Even though we already have many floor cleaning articles, we were intrigued with the tips below and wanted to share with our readers!
Floor Cleaning Tips – How to Clean Floors Clean and Beautiful
Hardwood, tile, stone or other hard-surfaced floors can add much value to your home, and their low-maintenance is appealing to many people. Take these few simple tips to heart, and your floor will stay clean and beautiful for years to come.
Floor Cleaning Tip #1 – Vinegar Brings Floors Back to Life
If your floor is seemingly dull or listless, use a solution of 3 cups of vinegar to half-gallon of warm water for a quick and easy mop towards renewing your floor. The only exception to this is a marble floor, you should never use vinegar on marble floors. Apply the vinegar solution to the floor with your wet mop, and allow to dry. It will make your floor sparkle once again and bring it back to life.
Floor Cleaning Tip #2 – Use a Squeegee to Clean your Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile floors are beautiful and functional. They have a tendency, however, to dull over time. This can be particularly unattractive for more polished tiles in bathrooms. The trick to keeping your ceramic tile shining is a squeegee as used for cleaning windows. Use your wet mop to spread a warm, soapy solution on the floor. Put the squeegee on an extended pole to save your back. Then draw the squeegee across the floor, removing the soapy water and leaving a clean floor. After each stroke, wipe the squeegee with a dry towel, and continue.
Floor Cleaning Tip #3 – Iron off Wax
When candle wax drips on your hard floor, it can seem impossible to get every last bit. However, it really isn’t that difficult. If the wax is still wet, use an ice cube to cool and harden it. Then use a credit card, plastic spatula, or dull knife to remove the wax. Finally, spread at least a dozen layers of paper towel over the affected area and run a warm iron over the towels. The wax will soften and seep into the towels. If the paper towels saturate through, be sure to change them to prevent damage to your iron.
Floor Cleaning Tip #4 – Do Away with Hairspray
Hairspray will quickly build up on your hard floor and dull the finish. And because of its inherent sticky qualities, normal soapy floor cleaning solutions don’t tend to cut through the build-up. Instead, use a clean cloth or sponge and ammonia to remove the hairspray. Be sure the area is well-ventilated. Never use ammonia on a marble floor; hairspray is just as damaging for marble floors, so avoid the hairspray in the vicinity of marble altogether. To clean marble floors, use plain water or a specially prepared solution specifically designed for cleaning marble.
This article can be found at Mrs. Clean USA
Showing posts with label cleaning methods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaning methods. Show all posts
Tuesday
Monday
How to Dry Wet Carpet in The Basement
This is an excellent article on how to take care of wet carpets.
If you are a homeowner you know the extra responsibility and work that comes with the territory of owning your own home. One situation that most homeowners will probably experience at least once is some type of water damage in their basement. It can be from severe rainfall which seeps in through the foundation. Another common cause of water leakage and wet carpet in the basement is through leaky or broken pipes. The collateral damage of these types of water damage includes destroyed ceiling tiles. But even more important, your carpet and padding needs to be quickly dried to prevent mold and mildew--not to mention a musty smell that won't go away.
If the problem is coming from outside the house or the source is not related to your plumbing then call a professional. Otherwise, it's likely the water is leaking, or even flowing, through the ceiling tiles in the basement. If that's the case then immediately shut off the main water valve in your house. If you don't know call a trusted neighbor who you think would know.
If the water is from a pipe that is either cracked, completely broken or out of the fitting, some water could still flow out for a couple minutes after you shut it off. Place the nearest bucket or plastic tub on the floor underneath the leak.
After turning off the water (by turning right to close='OFF' & turn left to open='ON')get the Wet/Dry Vac out to soak up as much water as possible. I used a shop-vac before and it worked just fine if you're concerned about soaking up water and your shop-vac doesn't specifically state "Wet" on it.
Use this type of attachment to cover as much wet carpet as possible. Slowly go over the area multiple times and from different directions. Depending on the size of the wet area, you should spend at least 30 minutes for a 5x5 area (feet). This attachment will create a good suction and may possibly raise the carpet a few inches from the pressure. Don't worry, this is actually good, since the pad can begin to dry that way too.
