How to tell when to have your rugs cleaned?

How to tell when to have your rugs cleaned?

Rugs, whether wool or synthetic, are often overlooked when it comes to having them cleaned regularly.  Usually they don't get cleaned until they are full of soil or other contaminates.  How do you tell, though, when your rugs need cleaning?

One thing you can do is to flip the rug over on a smooth hard surface.  Then take a vacuum cleaner with a brush bar and place it on the back of the rug and turn it on.  Do not move the vacuum cleaner and leave it in one place for 8 - 10 seconds.  When you are done then flip over the rug and look on the hard surface to see if there is some soil where you had the vacuum cleaner.  If there is then it is time to have your rug cleaned by a professional rug cleaner.  

If your rug is too big and heavy to be flipping it over then here is another method to try.  Pick up a corner of the rug,  slap the back of the rug with your other hand and watch the front side of the rug to see if soil is coming out as you slap the back of the rug.  This method is a little more difficult to actually determine how much soil is coming out of the rug, but if you see soil coming out with this method then you need to have the rug cleaned.  

Hopefully, this will help you determine when it is time to have your rugs cleaned. 

Water Damage on an Oriental Rug

Water Damage on an Oriental Rug


The beauty of an Oriental rug can be destroyed forever if proper care is not taken to protect the rug from long term exposure to water.  Most varieties of Oriental rugs have a  wool pile and these rugs can be cleaned and dried thoroughly by an oriental rug cleaner and never have any problems.  Sometimes you may have some unstable colors to deal with but if the rug is being cleaned by a knowledgeable rug cleaner they should be able to control that in their wash process.  So the normal cleaning and washing process does not harm a rug, however here are some instances in which water could harm your rugs.
Many rugs have cotton warp and wefts.  The warps run from end to end on the rug and are what make up the fringe of a hand knotted rug.  The warps are also what the knots are tied to creating the pile. The weft runs over and under the warps and between rows of knots.   This gives the rug strength from side to side. This cotton foundation can be weakened, and sometimes actually rotted, if the rug stays wet for an extended period of time without being properly dried.
In our oriental rug cleaning plant, we commonly see such damage from potted plants being placed directly on a rug. When the plant is watered either the pot leaks or the plant is over watered and some drains out the bottom of the pot and the rug under the pot stays permanently damp. Within a couple of weeks the foundation of the rug can become so weak that chunks of the rugs pile can be torn from the area by hand.  If you put a potted plant on or near a rug, put it on a stool, or something that is up off the rug.  This will let you see under the pot and make sure the rug stays dry as well as allowing for ventilation.
Another form of water damage would be caused by using a rug directly over a damp concrete floor. Even though the concrete floor is not noticeably wet to the touch, there can be enough moisture to allow the warp and wefts to degrade.  A concrete slab sitting on the ground will naturally have water vapor coming up through it.  If a rug is laid directly on the concrete, then the rug can absorb the water vapor coming out of the concrete.  Over time this will affect strength of the rug's foundation. A rug that has this kind of damage will often feel peculiarly stiff when moving it around. The rug could be so stiff it would make it difficult to roll.  A rug with this kind of damage will also have cracking and popping noises when the rug is creased or folded.  This noise is actually the warp and weft fibers breaking.  As a note, rugs placed on top of tile, wood, or even carpet do not generally have these problems.
The good news with any of these damaged rugs is that an experienced rug repair person can reweave the dry rotted or damaged areas of your rug, thus allowing you to be able to continue to enjoy your rug for years. 

Rug Cleaning - The First Step

The most important part of rug cleaning is removing as much dry soil from the rug as possible before the cleaning actually begins. Here is a video of a rug we picked up to clean because the customer was not happy with the previous cleaner just 3 weeks before. The previous cleaner tried to clean it at the customers house in their driveway and did not even try to remove the dry soil. Don't let this happen to you. Bring your rugs to Pearson Carpet Care the first time.



http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com
http://www.prodrying.com

Rug Pad will extend the life our your rug

Christmas 2011 has brought many rugs to our rug cleaning plant. However, one of the things some people over look in the care of their rugs is the importance of rug pad. Here is a list of some of the reasons a rug pad is important.

1. Reduces wear.
2. Makes vacuuming easier.
3. Helps in reducing the impact of foot traffic across the rug, thus

increasing the life of the rug.

4. Helps keep your area rug laying flat and prevents the rug from moving.
5. Rug pad can also give you good non-slip protection on hard surface floors.

