Category: Articles

Do I need to have my carpet professionally cleaned?

The short answer is yes. Carpet manufacturers all recommend that you have your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Regular cleaning helps to prolong the look and life of your carpets. Regular cleaning doesn’t mean weekly or even monthly. Depending on the type of carpet you have, wear and tear, foot traffic and if you have children or pets, regular cleaning is recommended every 6-18 months.

Is basic carpet cleaning service good enough?

Again, the short answer is yes. However, there may be circumstances where you need some “extra services” that the carpet cleaner can provide.

What are some of the extra services my carpet cleaner may provide?

• Furniture moving – Some carpet cleaners charge for this service, some do not. Check with your cleaner to see how they handle it. There may also be a limit to how much and what they will move.
• Stain removal – Some stains you can handle yourself, some you can’t. If you happen to have a stubborn stain that you can’t get out yourself, let your carpet cleaner know. Be prepared by knowing what the stain is (coffee, pet accident, etc.), how old it is, what you tried to clean it with and what your carpet type is. This information will help your service provider to bring the right cleaning materials for your situation.
• Step or staircase cleaning – Obviously, steps and staircases aren’t flat, so they do require more work to clean them. Also, staircases are not always lit the same way a room is, so you may not realize how dirty your steps are. If you know you need this service, inform your cleaner from the start. It may be part of a service package they offer, or there may be an extra charge. If you are unsure, talk to your service provider when they are in your home.
• Deodorizing – Deodorizing is meant to eliminate odor. This added step will have your carpet or rug smelling good, to go along with looking good after the cleaning. You might wonder if you really need it since you are having your carpet cleaned anyway. Keep in mind that no process is 100%. This is especially true if you have pets or small children, there is a smoker in the home, or if it has been a while since you last had your carpet cleaned. These circumstances may dictate a deodorizing procedure.
• Sanitizing – If you are having your carpet steam cleaned, this added step may not be necessary since the hot water will kill most germs and bacteria. However, again, keep in mind that no process is 100%. If you have young pets or children prone to accidents, or if someone with allergies or breathing issues is in the home, you should discuss this with your service provider.
• Stain repellent – There are products your service provider can put on your carpet that will help prevent staining. This application is usually recommended for high traffic or high use areas where accidents and spills are more likely to occur.

Regular carpet cleaning is a great way to enhance the beauty of your carpeted areas, plus it helps to minimize the damage regular wear and tear can create. Extra services provided by your carpet cleaning professional can boost the effect of carpet cleaning and help to prolong the life and beauty of your carpets. Just be sure to discuss your budget, circumstances, and concerns with your service provider so they can best assist you with your concerns and expectations.

By Sharon Koehler. This article is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of Surface Care PROS Partners.

Choosing a Vacuum Cleaner

It’s common knowledge that having your carpet and floors professionally cleaned regularly extends their life and keeps them looking newer longer. Yet, there needs to be some routine cleaning done in-between professional cleanings. Spills and stains need to be addressed as soon as possible and routine vacuuming is essential to keeping your carpets and floors clean in between professional cleanings. However, what you vacuum with is just as important as the vacuuming itself. Here we are going to look at the pros and cons of the 2 most commonly used types of vacuums: upright and cannister vacuums.

Pros of Upright Vacuum Cleaners

Ease of Use: Due to the all-in-one design, an upright is easier to move. It can be pushed easily from room to room with little effort.

Wide Footprint: The vacuum head of an upright is usually bigger than a canister making it quicker to vacuum even the largest of areas.

Emptying Debris: Most modern uprights have plastic containers that collect the debris. These containers snap in and out quickly and easily, plus they have a one touch button making emptying easy.

Storage: Their design makes it possible for uprights to stand alone in corners or closets without taking up much space.

Pros of Cannister Vacuum Cleaners

Noise: Cannister vacuums are a bit quieter than uprights. Their decibel level is about the same as a washing machine. This may be a factor if you have babies, dogs or someone in your home that has sensitive hearing.

Suction: Generally, cannister vacuums have more suction power. They are great at cleaning bare floors and can clean carpets effectively.

Cords: Retractable cords are stored inside a cannister vacuum. This reduces the chance of a trip and fall accident while it is in use or in storage.

Weight: Cannister vacuums usually weigh less. The difference in pounds may not be much, but their design makes them seem less cumbersome and heavy.

Cons of Upright Vacuum Cleaners

Noise: Their nose level is louder than cannister vacuums. It is something close to a coffee grinder. If you have babies or dogs, they may find it uncomfortable.

Weight: Uprights can weigh 20 pounds or more. While they push fairly easily, if you have stairs, lugging 20+ pounds up and down can get tiresome. You might want to consider a hand-held or stick vac for stairs.

Maneuverability: The vacuum head is bigger and wider on an upright so it doesn’t get into all the little corners and may require balancing on stairs if the head is wider than the stair itself.

Cords: Cords are stored on the outside of the vacuum and frequently lay on the floor while in use. This presents a trip and fall hazard.

Cons of Cannister Vacuums

Storage: Due to their design, cannister vacuums along with their cords and attachments take up much more space than an upright. If you have limited storage space, that may be a consideration.

Effectiveness: Even though they generally have more suction power than an upright, uprights are routinely rated to clean carpets more effectively. Take into consideration what types of flooring surfaces you have in your home when making a vacuum decision.

Maneuverability: A cannister vacuum rolls on wheels as you pull it from room to room. If you have thick carpet or rugs, the smaller wheels may get bogged down or stuck in the carpet.

Emptying Debris: Bagged cannister vacuums are more efficient at picking up dirt and debris. However, throwing away a dirty bag filled with debris and dust can be a hassle. Those vacuum bags need to be replaced every month or two, so you are continuously having to buy new bags. That can become costly over time. There are bagless models available, but they tend to be more expensive.

