Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Advice

Vacuum Cleaner Selection Tips

2012-03-01T06:50:00.001-08:00

Vacuuming carpet and rugs is very important to help them last longer and look their best at all times. Often, we are asked “What is the best vacuum to get?” For carpets and rugs, it is important to make sure your vacuum has a beater bar brush to loosen up the dirt during vacuuming. Besides that, there are many different types and prices for vacuums and the November 2011 Consumer Reports has a nice article and ratings for vacuum cleaners. The following is taken from that issue of Consumer Reports.

Here’s what to consider when shopping for a vacuum.

Select a type carefully

Upright vacuums do better overall on carpets, though canisters are easier to maneuver, especially on stairs. Bagless vacuums save you the cost of bags, but like bagged models they still require filters. Emptying a bagless vacuum is also a dustier process, a concern if you have asthma or allergies.

Check the features.

Edge-cleaning tools help at corners and baseboards. Suction control protects drapes and a brush on/off switch safeguards bare floors and prevents scattered dust and debris. Most recommended models by consumer reports have all three. Top canisters also have a motor-driven head for better carpet cleaning. Consumer Reports also found that some regular filters contained dust as well as pricier HEPA filters.

Give it a spin

Even if you order your vacuum online, visit a store first. Push, pull, turn and lift any models you’re considering.

The bottom line is, you may have the most expensive, fanciest vacuum, but if it is heavy, awkward to use or move around and you do not use it. It is a horrible vacuum. The reality is that the best model for you (whether cheap or very expensive) is the one you will use.

For more information, visit our website www.graysoncleans.com

Understand Who You Hire to Clean

2012-02-13T08:07:00.000-08:00

To get the proper value for your money, knowing who you hire is important. The requirements for excellent cleaning in the carpet and upholstery cleaning industry are as follows. The people doing the work must have the knowledge to identify the types of carpet or upholstery material they will be cleaning. They should also know the limitations and requirements to clean each type correctly and have the experience required to insure the carpet or upholstery does not get damaged during cleaning. Also, they need to spend the time required to do the job correctly and use top quality products and equipment.

All businesses are “For Profit”! When companies use low prices to get your business, realize that to stay in business, they are going to make a profit. Therefore, they are forced to reduce the quality of proper cleaning through one or all of the following.

1) They allocate less time for the job, which forces the cleaning crew to rush and not properly clean your fabrics.

2) They use inexpensive cleaning products and equipment to reduce the cost which prevents optimum cleaning results.

3) They use inexperienced, under paid labor who may not know how to properly use their equipment or how to deal with fabrics or challenges. If the technician does not properly understand how their equipment works, they can over wet your carpets and create hidden damage that impacts its life. Also, when there are stains or the fabrics are non-traditional. If not addressed correctly, stains will remain and can become permanent. Finally, if the technicians do not understand the type of carpet or upholstery you have, they can actually damage it and make it look worse than when they started.

The morale of the story is “You Get What You Pay For”. The cheaper the price, the more a company reduces the cost to perform the job, which affects the quality of cleaning.

For more information, visit our website www.graysoncleans.com

When Should You Clean Your Carpets

2012-01-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

When should I clean my carpets is a frequently asked question. There are two sources of advice, that from the industry and that based on our experience in the "Real World". The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) standard reference guide for professional carpet cleaning recommends cleaning for normal soiling in a home every 6-12 months for high use areas and annually for the remainder of carpet. Most carpet mills require carpet cleaning from 18 months to 2 years to maintain the carpet warranty. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends deep cleaning either quarterly, every 6 months or annually depending upon traffic levels.

As you can see, they are all over the place but they all agree that

Proper professional cleaning will extend the useful life of the carpet
If carpet looks dirty, it is already past the time it should have been cleaned
Cleaning for health has a bigger impact on people's lives than merely cleaning for appearance
The carpet in most homes would benefit from cleaning more often than it is being cleaned presently

Now for my advice. There are two primary factors to consider, vacuuming frequency and the environment within the home. If you vacuum at least once a week, consider cleaning every 12 to 18 months. If you vacuum less, maybe clean every 9 to 12 months. However, if any of the following home environment conditions exist, consider professional cleaning more frequently than just mentioned. Home environment conditions would be smokers, pets, heavy use of kitchens and messy family members. For smokers, tobacco smoke lingers and poses a health issue for children. Pet stains and their odors get worse with neglect. Heavy cooking, especially with oil, gets into the air and settles at entrances to the kitchen. And, last but not least, a messy family or family member can impact the cleanliness of the carpet.

