Tips on Rug Care

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.

• Vacuum rugs at least once a week.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

For more information, visit my website at www.graysoncleans.com

Carpet Care

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 a good practice to have them cleaned every six months if you have children, and every 12 to 18 months if you don't.

For more information, visit my website at www.graysoncleans.com

Do It Yourself Spot Cleaning

Children, pets, parties and such can tend to create accidents on your carpets and rugs. It is wise to clean them and remove any spots as quickly as possible to prevent stains. I have found that many people will use products purchased from the store to try and remove these accidents. As a cleaning professional, I do not recommend that approach for the following reasons. Consumers 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 trying to remove the cleaner after application.

The problem is that the residue left on the carpet will then attract dirt. Also, some of the store bought cleaning products can utilize harsh products to address spot removal. If these type cleaners do not remove the spot, they tend to make it a permanent stain.

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 towel. Put it on the spill and apply pressure. The liquid will migrate from the carpet/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. If the water does not work, Put in a spritz bottle 1/3 cup white vinegar to 2/3 cup of water. Using this bottle, spray the spot with the cleaner but do not over wet the spot. Then blot it up as described above.

For more information, visit my website at www.graysoncleans.com