Here are 5 Easy Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Carpet:

1. Check the Warranty

Copies of specific warranties on your carpet purchase may be available from your carpet retailer. Stain resist warranties can vary from 5 to 20 years. ALL STAIN RESIST WARRANTIES REQUIRE REGULAR CLEANING AND IMMEDIATE SPOT REMOVAL

2. Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum!

It is said that the three most important rules for maintaining carpet are vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Vacuum your carpet often. Once or twice a week at least. Vacuuming removes the sharp soil that can cut and slice the fiber causing premature wear. Much of this soil is not visible to the eye. Remove any loose particles such as loose food, leaves, pieces of crayon, bugs, etc. as these items can cause a spot on the carpet.

3. Have Your Carpet Professionally Cleaned Often

Most people don’t clean their carpet often enough. Perhaps due to the cost, the hassle factor, or because they do not realize how important regular professional cleaning can be. For example, if your traffic areas are visibly soiled, you have already waited too long! Traffic area soil is somewhat oily and bonds to the carpet fibers, eventually staining the carpet. Once this has taken place, even though professional cleaning will make it look much better, the traffic pattern will still be visible. In addition, traffic area soil is sharp – like sandpaper – and it abrades the carpet fibers. To keep this to a minimum, clean your traffic areas before they look visibly soiled.

As a general rule, professional cleaning by a professional, certified firm should take place about once per year. For extremely heavy traffic areas, cleaning may be required more often. Proper professional cleaning will not leave a sticky residue behind and can be done as many times per year as needed. MANY STAIN RESIST WARRANTIES REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL CLEANING EVERY 2 YEARS. Professional cleaning removes the damaging soil from the traffic areas that vacuuming has not been able to remove. WARNING: UNINFORMED CARPET CLEANERS MAY VOID THE WARRANTY, BE VERY SELECTIVE WHICH COMPANY YOU HIRE!

4. Remove Spots Immediately

Spots that are not immediately removed can turn into permanent stains very easily. When a carpet is new, or has sufficient protector on it, plain tap water will remove many spots. However for those spots that will not move easily with water, you must use a spot cleaner. Select a spot cleaner that is recommended by the carpet manufacturer or your trained, certified professional cleaner. Most spot removers that are purchased over the counter leave too much soap residue and can cause yellowing. Avoid using foam carpet cleaners or any product that is not made specifically for carpet.

Apply spot cleaner sparingly to white terry cloth and gently massage spot causing it to transfer into the cloth. Never pour spot cleaner directly on carpet. If the product that you are using seems to cause the spot to re-soil over a few week period, discontinue use. Any spot that you are not able to remove, and for pet urine or feces, call your professional cleaner immediately.

5. Have Carpet Protector Re-Applied

Residential nylon stain resistant carpets are treated with stain resist properties and soil resistors known as Dupont Teflon or 3M Scotchgard. After a period of 2 to 3 years, some of the soil-resistor wears off. At that point you should consider having a professional carpet cleaner re-apply the treatment after professional cleaning. The soil resistor will help the soil slide off of the carpet easier when vacuuming, spots will be easier to remove, and professional cleaning will be more effective. Unprotected carpet soils faster, doesn’t last as long, and is prone to permanent staining.

Sure, you might pay less for a budget cleaner to come out and service your carpet, but are their cleaning systems CLEANING your floors, or is the work done merely a placebo? At Clean As A Whistle, we take pride in educating our clients about our services and what to expect when the cleaning van shows up at your door!

Our outstanding service includes a free consultation, where one of our Clean Trust-certified technicians will walk through the service area with you to determine areas of concern and potential problem areas, as well as giving an exact price estimate. We do not do exact estimates over the phone, because we can’t be precise without being present at the job site!

Residential Services

When cleaning a home, Clean As A Whistle will send out a cleaning van equipped with a truck-mounted system. These cleaning systems, truck-mounted hot water extraction systems (HWE), are specifically designed for hot water extraction cleaning of your carpet.

Hot water extraction systems are powered by the vehicles engine and provide professional-quality cleaning by delivering hot water and powerful vacuum suction to ensure thorough cleaning with minimal residue and leftover water. Your carpet will be thoroughly cleaned and dry within hours, not days. Your lifestyle will not be interrupted by our cleaning service.

In certain cases, the job site may not be accessible from the street where the truck is parked, which means that the truck-mounted hot water extraction system cannot be used. In this case, Clean As A Whistle employs high performance portable extraction (HPPE) to get the job done. Portable extraction employs a portable cleaning system powered by a typical wall socket to perform the hot water extraction.

When scheduling your service, you will be asked if the job is in an area where portable extraction is needed, and the correct equipment will be sent to the scheduled job.

