Carpet and upholstery cleaning tips Derbyshire, Green home cleaning tips
Routine Carpet Cleaning
Vacuuming is where most people start when maintaining their carpeting. That is where we'll start our advice on carpet cleaning tips for Nottinghamshire. We'll present you with some guidelines for cleaning, removing stains, and dealing with various other problems.
Carpets need to be vacuumed once a week and more often in areas of heavy traffic. Frequent vacuuming prolongs the life of your carpet by preventing a build-up of gritty particles that can wear carpet fibres. Every few weeks, take a little extra time and use your crevice tool for cleaning around skirtings and radiators and in other hard-to-reach places.
When vacuuming fitted carpeting, divide the floor into small sections and vacuum an entire section before moving on to the next.
Take your time when you vacuum a carpet, especially a plush carpet in which dirt is sure to be deeply embedded. One pass with a high-powered upright is not enough. Go over each section of carpeting several times, and work slowly to allow the suction to remove all the ground-in dust and dirt.
Pay special attention to the entrance areas, traffic areas and where people sit and move their feet. Vacuum these areas of heavy traffic with a crisscross pattern of overlapping strokes.
Soil retardants can be applied to new carpets or to newly cleaned carpets. Follow manufacturers' advice. Apply soil retardants only with professional equipment using the recommended application techniques. call 01773 749003 for more details
Add baking soda to the bag in your vacuum to help nutralise odours.
Remember carpets should be cleaned before soiling becomes too apparent, manufacturers recommend carpets should be professionaly cleaned every year to 18 months. call 01773 749003
Here's Rule No. 1 regarding spots and spills on your carpets: Clean them immediately. If you catch the spill when it's fresh, you've got a good chance of removing it totally. If you do not have the confidence to deal with the stain yourself call for professional guidance as soon as possible,
Consider these tips, too:
·Carefully blot or scrape the entire area before applying any cleaning solution. Remove as much of the spill as possible.
·Before using any cleaning solution, test your carpet in an inconspicuous area to make sure the cleaner won't damage or discolour it. Test the cleaning agents that you keep on hand before you have to use them to make sure they will not harm your carpet.
·Do not rub the spill -- that might spread the problem to a larger area.
·When you apply spot cleaner, work from the outside of the stain toward the inside to avoid spreading the stain. After applying a cleaning solution, blot up all the moisture.
·A clean white towel is unsurpassed for drying carpet and brushing the nap back up to a standing position.
·If you feel that there is still too much moisture after blotting the carpet, place a stack of white towels over the spot and weigh them down with a heavy object.
·If the staining is still present call the professionals for further advice on 01773 749003 for carpet cleaning services in Nottinghamshire
As a general cleaning agent for small spots and stains, mix a solution of 1/2 tsp mild liquid or soap flake laundry detergent and 500ml warm water.
Do not rub the stain that might spread the problem to a larger area.
·When you apply the spot cleaner, work from the outside of the stain toward the inside to avoid spreading the stain. After applying a cleaning solution, blot up all the moisture.
Do not rub aggressively at stains this can damage the carpet pile, and never over wet with cleaning solutions, use lightly and repeat if necessary
Here are some tips for treating hard to deal with stains
Useful items
500ml spray bottle available from DIY stores
White terry towels
Kitchen Roll
Nail polish Stain
Follow the tips listed below (in order) until stain has lifted from your carpet: Apply small amounts of the cleaning solution with a clean, white, absorbent towel. Continue to apply and blot frequently until the staining material is no longer transferred to the towel.
Step 1: Apply a small amount of clear alcohol to a white cloth and blot area (available at chemists and DIY stores). Use small amounts to prevent possible damage to sizing, backings or stuffing materials. Do not use petrol, lighter fluid or other flammables. Do not use on flock fabrics or foam/felt backed carpets.
Step 2: Mix one-half teaspoon of white neutral detergent (a mild clothes washing detergent containing no strong alkali's or bleaches), with approx 250ml of lukewarm water. apply with sprayer and blot.
Step 3: Mix 50ml of white household vinegar with 200ml of water. apply with sprayer and blot.
Step 4: Mix a solution of powdered enzyme laundry detergent following the label or box instructions. Allow the solution to remain on the stain for the length of time recommended by the manufacturer. The final step is to blot any remaining moisture or cleaning solutions by pressing or padding the area with absorbent towel. Weight it down and allow at least six hours to dry.
Oil & Tar stains
As above
Coffee and Tea Staining
Step 1: Blot the area with a clean, white cloth to absorb all the liquid you can.
Step 2: Mix one-half teaspoon of white neutral detergent (a mild washing detergent containing no strong alkalis or bleaches), with 250ml of lukewarm water.
Step 3: Sponge the area with the detergent solution. Blot again with a clean white cloth.
Step 4: Mix 50ml white vinegar with 200ml lukewarm water.
Step 5: Sponge the area with the vinegar solution. Blot with a clean white cloth.
Step 6: Sponge the area with clean water. Blot with a clean white cloth.
Pet Urine
Step 1: Soak up excess moisture with a white towel or paper kitchen roll.
Step 2: Blot on a solution of 1/4 tsp. Mild liquid laundry detergent and 250ml warm water. Repeat until there is no more stain transferring to a towel or rag.