Turn the humidity down, or off, for your furnace if you have it on. Humidity is your worst enemy during this period. If you have a dehumidifier, place it in the middle of the room where the water damage is.
Set up at least two High Velocity Fans (preferably floor level). If you don't have these then find as many fans as possible. Maybe your neighbors have some. Perhaps your employer has some in their warehouse. The more powerful the fan the better. Make up for a lack in quality with quantity if you have to--take as many different lower-strength fans as possible around the circumference of the wet carpet. (Also set up your "wet floor" caution signs").
After completing the first six steps, the area (depending on the size) should start to feel dry. Don't stop the fans though! The pad is probably still a little damp even though you can't feel any dampness. Leave the fans on for another 12-24 hours. If you want to, sprinkle some Arm & Hammer baking soda (or other brand I suppose)over the area that was soaked but is now somewhat dry to the touch. Use a broom or whatever else you can find to spread it over the area. It's important to make sure at least the carpet is dry enough that the baking soda won't cluster up on you because it will be a pain when you vacuum it up. Leave the baking soda on for about 45 minutes to an hour and then vacuum it up using the shop-vac. Repeat a couple more times if necessary. You could also put a fresh layer of baking soda before you go to bed and vacuum in the morning.
This article provided by Ezine articles
If you are a homeowner you know the extra responsibility and work that comes with the territory of owning your own home. One situation that most homeowners will probably experience at least once is some type of water damage in their basement. It can be from severe rainfall which seeps in through the foundation. Another common cause of water leakage and wet carpet in the basement is through leaky or broken pipes. The collateral damage of these types of water damage includes destroyed ceiling tiles. But even more important, your carpet and padding needs to be quickly dried to prevent mold and mildew--not to mention a musty smell that won't go away.
If the problem is coming from outside the house or the source is not related to your plumbing then call a professional. Otherwise, it's likely the water is leaking, or even flowing, through the ceiling tiles in the basement. If that's the case then immediately shut off the main water valve in your house. If you don't know call a trusted neighbor who you think would know.
If the water is from a pipe that is either cracked, completely broken or out of the fitting, some water could still flow out for a couple minutes after you shut it off. Place the nearest bucket or plastic tub on the floor underneath the leak.
After turning off the water (by turning right to close='OFF' & turn left to open='ON')get the Wet/Dry Vac out to soak up as much water as possible. I used a shop-vac before and it worked just fine if you're concerned about soaking up water and your shop-vac doesn't specifically state "Wet" on it.
Use this type of attachment to cover as much wet carpet as possible. Slowly go over the area multiple times and from different directions. Depending on the size of the wet area, you should spend at least 30 minutes for a 5x5 area (feet). This attachment will create a good suction and may possibly raise the carpet a few inches from the pressure. Don't worry, this is actually good, since the pad can begin to dry that way too.
Turn the humidity down, or off, for your furnace if you have it on. Humidity is your worst enemy during this period. If you have a dehumidifier, place it in the middle of the room where the water damage is.
Set up at least two High Velocity Fans (preferably floor level). If you don't have these then find as many fans as possible. Maybe your neighbors have some. Perhaps your employer has some in their warehouse. The more powerful the fan the better. Make up for a lack in quality with quantity if you have to--take as many different lower-strength fans as possible around the circumference of the wet carpet. (Also set up your "wet floor" caution signs").
After completing the first six steps, the area (depending on the size) should start to feel dry. Don't stop the fans though! The pad is probably still a little damp even though you can't feel any dampness. Leave the fans on for another 12-24 hours. If you want to, sprinkle some Arm & Hammer baking soda (or other brand I suppose)over the area that was soaked but is now somewhat dry to the touch. Use a broom or whatever else you can find to spread it over the area. It's important to make sure at least the carpet is dry enough that the baking soda won't cluster up on you because it will be a pain when you vacuum it up. Leave the baking soda on for about 45 minutes to an hour and then vacuum it up using the shop-vac. Repeat a couple more times if necessary. You could also put a fresh layer of baking soda before you go to bed and vacuum in the morning.
