Why spring is the perfect time for upholstery (and carpet) cleaning
Ever take a nap on your sofa on a Sunday? Maybe you’ve watched the game or an old western. Then, slowly you’ve nodded off blearily gazing at Clint Eastwood or the ceiling. A little while later, you wake up with a face full of sofa cushion. And maybe, just maybe, you also wake up wondering, “What is that smell?” It’s a little delicate. We do a LOT of living in our living rooms. Our pets drool on the couch (we do too) or bring us a drippy ball and set it on the ottoman. Some of us sit down on the upholstery after a dirty day at work, or spill beer and snacks on the couch during the big playoffs. Kids or our spouse use the family room recliner to get well from a broken rib or the flu. Soggy tissues clutter the armrests. Cold medicine is dripped on the upholstery. Cough drops get shoved into the cracks where they crumble and melt. And that’s not to mention the kid experiments that are brought in from the backyard that somehow end up on your favorite antique chair. Get back the newness Soon it will be sunny outside for keeps. You’ll be able to throw open the windows and air out the whole house. Ahhh, freshness! Spring is a time for big cleaning efforts for a reason. New growth will spring from the trees and flowers will poke their heads up from the earth outside. It’s a perfect time to renew your environment inside too. Professional upholstery and carpet cleaning with a truck-mounted steam cleaning system removes dirt, dust and grime and those little messes that build up from day-to-day living. That includes smells and dust trapped down deep in your upholstery. Protect your investments Your furniture and carpets are a valuable part of your house. You spent a lot of time picking them out or installing them. Sometimes furniture is passed down through the generations and is emotionally priceless too. Your possessions are worth the upkeep. They can serve you for years to come if you take care of them. That’s why it’s important to vacuum your sofas, loveseats and chairs regularly. Then, once a year or so make an appointment for professional upholstery cleaning to remove stains and grime. Keep the loveseat lovelier longer You could rent a cheap steam cleaning system to clean your upholstery yourself. But, what would you miss? A professional carpet and upholstery cleaner like A Personal Touch knows exactly how to clean a variety of fabrics from durable to delicate. Our technicians receive regular training and our company is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration. We understand: Preparation. We put plastic protectors beneath your furniture legs to protect your carpets. Stain treatment. We can analyze your furniture stains and provide just the right treatment to get them out without harming fabric. Special features. We treat furniture trimmings, cushions and throw pillows, separately. We know how to make true whites and deep colors look their best. Protection. After cleaning, we can treat your furniture with a soil protector fiber coat to ensure lasting beauty. Celebrate spring inside your home as well as outside. Call A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning Services today to schedule an upholstery cleaning in Littleton, Castle Rock, Englewood or beyond at 720.344.2870, or use our online contact form to ask questions and request a free quote. Be sure to check out our service specials too.
How can regular carpet and upholstery cleaning help you through the cold and flu season?
It snowed! We celebrate, not only for our ski areas, but because our recent temperature drop brings much-needed moisture to Colorado. Our hearts are with our neighbors in Boulder County who recently suffered catastrophic fire loss. Unfortunately, our colder temperatures also firmly place us in the heart of cold and flu season. The best ways to prevent illness Why are colds and flu so common in January and February? As you know, when it’s chilly outside, we retreat indoors, crank up our thermostats and close our windows. We hang out more with our family and friends. Our physical closeness passes around germs in enclosed spaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this is especially true if we: Don’t stay away from others when we are sick: Gone are the days of “powering through” a cold or sickness. Stay home when you feel rotten and don’t gift your crud to others. Also, rest and let yourself truly recover. Your immune system will thank you by staying strong. Touch our faces a lot: This one got hilarious meme treatment early in the pandemic, but frequently touching your face, nose and mouth for whatever reason (mask, itchiness, fidgeting) is a serious habit to break NOW. Forget to wash our hands often: Plain old soap and water (yup, for 20 seconds) are still the best defense against sickness. Use hand sanitizer when you cannot access a sink. Don’t cover our mouths and noses when we sneeze or cough: This is disrespectful to others and gross. Neglect other good habits: The CDC recommends getting enough sleep, exercising, eating right and ensuring our living spaces are properly cleaned and sanitized. Reduce infections at home Which brings us to our main subject. As Sir Isaac Newton discovered in 1665, what goes up must come down (AKA don’t sit under a fruit tree in the autumn). Gravity enables all those viruses and bacteria to drift down and eventually settle into our carpets and upholstery. Some viruses, like norovirus (think nasty stomach bug) can stay in carpeting and upholstery for up to a month if not removed, according to the National Institutes for Health (NIH). Thankfully, studies show the COVID-19 virus does not typically cause infection from soft surfaces after 72 hours. According to livehealthily, the flu virus sticks around for 24 hours and the jury is out about just how long strep bacteria can survive on a surface to make you sick. Fear not. Our houses help us out and there are things we can do to reduce infections! Carpets are actually our friends. