Carpet Cleaning Conversations

How having your carpet and furniture professionally cleaned can improve your health

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:50:32 GMT

What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

With so many people working from home along with having children at home doing remote learning chances are you are spending 90% of your time at home... indoors.

That is a huge amount of time to be shut inside even in the most comfortable spaces! Is it possible that the root of your allergy issues can be found in your own home?

When we think about air pollution, most of us think of car emissions, smoke from fires, and pollution from industrial factories. We are all aware of the link between breathing polluted air and increased respiratory symptoms, but what most people are not aware of is that indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. Indoor air pollutants are the leading causes of asthma and breathing problems.

Understanding and controlling common indoor pollutants can help reduce the risk of indoor health concerns. Dust mites, mold and pet urine can cause you to have specific allergic reactions. Fortunately, you can remove these things from your home and improve your health by having your carpets and furniture professionally cleaned.

Many factors contribute to indoor air pollution. The air in our home is heavily contaminated with particles such as pollen, food, dust mites, bacteria, and dead skin cells. All these pollutants get trapped around the home in items such as fabrics, linen, and carpets and can cause serious health problems, especially for children, the elderly and those already at risk of respiratory conditions.

These particles float around the air in your home and seriously aggravate allergies, irritate your throat, eyes, and nose, as well as weaken your immune system leading to further cold and cases of flu while leaving you feeling lethargic.

What are the benefits of having a clean carpet in your home?

It makes sense that most particles end up on the floor, those that do not find a home on a shelf or a ledge of some kind. A clean and well-maintained carpet can trap allergens and particles in its fibers to prevent them from escaping into the air and being inhaled.

Carpets act as air filters to trap dust, pollen, and potentially dangerous particles to improve indoor air quality and overall breathing. All sounds great, right? Sure, but like all filters, it would need emptying at some stage.

A professional carpet cleaning does just that. A clean carpet is the foundation of a cozy, comfortable home. However, a badly kept carpet can be the cause of untold health issues. Regular carpet cleaning, aside from improving the appearance of your home and extending the life of your carpets & rugs, has many health benefits, which include:

Carpet Cleaning Can Prevent and Reduce Dust Mites

After just a few days, you will notice a thin layer of dust on your furniture. Not only is this unsightly, but it also contributes to your allergies—in many ways. Dust is made up of the dead skin that you, your family members, and your pets naturally shed, is the main source of nutrients for dust mites.

The dust mites themselves do not pose a threat to your health; however, their fecal matter does. Each individual dust mite produces about 20 droppings a day. When you consider that there can be thousands (½ teaspoon of dust can hold 20,000 dust mites) of dust mites living in your furniture and your carpet on any given day, you can see how dust and dust mites threaten your well being.

Allergic reactions to dust and dust mites include :

Difficulty breathing (asthma)
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itchy skin
Runny nose
Watery eyes

Dusting regularly can reduce the number of dust mites in your home; however, just like dust is eventually inevitable, so too are dust mites. Having your carpet and furniture professionally cleaned exterminates the dust mites and cleans up the remains.

Carpet Cleaning Reduces odors

Whether you cook a lot, have children or pets, smoke or live nearby sources of 0dors, they are always a potential problem in the household. Bad smells do have a very unpleasant effect on your mood, thoughts, and behavior.

Unpleasant odors can leave you uncharacteristically, grumpy or irritable. Smells can be absorbed into your carpet and released when walking on them.

Carpet Cleaning Removes Mildew from Unattended Spills

Spills on your carpet and furniture are common. Typically, when spills occur, you are there to see it and take immediate action. However, there are times that you might not notice that a spill has occurred or that you may be cleaning spills up incorrectly. Eventually this excess moisture can eventually become mold. The carpet itself can disguise these dangerous bacteria pools and cause you to get sick without even realizing the source of your illness.

What to do?

Normal vacuuming is rarely enough as it only removes loose dirt from the top layer of your carpets, to obtain the health benefits from having a carpet you should both vacuum and have your carpets cleaned and treated by a professional cleaner. Call today for a quote 413-323-7568 .

Do it yourself stain removal techniques for carpets

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 21:28:45 GMT

Other than buying all-purpose stain removers that claim to clean everything under the sun there are plenty of everyday items you have around the house you can use or mix, to clean spills and accidents. You just need to know what to use on what type of stain. Also, some commercial spot removers take off the protective coatings or break down dyes that are found on most carpets, but the remedies listed here do not.

There are certain stain removal techniques that are important to know when cleaning your own spots and stains from your carpet. Not all stains are alike and that means no single cleaner will work on all of them. If you know what made the stain you can create the proper stain remover designed to clean that specific spot. Let’s start with the basics and then move into more specifics based on what the stain is.

For liquid spills you want to blot do not rub. Trying to rub out a stain just pushes the spill into the pile and can also cause the spill to spread. Instead, blot up liquid spills by covering the area with a clean towel or a thick pad of paper towels. Press down with the heel of your hand or fingertips or even the heel of your foot. Repeat using new dry towels until all the liquid has been absorbed. If the spill has a very large amount of liquid, use a wet-dry vacuum (if available) to remove most of the material before blotting.

One of the most versatile do it yourself cleaners would simply be soapy water. You can mix your own spot-cleaning solution by diluting a few drops of preferably clear dish washing soap or laundry detergent in water. Dish detergent is good at breaking down food off your dishes and will also be good for cleaning food stains off your carpet. Laundry detergent likewise is good for breaking down dirt and grime off your clothes so that would be your go to for dirt and grime on your carpet. Use up to 1 teaspoon per cup of water. It’s best to start with less detergent. If you start with ¼ teaspoon you can always add in increments of ¼ teaspoon. My philosophy as a professional cleaner is to use as few chemicals as possible. In the cleaning industry more is not always better. You can leave too much residue behind and that can cause a new spot to return over time.

Rinsing after cleaning is an important step to eliminate a returning spot. To remove over the counter spot-cleaning solutions, home made soapy water solutions or some of the solutions I’ll mention later, you want to spray the area you cleaned with a light mist of plain water then blot with dry paper towels. Repeating these two steps of spraying with plain water and blotting one or two more times should draw most of the cleaner out of your carpet.

A final step for DIY would be to apply one last light spray of plain water and cover with a pad of about 10 white (no colors or prints they can bleed dyes into your carpet) paper towels. Put as heavy a weight as you can find to put on top and leave several hours or even over night. The water and any residue still there will wick into the paper towels.

Now for some specific stains and how to clean with everyday products you may have around the house. Let's just do it.

Stain Type: Organic Stains like blood, berries, coffee, gravy, chocolate, and ice cream

First thing to do is scrape up any excess with a spoon. It is important to get as much off the carpet as soon as possible. Next blot, NOT scrub, with paper towels. This will assure that you have absorbed all the excess material. Then mix ¼ tsp. Of CLEAR dish or laundry detergent with 1 cup WARM water with a spray bottle or damp sponge. Be sure to use sparingly. The biggest mistake even professional carpet cleaners make is to use too many chemicals. This will only contribute to the spot reappearing at a later time. Let the mixture sit on the carpet for at least five minutes and then blot with paper towels. Repeat this step as necessary.

Next, apply some plain water and place a thick pad of paper towels with a very heavy weight on top. This will absorb the remainder of any stain or chemical left behind. If there is still a slight stain you can use some 3 % hydrogen peroxide. There are 2 ways you can apply. One dab the hydrogen peroxide with a towel and then dab the spot. Or put the hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and saturate the stained area. Leave it on the carpet for an hour and repeat a 2nd time if necessary.

The last step is spray some plain water on the spot and wet it fairly well without over saturating. Cover with a wad of 10 or more plain paper towels (no prints). Place a heavy weight on top and let stand for several hours or over night.

Stain Type: Mud

I f there is a large amount of mud scoop up the excess with a large serving spoon, then allow to dry. When fully dry break off pieces and vacuum thoroughly. This should take off most if not all the dried dirt. Believe it or not you’re better off waiting until it’s dry rather than fighting with it when wet. Our first instinct is to get it right away and usually that IS the correct thing to do... except with mud. After vacuuming if there is still some stain left spray lightly with soapy water. Mix of 1/4 teaspoon of CLEAR laundry detergent and a cup of warm water in a spray bottle. After spraying lightly with the detergent mixture blot with paper towels. If the spot is transferring to the towels just keep rotating new towels until it no longer is coming up. If the spot is not completely gone repeat the spray and blot process as needed.

Stain Type: Alkaline such as urine.

We love our pets. Even the best of pets eventually has an accident. A urinary infection, old age or maybe we didn't get home in time to let them out. Pet accidents are the most commonly requested service for my customers to call. A one time accident or infrequent small accidents can be cleaned without needing a professional. A large dog with a full bladder is best handled by a professional. For smaller issues white vinegar has many uses as a cleaner. That will be a topic for a future blog. One such use is for urine from dogs and cats. But there is a timeline on whether to use vinegar or soapy water. Urine is acidic when it first comes out of the body but within 30 minutes it becomes very alkaline. There is a science to carpet stain cleaning as I mentioned earlier. The more you know the science the better chance you have of success. What works best on an acidic spot is different than what you would use on an alkaline.

