Best Carpet Steam Cleaners Ranked and Reviewed

• Best Carpet Steam Cleaner

Selection of Carpeting Samples

What used to be a blank canvas for the rest of the room is coming to the fore, with fresh hues, daring patterns and textural weaves. ‘New technology means the variety of carpets is much greater than 20 years ago,’ says Charlie Clark, champion of Fun On The Floor carpet campaign. ‘These days you can make a real style statement underfoot.’ ‘The right floor covering adds warmth and personality,’ adds interior designer Danielle Proud. ‘Beautiful carpet also evokes a feeling of luxury – think boutique hotels.’

Don’t forget the comfort factor – however many cushions you scatter, floorboards will never match up to carpet for low-level lounging. Consider, too, that carpet creates a sound barrier, it’s safe and non-slip when kids are around, and also provides another layer of insulation, which can in turn lower your winter fuel bills. So forget boring beige and stamp your personality on your home with a daring shade or sumptuous shag pile (yes really!). Carpet is back.

Contemporary color and pattern

‘Wallpaper has enjoyed a huge renaissance, but just papering a feature wall can look a little dated now,’ says Danielle Proud. ‘Carpet and bold pattern on the floor is definitely the next big trend.’ Darren Clanford, creative director at Ryalux, agrees. ‘There has been a complete colour revolution,’ he says. ‘Whereas carpet used to be the last consideration, now people are thinking about their floor covering first. Unexpected colour or a simple stripe makes all the difference.’

KEY TRENDS • ‘We’ve seen a massive resurgence in red,’says Darren. ‘From pure scarlet to cerise, red can look really opulent.’ Alternatively, why not cosy up for winter with rich berry and jewel-like shades, such as aubergines and teals, in deep, luxurious finishes?

• Fresh and contemporary, a colourful Paul Smith-style stripe is a failsafe way to bring pattern into your home. Stripes can also be used to change perspective, elongating or narrowing a space.

• Turkish or Persian-style carpets add a touch of the exotic, or be brave with a bold, geometric design taken from original Sixties David Hicks prints, made to order from The Carpet Library

• It is possible to get carpets digitally printed with your own design, but it can be expensive if you have a large area to cover. Another innovation involves cutting shapes and patterns into carpets and jigsawing in a design in a different shade. Contact carpetworkshops.com for information.

• If you can’t track down a specific shade, then why not get your carpet colour matched? ‘Ryalux can create carpets in completely bespoke shades to match anything from a fabric swatch to your favourite pair of shoes,’ says Darren.

New neutrals and wonderful weaves

Rather than standard beige, opt for a more modern look with one of the new neutrals. ‘Think Calvin Klein colours,’ says Danielle Proud. ‘Choose minks, nudes and velvety taupes, or even deeper browns or darker greys.’ Textures add a different dimension to carpet, too, creating depth of colour and a pattern in themselves. ‘Very small loop pile carpets that emulate the ever-fashionable plant-fibre floor coverings are still going strong,’ says Michael Turner, general manager at Crucial Trading. ‘However, today’s chunky carpets and variable pile heights are a world away from the traditional wool twist.’

KEY TRENDS

• Ultra-comfy underfoot, shag pile is even sexier the second time round. Seventies-style, long-pile carpets add a luxurious touch, and work particularly well in bedrooms. Use them to create a cosy feel in family rooms, dens or TV rooms.

• Go to extremes with texture. XL yarns (very wide: see image two, above) create amazing surfaces that are brilliant for the boudoir. ‘There are some really thick, tufted carpets with yarns that are the width of a cigarette, sometimes even bigger,’ says Martin Long, managing director of The Carpet Library. ‘These can be loop piles that create a chunky effect, or be cut to reveal a contrast colour running through the centre.’

• ‘You don’t have to have the same carpet throughout the house, but think cohesively,’ says Lorna Haigh, marketing manager at Alternative Flooring. ‘Why not ring the changes by laying a chunky carpet next to a flat weave?’

• Stop press: white is a feasible carpet option, thanks to clever advances in cleaning and care (but you can also make a striking statement with hide-all black).

Thoroughly modern plant fibers

Plant-fibre floorings come in a whole host of incarnations, from naturally fine jute to strong seagrass and coconut husk (coir).

Undoubtedly the most versatile of the bunch, robust sisal can be dyed in myriad modern shades, and woven into highly decorative and sophisticated patterns, such as herringbones and Jacquards. ‘We’re seeing a shift from the ubiquitous basket-yellow colour,’ says Lorna Haigh. ‘Now we have dramatic tones, such as dark browns, black, greys that look like woven steel, stripes and metallics that have a really lustrous feel.’

