Save your carpets! Have them cleaned by a professional like A Personal Touch
Carpet and rugs can make or break a room. When you walk in and they look clean and fresh, you pretty much assume that everything else will be in line. That’s a great first impression! Make a commitment to yourself to get your carpets cleaned. Dirt can act like an abrasive like pumice stones or sandpaper. Every time dirt is moved on your carpet, such as when you walk or when the dog rolls around, dirt is ground into the fibers of your carpet cutting them just as if you were using a knife. This damage causes your carpet to wear out faster so the cleaner the carpet, the longer lasting it will be. Vacuuming regularly and with the right equipment will help but it is not enough on its own. The more time between cleanings, the more dirt gets ground in and the more irreversible damage is done to your carpet and the sooner it needs to be replaced. There are multiple benefits to cleaning your carpets and rugs. Air can contain fungi, bacteria, pollen, particulates, smoke, exhaust and hundreds of chemicals in addition to the oxygen we require. Most of those particles and chemicals find their way into your home, onto your carpet and other household fabrics. Cleaning your carpets regularly can help reduce symptoms from breathing problems such as allergies, asthma and emphysema. Are all carpet cleaning methods the same? You can choose from the two main methods of carpet cleaning, which are dry cleaning and hot water extraction. Many people believe that dry cleaning your carpet is like dry cleaning your clothes, this is not correct. There are three common methods of dry cleaning carpets. Dry Foam When a carpet cleaner uses dry foam he applies shampoo to your carpet, lets it dry and then it’s vacuumed up. This method can leave a residue on your carpet which can attract dirt and require cleaning more frequently. Can you imagine applying shampoo to your hair and removing it from your head with a vacuum after it’s dry? Dry Chemical The dry chemical method is similar to the dry foam method with a few key differences. With this method a large cotton bonnet is placed on your carpet and absorbs the dirt as it spins from side to side. Once the bonnet is saturated with dirt, another bonnet is used. This method is similar to using a large towel to rub the dirt out of your carpet. The dry compound method uses a mixture of compounds resembling wet sawdust that absorbs the dirt after it is spread and brushed into your carpet. When the compound dries it is removed via a vacuum and can be left behind depending on the power of the suction. This can not only add to the particulates in your carpet, but can also act as an abrasive causing additional damage. Hot Water Extraction Hot water extraction, or as it is more commonly known, steam cleaning, though no steam is used. There are two types of hot water extraction, portable or truck mounted. The portable method uses a small machine that can be brought into difficult places such as high rise buildings. Portable machines do not have the levels of temperature, suction and pressure that truck mounted units can reach and therefore are not quite as effective. Truck mounted units use a cleaning solution that is lightly sprayed onto your carpet and then removed using water at temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit and with 450 pounds per square inch of pressure. The water is infused with a light rinsing agent and then removed with 12 inches of vacuum suction. This combination of light cleaning solution, high heat, high pressure and heavy duty suction allows for the carpet to receive a deep clean while removing the excess water and leaving no residue on your carpet. Some people believe that hot water damages your carpet but this is simply not true. Hot water extraction is the method recommended by Shaw Industries, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer. By washing and then rinsing your carpet with hot water we clean your carpet completely. The difference is similar to the level of cleanliness a person who showers receives versus a person who takes only a sponge bath. What about pet stains and odors? Option 1: Either get rid of the pet or don’t own one to start with. NOT an option! Can you imagine not sharing your life with your pet? Of course not! Option 2: Evaluate the Conditions. You can’t solve your pet stain problems without knowing the scope of the damage. You need a qualified professional to help you with this. We offer an evaluation service for free. We use special urine detection equipment to locate spots and ascertain how severe the damage is. We’ll tell you what we find and offer you a number of options to remedy the situation. To solve urine problems effectively, each and every spot must be identified and cleaned properly. A Personal Touch offers several different options for pet stain and odor removal, so why do it yourself when we offer: Guaranteed Odor Removal: 99% successful Pulling up your carpet to replace the contaminated padding. Seal the floor and clean the backside of the carpet. Seal the tuft bind (back side) to seal out any remaining residue (encapsulation). Clean the top side and deodorize, followed by reinstallation Replacement: 100% successful If replacement is your choice, you must thoroughly clean the sub-floor and disinfect/seal it properly. We perform this service and we also recommend a reputable floor covering company to purchase and install new carpet. Cost varies depending on carpet and installation circumstances. Cleaning up pet accidents is no fun. It’s advised to call a professional such as A Personal Touch to deal with pet accidents. It’s better to use paper towels to absorb and scoop up the solids with a spoon… as much as possible then call us for further advice. Protect your carpet and upholstery investment with a call to
Frequent Cleaning, Vacuuming, and Spot Cleaning Will Extend the Life of Your Carpets and Upholstery