If you are cleaning the urine within 30 minutes of seeing your pet pee on the carpet you can use the soapy water method. Blot up the spill with paper towels. Press down with the heel of your hand or fingertips or even the weight of your foot. Repeat using new dry towels until all the liquid has been absorbed. If the spill has a very large amount of liquid, use a wet-dry vacuum or small extractor(if available) to remove most of the material before blotting. Then mix 1/4 teaspoon of CLEAR laundry detergent and a cup of warm water in a spray bottle. After spraying lightly with the detergent mixture blot with paper towels. If the spot is transferring to the towels just keep rotating new towels until it no longer is coming up.

If you notice the spot beyond 30 minutes vinegar would be best. Mix the white vinegar equally with water. 1 cup vinegar to 1 cup water and spray the affected area. Blot with paper towels. If stain persists, repeat until spot is gone.

Stain Type: Acidic. Ketchup, cough syrup, mixed drinks, soy sauce

Ammonia is another common household cleaner you may readily have around the house that can serve many purposes. It is an alkali cleaner that can neutralize acidic spills. It is safe to use on synthetic carpets and fabrics but should never be used on wool. Like some other cleaning agents, it can destroy wool fibers. And you also want to avoid breathing the fumes as ammonia can be somewhat toxic. Use in a well-ventilated area. In this time of Covid-19 everyone has masks of some kind so using a mask would also be helpful. Use the same procedures as described in previously by blotting liquids or scraping off solids with a spoon or knife. Mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia with ½ cup water in a spray bottle that has been rinsed thoroughly and spray top has been rinsed as well. Blot the area with a white terrycloth towel or white (not printed) paper towels. Rinse by spraying plain water and blotting again. If the stain persists you can spray with soapy water as described in the procedure for organic stains above. Blot the area again with towels and then rinse again with plain water. At this point it would be ok to gently scrub the stain with a towel. You never want to scrub first or you will spread the stain but after spraying and blotting several times a gentle rub might be what is needed. If the stain continues to persist you can use hydrogen peroxide also described in the procedure for organic stains above.

Stain Type: Tar, Grease, Crayon, Hand Lotion and Makeup

There are several cleaners you may have around the house. A good place to start is rubbing alcohol. It’s a mild “dry cleaner” If you are looking for alternatives to commercial solvents this would be a good first step. As with all previous types of stains you want to scrape and blot as much as possible from the carpet first. You can use full strength no need to dilute. Apply the alcohol to a towel or cotton ball. Press hard and blot. Continue the process on a clean area of towel or clean cotton ball. Be patient this may take several applications. Do not scrub the area at this point or you are sure to spread the stain and make more work for yourself. Ask me how I know. We learn by our mistakes. 32 years in business has taught me a lot. Once you’re certain you will not spread the stain it would be ok to apply some more alcohol to the towel add some pressure and scrub out the remaining stain.

Grease and tar etc are petroleum-based stains and therefore are not receptive to soapy water etc because they are not water soluble. If the rubbing alcohol doesn’t work, there are several citrus based solvents you could pick up at your local hardware or big box store

Stain Type: Toilet Bowl Cleaners, Bleach, Acne Medications, Mustard, Lye Based Drain Cleaners, Plant Fertilizers, Iodine, Permanent Marker

I'm sorry to say your stain is permanent. There are stains and then there are STAINS. There are spots that sit on top of your carpet such as the ones that have been mentioned and more to come. Then there are stains that either take the color OUT of your carpet or put permanent color INTO your carpet. There is nothing a cleaner can do to help either of those conditions. But your carpet isn’t necessarily a lost cause yet. A professional carpet installer may be able to take a piece of carpet from a closet or other area that will not be noticed and patch the area. Or if possible, you could rearrange your furniture to cover the area or maybe an inexpensive area rug could cover the affected area. If none of those are feasible or acceptable to you and you can’t live with a permanent stain your only alternative is new carpet.

Stain Type: Wax

There is something very special about candlelight. A romantic dinner or ambiance in a room. My wife and I enjoy both. If I could give one piece of advice find a manufacturer that sells white candles rather than colored candles. We enjoy some scented candles at times, and we’ve found that our scented candles do not need to have color in them. Color filled candles are much more difficult to clean out of a carpet.

Because candle wax is hot the carpet fiber expands. Then it cools and the fiber contracts making it more difficult to pull the color out. If you have a colored carpet similar to the candle color this may not be as noticeable but if you own a white carpet you might want to hire a professional cleaner to do this. The best procedure for DIY would be to scrape as much up as possible with a butter knife or spoon. Be careful not to cut or fray the fibers. Here is where many people would say to use a brown paper bag but I have never had success that way. And it is possible to melt the fibers. Get a white terrycloth towel and wet it down by soaking it in water. Wring it out so it is still wet but only damp/wet. Spray the carpet also with warm water so it it damp. You want wet heat not dry heat. Dry heat will melt the carpet fibers. Take the towel and fold it in half and place it on the wax. Take a steam iron with the proper amount of water in it and set it to steam. Place the iron on the towel and make sure none of the iron directly touches the carpet. Press steam and hold the iron on the towel for approx. 20 seconds. If all the wax is not completely removed, you can move the towel slightly or refold it to a clean area. Make sure it is still damp/wet and repeat. If there are multiple spots or one that is too big for the size of your iron just re wet the towel and fold it to a clean area and repeat.

I want to emphasize again to keep the towel damp/wet and never touch the iron directly on the carpet.

Stain Type: Nail Polish

Nail polish is very tricky and success will depend on how much polish is spilled. A whole bottle spilled out and hardened will be impossible even for the most skilled professional cleaner. A few drops or small smear and you might be able to skillfully and patiently remove it. If it’s still wet and it hasn’t sunk into the carpet you may be able to spoon it off gently (IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEST NAIL POLISH REMOVER ON AN INCONSPICUOUS AREA FIRST BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS PROCEDURE) . Dab on non-oily nail-polish remover with a cotton ball or cotton swab. Again, blotting is almost always the first and most important step in spot cleaning any spill. Press the cotton ball gently straight down for a couple seconds. Pull up and look. If it is still there apply some more nail polish remover to a clean cotton ball or swab and repeat. If the remover is coming up into the cotton ball just keep repeating the process. Blot and repeat until it is gone. If the polish is gone but there is still color in the carpet you can use hydrogen peroxide as discussed in the previous paragraphs. Dab the hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball and then blot the spot. If that doesn’t work put the hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and saturate the stained area. Be careful not to over spray the area or over wet with the peroxide. Leave it on the carpet for an hour. Then rinse with plain water and blot with paper towels. Then use wad of towels and a heavy weight to wick the residue out of the carpet..

Some final thoughts

Now that you have some tools at your disposal I would like to leave you with advice from 32 years in the carpet cleaning business.

One. More is not better. By that I mean if the directions call for a teaspoon then 2 teaspoons must be better right? No it is not. Using too much cleaner will not clean better and will likely leave too much residue behind. What that does is create a dirt spot over time. I hear it all the time. A customer says they cleaned a spot only to have it come back later. They repeat the cleaning and the spot returns again. One customer said she cleaned a small spot the size of a half dollar and it kept coming back. She wanted me to try so it wouldn't come back. When I got there her spot had grown to the size of a basketball.. Each time she cleaned it she over sprayed a slightly larger area. This is natural. But each time she cleaned it she put more chemical down. Creating the conditions for the spot to come back. Spot cleaning 101 is "less is more"

Two. You need to know when to quit. This is a lesson I learned early on in my business. As a young idealistic cleaner I was determined never to be defeated by soil and stains. I learned I can never be undefeated. I have a very high winning percentage but I have learned that sometimes "noticeably better" is the best alternative. Trying too hard can actually make it worse.

Three. Patience is key. Don't skip steps. Each one is important. Always test what you are about to do in an inconspicuous area. Follow the directions and the final step of rinsing and covering with paper towels and a heavy weight will help keep from having too much residue create a dirt spot later.

Things you should know about carpet cleaning

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 03:47:36 GMT

Most stains should be removed in the general cleaning process.

Some stains that contain tannin's, dyes, acids or caustics may not come out in the general cleaning process and may require specialized stain removal treatment. Unfortunately, some stains cannot be removed from carpet no matter what chemicals or cleaning processes are used. Not all carpet cleaning services are the same. The results of a carpet cleaning service depend on the skill of the technician, the time taken, and the chemicals and equipment used. The 'wet-sheep' smell that occurs when cleaning wool carpet is primarily caused by an off gas from the natural sulfur in wool when wool gets wet. This is natural and dissipates when the carpet dries.

