Carpet Cleaning Blog

Having your home professionally cleaned is a major job that will require technicians to be in every carpeted area of your home.  Depending on how much of your home you want cleaned, a professional carpet cleaning can take anywhere from a couple hours to an entire work day.  A job of this magnitude requires some preparation on your part and it may be beneficial to know what a professional cleaning entails.  This post is meant to serve as a guide for preparation and what to expect when Green T comes to your home to clean your carpet.

Before a scheduled carpet cleaning occurs, there are some preparatory things you can do to get your home ready and ultimately aid in the process.  One way to prepare is to keep your driveway clear.  Our cleaning equipment is mounted in our vans and in order for our hoses to reach the carpets in your home; we must park in the driveway.  So remember to either keep your car in the garage or park it on the street if you are going to need it.  Another way to prepare for a carpet cleaning is to clear the spaces that you want cleaned.  Our technicians can help move major items such as large furniture or work around large appliances, but moving light furniture and other clutter before the technicians arrive will help make the process much quicker.

When our technicians arrive at your home, they will introduce themselves and walk through your home with you to assess what needs to be done.  At this point, you should mention any areas or stains that require special attention.  After the walk through, the technician(s) will attach the hose from the van-mounted equipment to your outside spigot.  The water from the spigot is heated and pressurized in the van and fed through the hose attached to the wand that is used on the carpets.  The wand also has a vacuum hose attached to it to extract the used water and cleaning solution and dispense it in a waste tank in the van.  The water and vacuum hoses that run between the wand and the van will be running through your home and we use hook straps to hook them to stair railings and control the slack.

As the technicians move from room to room, they will move heavy furniture such as couches, tables, and shelves and work around beds and large dressers.  Moved furniture is placed on plastic sheets while the carpet is allowed to dry.  Once the job is complete, the technicians will clean up the hoses, remove the water hose from the spigot, and replace moved furniture in rooms where the carpet has dried.  So if you are preparing for a scheduled carpet cleaning, remember to leave your driveway clear and put your car somewhere accessible in case you need it.  It is also helpful to clear as much of the carpet space as possible but do not move heavy furniture if it is too difficult, our technicians can help move heavy furniture.  Feel free to call us with any questions you may have about Green T’s carpet cleaning services.

Now that the spring season is finally starting to show itself in the Chicago area, our homes can open up to receive the warmer weather and fresh air. However, the pleasant air is not all you invite in, dirt and debris from outside gets tracked in the house and may even come in with the transfer of spring air into the home. This dirt and debris gathers and builds in rugs and carpets among other surfaces. A general rule of thumb is to have your carpet professionally cleaned at least once annually but in between those cleanings, it is helpful to keep your carpet maintained to ensure a longer life. The following are helpful tips for effective carpet care.

The biggest threat to carpet and area rugs in the spring season is dirt and mud. Dirt and other debris mostly find their way into the carpet fibers where they can become abrasive to the surface by being tracked in on shoes and other clothing. There are a couple easy ways to help avoid or cut down on the amount of dirt reaching the carpet. One way is to stop dirt from entering the home in the first place. This can be done by putting mats near the entrances of your home to wipe your shoes before walking on the carpet or by taking off your shoes at the door.
While these efforts may greatly decrease the amount of dirt getting tracked into the house, some dirt and debris will still manage to get into the carpet fibers. The other way to keep carpets free of debris is with regular vacuuming. It is generally recommended to vacuum about once a week and maybe more so for high traffic areas. If dirt is left in the carpet, it will combine with oil residues carried in the air and become glued to the carpet fibers. By reducing the amount of dirt tracked into the house and vacuuming your carpet regularly, you can contribute to the longevity and cleanliness of your carpet between professional cleanings.

The other major threat to the integrity of your carpet and area rugs in addition to dirt and debris is stains. A spill is bound to happen on almost all carpets or rugs and it is important to act fast on all types of spills to avoid stains. Even spills that appear to be the same color as the carpet may change the color of the fibers and become a visible stain over time. The most effective way to clean up a stain yourself is to follow these three steps; blot the spill, clean the area with soapy water, and rinse the area. The first step of cleaning any spill is to blot it up with a towel or paper towels because adding more liquids right away will cause the spill to sink deeper into the carpet. After blotting out as much of the spill as you can, the next step is to clean the area with soapy water. The best solution to use is a few drops of clear hand-dishwashing soap diluted in water. After this solution has been applied, the final step is to rinse the area. This is most effectively done by misting the area with water and blotting it with a dry towel to remove residue from the spill as well as the soapy water.

By following these simple tips, you can help preserve the integrity of your carpet as it begins to be tested with the extra dirt and debris that comes with the spring season. While it is important to vacuum regularly and act quickly to clean up any spills, it is equally as important to schedule a professional carpet cleaner like Green T at least once a year for a thorough deep cleaning and effective stain removal. By combining these cleaning tips with annual carpet cleaning service, you can keep your carpet and rugs looking clean and vivid all year.