Have Pets? You Can Still Keep Your Carpets Clean
It’s certainly true that owning a pet requires some extra work in terms of cleaning, but this is far outweighed by all of the awesomeness that comes with having a four-legged (or two-winged) friend in your life. Just stick with these tips provided by A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, a leading professional carpet cleaning company serving Littleton, and your carpet will always look sharp. Keep Those Paws Dry No doubt the number one way that pets can dirty a carpet is by tracking in mud and dirt from outside. That’s why our nearby carpet cleaners recommend keeping a towel or two near the front door and the door to your backyard. You’ll probably get some resistance at first, but before long your pet will consider it no big deal. Plus, it’s definitely worth the effort when you consider that dirty paw prints on your carpet can easily lead to difficult stains that embed themselves deep within the fibers. Consider Tile For Your Entryway It might seem borderline sacrilegious for a carpet cleaning company to recommend tile, but sometimes you need to go outside your comfort zone in the interest of helping your customers. Plus, we’re only talking about a small area of your home’s floor, next to a doorway and/or your pet’s entryway. And the upside is huge, considering how much easier it is to wipe away dirt from a tile floor than it is from a carpet. Moreover, in instances where your pet is especially dirty, or soaked by a sudden thunderstorm, it’s nice to have a designated area with plenty of room to clean your dog’s paws and dry its fur. Another option is to invest in an area rug or a carpet runner and use it as you designated wipe-down area. This way, if the soil build-up is too much, you can simply toss the rug/runner in the washing machine. Choose Pet-Safe Carpet Cleaner Aside from tracking in dirt and debris, accidents do happen – and it’s important to have the right kind of cleaner on-hand to remedy unintended bathroom breaks or out-of-the-blue upset stomachs. First remove whatever solids are associated with the accident, along with any excess moisture, and then apply your pet-safe carpet cleaner to the area. Wait a few minutes, wipe the area clean, and your carpet should be back to 100% in no time. Our nearby carpet cleaners are happy to recommend a few effective products, some of which work specifically for different types and sizes of pets. Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaning Company For starters, we recommend having your entire home’s carpets cleaned at least once a year or more, depending on the number of residents and pets. Even if you’re diligent about wiping your pet’s paws, promptly cleaning up accidents, and preventing pets from accessing certain rooms/furniture, a biannual professional cleaning is the best way to tie up any loose ends and ensure that any missed spots are addressed. Count On Us For A Clean Carpet Littleton and Denver homeowners trust A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning with all manner of carpet cleaning services, from pet damage and spot removal to upholstery cleaning. Contact us today for a free quote and to learn about our current service specials. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
The Dos and Don’ts of Upholstery Cleaning
When you work with a Littleton company like A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, you get the kind of top-flight expertise that only comes with decades of experience. Keeping your upholstery spotless is one goal of our cleaning company serving Englewood, and our expert team adheres to a specific set of dos and don’ts. Do: Vacuum Frequently Don’t wait until crumbs, dust, dirt, and other particulate is heavily entrenched in your couch, loveseat, or easy chair. Instead, vacuum frequently – daily, if necessary – and ensure that your furniture’s arms, cushions, and crevices are crud-free. Left unaddressed, these materials can cause discoloration and foul odors, yet another reason to keep your vacuum handy. You can also count on our local furniture cleaners to apply the latest, eco-friendliest protective polishes and stain preventers. Do: Spot-Treat and Clean Stains Immediately All of us have spilled something at some point in our lives, and some of these substances have been acidic furniture-damagers like wine and coffee. It’s important to spot-clean these spills right when they happen in order to avoid permanent damage to your furniture. An off-the-shelf cleaning product should be enough to stem the tide (depending on what was spilled, and how much) until our team reaches your house and can assess the issue first-hand. For large stains and/or stains made by a highly acidic or toxic product, we’ll address the problem with professional-grade cleaning solutions and high-powered stain removal equipment. Don’t: Saturate Upholstery With Water It’s natural for a homeowner to want to attack a stain or spill with water, especially when the spill is made of something notorious for causing long-term damage. However, using too much water