If you want the look of plant fibre, but find that sisal is still a little on the scratchy side, sisool combines sisal for strength and wool for softness. Or for something completely different, paper flooring has an elegant matt appearance and is surprisingly strong and durable.

CARPET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Which carpet should I use where? Areas of heavy traffic, such as hallways and living rooms, will require a much harder-wearing carpet than a bedroom. Think about whether kids or pets will be in the room, and whether there is direct access to the outside.

How do I set a budget? ‘Expect to pay as little as £20 per sq m for a good-quality carpet that will keep its appearance,’ says Rupert Anton, marketing director of The Carpet Foundation. ‘But don’t forget to include the cost of fitting and underlay.’

Do I need new underlay? ‘Yes, even if it appears in good condition,’ says Rupert. ‘Underlay increases a carpet’s life span by up to 40 per cent. It also improves the feel underfoot and increases heat and sound insulation. Manufacturers may not accept a complaint if either old underlay has been used or none at all.’

Who will install my new carpet? Your retailer will give you a quote and recommend a specialist fitter. Always employ a qualified installer, as not only will they ensure the carpet looks good, they will be used to negotiating access points.

What about asthmatics and allergy sufferers? Independent studies have shown there to be no link between carpets and allergies. Airborne particles can trigger asthma, but carpet actually traps dust, which can then be vacuumed up. It’s also not an ideal habitat for dust mites, which can cause allergies, and stringent legislation ensures that carpets have very low VOC levels (the compounds that cause indoor air pollution).

How easy is it to keep a carpet clean? Mop up any spills immediately by blotting with kitchen paper or a dry cloth. Don’t rub the carpet or over-soak the stain, but use warm water, working from the outside in. If the stain persists, call in a professional.

Head to The Carpet Foundation and Fun on the Floor for lots more advice about choosing and buying carpet.

Carpet Jargon

• Twisted pile is created from yarn that has been twisted tightly together. The loops are then cut to achieve a textured appearance. Twists come in the widest variety of colours, shades and prices.

• Looped pile is durable and practical. The loops can be made at either a uniform height, or different heights to form a textured pile. Sometimes both cut and loop pile is combined for a more dramatic, sculptured effect. It’s very good at maintaining its appearance throughout a long lifetime.

• Velvet or velour pile carpets have a very smooth finish – perfect for bedrooms.

• Saxony carpets have a dense, cut pile made with longer tufts than other styles; often used in living rooms or bedrooms.

• Shag pile is an extremely luxurious carpet made the same way as a twisted pile, but with extra-long tufts for a shaggy look

Luxury Carpeting Enhances Your Living Room

Don’t Forget to Ask

Headed to the store to shop for flooring? Don’t get overwhelmed get answers.

It’s easy to get excited about and inspired by the vast array of flooring choices before you, but dont forget to ask the tough questions when its your turn with the sales associate.

Costs & Charges

Do you charge for an in-home estimate? If so, does it apply to the cost of the purchase?
Does the price include installation?
If not, what are the charges and procedures for installation?
How do I calculate how much flooring I’ll need and can I sell back an extra (unopened) box of tiles?

Product Information

What are the strengths of one product choice versus another?
What are the guaranties and warranties on the flooring itself, on the padding and on the installation?
What features does this flooring have that make it easy to maintain?

Decision Making

Can I take a sample home to view in the room?
Can I purchase a large sample size?

Installation

What kind of padding or underlayment does this floor require?
What do I have to do to my current floors before installation?
How quickly will my flooring be installed after I place my order?
How do I minimize the number and placement of seams in my room?
Is this carpet available in a 15-foot length to ensure fewer seams?
Who is responsible for removing and disposing of old carpet and padding?
Is there an additional fee for that?

Source:  Shaw Flooring

The Carpet Cleaning business is extremely competitive in many markets! So why not make carpet cleaning part of your overall business strategy.  Become an office cleaning specialist company or a home cleaning specialist.  If you really want to make money you have to set yourself apart from the competition.

Many franchises are “OUT OF REACH” to the prospective entrepreneur simply because the start up costs are too high! This doesn’t have to stop you from becoming a huge success in your local market. How many of you have the resources to make a huge investment up front? It’s not necessary, what is necessary is the knowledge or business planning guide to ensure you follow the right steps to success.

You need  KNOWLEDGE and ambition, then the drive to make it all happen for yourself and your family. Did you know that the House Cleaning Business is growing my leaps and bounds? Office cleaning businesses are in demand no matter how bad the economy gets.

With the baby boomer generation entering the retirement age (This means affluent older individuals who simply would rather spend their time doing something else) and two earner families deseperate for the help the opportunity has never been greater than right now!