For more information, visit our website www.graysoncleans.com

Tips for Rug Care

2011-12-29T06:27:00.000-08:00

Whether you have expensive oriental rugs or just good everyday rugs, here are some tips to take care of them and make them last longer.

1. Vacuum rugs at least once a week.
2. Turn or rotate the ends of a rug. This should be done once a year. However, it is a must to turn them at least every two years. Turning prevents more wear in one area than in another. It also helps to prevent “traffic patterns” from occurring as in carpeted rooms.
3. Moth considerations for wool and oriental rugs. Rugs regularly vacuumed or located in well used rooms are less likely to have moth damage. Moths work in secluded, undisturbed areas such as under beds, skirted sofas, or heavy furniture. Move furniture occasionally when vacuuming and clean under it. Also, homes not well ventilated or rooms closed for long periods of time are more likely to have moth problems, so once again vacuum rugs regularly.
4. Sunlight considerations. Direct, sunlight will gradually fade a rug. To avoid this, cover windows with drapes, curtains or shutters and use them to block strong morning and afternoon sunlight. Also, consider window glass treatments and rug treatments for UV light protection.
5. Plants or flowerpot considerations. Live plants requiring water should never be placed directly on rugs. Dampness from the bottom of the pots will cause mildew and rot, gradually destroying the fibers of the rug and resulting in drastic damage. Plants should be in a stand, preferably on wheels. Also, there should be a space between the pot and rug for air to circulate. Use a container under the flowerpot to avoid water dripping onto the rug.
6. Storage considerations. Always store rugs inside the home at room temperature. Do not store in attics that can get too hot or in garages that can get damp as this could cause a rug to dry rot and become brittle. The rug should be inspected and vacuumed at least once a year.

Have your carpets lost their luster, don't give up on them

2011-09-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

During these difficult times, you may look at your carpets, want to replace them but would rather not spend the money. with a little more effort, you can extend their useful life and maintain your beautiful home. Typical situations that mar the beauty are spots and spills, wear patterns and rippling or buckling of the carpet. Spots and spill clean up are addressed in earlier blogs. However, sometimes they will not come up and are permanent. For these situations, a strategically placed throw rug or piece of furniture may be your best approach. High use areas or traffic patterns are a result of concentrated foot traffic that is actually wearing the carpet away. Because the tops of the carpet fibers are being worn and frayed, they look dull. These frayed fibers will also absorb spills quicker and hold dirt a little more readily than non-worn areas. Therefore, more frequent vacuuming (daily would be great) of just the traffic patterns will help them look better longer and immediate blotting of any spills will help reduce the probability of them becoming permanent stains. Carpets that are rippling or buckling can be the result of different factors but can be easily and economically remedied by having the carpets stretched. Finally professional cleaning by a company that pays extra attention to spot removal can spruce up the appearance and bring life back to the carpet's appearance. Following these simple steps may make your decision to keep them longer a little easier. If you have any other questions, visit our website for other helpful tips.

Do It Yourself Spot Cleaning Video

2011-09-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Visit our you tube link to see how easy do it yourself spot cleaning can be. Remember the key is to go slow. Hope you enjoy the video
Do-It-Yourself Spot Cleaning Video
Please visit our website (www.graysoncleans.com) for other helpful information on taking care of your carpets, rugs and upholstery.

Fabric Protectors, They Work

2011-08-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

Dirt and Spills Destroy:
If you have children and/or pets, spills and possibly permanent stains will end up on your carpets, rugs and/or upholstery. It is a good thing to consider a professionally applied fabric protector. The reason is dirt and spills cling to untreated fabrics and quickly become embedded in the fibers. The result is stains that may not be removed. Fabric protectors provide a repellent characteristic, allowing spills to be removed before absorption and staining can occur. They also make vacuuming more efficient which will allow you to get more dry particle dirt out of your rug, carpets or upholstery.