This article provided by Ezine articles
Why Steam Carpet Cleaning is Still the Leader?
We thought this was an interesting post. It doesn't really give any reason why the steam cleaner is still a "leader", however, the description of what a steam cleaner does is excellent. Hope you enjoy!
Protecting the large investment you’ve made in carpeting for your home is motivation enough for wanting to take care of it. Keeping your carpeting fresh, clean and in good repair is a big undertaking.
Not only do you want for it to look good, you want for it to be good for the indoor environment in which your family lives and breathes.
Well known choices are available everywhere
You’re not the only one with these concerns. Carpet steam cleaning has become a major business. The yellow pages are full of service companies waiting to serve you. Equipment and supplies for DIY are right there in your local supermarket, ready to be carried off with your Saturday morning bacon and eggs.
Until alternative cleaning methods came along, steam carpet cleaning was just an automatic maintenance and problem solving procedure that didn’t really merit much thought about how it worked or what it actually achieved. You are one of today’s educated consumers who wants to know more than what time it is. You want to know how the clock works. Thanks to you, that is why this article is here.
How it workssteam cleaner
Steam cleaning your carpet has to begin with a very thorough vacuuming of the carpet. Be sure to give lots of attention to this step because leaving less dry soil and contaminants in your carpet means there won’t be as much clean up of the muddy mixture that results from the application of hot water.
When you vacuum, pay particular attention to the carpet nearest to entry doors because this is where the highest concentrations of dirt will be. Be sure to make numerous passes over these areas.
Steam carpet cleaning isn’t really steam cleaning at all. But, that’s OK because study has shown that high temperature moisture has a detrimental effect on the integrity of carpet fiber and the base they have been fixed to.
Steam carpet cleaning is a way of deep cleaning that integrates a hot water cleaning solution mix delivery system with a wet vacuum spent cleaner recovery system. Does that sound sophisticated to you? It isn’t really, but it probably seemed more so years ago at it’s introduction.
What has become sophisticated however, is the cleaning solutions which are available to you to run through the equipment. They are safer re has been major results oriented improvement worthy of your evaluation.
Does it get the job done right
Because the cleaning solutions are fully dissolved in the hot water, two problems are created. The dirty water recovery process cannot pick up all the solution so the carpet fibers, backing, and even the under pad remains damp. Depending on the ambient air humidity levels and the amount of water sprayed on, it can take as much as three or four days for your carpet to dry out. That is sufficient time for odor causing bacteria and unhealthy mildew to begin growing.
The second part of the problem of leaving moisture behind is that dissolved cleaning chemicals are being left on the carpet as well. When they dry, the detergent residue becomes sticky, and sticky carpet fibers will attract dirt and hold on to it. What this means is that you could have a nice clean looking carpet that is going to quickly become dirtier than it was before steam cleaning.
Most of the producers of steam cleaning chemicals and the service companies that use them have been working to develop cleaners with improved rinsing agents to overcome the sticky residue problem. Others look to ways of using less cleaning solution and therefore less moisture to pick up. Short of using trial and error, just who among them has made the greatest strides is difficult to determine.
Turning the job over to experts gets better results
As a DIY project be prepared for some work. The wheel mounted equipment, is a little cumbersome to set up but not too difficult to move around once you’re into the cleaning process. Most steam cleaning equipment consists of two tanks; one being a reservoir of cleaning fluid and fresh, hot water you fill manually from the tap.The other is a manually emptied depository for dirty water being returned from the carpet.
Water is pressure pumped into the carpet through a wand as you move it over the area to be cleaned and almost immediately sucked back up through a wet vac portion of the same cleaning wand. You can and should hold off on the spraying of more cleaning solution while continuing to wet vac until you are satisfied no more moisture can be extracted. You will easily get into a rhythm of switching back and forth.