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), carpeting “plays the role of an air filter: carpet traps dust, pollen and other particles, taking them out of the breathing zone until they can be removed easily…” Regularly vacuuming your home, 1-2 times per week, as well as routinely cleaning and disinfecting your upholstery and carpeting can help keep your family well during the cold and flu season. Fight the flu and other bugs with steam A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning recommends steam cleaning your carpets every 18 months with a reputable high-temperature, truck-mounted steam cleaning service. One of our own employees testifies that regular carpet cleaning keeps his family healthier, “I have 5 kids and 2 dogs and now 5 grandkids. We don’t get colds and flu like other families.” But, don’t take our word for it. Recent studies like this one at the NIH report steam cleaning works to minimize germs in carpets. The NIH reports, “…our results support a previous finding that steam vapor can reduce viruses beyond the EPA standard in short contact times…” A Personal Touch can sanitize your chairs, ottomans and couches as well. Our trained technicians are knowledgeable about many different kinds of upholstery from canvas and corduroy to silk, lace and leather. They will clean your upholstery’s fragile trim and piping with care. Upon request, they can apply a special fabric protector to help extend the life of your furniture. Stay healthier during cold and flu season. Call us at 720-344-2870 for a free estimate or simply schedule an appointment.
How To Maintain Your Upholstery After It’s Cleaned
Maintaining your upholstery after it is cleaned is a simple, quick project that keeps your furniture looking great. At A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, our professional carpet cleaners serving Denver have some thoughts on the best approach. Pick the Right Fabric Picking the right fabric for the right piece of furniture makes it easy to maintain your upholstery, and can actually help extend the piece’s lifetime. For example, upholstered furniture that sees heavy usage derives far more benefit from synthetic fibers than, say, vinyl. Also, if you have pets, you’ll want to pick fabrics that don’t have loose weaves or too much texture. Protect Your Fabric Before it ships from the manufacturer, upholstery fabric is usually treated with water and soil repellents, and an anti-mildew coating is applied. You can purchase additional fabric protectors from a store, but the best form of fabric protection is in fact prompt attention to spills. Even though the upholstery protectants will delay spills from being absorbed into the fabric right away, an immediate cleaning of the soiled area is essential. Spills should be blotted immediately and gently with a clean folded towel. If the upholstery fabric was pre-treated with a fabric protector blotting might be enough to completely remove the spill. Before you blot, check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if you need a water-based or solvent-based cleaner. Also, it’s a good idea to test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area before you apply it to the upholstery. In most cases, the best choice is to use a mild cleaning product applied with a soft brush. Move the brush in a circular motion to work the solvent into the fibers, and then vacuum the spill area when it’s dry. If you’re unsure how a certain fabric should be cleaned, follow the manufacturer’s care instructions or contact our local carpet cleaners in Littleton. Turn the Cushions Periodically turning over your furniture’s loose cushions is a simple way to extend your upholstered furniture’s life. Akin to a tire rotation for a car, turning the cushions promotes an even distribution of wear and tear, and helps keep your cushions from developing indentations. And while you’re turning the cushions, give them a good fluffing to help maintain their shape. Also, swap the position of your cushions so the cushion in a popular sitting place doesn’t get overused. Vacuum Another easy way to maintain your upholstery is by committing to a weekly vacuuming. This is an effective way to keep your furniture free of dust and pet hair, while also removing surface soil and preventing dirt from embedding in the fibers. Another option is to use a brush to whisk the dirt away. If you go this route, make sure you use a soft bristled brush so you don’t damage the upholstery. Trust Our Experts Along with frequent upholstery maintenance, it’s a good idea to contact our nearby carpet repair company for a professional upholstery cleaning every year or two. Don’t wait for your furniture to show visible signs of dirt and wear. The dirtier a sofa or chair gets, the harder it is to clean. 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.”