Protectors Have Improved Over the Years:
Over the past 40 years the applied fabric protectors have progressed nicely. The early products were simple protectors that worked well for water based spills. Some were petroleum, some were silicone and some were solvent based. Because of space age technology, flourochemicals, such as Teflon and Scotchgard, were introduced which allowed oil and water to mix and stay suspended. The result is protectors that are good for both water and oil based spills.

Protection Against Sunlight Fading
Another current advancement in the fabric protection field is fabric protectors that protect against fading and damage caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Fabric protection is like an insurance policy. You hope you will not need it but glad you have the protection when an accident happens.

To learn more about fabric protectors visit our website at www.graysoncleans.com

Door Mats are Very Important

2011-08-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

Protecting Your Carpets

The two most important aspects of carpet care are regular vacuuming, especially the traffic patterns, and walk off mats. With respect to walk off mats, there are 2 areas to address. Mats for the entrance and exits from your home and internal mats for those transitions from a hard surface to a carpeted area.

Doormats are very important for keeping the outside dirt from tracking onto your carpets. They should be placed both at the outside entrance to your home and at the inside entrance. The outside mat's purpose is to scrap debris off shoes and to hold it. Therefore, they should be made of a more abrasive material. Also, many people do not purposely stop at an outside mat and wipe both feet. Therefore, the doormat should be the width of the door and deep enough that both feet land on the mat during walking, approximately 3.5 to 4 feet. The inside mat's purpose is to remove the smaller particals of dirt as well as oils and other liquids that can be tracked from the outside. An area rug can work well for this purpose but make sure there is a non-slip pad underneath. Once again, it should be the width of the door and deep enough that both feet land on the rug during a natural walk.

Internal mats are good wherever there is a transition from a hard surface to a carpeted area. Internal matting addresses two cncerns. One is the differenc in height between a carpeted area and hard surface. Typically, the carpet fibers are a little higher than the hard surface and as a result, feet scrape across the fibers creating excessive wear. The other consideration is oily and loose particles on the hard surface being carried onto the carpet fibers. This is especially important if the hard surface is the kitchen. An internal mat, whether on the hard surface or the carpet, can minimize both concerns.

While the function of doormats and internal mats within the home is beneficial, they can sometimes create a conflict with the visual presentation and feel you want to achieve. However, outside door mats should never be a problem. Remember, anything you can do, with respect to walk off matting, will help prolong the appearance and life of your carpets.

Pet Hair in your House, Tips to control it

2011-07-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Cats and dogs are nice around the home but they shed. Shedding cannot be eliminated from a home, but it can be reduced.

The first thing you can do is to try and reduce the amount of pet hair that sheds. Animals shed seasonally, and indoors animals may shed more because their systems can't detect changes in the seasons. Also, unexpected temperature swings may cause pet hair to shed and grow back more often. Daily brushing removes loose hair before it sheds and helps keep your pet's coat healthier. Bathing your dog also reduces loose hair.

However, some animals may have hair loss from reasons beyond seasonal changes. If your pet is shedding excessively, try changing their diet. If they are under stress, try alleviating the stress. There could also be medical reasons, so you might take them to your veterinarian to be checked.

To remove the hair that has shedded, you can use lint brushes and lint rollers to remove hair from clothing. Also, masking or packing tape wrapped around your hand or rolled into a ball can be used. Make sue the sticky side is out and rub it along the fabric grain.

For furniture, remove as much of the pet hair as possible by vacuuming it with the hose attachment of the vacuum cleaner. After vacuuming, put on rubber gloves and dip them in cold water. Shake your hands so that the gloves are damp but not dripping water. Then, wearing the dampened rubber gloves, run your hands across the furniture fabric in one direction. This should gather the pet hair together in a little roll that you can easily pick up and throw in the trash. Keep wiping all of the fabric in this manner until it is free of pet hair. For more information, visit our website at www.graysoncleans.com

Sisal Rugs - The Do's and Don'ts

2011-05-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

Sisal rugs are woven from natural plant fibers. They are strong, durable and due to their unique advantages, can be a lasting addition to a living room, bedroom, office or hallway. However, moisture and humidity can be very hard on sisal rugs. If a large amount of liquid is introduced to the rug, the rug may actually shrink and distort. Also, the penetrating liquid can result in a large stain. For this reason, a sisal rug should be used in a dry place which is unlikely to be subject to spills.

