Tips for Sanitizing Used Furniture
Lots of people enjoy shopping for used furniture at estate sales and flea markets. After all, there are some great deals to be had. However, before you enjoy your latest find, you’ll want to sanitize it so that it’s free of any odors, bacteria, or allergens which could harm you or your family. Clean First – Then Bring Inside One of the most overlooked upholstery cleaning tips pertaining to used furniture is, “clean first – then bring inside”. We understand the excitement that comes from finding the perfect used couch or easy chair that finally ties your den together. However, temper your excitement long enough to keep the new furniture outside of your house until it’s cleaned. If you move it in too soon, you risk exposing your home environment to whatever might be lurking in the cushions, armrests, etc. If it’s nice outside, the experienced team at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning in Littleton recommends cleaning used furniture outdoors. After all, sunlight is good for killing certain germs. If the weather isn’t great, do your clean-up in the garage or a shed. You definitely want to avoid having the used furniture get wet before you clean it, since moisture exacerbates many bacteria and potential allergen issues. Disinfect Before addressing stains and odors, the first step when sanitizing used furniture is to disinfect the item. Addressing other issues before disinfecting leaves you open to the possibility that something harmful may be lingering while you’re preoccupied with a spot or a smell. The level at which you should disinfect your used furniture depends on the age of the item and whether anyone in your home has a lowered immune system, i.e. a baby or an elderly person. In this latter instance, you should consider contacting our upholstery cleaners serving Denver to ensure that your used furniture is 100% germ-free. If everyone in your household is healthy, there are specific used furniture cleaning products that we can recommend. Or, if the item is small and easy to clean, you could create your own blend of warm water and vinegar, and use it as a disinfectant. Deodorize Once your used furniture is thoroughly disinfected, you can move on odor removal. Not surprisingly, a musty or moldy scent is the most common odor associated with used furniture. These smells originate from moisture in wood or fabric. Sometimes the moisture is trapped in cracks and pockets, and other times it’s leftover from a time when the furniture accidentally got wet. Either way, for these types of smells we recommend covering the affected area with baking soda, letting it sit for an hour or two, and then cleaning it up. Where odor removal gets pricklier, and where you’ll want to enlist the services of A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, are when the odor is due to pet urine, spilled paint, and other more noxious substances. Stain Removal Minor stains can be removed with a combination of soap and water, or vinegar and water. Difficult stains may require stain removal products used by A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. In all cases, be sure to test the mixture/product in an out-of-the-way spot to ensure it doesn’t damage the furniture. Should you find yourself struggling to remove especially entrenched stains, don’t hesitate to contact our cleaning experts. Trust a Professional Cleaner In addition to providing furniture sanitization, our local cleaning company offers solutions for carpet repair, bed bug eradication, and tile/grout cleaning. Visit our cleaning services page to learn more about our expertise. 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.”
Should I Clean The Carpets Before I Move In?
