Don’t Let The Cold Weather Ruin Your Carpets
There’s plenty to love about wintertime: skiing, sledding, and of course, the holidays. However, increased foot traffic and wintery ground conditions can put your carpet to the test. Stick to these carpet cleaning tips from A Personal Touch Cleaning in Littleton and expect a great-looking carpet all season long. Dirty Snow Stains Long ago, before the advent of cars, trucks, and general industry, snow remained more or less white. Nowadays, it’s only a matter of time before the snow that collects on your street and in your driveway acquires a “dirty” texture, which when tracked into a home can leave unsightly stains on the carpet. You can eliminate these by applying soapy water to the affected area, gently blotting over the stain until it disappears. Once it’s gone, you have two choices for removing any excess water: a dry white towel and a vacuum. Go with the latter option if there’s still some loose dirt around the area. Christmas Tree Care For many people, a Christmas tree is the item that ties an entire room together during the holidays. But before you can gather the family for decorating and sing-alongs, you need to get the tree into the house. Simply dragging the tree in is a no-go, since the tree is liable to pick up dirt and snow along the way, which is then deposited on your carpet. A sound solution is to wrap the tree in a plastic sheet from the time you purchase it until the minute you reach your front door. Remove the sheet (and the dirt, snow, and detritus that no doubt cling to it) and introduce your clean, fresh tree to the family. Another big tree-related to-do: waterproofing the area where the tree stand is placed. Make sure the stand doesn’t contact the carpet directly, or you could be left with an unsightly post-holiday dirt ring on the carpet. Another necessary precaution is to avoid overwatering the tree: too much dirty tree water is liable to spill over the edges of the waterproofed area. Humidity We know what you’re thinking: “In the dead of winter, why would I give a hoot about humidity?” A fair question, until you consider that all of the snow that gets tracked into your house doesn’t stay frozen. It melts, and the build-up of water will increase your home’s humidity level and create an environment that encourages mildew growth in your carpet. The solution is two-fold: keep the heat inside your home at the recommended level, and vacuum frequently so that moisture and dirt don’t have a chance to seep into your carpet. Shoes/Boots We know this is carpet care 101, but here’s a friendly reminder to put a snow rug just inside your door(s). Shoes and boots are by far the most common way that dirty snow is introduced into a home, but a combination of a snow rug/shoe rack/insistence that shoes aren’t allowed inside will be a big help in maintaining a clean carpet. Here To Help, All Winter Long If at any point this winter you a professional’s help with carpet cleaning or carpet repair, contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Having served Littleton for decades, across all four seasons, you’ll find our expertise is invaluable when it comes to cleaning and preserving your carpets. Call us today at 720.344.2870 or use our online contact form to request your free estimate. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Protecting Your Home’s Carpet From Furniture
As a leading provider of professional carpet cleaning services in Englewood, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning fields plenty of carpet-care questions from customers. One of the most popular is, “What are some things I can do to protect my carpet from furniture?” Here are a few tips from our experts. Use Furniture Coasters Sometimes simple objects are the most useful – for example, furniture coasters. These are nothing more than small discs placed under the legs of heavy furniture, everything from beds and armoires to entertainment consoles and couches. It may seem surprising, but coasters actually minimize the chances of furniture making permanent dents in the carpet beneath. The discs absorb and redistribute the furniture’s weight, thus preventing the furniture from pushing directly into the carpet’s pile. Rotate Your Furniture While it’s true that using carpet coasters will reduce the frequency at which you should rotate your furniture, we highly recommend continuing a periodic rotation. Doing so goes a long way towards ensuring your living room is free of spots where the furniture has permanently crushed the carpet/pile into the nap. Of course, the fact that carpet manufacturers nowadays can make carpets with different “crush resistance” is something that shouldn’t be discounted – but even if you’ve invested in carpet with a high crush resistance, rotating your furniture still offers plenty of peace of mind. Rearranging the furniture can seem like a pain, but it’s something you only need to do once every year or two. An annual rotation can extend your carpet’s lifespan by a factor of years, and it’s also a good opportunity to give your room a fresh look. Choosing The Right Padding Even though nobody sees a carpet’s padding, it’s still a vital component for reasons such as sound insulation, cleaning, and comfort. The padding also matters in terms of a carpet’s “dent potential” – specifically, a thin, firm pad is better at preventing carpet dents than a thicker, softer pad. On the flipside, the latter type of padding delivers superior noise-reduction and underfoot comfort. So it’s a matter of personal preference, as long as you remember that a thick-padded carpet will require more diligence on your part in terms of furniture coasters and rotating. Consider Caster Caps Caster caps serve a function similar to that of furniture coasters, but with a different approach to the dent problem. One side of the cap is a rubber circle that attaches to the feet of the furniture. The other side is comprised of numerous small “spikes” that separate the carpet strands, instead of indenting. Like coasters, very heavy furniture may still leave dents in the carpet, but vacuuming over the dents will restore the carpet to its original look. All Of Your Carpet Questions, Answered Whether you have questions about carpet cleaning, carpet repair, or new carpet installation, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has the answers. And along with helping you get the most out of your carpet, we also assist with upholstery cleaning, spot removal, and much more. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Are Your Carpets Making Your Allergies Worse?