A vacuum clearer should be considered an investment in helping to extend the life of your flooring surfaces. Price should not be the only consideration.

• What types of surfaces do you have?
• Are there stairs involved?
• Do you have pets?
• Are there people or animals that may be bothered by noise?
• Does anyone have a respiratory problem?

All these things need to be taken into consideration when purchasing a vacuum cleaner. In this particular situation, if all you consider is price, you may end up not getting what you need.

By Sharon Koehler. This article is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of Surface Care PROS Partners.

What is carpet padding?

Carpet padding is a separate piece of underlayment that you put down between the floor and the bottom of your carpet or area rug. It can be made of a variety of different materials, such as rubber, fiber, or foam. Carpet padding can normally be purchased as a pad or a roll and if needed, it can be cut, usually with scissors, to fit your space

Why do I need carpet padding?

There are several reasons you should always get carpet padding under your carpet or area rug.

• Makes walking easier – Carpet padding absorbs the shock and impact of your footsteps, helping to alleviate walking fatigue. It also makes walking softer and more comfortable.
  Absorbs sounds- Studies show that carpet padding actually absorbs sound, making your footsteps quieter and less likely to disturb other people. This is especially important in multi-story homes.
• Carpet Life – Having a carpet pad under your carpet or area rug helps to extend the life of your carpet. A carpet pad helps to reduce fiber crushing and keeps your carpet looking and feeling softer for much longer than a carpet without a pad underneath. It also absorbs the impact of everyday wear and tear, which also extends the life of your carpet.
• Insulation – Carpet padding helps to insulate your home. It helps with heat retention in the winter and cool air retention in the summer, in turn helping to reduce your heating and cooling bills.
• Protection – A carpet pad underneath your carpet or rug helps to protect your original floor from damage. Sometimes the backing on a carpet can scratch your original floor. Plus, any spills or pet stains that seep through the carpet itself, will also have to go through the pad before it reaches the original floor.
• Safety – This is important with area rugs. Padding can keep area rugs from slipping and sliding, reducing slip and fall accidents

Does thickness matter?

The thickness of carpet padding actually does matter. The thickness of the pad should range somewhere between ¼ inch and 7/16 of an inch, although some experts say ½ inch is fine. Thickness should depend on the type of carpet fiber and the location where the carpet is being put.

• If your padding is too thin, it will not absorb the shocks, and wear and tear needed to extend the life of your carpet or area rug. Plus, it will not cushion your footsteps or absorb sounds as well.
• If your padding is too thick, it can cause uneven wear on your carpet, as well as promote seam splitting.
• Talk to your carpet specialist about the thickness that is best for the carpet or rug you have.

Can carpet padding be cleaned?

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. The trick to cleaning the pad is to remove the carpet on top. With wall-to-wall carpet, that is not so easy. With area rugs, that process is much easier. However, if you can’t remove the carpet or if the stain is very bad, the best thing to do is to consult your carpet cleaning specialists. They can guide you on the best course of action for cleaning your pad.

You wouldn’t wash dishes without detergent or get a new computer without virus software. You shouldn’t get new carpet or rugs without the correct padding underneath. Consider the padding to be a helper in your carpet or rug investment. It will help to extend the life of your carpet or rug and make you more comfortable at the same time. Remember, always get the padding with the carpet.

This article is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of Surface Care PROS Partners.

There is a Lot to Be Said for Rearranging Your Furniture

[This article was originally published in October 2018]

Furniture arrangement sets a tone for how a space is used. Once you’ve settled on a layout that works for you, why change it? Well, it turns out that there are actually quite a few benefits associated with changing your furniture layout. Here are the details.

Psychological Benefits

Did you know there may actually be psychological benefits to rearranging furniture? For creative people, rearranging furniture is an opportunity for creative expression. For people who want to hit an emotional reset button, rearranging furniture provides physical and visual evidence of change. If the urge for a fresh decorating scheme hits you, rearranging furniture can create a sense of newness without the expense of replacing your current furniture. And last but not least, it certainly can’t hurt to take the focus off of the TV and establish a space that is more conducive to social interaction.

It’s Good for Carpets and Rugs

Carpets and rugs are subject to damage from foot traffic, heavy furniture, and sun fading. Rearranging your furniture is a great way to combat all three problems. The more you are able to alter traffic patterns and create new walkways in a space, the less likely your carpets and rugs are to develop uneven wear, tracking, and footpaths. Moving heavy furniture also helps prevent excessive compression of the fibers, because it gives the fibers a chance to recuperate and bounce back. When you rotate the position of furniture, solar damage is spread more evenly and is less noticeable.

Better Health and Fatter Pocketbook

Dust and dander tend to collect under and behind furniture. Every time you rearrange your furniture, it creates a convenient opportunity for some quick spring cleaning. If you have carpeting or rugs, they act as giant air filters, reducing the allergens in the air you breathe, and consequently, they should be professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Many of our clients time their furniture rearranging with our services twice per year. Their most used furniture is placed according to the season, maximizing warmth coming in from a sunny window or near a fireplace in the fall or winter and taking advantage of coolness near an air conditioner vent or open window in the spring or summer.

Overcoming Limitations

If the room size limits your ability to rearrange furniture, consider reducing how much furniture you have or replacing large pieces with smaller ones. An overcrowded room feels oppressive. The more walking space there is, as well as the more space there is between walls and furniture, the less confining a room will feel. Having less furniture or smaller size furniture can really help.

If, for whatever reason, you can’t rearrange your room entirely, consider adjusting the furniture by a few inches every few months to avoid excessive compression of the carpet and rug fibers.

By Sharon Koehler. This article is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of Surface Care PROS Partners.