Moving into a new home is exciting, but it’s also a lot of work. Packing and unpacking, painting, arranging your new rooms – there’s plenty to do. But this is also the perfect opportunity to have the carpets in your new place cleaned, and A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning in Littleton is the company to call. Why Clean Your Carpets Before Moving In? There are a few things better than moving into a new home that looks and feels clean. A fresh coat of paint on the walls, Spotless tile floors in the kitchen and bathroom, and professionally cleaned carpets that look and feel great. From a functional perspective, having your carpets cleaned before moving in means you don’t have to hassle with cleaning around your furniture after you’re settled. Also, the absence of anything on the carpet or mounted to the wall is assurance that the entire carpet, even the most difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies, will be cleaned. Utilizing our carpet cleaning services near Denver prior to moving into your home is also a smart move if the house was previously lived in. We like to think that everyone is as clean and sanitary as we are, but why take the chance? A pre-move-in carpet cleaning ensures that your home’s carpets are fully sanitized and devoid of germs, dirt, pet dander, food crumbs, and bacteria. And if your house was previously occupied by residents who smoked or owned pets, cleaning the carpets is a must in order to eliminate any lingering stains and odors. What To Do Before Our Carpet Cleaners Arrive Before our carpet cleaners arrive, there are a few things you should consider doing. For example, a little vacuuming never hurts, especially if you’ve been in and out of the home several times since the purchase. Removing stray debris or dirt on the carpet’s surface allows our expert carpet professionals to focus on any dirt, dust, or detritus that’s found its way deep into the carpet’s fibers. Another thing to do is check the home’s baseboards and HVAC vents. If these items weren’t dusted and cleaned by the outgoing residents, it’s a smart move to take care of it yourself. That way, there’s no danger of a dusty baseboard or dirty HVAC vent affecting your freshly cleaned carpets. If you’ve moved anything into your home, even small items, make sure they’re moved to a different location so that our team can work quickly and efficiently. Also, if you’ve already identified a place or two on the carpet that’s worn down or has a stain, be sure to point these out to us so we handle them appropriately. Lastly, on the day that the cleaning is scheduled, make sure that there a spot in the driveway for us to park, and that there’s a clear path in and out of your home. We’ll need to move machines in and out, run hoses, etc. Easy ingress/egress makes the process run even smoother, saving you time and money. Schedule a Professional Carpet Cleaning Moving into a new home means a fresh start, and you’ll want to hit the ground running with clean walls, floors, and carpet. Before you unpack, contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning and make an appointment to have your carpets professionally cleaned. You’ll love the way your carpets look, feel, and smell, and you’ll be especially happy with how clean they are. Call us today at 720-344-2870 or use our online contact form to schedule an appointment for expert water damage restoration near Littleton. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Five Simple Upholstery Cleaning Tips
Tip #1: Know Your Upholstery Cleaning Codes Before you set out to clean your upholstery, it’s important to know the applicable upholstery cleaning codes. These codes are attached to every piece of furniture, and they offer direction regarding how each piece should be cleaned. There are three codes to be aware of: “W” means that the upholstery can be cleaned with a water-based cleaning product. “S” states that the cleaning product should be water-free: for example, a dry cleaning solvent. “X” confirms that the piece must be cleaned by a professional, lest you risk damaging the upholstery. Tip #2: Vacuuming Though it might seem strange at first glance, vacuuming your upholstery is a terrific idea for ensuring your upholstery always looks good. Vacuuming isn’t labor-intensive and it shouldn’t take too much time, and the reward is the removal of dust, dirt, allergens, bacteria, and microbes that naturally accumulate in places where people (and sometimes animals) are present. To ensure access to the folds, tight spots, and crevices inherent to most furniture, put an upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. And if you have a pet, consider purchasing pet hair-removal attachments that are specifically designed to deal with pet hair and dander. Tip #3: Blot Fresh Spills Immediately It’s a common belief that coffee, juice, and wine spills are unsalvageable. However, if you act quickly you can remove even these tough stains. The key is to blot the stain right after it happens. Wet some paper towels or a clean rag/cloth and begin blotting until the stain is saturated with water. Be careful not to scrub or rub the stain, since this will only enlarge it. Tip #4: Create Your Own Cleaning Mixture Sometimes the best solutions for easy, inexpensive upholstery cleaning are already in your home. Such is the case when you create your own cleaning