Carrara Companies Cleaning & Restoration Services Blog

Cleaning Services Tips for Selling Your Home

A down economy hurts sellers when trying to sell your home. Making your home more desirable to a buyer can make all the difference, as many buyers today are not looking for the fixer uppers. Historically, the buyer will paint and change flooring after purchasing a home, but by doing a few small things as a seller, you can make your home more marketable.

First, have a professional carpet cleaning company clean all the carpets. If you have ceramic tile get a professional clean on it too, since having clean floor may entice the buyer as they will not think about replacement.

Second, have neutral colors on the walls. This may mean painting, but in the end, the goal is to sell. Your taste may differ from others, and a buyer thinking they have to paint, may be overwhelming.

Third, have extra furniture removed, as minimal is all you need. If furniture causing clutter it will make the room look smaller, and by having less furniture, the room appears bigger.

Finally, the outside (siding, brick) and the inside of the home should be clean. The first impression of the buyer should be a good one, and by having the outside and inside of the home clean it will reflect a well maintained and cared for home.

The cost of doing these is inexpensive and may help move the home to close quicker.

Hot Water Extraction for Eco-friendly Carpet Cleaning

Today many people are looking for an Eco-friendly approach when cleaning their home. If this is something that you are striving for, why settle for anything less when it comes to having your carpets cleaned? With the many professional carpet cleaning companies in the industry there are numerous processes and even more types of chemicals that can be used.

What process is best?

Hot water extraction is the most utilized cleaning process in the carpet cleaning industry according to Cleanfax Magazine, the frontrunner cleaning magazine in the business.  Shaw Industries and Mohawk Industries, the two largest carpet manufactures in the world, recommend hot water extraction for the maintenance cleaning of carpet. Other processes include, but are not limited to, the application of moistened materials and chemicals to the carpet for vacuuming.

How can you determine if the process is environmentally friendly?

If the company is using hot water extraction and the water is hot enough, virtually no chemicals will be needed to clean the carpet. The water needs to reach at least 200°F to achieve optimal cleanliness. The extremely hot water penetrates the carpet fibers loosening the dirt, soil and grease while the vacuum extracts the dirty water.  Keep in mind, for every 15° increase in temperature the cleaning ability of the water doubles! Not all carpet cleaning companies can achieve this intense temperature level for cleaning and in turn, will revert to using chemicals on the carpet.

Consult your professional carpet cleaning company to find out what process they use to clean your carpets.

Carpet Cleaning Tips: Getting Popsicles and Kool-Aid Out of Carpets

The warm, sunny weather goes together with the classics: popsicles and Kool-Aid. Unfortunately, these two delicious treats tend to make a mess when spilled indoors. Remember these tips for your summertime spills:

• Pick up the dropped chunks of popsicle.
• Blot up the excess beverage, and never rub the affected area - this will cause the fibers to absorb the liquid and possibly spread.
• You will need a few drops of liquid dish detergent (without bleach), white towels, warm water, and an iron.
• Test a small inconspicuous area for colorfastness of carpet. This may not work on all carpet fibers. Contact your carpet manufacturer first before applying any chemicals/soaps to your carpet for cleaning.
• Mix a few drops of the dish liquid with warm water. Wet one towel with the mix and place it over the affected area. Put the dry towel on top of the wet one and gently use the hot iron on it. You will see the color pull into the wet towel. (repeat if necessary)

For best results contact a professional carpet cleaning company, and visit us here for more information.

Carpet Cleaning Tips: Pet Urine & Odor Removal

The family pet is one of Americans' most beloved family members. We celebrate their arrival and take them everywhere we go ... and mourn their passing when gone. The time in between is filled with good times and bad, including the house training phase. While some pets learn quickly, there are those who seem to take forever, and with it a tinkle on our carpets. Here are some carpet cleaning tips for getting out the odors and stains from pets.

• Primarily, avoid the old wives-tales methods for removing stains and odor. Some of them may damage the carpeting or flooring, and cause a greater expense.
• Pet urine, specifically cat urine, is the major troublemaker when it comes to stains and odor. First, try a natural enzymatic-based odor remover found in many pet stores. Pour the cleaner over the affected area and let sit for a long time. The longer soak time allows for maximum effectiveness.
• When urine dries, it crystallizes — which is the main issue with returning urine odor. Steam carpet cleaning will only remoisten the crystals and make the odor stronger. In some cases, the carpet and padding will have to be removed and replaced.
• If the urine has soaked into the sub-flooring, then it will have to be replaced as well. The wood or concrete is porous, and soaks up the urine like a sponge.
• Pets will usually return to the same spot repeatedly if not treated properly.
• Steam carpet cleaning is the best method for removing pet stains and odors. Professional carpet cleaners who use the hot water extraction method are your best bet. Informing them of the primary reasons for the carpet cleaning prior to beginning the work is advised, as they have their own special methods.
• If you must spot clean, use a natural cleaner and let it soak as long as possible. Never scrub the stain as it will only drive the contaminants deeper into the carpet.

Tips on Selecting Carpet Cleaning Companies

There are some spills, pet stains, tracked-in dirt, and/or other messes that just cannot be cleaned as a do-it-yourself job. Jumping on the Internet or skimming through the yellow pages becomes the next course of action when attempting to rid your carpet of those unsightly eyesores. When choosing carpet cleaning companies, here are some important tips to remember:

• Use caution if a company has not been in business for a long time or guarantees an advertised price for a certain area. Most of the franchise carpet cleaning companies will provide you with a quick estimate based on the description of the room, but they will not emphatically state what the price will be outright.
• The use of a brand name cleaning product does not guarantee affiliation with the product's manufacturer.
• Ensure the company is certified either by CRI and/or IICRC, as these organizations require ethical standards be held to use their certifications.
• If the company is not willing to provide a written estimate, or send a representative out to inspect the areas prior to cleaning, then they should be avoided at all costs.
• Ask what processes are used in carpet cleaning, and make sure they are backed by a guarantee.
• It may be best to move any important furniture or breakables yourself, prior to the process start.
• When the job is complete, ensure the final bill matches what was quoted. If any extra work was conducted, the project manager or representative present should have explained thoroughly prior to conducting the work.