If you have kids, pets, or a household full of people then you know how hard it is to keep on up cleaning! Maintaining and keeping a clean carpet is more than just cleaning and prolonging the life of the carpet; it’s about being healthy too! Did you know that allergens can get trapped and live in your carpet fibers? If you have just laid carpet then you are already aware of the expenses involved with doing so. A clean carpet will add value to the home if it is well maintained, and it will also help to protect your new carpet investment. Regular vacuuming and spot cleaning will also help keep odors to a minimum, and it will help to make a comfortable and allergen-free home for your friends and your family. How often should I deep clean my carpets? Make sure that you get a deep cleaning of the carpet at least every 6-12 months. To achieve a deep cleaning for your carpet, you’ll need to have it cleaned by a professional, such as A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Clean up spills as they happen Keep your eye out for spills and take care of them quickly to keep your carpet clean. For most stains, blotting it with water should do the trick. For tougher stains or stains that have been sitting, you can try a mixture of water and vinegar on the stain. Apply the mixture, let it sit for 1-2 minutes then blot it out. By taking immediate action you can prevent spills from becoming stains that leave you with a permanent stains, messes or odors. Vacuum regularly in between deep cleanings You should vacuum your carpets weekly. The best method for vacuuming is to go over the carpet in several different directions to allow the vacuum time to pick up all it can. High quality vacuums are the best for picking up the most dirt, dust, and pollen and you can find some more vacuuming tips here. Stop the dirt at the door Keep from tracking dirt, soil, and mud into your house by using a single entrance and remove your shoes at the door to keep most of the tracked soils off the surface of the carpet. Put entrance mats outside of your doors and make sure that anyone who enters your home use the mats to help get debris and dirt off of their shoes before they enter. You can also take off your shoes and request that guests do the same, prior to entering your home. Around 80% of the dirt that enters your home are dry. The remaining 20% are greases, oils, and starches. The dry soil types are easily removed by vacuuming. As long as they are removed on a regular basis, it will help to minimize the damage to the carpet. Protect your carpet and upholstery investment with a call to A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning Services today. We can’t wait to help you say goodbye to dirt, dust, soil and allergens! Call us today at 720-344-2870. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.” Refer a friend and receive a $25.00 gift certificate for your next cleaning.
Pet Stain and Odors Most Frequent Reason for Calls
We love our pets but it can be difficult to clean up when they create stains and odors on our carpets or upholstery! Quick action is necessary when dealing with pet stains and odors because the longer they sit, the harder they can be to get rid of! However, nearly every pet damage situation can be handled without any lasting effects with these tips and tricks and a professional cleaning at least once per year! Phil Dreessen, Owner of A Personal Touch, says “Pet stains and odors rank right up there with the most frequent reasons people call us and we have seen it all. The important thing to remember is that with quick action even the most valuable carpets, rugs and upholstery can be restored to their intended beauty and value, with stains and odors removed.” To help eliminate pet odors or stains in your carpet, the stains must be removed entirely or neutralized from the carpet and in some cases, the underside of the carpet and the carpet padding or even the subfloor. Pet odor paint such as Kilz can help “seal” damaged subfloor and help prevent new pet “accidents” from causing more damage. If the pet stain isn’t severe and is caught early, it can be successfully cleaned with white vinegar and baking soda and this mixture is safe for your pets! Mix the white vinegar and baking soda together into a paste then work it into the stain with an old toothbrush, cleaning as deeply as possible. Once the paste dries then you can vacuum it up. Stubborn stains make take more than one treatment. White vinegar is also a natural odor neutralizer and will handle almost all cases of pet odor. A Personal Touch recommends using a black light to locate pet odors that cannot be seen. Once the pet urine dries, it crystallizes and these crystals must be eliminated to get rid of the odor. To locate the site of such problems, use a black light in a darkened room as urine and urine crystals will glow in that light. Severe or long-term pet stains and odor almost always has to be dealt with by a professional. We use deep-cleaning steam cleaners and enzyme-based odor eliminator products, and we know from vast experience which ones work best. We are also experts at pulling up carpeting, replacing the pad, and repairing and restoring stained fabric. If the pet odor problem is long-standing, a full remediation may also require replacing the sub flooring (wood or concrete), removing and replacing tainted wall trim, and perhaps cutting and replacing wall boards and repainting, all services we perform. In some extreme cases the carpeting may need to be replaced, however the area still needs professional treatment because once the odor-causing crystals have soaked into the area around the carpet, simply replacing the carpet will do nothing to permanently eliminating pet odors. After cleaning by a professional, carpets and fine upholstered furniture should be regularly vacuumed and prompt action on pet stains and odors will help ensure they last the 20 to 25 years they were intended for. For more information please call 720-344-2870. A Personal Touch offers of full range of carpet cleaning and restoration services, and we also clean air ducts, tile and grout, and we have mastered the art of bedbug eradication as well. Remember, quick action in cleaning pet stains and odors protects your carpet and furniture investment. Relying on an expert will ensure the carpets and upholstery in your home receives the care and maintenance it deserves. 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.”
