Dry Vacuum – The first step that Metro Carpet Cleaning Sydney takes in the carpet cleaning process is dry vacuuming and is the most important step in the process of removing dry particle soil. Would you believe that 75-80% of the soil and dirt present in your carpet can be removed in this initial dry vacuum process of carpet cleaning!  However, it is frightening to imagine that 75-80% of carpet cleaners in today’s industry don’t even undertake or offer this initial basic first step in the carpet cleaning process. If this dry particulate soil is not removed with even regular vacuuming, the sharp edges of this soiling matter will scratch or abrade the fibres of the carpet and make it have an apparently “soiled appearance”, even after carpet cleaning. Metro Carpet Cleaning customers are always advised that soiling can be significantly reduced if they stick to a regular vacuuming schedule using vacuums with hepa filters and anti allergen filtration systems. The use of door mats for the trapping of soils is also useful.

Rotary Encapsulation Shampoo – Metro Carpet Cleaning offers the rotary brush shampoo carpet cleaning process using the revolutionary encapsulation carpet cleaning system. In this process, the carpet cleaner uses a foaming solution or shampoo to suspend soiling matter and crystallize the particles to the surface of the carpet pile when agitated with a rotary brush. Carpet cleaners need to take particular care and a high degree of skill is needed in this carpet cleaning process, as pile distortion or tip flaring may occur from improper brush use or lubrication. The purpose of the brush is to distribute the solution and for soiling suspension. Dry vacuuming or hot water extraction is then used to remove the suspended soils and detergents. This system of carpet cleaning is very popular with carpet cleaners whose clients require fast drying times. This particular carpet cleaning system has a drying time of around 10-30 minutes.

Rotary Shampoo Bonnet Pad – Metro Carpet Cleaning also offers the same rotary shampoo carpet cleaning system using our bonnet pad process. In this process, a carpet cleaning solvent or shampoo solution is sprayed onto the carpet pile followed by the rotary spin buffing of the carpet pile with a cotton or rayon bonnet pad to remove the suspended soils. Carpet cleaners use the pad in place of the brush, as some carpet piles may be too delicate for a brush system, in particular 100% pure wool carpets. It is important the carpet cleaner change, or turn the bonnet pads over when the pad surface is completely soiled to the point where it can no longer absorb soiling during this carpet cleaning process. As with the previous “brush” system, this carpet cleaning system is very popular with carpet cleaners requiring very fast drying times. This particular carpet cleaning system has a drying time of approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Steam Cleaning (Hot Water Extraction) – This system would definitely be the most popular carpet cleaning system booked by Metro Carpet Cleaning. Its end result and appearance for carpet cleaners is vastly superior to any of the above carpet cleaning systems, as far as the finished product is concerned. The carpet cleaner will initially apply a pre spray shampoo to the carpet pile and leave to dwell for approximately 5-10 minutes for maximum soil suspension. Carpet cleaners may agitate the pile using a rake after application of shampoo to increase soiling suspension time and to speed up the process before the solution may dry out.

Hot water containing an emulsifying rinse is then injected into the carpet pile under pressure and the soil is then completely suspended followed by a simultaneous wet vacuum extraction that removes the soiling and also excess moisture. It is very important for the carpet cleaner to apply protective squares under furniture to prevent the furniture coatings from bleeding or having rust marks left behind when the carpet does dry. Other important factors to take into consideration that may affect the end result are the carpet cleaners operating skill, spray pressure, solution temperature, extraction power and shampoo dilution ratios. On completion of the steam carpet cleaning process, it is very important that the carpet cleaner “grooms” the carpet pile using a carpet rake. It is an important final step to nap or set the pile, as it improves the finished appearance of the carpet and most importantly facilitates a faster drying time by opening up the carpet pile as a lot more moisture is applied in this carpet cleaning process. This particular carpet cleaning process has a drying time of approximately 4-6 hours.

Most manufacturers today require regular carpet cleaning to maintain the warranty. Small home cleaners may work well for an occasional spill or brightening a high traffic area between professional appointments. However, before you consider the do-it-yourself method of a major cleaning; understand the wearing effects dirt and grime have on your carpet. No carpet has a flat surface. Carpet fibres attach to the base of the carpet. Dirt, grit and dust deposit on the surface and slowly settle in between that base and the fibres.

