Your upholstery and carpet are essential elements that need regular upkeep. And when it comes to upkeep, cleaning plays a major role. And to make it easier, we have got some cleaning tips for carpets and upholstery to keep them looking neat.
7 Cleaning Tips for Carpets and Upholstery
- Clear The Surface Dirt Regularly
Whether it is your couch or carpet, fabrics attract and collect dirt on the surface. This dirt and dust can settle deeper if not cleaned regularly. And one of the best ways to do that is through vacuuming.
Make sure you remove the surface dirt from your carpet and upholstery before it settles deeper. That means vacuuming every few times a week and more often if your home stays messy and has pets or kids.
Moreover, use HEPA filters in your vacuum to ensure trapping even the tiniest of dirt particles.
- Clean As Per The Care Label
Upholstery and carpets come with a tag attached. This care label often has information about the type of fabric it is made up of and ways for care and cleaning.
Reading this label is very crucial to ensure you are giving it the right care. That’s because every fabric is different and has different needs.
You should also get familiar with the cleaning codes that these labels show.
- Code W: Water-based cleaning
- Code S: Solvent-based cleaning
- Code W/S: Water or solvent-based cleaning
- Code X: Vacuum or professionals only.
It is important to treat the fabric the way it has been directed by its manufacturer. And if your fabric is delicate and hard to maintain, especially the one having Code X, you should only provide it with expert carpet cleaning in San Marcos. The same rule stands for upholstery.
- Call Experts For Deep Cleaning
Whether it is the dirt and dust that gets dragged into your home after enjoying the outdoor activities of San Marcos or the dander and stains that your pet leaves, deep cleaning is unavoidably necessary.
Even if you vacuum your carpets, couches, and sofas regularly, there are some things that a vacuum cannot remove. That includes deeply set stains, ingrained dirt, invisible germs and dust mites, and other microbes hiding in their fibers. It just offers surface cleaning.
And that is why, when you hire experts for deep upholstery cleaning in San Marcos, you see a difference.
- The cleaners they use are specialized to treat various stains.
- The equipment they use has powerful suction and high temperatures that pull out dirt and germs easily.
- Their years of experience make the cleaning much more effective.
- Pay Immediate Attention To Spills
One of the best ways to save your carpet and upholstery from staining is by cleaning the spills as soon as they happen. The spills, especially liquid ones, tend to seep deep into the fibers and can become hard to remove once settled. That is why it is important to clean them before they turn into stains.
- Never rub the stains and just blot them with cloth.
- Make sure you absorb as much moisture as you can.
- Clean the stains with a white cloth to avoid color transfer.
- Wipe stains from the outer edges towards the center to prevent spreading them more.
- Never clean pet stains with hot water. Else, they can settle.
- Spot-Test To Avoid The Risk Of Damage
Some cleaners tend to have harmful or incompatible chemicals that may not go well with your upholstery or carpet fibers. Whether you make a DIY cleaning solution or buy one from a store, always check the usage label and test the product on a hidden spot before you use it.
If there were any chances of color bleeding, fading, or any other damage, you will be able to save the entire piece from damage.
This is especially true with cleaners such as:
- Bleach
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Acetone
- Vinegar
- OTC products
- Use Safe Cleaners
Clean your upholstery and carpet with safe cleaners. Using harsh chemicals results in abrasive cleaning that can damage the fibers internally. You may or may not see the immediate damage but it can reduce their lifespan in the long run.
Choose products that are right for your upholstery and carpet material, and safe for kids, pets, and your indoor air.
You can easily identify green cleaners with some reliable seals.
- Safer Choice Label by EPA
- Design for the Environment (DfE) label by EPA
- Seal of Approval (SOA) program by CRI
- Use Water Sparingly And Blot Rinse After Cleaning
When you clean your upholstery and carpets, use water sparingly. Overwetting the fabric in an attempt to loosen the dirt can do more harm than good. A normal cleaner cannot extract all of the excess water and this moisture can cause mold to grow.
However, when cleaning a stain, always give the surface a damp wipe with clean water to ensure all the soapy residue is cleaned. Skipping to give it a final rinse can cause this residue to attract more soil.
Summing Up,
Cleaning upholstery and carpets is easy if you keep some crucial tips in mind. Vacuum regularly, clean as per fabric type, and call pros for deep cleaning. Clean the spills quickly, test the cleaners before use, and use safe cleaners to keep them clean.