Stain Protection

Carpet cleaning does not remove the stain protection applied to carpets by the manufacturer or your carpet cleaner. Wear and tear is the primary reason stain protection coatings break down. It is sometimes best to have a carpet protector applied to the traffic areas on your carpet before your stain protector reaches the end of the warranty period to maintain stain protection. It’s not needed when your carpet is still relatively new. But over time and heavy use the traffic areas can benefit from an added treatment.

Final Step

Carpets should be groomed after cleaning to ensure that they dry quickly and that the pile sits in the same direction (not falling to the side).

Beware of cleaners who will not Warranty their work

Carpet cleaners are legally required to warrant their workmanship. If you are not happy with the carpet cleaning service provided, call the carpet cleaning company and they should offer to return to re-clean the carpet free of charge. If your carpet cleaner does not return to re-clean your carpet, call the Consumer Protection Agency in Massachusetts , or if you are not in Massachusetts you can call the Federal Bureau of Consumer Protection .

Regularly Clean your Carpets

Regularly cleaned carpets last longer and look better than carpets that are rarely cleaned. Cleaning helps remove the abrasive soils in your carpet pile that wear away at the carpet fibers when the carpet is walked on.

Beware of “discount” carpet cleaners

Discount pros depend on making volume sales rather than establishing ongoing client relationships. They typically spray soap on your carpet, suck up the water and are gone in 30 minutes. These services leave behind a soap residue that will actually attract dirt to your carpet. Those “three rooms for 50 bucks” offers also get them into your house so they can sell you high-priced add-ons like spot removal and deodorizers—services that quality pros include for free.

You get what you pay for

Quality pros charge according to the type of carpeting, the services you need and the size of the job. The entire process can take one to three hours.

Vacuum often

To protect your carpet, vacuum entrance areas and high-traffic areas twice a week and the rest of the carpeting at least weekly. Oily soils attract oily soils, and frequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup.

Start with a clean bag or filter

A dirty bag, dirt cup or filter can cut a vacuum’s suction power in half. The main reason bag-less vacuums stop working is that the filters aren’t changed often enough.

Vacuum at the right speed

Vacuum slowly enough to get out as much dirt as possible. Make one quick pass over low-traffic areas and two slow passes over high-traffic areas. Two slow passes remove ground-in dirt more effectively than several fast passes.

Clean the carpet before it becomes really dirty

How often your carpet needs cleaning depends on the kind of carpet traffic you have (think kids and pets). Clean the carpet when the color starts looking dull. If you wait until the carpet is filthy, cleaning it will be much more difficult, take much longer and cost more.

Vacuum well before and after cleaning

You can have a positive effect on the quality of a professional cleaning by vacuuming beforehand to remove large particles of soil. Vacuum again after it’s cleaned and the carpet is completely dry to pick up soil that wicks to the surface during drying.

Here’s your sign

It might be time for you to clean your carpets if you have one or more of the following issues:

It hasn't been cleaned in over a year. When was the last time you had your carpets cleaned? When it comes to carpet cleaning, a general rule is that it should be professionally cleaned at least once a year. If it’s been longer than a year, you should definitely contact a carpet cleaning service, especially if you have pets or small children running around. Regular cleanings will extend the lifespan of your carpet, make day-to-day maintenance easier, and improve your home’s overall appearance.
You're Having Allergy Problems. If you’ve noticed that your indoor allergies have gotten worse, you might be due for a professional carpet cleaning. Carpets collect a lot of dust, dirt, pet dander, and other allergens, even if you’re vacuuming them regularly. The slightest movement — like sitting on or walking across the carpet — can disturb these allergens and send them into the air, where they can circulate for several hours before settling back down again. To get rid of some of this build up and improve your allergy symptoms, you should get your carpets cleaned as soon as possible.
It’s Looking Dull Or Dirty. When you look at and walk across your carpet every day, you get used to the way it looks. You might not think your carpet looks bad, but a furniture test can let you know how dull or dirty it really is. Move a piece of furniture that hasn’t been moved in a while, and take a look at the carpet underneath. Does it look lighter, fluffier, and cleaner, especially compared to the carpet surrounding it? Professional cleaning can help get all the dirt out of your carpet and lift it back up again so that it looks considerably better!
It’s Stained. There are some types of stains, including pet stains and ink stains, that you will definitely need a professional’s help to remove. Sometimes soap and water just won’t cut it.

There are also some things to look for that would indicate that you should replace your carpet rather than cleaning it

Is it permanently stained?

Professional carpet cleaners are great at getting out tough stains. However, if a stain goes deeper than the carpet itself, it can be difficult to fully remove it. As a professional I’ve been able to clean many stains even some of the ones I mention below. Call me at Air Fresh Cleaning Systems 413-323-7568 and I can give you a better explanation of what I can and cannot clean.

Bleach, plant food, tea, wine, and mustard all leave very difficult-to-remove stains. Sometimes, these stains are made worse by homeowners who try to take care of them themselves with DIY remedies or store-bought products.

Biological stains — pet urine, feces, vomit — can also cause mold and mildew to build up under the carpet if they’re not treated properly. Mold can cause health hazards, so if you have “multiple” biological stains on your carpet, it’s better to be safe and just completely replace it. Again, depending on the severity of these stains they might well be cleanable, but I would need to know more specifics before I can say one way or another. The key would be “multiple” stains would indicate whether to clean or replace.

Too much wear and tear.

While some carpets look just like new after a good cleaning, rips, and tears will still be there after the carpet dries.

If you’re covering up damage with rugs and furniture, it’s probably time to get new carpet. Small defects can sometimes be repaired, but large rips are a different story, especially if they’re located on stairs or in high-traffic areas.

When you’re replacing your carpet, choose nylon over polyester. Nylon is more resilient and responds better to carpet cleaning.

A permanent smell.

Carpet odors often go away after a professional cleaning, but some are too tough for even the most skilled cleaners to eliminate. If you still notice it lingering, the odor may have penetrated too deep into the carpet fibers, carpet pad, or sub-floor. Repeated pet urination that soaks through to the sub floor is the most glaring example here. I can clean the urine out of the carpet itself but if it’s in the pad and sub floor replacing is the best option. It’s usually more cost-effective to just replace the carpet at this point, instead of trying to fully get rid of the areas that are causing the odor.

Padding that is worn out.

If the pad under the carpet is in bad shape, it won’t matter how nice and clean the carpet itself is.

Padding makes your carpet comfortable to walk and lay on buffers sound and improves insulation. However, it also absorbs spills and is a lot harder to clean than the carpet above it.

If your padding is old, it’s probably contributing to lingering odors in your home. Signs of old padding include unevenness, wrinkles, and a crinkling sound when it’s walked across.

It’s just plain old.

Old carpet does not always clean very well, no matter how hard you try. Carpet tends to lose its texture after about 8 to 10 years, even if it’s been properly cared for. If the carpet in your house is older than that, or if it’s full of ripples and wrinkles, you should look into investing in new carpet.

If you have questions about whether to clean or replace, or whether a stain is cleanable or not call Air Fresh Cleaning Systems at 413-323-7568 or contact us and we'll will be happy to answer any questions.

How does a Carpet Cleaner use Baking Soda?

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 14:45:52 GMT

Baking Soda has lots of applications, just not on your carpets.

Recently I posted a blog with reasons why you should not use baking soda on your carpets . Today's post will center on the many uses of baking soda that are far better than clogging up your vacuum and causing your carpets to get dirty quicker by using it on your carpets.

You might be surprised to know there are health benefits in addition to some of the everyday uses you may already have heard about.

Sodium bicarbonate can regulate pH

Sodium bicarbonate, the “official” term for baking soda, helps regulate pH. If baking soda mixes with either an acid or an alkaline substance it has a neutralizing effect on it.

Baking soda is perfect for neutralizing acidic odors and maintaining a neutral pH which is perfect for doing things like boosting your laundry detergent’s power. It also has a gentle abrasive ability to help scrub. In a nutshell, the uses for baking soda are many: It deodorizes, neutralizes, and cleans all without the toxic mess of most commercial products.

Every day uses for Baking Soda

1. Clean dirty fruit and veg with baking soda.

Put some on a damp sponge, scrub your produce and rinse.

2. Give hairbrushes a clean
Soak hairbrushes and combs in a mixture of 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a small amount of warm water. Rinse and dry.

3. Use baking soda to scrub your BBQ grill
Keep your grill clean all summer long by putting some baking soda on a damp brush, scrubbing the grate, then rinsing.

4. Get whiter, brighter clothes with baking soda
Add 1 small cup of baking of soda to a load of laundry (along with your regular liquid detergent) to get clothes cleaner and brighter.

5. Remove stubborn food stains from pans
Remove baked-on residue by shaking a generous amount of baking soda on pots and pans. Then add hot water and dish detergent, let sit for 15 minutes and wash as usual.