There are several very good reasons for calling in a steam cleaning company to do your carpets. A considerable amount of carrying is involved filling and emptying tanks. If you’re not careful, it can become sloppy work as well. An experienced operator can also make a better “read” of the situation, knowing when and where to apply more solution. Let the cleaning service decide if any of your carpets are incompatible and which stains might benefit from spot cleaning. They’ll also get the work done much faster, but the best reason has to do with the equipment.
Ask some of the contractors working in your area, and you will probably find they use commercial equipment -some even truck mounted- packing more power than the machines available to you on the rental market. This alone could be enough to make a vital difference to the end result.
Why Steam Carpet Cleaning is Still the Leader Article found at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com
Protecting the large investment you’ve made in carpeting for your home is motivation enough for wanting to take care of it. Keeping your carpeting fresh, clean and in good repair is a big undertaking.
Not only do you want for it to look good, you want for it to be good for the indoor environment in which your family lives and breathes.
Well known choices are available everywhere
You’re not the only one with these concerns. Carpet steam cleaning has become a major business. The yellow pages are full of service companies waiting to serve you. Equipment and supplies for DIY are right there in your local supermarket, ready to be carried off with your Saturday morning bacon and eggs.
Until alternative cleaning methods came along, steam carpet cleaning was just an automatic maintenance and problem solving procedure that didn’t really merit much thought about how it worked or what it actually achieved. You are one of today’s educated consumers who wants to know more than what time it is. You want to know how the clock works. Thanks to you, that is why this article is here.
How it workssteam cleaner
Steam cleaning your carpet has to begin with a very thorough vacuuming of the carpet. Be sure to give lots of attention to this step because leaving less dry soil and contaminants in your carpet means there won’t be as much clean up of the muddy mixture that results from the application of hot water.
When you vacuum, pay particular attention to the carpet nearest to entry doors because this is where the highest concentrations of dirt will be. Be sure to make numerous passes over these areas.
Steam carpet cleaning isn’t really steam cleaning at all. But, that’s OK because study has shown that high temperature moisture has a detrimental effect on the integrity of carpet fiber and the base they have been fixed to.
Steam carpet cleaning is a way of deep cleaning that integrates a hot water cleaning solution mix delivery system with a wet vacuum spent cleaner recovery system. Does that sound sophisticated to you? It isn’t really, but it probably seemed more so years ago at it’s introduction.
What has become sophisticated however, is the cleaning solutions which are available to you to run through the equipment. They are safer re has been major results oriented improvement worthy of your evaluation.
Does it get the job done right
Because the cleaning solutions are fully dissolved in the hot water, two problems are created. The dirty water recovery process cannot pick up all the solution so the carpet fibers, backing, and even the under pad remains damp. Depending on the ambient air humidity levels and the amount of water sprayed on, it can take as much as three or four days for your carpet to dry out. That is sufficient time for odor causing bacteria and unhealthy mildew to begin growing.
The second part of the problem of leaving moisture behind is that dissolved cleaning chemicals are being left on the carpet as well. When they dry, the detergent residue becomes sticky, and sticky carpet fibers will attract dirt and hold on to it. What this means is that you could have a nice clean looking carpet that is going to quickly become dirtier than it was before steam cleaning.
Most of the producers of steam cleaning chemicals and the service companies that use them have been working to develop cleaners with improved rinsing agents to overcome the sticky residue problem. Others look to ways of using less cleaning solution and therefore less moisture to pick up. Short of using trial and error, just who among them has made the greatest strides is difficult to determine.
Turning the job over to experts gets better results
As a DIY project be prepared for some work. The wheel mounted equipment, is a little cumbersome to set up but not too difficult to move around once you’re into the cleaning process. Most steam cleaning equipment consists of two tanks; one being a reservoir of cleaning fluid and fresh, hot water you fill manually from the tap.The other is a manually emptied depository for dirty water being returned from the carpet.