Over time, the grime and grit lodged in the carpet slowly break down the fibres and compromise appearance. The carpet may not even look soiled. Events held in your home bring in more feet, more shoes, and even more grit and grime. Carpets cry out to be cleaned annually and especially after large gatherings in your home.

You must carefully choose your carpet cleaning professionals. Ask friends and neighbours for referrals. Look in your local phone directory. Search for companies on the internet. Find a company that not only cleans the surface, but also removes the dirt right down to the base of your carpet. The best method of cleaning available is steam cleaning done with truck-mounted equipment. This method of cleaning uses hot steam and cleaning agents to remove dirt and stains. Steam cleaning carpets with this powerful equipment will also remove more of the water from your carpets. Cleaned in this manner, your carpets will dry faster and look cleaner. Professional carpet cleaning extends the life of your carpets.

When the job is finished, the carpet cleaners will place covers under the legs of your furniture to protect the damp carpet. Not only will your carpet be clean, but your air will be cleaner as well. Be sure to thank your carpet cleaners for a job well done and offer to provide a referral. Referrals are good way for businesses to develop a strong customer base and they help future customers make wise buying decisions.

One of the best ways to ensure the carpet cleaners will conduct themselves in a professional manner and be able to handle the job is to run a check on them with the Better Business Bureau. Any complaints lodged against the business at the BBB will be available for you to see. You also want to ask the carpet cleaning business for a list of references and make sure you call everyone on the list for feedback.
The actual health benefits of carpet cleaning is reason enough to invest in professional carpet cleaners. Anyone who has asthma or allergies will find breathing easier after this is done. While vacuuming is important, it simply cannot remove all of the dust and dirt from the carpets and it can make life miserable for one suffering from a respiratory illness.

Another benefit of carpet cleaning is the fact that it will help you to keep them in good condition. Most people, including businesses, fail to realize just how much money they can save by simply maintaining their carpets. Replacing them every few years would be much higher than the cost of regular commercial carpet cleaning>. You can stay in line with your budget with simple cleanings.

The fact is that there are many good reasons to set a schedule for regular carpet cleaning. However, to make sure that it is done right and by a professional, take extra care when hiring services for either residential or office carpet cleaning. The last thing you want to end up with is someone who doesn’t know how to do the job or handles it unprofessionally. The truth is that the extra time spent researching the matter will benefit you in the end.

Because leather is a natural material, it has to be colored and possibly sealed to be used commercially. This staining process will tint the leather a specific color and all the leather used for a particular coat or sofa is normally colored in the same group to ensure a consistency of shade. Even with this staining process being done with the same colored stain, at the same time, on all of the leather pieces, there will still be a normal variance in color based on how the particular section of leather absorbs the stain.

Once this stain is applied and allowed to dry, the leather is then either used as a natural material or is sealed to help it retain the color over time and protect it from damage by liquids. If the leather is left in its natural state, it is called unfinished leather. If it is sealed for use it is called finished leather, and each of these needs to be cleaned a different way.

In a finished leather product, the sealing process will actually create a barrier between the leather itself and any outside contaminants. This seal is intended to be on the surface of the leather for its entire life and if the sealant is removed the leather can become worn very quickly and damaged. Over time this sealant will wear down and one of the main ways you can continue to keep your leather looking great is by applying a leather conditioner to the surface of your coat or furniture on a regular basis.

The best way to clean a finished leather product is with a commercial leather cleaning kit. These kits typically contain a cleaner, polishing cloth and a leather conditioner to use once the cleaning is finished. Many people will try to clean leather surfaces with simple water and a mild soap solution. While this may work for many types of finished leather, you need to test it first in an inconspicuous area to be sure it won’t stain or damage the surface. If you do use water and a soap solution, be sure it is a mild liquid soap and try and remove it from the surface of the leather as quickly as possible to avoid water stains. You should only use a soft brush to agitate the solution on the surface of the leather and work on a small section of the material at a time.

Once you are done with the cleaning, be sure to let the surface air dry for a day before applying the leather conditioner. This is to ensure that you don’t seal any of the moisture from the cleaning process into the material that may later develop into a stain.