can lead to its own set of problems. When excess water soaks furniture, the moisture seeping into the upholstery often causes ripples and/or buckling in the fabric, which can be hard to remedy. In fact, extreme cases might necessitate replacing the item with a new piece of furniture. If the spill affects your furniture and the surrounding carpet, it’s equally important not to soak the carpet. Too much water can cause wicking, which happens when moisture penetrates deep into the carpet and then rises back to the top, carrying with it any deep-rooted soil and spill residue. But the “wick” is akin to an iceberg, with the surface-visible residue connected to unseen detritus nestled deeper in the carpet. Carpet wicking, as well as upholstery ripples and buckling is best avoided by using a gentle, low-water approach to cleaning. Don’t: Ignore Fading Colors Sunlight, usage, and airborne/product-based chemicals all contribute to furniture losing its color. Fading begins gradually, but soon you’ll see that one area of your couch isn’t as “colorful” as another. Although this is a natural byproduct of furniture ownership, it doesn’t mean your only recourse is to let the fading continue. Our local cleaning company has the expertise to restore the original colors to your furniture and upholstery. At the very least, we recommend consulting us anytime you think it’s time to replace a faded piece of furniture with something new. Trust Our Experts To Keep Your Upholstery Clean For professional upholstery cleaning near Englewood, trust A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. With our help, your furniture will remain clean, vibrant, and stain-free for years to come. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Selling Your Home? Get Your Carpets Cleaned First
A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning always brings its “A game” to every project we’re involved with. Our carpet cleaning services satisfy a variety of needs for homeowners in Denver and Littleton, and they’re of particular use to those of our customers who are preparing to sell their house. Make Your Home Move-In Ready While there’s no chance a potential buyer will move into your home the day of your first open house, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make your home move-in ready. This is especially true for your carpet, which in most homes occupies a sizable chunk of floor space and is thus readily visible to eager buyers. A dirty, dusty, smelly carpet is a big turn-off, not just aesthetically but also because a buyer will likely have concerns regarding the cost to clean or replace it before moving in. Remedy this potential pitfall by having your carpets professionally cleaned and looking brand-new. Eliminate Odors Unlike stains, which are readily visible to the eye, odors are trickier because we tend to get used to them over time. The two biggest culprits here are odors related to cigarette smoke and pets, both of which can be a significant red flag for potential buyers – especially those who don’t smoke or have pets. A professional carpet cleaner can evaluate the “odor level” in your home and apply the right cleaning techniques so that your home smells fresh again. Enhance Your Home’s Appearance Some years back, there was a deodorant ad with the slogan, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s a memorable line because it applies to many things in life, including the carpet of a house that’s for sale. A clean carpet further boosts the appeal of the various rooms in a home, and shows a buyer that the current homeowner is diligent about upkeep. If you really want to make a good first impression and wow potential buyers with your home’s appearance, don’t settle for a simple vacuuming and/or shampooing, as these implements only clean the carpet’s surface. Instead, hire a professional carpet cleaner with the equipment and know-how to eliminate even the most ground-in stains and restore your carpet’s color and vibrancy. Strive For a “Healthy Home” Nowadays it seems like allergy sufferers and people with respiratory issues have it worse than ever. Pollen, dust, dirt, and other particulates are ever-present, and so too dander, mold, and the various contributors to hay fever. The last thing a homebuyer wants is to step into a house in which these substances are even partially problematic – especially when children or elderly people will reside in the home. A professional carpet cleaner utilizes a healthy, non-toxic approach for remove these allergens and materials from your home, allowing everyone to breathe easier. For a Quicker Home Sale, Leverage Our Expertise When you’re ready to sell your home, count on A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to deliver first-class cleaning services that will help your house shine. Also, bear in mind that carpet cleaning is just one of the many services we offer. Our team is also proficient at carpet repair, upholstery cleaning, and much more. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Should I Clean My Carpets Before Moving Out Of My Rental Unit?