Cleaning Business Start Up Guides

• Start an Office Cleaning Business

• Cleaning Business Guide

Savvy people are offering “complete cleaning solutions” to their customers. Why stop at the Carpet when you can do the furniture, the draperies, and outsource or do the entire house every week. The potential is unlimited.

Do You Really Want to Start a Cleaning Business?

Are you ready to start your residential cleaning service or carpet cleaning business? Are you considering a franchise opportunity like Coit Carpet Cleaning? Once you’ve purchased the supplies and equipment, obtained the necessary insurance, and hired your crew you will be looking for clients. Your cleaning customers will have questions for you – everything from the training you give your employees to your rates to what they should do with their pets when you come to clean. Following are questions you should be prepared to answer:

1 – Can I trust your company? Are you insured and bonded? Your cleaning company should be bonded and have liability insurance, as well as workman’s compensation for your employees. Be prepared with a flyer or document that lists your insurance/bond company and the types of coverage you have. You should also do background checks on all employees.

2 – Does someone need to be at home when you clean? This is generally the customer’s choice. If the customer will not be home you need to have the key in a safe place and if they have an alarm you will need the alarm code.

3 – Do I provide the cleaning chemicals and equipment? Obviously for carpet cleaning business they expect you to bring the equipment. As a cleaning company it is your responsibility to provide your own supplies. Purchase professional cleaning chemicals and equipment from your local janitorial supply house. You’ll be able to save money by buying quality equipment that will last and economical chemicals that go a long way with dilution control systems, rather than using ready to use products.

4 – How do I pay for your services? Make sure you state your payment policies clearly. If you require payment at the time of service, the customer needs to leave you a check or credit card number if they will not be home.

5 – Will I always have the same team cleaning my home? You should always try to have the same individuals or team clean the home. This will mean faster cleaning time as your staff will be familiar with the home. It also helps the customer feel comfortable having the same individuals in their home.

6 – What if something in the home gets damaged or broken? Accidents do happen. Train your employees to report any damaged or broken items immediately to a supervisor. A note should then be left for the customer explaining about the accident and that your company will take care of the damaged or broken item as soon as possible.

7 – How many people will be in the home to clean? Your team should consist of 2-3 individuals.

8 – What services does your residential cleaning company provides? List the services included in regular cleaning (vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of kitchen and bathrooms, etc.) and also indicate what special services you provide (carpet cleaning, window washing, etc.) and the additional charges for those services.

9 – What time will you clean the home? Carpet cleaning needs to be done early in the day to allow drying time. It may not be possible to give the client the specific time that you will be in the home, but give them the hours you clean, Monday thru Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and the approximate time you expect to be at their home.

10 – Should I do anything before you arrive to clean? Your job is to clean the home. However, you may ask that your customer pick up toys, clothing and other household type items that will slow you down.

11 – Do I have to sign a contract? This is a decision you will have to make for your cleaning business. Contracts are helpful as they spell out the responsibilities of both parties.

12 – What do I do with my cat? Cats, dogs and other animals, birds, etc. should be in a kennel, cage or other location where they will not get in the way of the cleaning team.

This 12 Questions you should consider before starting a cleaning business is provided by carpet cleaning business expert advice Steve Hanson (co-founding member of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business).

Franchise Opportunities (i.e. Coit Carpet Cleaning)

Coit Carpet Cleaning is probably the best known but of course not the only carpet cleaning business franchise. Open your local yellow pages and you’ll see a list of several well known “brands” who may have opportunities in your areas – companies like Von Schrader, Stanley Steamer, ChemDry, OxyMagic, outsourcing for sears or the local hardware stores. We can not advise you on which carpet cleaning business franchise will work for you or if you should start your own independant business.

HEPA Vacuum Cleaners what are they and why are they the ONLY choice for Serious Cleaning!

To enjoy the benefits of the clean air in your home, office or other place of residence you should be aware of the benefits of HEPA Filtration. HEPA is the acronym for “High Efficiency Particulate Air,” and the HEPA filter was developed by the Atomic Energy Commission during World War II to protect researchers from radioactive dust particles. HEPA is a filtration standard. A vacuum without HEPA filtration may just redistribute dust and dirt throughout your room.

What a HEPA Filter Does

The HEPA filter traps particles as small as .3 microns with an efficiency rating of 99.97%, and you can’t do better than that. It means that for every 10,000 particles that enter the filtration system, only three particles will pass through. Pollen dust can be as small as five microns, and a particle of ten microns is invisible to the naked eye, which may give you a better idea of what this filter will capture. HEPA filters are used in laboratories, surgical environments, and every place that has extremely high clean air standards. A “HEPA-type filter” is less expensive but does not work nearly as well as a true HEPA. The product should state that it is rated at 99.97% for microns .3 in size or it is not the real thing.