A better approach would be to use a commercial leather cleaning kit. These kits are specifically designed to protect the leather during the cleaning process. The cleaning solution used in these kits is a not a water based cleaner and is more suitable for a wider range of leather products. You still need to be careful about applying too much liquid to the surface, but the cleaning solution is better suited to avoid staining the leather.

Cleaning unfinished leather is another matter and requires using a solution like saddle soap as a cleaning solution. Because of the natural state of the leather, extreme care should be taken to not scrub too hard when cleaning an unfinished piece of leather as damage may occur. There are also commercial cleaning kits available for unfinished leather that will include the proper cleaning solution that is gentle on the leather, a cleaning brush that can be used and sealing oil that can be applied after the cleaning is done to seal the unfinished leather against further staining and damage.

The other preferred option is to have a professional cleaning company do your leather cleaning for you. For garments, a good dry cleaner will have the training and materials needed to clean and seal any leather jacket or skirt that may need to be cleaned. If it is a piece of leather furniture like a couch or sofa, there are professional cleaners for this as well. Many times a professional carpet cleaning company is also skilled at cleaning leather and can do this as part of a carpet cleaning appointment. They have specialized equipment and solutions to clean the leather and can also apply professional sealants and conditioner to restore the leather to its original appearance and texture. Using a professional cleaner for your leather cleaning needs will ensure that your leather furniture will look and feel like new for a long time.

It is important to stress that these types of carpet cleaning companies are in the minority and you may never have to deal with one, but it’s important to recognize some of the ways you may fall victim to their swindles.

The basic bait and switch occurs when the company originally gives you an estimate either over the phone or in a coupon sent to your home and then starts to change the price when they arrive at your home to do the work. The reason many of these frauds work is that the homeowner has already made arrangements to spend the day cleaning the carpet and re-scheduling the appointment with another company is a lot of work or they may be moving out of the premises the same day and cannot call another company due to time restraints. They may choose to just pay the higher price and avoid wasting the day.

There are many ways that a bait and switch operator can swindle you and the most common one is under-quoting a job. This can start as a flyer sent to you through the mail that offers to clean a number of rooms in your home for a reasonable price. Seeing this, many homeowners are attracted to the low price and don’t realize that the “typical” room described in the flyer is much smaller than even the smallest room in their home. This means the operator will arrive for the appointment and explain to the homeowner that one of the rooms they were intending to clean was larger than the offer specified and actually counts as two rooms. They may also charge more for irregular shaped rooms or hallways, even though the square footage is under the size specified in the ad. This is an easy problem to avoid as you can check when setting up the appointment. Ask the company what they consider to be a typical room size and if they charge extra for irregular shaped rooms. Most companies won’t charge more, and if they do it might be a good idea to keep searching for a company.

Another common technique is charging extra for the cleaning chemicals needed for cleaning the carpet. The ad may offer a good price for the cleaning, but not include the actual chemical cleaners that are needed. These chemicals can be fairly expensive and may actually double the price that was advertised. A good way to avoid this scam is to ask the carpet cleaning company specifically what is included with the price. This way there is no confusion when they arrive to start cleaning.

Up-selling a customer is another common bait and switch technique used to justify a higher price for the basic cleaning. The way this trick usually works is that a higher price than the advertised price is offered to the homeowner for a more thorough cleaning. They may characterize this as a dual-pass cleaning or some other term used to make it seem more complete. In most cases they are doing the same cleaning job they would have done with the basic cleaning, they just make it sound better. To avoid falling into this trap simply ask the company to explain the differences between the basic and upgraded cleaning they are offering you. There are legitimate cleaning techniques that are more involved that a company can offer you like a multi stage cleaning process and a responsible company can easily explain the difference.

