Carrara Companies Cleaning & Restoration Services Blog

Halloween Carpet Cleaning Nightmares – Make-Up

In addition to gum, candy, and chocolate, other "accidents" can be a nightmare to clean-up, especially on a nice white carpet.  Here is another carpet cleaning tip on getting rid of one of those other scary Halloween stains.

Remember: Carpets and rugs with natural fibers or dyes may require special treatment, and always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet manufacturer. If in doubt contact a cleaning professional for advice/service. Never use a circular motion when attempting to remove stains, as it can destroy the texture of the carpet.

Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.

Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth, white paper towel or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing as this will destroy the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Never us a circular motion to remove spot as this may destroy the texture. Stop if spot is removed. If not, go to the next step.

Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.

Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture. Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.

If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.

Halloween Carpet Cleaning Nightmares - Fake Blood

In addition to gum, candy, and chocolate, other "accidents" can be a nightmare to clean-up, especially on a nice white carpet.  Here is another carpet cleaning tip on getting rid of one of those other scary Halloween stains.

Remember: Carpets and rugs with natural fibers or dyes may require special treatment, and always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet manufacturer. If in doubt contact a cleaning professional for advice/service. Never use a circular motion when attempting to remove stains, as it can destroy the texture of the carpet.

Determining the chemicals in the fake blood will help you figure out the best method on removal. Remove as much of the fake blood as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife. Using an oxygen-based detergent solution, blot the affected area until it is covered. Avoid any detergents that contain bleach and/or lanolin. Rinse with a spray bottle containing water, blotting until you remove the stain.

If this does not completely remove the stain, you may need to moisten the area with a 3 percent hydrogen-peroxide solution. Let sit for an hour, and repeat as necessary. Light causes a chemical reaction with the peroxide so you do not have to rinse. Once the stain is removed, use a towel or paper towel to ensure the area is dry.

Another method is to pour a little club soda over the blood. Cover the fake blood in plenty of salt to absorb the stain. Wait one day & vacuum!

Carrara's Musketeers Visit Local Businesses

It is a fabulous time of year for many, and a favorite holiday for others. The time of year when we are supposed to dress up in our favorite scary costume or be behind a mask.

Carrara Companies will do it's part in spreading the Halloween spirit this year as well. Some of you may have  been paid a visit in years past, and this year be on the lookout for The Three Musketeers. Eric Schlaubach, Jim Dunphy, and Ed Duke will be visiting customers around the Northeast Ohio and Columbus areas.

Last year Eric and Jim, dressed as Batman & Two-Face, visited around thirty businesses and this year plan to visit even more. "Taking advantage of the holidays and bringing joy into our customers' normal work day is fulfilling. I think this year we may swing by a hospital and spend some time with the kids," says Eric.

 

Kitchen Fire Safety 101

Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires in the United States, causing more than 480 deaths per year and causing more than 900 million in property damage. Grease fires are the main culprits of home fires and if left alone your entire kitchen could go up in a matter of minutes.

In a case of an emergency, would you know how to handle a grease fire?

Here are the do's and don'ts

Do:

• Do use a dry chemical extinguisher (class ABC fires) which is design to put out a grease fire in seconds
• Do keep fire extinguisher readily accessible
• Do focus on putting the fire out at the base of the fire
• Do carefully put baking soda on the flames
• Do place a lid on the pan and turn off the heat
• Do leave the lid on, trying to remove the lid while still hot could restart the fire. 

Don't

• Don't leave food cooking on an unattended stove
• Don't disable a smoke alarm while cooking
• Don't use water to put out the flames, water could cause the flames to double in size instantly
• Don't throw on a wet towel.  This could cause grease to splatter causing more wide spread flames
• Don't use a water base extinguisher this will only intensify the flames

Other key points:

• Trying to remove the pan from the heat could result in bodily harm
• Studies show that 42 percent of people who have died in cooking fires were asleep.
• Remember, if the fire has already spread beyond the cooking pan, leave immediately and call 911 from a neighbor's house.