Keep Up With Your Upholstery Cleaning
Every one or two years: on average, that’s how often you should have your upholstery cleaned by the professional carpet cleaners at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning in Englewood. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Your lifestyle, the number of occupants in your home, and resident allergy sufferers are important factors. The key is to weigh these criteria and find the ideal frequency. Frequency Of Use Furniture that’s used frequently is a hot bed for dirt and dust accrual. Where exactly this occurs depends on the type of furniture, but with a white, cotton towel you can conduct an easy check of seat cushions, armrests, etc. Just rub the towel on the furniture’s surface, and if stays clean, you still have some time before your next upholstery cleaning. However, if the towel is smudged with dirt, you should make an appointment with our local upholstery cleaners. Of course, an opposing scenario is possible in which furniture that’s rarely used acquires a sheen of dust over time. Furniture of this sort could also be susceptible to assorted insects and their droppings, so it’s just as important to have these items professionally cleaned too. Allergy Sufferers This one’s pretty straightforward. If you and/or others in your home suffer from allergies, you should have your furniture’s upholstery cleaned at least once a year, and maybe more depending on the severity of the allergies and the weather/pollen count. Common allergens like dust, pollen, and dander don’t take long to build up within upholstered furniture, and when they do you’ll have an unhappy allergy sufferer on your hands. Avoid this problem by keeping your upholstery clean, especially during the warmer months. Lifestyle This is the biggest determiner of how often you should have your furniture upholstery cleaned. Here’s a list of common variables. The more of these you check off, the more often you should consider a professional cleaning. Do kids live in the home? Do you have pets? Do you spend a lot of time outside: gardening, cycling, hiking, etc.? Do you have a “hands-on” job like construction worker, auto mechanic, contractor, carpenter, or exterminator? Are people always coming and going in your house, i.e. neighborhood kids, clients of your at-home business? In a place like Denver, where many people live an active lifestyle and are frequently outdoors, the need for upholstery cleaning is more pressing than in a city like, say, Albany. So right off the bat, you can probably check off one or two things on the list above. From there, it’s just a matter of assessing your lifestyle and confirming how many more items apply. But wherever you fall on the list, there’s a very good chance you’ll need your furniture upholstery cleaned more than just once every two years. We’ll Help You Assess and Protect With so many variables involved on the subject of upholstery cleaning near Denver, homeowners can benefit from speaking with A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. We’ll help you assess your needs and then develop a plan designed to protect your upholstery, and the health of the people who use it. 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.”
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.”
How To Protect Your Upholstery From Pets
Pets are a cherished part of the family, but many customers ask A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning for advice on pet-proofing their upholstery. This is an area of considerable experience for our professional carpet cleaners, and we think the following tips will come in handy. Buy Furniture That Uses Pet-Friendly Materials This is an ideal way for both you and your pet to enjoy the comfort of your living room sofa, and the two best materials are microfiber and leather. Microfiber offers impressive durability, while pet owners love leather because it’s easy to clean. Also, both materials are far more odor-resistant than competing alternatives. Match Your Furniture Color With Your Pet’s Unless you own a hairless cat or routinely shave your dog, you’ll probably end up with at least a minimal amount of pet hair on your furniture. Rather than fight it, why not use your pet’s color to your advantage and buy furniture of a similar color? Or at the very least, purchase blankets/throws that are of a similar hue. This will cut down on your regular cleaning, and probably keep you from tearing your own hair out. Buy a Dog Bed While there’s no guarantee that your dog will like a bed as much as the couch, it’s safe to say that most dogs will spend at least part of their time in a bed that’s just for them. Nowadays you’ll find beds with all sorts of added benefits: heated, pillowed, bolstered, orthopedic, the list goes on. If your dog really wants to be part of the action all the time, start by putting his bed in the living room so he’ll still be close to you. One he acclimates, he’ll probably seek the bed out wherever it is. But even at a bare minimum, the more time your dog hangs out in his bed, the less time he spends shedding/scratching/biting on the furniture. No Bare Wood If your dog is a chewing machine (or a puppy, as the terms are more or less interchangeable), it’s a good idea to avoid any furniture constructed from bare wood. Some dogs love laying into a naked wooden chair leg, and breaking a dog of its chewing habits can be difficult, especially if you’re out of the house a lot. Since chewing is not only harmful to your furniture but also to your pet, we recommend either crate training your dog, or spraying down your wood furniture with a repellent such as bitter apple spray. Make Certain Rooms Off-Limits This is an easy solution – just remember to close the doors of the rooms that you don’t want your dog to enter. This likely won’t apply to your living room or kitchen, but for these spaces you could use baby gates for prevention as well as training purposes. Trust Us For Your Carpet and Upholstery Needs In addition to expert upholstery cleaning services, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning excels at spot removal, pet damage solutions, and much more. In fact, we’re so confident in our abilities that we’ll provide you with a free quote for any service you need. Contact us today and let’s get started. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”
How Do You Clean a Fabric Sofa?