Pet and stubborn stain removal tips
Pet and other stubborn stain removal depends on how old the stains are. Older stains are going to demand a lot of effort while fresh stains are a bit easier to clean up. Don’t worry if your pet stains are older! You may not be completely successful in remove the pet stains, but you can always improve its condition! The basics Start with towels soaked with hot water. Apply the towels on top of the stain. The stain should transfer from the carpet to the towels. Repeat several times. This works best with fresh stains. Pet stains Use one teaspoon of ammonia to a half cup of cold water. Use this solution in a spray bottle or apply it to the carpet directly. Be careful not to wet the carpets too much when you apply the solution. After you have applied the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely. You can use hand soap or dish soap instead of ammonia. Use one quarter of a teaspoon soap to one quart of water. You should always make sure the soap doesn’t contain bleach or lanolin as it may damage the carpet. Beer and wine stains Mix a solution with one part white vinegar and one part water and apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate the area. Allow the stain to sit around for approximately ten to fifteen minutes. Use a sponge or towel to soak up the excess. Rinse the area with warm water and then apply layers of white paper towels on top of the area. Next, place something of weight onto the paper towels and allow to dry. Once dry you can then brush the carpet pile back into its natural shape. Gum Ice works well to get gum out of carpet! Put a small pile of ice on the gum and let it sit on the gum until it is hardened. Once frozen, the gum becomes brittle and you may be able to remove it. If this doesn’t work, try another option. Peanut butter can be an effective way to remove gum from carpet. Start with a small spoonful of peanut butter and place it on the gum. Use a spoon to mix into the gum and let stand for three minutes. Rub with a spoon to loosen the gum and then wipe the area with a wet rag using a picking, circular motion. After the gum has been removed, use a rag with warm water to rinse the area. Blot dry with paper towel. Apply lighter fluid on the gum for a few minutes and then wipe the gum until it comes out. You can also soak the carpet with the WD-40 and rub. If it doesn’t work the first time, try again. The gum should come out after a couple of applications. If all else fails, then call A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning! We are your pet and stain removal experts! Keep your carpets beautiful and call us today at 720-344-2870 or use our online contact form to request your free carpet cleaning estimate. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Pet-Proofing Extends Carpet Life
Our four-legged friends love the outdoors. So much so that they often bring the outdoors in when they return home. Short of standing guard at the door or pet flap, there are some things you can do to protect your carpet, rugs, and flooring from assaults by your four-footed friends. Our four-legged friends love the outdoors. So much so that they often bring the outdoors in when they return home. Short of standing guard at the door or pet flap, there are some things you can do to protect your carpet, rugs, and flooring from assaults by your four-footed friends. Moisture is one of fiber’s greatest enemies. The two most important steps to waterproofing your carpet and rugs are what they’re made of. A pad with a moisture barrier is the foundation for a carpet that can be kept clean over time. Also surface-treating the fibers with a water repellant spray after a deep cleaning will protect fibers from absorbing dirt that comes in on paws and shoes. A carpet pad by its nature holds moisture for a long time. If not properly dried out, that moisture will eventually cause a porous substrate like wood to degenerate quickly. A pad with a moisture barrier prevents the liquid from soaking through the pad, keeping it in the carpet where it can be blotted up. It’s a must-have if you are installing new or replacement carpet. Protective spray helps rugs and carpets repel moisture as well as offering superior resistance to soiling. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaners offers professional application of top-quality DuPont Teflon® Advanced Carpet and Upholstery Protector to keep your floor coverings clean, fresh and bright. When professionally applied, it will fight moisture, stains and dirt for a year minimum. Your carpet should be cleaned annually by qualified professionals and at the time it’s cleaned the soil resistor should be re-applied to protect the carpet you’ve just paid to clean. In lighter use rooms, the protective spray will outlast a cleaning, so you only have to have the spray applied every other cleaning. Area rugs are a good solution to keeping pet problems confined. Place area rugs at entrances whether carpeted or not. Apply a non-slip backing tape on them to keep them in place. Even if your pet ruins the throw rug, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to replace than carpet. We’ve seen some people use plastic sheeting or mats for protection, but many pets will avoid