April 12, 2024

Spring Cleaning Mistakes!

Every March and April, people around the world push up their sleeves and give their home a major once-over—it’s the annual rite of passage we like to call spring cleaning. Many of us use this time to catch up on the tough tasks we can’t fit into our weekly cleaning routines(like cleaning those ceiling fans). Since we only do this once a year, we might not be working as efficiently or effectively as possible. To make your annual deep clean more successful, avoid the following spring-cleaning mistakes that ex-perts say most of us are making. Neglecting Dust Mites –Dust mites cause sneezing, itching, and rashes. Unfortunately, these mites come from us; they’re regularly found in dead skin cells that we shed all over our homes—particularly on upholstery. Removing them is crucial. Steam cleaning your upholstered furniture and mattresses at least once a year will help keep the dust-mite population from building up and worsening spring allergies. Having upholstery and mattresses professionallycleaned at least once a year is one of the most helpful ways to get control of dust mites and give you piece of mind that you are keeping your family safe and healthy. Using an All-Purpose Cleaner Everywhere –Many surfaces can be cleaned with an all-purpose formula, but there are some areas (like your sofa, curtains, and carpets) that require a special product for that job. Too often, we forget this and use the wrong cleaners—which either aren’t effective in taking care of the stains and messes or, unfortunately, make matters worse. To ensure you have the right fabric and upholstery cleaners in your kit, look underneath your couch for a tag with your upholstery’s cleaning code and use the corresponding clean products. Don’t want to tackle this project yourself, have your fabrics and upholstery professionally cleaned and save yourself the stress. You will love the result and add life to your home furnishings and curtains. Dusting the Wrong Way –The amount of dust that collects on ceiling fans, bookshelves, door jambs, and other hidden spots over the year is truly amazing and getting rid of it when we spring clean our homes is particularly satisfying. However, tackling these dusty spots in the incorrect order can sabotage the rest of your cleaning plan by sending dust onto spots you’ve already cleaned. Work from the highest area (like a ceiling fan) down to your furniture and then baseboards to avoid having to re-do your work. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the dust, helping to prevent it from spreading around in the air, where it can trigger or worsen allergies and asthma attacks. Keep Mopping on Your List –Floors are one of the most exposed areas in our homes, which is why mopping them frequently is crucial in keeping your home clean. And, make sure your replace those worn-out mop heads when needed to get the job done right. You Can’t Shampoo Every Rug –Synthetic carpets and rugs with waterproof backings can be deep cleaned with a rotary shampoo machine and a hot-water extraction machine. But, rugs without backings, including Oriental rugs, require professional cleaning only! Skipping Unseen High-Touch Area: the Walls – Overtime our walls and ceilings build up with unwanted marks. To clean them, start by using a vacuum to remove dust. Next, tackle stubborn surface grime,especially prevalent in kitchens, with a solvent-free degreaser (test it first in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t mar the surface). Neglecting Grout Lines –The cement based material between wall, floor, and counter top tiles is extremely porous and stains easily. No matter how spotless your bathrooms, kitchen or tile floors are, if the grout is dirty and stained, it will never look really clean. Protect it with a penetrating grout sealer—it’s best to apply it with a small foam brush or hire a professional to help you scratch this tedious task off your list. Overlooking the Importance of FireSafety –Be diligent about changing the batteries in smoke detectors (this should be done twice a year) and make sure units are free of dust. Teach everyone in your household how to use a fire extinguisher, and review escape plans. Your family’s life may depend on it. Failing to Protect Yourself –The biggest spring-cleaning mistake you can make is not taking protective measures as you work. Always wear gloves when cleaning to protect your skin and avoid any potential allergic reactions. If you have any questions, need anyadditional information or want to schedule a consultation, contact B/P Carpet& Upholstery Cleaning today. We are always happy to help and serve you
March 8, 2021

For The Love of Cotton

You may not know this, but cotton is the most popular fiber in the world.  Why?  Because it’s durable, easily dyed, absorbent, soft and comfortable to the touch.  These characteristics make it the fabric of choice for clothing, towels, bedding and more. We are not the first people to recognize the virtures of this versatile fiber.  Cotton has been cultivated globally for thousands of years.  From underwear to overcoats, clothing continues to be the most common use for cotton. The same features that make cotton ideal for clothing make it perfect for upholstery.  Like your clothing, all upholstery – including cotton – must be cleaned periodically for appearance and health.  Furniture manufacturers recommend cleaning every 12-24 months.  Failure to do so can result in an unwanted appearance change called soil staining.  Soil staining occurs when soils, oils and pollutants adhere to the fiber and oxidize.  This can result in permanent dulling of colors and changes to fabric texture. Aside from a certain amout of normal shrinkage and potential wrinkles, most cotton clothing can be washed without any major problems.  The babrics used in upholstery differ in a number of ways from clothing, including how we clean them.  When used in upholstery, cotton may be blended with other fibers that have different characteristics and dye systems.  Often the fabric is made up of multiple layer and can be quite thick.  This creates challenges when cleaning.  Ripples and distortion to the fabric texture are not uncommon. Second, while most cotton clothing is designed to be washed in the laundry with lots of water, detergents and agitation, upholstery fabric is not.  Lighter colored cotton upholstery may turn brown or yellow as the cellulose material in the cotton breaks down.  Dyes may bleed or run.  With some cleaning agents, cotton fabrics can actually degrade and become weak or even split. There is also the potential that the fabric will shrink.  This leads to cushion covers not fitting properly, skirts and dust ruffles curling or wrinkling and other appearance problems.  That’s why you should never remove cushion covers to launder them. You can hand your clothing on a line or put it in a dryer to dry.  Not so with upholstery.  The multiple layers of fabric, batting and cushion can cause slow drying, which could cause browning and dye bleed.  We prevent such damage by using high velocity air movers to encourage rapid drying and carefully controlling the amound of moisture while cleaning. Most fabrics can be cleaned safely with the right equipment, cleaning agents and proper training.  One of the most important steps is to test the fabric for dye stability, browning and potential shrinkage, as well as inspect for other possible issues. Taking all of this into account, some fabrics will require low moisture, controlled pH, and the gentle hand of an experienced upholstery cleaner to avoid damage.  A fabric protector application should follow every cleaning.  Your fabic will stay cleaner longer and resist permanent staining. Take advantage of our 15% off Upholstery Cleaning for the month of March 2021