It is also important to keep this in mind when you clean a sisal rug. Be very careful with the amount of moisture used. If liquid is spilled onto a sisal rug, it needs to be removed immediately. To remove the liquid from a sisal rug, blot the rug with a dry cloth and keep blotting with dry parts until there is no more transfer of liquid to the cloth. Also, make sure not to rub the spill because this can drive the liquid into the fiber. If possible, you may find it helpful to lift the rug up and blot from the underside as well. If a staining liquid such as juice is spilled, clean a sisal rug with one-half white vinegar and one-half water solution. Dip a cloth in the solution, blot the rug and then blot with a dry cloth. You may need to repeat this, but remember to use a small amount of the solution to clean a sisal rug so that the rug does not absorb the liquid.

For dry materials, you can scrape it off with a blunt edge, such as a wooden knife. Finally, the sisal rug should be vacumed regularly to take up accumulated dirt. If you vacuum a sisal on a frequent basis, you will also prolong the life of the rug, since embedded dirt tends to damage its fibers.

Do-It-Yourself Cleaning, Concerns with Home Cleaning Equipment

2011-04-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

If you have ever purchased or rented a residential carpet cleaning machine, this information is for you. This equipment can be of a benefit for interim spot cleaning between professional cleanings. However, if your are not careful, the Do-It-Yourself machines can do more harm to your carpets than good.

If the machine's directions have you adding a shampoo to your water tank, I suggest not using it. The suction on these machines is not strong enough to rinse out the shampoo and as a result, will leave a residue on your carpet. The residue will then act as a big magnet pulling dirt from the bottom of your shoes. The result is you will have clean shoes and even dirtier carpets. Straight water is a good cleaning agent and should be used without any shampoo.

Over wetting of carpets is another potential problem. Depending on how wet the carpets get, the subfloor (especially if it is hardwood) can be damaged, carpet pads can prematurely fail due to getting wet and the carpet itself can be damaged and fail prematurely due to over-wetting. The impact of these issues shows up later by reducing the life of the carpets or seeing the damage to the sub floor when you replace the carpets. Also, if it takes more than 24 hours for the carpet to dry, then the possibility for mold and/or mildew to begin greatly increases.

Once again, if you decide to use a Do-It-Yourself carpet cleaning machine, be wary of adding a cleaning product to the reservoir and be careful of overwetting.

Taking Care of Your Upholstery

2011-02-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

Upholstery dirt is much different than carpet or rug dirt. Upholstery dirt is primarily made up of people and pet issues. People shed dead skin cells, hair and hair dander along with sweat and body oils through exposed skin. Cosmetics, hair sprays and other beauty items also get on upholstery. Plus, children and parties increase the likelihood of spills. If there are animals, their hair, body oils and dander are probably getting on the furniture. Over time, all these tend to accumulate into the fabric. Regular vacuuming and prompt attention to spills is the best method of home maintenance (see earlier blog for good tips on upholstery spills).

If you have furniture you are planning on keeping, periodic professional cleaning is recommended. However, be careful on who you hire. Furniture designs and styles have different degrees of difficulty in cleaning based on the types of corners, edges and firmness of the upholstery. Also, upholstery uses many different types of fabrics ranging from natural materials like silk to synthetics like nylon as well as the new micro-fiber materials. Hiring a cleaner with skill and experience who knows what they are doing is important. For example, if silk is not cleaned properly, you have the potential for splotching or streaking to occur. Also, if not cleaned properly, white furniture, especially cottons and wools, can turn brown.

While cleaning is typically for appearance, if done properly, it also gets imbedded dirt out of the fabric. It is like your clothes, even though they may not look dirty, you still wash them after use to remove the dirt and soil.

Tips for buying new carpet

2011-01-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

Coming from a person who is trying to maintain your carpets appearance for a living, here are some considerations when buying new carpets.

First, Do you have pets or small children and are you able to keep up on the housework. For example, do you or your housekeeper vacuum regularly. Also, do you respond to accidents on your carpets promptly? If the answer is yes to both questions, you should consider buying higher grades of carpets (more fiber content per square foot). With proper care, the higher grades of carpets should last longer and provide a better return on your investment. If the answers above were no, a higher grade carpet will probably not last very long and you might want to look at lesser grades of carpets.