6. Give floors a shine with baking soda
To brighten a dull floor finish, dissolve 3 to 4 ounces baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse for a shiny floor.

7. Make a natural homemade bathroom cleaner
Make your own bathroom scrub by mixing a couple ounces baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add vinegar to give it a thick, creamy texture.

8. Clean appliances with baking soda
Clean the dishwasher and coffeemaker by running an empty cycle with baking soda. You can also do this with vinegar.

9. Make a DIY spa treatment at home
Add 3 to 4 ounces baking soda to your bath for an at-home spa treatment .

10. Polish tarnished silver with baking soda
To shine tarnished silver, combine three parts with one part water. Rub onto silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry.

11. Keep litter box smells at bay with baking soda
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda in the cat box, then add litter on top to keep smells to a minimum.

12. Exfoliate your skin with baking soda
Exfoliate your skin with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Apply gently with your fingertips in a circular motion, then rinse.

13. Keep the toilet white and clean
To clean a toilet add 2oz baking soda to the bowl, swirl, then scrub.

14. Make a homemade hair treatment
Mix a little baking soda into your conditioner and lather on your hair to keep it healthy and resistant to split ends.

15. Kill garden weeds naturally with baking soda
Discourage weeds by sprinkling baking soda into the cracks on your driveway and walkways.

16. Clean your toothbrush with baking soda
Soak toothbrushes in a mixture of 2oz baking soda and 1/4 pint) water; let brushes stand overnight for a thorough cleaning.

17. Clean the microwave with baking soda
Put baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

18. Make a fluffy omelet with baking soda?
Can you make a fluffier omelet? Jeff Potter from Cooking for Geeks has some interesting thoughts on this.

19. Make marvelous mouthwash with baking soda
Gargle with bicarb to freshen your breath and keep your teeth healthy.

20. Get rid of dandruff
Lay off the shampoo for a few weeks and massage your wet scalp with a handful of baking soda instead.

21. Ice-proof your driveway with baking soda
Scatter it on icy paths and driveways, it’s not as corrosive as salt.

22. Make a cheap bath soak
Add 2oz of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration, it also makes your skin feel very soft.

23. Unblock drains with bicarbonate of soda
Pour in 4oz baking soda followed by 4 fl oz hot vinegar to quickly unclog the kitchen drain.

24. Stop bins smelling with baking soda
Sprinkle on the bottom of your bin to keep stinky smells at bay.

25. Whiten your teeth naturally
Mix baking soda, strawberries and lemon juice together for a natural whitening agent. Combine the ingredients and use to brush your teeth.

26. Whiten yellow nails with baking soda
Leaving nail polish on too long can leave nails looking yellow. Get rid of stains by mixing baking soda and a very small amount of peroxide and scrubbing it on your nails.

27. Keep windshields clear with baking soda
Wipe a damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda onto your windshield to repel rain.

28. Make a natural face mask
Avoid spot breakouts by making your own facemask. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Splash your face with warm water then apply the mask liberally. Once dry gently wipe of with a warm wet flannel.

9. Clean Tupperware and other food containers with baking soda
If storing too many packed lunches, pasta sauces or curries has left your plastic food boxes looking discolored and grimy - once again, it's baking soda to the rescue! Sprinkle a clean sponge with baking soda and give them a bit of elbow grease.

30. Clean your kitchen with baking soda
From worktops to the fridge, the sink and even your cooking utensils, you can clean the whole kitchen naturally with a mixture of baking soda and warm water.

31. Clean your sponges for reuse
If your cleaning sponges are a bit sad or smelly, leave them to soak in warm water and baking soda and give them a good rinse through in the morning.

32. Clean a pet bed with baking soda
If your dog or cat bed is a bit smelly, sprinkle it with baking soda, let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it up.

33. Stop shoes smelling with bicarb
Sprinkle baking soda into stinky trainers - and even your whole gym bag - and leave it. Just tap it out when you next need to use them.

34. Make your own shampoo
Many swear by the simplicity of baking soda as shampoo that’s finished off with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. Learn more about ‘ No Pooing Method '.

Health Benefits of Baking Soda

DISCLAIMER: Air Fresh Cleaning Systems, and its partners assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content and claims of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. We are not medical professionals and you should seek the advice and treatment from a trained medical professional before applying any treatment you find here or anywhere on the internet.

In addition to all those wonderful every day uses for baking soda there are many health benefits to think about as well. The above list shows many ways you can eliminate chemicals from your life in cleaning, deodorizing, tooth brushing and even shampooing. If you are chemically sensitive these ideas are almost lifesaving. But even if you aren’t chemically sensitive, you’re probably still looking for ways to minimize your exposure to chemicals. Below are some imaginative ways to use baking soda for better health without having to go to the pharmacy.

1. Treat Heartburn
Heartburn is also known as acid reflux. It is a painful, burning sensation that rises in the upper region of your stomach and can spread up into your throat. It is caused by acid refluxing out of the stomach and up your esophagus, the tube that connects your stomach to your mouth. A few common causes of reflux are overeating, stress and eating greasy or spicy foods. Baking soda can help treat heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drink the mixture slowly.

2. Mouthwash
Mouthwash is a great addition to a good oral hygiene routine. It reaches corners of your mouth and crevices of your teeth, gums and tongue that may be missed during brushing. Many use baking soda as a replacement for mouthwash. It can help freshen your breath and provides antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. The recipe for baking soda mouthwash is simple. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to half a glass of warm water, and then swish as usual.

3. Soothe Canker Sores
Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that can form inside your mouth. Unlike cold sores, canker sores do not form on the lips and aren’t contagious. Research has found that baking soda mouthwash is great for soothing pain caused by canker sores. You can make baking soda mouthwash using the recipe in the above. Rinse your mouth with this mixture once a day until the canker sore heals.

4. Whiten Your Teeth
Baking soda is a popular home remedy for whitening teeth. Many studies have found that toothpaste containing baking soda is better for whitening teeth and removing plaque than toothpaste without baking soda. This is likely because baking soda has mild abrasive properties that let it break the bonds of molecules that stain the teeth. It also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help fight harmful bacteria.

5. Deodorant
Surprisingly, human sweat is odorless. Sweat only gains an odor after it is broken down by bacteria in your armpits. These bacteria convert your sweat into acidic waste products that give sweat its odor. Baking soda can eliminate the smell of sweat by making the odors less acidic. Try patting baking soda onto your armpits and you may notice the difference.

6. May Improve Exercise Performance
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a popular supplement among athletes. Some studies show that baking soda can help you perform at your peak for longer, especially during anaerobic exercises like high-intensity training and sprinting. During high-intensity exercise, your muscle cells start producing lactic acid, which is responsible for the burning feeling you get during exercise. Lactic acid also lowers the pH inside your cells, which may cause your muscles to tire. Baking soda has a high pH, which may help delay fatigue, allowing you to exercise at your peak for longer. For example, one study found that people who took baking soda exercised for an average of 4.5 minutes longer than people who didn’t take baking soda.

7. Relieve Itchy Skin and Sunburns
A baking soda bath is often recommended to soothe itchy skin. These baths are especially effective at soothing itches from bug bites and bee stings. Additionally, baking soda may help soothe itching from sunburns. It seems more effective when combined with other ingredients like cornstarch and oatmeal. To make a baking soda bath, add 1–2 cups of baking soda to a lukewarm bath. Make sure the affected area is soaked thoroughly. For more specific areas, you can create a paste with baking soda and a bit of water. Apply a thick layer of paste to the affected area.

8. May Treat Calluses
Calluses are hard, rough patches of skin that are caused by longtime friction or pressure. Activities that typically cause calluses are frequent walking, gardening or sports. While calluses aren’t necessarily serious, they can cause pain and discomfort when applying pressure. Interestingly, studies have found that soaking calluses in a baking soda bath may help soften them, remove any scales and reduce discomfort.

9. May Slow the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) slowly lose function of their kidneys. The kidneys are incredibly important because they help remove excess waste and water from the blood. At the same time, they help balance important minerals like potassium, sodium and calcium. Research shows that baking soda may help slow the progression of CKD. In a study including 134 adults with CKD, it was found that those taking sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) supplements were 36% less likely to rapidly develop kidney failure than people who did not take the supplements.

10. May Improve Certain Cancer Treatments
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. It is often treated with chemotherapy, which works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. Normally, cancer cells grow and divide at a rapid rate. Some research shows that baking soda could help chemotherapy medicines work more effectively. Baking soda may make the environment for tumors less acidic, which benefits chemotherapy treatments. However, the evidence is limited to preliminary indications from animal and cell studies, so more human-based research is needed. I am not a doctor and you should always consult with one before you make any decisions on self-treatment of any disease or helth related illness.