them because they’re slippery. Both pet and human traffic bring dirt, debris and moisture into your home and onto your carpets and rugs. That’s why an annual professional cleaning is your best insurance for keeping them at their best for many years of life. Most carpet manufacturers won’t honor a carpet warranty if you don’t professionally clean your carpet each year. If you need extra protection from pets and their human companions, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaners is here to help. There are lots of companies who call themselves “carpet cleaners,” but many use cheap, quick methods that don’t do a good job of deep cleaning and may actually void the warranty on your carpet. Deep Soil Carpet Cleaning by A Personal Touch is done with a powerful truck-mounted steam cleaning system operated by IICRC-certified technicians personally selected and trained by our company’s founder and owner to deliver the finest carpet cleaning available on Colorado’s Front Range. Dirt, stains, and odors from pets can’t stand up to our double-edged attack of carefully selected cleaners and technicians who know how to use them. When everything is spotless, we apply a professional-grade fabric protector to extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking fresh and bright between cleanings. We also offer professional-quality cleaning products for touchups, and we’re just a call away when emergencies strike. Just give us a ring at 720.344.2870 or use our online contact form for any questions you may have. There is also a form on the page to request a free estimate. Then relax and enjoy your freshly cleaned and protected carpet and rugs with the confidence that comes from our company’s motto: “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Pet damage ranks high in service calls for professional carpet/upholstery cleaners
LITTLETON, CO – A friend of ours has a new puppy – golden lab mix – who is, of course, cute as a button, playful, loving, fun – and just a little bit messy. New puppies take a while to learn potty training, and then a little more time to get it right. Accidents happen – especially these days with everyone in the household working, the kids at school and that endearing puppy, or old friend grown-up dog, is left alone at home for hours at a time. Even confining the furry family member to a specific room only helps marginally – and what with all the freezing temperatures around the holidays and early January, what other choice could there be? Always among the top reasons people call A Personal Touch for services is damage, stains and odors left by our fuzzy friends. And no wonder – according to the 2011-12 National Humane Society Pet Owners Survey, there are 78.2 million dogs in America, with 39% of American households welcoming at least one dog into the family (of that number 40% have two or more dogs). And cats – yes, they are loveable too but also leave behind odors and stains – well, there are some 86.4 million of them out there, in 33% of U.S. homes, and more than half of the cat lovers have more than one. Plus, it isn’t all odors and stains from accidents that cats and dogs leave in our homes. Much as we try to dissuade them, these fluffy friskies have a well-known propensity for sleeping and otherwise lounging on the couches and chairs so sometimes it seems as though we got our furniture at a pet-factory sale. With pets, it is generally the carpets and the upholstery that take the beating when the dogs and cats have to go, get ill, or just when they lounge around leaving hair all over the place. And don’t forget that pets are not especially good at wiping their paws when eagerly coming inside from a muddy yard, and that too leaves a mark. At A Personal Touch our specialty is addressing the problems left behind by pets. Cleaning the carpets and upholstery is where we made our reputation, so there’s a never a worry that we can’t get those carpets, chairs and sofas back too pristine, company’s-coming shape in no time. Besides, a good cleaning by a professional from time to time is most often recommended by the carpet and furniture makers, and it help these expensive items last for years in beautiful shape (even if you don’t have pets!). But the real thing to worry about after some pet damage is the odor. Removing stains from the outer, visible layer is only half the job. Our highly trained technicians no how to go below what can be seen, reaching the stains and odors on the underside of carpeting, in the carpet pad and, in extreme circumstance, even the sub floor beneath. Same goes for upholstery – we work diligently, and expertly, to make sure we neutralize the pet odors in the padding. Left unattended, pet odors can linger in your home for ever – but treated quickly in the proper way no nose will ever know. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning offers multiple pet clean-up options, including carpet cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing, removal or repair of damaged carpet, and upholstery cleaning—the result of pets who like to get comfortable on the sofa or couch. If you have a pet – and it looks as though up to 40% of you do – give us a call at 720-344-2870 and we’ll mind their messes with expert care.