Searching online for the best “carpet cleaners near me”? No doubt A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning will be at the top of your results, and for good reason. Our talented carpet pros have vast experience in cleaning and repairing carpet, as well as answering questions like, “Should I clean my carpets before moving out of my rental unit?” Carpets and Rental Units The best answer to the question of “To clean or not to clean my carpet?” is that you should consult with your landlord. The vast majority of rental leases contain a list of move-out stipulations, stating what you need to clean and what the landlord’s expectations are with regard to cleaning. Often times these stipulations are tied directly to your deposit, and failure to meet the landlord’s expectations results in a reduction in your deposit return. Specific to carpet, your responsibility to clean/repair/replace it before you move out is sometimes tied to the size of your apartment complex. It’s more likely that the landlord of a large complex will ask that you clean the carpet, and in some cases pay for any repairs or a full-scale replacement if necessary. The bigger the complex, the less time a landlord can dedicate to individual units, and the more expensive it becomes to ensure every tenant’s carpet is in good shape before they move out. It’s not unheard of for a landlord to hire his own cleaning company to deep-clean a unit before a new tenant moves in, a stipulation that should be mentioned in the lease. In this case, one of two scenarios are possible: the landlord pays for the cleaning out of his own pocket or an “upkeep fund” that every tenant gives a monthly amount too, or the landlord expects the outgoing tenant to pay for the deep-clean. The upside here is that you won’t have to lift a finger, but the downside is you’ll get less of your deposit back. In the majority of cases, a lease will call out what the landlord’s expectations are regarding move-out condition, and include a note regarding how your deposit-return could be lower if the unit isn’t cleaned to the lease’s expectations. Thus, you’ll have the option to either clean the unit yourself or hire a cleaning company, which comes down to whether you prefer to spend time or money. Other Items/Areas To Be Cleaned In addition to cleaning your unit’s carpet and other obvious tasks like wiping down the kitchen counters and scrubbing the toilet, here are some other areas that will require your attention: Tile grout The entire toilet (top, bottom, and back) Oven (some ovens have an auto-clean feature, but these don’t always do a complete, “landlord-friendly” job Cabinet shelves and all drawers, along with the tops of cabinets Refrigerator and freezer, and the top of the fridge We Have Your Carpet Cleaning Covered Rather than leave your deposit to the whims of your landlord, contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning and utilize our professional carpet cleaning services. We’ll have your carpets looking great, giving you peace of mind and a better chance of getting your full deposit back. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
What Stains Are Going To Stick Around?
Some stains are candidates for DIY removal, while others will require the expertise of our professional carpet cleaning company to ensure they don’t stick around forever. Which stains fall into this second category? A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning discusses the worst offenders. Ink Most of us, at some point in our lives, have gotten ink on our clothes. Not fun. Equally annoying is when ink gets on the carpet. Not only is it one of the hardest-to-remove stains, it can also destroy your carpet if it isn’t dealt with promptly – and more importantly, thoroughly, because with ink, even a 95 percent success rate isn’t good enough. Bodily Fluids Another entry in the “Remember when…” file, bodily fluids – often in the form of human vomit or a pet’s accident – present a double-whammy of stain + odor. Many of our customers are familiar with the “baking soda stopgap” that helps remove moisture and abate the smell, but fully removing a vomit or excrement stain requires a professional’s steady hand. Blood Stains While we’re on the subject of stains that sometimes churn the stomach, blood stains certainly fall into this category. And not only are they unseemly, they’re virtually impossible to remove without an expert’s help. Similar to juice, blood quickly soaks into the carpet/carpet fibers and leaves a dark stain, no matter how many off-the-shelf products your throw at it. The best you can do is to try and remove as much blood as possible from the carpet’s surface before calling our local carpet cleaners. Grape Juice & Wine Combining these two because grapes are of course the key ingredient in wine, and both are equally diabolical when spilled on carpet. This is the substance that gets most of the publicity in terms of which stains are the hardest to remove, and for good reason: like blood, but faster-moving because it isn’t as thick, wine/grape juice spills often lead to permanent damage if a professional isn’t called in immediately. The liquid’s red/purple colors quickly overtake carpet fibers, and hydrogen peroxide (which most people don’t have under their sink) is really the only substance that can at least slow the stain’s progress. But by no means is it a cure, which is something only a professional team like A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning can provide. Coffee It’s too bad that coffee has to be on this list, since for many people it’s a daily staple that’s tasty and a great pick-me-up. Alas, coffee’s high acidity facilitates the yellowish-brown stains that result when java is spilled on a carpet – and this acidity is a big reason why coffee is prone to staining quickly and permanently. A mixture of dishwasher detergent and vinegar can function as a temporary deterrent, but one that will require the support of our professional cleaning tools. Contact The Carpet Lifesaver If you’ve searched online for a “carpet cleaning service near me”, no doubt you’ve seen A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning atop the list. Contact us today, whether you have a stain that needs tending to, or for helpful tips on controlling a spill until we arrive. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Your Pre-Carpet Cleaning Checklist