mixture by using four-parts lukewarm water and one-part laundry detergent. After you’ve mixed these ingredients together in a bowl, test out the mixture on a hidden couch cushion or dining room chair stain. Just dip a sponge into the mixture and rub it into the stain. Wipe the spot and let it dry for a bit, and when you return to it check for any discoloration or damage. If everything looks good, your mixture is safe to use. In fact, you might find that this solution is just as effective as over-the-counter cleaning products. Tip #5: Salt, Baking Soda, and White Vinegar Baking soda is a very effective upholstery cleaner. Just mix it with cold water and you can conquer virtually any stain, especially one that’s new/relatively new. Meanwhile, a mixture of salt and cold water is great for combating red wine stains. As for white vinegar, consider it for stain elimination on your white upholstery. Call the Professionals Our professional carpet cleaners serving Denver are always ready to lend our customers a hand. Whether you’re seeking cleaning tips and advice, or require our expert services in carpet care, spot removal, tile/grout cleaning, and more, feel free to contact us today for insights and a free quote. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Tips for Removing Simple Rug Stains
Stains happen, and when they do we hope that they’re easy to remove. For simple stains, that don’t require the carpet cleaning services of an expert, a variety of DIY solutions exist. Here we cover a variety of methods, some well-known and others not so much. Solutions for Simple Rug Stains Note, we do not recommend these solutions for fragile or antique rugs. Be also aware that colors could bleed if the treatment is not done properly. Ammonia Pour one cup of clear ammonia and mix it with a ½ gallon of warm water. Then take a sponge and apply the solution to stains in your carpeting or upholstery. Let the spot dry completely and then reapply if necessary. Shaving cream Not only does shaving cream work on simple stains like food and dirt, it’s also a good option for oil and grease stains. First, blot the stain with a damp sponge and pat it. Then squirt some shaving cream on the stain and wipe it clean with the damp sponge. For tougher stains like oil and grease, apply the shaving cream to the stain and work it in as much as possible. When you’re finished, let the area dry and then rub it clean with a soft cloth. Salt Red wine stains will send most homeowners into a panic, but if you act quickly and have a bottle of salt and a bottle of white wine handy, you can get the stain out. While the red wine is still wet, pour some white wine on it until the color is diluted. Then grab a sponge, wet it with cold water, and clean the area. Once the area is clean, cover the area with salt and wait 10 minutes. Then vacuum the area and prepare to be impressed with this unusual but effective stain-removal trick. WD-40 WD-40 has an established reputation as a multi-use product, and you can add carpet stain removal to the list. Spray WD-40 on the stain, wait two minutes, and then apply your household carpet cleaner to the stain/WD-40 combo. You can also use a sponge and warm soapy water. Scrub the area until the stain is 100 percent removed. Baking Soda This is the mother of all household carpet cleaners, and has been a trusted solvent for generations. The aftermath of puppy accidents and upset stomachs are well-addressed by baking soda. After cleaning the area as best you can, cover the spot in baking soda and pat it into to the damp rug. Let the area dry and then vacuum the spot. Baking soda not only cleans the stain, it also deodorizes and sanitizes the affected area. When combined with salt, baking soda can remove grease stains. Mix equal parts of both substances and sprinkle the mixture on the stain. Then use a rigid brush to work the solution into the rug. Wait five hours and then vacuum the area. When It’s Time to Call a Professional A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning is all about helping our customers save money. There are plenty of DIY opportunities for various household needs, including simple stains. But for more complex matters like carpet stretching, carpet repair, and bed bug eradication, make sure to contact our expert team. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
Four Methods for Cleaning Tile and Grout
Everyone loves clean tile, whether it’s the kitchen backsplash, bathroom floor, or shower wall. But dirt and grime build up over time, and “hard water” adds another layer of crud. Keeping your tile sparkling requires consistent cleaning of the tile and the grout surrounding it. The following tile-cleaning solutions from A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, the foremost cleaning company serving Littleton, CO, are guaranteed to make your tile shine. Option 1: Use a steam cleaner All you need to accomplish this effective, eco-friendly option is a steam cleaner. After heating the cleaner to 350 degrees, turn it on and move its detail brush in a forward motion over the tile and grout. Go side to side, working from front to back in a continuous motion. The combination of heat and pressure does an outstanding job of loosening and destroying grime. When you’re finished, use a rag to clean up any leftover residue. Caveat: steam-cleaning old or broken tile can cause further