Category Archives: Maintenance Tips

Maintenance tips to keep carpets, rugs and upholstery looking nice longer

Maintenance Tips

Pet Hair in the House

Cats and dogs can bring joy to a household but they also bring shedding. While pet hair from shedding cannot be eliminated from a home, it can be reduced.

Reduce the amount of pet hair that sheds.

Bathing DogPet hair loss is normal. Animals shed seasonally, and indoors animals may shed more because their systems can’t detect changes in the seasons. Also, unexpected temperature swings may cause pet hair to shed and grow more often. Daily brushing removes loose hair before it sheds and helps keep your pet’s coat healthier. Bathing your dog also reduces loose hair.

However, some animals may have hair loss for reasons beyond seasonal changes. If your pet is shedding excessively, try changing their diet. If they are under stress, try alleviating the stress. There could also be medical reasons, so you might take them to your veterinarian to be checked.

Pet hair removal

For clothing, lint brushes and lint rollers can be used to remove pet hair. So can masking or packing tape wrapped around your hand or rolled into a ball. Make sure the sticky side is out and rub it along the fabric grain.

Animal HairFor furniture, remove as much of the pet hair as possible by vacuuming it with the hose attachment of the vacuum cleaner. After vacuuming, put on rubber gloves and dip them in cold water. Shake your hands so that the gloves are damp but not dripping water. Then, wearing the dampened rubber gloves, run your hands across the furniture fabric in one direction. This should gather the pet hair together in a little roll that you can easily pick up and throw in the trash.  Keep wiping all of the fabric in this manner until it is free of pet hair.

For more information, visit my website at www.graysoncleans.com

Maintenance Tips

Have Your Carpets Lost Their Luster, Don’t Give Up On Them

You may look at your carpets, want to replace them but would rather not spend the money. With a little effort, you can extend their useful life and maintain your beautiful home. Typical situations that mar the beauty are spots and spills, wear patterns and rippling or buckling of the carpet. I have addressed ways to remove spots and spills in past blogs, however, sometimes they are permanent. For these situations, a strategically placed throw rug or piece of furniture may be your best approach. High use areas or traffic patterns are a result of concentrated foot traffic that is actually wearing the carpet away. Because the tops of the carpet fibers are being worn and frayed, they look dull. These frayed fibers will also absorb spills quicker and hold dirt more readily than non-worn areas. Therefore, more frequent vacuuming (daily would be great) of the traffic patterns will help them look better and last longer. Immediate blotting of any spills will help reduce the probability of them becoming permanent stains. Carpets that are rippling or buckling can be the result of different factors but they can be easily and economically remedied by having the carpets stretched.

Finally, periodic professional cleaning by experienced companies will restore and maintain their beauty.

For more information, visit my website www.graysoncleans.com.

Maintenance Tips

Rug Care, Helping them look good and last longer

Whether you have expensive oriental rugs or just good everyday rugs, here are some tips to take care of them and make them last longer.

  • Vacuum rugs. This should be done at least once a week.
  • Turn or rotate the ends of a rug. This should be done once a year. Rug RotationHowever, it is a must to turn them at least every two years. Turning prevents more wear in one area than in another. It also helps to prevent “traffic patterns” from occurring as in carpeted rooms.
  • Moth considerations for wool and oriental rugs. Rugs regularly vacuumed or located in well used rooms are less likely to have moth damage. Moths work in secluded, undisturbed areas such as under beds, skirted sofas, or heavy furniture. Move furniture occasionally when vacuuming and clean under it. Also, homes not well ventilated or rooms closed for long periods of time are more likely to have moth problems, so once again vacuum rugs regularly.
  • Sunlight considerations. Direct, sunlight will gradually fade a rug. To avoid this, cover windows with drapes, curtains or shutters and use them to block strong morning and afternoon sunlight. Also, consider window glass treatments and rug treatments for UV light protection.
  • Plants or flowerpot considerations. Live plants requiring water Flower Potsshould never be placed directly on rugs. Dampness from the bottom of the pots will cause mildew and rot, gradually destroying the fibers of the rug and resulting in drastic damage. Plants should be in a stand, preferably on wheels. Also, there should be a space between the pot and rug for air to circulate. Use a container under the flowerpot to avoid water dripping onto the rug.
  • Storage considerations. Always store rugs inside the home at room temperature. Do not store in attics that can get too hot or in garages that can get damp as this could cause a rug to dry rot and become brittle. The rug should be inspected and vacuumed at least once a year.

For more information, visit our website at www.graysoncleans.com

Maintenance Tips

Commandments of Carpet & Rug Care

6 Comments

Over time your carpets and rugs appearance deteriorates and becomes less attractive. This is due to abrasive soils becoming imbedded in your carpet or rug, which can cause damage to the fibers and reduce the carpet or rug’s life.

Therefore, vacuum frequently and thoroughly. Most wear is caused by dirt. Oily soils attract more oily soil and frvacuum cleanerequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup. Vacuum high-traffic areas daily, less-traveled areas at least twice a week.

Institute a no-dirt policy. A no-shoes rule is always effective, but can be difficult to implement. However, you should definitely make sure there are doormats at each entrance to your home. Clean the mats regularly so they don’t become sources of soil themselves.

If furniture rests on the carpet, be sure it gets moved occasionally and use coasters under the furniture’s legs.

Address stains quickly: the longer a stain chemically reacts with the carpet or rug the harder it will be to remove it. Common stains usually don’t require any liquid cleaners stronger than water. Use as little water as possible and blot them clean instead of rubbing or brushing.

Bring professional cleaners in regularly. The commercial grade equipment gets the deeply imbedded dirt out and will make your carpet last longer. The frequency of commercial cleaning will vary based on living conditions. However, for homes with children or active families, it is a good practice to have them cleaned at least once a year.

For more information visit our website at www.graysoncleans.com