Fixing snags in a berber carpet

Hi all!  I came across this great article on fixing snags in your berber carpet. I can also recommend Russell Ward in North Vancouver who does a fantastic job of repairs.  He can be reached at 604-788-2578. And remember, when it comes time to have your carpets or upholstery cleaned, call SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning North Vancouver.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5258445_fix-snags-berber-carpet.html

Removing Ink from Furniture Fabric

This has to be one of the most common stains I encounter when cleaning upholstery.  Follow these simple steps and you'll most likely be successful in removing most if not all the ink mark.


Like any stain, ink or otherwise, the quicker you address it, the more likely that you are going to be successful in removing the mark.


Start with cool water and gently blot the mark.  I suggest using a clean, white cloth.  That way, you'll be able to see if there is any transfer of the ink to the cloth. Try to avoid rubbing the spot. Vigorous agitation can damage the fibre or even tear it.  Remember!....use cool water! Heat could cause the stain to set making it almost impossible to remove.


When you are satisfied that you have removed as much of the ink mark as possible, you can proceed to the next step.


Surprisingly, hairspray is quite effective in removing ink.  For light ink stains, spray a light application of hairspray on to a clean white rag and gently blot until the ink mark is gone.  For heavier ink marks, spray the ink mark directly, saturating the spot and then gently agitate using a toothbrush. (Uhh, don't use the toothbrush for cleaning your teeth after this) Remember, don't agitate to hard as you could damage the fibre.  Finish, by blotting again with cool water.


Remember, for general cleaning of your furniture or carpets call SmithWerks Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning West Vancouver.

What to do about those unsightly black lines along your baseboards.....

Filtration lines are a common problem in homes today. They are also very difficult to remove. In this article you will learn what they are, how to treat them and how to prevent them.

First lets talk about what filtration lines are. Filtration lines are dark lines that appear around walls and underneath doors. They form when you HVAC system is blowing air into the room. To equalize the pressure caused by the system air rushes underneath walls and under doors. The carpet in this area acts as a filter trapping fine particles of dust and soot. This manifests itself as a dark line.

Cleaning these lines is not that easy. They will often improve but will probably not be completely eliminated. To treat them you will need some white terry cloth rags, a bottle of citrus spotter, a bottle of general spotter and a spray bottle of a vinegar solution(1/3 white distilled vinegar to 2/3 water). First vacuum the area thoroughly. Now spray the spotter on your rag and gently blot the filtration lines. Keep going until no more soil transfers to your cloth. The citrus spotter will remove any greasy soil. Now get your general spotter and spray it on a cloth. Once again gently blot the filtration line until no more soil transfers to the rag. The general spotter should remove any remaining soil. Lastly you will want to spray the area you just cleaned with your vinegar mix. Spray the area., let the solution dwell for a few seconds and then blot it up. This will help remove any residue left by the other spotters.

That's it. You are done. Hopefully most of the stain has been removed but this is not usually the case. The best way to treat these stains is to prevent them. Change your homes air filter often and try to leave doors open so that air has a place to go. Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And of course, when it's time to have your carpets or upholstery cleaned, call on SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning North Vancouver.

Blood Stains on Carpet : Cleaning and Removal

For some strange reason, I have been getting a lot of calls regarding blood stains on carpet.  Specifically, what can a home owner do to remove them. Well, all is not lost as long as you follow a few very simple steps.  Like any stains, the quicker you are able to treat them, the more likely you are going to be successful in removing them.

So lets get started

• Remove as much of the stain as possible by blotting with a white paper towel, then neutralize with an ammonia solution (1 tablespoon of clear household ammonia to 1/2 cup of water.). Saturate spot with the ammonia solution using a spray bottle. Do not wet backing. Blot with a white paper towel to remove excess moisture. All solutions for removing blood must be cool.
• Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.
• Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.
• Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.
• If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.

Remember, when it comes to blood, cool water is the rule. Hot water can set the stain.

And, as always, don't forget you can always call on SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning North Vancouver for all your carpet and upholstery cleaning needs.

Welcome to our New Blog!

Welcome to the new SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning Blog!  Here you'll find interesting tips that will help you care for your carpet and upholstery.

We're very excited that we can provide this additional services to all our past, present and future clients.

Remember, when the time comes, be sure to call SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning in North Vancouver for professional steam cleaning of your carpet and upholstery.