also set aside a pair of indoor-only shoes to wear around the house if you need extra support for your feet and can’t go barefoot or wear slippers. Vacuum Daily Vacuum high traffic areas once a day, if at all possible. We know it’s a task most people don’t enjoy, but it will really help keep your carpet cleaner. If you have area rugs, be sure to vacuum both them and the carpeting beneath them. You’ll want to shake your area rugs outside first to loosen up any dirt and debris, then vacuum thoroughly. Clean Up Accidents Immediately Spills on your carpeting? Dirt tracked in on your shoes? Clean it up right away! If you wait too long, the stains can set in and become harder to get out. This is especially important for high traffic areas, since foot traffic can grind the dirt deeper into the carpet fibers. These spot removal tips can help prevent stains from sticking around in your carpeting permanently. Rearrange Your Furniture Channel your inner interior designer and move your furniture around every so often. This will create new high traffic areas and give your old ones a break from the constant foot traffic. It will also ensure that your carpeting will wear more evenly. Get Professional Carpet Cleaning A professional cleaning can bring those high traffic areas in your carpeting back to life. We offer both carpet and area rug cleaning throughout the Denver metro area. Our powerful truck-mounted steam cleaning system removes tough set-in stains and odors, and can help your investment last longer. Contact us today to schedule a professional cleaning and we’ll have your carpeting looking as good as new in no time!
Our Favorite Upholstery Cleaning Tips
Upholstered furniture adds a lot to the look of any home by making it cozy, warm and welcoming. However, it’s a big investment – recliners, sofas and sectionals can cost thousands of dollars. You’ll want to make sure to protect that investment by keeping your upholstered furniture clean. Here are some of our favorite upholstery cleaning tips that will keep your furniture ready to welcome family and friends all year long. Vacuum Your Upholstered Furniture Regularly Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed at least weekly, and even more often if it gets especially dirty (particularly if you have kids or pets). Be sure to vacuum under the cushions and in the creases in order to pick up all the dirt and debris – you never know what’s hiding in there! Oh, and don’t forget to vacuum the throw pillows, as well! These days, vacuum cleaners come with an assortment of attachments that are perfect for cleaning upholstered furniture, such as upholstery tools (with or without brushes) and crevice tools. Do your furniture a favor and use them on a regular basis when you vacuum. Check the Information Tag Did you know that most upholstery comes with a “manual”? That’s the little tag attached to the bottom of chairs or the back of sofas. Not only odes that tag contain information about the upholstered item (where it was manufactured, the manufacturer’s name, etc.), but it also has information about the upholstery fabric and its care. Here are some of the symbols you may see on the information tag and what they mean: WS: Use a mild detergent with steam vacuum or dry-cleaning detergent. S: Use a dry cleaner detergent only. X: Use a vacuum only. Do not use water on upholstery as it may stain. W: You can use water or a water-based solution on the upholstery. Blot, Don’t Scrub No matter how careful you are around your upholstered furniture, stains sometimes happen. When they do, make sure you blot them – don’t scrub them. Scrubbing the stains can loosen the upholstery fabric fibers, not to mention the fact that it can push the stain deeper into the fibers. Remember – blot, blot, blot! You may also be tempted to add water to the stain in an attempt to remove it, but don’t. The goal is to dry out the stain and keep the padding under the upholstery dry. Simply blot it with a dry, absorbent cloth instead. Get Your Upholstery Professionally Cleaned If your furniture is especially dingy or dirty, or you have stains that just aren’t coming out no matter what you do, it’s time to get your upholstery professional cleaned. In addition to carpet cleaning services, we offer upholstery cleaning services in the Denver metro area. We take extra care with delicate fabrics and trim, and can make your upholstered furniture look like new again. We’ll also apply a fabric protector to further protect your investment. Contact us today to get your upholstered furniture clean and ready to welcome friends and family this holiday season! Remember at A Personal Touch, we don’t cut corners, we clean them!