Pet stains and odors on valuable carpets and furniture require quick action
A Personal Touch, serving the Denver metro are for over 30 years, is an expert in pet damage. Here are things homeowners can do with pet ‘accidents’ and tips on when to call in the professionals. DENVER, CO – Carpeting and fine upholstered furniture are among the most valuable assets in any home, but the care of them sometimes collides directly with another of any family’s most prized assets, the family pet. People love their dogs and cats and consider them a part of the family, but sometimes – as puppies or kittens, during illnesses, in response to territorial or breeding instincts, or simply when accidents happen – carpeting and upholstery is soiled or sprayed, resulting in both staining and odors that can disrupt lifestyles and have serious consequences on the costly fabrics. The key to dealing with pet stains and odors is quick action, as the longer they go unattended and continue to soak through, the harder they are to eradicate. A Personal Touch, carpet and home cleaning experts serving the Denver metro area for over 30 years, has learned through experience the best methods of addressing pet damage in homes, and offers this primer on what homeowners can do and when to seek professional help. The good news, says A Personal Touch founder Phil Dreessen, is that nearly every pet damage situation can be handled without any lasting effects. “Pet stains and odors rank right up there with the most frequent reasons people call us,” he says,” and we have seen it all. The important thing to remember is that with quick action even the most valuable carpets, rugs and upholstery can be restored to their intended beauty and value, with stains and odors removed.” The issue of pet damage in the home is a large one because Americans are so enamored with pets. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), there are about 77 million dogs and 73 million cats in American homes, with 24% of dog owners and 51% of cat owners having two or more of their favorite furry friends. Including all pets, but of course led by dogs and cats, 62% of American households have animals. To eliminate pet odors in your carpet, stains must be removed or neutralized from the layers affected, including, in severe cases, the underside of the carpet, the carpet padding or the sub-floor. Left untreated, pet odor can become absorbed into word floors, baseboards and walls. Brand-new “accidents” can for the most part be dealt with successfully with pet odor products available at retail and rental cleaning equipment for steam cleaning. Homeowners are advised, however, to test products on an out-of-the-way portion of the carpet or furniture to make sure the cleaning product itself won’t stain or mar the fabric. A Personal Touch has discovered that most pet stains and odors, if caught early, can be addressed very successfully with white vinegar and baking soda, common household products that will in most cases outperform any retail product on the market. Mix the white vinegar and baking soda into a paste, work it into the stain with an old toothbrush, cleaning as deeply as possible, and when it dries simply vacuum it up. Pesky stains make take more than one treatment. White vinegar is also a natural odor neutralizer and will handle almost all cases of pet odor. The biggest problem is pet urine odor that can be particularly pungent and long-lasting. Once the urine dries it crystalizes and can be deeply seated in upholstery, carpets, carpet pads, sub-flooring and even walls and woodwork, and these crystals must be removed to do away with the odor. To locate the site of such problems, use a black light in a darkened room as urine and urine crystals will glow in that light. Long-term pet odor, however, almost always has to be dealt with by a professional. Regular consumer products and even home-market rental equipment for treating pet odor problems are really only meant for minor issues, and often just mask odor and clean only the surface of carpets and sofas. Pernicious pet odor problems, where the carpet backing has been stained, the sub floor inundated and where even walls and trims have been soaked, can only be addressed by a professional. Here at A Personal Touch we use deep-cleaning steam cleaners and enzyme-based odor eliminator products, and we know from vast experience which ones work best. We are also experts at pulling up carpeting, replacing the pad, and repairing and restoring stained fabric. If the pet odor problem is long-standing, a full remediation may also require replacing the sub flooring (wood or concrete), removing and replacing tainted wall trim, and perhaps cutting and replacing wall boards and repainting, all services we perform. In some extreme cases the carpeting may need to be replaced, however the area still needs professional treatment because once the odor-causing crystals have soaked into the area around the carpet, simply replacing the carpet will do nothing to permanently eliminating pet odors. Carpets and fine upholstered furniture are much too valuable in any home to be left uncared for. They should be regularly vacuumed and periodically steamed cleaned to maintain their comfort and luster, and in some cases the manufacturer’s warranty will require period professional cleaning to uphold a guarantee. Prompt action on pet stains and odors will go a long way to ensuring they last the 20 to 25 years they were intended for. We all love our pets, of course, a d sometimes it is just impossible to prevent accidents. At A Personal Touch we have discovered over the years that the occasional pet damage in most homes will be in an out-of-the-way location because, usually, grown dogs and cats understand that such behavior is misbehavior and will try and hide it. So be diligent cleaning up after your pets, and when the need arises, call A Personal Touch for expert professional care of your carpets and upholstery. For more information please call 720-344-2870.