Water is pressure pumped into the carpet through a wand as you move it over the area to be cleaned and almost immediately sucked back up through a wet vac portion of the same cleaning wand. You can and should hold off on the spraying of more cleaning solution while continuing to wet vac until you are satisfied no more moisture can be extracted. You will easily get into a rhythm of switching back and forth.
There are several very good reasons for calling in a steam cleaning company to do your carpets. A considerable amount of carrying is involved filling and emptying tanks. If you’re not careful, it can become sloppy work as well. An experienced operator can also make a better “read” of the situation, knowing when and where to apply more solution. Let the cleaning service decide if any of your carpets are incompatible and which stains might benefit from spot cleaning. They’ll also get the work done much faster, but the best reason has to do with the equipment.
Ask some of the contractors working in your area, and you will probably find they use commercial equipment -some even truck mounted- packing more power than the machines available to you on the rental market. This alone could be enough to make a vital difference to the end result.
Why Steam Carpet Cleaning is Still the Leader Article found at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com
Tuesday
Caring for Your Hardwood Floors
Floor Care and Maintenance
By observing a few precautions and setting up a regular cleaning routine and maintenance program, you can expect years of beauty from your floor. The following are examples of the reasonable and necessary maintenance you should to perform.
* Sweep or vacuum regularly since built-up grit can damage the surface of the wood. The vacuum head must be a brush or felt type. Be certain the wheels of the vacuum are clean and do not damage the finish. DO NOT USE A VACUUM WITH A BEATER BAR HEAD.
* Remove spills promptly using a soft cloth and recommended cleaning products.
* NEVER wet-mop, damp-mop, or flood your floor with water or other products. This can severely damage the flooring and will void the warranties. The use of the dry Swiffer® sweeper by Procter & Gamble or another similar product is highly recommended. Do not use hardwood floor cleaning machines.
* The use of approved maintenance and floor-care products, including but not limited to Bona X Swedish Formula Hardwood Flooring Cleaner and Basic Coating Squeaky Hardwood Floor Cleaner, is highly recommended.
* IMPORTANT: Do not use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax products, or other household cleaners that contain lemon oil, tung oil, silicon or ammonia since these warranties do not cover damage caused by non-recommended products. Use of these and other such products will harm the long-term performance of your floor and may also affect its recoat ability.
* Keep pets' nails trimmed, and paws clean and free of dirt, gravel, grease, oil and stains.
* Place protective pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents.
* Use a dolly and protective sheets of plywood when moving heavy objects, furniture or appliances.
* Make certain furniture casters are clean and operate properly (a minimum 1" width is recommended).
* Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on floor.
* Exposure to the sun and its UV rays accelerates the oxidation and aging of wood and fabrics. This causes the stain and/or wood to fade and/or to change color. We recommend that you rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. These warranties do not cover damage from the sun and its UV rays.
* Use area rugs in high traffic areas and pivot points (e.g., stair landings, room entries, etc.), especially if you have a large family or indoor pets.
* Place mats on both sides of doors leading out of the house. These mats will help catch dirt, sand and other materials that may damage your floor.
Information in this article can be found at Andersonfloors.com
By observing a few precautions and setting up a regular cleaning routine and maintenance program, you can expect years of beauty from your floor. The following are examples of the reasonable and necessary maintenance you should to perform.
* Sweep or vacuum regularly since built-up grit can damage the surface of the wood. The vacuum head must be a brush or felt type. Be certain the wheels of the vacuum are clean and do not damage the finish. DO NOT USE A VACUUM WITH A BEATER BAR HEAD.
* Remove spills promptly using a soft cloth and recommended cleaning products.
* NEVER wet-mop, damp-mop, or flood your floor with water or other products. This can severely damage the flooring and will void the warranties. The use of the dry Swiffer® sweeper by Procter & Gamble or another similar product is highly recommended. Do not use hardwood floor cleaning machines.
* The use of approved maintenance and floor-care products, including but not limited to Bona X Swedish Formula Hardwood Flooring Cleaner and Basic Coating Squeaky Hardwood Floor Cleaner, is highly recommended.