11. Air Freshener
I’ve posted about green room deodorizers previously. Not all commercial air fresheners eliminate bad odors. Instead, some simply release fragrance molecules that mask bad smells. In addition, fewer than 10% of air fresheners tell you what they contain. This can be problematic if you are sensitive to chemicals that may be found in them. Baking soda is an excellent and safe alternative to commercial air fresheners. It interacts with odor particles and neutralizes them, rather than masking them.

To create a baking soda air freshener, you will need:

A small jar
1/3 cup baking soda
10–15 drops of your favorite essential oils
A piece of cloth or paper
String or ribbon

Add the baking soda and essential oils to the jar. Cover it with the cloth or paper, and then secure it in place with the string. Poke some holes in the cloth or paper. When the scent starts to fade, give the jar a shake.

Conclusion

We are chemicals. Our friends are chemicals. Our babies are chemicals. The air we breathe contain chemicals. The food we consume are chemicals that are digested by chemicals that turn them into more chemicals. The word chemical is not a bad word nor are all chemicals bad. But we ARE being exposed to chemicals that are not good for us.

The focus of my business, Air Fresh Cleaning Systems , and some of my blogs are to offer alternatives so that we can all reduce our use of and exposure to chemicals that are not good for us.

I hope you find this blog helpful and if you have any thoughts about this post I welcome your feedback.

DIY Eco-Friendly Room Deodorizers: The Ultimate Guide

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 17:38:21 GMT

Best options for DIY room deodorization. These easy, green ideas are a breath of fresh air!

Smells are everywhere in our home, and sometimes they aren't too fresh. What do you do with a kitchen that reeks of fish and garlic? Or a bathroom that doesn't smell like a bouquet of roses? As a matter of fact if you can smell something that means you are breathing trace elements of what is causing the odor. Kinda brings new meaning to those bathroom smells no?

Before reaching for an air freshener that may contain potentially harmful ingredients to you and the planet (and yes, even some of the so-called "natural" air fresheners are a concern as well), take a deep breath and consider using a do-it-yourself, green alternative.

Here are the top green air freshener ideas and recipes that are easy, cost-friendly, effective, and use simple ingredients often found in your kitchen pantry. A few may require a trip to the store, but they are worth it to battle unpleasant odors and keep your home smelling fresh.

Aromatherapy Diffuser

Diffusing essential oils , many of which have antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties, will help not just freshen the air, but purify it as well. Simply boil a pot of water, take it off the heat, and add a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon or eucalyptus. The scent of the oils will infuse the whole room. Also, consider investing in a candle, electric, car, or light ring diffuser.

Dried Herbal Potpourri

Create a pleasing potpourri with a blend of beautiful dried flowers, fragrant herbs, and essential oils that are sure to fragrance any room. Discover the secrets in by reading up on how to make herbal potpourri .

Pomander Balls

Get creative and discover the fun in making this age-old, room freshening technique of hanging cured, dried oranges studded with cloves. Orange pomanders can also be hung in the pantry or closet as pest deterrents due to the chemical constituents in the clove buds.

Simmering Potpourri

This air freshening idea has long been used by real estate agents, holiday celebrators, and cooks to freshen the whole house with an uplifting, spicy-citrus scent and to combat cooking odors such as fish and onions. As the essential oils are released from the citrus and spices, their antiseptic properties will naturally disinfect the air, and recipes are simple.

A simmering potpourri is an easy homemade air freshener. Bring a small pot of water to a gentle simmer and add any combination of the following to the water: citrus peels, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, a cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon. Allow the potpourri to simmer for an hour or longer, adding water as necessary.

Vinegar

Zap bacteria and disinfect the air naturally with vinegar. Fill an empty spray bottle with one part white vinegar to four parts water and spritz it into the air to freshen any room. Alternatively, place a bowl of vinegar in the kitchen to remove cooking smells. You can even use the simmering method above by putting one part vinegar to 4 parts water in a pan and simmer on the stove.

Dried Citrus Wheels

The easiest option ever is to make your own dried citrus wheels . It’s really as simple as thinly slicing a bunch of citrus fruits, baking them at a low temperature and then placing them wherever you’d like to freshen up. Your house will smell incredible as they bake, and you can grind the wheels and use them in salt and sugar scrubs, too. Win-win!

Make Your Own Spray Recipe’s Using Essential Oils

Here are a few ideas and recipe’s for room air fresheners you can make and put in your own spray bottles. At the bottom of this list are several recipe’s for all natural air fresheners for your car. Car fresheners are probably the worst of all due to the strength of the smells and the small enclosed area you cohabitate with the toxicity of the chemicals.

Lemon-Basil

This air freshener has a fresh and clean scent, perfect for a light and bright home. Lemon essential oil is said to nourish the skin while the basil balances with its earthy tones.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 or 6 leaves of fresh basil
5 drops lemon essential oil

Tea Tree Eucalyptus

With its herb-like aroma, tea tree essential oil mixed with eucalyptus produces an invigorating scent. The mix also acts as a natural deodorizer for fresh, clean air!

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
4 drops tea tree oil
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

Lavender Chamomile

Relaxing and sweet, this aroma is best to help you wind down after a long day. Spray it on your pillow before bedtime for instant relaxation.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops chamomile essential oil

Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lime

Room spray with citrusy notes can provide the opposite effect. Spray this in the morning when you are gearing up for your day for a refreshing boost.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
3 drops grapefruit essential oil
3 drops tangerine essential oil
3 drops lime essential oil

Orange Rose

This combination is romantic and revitalizing, great for a soft, feminine atmosphere or anyone who needs a mood boost.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
7 drops of orange essential oil
7 drops of rose essential oil

Citrus Lavender

Calming yet rejuvenating, this room spray has the best of both worlds. Spray it before your big meeting or interview to relax and awaken your mind.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of orange essential oil
5 drops of tangerine essential oil

Invigorating Mint

Just like the name says, the peppermint in this air freshener will open your eyes and get you ready to greet the day. Spray it in the mornings or any time you need a little pick-me-up.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
7 drops of orange essential oil
7 drops of peppermint essential oil

Sandalwood

The masculine scent of sandalwood mixed with the earthy tones in the tea tree oil make this a lovely scent for your man cave. The lemon adds a hint of brightness to the concoction.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 drops of sandalwood essential oil
5 drops of tea tree oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

Pure and Simple

This simple, classic scent feels refreshing and clean. Spray it on your fresh linens!

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops lavender
5 drops rosemary

Healing Herbs

Eucalyptus and tea tree oil are known for their healing properties, and this freshener has an earthy scent perfect for your zen space.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
7 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil

All Natural Car Fresheners

Felt and Herb Air Freshener One method that is circling the internet is using felt.

What You Need:

Felt
Scissors
Hole punch
Essential oil of choice
Yarn or string

Directions:

Cut the felt into the size and shape that you want.
Punch a hole toward the top of it for the yarn.
Place 10 drops or so of essential oils of your choice onto the felt. It will absorb them after a few seconds.
Put the yarn through the hole and hang in your vehicle.

**A Variation on this is to cut out two identical pieces of felt and sew them together, leaving a small hole to squeeze a cotton ball into. Then drip a few drops of essential oils onto the cotton ball and close. To reload, sprinkle on the felt and it will soak through into the cotton ball.

Conclusion

There are certainly way too many chemicals in our personal environments. The fact that something smells nice doesn’t mean it is good or healthy. There are many healthy alternatives to room, air and car deodorizers as well as cleaning solutions. I hope this was helpful. Feel free to comment or leave feedback .

Room Deodorizers Helpful or Harmful?

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 12:49:18 GMT

Let's discuss the positives and negatives of room deodorizers.

First, you need to know that there are several different types of deodorant bases. Water based, solvent based, and natural based deodorizers sold on the retail market today. If you’re asking yourself “why does it matter” then your exactly who needs to read this. All because it smells good, does not mean it’s good for you!

So before we get going here, it’s important to read the label when purchasing any of these products. There is one problem though! Deodorant manufacturers are not mandated to put the ingredients on the bottle like food companies must do. When you purchase a bottle of peanut butter it tells you the exact ingredients such as (peanuts, oil & salt). This is not typical for a bottle of room deodorizer, but there are some that do. The ingredients are typically things such as:

Fragrance
Stabilizers
Corrosion Inhibitors
Propellants

This is an example of some basic ingredients in a bottle of air deodorizer. But again, the ingredients are not broken down for you to read & understand on most chemical products. Typically, there is a CAUTION & WARNING LABEL in case of an emergency needing medical attention, but not the specifics on the product ingredients.

Let’s get to the point

We are not saying that all air deodorizers are bad for you…not the case! For example, there are many natural air deodorizers sold in stores today such as Citrus Orange that are not harmful at all. This product is as simple as it gets using ingredients such as concentrated oils extracted from fresh oranges to remove odors instantly. This product is also NON-AERSOL, no manmade chemicals or heavy perfumes.