Some companies will try to justify the higher cleaning price by offering to “throw in” a carpet protection treatment like as part of the cleaning. If you hear this, it’s a good indicator of them trying to scam you. The reason is that most protection treatments add cost to a cleaning because the chemicals needed to professionally treat a carpet for stain protection are expensive. There is no way that this can be given away for free since these chemicals cost the cleaning company a good amount of money to provide. A legitimate cleaner will offer you a price for the cleaning and a second price for the carpet protection application. This way you can see exactly what the cost of each will be in advance of making your decision.+

Most of these bait and switch scams can be avoided by applying a little common sense. If a price is a lot lower from one carpet cleaning company, it might be a bait and switch problem for you so make sure you understand what’s included with the price. Try and use established carpet cleaners that have been around for a while so you know they have a good track record of satisfied customers. These established companies will normally offer discounts and special offers from time to time and these can allow you to get a great price on the cleaning, and know that you have gotten your money’s worth as well.

This discoloration can be caused by dirt being tracked on a floor as people walk across a room. In a bathroom, mold is the biggest problem for grout and can darken the grout in a very short time if not cleaned. In the kitchen, most tile backsplashes will become stained with grease and food and will need to be cleaned regularly. The good news is that all of these stains are cleaned in a very similar way and the results can be amazing with just a little work.

Cleaning this grout is a matter of using the right cleaners and knowing how best to apply them.  As with any surface you are cleaning for the first time it is always better to try the cleaning solution on an area that is less visible. Also, always start off with the least aggressive cleaning solution possible. If this doesn’t produce the desired results, you can always try again with something a little stronger.

You first pass on trying to clean any grout and tile should be done with a mild solution like vinegar or even baking soda. If you decide to use the vinegar you should start off with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Apply this to a section of the grout and scrub the area with a stiff brush. It is always better to scrub in a circular motion than in a straight line. This will loosen more of the dirt and help you avoid scratching the tiles. You can also use baking soda as a great natural cleaner and can either make a thick paste out of the baking soda and warm water or simply sprinkle the baking soda right on the grout and start scrubbing. Both of these natural cleaning solutions work well individually and can even be combined for greater cleaning power for those really tough stains. After you have cleaned the area, be sure to rinse the grout thoroughly to make sure you have removed all of the cleaning solution.

If these natural solutions don’t do the trick you can try any one of a number of commercial cleaners that are intended specifically for tile and grout cleaning. Some of these are fairly caustic so be sure to wear a pair of gloves and adequate eye protection before starting your cleaning. Also, never mix two different cleaning solutions at the same time. Many of these commercial cleaners contain specific chemicals that can have a dangerous reaction with other chemicals in another cleaner. For example many of the commercial cleaners `contain bleach and others might have hydrogen peroxide as their active ingredient. Mixing these two chemicals can create a dangerous gas that will harm your throat and lungs so be careful to never use more than one cleaner at a time.  If you do use a commercial cleaner, be sure to rinse the area well and let it fully dry before trying another chemical on the same surface.

If the commercial cleaners have not done the job to your satisfaction it may be time to call in a professional. Many carpet cleaning companies also offer tile and grout cleaning services. They have professional equipment and can make quick work of a large job for you. Many of these companies use a very specialized stream cleaner to clean both the tiles and the grout and this process will remove almost any stain. Initially a solution is sprayed on the tiles and grout lines which is then rotary scrubbed using a machine to penetrate into the tile and grout surfaces and a small agitator brush may be used also to scrub the grout lines.

The way the steam cleaning technology works is by heating the cleaning solution up to a very high temperature by releasing very hot water from the steam cleaner at very high pressure combining with the cleaning solution already applied. This allows the solution to penetrate into the pores of the grout. The combination of the heat, pressure and cleaning agent will loosen the dirt. After the solution is pressure cleaned to the surfaces, it is quickly vacuumed and  wiped away with a specialized cloth or squeegee. This removes both the solution and the dirt in one motion and will leave the tiles and grout looking new. A sealer may also be applied to act as a protector to further fortify the surfaces.

This service is really the best way to keep your tiles and grout as clean as possible and should be something you schedule at least once a year. Most carpet cleaning professionals offer this as an additional service to a carpet cleaning appointment and can do it at the same time. They may even offer a discount on the combined services.

The protection treatment will actually be done by spraying a specialized treatment on the carpet or upholstery that will form a barrier to prevent stains and liquids from soaking into the material. The most common form of treatment used is done with Polymer or a form of Teflon. This barrier can help prevent stains as it actually forces liquids that are spilled onto a carpet to bead up and makes it easier to remove them before they have a chance to soak into the fibers.