6 Tips on How to Protect Your Carpets During Fall
The end of summer is approaching fast – are you ready for fall? As we start spending more time indoors, it’s important to keep your home furnishings clean and ready to welcome visitors – and that includes your carpets. Here are 6 tips on how to protect your carpets during fall (and throughout the year). Keep Leaves and Debris Outdoors With autumn comes Halloween celebrations, beautiful displays of fall foliage… and leaves falling to the ground. They don’t stay on the ground, however; those leaves that don’t get raked up are often stirred up by the Chinook winds that blow through the Rockies. These winds can also whip up other debris, dirt, and germs that can get tracked into your home. You can reduce the amount of leaves and other debris that enters your home by sweeping outside around your entrances regularly. That way it won’t pile up and stick to the undersides of your shoes. You can also decrease the likelihood of tracking dirt, leaves and debris into your home by using a doormat. Put one at each entrance to your home, and be sure both you and your guests actually use them! Vacuum at Least Weekly Vacuuming at least once a week is key to making sure your carpets stay clean – if not done weekly, dirt and debris can end up being ground deep down into carpet fibers, shortening the life of your carpets. Try to vacuum your carpets daily, if at all possible, at least in high-traffic areas. Yes, it’s a pain to vacuum that often, but your carpets will thank you for it! Speaking of vacuuming, check your vacuum filter and bagless container regularly. Be sure to wipe them down, and if your vacuum uses bags, we recommend changing it every three months, or more often if your carpets and upholstery are especially dirty. Leave Your Shoes at the Door We can’t stress this enough – not wearing your outside shoes in the house is the number 1 way to keep your carpets clean! They track in leaves, mud, dirt and germs, so going barefoot or wearing socks or slippers indoors is the way to go. Make sure your guests remove their shoes at the door, as well. Afraid of shoe clutter? Use a shoe rack – it will also serve as a reminder for you, your family, and your guests to take off their shoes. Rotate Your Furniture High amounts of foot traffic can wear down carpets. Rearrange your furniture regularly to spare your carpets from the damaging effects of high-traffic areas. You’ll also ensure that your carpeting wears a bit more evenly. Clean Up Stains Quickly Colder weather brings hot coffee, pumpkin spice lattes and hot chocolate – stains from these and other food and beverages can be difficult to remove if left to sit too long. Be sure to clean up any spills as quickly as possible by blotting them and treating them. Baking soda can be used on many spills – you can also check out our spot removal tips for more information on how to treat common stains. Get Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned Annually Last, but certainly not least, you can protect your carpets during fall and beyond by getting them professionally cleaned at least once a year (more often if they get especially dirty). We provide professional carpet cleaning services throughout the Denver metro area, and our technicians will leave your carpets deep-down clean and fresh. The holidays will be here before you know it – schedule a professional carpet cleaning today, and your carpets will be ready to welcome family and friends to your home! Remember at A Personal Touch, we don’t cut corners, we clean them!
Tips to Maintain Your Carpet Between Professional Cleanings
As we’ve mentioned before on the blog, professional carpet cleaning should be done at least once a year. It not only keeps your carpet fresh and clean, but it also extends the life of your carpet. But what can you do the other 364 days of the year to keep your carpets in tip-top shape? Here are a few tips on how to maintain your carpet between professional cleanings. Leave your shoes at the door Your shoes track a lot of dirt, mud, pollen, and other grime into your house and onto your carpets, often getting ground in and trapped in the carpet fibers. The pollen can cause allergies to flare up, and can even affect those with asthma. The germs, bacteria, and viruses in the mud and dirt can also cause respiratory problems if inhaled. You can prevent outdoor grime from getting into your carpets by taking off your shoes when you come inside. Step into a pair of slippers – or just walk around in your socks or bare feet – and you’ll be doing a lot to keep your carpets much cleaner (you’ll be keeping your indoor air healthier, too!). The carpet cleaner will wear their shoes in the house during the professional cleaning. Don’t forget your furry friends Humans are not the only ones who track in dirt and mud from outside – our pets, do so, as well. Make sure to wipe off their paws when they come in from outdoors, whether or not it’s been raining or snowing. You’ll be thankful you gave their paws a good wipe-down the next time they get up on the furniture! Wipe up stains, spills or other accidents immediately Be sure to clean up any stains, spills or other accidents right away – the longer you wait, the much harder it will be to remove any stains that set in. There are a variety of DIY solutions available for simple stains – check out our handy tips for removing stains at home here. Note: You should not attempt to clean stains from fragile or antique rugs yourself – these require professional handling. Vacuum weekly Another tip for keeping your carpet clean between professional cleanings is to vacuum regularly – at least once a week. And don’t forget to vacuum the upholstery and curtains, as well – dirt, dust, dust mites, viruses and bacteria can hide in the fibers. These contaminants can reduce the quality of the indoor air, possibly resulting in allergy attacks and other respiratory problems in those who are susceptible. We know vacuuming is not a fun job, but it’s necessary to keep your carpets clean! Following the above carpet cleaning tips will help keep your carpets fresh and beautiful, but it’s not quite enough – don’t forget to get them professionally cleaned at least once a year. Even if they’re not stained or visibly dirty, professional carpet cleaning rids your carpets of any deep-down dirt, germs, and dust mites that can cause health problems and shorten the life of your carpet. If it’s been over a year since you’ve had your carpets professionally cleaned, contact us today, and we’ll get them clean and fresh in no time!