As I often tell customers about our all-natural cleaning solutions there’s an important difference between smelling a fragrance made from a real orange or some chemicals that make you think your smelling an orange. There are air deodorizers that chemically create the fragrance you like that have potential health risks . Once sprayed, those products contain a mixture of chemicals that are released into your breathing space. Some of these chemicals could affect your health, especially people who are sensitive to chemicals or smells.

Do they clean the air?

Air deodorizers do not CLEAN the air…they add fragrance…a chemical or mixture of them. Consumers that have asthma, allergies or breathing disorders can be affected by chemicals such as solvents or toxic propellants. Even if you don’t have those afflictions it’s unhealthy. When spraying toxic chemicals into the air, you are making the air quality worse…not better!

It’s really just common sense, but not everyone thinks about the health risks of something that seems so harmless. Either way, there are many natural products that work very well and are safe such as natural (already discussed) and some water-based air deodorizers. As mentioned, some manufacturers DO list the ingredients on the bottle and that’s what you want to look for. This way your family and friends (including our furry friends) can breathe fresh clean air without harmful contaminants.

In my next post I’ll discuss some DIY natural ways to deodorize your home and carpet .

Carpet Cleaning Fine Print

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:56:58 GMT

Are you looking for carpet cleaning "specials"? Be careful, there are a TON of scams out there.

Read the fine print

Evaluate Carpet Cleaning "Specials" before you agree to someone coming to your home. Don't be fooled by deceptive advertising. Ask the right questions

Carpet cleaning for$9.95 per room!
3 rooms for $59.95!
Whole house for $99.95!

Sound too good to be true?

Yeah it probably is!

If you're thinking of accepting one of these so called carpet cleaning 'specials'... here are some questions you might want to ask :

Are there restrictions on the size of the rooms? What constitutes a room or area? Don't wait until someone is in your home and half finished before you find out your room sizes do NOT qualify for the special. Three rooms can easily become six rooms if the maximum size is 10x10 or 12x12. Is a hall considered a room? Stairs? Walk in closet? They all can cause the price of your cleaning to rise very quickly. As a matter of fact they are designed to double the price when the technician gets to your home. It's better to know some of these things BEFORE they get there.
Is there a service charge for travel? It's not uncommon to find travel charges to all areas added to the bottom of the invoice that you were not told about. If you were expecting 3 rooms for $59.95 and there was a $50 or $75 service charge for travel added after the fact you will not be getting what you expected. 3 rooms for $135 instead of $59.95 is a not what you were expecting.
Do you move furniture? This may also be an extra charge. Extra charges added on to a special price for services that most cleaners do as part of the standard cost is deceptive. The special price may not include what the technician decides is too heavily soiled to clean for the special price. Spot cleaning might be extra. The special may only cover a light cleaning. If you want a thorough cleaning, that's extra. With carpet cleaning specials do not assume anything.
If you are interested in deodorization or scotch guard it's important to find out beforehand what it will cost. And how is it applied? Squirt bottle or pressure sprayer? If it's being applied to your carpets with a squirt bottle and not a pressure sprayer it's not being applied with enough solution to give you any soil and stain protection. Some carpet cleaners say they apply the protection or deodorization for free. In this business free means the application is usually free of actual soil and stain protection.
Do not be afraid to ask for references. A reputable cleaner will have plenty and will be happy to supply you with as many as you need. And in today's digital world online reviews are the best place to find references.
Lastly, and this applies to any advertisement. Read the fine print to make sure the special applies to you.

Have a question? We can help.

There are some very reputable and honest cleaners out there. Sadly there are many who are not. Getting answers to these questions will help you find the right one for you.

If you have any questions about this or any other topic related to carpet and upholstery cleaning you can call us at 413-323-7568 .

The Right Way to Remove Odors from your Home

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:30:26 GMT

The most common odors we are asked to eliminate are urine , vomit , feces or mold and mildew . The simple act of cleaning the carpets or upholstery will not always be enough.

Urine from pets requires much more than cleaning. If you have ever had a pet you know that sooner or later you will have an accident. Try as you might to clean and treat it, inevitably there is an odor left behind. As light as it might be, on humid or rainy days it can become almost unbearable.

There are several techniques used by carpet cleaners to solve the problem with varying degrees of success.

Spray with Fragrance

One such technique is to spray the affected area with fragrances. This will cover up the odor for a short time, maybe a day or two but it does not eliminate the odor.

Spray with Disinfectant

The next technique is to spray a disinfectant on the affected area. This works better than fragrances for things like mold and mildew odors but is not a permanent solution for urine odors or other organic odors like feces or vomit. Sanitizers and disinfectants create an envelope around the problem to lock the odor in, but the envelope will eventually break down thus allowing the odor to return.

The main reason urine odors are so pervasive is urine salts. Water in the urine evaporates but the salts remain. In winter months with our heating systems on humidity levels drop considerably. Urine salts basically go dormant not unlike mold and mildew during times of low humidity and dry air. But much like mold and mildew as spring approaches and warmer temps eliminate the need for heat and the rainy season begins to saturate the air with humidity or in mid-summer when temps and humidity rises to extreme levels so does mold and mildew and those nasty urine odors.

The Right Method

The method used at Air Fresh Cleaning Systems eliminates the odor because it eliminates the source of the odor by biodegrading it naturally. When you biodegrade the urine salts left in the carpet or upholstery after the water evaporates, you remove the source of the odor. Eliminate the source of the odor and you eliminate the odor permanently.

Our urine odor removal process can be used for all organic odors. Urine, feces, vomit, I’ve even used it for skunk odors brought into the home by pets who were sprayed and then tried to remove the skunk smell themselves by rolling around on the carpet and rubbing against the furniture.

The best part about doing it this way is it is permanent and not just a cover up.

What’s better, dry cleaning or wet cleaning your carpets?

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 22:57:21 GMT

Are your carpets wet and soapy after being cleaned?

Ever had your carpet cleaned and it turned into a swamp? I was at a customer recently who told me a story about having a national carpet cleaning company (who shall remain nameless) clean her carpets and the next day it was like walking on a wet soapy sponge. I hear those stories all the time. If you have a story feel free to share it here.

What options do I have?

There are alternatives to traditional truck mounted steam cleaning... which is not steam but hot water. When done right with state of the art equipment in the hands of a highly trained technician for the right circumstance hot water extraction (steam) works fine. Unfortunately there is a lot of very old equipment out there in the hands of ill equipped technicians. Having said that you might think I believe dry cleaning is best. Not the case. Each cleaning method has strengths and weaknesses. Each has its place. Both work really well at what they do best. And not so well in some circumstances.

This is one of the truly great advantages of being a sole proprietor of a small local business opposed to a national chain or franchise operator. I get to control the quality, service and what cleaning method will work best for you. In most cases we use 95% LESS water which leaves your carpets dry in 2-3 hours or in some cases much faster. With all natural environmentally friendly cleaning solutions they are safe for people, pets and the environment. But on those occasions where steam is called for I have the equipment and expertise to change to what will work best for you.

Custom carpet cleaning

Most carpet cleaners are locked into one method. They may even be convinced they have the best method. And… sometimes… they’re right. But not every time. I tell my customers all the time if there was one absolute best method all the time in every situation there would not be any other carpet cleaning methods. No one would purposely want to be second best right? So while I say there is no one best carpet cleaning method to clean carpets, there IS one that’s best for YOUR carpets. I just don’t know for sure which it is until you schedule a call and I see it.

Environmental Impact of Carpeting

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 21:43:17 GMT

Is carpet safe for the environment?

When considering the environmental impact of your flooring decisions here are some things to consider about carpet as a possible choice.

Carpet Is A Sustainable Choice

The carpet industry is minimizing carpet’s impact on the environment through the “3 Rs” – reduce, reuse and recycle. When carpet reaches the end of its long life, it is reused to make new carpet or is recycled into a variety of products, ranging from roofing shingles and railroad ties to automotive parts. There are avenues for you to recycle in order to reuse your replaced carpets.

The industry supports NSF/ANSI 140, the Sustainability Assessment for Carpet. Intended for commercial, hospitality, designers, facility managers, and government purchasers who want to ensure their purchases have the best sustainability performance adhere to NSF/ANSI 140.

Take Extra CARE

Environmental stewardship can also be seen through the work of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). With over 400 industry members,CARE has helped divert nearly 3 billion pounds of carpet from landfills since the group organized in 2002. That's not an insignificant progress.

A well maintained carpet is also a better choice for indoor air quality. New carpet is the lowest VOC-emitting flooring choice available. And it actually acts as a passive air filter, trapping dust, pollen and other particles and removing them from your breathing zone. Studies have shown that people with asthma and allergy problems have seen symptoms improve with carpet, although this point comes with a caveat. The less you vacuum and clean your carpet the less benefit you will see. If you never vacuum and never professionally clean there will come a point where the carpet will become unhealthy for allergies and asthma.