When you hire A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to handle all of your carpet cleaning services, you benefit from the many years of experience possessed by our Englewood carpet cleaners. Before we visit your home, here’s a helpful “pre-carpet cleaning” checklist of things to do. Scheduling Make sure to schedule your carpet cleaning for a day that you won’t need access to the room(s) we’re working on. Once we’ve finished, the carpets will require at least 3 – 4 hours of drying time, so it’s best to assume that the “affected” rooms won’t be usable for most of the day. Any Special Furniture Requirements? Let us know ahead of time if we should be aware of any special requirements regarding your furniture, i.e. an end table with a loose top, or an entertainment console with wobbly legs. Vacuum It’s always a big help when a customer vacuums the carpet’s high-traffic areas before we arrive, as well as underneath any furniture to be moved. If vacuuming under the furniture requires you to move it, please either return it to its original position or remove it from the area entirely. This ensures that we don’t miss any spots around the furniture. If you decide to leave the furniture in its place, we’ll move it, clean the carpet underneath, and then replace it. Drapes/Skirting All drapes should be raised/pinned at least six inches above the carpet. The same goes for any upholstered furniture that may have skirting which touches the carpet. Furniture Should Be Item-Free In order for our carpet cleaning experts to work as efficiently as possible, we appreciate our clients removing all loose items from the furniture: floral displays, books, flatware, and any decorations. This pertains especially to any breakable items, since our team won’t move any furniture that contains fragile belongings. Remove Small, Lightweight Furniture If you want to speed up the cleaning process, an easy to do this is by moving any small, lightweight furniture off of the carpet. Potted plants, magazine racks, lamps, etc. that we don’t have to move and then replace only makes our job easier, and lowers the total cost. An FYI Regarding Things We Won’t Move For liability and safety reasons, we typically do not move any furniture that’s large and heavy. This includes TVs, curios, China cabinets, and electronics of any kind. If you simply leave these things in place, we’ll clean around them. Spots and Stains When we conduct a walkthrough with you prior to getting started with cleaning, please point out to us any spots or stains that require particular attention, i.e. a place where you’d like us to fix pet damage. It’s also a big help if you can confirm what caused the stain, so that we can address it appropriately and try to remove it for you. Pets We love pets, but there’s no doubt they’ll have a much more pleasant day if you keep them away from where we’re working. It gets noisy and there’s a lot of activity, and we certainly don’t want to frighten them. Get Clean Carpets Today Our carpet repair company has completed thousands of successful jobs in Littleton and Englewood. Contact us today and we’ll be happy to provide references, along with a free quote. You’re just a phone call away from getting clean carpets. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Nine Carpet Cleaning Mistakes To Avoid
When you search online in Littleton for “carpet cleaners near me“, you’ll find A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning at the top of the list. That’s because thousands of local homeowners trust us to keep their carpets clean and healthy. We also know all about the mistakes that can happen when people try to DIY their own carpet cleaning. Here are nine of the most common. Using The Wrong Spray Cleaner Some organic spray cleaners are effective in combating stains, but the majority of store-bought household cleaning products are bad news. These items contain bleach and caustic chemicals that will ruin and permanently discolor your carpeting. Trusting a Rented Carpet Cleaner Every homeowner wants to save money wherever they can, including on their cleaning needs. However, it’s a bad idea to rent a carpet cleaning machine from a local store and expect it to work wonders. These cleaners aren’t always serviced regularly, which means that the last two renters’ dirt might soon be in your home. Clogs and internal damage are also common, compromising the machine’s efficiency. Many people who go this route end up dissatisfied, and want their carpets professionally cleaned. Not Removing Stains Promptly All stains require prompt attention, especially from acidic liquids like coffee, pop, and red wine. But the longer you wait to act, the more likely it is for the stain to become permanent, or at best be a real bear to remove. Also, some substances will stain the carpet and erode the carpets fibers. Misusing Carpet Deodorizer A common misconception is that carpet deodorizer powder can help remove a stain and clean up dirt. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do either. Even worse, a standard vacuum struggles to collect this powder, meaning it will accrue in the carpet until it’s professionally removed. Over-Shampooing It makes sense that a novice carpet cleaner would err on the side of caution when shampooing his carpet. However, too much shampoo leaves a build-up of soapy residue that’s extremely difficult to wash away and whose sticky texture attracts dirt like a magnet. Over-Wetting Often going hand-in-hand with over-shampooing, using too much water when cleaning a carpet will result in water soaking through the fibers and the pad, and into the backing. This raises the possibility of mold/mildew problems in the carpet, and in some cases will cause the carpet to shrink and pull its backing free from the floor. Replacing Furniture Before The Carpet Dries Even if you’ve done everything else right, a DIY carpet cleaning job can still come undone when furniture is put back in place before the carpet dries. Many wood furniture items contain dyes that will stain a wet surface. Also, furniture with metal/partially metal feet can leave a rust stain in the carpet. Ignoring Routine Vacuuming Carpet should be vacuumed at least once a week, and more frequently depending on pets/kids. Not sticking to a weekly vacuuming routine gives dirt, dander, and other material to get comfortable in your carpet, where it will begin eroding the fibers. Avoiding Professional Carpet Cleaning Carpet should be professionally cleaned at least once a year, or more frequently depending on how many pets and/or kids live in the house. Not hiring a professional cleaner might save money in the short-term, but the long-term risks outweigh any savings. Make The Right Call and Hire a Pro New carpet can cost thousands of dollars and cause big inconveniences. Don’t roll the dice and risk DIY mistakes – instead, contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning and utilize the carpet cleaning services of an experienced professional. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
How Often Should You Have Your Carpets Professionally Cleaned?