Sculpted carpets (carpets with high low patterns) are quite attractive but should be used in rooms that are not high use rooms. These types of carpets will show wear patterns quicker due to the high low nature of the fibers. The high spots do not have the support of neighboring fibers and will get worn down to the level of the low fibers resulting in a visible wear pattern.

Finally, Berber carpets are also quite attractive but once again should be considered for rooms that are not high useage. A Berber carpet, by the nature of its weave, is hard to clean when dirt gets into its fibers. Also, they can unravel if the loops get damaged (cats or dogs scratching can create damaged loops) and the less expensive Bebers tend to show wear patterns quicker.

Carpet & Premature Wear Patterns

2010-12-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

Wear patterns show up in carpets over time but how do you prevent them from happening sooner than later. Wear patterns typically occur at transitions from a hard surface to a carpeted area and traffic paths through a room.

People tend to drag their feet when they walk. This creates wear when going from a hard surface to a carpet because the carpet is typically higher than the hard surface. Also, we tend to go the same way through a room. The walking and the dragging of our feet create wear. This becomes very apparent in rooms with lots of activities such as dens. Another factor that contributes to premature wear is dirt in your carpet. When we walk, the dirt grinds against the sides of the carpet fibers like sand paper and weakens the fibers. The result, at these high use areas, is that the carpet fibers get physically worn away and create a dull appearance. Also, because the fibers are frayed, they will absorb dirt, spills and such easier than the non-worn fibers.

The best ways to prolong the appearance of these wear patterns is first, VACUUM regularly. Removing the dry particulate dirt shown in the picture above is very important. Also, put doormats (non slip if on the hard surface) at the transition areas from a hard surface to the carpet. Let the doormat scrap the dirt off of shoes. It is cheaper to replace doormats than wall to wall carpets.

Commandments of Carpet Care

2010-11-09T06:48:00.001-08:00

Over time your carpets and rugs appearance deteriorates and becomes less attractive. This is due to abrasive soils becoming imbedded in your carpet or rug, which can cause damage to the fibers and reduce the carpet or rug's life. Therefore, establish a regular maintenance schedule that includes professional cleaning.

Commandments of Carpet Care

Vacuum frequently and thoroughly. Most of carpet wear is caused by dirt. Oily soils attract more oily soil and frequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup. Vacuum high-traffic areas daily, less-traveled areas at least twice a week.

Institute a no-dirt policy. A no-shoes rule is always effective, but can be difficult to implement. However, you should definitely make sure there are doormats at each entrance to your home. clean the mats regularly so they don't become sources of soil themselves.

If furniture rests on the carpet, be sure it gets moved occasionally and use coasters under the furniture's legs.

Address stains quickly: the longer a stain chemically reacts with the carpet the harder it will be to remove it. Common stains usually don't require any liquid cleaners stronger than water. Use as little water as possible and blot them clean instead of rubbing or brushing.

Bring professional cleaners in regularly. The commercial grade equipment we use gets the deeply imbedded dirt out and will make your carpet last longer. It is good practice to have them cleaned every six months if you have children, and every 12 to 18 months if you do not.

Pet Accidents, What Do You Do

2010-10-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Pets have accidents and it is good to address them as soon as possible. Urine is probably the biggest issue because it soaks into the fabrics. Urine is also a rather sophisticated problem with respect to removal. When it is wet it is acidic and needs to be approached one way. When it dries, it turns into urine salts, an alkaline, and should be addressed differently than when wet. Another aspect is that when it is the dry, the urine salts can absorb moisture from humidity in the air and give off a foul odor. That is why on humid days, a house can smell worse.

Dealing With Urine While It Is Wet

Blot, blot, blot because removal is the first approach. Find a dry white towel and apply to the wet spot (colored or patterned towels run the risk of bleeding onto the carpet, rug or upholstery). Keep moving dry parts of the towel over the wet spot to remove as much as possible. After blottting, sprinkle baking soda on the urinated area. Baking soda will help absorb and neutralze the urine. After the baking sda has dried, vacuum it up thoroughly. (NOTE: Baking soda may sometimes discolor fabrics, so you should test it on a non conspicuous area of your rug, carpet or upholstery)

Dealing With Dried Urine

First identify the spots. Look for visible evidence like spots or discolorations. Also, a black light can be used to find the source. In a darkened room, the urine salts become flouescent in the presence of ultraviolet light. However, the most available and practical method of locating urine problems is your nose. Do not be afraid to get down on your hands and knees to find it. Once the spots have been identified, using 1/3 white vinegar to 2/3 water, spray it on the spot. You want to apply enough to get to the contamination in order to liquefy the urines salts. However, do not over wet the carpet, especially with wood sub-floors. Alter applying the vinegar/water solution, remove as much of the misture as possible by blotting as previously described.