Fabric sofas are comfortable and stylish, but they can be difficult to clean. And since plastic covers likely aren’t an option for you, here are some fabric sofa cleaning tips straight from the professional carpet cleaners at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Tip #1: Check The Cleaning Tag For many people, a piece of furniture’s cleaning tag barely registers on our radar until something bad happens. In this case, check your fabric sofa’s tag and you’ll see a series of useful letters. Here’s what they mean: W – The sofa’s material can be cleaned using water S – Water is prohibited. Instead, a special solvent-based cleaner must be used. WS – Water or a solvent-based cleaner are both ok for cleaning the sofa X – Vacuum only It’s important to follow the cleaning tag’s instructions to the letter. As innocent as water seems, using it on a fabric that expressly recommends a solvent-based cleaner could actually lead to a stain on the sofa. Yes, strange as it may seem, even water can stain certain fabrics/materials. Cleaning a Fabric Sofa Marked “W” or “WS” Here’s a good framework to follow when cleaning a sofa with tags confirming it’s W or WS-approved. Note that you’ll need three light-colored microfiber cloths to complete all of the following steps. Vacuum your couch and rid it of any dirt/debris that your cleaning might accidentally rub into the fabric Mix two cups of distilled water with 1tbsp of dishwashing liquid and 1tbsp of vinegar Dampen a microfiber cloth in this cleaning solution. Make sure that this cloth is light-colored so there’s no risk of it bleeding into your sofa fabric Using your cloth, gently blot (no rubbing or scrubbing) the stained area(s). Rubbing/scrubbing can cause fiber damage. Wet a second microfiber cloth with distilled water only, and blot the stain once more in order to remove any excess soap Use your third, 100% dry microfiber cloth to blot the area one last time Point a fan at the cleaned area and wait until the fabric dries completely Another Option: Steam Cleaning If your fabric sofa is W or WS-approved, steam-cleaning could be an alternative to the “dab and blot” scenario. Consult the manufacturer’s instruction booklet (if you don’t have the hard copy, you can probably find an online version) to confirm that steam cleaning is ok. Some fabric sofas are amenable to water and solvents, but aren’t designed to withstand heat. For extra peace of mind, steam-clean a small, out-of-the-way segment of sofa and see whether the cleaner causes any damage. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding what setting your steam cleaner should be set at. You should also: Steam-clean your couch on a nice day so that you can open the windows and expedite the drying process Vacuum the sofa first and remove all dirt/debris If your steam cleaner uses microfiber cloths to assist with debris pickup, make sure to change these out as you clean. This will optimize the amount of dirt the cleaner grabs. When you’re finished, position a fan on the affected area until 100% dry The Preferred Professional Carpet Cleaners In Englewood Whether you have furniture, carpet, or drapes that require professional care, A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning answers the call. Along with our expertise in upholstery cleaning, we offer decades of experience with pet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and much more. Contact us today for a free quote. 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.”
8 Reasons Why You Should Choose A Personal Touch
Because you get an exact appointment. None of this, “I will be there between noon and five p.m.” We give you an appointment time with an hour window of arrival. And, if we are ever late we call ahead to let you know. Because you get a prompt response. We usually have an opening within a week. Because we answer the phone live. Call anytime and if we are on the other line with another customer and can’t take your call at that moment we will return your call promptly. We are available 24/7. Because you get honest pricing. No sales gimmicks, no hidden costs. Because you get an expert cleaner with years of experience. Our company has been in business for 25 years. We don’t cut corners; we clean them. We take all the time needed to clean every square inch thoroughly. BONUS: We are a member of the Better Business Bureau! One Call Service: Carpet Cleaning Carpet Repair Upholstery Cleaning Oriental Rugs Air Duct Cleaning Emergency Water Mitigation Carpet Re-stretching Deodorizing & Disinfectants Pet Stains and Odor Removal Protectant for carpet, tile and upholstery Tile & Grout Cleaning/Sealing Because you get more than a satisfaction guarantee: If a spot should reappear within 3 days, we will promptly return to re-clean it at our cost. If you are not satisfied with any area, we will return to clean that area. If you are still not satisfied, we will refund your money
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.”