Home Services: Which to Spend Money on, Which to Add to Your DIY List
Guest post by Teri Silver, Featured Image source. Deciding which home services you can do yourself and when to hire a professional will save you a lot of grief (and some money) in the long run. Make a list of the improvements, maintenance, and upgrades your home needs and whether you can realistically DIY any of them. When to Hire a Professional The rule of thumb is measure twice, cut once, then call in a professional. When it comes to dangerous tasks, you may want to skip the first two steps. Electrical Needs Circuitry is technical, confusing, and potentially dangerous work if you don’t know what you’re doing. High and low-voltage systems are nothing to fool with, especially in older homes. Before signing a contract for electrical services, get cost estimates in writing. The actual costs may be higher or lower, depending on the “official” diagnosis. Write down the specific problems before calling the technician. You can sometimes lower the cost by making things easy on your service professional. Provide easy access to the electrical panel box Be ready to pay the bill at the time of service Get the final bill in writing. Heating and Air Conditioning Unless you have professional training and certification, heating and air conditioning are not something to DIY. Sure, it’s OK to change a filter in your system, but furnace flue pipes that transfer toxic gases may become corroded and leak. Combustion chambers can shut down. If you don’t know what you’re doing, the cost of fixing your mistakes can be much higher than if you hired someone in the first place. Central air conditioning systems are made up of coils, fins, filters, and other components that can drive a novice crazy. Maintaining window air conditioners is easier for DIYers, but it’s best to hire an HVAC company that will: Clean and tighten terminals and connections Add refrigerant Inspect for leakage and dried seal ducts Measure airflow Adjust the thermostat Grease up motors Replace cracked belts. It may seem strange to fuss with the AC during a cold and snowy Colorado winter. Calling a technician sooner than later — when they’re not so busy — can save you money and have your system ready for the summer. Plumbing Changing a toilet seat or tweaking the flusher is easy, but messing with heavy clogs, broken pipes, sewer odor, water leaks, and the lack of hot water is a job for a professional. Frozen pipes can lead to serious damage. Be ready to hire a plumber when you hear loud noises in the pipes. Gutters and Roofing Is your life insurance policy paid up? Because climbing a ladder to clean out the gutters is a safety risk. Consider purchasing a protective system to keep fallen leaves and debris out of gutter lanes. If that’s not in the cards, hire a handyman (who’s bonded and insured) to do the job. Roof surfaces are angled; even the slightest tasks are dangerous. Roofing inspectors will check on and repair loose rubber, damaged flashing, shingles, and missing mortar. Do It Yourself? Inside Cleaning Deep indoor cleaning is something most people can do themselves. Washing windows, scrubbing bathrooms, and polishing appliances is something you can accomplish in an afternoon. But when it comes to getting your home ready to sell, having the carpet or hard floor surfaces professionally cleaned lets your buyers see themselves in a more pristine environment. Besides, it’s easier than renting one of those heavy machines you don’t know how to use. Those machines often leave a film on your carpet that attracts more dirt. Lawn care Hiring a company to treat your sod for weeds is cost-effective, especially if you have more than an acre of grass to cover. And lawn care mistakes like applying too much fertilizer can be expensive to fix. You can save more than a few bucks by weeding flower beds, pruning bushes, and mowing your lawn before bringing in a pro to take care of the edging, aerating, and fertilizing. Doing small household chores yourself (or getting your kids motivated to earn a few bucks) is a way to save money. But sometimes, it’s better — and safer — to let the pros handle the big stuff. Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast who spends her weekends mowing her 5-acre lawn. She’s an avid do-it-yourselfer who refurbishes anything she can get her hands on.