It is important that this liquid or dirt is cleaned up quickly since most stain protection doesn’t prevent the carpet from absorbing a stain; they only slow down the process of absorption. This means that if a staining agent like wine is allowed to sit on a carpet for a period of time, it will actually stain the carpet, just as if it hadn’t been treated. What these protection agents provide is a delay in this staining action. The layer they create between any potential stain and the carpet fibers will slow down the rate of absorption of the stain, and allow you the time needed to clean up the staining liquid before it gets a chance to set into the fibers.

The reason this protection needs to be reapplied is that it is slowly compromised through the regular cleaning of the carpet or upholstery. The action of vacuuming, and the reaction of the chemicals used to clean the carpet will weaken its protective abilities. Over time cracks in this protective layer will occur and allow stains to penetrate the carpet fibers and cause permanent damage.

The good news is that this protection can be reapplied easily to restore the resilient layer that protects your carpet. This process is normally done by a professional carpet cleaner and can be applied as part of a scheduled carpet cleaning appointment in most cases. If you clean your carpets regularly, it is normal to have this stain protection applied at least once a year to ensure maximum continued protection from dirt and stains.

The application of this carpet protection can vary depending on the type of solution being applied. Most carpets have this stain protection applied when they are manufactured and this is usually applied at high temperatures to help it adhere to the carpet. When the solution is applied after the carpet has been installed in the home, a simpler application is used. If the carpet cleaning company is using a Teflon based product for this protective layer, it is normally applied as a spray to an already damp carpet. It is sprayed on under pressure to make sure it penetrates to the lower portions of the carpet fibers. This assures you complete protection from spills and dirt. Once the solution has been applied to the carpet, it is then raked into the fibers to ensure complete coverage. The carpet is then left to air dry to complete the process. You should avoid heavy traffic and vacuuming the carpet for a few days after treatment to allow the solution to cure. The carpet may seem somewhat stiff after the process is completed, but this subsides once it has been vacuumed. When the carpet has had time to dry, you should do a complete vacuuming of the area to break apart any fibers that have stuck together after application of the protection on the carpet.

The Polymer solution can be applied with a sprayer as well and can also be applied to a dry carpet. It also should be raked after application and will dry in about the same amount of time as the Teflon based solutions. The choice between these two alternatives is up to the homeowner and both of them provide great protection from stains and dirt.

Applying a stain protection to your carpets on a regular basis is part of its normal care. This stain protection is applied when the carpet is new and will wear over the years through normal vacuuming and foot traffic on the carpet. By reapplying this protection every year or so you can ensure that your carpets will stay as clean as possible for their entire life. This protection will also make cleanup easier as it will prevent stains and dirt for adhering to the carpet fibers and upholstery.

The only way this deeper dirt can be removed is by a commercial cleaning. You should have this type of cleaning done on a regular basis to protect your carpets.

Making sure you vacuum your carpet as often as possible is the first step in keeping it clean and protecting it from excessive wear. By vacuuming your carpet on a regular basis, or after a period of high traffic like a party, you are able to remove most of the dirt at the surface and prevent it from working its way down into the fibers. When you do this vacuuming it’s also important that you vary the pattern that you use to vacuum the carpet so you don’t create specific wear patterns. If you always use the same path to vacuum your carpet you will actually train the fiber to lay down in a certain direction and the pile of the carpet will look matted as a result. By starting from a different place in the room when you vacuum, you are sure that you will agitate your carpet and avoid this wear. It will also expose a different side of the fiber to the power of the vacuum and ensure that you will remove all of the dirt.

Another good idea is to always change the bag in the vacuum when it is about half full. This will help you avoid blowing the dirt you have already collected back onto the carpeting. Also, since the air from the vacuum has to pass through this bag, the fuller it gets, the lower the power of the vacuum.

Using a commercial carpet cleaning company is another important step in keeping your carpets spotless. Having your carpet commercially cleaned a few times a year will remove that deep-set dirt that you couldn’t reach with your normal vacuuming. These experts are able to use a combination of techniques to ensure that your carpets will be deep cleaned and will last longer as a result.

