Commercial Carpet Cleaning in North Vancouver and West Vancouver

Are you a member of a strata council or a property manager looking to have a condo complex's common area carpets cleaned.  Consider having SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning West Vancouver give you and estimate.  Long a favorite on the North Shore.  604-924-0518.

How to Remove Beer Stains From a Pool Table Felt

I chose beer stains because its the most common stain usually associated with playing billiards or pool.

It's important to remember that a felt top to a pool table is not like other fabrics and, as such, has to be handled with care.

Here's what you're going to need:

- a bowl or a dish for mixing your concoction
- white vinager (believe it or not, I have to make this distinction)
- cool water ( I repeat cool water)
- clean cloths (best to use a lint-free micro-fibre cloth)

And here's what you need to do;

1. Of course, it the spill just happened, blot up as much of the spill using your cloth as possible. Blot, do not wipe or scrub as you could cause damage to the felt or spread the spill causing an even larger stain.

2. After thoroughly rinsing out your cloth with cool water, repeat step 1, this time using cool water.

3.Next, in your bowl, mix two caps of your white vinager to about a cup of water.  Remember!!! Cool Water!


4.Dip your clean cloth in the mixture and continue to blot the stain, repeatedly rinsing out your cloth and re-moistening it with your solution.

5. When you have removed the offending spot, allow the felt to air dry.  If there is any stain still present, repeat the above steps.

Remember, you want to use cool water as warm or hot water could set your stain.  The sooner you can address the spill, the greater your chances of removing the stain.

And, of course, when you're ready to have your carpets or furniture professionally cleaned, be sure to call SmithWerks Vancouver Carpet Cleaning   604-924-0518

Dustmites! What are they and what can be done about them?

Dustmites! What are they and what can be done about them?

I often think that homeowners would become more fanatical about cleanliness if they new just what was hiding in their furniture and carpets.  One such character is Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes or the North American Dust Mite.


So, what is a dust mite exactly?  Well, basically, they are tiny microscopic creatures that live off of dead skin and hair.  You should also know that there are, potentially, millions of them in your home.. In fact, a couple of hundred thousand of them will typically be found in a square meter of carpet.  Several million will take up residence in a mattress!


Since they live off of the dead skin and hair we shed each day of our lives, they tend to concentrate in areas where we tend to lounge or spend a significant amount of time. Mattresses, sofas, living room carpets tend to be favorite haunts for this beast.  Interesting Fact!! : Humans shed up to 10 grams of skin each week!







Some of you are probably equating dust mites to bed bugs about now.  They're not the same. Dust mites aren't known for carrying diseases or having a bite that is toxic in any way. However, the proteins that are found in their feces, their dead carcasses and the dead skin cells and hair they digest are a primary irritant to people with allergies or asthma.


The symptoms of such allergies are sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, congestion, difficulty breathing etc.


So, Dave, what can we do to get rid of these little pests?


Well, there are a number of things that I could suggest.
- Clean daily (or at least every few days)
-Wash bedding in very hot water
-Consider using a plastic matttress cover
-Use synthetic fabrics . Dust mites love wool!
-keep the humidity in your home lower.
-Replace your furnace filters monthly.  If you have washable filters, clean monthly.


And, of course, have your carpets and upholstery steamcleaned regularily.


Remember, call SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning West Vancouver   604-924-0518

Vacuum Cleaner Reviews!

Hi All!

I'm asked all the time what as a homeowner can one do to keep their carpet looking fresh and clean for as long as possible. Your best weapon against premature wear and tear is a good vacuum cleaner.  Question is : do you get a traditional bag type, a bagless canister, up right, built in or handheld??

To help you navigate this issue and arrive at a decision that suits your home cleaning needs, I have found an excellent link to a site that has compiled reviews of the different vacuums on the market.

Of course, if you have any questions you can contact SmithWerks West Vancouver Carpet Cleaning 604-924-0518

Here is the Link   http://vacuumcleanerreviews.ca/

Why should you get your carpets cleaned??

Why should you get your carpets cleaned??

Funny enough, those of us "in the industry" come across cases, quite regularly, where a home owner (or renter) will indicate that they never clean their carpets! Ewww!  Right now, some of you are turning bright red because you also have never cleaned your carpet.

Rather remarkable given that we take for granted that we wash ourselves and our clothes on rather regular basis.  Can you imagine, never washing your clothes?  Might explain your pronounced lack of friends.

So, allow me to enlighten you as to some of the reasons why you should steam clean your carpets at least every 12 to 18 months.  Not to mention, vacuum them at least weekly.

REASON 1

Health Reasons:  Dirty carpets are a breeding ground for bacteria, germs, mold and mildew!  Did you know that allergists actually favour carpeting in the house over hardwoood or tiles. This is because it serves to trap airborne dust and debris that would normally be carried up into the air we breath with every draft or gust of wind.  However, if that dust and debris is allowed to remain in carpet, it becomes a major irritant to allergy sufferers.

Mold and mildew allow the growth of bacteria that can be potentially hazardous to your health.  We spend more than 50% of our time in our home and, naturally, spend a fair amount of time touching or coming in contact with our carpets.  When you consider that humans will touch their face on average three to five thousand times per day, do you really want to touch filthy carpets and then ingest the bacteria that lives there.  I didn't think so.

REASON 2

Pests!:  Dirty carpets are a breeding ground for dust mites.  These are microscopic creatures that live off of dead skin and hair and other organic materials found in dirty carpets.  Dust mites and their carcasses (when they die) are a leading cause of skin and nasal irritations.