Do-It-Yourself Spot Cleaning

2010-08-23T12:21:00.001-07:00

Children, pets, parties and other things can create accidents on your carpets and rugs. It is wise to clean them and remove any spots as quickly as possible to prevent stains. We have found that many people will use products purchased from the store to try and remove these accideents. We do not recommend that approach for the following reason. Consumers tend to assume that if a little bit of something works well, than a whole lot of it should work even better. This philosophy is bad in the spot cleaning world. The reason is that store bought cleaners will leave a residue. The amount of residue left is based on how much cleaning product was applied to the spot and how good of a job the consumer did removing the cleaner after application. The problem is that the residue left on the carpet (or rug) will then attract dirt (see picture above).

So, what do you do? First, removal of the initial insult is top of the list. For liquid spills, use a dry clean white cloth or towell. Put it on the spill and apply pressure. The liquid will migrate from the carpet or rug onto the towel. Keep moving the towel so a dry area is over the spill and keep this up until no more liquid is transferred to the towel. For any solid particles, scrap them off with a spoon or dull object.

If a spot is still visible, we recommend starting with clean water first. If the water does not work, try either 1 teaspoon of a neutral detergent with 1/2 pint of lukewarm water (a non-alkaline detergent that does not contain bleach such as used for washing delicate fabrics) or 1/3 cup white vinegar to 2/3 cup of water. Using a spray bottle, sprits the spot with the cleaner but do not over wet the spot. Then blot it up as described above.

Upholstery Spills, How to deal with them

2010-08-09T14:27:00.001-07:00

When there is a spill on your upholstery, DON'T PANIC. However, act promptly before it spreads or dries.

For Liquid Spills

Blot lightly with a dry towel to start. Increase pressure and use a fresh towel until no more liquid is absorbed. DO NOT RUB! If residue remains, see the stain removal guide on our website, http://www.graysoncleans.com/

For solid or semi-solid spills (such as foods)

Gently lift the substance from the upholstery with a spoon or dull knife, scraping carefully toward the center of the spill. Treat any wet residue as a liquid spill.

For dry spill (such as ashes or dry cosmetics)

Adding any liquid to a normally dry substance, such as ashes, may cause a permanent stain. Vacuum, then beat the area with a ruler or similar implement and vacuum again. Then, using the adhesive side of masking tape, remove any residue.

After trying these tips, if the stains presist, contact us, http://www.graysoncleans.com/

Dealing with spills quickly

2010-08-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Parties are fun but they provide an increased chance of spills -- Don't Worry

It is best to get to a spill as soon as possible and remove it. The problem is you can never find a towel when you need it. The trick is to put old towels under your seat cushions. Then, when the spill happens, reach under the nearest seat cushion, pull the towel out and stand on it to blot up and remove the spill. Periodically move the towel so a non-wet portion of it is on the spill. Keep up until all the liquid is transferred to the towel.

Removing candle wax

2010-08-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Candles can provide an ambience and pleasant odor. But, what do you do when candle wax drips onto the carpet.

First, wait for the wax to cool, then try to scrape off as much of the hardened drips as you can, using a dull knife. Next place a clean white rag over the remaining wax and run a warm iron over the area. Repeat the process, using clean towels each time, until all the wax is gone. If wax residue remains, apply a small bit of dry-cleaning solvent and blot.

Removing furniture dents in carpet

2010-08-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

Rearranging a room but worried about furniture dents in the carpet.

There are a few things you can try. Fill a spray bottle with water and sprits it over the dents. Then use a blow-dryer, on a hot setting, to blow air over the moistened areas. (The heat helps wool and nylon carpet rebound.) Then, fluff up the fibers with your fingers or spoon. Another option is to steam away dents. Place a clean, damp cloth over them and hold an iron, on medium heat, several inches above the cloth for about 30 to 60 seconds. Don;t let the iron touch the carpet -- it could burn! Brush up the fibers with a coin or a spoon.