These commercial carpet cleaners are also experts in stain removal and can usually extract any stain that is on your carpet as part of the cleaning.

The main tool most commercial carpet cleaners use to thoroughly clean your carpets is a steam-cleaning machine. This type of machine uses very hot water that is forced deep into the carpet at high pressure and then immediately vacuumed up. The combination of the high pressure of the water being applied and the high heat help to break the adhesive bond that holds most dirt and stains to the carpet fibers. Once this bond is temporarily broken, the water and the dirt are extracted by a powerful vacuum.

If the carpet is particularly dirty or stained, a cleaning agent may also be used as part of the cleaning solution. This type of steam cleaning machine can either be a self-contained unit, or one that uses equipment that is mounted inside of their truck and connected to a nozzle that is used to clean the carpet through a set of hoses. The truck-mounted unit tends to be a little more powerful and may do a better job on really dirty carpets.

To prepare for a commercial carpet cleaning you want to remove as much of the furniture from the room as possible. If there are heavy items in the room, the commercial cleaning company may move them for you when they arrive, or temporarily move them to another spot in the same room so then can clean under them. If any furniture is left in the room after the cleaning, a small piece of wax paper should be placed under any legs or feet that contact the carpet. This is because even though the powerful vacuum they use removes most of the water, the carpet will be slightly damp for up to 24 hours after the cleaning and this moisture might affect the stain on the furniture and cause it to damage the carpet.

If you have particular areas that are dirtier than others or any specific concerns about stains be sure to point these out to the commercial carpet cleaner before they start their cleaning. They may choose to treat these areas with a stain removal solution before cleaning the carpet to help lift these stains and dirt.

Most of the commercial carpet cleaning companies can also clean your upholstery as well and can also clean leather furniture and drapes. If you are setting up an appointment and need any of these items cleaned be sure to mention it to the company as they may offer a discount if they do the cleaning at the same time as your carpet.

Even though the term steam cleaning is used to describe a process of cleaning carpet, the term actually refers to a couple different methods that are all commonly referred to as steam cleaning. These methods are all based on the hot water extraction procedure and will do a great job of removing deep-set dirt from a carpet.

The most common method for carpet steam cleaners to use involves equipment that will heat up a water based cleaning solution to a very high temperature and then inject this solution deep into the carpet. The combination of the very hot water and the chemicals added to it will work to loosen the dirt and stains in the carpet and make them easy to extract. They do this by dissolving the adhesive that holds these stains and dirt to the carpet fibers and holds them in suspension within the liquid. The second part of the process then extracts this cleaning solution from the carpet through the use of a high-powered vacuum and the dirt and stains are carried away with the liquid. This process has been used for decades and is very gentle to the carpet and will remove most of the dirt and stains from a carpet. In some cases the carpet will also be pre-treated with a spot cleaner before the carpet steam cleaners do the work.

In addition to this basic steam cleaning service, other steps have been added by some carpet steam cleaners who promise even better results. The basic 2-step process has been expanded to a 6-step process in some cases and does a more thorough job of cleaning the carpet. In addition to heating and applying the cleaning solution to the carpet and extracting it, there are several additional steps that include a pre-treatment step, an agitation step to work the solution deeper into the carpet and a post-treatment step to adjust the ph of the carpet. These additional steps provide a more complete cleaning and are part of some carpet steam cleaners offerings. The key to the success of steam cleaning a carpet is the combination of heating the water to a very high temperature and the immediate removal of this solution. This ensures the carpet never actually gets wet and also means there is no chance of damage to the carpet from mold or mildew. Since the heat will help release any dirt of grease, the carpet is left clean of any residue as well, and won’t have problems with retaining additional dirt. Other methods do a good job of cleaning the carpet, but may leave behind a slight residue that actually makes the carpet retain more dirt over time.

In addition to the standard steam cleaning, there are variations of this process that are also regularly referred to as steam cleaning. These all involve the application of a wet agent and the immediate extraction of the solution. One of these uses a low-moisture foam and is worked into the carpet with a rotating brush. This is referred to as the bonnet method and does a good job of cleaning the carpet without leaving behind excess moisture. Another method uses a cleaning solution that is applied called encapsulation which is rotary agitated and extracted by dry vacuum. All of these are similar to the standard steam cleaning process and basically rely on a wet cleaning solution being applied to loosen the dirt and then having this cleaning solution extracted immediately to clean the carpet.