Whereas wood floors and area rugs were the norm in the first half of the 20th century, a marked shift in tastes and costs has greatly increased the popularity of wall-to-wall carpeting in apartments and homes. Carpet is a great insulator and it cuts down on slips and falls, but it can also make allergies worse. Our Littleton, CO carpet cleaning company looks at how. Mold and Mildew Wherever there is unattended water or moisture in a home, mold or mildew is sure to follow. These allergens are equally amenable to growing upon wood and paper as they are in promulgating within a damp carpet or carpet pad. Mold and mildew allergies are two of the most common possessed by human beings, so if you’re wondering why your allergies are acting up while you’re sitting on your living room couch, the presence of mold and mildew could be the answer. If you’ve experienced flooding, a burst pipe, or the like, the affected area needs to be dried immediately before mold and mildew can set in. This is where the carpet cleaning services provided by A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning will really come in handy. Carpet Is an Allergen Trap The very nature of carpet makes it a natural trap for all sorts of allergens. Mold and mildew as mentioned above, but also pollen, pet dander, insect debris, and cigarette smoke. The level at which these things can become trapped in your carpet depend on the type of carpet you have and the thickness of the pile, but even the thinnest carpet contains fibers that accrue allergens. Over time, these substances can cause big problems for people with allergies, even if you vacuum frequently. If you suspect that your carpet is exacerbating the symptoms felt by your home’s allergy sufferers, we recommend contacting our local carpet cleaners and making an appointment for a professional steam clean. In fact, this is something we recommend our customers do at least once a year, regardless of whether allergies are involved. Dust Mites Dust is right up there with mold and mildew on the list of “most common allergies”. Dust is everywhere, and it’s especially prevalent in carpet. Of course, this creates the perfect breeding conditions for dust mites, which multiply quickly and can cause big problems for allergy sufferers. The longer you go without cleaning your carpet, the more likely it is that dust mites will become a major source of coughing and sneezing in your household. Tips For Keeping Allergens In Check Vacuum Regularly For households with pets or kids (and by extension, discernable high-traffic areas), we recommend vacuuming daily. Carpeted areas that see medium traffic should be vacuumed a couple of times a week, and even low-traffic zones require vacuuming at least once per week. Minimize Dirt Dirt is a carrier of allergens, and so the less dirt on your carpet, the better. Make sure you have doormats at each of your home’s entrances so people can wipe their shoes. Or even better, ask people to take their shoes off before walking on the carpet. Clean Non-Carpet Allergen Sources Along with maintaining a clean carpet, make sure to clean other allergen sources in your home: upholstery, drapes, blinds, and the like. Schedule a Professional Carpet Cleaning Carpet can be tough on allergy sufferers, but proper maintenance and cleaning go a long way towards alleviating many symptoms. Contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning and learn more about protecting your family’s health and well-being. Call us today at 720.344.2870 or use our online contact form to request your free estimate. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Repairing Carpet vs. Repairing an Area Rug
If you’re seeking expert rug repair near Littleton, you might be wondering what the differences are between repairing a carpet and repairing an area rug. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, serving the Denver metro area, compares the two approaches. Repairing an Area Rug How Do We Define an Area Rug? An area rug is made of heavy fabric no larger than 6’ x 9’ in size (anything larger is technically a carpet). The biggest difference between an area rug and a carpet is that the latter is attached to the subfloor while the former is not. Area rugs typically have a nap or pile and come in a variety of styles: braided, rag, woven, and oriental are some of the most popular. Problems Associated With an Area Rug Over time, several issues can arise with an area rug. Spills and burns are among the most common problems, as are frayed edges. Also, bound rugs require rebinding, while braided rugs can come unbraided. Minor area rug repair can sometimes be accomplished by the rug owner – but for complex repairs, it’s best to contact a professional rug repair company serving Denver. Identifying/Repairing a Rug Problem Further to the above, here’s a brief summary of how certain rug problems are identified/repaired: If the edges fray, they can be sewed If a jute rug’s edges fray, they can be trimmed and bound If a braided rug comes unbraided, it can be re-braided and re-bound Any cuts or tears in an area rug can be patched with tape or