Cleaning carpet after radiator leak

 Winter is almost here, radiators are on, and.....oh....the radiators are leaking!

We had two radiator leaks to clean up last week.  Both had leaked near the flow valve, this is often an indication of a worn seal.  Old seals will eventually wear, especially after a long summer without the radiators being used the seals can dry out and crack.

It is important to work quickly when you notice a leak form the radiator. The water is often quite old and will stain the carpet, the less time you give it to penetrate the carpet fibers the more successful the stain removal will be.  Use of a  good carpet spot cleaning solution can help with remove the stain. Have a look at our website for our professional Carpet Clean and Spot remover.

Another issue is the quantity of water, a few drips are quite easily removed by dabbing the area with a clean cloth.  However if the leak went unnoticed for some time you may have a substantial patch of water that will have soaked down to the under layer.

Carpets left wet for too long are at risk of:

   - Rot
   - Developing an unpleasant smell
   - Shrinking - if you have a wool carpet

To avoid these issues you till want to dry the carpet out as quickly as possible.  You could hire a carpet cleaner, such as a rug doctor - however these are not very powerful and may draw up mainly the top level moisture, leaving the the under layer still very wet.  If this is left wet under the carpet,  issues could arrive.  A professional carpet cleaner with a truck-mounted system will have far superior suction power and will be able to draw much of the moisture all the way up form the lower levels of the carpet.  Then, using the industrial carpet dryer much of the residual moisture will be drawn up.  The area may still be a little damp to touch at the end of the process however this is very minor and will soon evaporate.

If you would like assistance with your carpet clean contact Art of Clean on 01223 863632 or visit www.artofclean.co.uk.
We’ve got a more recent version of this blog — check it out "Can You Clean My Carpet After a Radiator Leak?"

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

The importance of protection on your carpets and upholstery

Here at Art of Clean we specialise in flooring and soft furnishing cleaning and restoration. 

We offer 3 services on carpet and upholstery cleaning. You can have the deluxe clean and protect, the basic clean only or our client’s favourite our Maintenance Plan. With our Maintenance Plan, we will clean and protect your carpet and upholstery every year for a small monthly fee.

  

As you may have seen on my previous blog about carpet cleaning (can be seen here) the clean is very thorough and to an incredibly high standard. 

   

The point of my post is to highlight the importance of the protection.

Not only do you get the Art of Clean mission “to provide the most outstanding service experience ever!” along with our guarantee that you will be 100% satisfied with the service experience you receive, if you have the protection applied you also get 45-day free call back. If you have a spillage we will rush back as quick as possible to spot clean the area completely free of charge.

The stain protection will be applied after the clean, it will not alter the look or the feel of the carpet or upholstery and the benefits it has are fantastic. 

With the protection on the carpet or upholstery you have more chance of mopping up any spillages before it stains and leaves a permanent mark. The problem with not having the protection is that when you have a spillage and it does seep through the fibres, you can use off the shelf spot cleaners but the vast majority of these products contain bleach. Unless your carpet is bleach proof this would then leave a lighter and just as noticeable mark. 

Once the carpet is bleached that is it for life. At least if there is a spill you have a chance of getting it out. Of course, there is no guarantee that every stain will come out but at least if you have it protected you stand a better chance of a professional being able to remove it.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. 

Please feel free to subscribe to keep up to date with offers and news we have.

Best wishes, Danielle.

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

Upholstery disaster... please do not use the wrong cleaning product...

We had a call yesterday from a client that wanted our advice.

He spilled nail varnish on his sofa. The first thing he did was to try to remove the mark with hot water and then he used Vanish (the famous cleaner) and spread the stain even bigger.

The products used on the upholstery didn’t work at all.

He then asks us to come and try to remove the mark. Unfortunately, we couldn’t help him. The nail varnish has gone too deep into the pile. It is very important to use the right cleaning product.

Please remember to call Art of Clean for any spills in Cambridge.

Call us on 01223 863 632. We will be happy to help.

Watch our video to see how we clean upholstery in Cambridge

 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

EPA Warns of the Dangers of Dirty Carpets

Pet owners know that getting muddy paw stains out of carpets and rugs is a tough task at the best of times. However, when our four-legged friends traipse grime through our pristine hallways, it’s not just soil residue they’re carrying with them. Germs, bugs, mites and bacteria can get carried through as well, bringing hidden nasties from the outside into places we can’t even see. What’s worse, conventional cleaning methods – a good scrubbing with a damp cloth and elbow grease – won’t necessarily purify the surfaces beyond removing the visible mess. To cleanse the carpet of dangerous microbes, a deeper clean is necessary.

When it comes to rinsing carpets, professional cleaning companies are the most sanitary solution out there. With industrial equipment and the right know-how, specialist scrubbers can blitz away both visible dirt and invisible bugs through processes like steam cleaning, grooming and deep vacuum cleaning. Once they’re done, they can also apply protective sprays to the carpet, making it much harder for future grubs to sink deep into the fibres. In terms of protecting the inhabitants of a home from potential ailments, it’s always more effective to call in the pros.

The risk of developing illnesses from contact with dirty carpets is real. In 2016, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that ‘80 percent of most people's exposure to pesticides occurs indoors.’ A major reason for such an alarming statistic, they say, is the tracking of contaminated soil and dust from outside through our homes via shoes, feet and animal paws. Such pollutants are then absorbed into carpets and rugs, which gradually release them over time. Indeed, elsewhere in 2016, Marnie Riches, a mother-of-two from Manchester, was deafened after her ear canals collapsed due to an allergic reaction to dust mite faeces in her carpet.