HEPA Vacuums are the Top Choice for Allergy Sufferers

It is very important for allergy sufferers or anyone with breathing problems to purchase a vacuum with the lowest emissions possible. Also, if you want to protect small children or you have a pet in the house that sheds hair and dander, a great filter for your vacuum should be high on your list of “Must Haves.” Household dirt comprises between 75% and 80% dead human skin cells, and the rest is hair, animal dander, dust mites, pollen, dirt, soil, etc. A HEPA filter on your vacuum is an important cleaning tool that will help ensure the quality of your air. Some HEPA filters need to be replaced periodically; others can be washed.

Bagless Vacuum Cleaners Are They Any Better?

For Clean Air Protection, Choose “Bags” Over “Bagless”

If you have severe allergies or breathing problems, not only HEPA vacuum cleaners, but also a model that collects dust and dirt in disposable bags is your best choice. Bagless cleaners vacuums, on the other hand, save money and time because the machine suctions up and collects dirt, dust, and soil in a bin or some kind of container that is simply emptied and replaced; disposable bags have to be purchased and are sometimes difficult to place correctly in the machine.

For disposable bag models, you have to keep a supply of bags of the right make on hand, remember to check the fullness of the bag at regular intervals, and replace it when it is about two-thirds full to keep the suction of your vacuum operating at peak efficiency. However, the cost of vacuum bags is not very high and if you use them, the dirt and dust is safely trapped and discarded. Emptying a bin from a bagless vacuum allows a certain amount of dust to escape into the air again, and doesn’t offer the same protection. In fact, if you have allergies or breathing problems, you should wear a mask when emptying a vacuum bin.

Bagless Vacuums Marketing Hype or The Way to Go

What was unthinkable many years ago had suddenly become all the rage in the world of vacuum cleaners. The bag-less vacuum cleaner, once thought of as an impossible dream, has now become a profitable reality. Although still in its infancy, the bag-less vacuum cleaner is gaining in acceptance around the world.

The current style uses an internal system called Filtered Cyclonic, a descriptive phrase that describes the means of separating the dirt and dust from the incoming air stream. The filtered cyclonic invention uses a directional air pattern to spin the vacuumed dirt inside a cylinder, forcing the heavier and larger particles against the wall of the cylinder where they drop to the bottom of the collection bin. The faster and faster the dirty air spins, the better the separation with only the smaller, lighter particles remaining in the middle. These leftover particles are then sent through the device by the outgoing air stream, through a filter designed to remove them from the air before it exits the back of the machine. It wasn’t until the 1990’s this invention was applied to household units by the now-defunct Fantom Company of Canada.

I took the rather Expensive Dyson Vacuum cleaners for a test drive at a local department store. Verdict? Neat design, but way overpriced for what they are. Felt very cheap to me. In fact the plastic on one was broken off and it didn’t even run!

Another type of bag-less vacuum cleaner uses the “dirt cup” and is found mostly in commercial units. Used successfully for over 30 years, these bag-less vacuum cleaners use no disposable bags but are not cyclonic. Debris and dust is filtered from the air stream by a cloth bag similar to the early designs.

The difference here is that this bag collects the dust and debris on an inner wall inside the bag and forms what is called a “filtering dirt cake”. The vibration of the motor and general movement of the machine causes the dirt cake to fall off when it reaches a critical mass of weight and it lands in the dirt cup which can be easily removed, cleaned and reinserted back into the machine. It is only recently that the dirt cup bag-less vacuum cleaner has been introduced as a household cleaner.

So don’t be pulled into purchasing an expensive vaccum based solely on the claim that it is bagless and therefore better.

Clearly listing every carpet cleaning and janitorial supply company in the United States is far beyond the scope of our site whose primary focus in is on “How to” articles and advice for cleaning carpeting.

Quality carpet cleaning supplies are typically found at Janitorial and or Vacuum Cleaner stores (Not the local Walmart). There are few carpet cleaning supply stores that only feature carpet supplies. You can search for Carpet Supplies in your area in any of the major search engines by using a phrase like: “carpet cleaning supply +my home town” or “carpet cleaning supplies +my zip code”.

However for those of you looking for a few quick links to the better known cleaning supply firms online here they are…

Jon-Don Carpet Cleaning Supplies

400 Medinah Rd
Roselle, IL 60172
1.800.400.9473 | Fax: 630.893.6868

Jon-Don is a leading distributor in a $23 billion industry. Founded in 1978 by John and Nick Paolella, Jon-Don is focused on partnering with its customers for success. The primary end markets in this industry include professional contractors, such as building service contractors, restoration contractors and professional carpet cleaners, as well as institutional facilities, such as schools, commercial buildings and government properties.

