Carpet Care: Cleaning Tips

We all love cleaning tips, especially tips that help us keep our carpets and upholstery looking clean and new between professional cleanings. Our carpets are like filters. They hold airborne allergens, dust, and other contaminants, keeping them out of the air. But, like any filter, they need to be cleaned and emptied every six months by a professional cleaner. In between cleanings, there are many easy steps you can take to safeguard your San Mateo, Burlingame, and San Francisco home and keep it free of harmful bacteria. We’ve put together a list of cleaning tips that will help keep your carpet and upholstery free of allergens and germs, ensuring your home is safer and healthier.

Carpet Cleaning Tips

• Using a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate) filter, vacuum your carpets three times each week.
• When a stain or spill occurs, remove it immediately. First remove as much excess as possible and then apply a spot remover (we recommend Chem-Dry Professional Strength Spot Remover) with a clean white cloth. Remember not to rub the spot because it will grind the stain further into the carpet.
• Professionally clean and protect your carpets at least twice a year, especially if you have children or pets.
• To ensure stain protection continues, apply Baker’s Chem-Dry’s carpet protectant and sanitizer.

Upholstery Cleaning Tips

• Clean upholstery every 1-3 months, depending on how much dirt build-up occurs from daily use.
• Pay attention to arm and headrest areas of furniture where oils from hair and skin build up.
• For light cleaning in between professional cleanings, use your vacuum and a commercial cleaner or shampoo. (Check furniture manufacturer’s tag first.)
• Be careful not to apply too much water to upholstery to prevent damage and unnecessary wear to fabric.
• Use electric fan or open a window to minimize drying time. This will also reduce potential bacteria growth.

Oriental/Area Rug Cleaning Tips

• After a spill occurs, use a dry, white towel and quickly remove as much of the spot as possible. (Hot water can damage many types of specialty rugs. Consult our San Mateo and Burlingame Chem-Dry technician on how to best handle your specific rug.)
• Use one of our specialty rug care formulas designed to match the needs of your carpet fibers.
• To avoid fading, do not let the rug sit in direct or partial sunlight.
• Make sure your area rugs are routinely cleaned by one of our knowledgeable technicians.

Spot Removal Tips

• Before taking any cleaning action, make sure you know the type of stain and fabric you are dealing with. See the list below to see which Chem-Dry product works best on each type of stain.
• Take action quickly! The longer a stain remains on carpet or upholstery, the harder it is to remove
• Remove as much excess stain as possible. This can be done by blotting, scraping, or brushing the stain. DO NOT rub it in!
• Before cleaning, test a small, hidden area of your fabric or carpet by spraying a small amount of Chem-Dry Professional Strength Spot Remover or Chem-Dry Grease & Oil Remover. You will have a much better chance of removing a stain if it occurs on a carpet treated with Chem-Dry’s Protectant.
• Blot the area dry and observe for ten minutes. After ten minutes, check to see if the carpet color is on the cloth. When the carpet dries, check to see if there is any visible discoloration in the cleaned area.
• Starting from the outside edge of the stain, work inwards to keep the stain from spreading.
• If you are unable to remove the stain, contact (link) Baker’s Chem-Dry in San Mateo, Burlingame, or San Francisco and our stain removal experts will evaluate the stain and determine the best way to clean it.
• To keep freshly cleaned carpets stain-free, ask one of our certified carpet care technicians to apply Powerguard Protector after the cleaning.