Art of Clean

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

What are those black lines around the edge of my carpet?

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 – by Art of Clean

Have you started to notice black lines forming around the edge of your carpet? Do they seem to be appearing around radiators, under doors and in particular the airing cupboard? I'm sure you've tried numerous ways of cleaning, but whatever you do, it doesn't budge?

The black lines are a result of filtration soil. It is pollution that comes from dirty ductwork and settles on your carpet.

In the cleaning and flooring trade these black lines are referred to as draught marks or filtration soil and are caused by the movement of air passing through the carpet as it is attempting to get through the crack between the carpet and the baseboard. Air contains pollution and it has the amazing ability to find a way through into your home. The main reason is that hot air rises. Even where the carpet gripper pierces through the carpet backing the air will flow through and form black dots on the surface of the carpet.

No matter how clean your home is or how much you vacuum ... it still happens.

So what can be done to stop the black marks around the edge, and sometimes even in the middle of the room?

Unfortunately, because most homes aren't 100% airtight, there is naturally a gap between the flooring and the walls, with the air moving between these gaps. The carpet, then acts like air filtration, trapping the solid particles. To try and stop the airflow, with any flooring installation the sub-floor will need to be fit for purpose. One way around this is to lift up the carpet and lay thick sheet of card, overlapping them and sticking them down with tap, and then around the edge of the seal the edge with mastic or caulk. If your sub-floor is made from pine it is better to lay sheets of plastic down and seal the edges. Once you have sealed the floor properly you will then be able to lay your carpet.

So what can be done if the marks are already there?

Once you have addressed the problem of drafts, you can then ask a professional carpet cleaning company to clean the carpets, although 100% removal cannot be guaranteed and the marks will return after time.

What Can I do myself?

Take care! As you will unlikely have the equipment to thoroughly rinse the cleaning solutions you will use out after the cleaning attempts. You can easily make it much worse.
It's like washing your hair and not rinsing the soap out. The soapy residue will just attract the dirt and pollution in the air much faster and before you know it the problem got much worse.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in:

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning

Leather Furniture Cleaning,

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Monday, 16 March 2015

Seven Simple, Time-Saving Cleaning Tips for Every Home

Monday, March 16, 2015 – by Art of Clean

Cleaning is not on anyone's list of fun activities, but everyone wants a clean home. Below are seven simple cleaning tips the will trim time from of your cleaning schedule.

Clean Your Baseboards with Dryer Sheets

Wiping your baseboards with dryer sheets will remove dust and make the room smell like freshly cleaned laundry.

Microwave Your Kitchen Sponge

Germs consider sponges paradise, but not for long. Make sure there is enough water in your sponge so it doesn't dry out, place it inside the microwave, and run on high for one to two minutes. Microwaving the sponge kills nearly 99 percent of the bacteria ensuring you're not spreading harmful germs when using it. This technique only works with sponges that do not contain metal. Be careful when taking the sponge out because it's hot.

Bubble Clean Your Cooktop

Cleaning spills that dry onto your cooking surface takes old-fashioned elbow grease unless you let science do the work. First, coat the stain with a layer of baking soda. Next, carefully sprinkle hydrogen peroxide onto the baking soda. The chemicals react creating bubbles that attack the crusted food so you don't have to. Once the reaction subsides, wipe the surface with the sponge you just microwaved.

Remove Grease From Your Furniture

Inevitably, grease from a hamburger or pizza might find its way onto your favorite recliner. Grab the cornstarch from your pantry and cover the stain. Wait an hour and vacuum the area then repeat as needed. Cornstarch is very absorbent and soaks up the grease without damaging your furniture.

Keep Your Toilet Bowl Shiny

Reveal the porcelain's shine by pouring one cup of baking soda into your toilet bowl after you've given it a good scrubbing. Let the baking soda work for about an hour and flush.

Clean Appliance Control Boards

Seams on appliance control boards will accumulate dirt and grease. Ranges and microwaves in particular are prone to this because of their many knobs and buttons. To get at those hard to reach areas, use a wooden food skewer; think shish kabobs, to clean the sides of buttons, door seams, and edges of the control board on your appliances. Be sure to never use a metal skewer so as not to scratch the appliance's surface.

Clean Your Dishwasher With Tang

Enjoyed by many as a beverage, it's not just for drinking. Tang's citrus flavor is caused in part by citric acid. Like any acid, it reacts with certain materials causing them to break down. While citric acid is safe to consume, it's not safe for the minerals and detergent that build up inside a dishwasher. Once a month, throw one cup of Tang into the basin of your dishwasher and run it using a heavy-duty cycle without any dishes inside. The citric acid not only cleans the tub, it also rids the dishwasher's pipework of unwanted build up.

By using the simple tips above, you'll spend less time cleaning and more time adding to your fun activities list.

Source: http://houseware.answers.com/cleaning/seven-simple-time-saving-cleaning-tips-for-every-home