resewn Repairing Carpet How Do We Define Carpet? As noted above, the two biggest differences between carpet and an area rug are size, and the fact that carpet is attached to the subfloor. Unlike an area rug, carpet almost always has a pad beneath it. Also, carpeting for large rooms usually has a seam that connects two pieces together. Popular carpet fabrics include nylon, wool, polyester, and acrylic. Problems Associated With Carpet All carpet is prone to wear and tear, relative to the amount of foot traffic it endures. Pet damage, food spills, burns, and tears are all common problems associated with carpet. Also, seamed carpet can separate over time. Regular vacuuming can extend a carpet’s lifespan by removing dirt and grit that gradually wears down the carpet’s fabric/pile. Bigger repair jobs, i.e. split seams, tears, and bad stains, should be left to an experienced carpet repair company. Identifying/Repairing a Carpet Problem Here’s an overview of how carpet problems that can be identified/repaired by the homeowner: If a section of carpet is flattened, use a metal pet brush to restore the carpet’s fullness For minor burns, the singed fibers can be snipped off with cuticle scissors Shag or Berber carpets have loops that can loosen over time. This problem is alleviated by either reinserting these loops into the backing (you’ll need an awl for this), or cutting off the loose loops. Some spills and stains can be remedied with an oxygen cleaner and/or a pet-stain remover If something sticky gets stuck in the carpet, apply ice to the affected area Work with an Experienced Carpet Repairer A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning is dedicated to keeping your home’s interior in pristine condition. Along with expert carpet and area rug repair, we specialize in bed bug eradication, upholstery cleaning, and more. Contact us today for a free estimate. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Carpet
Spring is right around the corner, and it’s a great time to clean your carpets. Here are some spring cleaning tips for your carpet, courtesy of A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Treat Your Carpet to a Deep Clean Over the course of a winter, your carpet will have accrued months’ worth of germs, dirt, hair, and body oil. A deep clean is what your carpet needs in order to look brand-new again just in time for warmer weather. But before you undertake a wall-to-wall shampooing of your carpet, test the carpet cleaning machine and cleaning solution in a small, out-of-the-way area to confirm that they won’t discolor your carpet or cause the dyes to run. After your test run, move your furniture only slightly from its current position and place a small square of wax paper under all furniture legs. This wax paper will not only keep the legs dry, it will also protect your carpet while it dries. During or immediately after the deep clean is finished, open your windows to accelerate the drying process, which will take at least a day and maybe longer, depending on carpet size, outside temperature, etc. Consider a Steam Cleaner A Colorado winter can leave many carpets looking worse for the wear. Your first instinct might be to plug in your vacuum and go to work, but even the best vacuums will have a hard time dislodging dirt and grime that’s accrued uninterrupted for three or four months straight. In these cases you need something stronger, like a steam cleaner. These machines have no trouble cleaning dirty areas, lifting out stains, and making carpets look brand-new again. Steam cleaners work with specific detergent types, so make sure you have the right detergent on-hand before beginning. While steam-cleaning a carpet is highly effective, it’s a time-consuming process that can also be quite loud. Also, steam cleaners are much heavier than ordinary vacuum cleaners, a fact which will likely see you needing to take a break every so often – especially when you factor in the need to empty the cleaner’s dirty water reservoir periodically. Moreover, the intensity with which a steam cleaner “attacks” your carpet’s dirt and stains can render the carpet very damp and necessitate a significant amount of drying time. The bottom line is, if you want to steam-clean your carpet, set aside a considerable amount of time for the project. And if you have kids, you might want to see them off to grandma and grandpa’s house for a couple of days so that you have the entire house (and carpet) to yourself. What to do About Rugs Unlike carpets, rugs don’t require annual/biannual cleaning. In fact, you can go 4 – 5 years without thoroughly cleaning a rug – up to 10 years for a rug that isn’t tread upon much. Stains can be removed with household items like club soda, but any dye or acid-based stains (coffee, red wine, soda pop, etc.) should be addressed straightaway. The key with rugs is that you don’t want to over-clean them, as this exacerbates wear and tear. At A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, prepping carpets for spring is one of our many expert carpet cleaning services near Littleton. Contact us online today for a free quote.
