Cleaning Tips
CARPETS
Removing Urine Stains and Spots on Carpets
Pet Stains on Carpets:
Pet urine stains on carpet should be removed as early as possible. Any delay will cause the uric acid to crystallize on the rug and carpet. The effect will be permanent on the carpet. So take quick and immediate action. The following course of action is recommended
- Blot up the urine immediately. Keep the stained area wet with a damp cloth
- Use liquid shampoo for the rugs.
- Work from outside to center to avoid spreading the stain.
- Rinse with cloth dampened with water.
- Clean and wring the cloth as often as possible
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 until you see that the stain is gone.
- Dry the rug as early as possible.
- During the drying process if you find that the stain is not gone, repeat steps 2 to 5 until you see the result. Do not wait until the rug has dried completely.
Dried Urine Stains:
If the urine stain has dried repeated applications of detergent, white regular household vinegar, and household ammonia will have to be applied until the stain has been removed. The mixture of detergent may be made by mixing one teaspoon of a mild non-alkaline and non-bleaching detergent with 1 cup of warm water. The mixture of vinegar may be made by mixing one third cup of vinegar with two thirds cup of lukewarm water. The mixture of ammonia may be made by mixing one teaspoon of the ammonia with half cup of cold water.
Do not use hot water or heat steam-cleaning method on urine stains. This will have exactly the reverse effect. As soon as you apply heat in any type to urine stains, it has the effect of fixing the stain instead of removing the stain.
Deodorizing Carpets Due to Cat, Dog and Puppy Urine:
Here are serious odour control tips to help you.
- Sprinkle the carpet generously with baking soda, and brush in. Allow to set for a few hours, overnight if possible.
- Then vacuum thoroughly and get ready to give the carpet a good shampooing with a steam cleaner.
- You will not be able to vacuum out all of the baking soda and that`s okay.
- The residue will mix with the water in the cleaning solution and help sweeten and remove the odour.
- Either use the cleaning solution that is recommended for your particular brand of steam carpet cleaner, or buy one that is compatible off the shelf; look for one that specifically states it has odour removing properties.
- Note that you should not use any detergent/soap when steam cleaning. The soap residue is impossible to remove and will end up attracting more dirt.
- Follow manufacturer`s recommended instructions for steam cleaning your carpet and allow drying thoroughly before vacuuming.
You`ll be pleased at the freshness of your home once the job is done and you are finished deodorizing your carpet!
Mold Stain Removal:
Mold stains will continue to cause damage and discoloration unless molds are removed completely, and conditions helpful to growth are eliminated. Circulation of dry air to remove moisture and exposure to sunlight are effective solutions to remove mold. Mold stains will require different treatment in each case.
Oil and Grease Stain Removal for Carpets
Stains caused by food are a normal part of everyday life. Good news! there are many excellent oil stain removal tips that work exceptionally well and best of all, many times using products you already have around the home.
- For small oil stains, use a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a clean, white paper towel to blot at the stain. Make sure you never rub. Work the stain from the outer edge toward the center.
- For larger oil stains, we recommend you purchase a dry-cleaning solvent. Again, moisten a clean cloth or paper towel, blotting at the stain from the outside in. You may find that you have to repeat this process several times over the following days or even weeks. If the stain persists, then you should consult with a professional carpet cleaner.
Coffee Stains
To remove a coffee stain from fabric or a rug, try one of these methods:
- Dip a white cloth into a beaten egg yolk and rub the yolk into the stain. Then rinse with clear water.
- Work denatured alcohol into the stain, then rinse with water.
- Apply a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild detergent in a pint of water. Blot with a white towel. If the stain remains, apply a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar and blot.
Back To Top : Contact Us
UPHOLSTERY
Clean and remove stains from upholstery
New upholstered furniture can be very expensive. If you have a sofa, chair, loveseat, or some other type of upholstered furniture that is in good condition but just dirty, these upholstery cleaning tips will save you money and time shopping for new furniture.
The key with upholstered furniture is choosing the appropriate type of cleaning method.
Getting the Upholstery Stains Out
The most important thing to remember when cleaning upholstery is to consider the fabric. If you are unsure, you can check with the manufacturer’s information. Then, before you start cleaning a large stain, we recommend you work first on an inconspicuous area to ensure no discoloration or damage is done. With that done, the following are a few of the more common stains found on upholstery and methods for removing them.
Paint Stain Removal
The first step to knowing how to treat the paint is knowing if it’s water-based or oil-based paint. The easiest way to find out about this is to read the label on the paint can. Look for the clean-up instructions. If it’s water-based, the directions for clean-up will include instructions for using soap and warm water. If it’s oil-based, the directions will tell you to turn to paint thinner or mineral spirits. This information is key to knowing how to remove those drops of paint.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Cleaning Your Wood Floors
The very best things for any wood floor is to always vacuum and dust mop it regularly. This will prevent dirt from building up and scratching or damaging the floor.
We usually use a vinegar and water solution by mixing 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water to make a mild wood floor cleaning solution.
1. Dip a cotton cleaning cloth into your cleaning solution and squeeze out most of the liquid.
2. Wipe the floor without getting it soaking wet.
3. Work on one small area at a time.
4. Immediately buff the area dry with another cloth or towel bring out the shine and luster. Do not allow your wood floors to get too wet and by wiping it dry you will not have any water spots.