It’s one of the most common questions we get from our customers: “How often should I have my carpets professionally cleaned?” So it makes sense for A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to cover this topic in a blog. Read on to learn how frequently you should engage the services of our professional carpet cleaners for a general cleaning. Check Your Carpet Warranty If your carpet came with a warranty and you want to keep it valid, take it out and review the fine print. Most carpet manufacturers’ warranties stipulate that the carpet should be cleaned once a year. Note: the language in the warranty might refer to a carpet cleaning/professional steam cleaning as a “hot water extraction”. If your carpet did not come with a warranty, then it’s up to you to decide how often you’d like your carpets professionally cleaned. That said, we encourage you to contact our local carpet cleaners for an onsite consultation. Here are two key areas of consideration when evaluating how frequently you should engage our services. Foot Traffic The more people who live in your house, the greater the foot traffic your carpet endures. So when thinking about getting your carpets professionally cleaned, it goes without saying that a family of two or a person living alone won’t require carpet cleaning as often as a family of six. A home with low foot traffic typically requires professionally-cleaned carpets once every two years or more, depending on the type of carpet. On the flipside, a large family should consider hiring A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning every nine months, or more frequently if there are children in the house. Running, playing, and tracking in dirt, grass, and other stuff is grounds to pay closer attention to your carpet. Pets The presence of common indoor pets such as cats and dogs in most cases necessitates that a home’s carpets be professionally cleaned every 6 – 12 months. The more pets you have and the more your pets shed, the more frequently you should have us out for cleaning. Homes that are “potty training” pets should consider having the carpets cleaned at an even faster rate, at least until the pet is housebroken. Animals shed dander and fur that nestles into the carpet and destabilizes the fibers. It’s a good idea to vacuum regularly in order to keep the dander/fur from building up. You may need to vacuum three times a week just to keep up with your pet’s shedding, which is another reason why frequent professional carpet cleanings are essential. What Happens If I Don’t Have My Carpets Professionally Cleaned? If you don’t have your carpets professionally cleaned, the soil that accrues on your carpet will settle into the fibers. The more soil that integrates with the fibers, the higher the probability that your carpet will break down well before it should. This is because the soil takes on a quality not unlike sandpaper. It grinds way at the carpet fiber until the carpet is too weak to withstand foot traffic, leading to tears and holes. Littleton Trusts A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning For decades, Littleton and Denver homeowners have enlisted our professional carpet cleaning services to keep their homes clean and healthy. Call or email us today for a quote, and be sure to ask about our service specials. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
The Most Common Causes Of Carpet Damage
Everyone wants their carpet to last forever, but even the most durable products wear out eventually. Sometimes, damage can hasten the need for new carpet or carpet repair, and in this blog we look at the most common causes of carpet damage. Dirt Dirt, along with mud, grime, and general debris, is a big contributor to carpet damage. Dirt is a year-round problem, tracked in on shoes spring, summer, fall, and winter. Over time, dirt build-up will stain and discolor carpet, working its way into the fibers thanks to constant foot traffic. Ultimately, dirt is a prime reason why some carpet doesn’t last as long as it should. Spills A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has helped a lot of customers in need of carpet and area rug repair because of a spill. Beverage spills, especially drinks with a high acid content like red wine, coffee, and soda, can permanently stain a carpet if they aren’t addressed immediately. Meanwhile, chemical spills (bleach, oil, etc.) can quickly discolor and/or damage carpet, creating a problem that can’t be fixed no matter what cleaning mixture is used. Homeowners have no choice other than to tolerate these kind of lasting stains and damage until they’re ready to install new carpet. Furniture The heavier the furniture, the more likely it is to cause long-term damage to your carpet’s back-weave and fibers. At best, a weighty dining room table will leave permanent dents in the carpet. At worst, heavy furniture will eventually bore holes in the carpet which sometimes can be remedied via patchwork or sewing. As long as the furniture remains in place, the