Tuesday, February 15, 2011

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.