REASON 3

Odours! Phew!  Yes, stinky odours.......really, why would you think that if you never clean the carpet that you're not going to have this problem.  Everything from body odours to cooking smells to musty, dusty smells.  A thorough carpet cleaning will eliminate offensive odours from your carpet.

REASON 4

It's good Economics!  That's right, it saves you money in the long run.  The average life of a carpet is about 10 to 12 years.  Thats with regular vacuuming, steamcleaning and spotting.  The life of your carpet will be significantly reduced with less frequent cleaning or no cleaning at all.  Did you know that most carpet manufacturers actually state that the warranty on their product is void if you don't have your carpets professionally steam cleaned annually?

REASON 5

Social Reasons:  Believe me, when people come to your home, they do make judgements about you based on your level of hygiene.  Save yourself a great deal of awkwardness and treat your carpets to a professional steam cleaning and watch the number of friends you have on Facebook grow.

Remember folks, when it comes time to have your carpets professionally cleaned, call SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning North Vancouver .   604-924-0518

Decorating Your Home Using Area Rugs!

Many people look for ways to modernize their home without shelling out a great deal of money. A great way to do this is to use rugs. Just introducing a few rugs to your home will make it feel comfy and offer a new fresh look. There are some things that you need to be conscious of when you use rugs for redecorating. In addition to the things to consider is how significant color will be when using rugs in your decorating.

You will need to get large rugs that are decorative to help make a plain room look vibrant. If the room you intend to decorate is currently full of color then you should go the opposite direction. You should get a rug with neutral colors so that it is not going to compete with what you already have in the room If you move into a new place, it is possible to make your rug the main focus of your home and assemble the decorations for your home around the rug. Additionally when decorating with rugs, you should also be aware of the pattern. You should make certain the pattern of the rug matches with the furniture, accessories and wallpaper in your room. You need to be sure that the rug pattern and wallpaper or furniture do not clash alongside one another.

Yet another thing to think about when picking the design of your rug is the place it is going to end up in your home. For example, if you want a rug in your entry way, it ought to be a dark color with intricate patterns. The reason for this type of rug is the fact that many people will go out and in so you want something to hide all the dirt that comes in. For the dining room, you could use a light colored rug since it doesn’t have a lot of traffic. Maybe you would rather have a lighter rug in an area that has heavy traffic, but you need to be ready to wash it constantly.

You will find extra things to give some thought to when choosing rugs for the bath room. Either make sure that the hue of the rug complements the bathroom, or change everything in the bathroom to match your new rugs. Make sure that you get suitable bathroom rugs as they are often water resistant and mildew resistant.

Those were a handful of recommendations on how to decorate your home using rugs. When you are ready to buy a rug, make sure you understand how much you will shell out since rugs can get pricey. Don’t forget, this was a method to change the look of your house in an affordable way. Utilizing the information you’ve been given, get out there and have fun redesigning your home.

And remember, SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning West Vancouver includes area rug cleaning as one of our services.  We recommend having your loose rugs professionally cleaned ever 18 to 24 months.  Call us today for an estimate. 604-924-0518

Folex - The Best Carpet Spotter you can Buy!

You wouldn't believe how many households I go into that don't have a reliable spot remover in their cleaning cabinet.  I also come across quite a few cases where the absolutely wrong thing is used to lift simple spots that result in utter heartbreak.

TRUE STORY!  Several years ago I visited a new client to clean her carpet.  Upon my initial inspection, I noticed about 3 dozen bleached out spots throughout her suite.  I asked her if she had been using bleach. She emphatically exclaimed "No! Not bleach! I use Javex!"  Well, you can see what I mean.

So, over the past 12 years that SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning West Vancouver has been servicing the North Shore, I have been asked many times what I would recommend a home owner should have on hand to deal with the occasional spill or spot on their carpet or upholstery. We highly recommend Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover.

Folex Fact Sheet (from their website)

Chemically: FOLEX is a Water Based Non-Ionic Surfactant
WATER BASED means that it uses water to wash the stain away, for safety, and virtually residue free cleaning. Unlike some soap, solvent, or oil based cleaners that could be smelly, toxic, flammable, leave a sticky residue, or damage the carpet backing.

NON-IONIC means that it does not have a positive (+) or a negative (-) charge... therefore it will not attract or repel dust and dirt, so that the cleaned area will soil uniformly with the surrounding area. The spot will not reappear!

SURFACTANT means that it is an emulsifying agent that reduces surface tension... So it breaks up the stain, and surrounds it, so that it can be removed by blotting with a dry cloth or paper towel.

Removes: FOLEX is effective on these and many more spots and stains...

Ashes	Crayon	Grass	Many Inks	Soft Drinks
Auto Oil	Dirt	Grime	Pet Accidents	Tea
Beach Tar	Fireplace Soot	Household Grease	Potting Soil	Tobacco
Blood	Food	Ice Cream	Road Tar	Toothpaste
Car Grease	Food Oil	Ketchup	Rust	Urine
Coffee	Fruit Juice	Lipstick	Sauces	Varnish
Copy Toner	Furniture Polish	Makeup	Shoe Polish	Vomit

Works on: FOLEX is not just for carpets! FOLEX is safe for any material that is both colorfast and color stable, including hard surfaces, that can be safely dampened with water, such as...
Upholstery Clothing Draperies Car Interiors Walls Woodwork Floors and More!

Your Safety and Comfort: FOLEX is...

Non-Toxic, completely non-irritating to normal skin
Non-Flammable, contains no solvents of any kind
Odor-Free, no unpleasant chemicals
CFC and Petroleum Free


Remember: When it comes time to have your carpets professionally cleaned call SmithWerks Carpet Cleaning North Vancouver  604-924-0518