How to Rid a Carpet of Salt Stains
Winter brings lots of things – some of them fun, others not so much. Salt stains on your car or home’s carpet fall into the latter category. Good thing A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning in Littleton is here with some helpful advice on how to rid your carpet of salt stains and keep everything fresh and clean all winter long! Step 1: Create an effective liquid solution Take a spray bottle (if you don’t have a bottle, use a mop bucket or bowl) and fill it with ½ white vinegar and ½ warm water. Sure, there are many things that smell better than vinegar, but not many of them can match vinegar’s cleaning power. If you don’t have vinegar or prefer not to work with it, you can substitute it with dishwashing detergent, but chances are it won’t be as effective. Step 2: Apply the solution to the affected area Spray-bottle users should spray the stained area until it’s completely covered. If you’re not using a spray bottle, pour enough solution on the spot so that it’s completely saturated. When you’re finished, take a scrub brush or a toothbrush and begin scrubbing the area. Be careful not to scrub too hard, since the goal is to stir up and remove the salt. Scrubbing too hard can result in the salt digging itself even deeper into the carpet. A light scrubbing of the affected area will stir the stain to the surface. Step 3: Dry the area When you’re satisfied that the area is thoroughly scrubbed and that the stain has been lifted to the surface, take a clean, dry towel and dab the area completely. The aim here is to absorb the stain from the top of the carpet, so dab gently lest you push the stain back into the carpet. Step 4: Remove the towel When the towel is soaked through, remove it. If liquid still remains on the carpet, take another towel and repeat the dabbing process until the affected area is dry. Another option is to incorporate a wet/dry vacuum into the process. If you go this route, dab the area once with a towel and then use the vacuum to remove the salt stain. Using a vacuum has the added bonus of helping remove the vinegar smell. Should the stain still be visible after dabbing/vacuuming, repeat steps 1 – 4. It isn’t uncommon for a salt stain to resist the initial cleaning, but stick with this plan and your carpet should be clean again in no time. Step 5: Negate the smell As mentioned at the outset, vinegar’s downside is its strong smell. Negate this by immediately exposing the affected area to fresh air after cleaning. If the stain was on your car floor mats, hang them out to dry or put them in the dryer. If the stain was indoors, run a fan by the location and open any nearby windows (provided it isn’t too cold outside). If you want, spray a deodorizer around the area. Keep these options going until the smell is gone. For more information regarding carpet cleaning near Littleton, contact the specialists at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning – serving the entire Denver metro area.
The 5 Types of Stains That Require Professional Carpet Cleaning
Unless the room is relatively unused, your carpet takes more abuse than most areas of your home. After all, the carpet gets regular foot traffic and that might include many different types of shoes, that are tracking in any number of things from the outdoors. There’s a reason most people’s grandmothers had plastic runners in their “good rooms” and didn’t let anyone in the house without taking off their shoes. Todays carpets, if well maintained, can last many years and look just as beautiful as the day they were installed. It’s usually recommended that you vacuum at least once a week to maintain the look of your carpet. If the room gets a lot of foot traffic, you may need to vacuum more often. For a room that’s rarely used, you may only want to vacuum as is necessary to keep dust at bay. It’s also recommended that you have your carpets professionally cleaned once every year or two. In the case of stains, it’s highly recommended that you treat them immediately. We offer care instructions that work great for stain removal when an accident is taken care of immediately. However, even the most diligent maintenance won’t always work on every stain. In those cases, a professional carpet cleaning and stain removal will help you restore your carpet. 5 Types of Stains That May Need a Professional Carpet Cleaning There are a number of stains that can be difficult to remove from carpeting without the right expertise. You also want to be very careful with removal products because they can cause discoloration or damage to your carpet. Here are a list of some of the most common types of stains that can be too difficult to remove without a professional cleaning. Red Wine / Dark Juices. Red wine and dark juices can leave a very noticeable stain that’s exceptionally difficult to remove. These spills are also very common, which is why many parents switched to white grape and lighter juices. Coffee. Many coffee drinkers will take it everywhere with them but because of the color, it’s a difficult stain to remove. Treating the stain immediately will help your chances. However, if you don’t notice the stain until it’s set, a professional cleaning might be your best option. Grass. Grass stains are notoriously difficult to treat on any type of fabric, especially carpet. It’s preferable to make sure people take off their shoes, especially if they’ve been working out in the yard. But that’s not always possible with children and a lively household. Blood. Blood stains are very common and exceptionally difficult to remove. There’s no real way to protect your carpet from these stains because, obviously, these are often caused by an accidental cut or injury. Grease. Grease might come from any number of areas. This might be from spilling greasy food or from someone working with machinery. Grease spills happen more often than you might think. Use the removal method linked above but, in many cases, you’ll want a professional cleaning to keep your carpet looking its best. Are You in Need of a Professional Carpet Cleaning? If you’re in need of a professional carpet cleaning to remove spots or just to maintain your floors, the experts at A Personal Touch can help. Contact us today to discuss your needs: 720-344-2870 or send a message online.