Interlink Supply

Provides Carpet Cleaning Supply distribution through a network of independently owned dealers.

Each Interlink Supply location is independently owned. Questions and concerns are brought directly to the local owner or manager.  The business you give us stays in the local community and makes it possible for us to serve you better.

Clean Freak

Online carpet cleaning supply warehouse.

Resources

Yahoo Directory > Cleaning Supplies and Equipment Floor Care

Hot Water Extraction Carpet Cleaning Machine

Carpet Cleaning Machines & Equipment – where you can find the tools the PROFESSIONALS use!

For those of you who want to do your own carpet cleaning investing in a quality carpet cleaning machine will pay off in many ways. In our research the companies listed here seem to dominate the industry. All companies listed below have their own strengths including quality of materials and price points. We recommend you visit and contact the companies which have the product lines most closely suited to your own carpet cleaning equipment needs.

Carpet Cleaning Machines – Equipment Manufacturers

CleanMaster www.cleanmaster.com
11015 47th Avenue West
Mukilteo, WA 98275 (Mukilteo is a suburb of Seattle) 800-426-8972

CleanMaster is a division of HydraMaster Corporation (hydramaster.com) and manufactures some of the most popular carpet cleaning machines. Home users and small businesses will want to take a serious look at the “Rexx” protable hot water extractor. The “Rexx 130H” features a full 136″ of lift and 3+ gallon tanks (perfect for most home applications). CleanMaster also manufactures an interesting tool in the patented DriMaster™ Upholstery Tool. Chemicals, commercial equipment.

Century 400 www.century400.com
Kärcher Floor Care. 1351 W. Stanford Av.,
Englewood, CO  800-444-7654

Century 400 has been manufacturing carpet cleaning equipment since 1977 and offers a variety of popular equipment under the Avenger, Eliminator, Flood Master, Ninja, Sensei, Spot Plus, and Hurricane Pro brand names.

Mytee Products, Inc. www.mytee.com
13655 Stowe Drive
Poway, CA 92064   877-469-8331

Mytee manufacturers a variety of carpet cleaning equipment machines under the brand names, Mytee, Mytee Light, Kodiak, Eliminator. If you are looking for a decent (In my opinion better than consumer equipment (i.e. Hoover, Eureaka) under $1,000 hot water extractor then the Mytee may be worth a look. I’ve rented Mytee equipment before and it’s effective, but I wasn’t blown away by the performance. The website is elaborate but pages often fail to load. Recommended by many auto detailers.

Bane-Clene® www.baneclene.com
3940 N. Keystone Avenue 800-428-9512
Indianapolis, IN 46205

Supplying the Carpet Cleaning industry with professional “high end” carpet cleaning solutions since 1971. Everything from complete “turn key” solutions including truck mounted equipment, to chemicals, furniture pads, and a toll-free locator service 800-428-9512. Bane-Clene® is a 1 stop carpet cleaning superstore.

Durrmaid, Inc. www.durrmaid.net
12122 E Day Mount Spokane Road 866-238-2550
Mead, WA 99021-9715 (Mead is a suburb of Spokane)

Probably the most cost effective and powerful solution for home use, small business, and auto detailing. This little carpet cleaning machine does it all! Be sure to buy the heated version. I had the opportunity to speak directly with the owner one afternoon. He gave me over 20 minutes of his valuable time answering each of my questions in detail. That’s service second to none! Highly recommended (although I do not own this machine – YET!). The Durrmaid “spotter” is available with a hard floor tool and a carpet wand making it ideal for the homeowner who wants to maintain spotless floors on a budget.

Windsor Industries www.windsorind.com
1351 W. Stanford Avenue 800-444-7654
Englewood, CO 80110

Windsor Industries is a sister company to the Castle Rock Companies Prochem (www.prochem.com), Graco (www.gracomfg.com), TecServ (www.tecservco.com), and Century 400 (Listed above as they are primarily a manufacturer of Carpet Cleaning Equipment while the others place more emphasis on Floor Cleaning in general and services. Windsor also manufacturers a complete line of floor cleaning equipment but is listed as a seperate entity for it’s excellent line of “Carpet Extractors” – the Admiral, Cadet, Clipper, Commordore, Dominator, Ensign, Expert, Presto, and Voyager Models.

If your company is a manufacturer (Not a Dealer) and would like to be included on this page please let us know.

Using Vinegar is one method to Remove Pet Stains

This article will teach you “How to” remove pet stains including the two most common complaints:

• Dog Urine and Feces – the most common pet stain complaint
• Cat Urine and Feces

These stains can be extremely damaging to carpet fibers. Once the stain is removed training your pet where to go is essential to avoid further problems. Cat and Dog urine can be expensive problems if care is not taken to correct the disruptive behavior.