damage, so use one of the following options instead. Option 2: The bleach + baking soda combo Since this option involves bleach, be sure to dress appropriately (old clothes), wear rubber gloves and safety glasses, and open a window. When you’re ready, mix a ¼-cup of bleach with ¾-cups of baking soda. Use a painter’s stick to stir the mixture until it has a paste-like consistency. Spread the mixture over your tile and grout, then wait 5 – 10 minutes depending on how dirty the tile is. After waiting, take a toothbrush or scrub brush and rub the mixture into the grout and over the tiles. Pause 5 – 10 minutes more and rinse. Warning: Bleach’s presence means this option only applies to white tile/grout. Don’t try this on anything colored. Option 3: Vinegar or baking soda: take your pick This is a particularly effective solution for light-duty tile and grout cleaning, and it can be used on tiles of any color. If you use vinegar, mix equal parts vinegar and water, pour it into a spray bottle, and apply to the tiles and grout. When the solution stops bubbling, scrub the tile and rinse. If you choose baking soda, take ¾-cups of baking soda and mix it with a little water in order to form a paste similar to option #2, and follow the same application steps. For hard-to-remove dirt and gunk, apply the baking soda paste and then spray the vinegar solution on top of it. Option 4: Oxygen bleach + water Just like option #2, this method is only applicable for white tile/grout. Mix a cup of oxygen bleach with warm water (see the bleach’s packaging to confirm the exact amount, since it varies by brand/strength required). For 30 minutes, pour the solution over the tile, pausing every minute or so to let it seep in. When you’re done pouring, take a stiff brush and start scrubbing, adding more solution if necessary. When finished, rinse the surface with clean water. Oxygen bleach is also handy when you’re mopping – just add some to the water in your mop bucket for a consistent shine. For more tips on tile and grout cleaning or to make a service appointment, contact the specialists at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning today. Call us 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.”
Protect Your Furniture: Four Expert Tips for Upholstery Cleaning
For more than 30 years, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaners has provided expert carpet cleaning to customers in Littleton, CO and the greater Denver, CO area. We’ve successfully completed thousands of upholstery projects, so we think we’re qualified to provide our many loyal customers with expert tips for upholstery cleaning. Without further ado, here are four things you can do to ensure your upholstery looks pristine year-round. Address Stains Immediately Whenever something spills on your couch, loveseat, etc. it’s critical that you take care of it post-haste. Grab a paper towel or clean white cloth and blot (don’t rub) the spill, working from the outside to the center. Rubbing a spill could make the stain bigger, an effect known in the upholstery biz as “blossoming”. Keep blotting until the stain is completely dry. Also, be sure not to over-wet the upholstery, as this could not only enlarge the stain but also dampen the padding beneath the cover, leading to mold or mildew. Regularly Clean Your Upholstery A pinch of prevention is worth an ounce of cure, and most things can be kept looking good (upholstery, floors, your car) with regular cleanings. Every week, pull out your vacuum, engage the upholstery attachment, and vacuum your soft furnishings. Of particular use is the angle-tipped “crevice tool” – if your vacuum comes with one of these, it’s perfect for cleaning folds and creases where dirt and crud collect. We also recommend taking your cushions outside once a month and hand-beating them. This keeps dust from getting too comfortable within the cushion fibers. When you’re done, flip the cushion before putting it back – this helps maintain even wear on both sides. Invest in Extra Protection Home furnishings often constitute a significant investment – and like any investment, you want to keep it well-protected. To this end, consider buying and applying a professional-grade upholstery protector. These products don’t guarantee 100 percent protection, but they will drastically reduce the chances of permanent damage from spills and discoloration. Our upholstery cleaning experts are happy to provide you with a quote for this service, and talk further with you about the cleaning products we recommend. Treat Your Upholstery to a Deep Clean Just like your body benefits from a yearly massage, your upholstery will benefit from a yearly deep-cleaning treatment. If your cushion covers are removable and machine-washable, throw them in the washing machine and put the water setting on cold. To prevent fading, turn the covers inside-out before washing. If your covers are “dry-clean only”, or are particularly dusty/dirty, we recommend having them professionally cleaned. This is the best way to ensure everything is cleaned thoroughly and correctly, especially when dealing with big spills that may be even larger in the padding beneath the cover. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaners brings a friendly, knowledgeable approach to upholstery cleaning near Littleton, CO. No job is too big or too small, so contact us today for a free quote.