hole is covered – but when you decide to rearrange the room or sell the house, the damage will require addressing. Foot Traffic Foot traffic is the bane of homeowners everywhere. And not matter how many times we tell people to take their shoes off, it’s certain that a carpet will endure wear and tear. How much wear and tear depends on the size of your family, the frequency with which you have guests over, etc. All shoes, even slippers, cause carpet to wear down over time: the worst culprits are dress shoes and high heels. Additionally, all of these feet/shoes track dirt, dust, and debris into your home, causing your carpet to wear out even faster. Odors The longer your carpet is exposed to a pungent odor, the greater the opportunity for the scent to work its way into your carpet. If you’ve ever been inside the home of a smoker or cat owner who doesn’t prioritize odor removal/air fresheners, you know what we’re talking about. If ignored long enough, these odors will become a permanent part of your flooring and remain as such until you replace the carpet. Pets Here we’re referring to common household pets like cats and dogs, who have a propensity for periodically scratching furiously at the carpet because of something they saw, heard, or smelled. Eventually this habit can lead to serious wear and tear, possibly resulting in rips and holes. Trust The Experts For all of your carpet repair and rug repair needs, trust A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Our many years of experience, coupled with our state-of-the-art cleaning tools, are a boon to homeowners throughout the Denver metro area. Call us today at (720) 344-2870 for your free quote and consultation. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Five Eco-Friendly Upholstery Cleaning Tips
Eco-friendly upholstery cleaning is something all homeowners are interested in, and it’s a service that A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning provides to its customers. If you’re looking for reasons why a “green” approach to your furniture is the way to go, here are five tips to consider. Weekly Vacuuming Dust is ubiquitous in every home, and dirt and debris aren’t far behind, especially if you have kids. These materials enter your house every time someone comes in from outside and each time a door or window is open, even for a brief moment. Left unattended, dust and the like can become ingrained in your upholstery and prove difficult to remove. Get the upper hand in this perpetual fight by vacuuming your upholstery once a week at minimum, and 2 – 3 times for furniture that sees a high amount of usage, or is located close to a window/door. Defeat Spills Promptly Spills don’t require toxic chemicals for removal, as long as you deal with them right after they happen. First, dab the spill and remove any excess moisture from the couch cushion or chair arm where the spill happened. Then tackle the spill with water and hand soap – or, if the spill is from something with a high acid content (i.e. red wine, juice, coffee), use a combination of cornstarch and salt. For spills that leave a bad smell, sprinkle some baking soda over the area, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then vacuum it up. If after all of your hard work there is still a stain left behind, try a combination consisting of one-part distilled white vinegar and three-parts water. This solution works well on most stains, and it’s a much greener, eco-friendly option than store-bought chemicals. Steam-Clean Without Detergent Assuming you’re vigilant with your weekly vacuuming, when it comes time to steam-cleaning your upholstery, you won’t need anything more than water. A steam cleaner heats water to a very high temperature, making it easy to loosen ground-in dirt and dust. Moreover, the hot steam kills bacteria thanks to temperature alone, so a chemical-based detergent isn’t necessary. If you’re cleaning especially dusty/dirty upholstery, feel free to add some white vinegar to your steam cleaner’s water tank. The smell will disappear in less than 24 hours. Only Use Plant-Based Cleaning Products Even the most cleaning-focused homeowner should have some cleaning products on-hand in case of emergency – but instead of buying toxic products, opt for plant-based detergents instead. There are lots of effective green carpet-cleaning products on the market, so just read the label and confirm that yours are 100% organic. Work With The Pros As evidenced by the above, there’s plenty that homeowners can do on their own to ensure a clean house. However, it’s still a great idea to contract an upholstery cleaner serving Littleton once or twice a year for a professional cleaning. With our green products and decades of expertise, you’ll enjoy fresh, clean upholstery for a long time. Get Clean Today A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning is a local upholstery cleaner that also specializes in carpet repair, spot removal, and pet damage. 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.”