With the ever increasing number of household pets in American homes, pet owners are having a hard time keeping up with their cats and dogs. There are a few tips you must know when cleaning up these stains to keep from causing permanent damage to your carpet.

Pet Urine Removal Instructions

Blot urine with a very absorbent towel, pressing the towel with your heal, while standing on one foot. This allows you to soak up the urine from the pad and the carpet. Do this 3 or 4 times with new places on the towel.

After the urine has been removed, spray a solution of white vinegar and water (50/50 mixture.) Leave in the carpet. This neutralizes the acid in the urine that could discolor and distort the carpet fibers.

Never rub or scrub the carpet, while cleaning up pet urine or any other stain. This only pushes the stain into the carpet fibers and padding.

Cleaning Pet Feces from Carpet Professional Advice

Wait for feces to dry!!! Do not even think about any type of clean up until the poop has dried completely. If you do, the feces will absorb into the fibers and cause permanent discoloration.

Once feces has dried (about 24 hours) pick up and discard. What you see left on the carpet needs to be cleaned up by a professional (Unless you own a carpet spotter like the Bissel Little Green Machine which can be used to extract the feces from the carpet fibers).

Once the professional arrives at your house, make sure he doesn’t apply any soap or other chemicals to the remaining feces. They first need to extract the stain with clean hot water. If some of the stain remains after going over it 4 to 5 times, some detergent can be applied and extracted.

After feces has been completely cleaned up, a sanitizer needs to be applied to kill any remaining bacteria. Applying these steps when cleaning up pet stains will save you costly replacement and extend the life of your carpet.

Remove Cat and Dog Urine From Carpet Do-it-Yourself Method

First the bad news: Not all urine stains are removable. The types of damage caused vary according to the urine content. This is determined by the pet’s diet, age, sex, and any medications being taken. If it is removable, the following steps may get it out.

• Blot up the urine as soon as you discover it. Use plain white paper towels to avoid dye transfer.

• Mix 1/4 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent (non-bleach and non-lanolin) in a cup of warm water. Apply this to the spot.

• Blot up the moisture, rinse with warm water, and apply more of the detergent mixture. Rinse, and continue the process until you don’t see any urine transfer to the paper towels.

• Mix two tablespoons of ammonia in a cup of water. Apply this to the spot, blot it up, rinse with warm water, and repeat. Blot the area dry.

• Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water. Apply this to the spot, blot it up, rinse, and repeat. Rinse well when you are done, and blot the area to remove as much moisture as possible.

• Put a stack of plain white paper towels on the spot and weigh them down with something flat and heavy (something that won’t lose its color if it gets wet). Change the paper towels occasionally, until the spot is dry.

The faster you get to the spot, the more likely it is that it can be removed. When urine spots develop over time, and are not noticed right away, the dyes and carpet fibers may be permanently damaged. In beige carpet, the stains will appear red, yellow or orange. Color can sometimes be restored by treating with a solution of two tablespoons of clear, non-sudsy ammonia in a cup of water.

Getting Urine Odor Out Of Carpet

To get urine odor out, it’s often necessary to remove virtually all the urine – especially in the case of cat urine. Many products simply mask the odor, and fail even at that during times of high humidity. Some pet stores and veterinary offices now have enzyme treatments that work better, and professional carpet cleaners can apply these for you if you aren’t sure how to do it.

If odor persists, you may have to remove that section of carpet. You can replace it with scraps if you have saved them, or cut a piece from an area that isn’t visible. Unfortunately, sometimes the padding and even a section of flooring has to be removed to totally eliminate odor from old urine stains.

Article Source Reference

How to Remove Carpet Stains

Berber Carpeting is difficult to clean

Carpet like all durable goods has a “lifetime”. After a period of wear cleaning is simply not enough and it becomes time to replace your carpeting. Many factors come into play at this point.

• Expense – carpeting can be expensive
• Ownership – is this your carpeting or in a rental unit
• Inconvenience – ripping out the old carpet and replacing will take a day or two out of your schedule
• Health – new carpeting “outgasses” for as many as 4 years after replacement, and while some like the “new” smell, others can be highly allergic to it. “Green” carpeting is now available from a number of carpet manufacturers.
• Colors – if you replace the carpeting you may want to go with more updated colors, which mean you may need to paint or remodel as well.

These are decisions everyone has to make when it comes to carpet replacement. Choosing the “right” carpet is not as easy as selecting a “pile”, “color” and installation date or is it? Make sure you fully understand the pros and cons of the above considerations.  The final consideration of course is usually money.