There is so much information around it's difficult for people who want to be environmentally responsible to make their decisions. In most cases it's not a clear cut no brainer. Most times it's more of a trade off. Whatever way you go I hope I can simply add to your knowledge base in order for you to make the best choice for you.

As it is with our choice to use all natural biodegradable non toxic chemicals if there is information available to our customers about the carpets we clean that is helpful to them in making their carpet choices we want to help. You don't have to want your carpets cleaned in order to call us. We happily take the time to answer questions. Feel free to call 413-323-7568 or visit our contact us page to request a quote or call back.

Are you looking for sustainable, eco-friendly flooring? Tell us more about your search in the comments below.

What You Should Know Before You Buy Carpet

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 19:33:15 GMT

You’ve decided on buying new carpet, but you want to shop smart. You already know how carpet is made and the difference between carpet styles, but what else is there to know before you buy? Lots. Here are some buying carpet tips to give you the upper hand on what will soon be under your feet!

Carpet Seams

Unless your room is narrower than 15 feet, you’re going to have seams. Most carpet comes in widths of 12 feet and 15 feet — and on occasion, 13 feet. The degree of visibility of your seams depends on the texture and color you choose, as well as the lighting and furniture placement in your room. And be sure to ask your supplier before the installation as to where the seams will be. They have choices as to where those will go. If you don’t like where they expect to put them you should have the final say.

Quality

Let’s face it. You get what you pay for. If you want your carpet to have a great pile density and tighter twist construction (which leads to improved durability and longer life), then you’re going to want to go with a higher quality (and more expensive) product. New carpet adds value to any home, so it’s an investment worth making. Tufts per square inch is a good question to ask in order to determine the quality of your carpet. The more tufts per inch the better your carpet will feel and longer it will last. Density rules.

Color

Carpet covers a large part of any room, so it’s vital that you consider some basic rules when selecting its color. First off, know that once your carpet is installed, it’s going to look lighter in color than the sample you saw in the store. Don’t ask us why, that’s just the way it is — it’s kinda like losing a sock in the dryer. Next, recognize that color can affect the apparent size of a room. Lighter carpet makes a room look larger and darker colors make a room look smaller and more intimate. I know this out of experience cleaning carpets in a hotel. The room carpets came in two colors. One style room was dark green and the other light mauve. When cleaning the rooms I was so sure they were different sizes I asked the general manager why in the world would they build a hotel with different size rooms on the same floor? He said they didn’t. They were the same size.

If you like to redecorate often or plan to move soon, go neutral. It’s much easier to imagine furniture in a room that is decorated with neutral colors.

Stains

It’s going to happen, no matter how long you hold out from sipping wine or munching on chips and salsa in your freshly carpeted room. Stain protection is an important consideration when buying carpet. Products come with various levels of protection and warranties. As the quality of a carpet increases, so does its stain protection level and warranty coverage. The longer the warranty the higher the quality of carpet and by extension the stain protection.

Carpet Pad

Padding or cushion is the layer of spongy material between carpet and floor. It’s the padding — not the carpet — that determines whether the carpet feels good or great under your feet. Choosing a higher quality padding can help preserve a carpet’s look and can extend its life and comfort by providing tougher protection against wear and tear.

With padding and carpet density is the key. Don’t be fooled by thickness alone. A ¼ inch pad with higher density is better than a ½ inch pad that’s less dense. Just as carpet density is an important question to ask padding density is one you want to answer. You can even buy a less dense or less expensive carpet but use a high density pad and it will have the feel of a higher quality carpet.

Warranty

Carpet manufacturers know their product a lot better than you do. A 5 year warranty carpet will last… well… 5 years. A 20 year warranty will last 20 years. There are exceptions. If you don’t vacuum or clean up spills and have 2 dogs and a cat all bets are off. On the flip side if you vacuum frequently, clean up your spills and have the carpet professionally cleaned once every 12-18 months you can outlive your warranty many years over.

Why you should NOT use baking soda on your carpets.

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 20:04:12 GMT

Originally posted on https://aqualuxcarpetcleaning.com/tips/disadvantages-using-baking-soda-carpets/

Baking soda can be nature’s deodorizer for your smelly carpets but it can also be harmful to your vacuums and carpets. You hear all the great things about baking soda and its power to remove odors. You think that baking soda would be a great product to pour on your carpets to get rid of odors in your carpets as most consumers do. It makes total sense doesn’t it?

Most cases it will absorb the odor but do you know what it leaves behind? Baking soda absorbs the odor and wetness and adheres to the fibers and backing of the carpets. Once it is in your carpet fibers and backing, it will stay for a very long time. No matter how much you vacuum your home, you cannot remove this product completely. It will stay with you until you replace your carpets and padding.

Reasons not to use baking soda to clean carpets:

Reason #1

The particles of baking soda are so small, that a portion of the product remains in the carpet fiber or sifts beneath the rug and padding to the floor below (never to be recovered!) If you use baking soda and one day rip up your carpeting, you’ll see a surprising amount of its residue left behind! You will be amazed how much your vacuums do not do the trick.

Due to the small particle size of baking soda or freshener product, these can clog the pores of your vacuum’s bag or HEPA filter. This can drastically reduce suction resulting in poor cleaning performance and cause clogs to form. Even worse, this dust can escape the filtration system in which your vacuum’s motor and eventually short out. Baking soda will make odor stay in your carpets and not remove them like you think.

Reason #2

Even professional carpet cleaners with the most powerful equipment might not get rid of the baking soda disaster in your carpets. It literally goes from the backing of your carpets to the slab of your flooring. If you must use baking soda, use it in moderation. Do not over saturate the odor area by pouring too much, a little goes a long way.

Remember to leave the more serious odor and stains to the professionals that can remove the stains and odor out of your carpets completely without any residue left on your carpets. This is the most important lesson we can give you before making your carpets worse before a professional cleaning. What you put on your carpets can affect your cleaning process and you must always be honest with your p rofessional carpet cleaner before they start their work.

Conclusion

Honesty is the best policy if you want your carpet cleaning to be the best experience you can have with the best results as well. These are a few tips on disadvantages of using baking soda on your carpets.

Hopefully this has been helpful. Please let us know in the comments or reach out to us if you have any questions.

What makes a good carpet?

Fri, 25 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

There are thousands of different varieties you can choose to customize your home décor. When it comes to getting your carpets professionally cleaned there are particular brands and types that are much easier to clean and other types that you might have to “baby”. There are four main types of broadloom carpet which include Nylon (approximately 60%), Olefin (approximately 30%), Wool (approximately 1%), and Polyester (approximately 10%). Nylon, Olefin, and Polyester are all synthetic fibers, and Wool is the only natural fiber. For heavy traffic areas, Nylon is a very durable fiber. Nylon provides great resilience, is a breeze to clean, offers a wide array of colors and designs, and is relatively colorfast. Some disadvantages of Nylon are that it’s the easiest synthetic fiber to stain (carpet protection is beneficial for this fiber). Also, Nylon will partially loose its color when in contact with chlorine or bleach. Nylon is best for high traffic areas like the stairs or the living room.

Olefin is a little weaker in structure when compared to Nylon, but Olefin does have its positive attributes. Olefin tends to be pretty chemically resistant, which means it can withstand the use of some heavy-duty cleaning products. Also, Olefin is water resilient, and holds up to the colorfast test. Some of the disadvantages of Olefin include that it is attracted to oily soils; it has a short life because it degrades much quicker than Nylon. This explains its lower cost. Olefin is most likely a better choice where there is a lot of moisture in your home, like the area around a bathroom or swimming pool (But remember it’s not best to put carpet in high moisture areas because of the increased chances of mold growth).

Next, Polyester is the lesser of the synthetic fiber market, but it still proves to be a good choice. Many people enjoy polyester because of the softness, it’s because of this reason that it’s used in many clothing, and upholstered items. Polyester also is colorfast, naturally stain resistant, and semi-resistant to chemicals and household bleaches. Polyester is a wise choice for low-traffic areas, like the bedroom.

Now, Wool is probably the most expensive fiber being that is a natural occurring fiber. Wool has a very long life and it wears great. More positive features of Wool include it is moisture repellent, it is fire and flame resistant, it can come in a wide spectrum of colors, and it gives warmth to an area. Some disadvantages of Wool are its price, certain stain removal can prove to be quite difficult, and it is sensitive to harsh chemicals (it will dissolve in chlorine bleach). This natural fiber is great for any room in your home, but pricing is obviously a concern. And if your choice is based on environmental concerns wool is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable.

Deciding on a carpet for your home is a major decision. It’s so important that you do a thorough research, and find the best possible carpet that will suit your needs. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to make your floors look great, shop smart and be creative!

What are the effects of dirty upholstery?