If you plan to have your carpet treated by one of these carpet steam cleaners, you’ll need to vacuum it fully before they arrive to remove as much surface dirt as possible if they don’t offer it in their process. You also need to move as much of the furniture out of the room as you can to give them access to the carpet. Any furniture you leave in the room has to be protected with a piece of plastic where it touches the carpet so that the wood isn’t damaged by the cleaning solution and any stain on the wood doesn’t leech into the carpet.

Most carpet manufacturers recommend that you have your carpets deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months to keep them in great shape. Many carpet steam cleaners can put you on a schedule of cleanings and will call or send a note when its time to clean the carpet. Sticking to this schedule will ensure your carpets always look their best, and last you as long as possible.

Upholstery cleaning is a skill that takes a lot of practice to master and if you have a stain on a piece of furniture, call a professional to help you remove it. If you try to use a product to clean it yourself first, you may do more harm than good. Many stains need to be cleaned on the first try and if you attempt to clean it and are unsuccessful you may actually make matters worse by setting the stain deeper into the fabric. Also, moisture can be a good cleaning aid if properly used. The danger is that if you use too much moisture you run the risk of mold or mildew forming in the furniture and this can destroy the upholstery and is also a health risk.

The first upholstery cleaning procedure available is called a wet extraction technique and involves very specialized equipment for the application of the cleaning agents and the extraction of the dirt. There are several ways to use this method and the one chosen is determined by the fabric being cleaned and the type of stain. This method basically involves a cleaning solution that is forced into the fabric at a very high temperature. Both the heat and the cleaning agents will work to loosen the dirt and stain very quickly, and then the solution and any dirt it traps are immediately vacuumed up from the fabric. Heating the solution to a very high temperature is one of the keys to this methods success. This high heat helps to dissolve the natural adhesive properties of dirt and stains and makes extracting them easier.

The skill involved with using the wet extraction method for upholstery cleaning is controlling the moisture in the fabric. It is easy to soak the fabric and this can cause a lot of problems with additional staining and may also cause a mold or mildew issue. Experts at this technique can very tightly control the amount of solution used for the cleaning and ensure adequate stain removal and minimum moisture as well. One other concern whenever wet extraction cleaning is being done is the possible damage to the wooden parts of the furniture. Care has to be taken to avoid getting any wood wet as it may cause the stain in the wood to leech into the fabric that attaches to it. This can cause further staining and can be very difficult to repair.

Another variation of this method involves a foaming cleaning solution that is applied to a stained area by hand. By using only the foam, the moisture content can be controlled and there will be no moisture damage to the fabric. This foam solution is worked into the stain and allowed to sit for a short period of time as it loosens the dirt and stain particles. It is then vacuumed up and will leave the fabric clean and stain-free.

The dry cleaning method for upholstery cleaning is similar to the wet extraction method except that there is no water used in the process. The dry method uses a chemical cleaning solution similar to what a dry cleaner uses for cleaning your clothes. This solution is applied to the stained area and then removed with a vacuum once it has had a chance to work on the stain. The advantage to a dry cleaning method for upholstery cleaning is that there is no chance of any water damage to the fabric or piece of furniture. This method of upholstery cleaning requires a lot of training and experience to attempt since every stain and every fabric needs to be cleaned in a different way. The chemical solution used on one stain might be the wrong one for another and only an upholstery cleaning specialist can determine the right combination.

Another method of upholstery cleaning involves a combination of the two procedures and can be a dry-wet-dry process to attack very difficult stains. Since the chemical solutions used for the dry upholstery cleaning repels water, if the fabric is treated with these chemicals first and then cleaned with a water based solution it can help remove some harder stains. This area can then be treated again with the dry solution to make sure the fabric is left moisture-free when done.

Whatever option you choose to help you with your upholstery cleaning needs, make sure you find someone with experience. Cleaning upholstery is an art that takes a lot of practice to master and can have very positive results if you pick the right company.