There is so much to know and the easy way to learn the “How To’s” of this business is not to rely on the Carpet Sales Guy (Who is going to make his/her commission no matter what you purchase) it’s to seek the advice of industry experts! Do your homework! Every Sales guy or cleaning company will usually tell you what they have to say to make money from you. You can learn a great deal about carpeting by visiting the manufactuers sites.

Carpet Manufacturers

• Shaw Flooring

• Mowhawk Carpeting and Flooring

Most carpet manufacturers recommend “Hot Water Extraction” to clean their brands of carpeting – including Shaw (the worlds largest manufacturer), but that may not be the best solution for all cleaning needs.

Simple Carpet Cleaning Guide Facts:

• Hot Water – effective cleaning requires Hot Water – in the neighborhood of 140 degrees delivered to the carpet surface (about the same as your dishwasher). Always buy a machine that heats the water. This is the most important carpet cleaning tip – hot water!

• Lift – Vacuum Lift is measured by how far up a glass tube the unit can pull a vertical column of water. Commercial grade equipment will lift in excess of 100 inches.

• Noise – Here is a carpet cleaning tip almost everyone overlooks: carpet cleaning equipment can make considerable noise – be sure to wear hearing protection if you are going to be cleaning for an extended period of time.

• Chemicals – Chemical cleaning should be applied to the carpet BEFORE the hot water extraction process. The carpet extraction equipment then lifts out the chemicals pH Balance – When using chemicals be sure to check with your dealer to make sure you use the proper Acid rinse (most chemicals have a high pH base and this needs to be neutralized in the rinse process).

• Dry Cleaning – all cleaning methods use some amount of water! Dry cleaning methods rely upon chemicals to bond to the dirt then are “dry vacuumed” later. Some dry cleaning companies also employ “brightening” agents to make the carpet appear cleaner. We recommend hot water extraction not dry cleaning.

Your dealer or janitorial supply company can help you pick the right cleaning chemicals and purchase or rent the right equipment.

Comparison of Carpet Cleaning Methods

Prepared by Donald W. Terry, Sr. Bane-Clene ®

There are four basic methods for cleaning carpet:

• Carpet Shampooing
• Dry Powder Method
• Bonnet Cleaning
• “External Extraction”® Method

Shampoo Method

The theory in the shampoo method is to generate a lot of foam in the carpet, allow this foam to dry, have the resulting residue attract the soil, and vacuum up the residue and soil the next day.

Carpet shampoo products must have the following characteristics which dictate their ingredients:

• Very high foam levels to reduce wetting.
• Very stable foam.
• High lubricity to reduce damage to the carpet fibers from the brushes.
• Dry to a non-sticky residue.

Therefore, a carpet shampoo must contain a very foamy chemical. The most common ingredient is sodium lauryl sulfate or one of its relatives. Sometime when you’re taking a shower or bath, look at the ingredient statement on your hair shampoo bottle. It will say “Contains sodium lauryl sulfate” or some similar wording. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and its relatives exhibit a very high and very stable foam and are only fair detergents. The problem is that they dry to a soft, sticky residue which will cause resoiling.

Because of the resoiling problem, carpet shampoos will frequently also have an anti-resoiling additive such as a resin to reduce this resoiling tendency.

Because shampoos are actually very poor detergents and basically simply bury the dirt, they frequently also contain high levels of optical brighteners which take invisible ultraviolet light and convert it to visible light, thus making the carpet appear cleaner and brighter than it really is, for a while. It will eventually give the carpet a yellow cast and the yellow cannot be removed.

Two primary types of machines are used for this process:

• Cylindrical Foam
• Rotary Shampoo

The Cylindrical Foam Shampoo machine uses an air compressor to create dry foam before the foam is applied to the carpet and the carpet is then agitated with a revolving cylindrical brush which combs the foam through carpet pile. This method will leave dirt trapped in the carpet pile. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

The Rotary Shampoo method uses an ordinary rotary floor machine (the same kind used for stripping wax), sprays shampoo onto the carpet from a dispensing tank, and a rotary brush whips the detergent to a foam. Most carpet mills and carpet fiber producers discourage the use of rotary brushes on carpet because of the potential damage that can occur. Overwetting is common with this method which can cause jute straining, shrinkage, and odor.

Shampoo methods are inferior due to poor cleaning plus resoiling problems. The Rotary Shampoo method can damage the carpet, especially cut pile (which is what most residential carpet is).

Absorbent Cleaners

This method is often called “dry cleaning” since virtually no water is used.

In this method, dry absorbent compound (containing small amounts of water, detergent, and solvent,) is sprinkled over carpet or worked into the carpet with a machine. This purpose of this cleaner is to attract and absorb soil. Mechanical agitation from a brush works the cleaner through the carpet.