Commercial Services

Our commercial services include both truck-mounted hot water extraction and high performance portable extraction. Additionally, we offer Encapuslation Technology, which is a low-moisture carpet cleaning technique. Encapsulation is a perfect choice for customers in high-traffic or large commercial settings with the need to clean their carpeted surfaces in an on-going manner. The results are nothing short of amazing and the costs are typically much lower than HWE or HPPE.

Encapsulation technology formulas release soil from carpet fiber, surround or encapsulate the soil, and finally upon drying form a non-sticky powder that can be easily removed with a vacuum. Encapsulation technology reduces the demand for water in the carpet cleaning process. With encapsulation technology there are not sticky detergent residues that require large amounts of rinse water to flush them out. Using less water reduces or eliminates discoloration caused by wicking. Encapsulation technology results in carpets that are cleaner and dramatically reduces re-soiling, extending the life of the carpet, improving indoor air quality and reducing labor costs (Taken from http://www.nclonline.com).

Not sure what is right for you? Give us a call at 713-784-4648 and we will schedule to correct service for your needs! Remember, our goal is to provide the most outstanding service experience ever!

Act Quickly! Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment, so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or or white paper toweling (no printing).

Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed. If the spot can be identified, locate the substance in the spot removal computer and follow the directions carefully.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth and work in gently.

Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not scrub! Blot in order to absorb as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill.

Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times. After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to accelerate drying time. For more detailed information on a specific spill, please search on the pull-down menu at right. Many fiber manufacturers provide a toll-free cleaning assistance and advice (consult your warranty).

Natural stone has seen a growth in popularity in homes and commercial buildings. Stone is characterized in that no two pieces of natural stone look alike. They can have variation in color and/or veining from tile to tile or slab to slab. For this reason, the beauty and individuality that stone can bring a room or area is highly sought after.

But many misconceptions about this beautiful natural product do remain, especially in the area of maintenance. What are they?

• Limestone is similar to marble in that it is sensitive to acids and household cleaners containing chelating agents. It varies in hardness and sometimes will have fossil imprints
• Marble is softer and more porous than most stone; it not only scratches easily, but also etches easily. Marble is sensitive to acids in many different food items (including citrus products, sodas, etc.) and the chelating agents in household cleaners.
• Travertine is limestone that has been formed by hot springs. Water movement caused erosion of the stone creating numerous holes of varying sizes. Travertine is similar to marble in that it can be polished, and is sensitive to acids and household cleaners with chelating agents.
• Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic stone usually black, gray or green. Slate is not acid sensitive but prolonged use of household cleaners with chelating agents can cause streaking and dullness.
• Granite is an extremely hard natural stone and is not as porous as other natural stones. Though not acid sensitive, prolonged use of household cleaners with chelating agents will cause streaking and can be a homeowner’s nightmare
• Terrazzo appears more uniform than most natural stones and is available in tile form or by a pouring application on the slab. Terrazzo is a mixture of Portland cement and marble chips; these chips can range in size from a fraction of an inch to as large as several inches.

Cleaning Processes vary from floor to floor, many variables include make-up, maintenance, soiling conditions, traffic, use, etc…

It is important to note, however, that cleaning agents not designed for natural stone can destroy your investment! This is why it is important to maintain your floor by mopping away dust and abrasive materials with a dust mop and water, avoiding dragging heavy furniture on the surface, and if needed invest in specially designed non-chelating natural stone cleaning solution.

It will save you the headache and money to protect your flooring investment!

The beauty and life of handmade rugs depend largely on cleanliness and care. Handmade rugs can last for centuries in good condition, give remarkably long service, and age beautifully with proper care. How can you ensure that your investment remains vibrant for many years to come?

Rotation
To insure even wear, your rug should be rotated at least once a year. This prevents uneven traffic wear and sunlight exposure. Rotation can also prevent permanent indention left by placing heavy furniture on the rug.

Vacuuming
Your rug needs to be vacuumed on a regular basis to prevent dust build up and musty odors. In most cases a regular vacuum cleaner can be used to go over the rug, however the fringe should only be gone over with a vacuum hose! Using a traditional vacuum on the fringe can damage the material!

Padding
A quality pad placed under your rug can prevent several problems. Without a pad, rug slippage is a problem on hard flooring. A pad will hold the rug in place and prevent injuries from falling. A pad also separates the rug from direct contact with the floor. This allows air currents easier movement through the fibers and prevents contact with dirt and dust that builds up on floor surfaces.

In-Plant Rug Cleaning is recommended for oriental rugs and loose woven rugs. They should not be cleaned on location like wall to wall carpet. Consult a Clean Trust certified firm for additional information on rug cleaning!