It’s understandable, therefore, that many are concerned about the dangers carpets pose to friends and loved ones. Young children playing at floor level, touching carpets with their hands and inhaling whatever toxins lie within, are put at greater risk by dirty fabrics than anyone else. In recent years, the growth in the cleaning industry as a whole has accompanied an upswing in public awareness about such dangers.

Still, a lot more can be done to counteract the risk. The thicker and older the carpet, the more likely it is to contain hidden dangers. However, illness prevention doesn’t necessarily mean you have to replace carpets like these altogether. Rather, it’s much cheaper to simply have them cleaned – ideally by trusted professionals. Just make sure this is done more regularly than it would be for thinner, newer mats. That way, you can be sure that people encountering your plush, cosy carpets and rugs are also kept safe, happy and well.

 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

What to do when my cat was sick on my lovely creme carpet?

Important - Always read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet manufacturer. If in doubt contact us for advice.

GENERAL TIPS

- Do not over wet into backing materials

- Always test any detergent on an inconspicuous area of carpet prior to treating a stain

- Use detergents at recommended dilution ratios

- Scrape up or blot up any access prior to treatment

- Never rub or scrub

- Do not use inappropriate detergents on carpets or upholstery i.e. (washing up liquid, wash powders, household bleach, disinfectants)

- Always work from the out side of the stain inward to avoid spreading

- Always apply the cleaning fluid to the absorbent spotting material not directly onto the carpet or fabric

- Encourage quick drying

- Deal with stains as quickly as possible for increased chances of success

- Keep the fabric or carpet as dry as possible.

Greasy Stains

(i.e. Chocolate, Butter, Lipstick, some Oily Food stains, some Ink)

- Apply small quantity of Surgical spirit to some cotton wool or Q-tip (cotton bud).

- Using the lightly soaked cotton wool apply to the edges of the stain working inwards to the centre.

- Gently press (Blot) either Terry towel, or kitchen roll, and repeat as necessary until the stain no longer transfers. Do not allow penetration into the back of carpeting or foam filling materials! Some fabrics may darken initially during this process.

- Using a detergent solution on cotton wool, dampen the area and follow up by blotting with kitchen roll or terry towel.

- Dry, using hair dryer, continually moving over the damp area. (This will help to prevent water marking)

Water Based Stains

(i.e. Tea, Coffee, Fruit juices, Wine, some Basic Food stains)

- Soak up immediately using absorbent cloth or suck up with a wet pick up vacuum.

- Rewet the area using water on a small piece of sponge or cotton wool.

- Blot with dry absorbent material Terry towel, kitchen roll, (Repeat as necessary…)

- Dry with hair dryer keeping the dryer moving all the time, (this will help to prevent watermarking).

Dried In Stains

- Detergent Solution: Two litres of water + a quarter of a teaspoon ONLY of carpet shampoo + one eggcup full of white vinegar

- Rewet the stained area using the detergent solution applied on a piece of cotton wool.

- Blot using kitchen roll or terry towel as above.

The final procedure for carpets following the wetting and blotting procedures should be as follows:

Place 5-6 layers of kitchen roll on the affected area and place a telephone directory (covered in a plastic bag) on top. Allow to dry over 24 hours, this will absorb any stain in the base of the fibre’s that are likely to wick up to the surface during the drying process.

Whilst the stain removal guide may be simple and basic, it will assist in the professional’s chances of success should you find expert assistance required. If followed it should help prevent some quite common and expensive DIY stain removal damage.

Next step: Contact Art of Clean 01223 863 632

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

Soot and pollutants from a fire on your carpet and soft furnishings

Following a fire, you will start experiencing a build-up of the airborne pollutants that will settle on the furnishings and carpets in your homes.

A few tips on how to restore and maintain your carpets following the incident:

1. Keep windows and doors shut till well after the fire has been put out

2. Make full use of walk off mats at doorways to prevent the spread of the pollutants into your home. Remember this debris has settled on all levels outside your home and now stick to your feet and on your clothes and skin as you enter your home.

3. Ensure pets are groomed and cleaned as they will also help treading the dirt and pollutants in from outside.

4. Increase your vacuuming of carpets, furnishings and rugs to at least every other day.

5. Empty your vacuum cleaner bag before it reaches the half full level.

6. Use a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner

7. Get all carpets and soft furnishings and rugs professionally cleaned by Art of Clean.

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

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

Have you noticed the black lines forming around the edge of your carpeted room? Especially around radiators, under doors (in particular the airing cupboard) and no matter what you try , it doesn't budge?

You may have even had professional carpet cleaners in which has made it a bit better.

In the cleaning and flooring trade these black lines are referred to as draught marks.

These marks that are caused by the movement of air. 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. (usually at the edge of the room)

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

First of all you will need 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 tape, 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 can not be guaranteed and the marks might return after time.

If you would like more information about this or any other flooring problem why not give our team a call today on 01223 863632.

What Can I do Myself?

Take care - As you will unlikely have the equipment to thoroughly rinse the cleaning solutions you will use after the cleaning attempts - You can easily make it much worse - It is like washing your hear and not rinsing the soap out - The soapy residue will just attract the dirt and pollution in the air much 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