* IMPORTANT: Do not use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax products, or other household cleaners that contain lemon oil, tung oil, silicon or ammonia since these warranties do not cover damage caused by non-recommended products. Use of these and other such products will harm the long-term performance of your floor and may also affect its recoat ability.
* Keep pets' nails trimmed, and paws clean and free of dirt, gravel, grease, oil and stains.
* Place protective pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents.
* Use a dolly and protective sheets of plywood when moving heavy objects, furniture or appliances.
* Make certain furniture casters are clean and operate properly (a minimum 1" width is recommended).
* Remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on floor.
* Exposure to the sun and its UV rays accelerates the oxidation and aging of wood and fabrics. This causes the stain and/or wood to fade and/or to change color. We recommend that you rearrange rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. These warranties do not cover damage from the sun and its UV rays.
* Use area rugs in high traffic areas and pivot points (e.g., stair landings, room entries, etc.), especially if you have a large family or indoor pets.
* Place mats on both sides of doors leading out of the house. These mats will help catch dirt, sand and other materials that may damage your floor.
Information in this article can be found at Andersonfloors.com
Thursday
Removing stains from Oriental Rugs
Coffee, soda, wine, nail polish and pet urine are all likely candidates for rug stains. You've probably encountered at least one of these stains on your rugs in the past. Removing spills and stains from plain carpeting is difficult enough, but stains on Oriental rugs require special removal methods.
1. Remove as much of the stain from your Oriental rug as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the stain will set, making it harder to remove and possibly damaging your rug.
2. Press the stain with a soft, white, absorbent cloth such as a towel or napkin. Keep blotting until you've soaked as much of the liquid as possible.
3. Dilute the spill with water. Use enough to wet the stain but not to soak the rug.
4. Continue blotting with a white cloth to remove as much of the diluted stain as possible.
5. Use a solution of 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar per 1 cup of water to dilute pet urine stains. As with other stains, keep blotting until you remove as much of the liquid as possible.
6. Consider taking your rug to a professional Oriental rug cleaner as soon as you can if you just can't get the stain out yourself. You want to preserve your rug as best as you can.
Other tips and techniques:
Once set, pet urine begins to change the chemical composition of rug dyes, so try to check your Oriental rugs often if your pet frequently urinates on your floors.
If you notice an old stain on your Oriental rug, vacuum first before removing the stain in the same way as you would a new stain.
Don't rub stains on Oriental rugs, as this only spreads them around. Remember to blot instead.
Don't use spot removers made for wall-to-wall carpeting on Oriental rugs. They'll damage the rug's wool pile.
Don't use urine removers containing enzymes on Oriental rugs, as they feed on wool.
This article was provided by Ehow.com
1. Remove as much of the stain from your Oriental rug as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the stain will set, making it harder to remove and possibly damaging your rug.
2. Press the stain with a soft, white, absorbent cloth such as a towel or napkin. Keep blotting until you've soaked as much of the liquid as possible.
3. Dilute the spill with water. Use enough to wet the stain but not to soak the rug.
4. Continue blotting with a white cloth to remove as much of the diluted stain as possible.
5. Use a solution of 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar per 1 cup of water to dilute pet urine stains. As with other stains, keep blotting until you remove as much of the liquid as possible.
6. Consider taking your rug to a professional Oriental rug cleaner as soon as you can if you just can't get the stain out yourself. You want to preserve your rug as best as you can.
Other tips and techniques:
Once set, pet urine begins to change the chemical composition of rug dyes, so try to check your Oriental rugs often if your pet frequently urinates on your floors.
If you notice an old stain on your Oriental rug, vacuum first before removing the stain in the same way as you would a new stain.
Don't rub stains on Oriental rugs, as this only spreads them around. Remember to blot instead.
Don't use spot removers made for wall-to-wall carpeting on Oriental rugs. They'll damage the rug's wool pile.
Don't use urine removers containing enzymes on Oriental rugs, as they feed on wool.
This article was provided by Ehow.com
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