If you have Swedish finished wood floors, the finish will come off with time and wear. Do not wax these floors, call a specialty company and have the floor surface refinished.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Cleaning Tile Floors
Believe it or not, you can usually clean your tile floors with just a damp mop. I used to think that every time I lugged out the mop, I had to get out the cleaners, too. I started using clean water in my bucket to see what would happen. Amazingly, sometimes that’s all it took. If you mop fairly often, you can get away with plain water. When you need more thorough cleanings or sanitation, your solution depends on the type of flooring you have in your home.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Cleaning Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are pretty easy to clean. You can usually just use general household cleaners diluted in water. I like to use a rubbing alcohol solution (1/4 cup rubbing alcohol in 2 gallons of water) to clean the floor and get it dry fast. To get the grout clean as you mop, carry a spray bottle with a solution a little stronger than what you’re using on the floor and spray where necessary.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Cleaning Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is also easily cleaned with a household cleaner diluted in water. If you have heel marks or scuff marks that are difficult to get out with a mop, you can try the baby oil fix. Use a very little bit – 2 or 3 drops, let it sit for a while, and then mop. I’ve heard of people also using mineral oil or olive oil and getting similar results, but you should be really careful that you thoroughly clean the surface afterward. You’d rather have a scuff mark than a trip to the hospital should you slip and fall!
Back To Top : Contact Us
Cleaning Stone Floors
Depending on what your stone is made of, you need to be very careful what you use to clean the floor. If you have marble or other fragile stone, the manufacturer probably recommends a special, pH balanced cleaner. You can find a comparable cleaner online, and you can also use a homemade solution of dishwashing soap (not too much or your floors will be sticky or slippery) mixed in water. If it’s not strong enough, you should try a special stone cleaner instead of resorting to harsh chemicals. Do not ever use vinegar or any other acidic cleaning solution on marble. It can leave marks like gouges in the surface and ruin the smooth appearance of the entire floor!
Back To Top : Contact Us
Cleaning Linoleum Floors
Linoleum is probably the easiest to clean. As it’s the usually the most inexpensive flooring, it doesn’t last as long. The key to getting the most out of linoleum is to be gentler than you’re required to be. Stick to plain water when you can, and go easy on the harsh cleaners. Dilute the household cleaner more than you normally would to get more life out of your floor. For black marks or scuff marks, try a pencil eraser.
No matter what type of tile flooring you have, always go back over your floor with plain water when you use any chemical. This will make your floor last longer, and it will also protect children and pets from ingesting chemicals
BBack To Top : Contact Us
KITCHEN
Cleaning Kitchen Countertops
Use a mild dishwashing liquid for plastic lamination and rinse well afterwards to prevent residue from getting on food.
Non-Streaky White Cabinets
Try cleaning kitchen cabinets using baking soda and water. Baking soda is a very effective, yet gentle cleaner and it will remove and grease, food, and other materials without scratching the surface. The streaks on your cabinets are likely caused by detergent build-up from regular kitchen cabinet cleaning. If they're thoroughly rinsed, the streaks should disappear. If not, try using a vinegar/water solution, as vinegar very effectively removes streaks and soap residue. You could also try using window cleaner.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Refrigerator Odours
• A little vanilla poured on a piece of cotton and placed in the refrigerator will eliminate odors.
• After cleaning the refrigerator add a dash of lemon extract to the rinse water for a fresh scent.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Garbage Disposal Tips
• If you've ever switched on the garbage disposal instead of the kitchen light, mark the switch with a dab of red nail polish - anything to stop that grating noise.
• If your dishwasher drains through your garbage disposal, switch it on when the hot soapy water is running through is so it gets a good cleaning.
Back To Top : Contact Us
Bathroom Cleaning Tips
Cleaning properly means getting into all of those corners and crevices where dirt and bacteria can hide. To do this more efficiently, keep an old toothbrush with your bathroom cleaning supplies. This will help you get into hard to reach areas such as behind the faucet. Also great for those hard to reach places is an angled dish brush. This will easily assist you in cleaning bathroom tiles behind the toilet and other tight places.
Chrome Fixtures
If not properly maintained, chrome fixtures can become dull and cloudy. After cleaning a bathroom, you want your chrome fixtures to sparkle! For blinding brilliance, make a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Apply this to your chrome fixtures and rub clean with a cloth. Warm vinegar will also make your bathroom shine. Here's an additional bathroom cleaning tip: To clean stains from your bathroom chrome and tile, use baby oil! Wipe off with a cloth diaper for a lint free shine.
Defogging Your Bathroom Mirror
No one wants to waste precious time in the morning defogging a bathroom mirror.Rather than spend time during your hurried morning shower, why not try this bathroom cleaning tip? Make mirror defogging part of your weekly bathroom cleaning ritual. To prevent your mirror from fogging after your shower, clean it once a week it with a solution of dishwashing liquid and water. For a more unconventional method, rub the mirror with shaving cream, and rub it off well with a soft cloth. If your mirror has already fogged, aim a hot air dryer towards it and it will clear in no time.
Back To Top : Contact Us
|