Step: 3 Blot with a solution of 2 tbsp. Ammonia and 250ml water. Rinse with warm water. Repeat. Blot dry.
Step 4: Blot the area with a solution of 50ml white vinegar and 300ml water.
Step 5: Cover with several layers of paper towels weighed down with a heavy non-fading object. Continue changing paper towels until the carpet is dry.
Step6:
When fully dry sprinkle area with bicarbonate of soda leave for several min and vacuum area.
Red wine
Because wine contains tannins, it's sometimes difficult to remove. There are simple solutions to cleaning carpet stains made by both red and wine stains. For instance, if you spill red wine on the carpet, immediately blot any excess moisture then apply white wine onto the stain, if you do not have white wine use white vinegar, the white wine or vinegar will neutralize the red wine and the stain will disappear. To remove carpet stains caused by white wine, just dab with some white vinegar. After treatment follow with general cleaning solution as above.
Fresh blood
Mix one teaspoon of a mild ph balanced detergent (a mild non alkaline non bleaching detergent) with 250ml of ice cold water
Apply to stain and blot
Mix one tablespoon of household ammonia with 150ml of ice cold water
Apply and blot
Sponge with clean ice cold water
Blot
Please remember to test any solutions in an inconspicuas area
Wood Floor Maintenance
Most wood floors can be kept clean by first sweeping or vacuuming with a floor nozzle to remove most of the surface dust and dirt, then damp mopping with clear water (dip a sponge in clear water, squeezing it out so that the mop is barely damp, almost dry). Use very little water and rinse your mop thoroughly after each use since excess water can dissolve protective coatings, alter the colour of the wood and raise the grain to roughen the surface.
If your floors are not dirty enough to need mopping every week, then you should not do it, as it will wear the floors faster, not to mention waste your time. Simply sweeping is often all they need.
If need to restore the shine to your wood floor after you get it clean, try damp mopping it with 100ml cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons of wax furniture polish in a gallon of warm water. Vinegar is also useful for removing any soap residue or build-up, but should not be necessary every week.
Do not use on absorbant floors and surfaces
Laminate floors can be cleaned by adding a 50-100ml of vinegar to your mop bucket then damp mop, remember do not over wet laminate flooring
Green Household cleaning tips
Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda)
Bicarb breaks down grease and added to vinegar or lemon juice makes a mild abrasive cleaner.
Bicard can also be used as deodoriser in fridges and dish washers as well as a water softener. Mix it with a bit of water to dissolve grease and grime. Bicarbonate of soda neutralises most strong odours.
Use it dry on carpets to help absorb spills and lift out stains.
Use to unblock drains, pour ample amounts down the plug hole and then pour vinegar over to loosen blockage or grease build-up follow with boiling water.
Use on a damp cloth or sponge to remove stains on general surfaces.
Bicarbonate of soda can also be sprinkled on carpets before vacuuming this will help freshen them up.
If your grout is looking a bit grubby between the tiles, mix a small amount of Bicarbonate of Soda with a little distilled malt vinegar (the white one) to a smooth paste. Press into the grouted area and leave for 1 hour, scrub the paste out with a tooth brush, the results will amaze you.
Boost the performance of your liquid laundry detergent by adding a few tablespoons of baking soda. You can even skimp on the soap and save some money. The soda will also help brighten your whites more gently than bleach.
Make a paste of baking soda, salt and hot water for a great oven cleaner.
Lemon juice
Use this to dissolve scum build-up, particularly in hard water areas. It can be mixed with bicarb to make a paste that will get rid of heavy staining from surfaces and is also useful as a bleaching agent.
Mix 250ml of olive oil with 125ml of lemon juice and pour into a spray bottle for furniture polish. Spray a little on and then rub it all over. The lemon juice cuts through the dirt and the olive oil gives it a nice shine. Buff with a dry cloth.
Lemon juice is good for removing microwave smells - add a few slices of lemon to a bowl of water and microwave on high power for a couple of minutes.
Mix some olive oil with lemon juice to make furniture polish. (Double amount of olive oil to lemon juice)
Vinegar
White vinegar (white wine vinegar is best) can be used as an all-purpose general cleaner. It will clean and deodorise at the same time.
Use vinegar to get rid of finger marks on stainless steel surfaces and kitchen utensils.
Clean your windows with vinegar and water and polish with old news paper.
Clean glass with vinegar and water.
Use mixed 50/50 with water and place in a spray bottle to use as a cleaner in your bathroom and kitchen. Put 25ml in your washing machine instead of softener. Use as a lime descaler. Soak cloths or paper towels in vinegar, wrap them around taps then cover with plastic bags and secure in place with elastic band, leave for a few hours this will loosen even heavy lime build-up.
Remove sticky labels and glue just soak for a few min this will losen making easy to remove
Make Your Own Natural Air Freshener
Once you have carried out all your cleaning, you will want to create a nice relaxing atmosphere. Why not make your own Air-Freshener, much better than the toxic variety! Take a small spray bottle and fill with cold water. Add to this about 12 drops of Organic Lavender Oil or Citrus oil and a ¼ teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda, shake gently and spray.
Don’t use vinegar or lemon juice on limestone, marble or calcium based surfaces
Always test in an inconspicuous area
These cleaning tips are a guidence only, please call for professional advice or help if unsure.
Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda) 
Vinegar 