Caring for Your Wool Rugs
Wool rugs can provide excellent wear for years, as long as you treat your rugs right. By using our tips for the best wool rug care, you can keep your carpets looking great. A few of the things you can do to protect your rugs and extend their life: 1. Vacuum regularly with the right attachment. Dirt can get ground into your wool carpet because of the loose construction. In fact, even when your rugs do not look dirty, they may have dirt and dust that you cannot see. A wool carpet can hold up to a pound of dirt per square foot before looking dirty. When this happens, the particles can cause friction and wear on your rug’s fibers. You should go over the area at least once a week, more for high traffic areas. When vacuuming, do not use the rotary brush on loop pile rugs, such as Berber. The yarn may get caught and fray. Use the floor tool to prevent damage to your rug. 2. Spot clean when necessary. If liquid spills on your rug, add water and blog the liquid up gently. Do not use highly alkaline cleaning solutions, such as those that are ammonia-based. These cleaners can cause damage to the fibers of wool carpets. Wipe up liquids right away to avoid permanent stains. 3. Do not try to deep clean yourself. Wool rugs should be washed about once a year. Your wool rugs, whether they are wall to wall carpet or area rugs, should only be cleaned by professionals. Wool carpets can absorb a lot more water than synthetic ones do, which means they can be hard to move around and hard to thoroughly dry if you try to go it alone. Call us for carpet cleaning in Littleton to keep your rug looking fresh. We offer carpet cleaning with high quality tools like the Rug Badger and bring years of experience to the job. Get in touch today to learn how we can help your carpets last longer and look great. Call us today at 720-344-2870 or use our online contact form to request your free estimate. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
How to Care for Area Rugs
Rugs can beautify the home, but it takes special care to keep them looking their best. By keeping up with the following, you can ensure that they continue to look great for years to come. In addition to hiring professional carpet cleaning in Denver and the surrounding areas, you can do a lot at home to maintain your rugs. Vacuum regularly. Dirt and grime can get lodged into your rug. This grit can rub against fibers, causing premature wear. Vacuum the rug regularly to get dirt out, concentrating especially well on high traffic areas. Experts recommend four to six passes in most areas, up to a dozen in areas that are high traffic. Get deep cleanings periodically. You should also consider deep cleaning periodically to get what vacuum cleaners can’t. Hire a professional company for carpet cleaning. A company that uses heavy duty equipment like the RugBadger can get out deep grime and keep your carpets in good condition. On average, you should get your rug deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months, or more often if they are showing wear and grime. Shake out small area rugs. If you can easily pick up a rug, take it outdoors to shake out dirt and dust. You will find that a lot of what your vacuum misses comes out this way. Ensure that you are in an area where debris will not cause irritation to neighbors. Brush out pet hair. If you have animals in your house, you may wind up with fur in your rugs that your vacuum can’t remove. A stiff brush can help get this out. Alternately, try rubbing the surface of your carpet with a rubber glove. The hair catches on the glove, allowing you to easily scoop it up and out. Special Treatment for Wool Rugs Wool rugs can be delicate and need special care. Never use a vacuum head that has a beater bar on your wool rug, as these can cause abrasions on your rug. Vacuum regularly to prevent dirt from causing wear and damage. Blot up all spills immediately to avoid staining. When it comes time to deep clean, trust these rugs to a professional to avoid shrinkage or damage. Interior rugs need protection from the rigors of daily traffic to keep doing their job. With just a bit of special treatment, including regular carpet cleaning in Littleton and the surrounding areas, you can protect your rugs and keep them looking great for years. Call us today at 720-344-2870 or use our online contact form to request your free estimate. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”