These products usually contain an absorbent carrier, water, detergent, and solvent. The theory is that the liquids dissolve the soil and this soil/detergent/solvent mixture is absorbed into the carrier and is then vacuumed up. They are often used with a detergent pre-spray in heavily soiled areas.

The absorbent cleaner most commonly is organic, but may also be polymers. The compound is supposed to absorb the dislodged soil and is then vacuumed away. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

Very thorough vacuuming should be used to ensure that most of the carrier comes out of the carpet. With the extremely fine powder types, indoor air quality can be reduced. If a white powder starts appearing on shoes and cuffs of pants, too much was used and it was not thoroughly vacuumed up. A common problem is for this white powder to reappear after wet extraction cleaning.

This cleaning method has the advantage of no drying time for interim maintenance, since little water is used. This makes if a common maintenance cleaner.

Host®, Capture®, Love My Carpet®, Arm and Hammer®, and Carpet Fresh® would be included in this category.

Bonnet Method  “Carbonated Cleaning”

This method is sometimes called “dry cleaning”, which is a misnomer, since water is used.

Bonnet Shampooing is simply an adaptation of hard floor spray buffing to carpets.

This method for carpet maintenance consists of the use of a rotary or oscillating brush adapted with a stiff brush or drive block designed to drive wet, damp or dry pads. The carpet can be sprayed with the cleaning solution and/or the pads can be soaked in the cleaning solution and squeezed lightly before placing the pad under the driving brush.

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, suggests not using this method, especially on cut pile, due to pile distortion and fiber damage. This method has very limited capability for soil removal and leaves much of the detergent in the pile since it employs no real extraction. As a result, rapid re-soiling often occurs. Another disadvantage is that the spinning bonnet may distort the fibers of cut pile carpet, fuzzing the pile and leaving distinct swirl marks.

Sometimes, carbonated water is used to (in theory) give better soil suspension and bring down the pH. Companies using this method frequently use “scare” tactics to convince consumers that extraction cleaning or steam cleaning will destroy the carpet.

Check with your carpet manufacturer because many leading carpet mills recommend against this method of cleaning.

“External Extraction”®

This method is often call “Warm Water Extraction”, “Hot Water Extraction” or “Steam Cleaning” and is the cleaning method nearly all carpet manufacturers and carpet fiber producers recommend.

This is the only cleaning method classified as “deep cleaning”. All the others are considered “light surface cleaning” because they are incapable of removing soil deep in the pile. Also, all other methods leave large amounts of cleaning agent in the carpet after cleaning.

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends this method, because its own research indicates that it provides the best capability for cleaning.

This method is frequently called “steam” cleaning due to the fine spray of water used to force dirt out of the carpet which is sucked up by the vacuum slot immediately in front of the spray. Seldom is real live steam used, however. This process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and floor tool brought inside, or by a portable, system brought into the home or office.

From a health standpoint, the truck-mounted system is preferred because the dirty air and humidity are exhausted outside rather than recirculated around the house. Additionally, truck-mounted systems usually are more powerful than portable units and do a much better cleaning job and get the carpet dry more quickly.

With some truck-mounted systems (called PTO’s), the vehicle itself must run in neutral during the cleaning and in many others a separate engine (sometimes with a propane or oil-fired heater) is used to power the unit and heat the water. In both cases, the van MUST be parked well away from the house and positioned so that exhaust fumes do not enter the house. All-electric systems, such as the Bane-Clene systems, do not have this problem.

Depending upon the equipment, temperatures may range from cold tap water to boiling hot water and even super heated water over 200 degrees F. Of course, with extremely high temperatures, there are dangers of scalding should a solution line break.

The choice of the proper cleaning system is extremely important. Some systems leave residues which promote re-soiling and defeat the whole purpose of cleaning. Some methods actually damage the carpet fibers and shorten the life of the carpet. Check directly with the carpet manufacturer for recommendations.

Cleaning Frequency

If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Allowing the carpet to become overly soiled may result in irreversible damage. It is a common myth that cleaning the carpet before it is absolutely necessary will cause it to get dirty faster. This goes back to the days when the shampoo methods were the most common.

Carpet in a typical household should be professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months depending upon the number of residents, amount and type of activity, and whether the carpet is light or dark color.

Professional Cleaning versus “Do-It-Yourself” Cleaning

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends professional cleaning over “Do-It-Yourself” because of the potential problems that can occur from using rental equipment – such as yellowing, overwetting, fiber tip damage, severe resoiling, overuse of detergents, etc.

Most rental units available do not adequately clean and may actually damage the carpet.

Locator Services

Call the Bane-Clene locator service at 1-800-428-9512 for the name and phone number of a trained certified professional carpet cleaner in your zip code area.