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Many of the side effects of dirty upholstery are due to bacteria growth over time.

The bacteria are caused by spilling beverages or food on furniture. Other forms of contamination are from pet dander, dust, dust mites, mold and mildew, and just daily use. These issues will continue to get worse if not treated and can cause health problems (such as common cold and allergens).

Allergies

Many people have allergy issues year-round from high levels of pollen. Pollen is similar to the same type of allergy issues a dirty chair or sofa can cause. These symptoms can often be decreased dramatically by having your carpet and upholstery cleaned. Removal of dust particles that reside on the furniture will ensure a healthier indoor environment.

Materials

When cleaning upholstery it’s important to know the type material being cleaned. If not, you run the risk of permanently damaging the fabric. Our technicians are trained to recognize the way each type of fabric should be cleaned in order to ensure the process achieves results safely! We also test all fabric before cleaning.

Pets

Upholstery is a prime example of “dust collectors” that need an essential cleaning periodically. When pets are allowed on the furniture they easily can create a mess of stains, dander, and pet hair. Also, pets can leave unpleasant odors that latch onto fabrics. To eliminate pet odor from your upholstery, bacteria needs to be flushed from the fabric. After a round of effective steam cleaning, your furniture will look, feel and smell sparkling new!

Conclusion

Best of all, our custom cleaning solutions are fabric... people...pet... and environmentally safe! These products will not damage or fade your fabric and leave no chemical residue or odor. We use high-powered extraction equipment to remove the toughest stains and odor. Our process is the most recommended way to clean upholstery safely with no adverse effects. This ensures a cleaner, healthier indoor environment. With an added bonus of being green and safe ecologically as well.

What's the Right Carpet Fiber For Your Home?

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Carpet is one of the most important elements in decorating your home. It can help create a comfortable atmosphere and enhance your home furnishings. Nothing compares to the soft luxurious feeling under your feet as well as protecting you from a fall. It does require more maintenance than tile, wood or vinyl flooring but nothing compares to the sound absorption of a good quality carpet. Carpeting is the third largest investment the average homeowner makes. In years past, a carpet was considered a decorative addition. Now it’s one of the basic building materials that help determine the home value. There are many considerations in choosing the perfect carpet fiber for your home.

Different Types of Fibers:

Nylon Man-made would be the best choice for heavy traffic. If you have a high traffic area, then nylon would be an ideal choice due to the durability. Nylon is stain resistant as well and repels mildew. Nylon is utilized in approximately 65% of the carpet sold in the U.S. It is a very durable fiber with excellent performance characteristics. Its strengths include good resiliency. Most nylon is treated with an anti-static treatment to reduce static. Continuous filament fibers minimize piling and shedding.

Polyester is another good carpet as it is easy to clean and repels water-based stains. Polyester fiber produces some of the most beautiful colorations available. Polyester is known for the look and feel of wool and it is non-allergenic, sheds moisture and resists moths and mildew at a lower cost than wool or nylon.

Wool the highest quality of carpet you can buy but also the most expensive. Although it is naturally stain resistant, it requires a high level of maintenance including moth-proofing. Most wool products manufactured in the U.S. have been permanently moth-proofed. While it’s still extremely popular for rugs, it accounts for less than 1% of the fiber used in carpet.

Polypropylene-(olefin) Carpet Fibers another synthetic carpet fiber its strengths include superior stain resistance, with the exception of oil-based stains, and low cost. Olefin makes up about 30 % of the fiber used in U.S. carpet manufacturing today.

Before you buy, make sure you are paying for density. Dig your fingers into the pile. If they reach the backing quickly, the carpet isn’t packed densely enough with fibers. Look for tight tuft twists. Lower-priced carpets will have loose tuft twists in the fibers. Carpet density ranges from 1000-7000. For homes you plan on living in for a while, you’ll want a density rating 2000 or greater. Carpets provide a comfortable place to sit, play or work and give a room an overall warmer feeling. Carpets will maintain its life and beauty for many years to come when you know how to choose the right fibers for your home.

Professionally Cleaned Carpets Can Improve Health

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Dirty carpets can harbor allergens

It’s that time of year again: Your allergies are going crazy! They’re likely due to all the changes in weather … but is it possible that the root of your allergy issues can be found in your own home? Dust mites, mildew and pet urine can cause you to have specific allergic reactions. Fortunately, you can remove these things from your home and improve your health by having your carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned.

Carpet Cleaning Can Prevent and Reduce Dust Mites

After just a few days, you will notice a thin layer of dust on your furniture. Not only is this unsightly, but it also contributes to your allergies—in more ways than one. Dust, made up of the dead skin that you, your family members and your pets naturally shed, is the main source of nutrients for dust mites. The dust mites themselves do not pose a threat to your health; however, their fecal matter does. Each individual dust mite produces about 20 droppings a day. When you consider that there can be thousands of dust mites living in your upholstery and your carpet on any given day, you can see how dust and dust mites threaten your well being.

Allergic reactions to dust and dust mites include:

Runny Nose
Sneezing
Watery Eyes
Itchy Skin, Nose and/or Eyes

Dusting regularly can reduce the number of dust mites in your home; however, just like dust is eventually inevitable, so too are dust mites. Having your carpet and upholstery professionally cleaned exterminates the dust mites and cleans up the remains.

Carpet Cleaning Removes Mildew from Unattended Spills

Spills on your carpet or upholstery are fairly common. Typically, when spills occur, you are there to witness it and immediately take action. However, there are times that you might not notice that a spill has occurred or that you may be cleaning spills up incorrectly. In the event that this happens, moisture builds up in the the carpet and festers over time. Eventually this excess moisture will become mildew or, in extreme cases, mold. The carpet itself can disguise these dangerous bacteria pools and cause you to get sick without even realizing the source of your illness.

Allergic reactions to mold and mildew include:

Respiratory Inflammation
Breathing Issues
Nasal Irritation
Itchy, Watery Eyes
Sore Throat
Dry Cough
Sinus Headaches

P rofessional carpet cleaning procedures can alleviate your mold- and mildew-induced allergies.

Carpet Cleaning Conversations

How having your carpet and furniture professionally cleaned can improve your health

What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

Do it yourself stain removal techniques for carpets

Stain Type: Organic Stains like blood, berries, coffee, gravy, chocolate, and ice cream

Stain Type: Mud

Stain Type: Alkaline such as urine.

Stain Type: Acidic. Ketchup, cough syrup, mixed drinks, soy sauce

Stain Type: Tar, Grease, Crayon, Hand Lotion and Makeup

Stain Type: Wax

Stain Type: Nail Polish

Some final thoughts

Things you should know about carpet cleaning

Most stains should be removed in the general cleaning process.

Stain Protection

Final Step

Beware of cleaners who will not Warranty their work

Regularly Clean your Carpets

Beware of “discount” carpet cleaners

You get what you pay for

Vacuum often

Start with a clean bag or filter

Vacuum at the right speed

Clean the carpet before it becomes really dirty

Vacuum well before and after cleaning

Here’s your sign

There are also some things to look for that would indicate that you should replace your carpet rather than cleaning it

Is it permanently stained?

Too much wear and tear.

A permanent smell.

Padding that is worn out.

It’s just plain old.

How does a Carpet Cleaner use Baking Soda?

Baking Soda has lots of applications, just not on your carpets.

Sodium bicarbonate can regulate pH

Every day uses for Baking Soda

Health Benefits of Baking Soda

Conclusion

DIY Eco-Friendly Room Deodorizers: The Ultimate Guide

Best options for DIY room deodorization. These easy, green ideas are a breath of fresh air!

Aromatherapy Diffuser

Dried Herbal Potpourri

Pomander Balls

Simmering Potpourri

Vinegar

Dried Citrus Wheels

Make Your Own Spray Recipe’s Using Essential Oils

Lemon-Basil

Tea Tree Eucalyptus

Lavender Chamomile

Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lime

Orange Rose

Citrus Lavender

Invigorating Mint

Sandalwood

Pure and Simple

Healing Herbs

All Natural Car Fresheners

Conclusion

Room Deodorizers Helpful or Harmful?

Let's discuss the positives and negatives of room deodorizers.

Let’s get to the point

Do they clean the air?

Carpet Cleaning Fine Print

Are you looking for carpet cleaning "specials"? Be careful, there are a TON of scams out there.

Read the fine print

Have a question? We can help.

The Right Way to Remove Odors from your Home

Spray with Fragrance

Spray with Disinfectant

The Right Method

What’s better, dry cleaning or wet cleaning your carpets?

Are your carpets wet and soapy after being cleaned?

What options do I have?

Custom carpet cleaning

Environmental Impact of Carpeting

Is carpet safe for the environment?

Carpet Is A Sustainable Choice

Take Extra CARE

What You Should Know Before You Buy Carpet

Stain Type: Acidic. Ketchup, cough syrup, mixed drinks, soy sauce