6. It can cushion the feel of a flat-weave rug.

Note: Never use tape or adhesive to secure your rug to the floor. This can cause damage to the rug and the floor.

Lastly, when you take your rugs in for cleaning don't forget about the pad. You shouldn't put down a clean rug over dirty pad. Either have your rug pad washed with your rug or simply buy new rug pad.

For more information on rug cleaning in the Houston area go to http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com/ Also visit our other site for all your dehumidification needs http://www.prodrying.com

How much soil can a wool rug hold?

Here is a video showing that a square foot of carpet or wool rug can hold one pound of dirt. In our rug cleaning plant we routinely run into rugs that have pounds and pounds of dry soil in them that needs to be removed before cleaning can occur. Even though this video is done with nylon carpet a wool rug will hold just as much dry soil and still look clean. If you would like to know more about our oriental rug cleaning plant in Houston, Texas visit our website at http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com/

Snag in a Berber? What do I do?

If you get a run in your berber carpet, don’t just trim it. You will leave a very noticeable line where you can see the backing of your carpet. Instead try this simple solution.

Take a hot glue gun with clear glue and add a small drop of glue on the backing of the carpet where the loop of the berber was originally attached.  You should still be able to see some of the glue from the manufacturer on the spot where you will need to add the hot glue.  Then take a paperclip so not to get hot glue on your finger and press the carpet yarn into the backing of the carpet.  Repeat this process all the way down the run until it is all re-attached. Use the adjacent carpet yarn still attached from the factory as a guide for spacing and height.

If you are nervous about doing this then practice several times without using the glue, until you feel comfortable doing it.  Also, remember that a small amount of glue is all that is required and make sure not to get it on any surrounding fibers.   If you don't have a hot glue gun you can also use Elmer's Gorilla Glue.  I have used both in the past and either works well. If you do it right, it should be very hard to tell you repaired it unless you know where it is.

Rug Cleaning Done Right

Have you ever had a carpet cleaner that wanted to clean a rug in your home or office at the same time they were cleaning your carpet?  Seems like a good idea, initially.  However, there are some real good reasons why you should never have a carpet cleaner, clean a rug in your home or office.

While your favorite carpet cleaner might do a wonderful job cleaning your carpet, they simply can not clean a rug properly with the same chemicals and equipment used to clean your carpet. Chemicals made for cleaning synthetic wall-to-wall carpeting could damage a natural fiber rug. A professional rug cleaner will use chemicals that are safe for wool or other natural fibers. It would be impractical to bring the rug dusting and washing equipment that is necessary to properly clean a rug into a home environment. Also, many times it is necessary to test the colors in a rug for 24 hours to make sure they are stable. When cleaning a rug it is nearly impossible to remove pet odors from any rug without a full immersion cleaning. This can only be done in a rug cleaning plant. A wet wool rug could then take up to 24 hours to dry in a controlled environment. After the rug is cleaned and dried then the fringe will need to be cleaned and a final grooming done on the rug before it can go back to the customer.

If a rug is going to be stored for any length of time, it should be cleaned first. Never roll up and store a dirty rug. Rugs should be stored in a climate controlled environment and be wrapped in plain brown paper or in Tyvek. Never wrap a rug in plastic. Since wool can hold 30% of its weight in water and still feel dry to the touch, wrapping a rug in plastic would not allow the rug to breath. So condensation could form in the plastic and cause the rug to mold or dry rot.

It is also not a good idea to ever set a potted plant on top of a wool rug. This can cause permanent damage to a rug by over watering the plant or just by the humidity that is absorbed into the rug from the potted plant. This can result in color loss, mold, or dry rot.

About Kevin: Kevin Pearson is a Master Cleaning Technician with The Clean Trust and has been in the cleaning and restoration industry since 1992. Kevin was elected to the Board of Directors of The Clean Trust in 2011 and presently working on a committee to rewrite the carpet inspector standards in our industry and has previously served on the carpet cleaning standards revision committee. He also serves on two other committees at The Clean Trust and is on the Board of Directors of the Professional Cleaning and Restoration Alliance. He has also been featured on Fox News in Houston. For more information Call Pearson Carpet Care at 281-548-7200 or visit our website http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com

Another funny rug video

This is the follow-up to Roscoe's Rug Emporium which can be found in the October 2011 section of the blog.

Carpet Freshening Powders

Having your carpet professionally cleaned can save you money versus trying to do it yourself. Think of it like this, by the time you rent a carpet extractor and factor in a dollar amount for your time and the fact that you may not know the chemistry involved in removing certain spots and stains, it could be a lot cheaper to let a professional clean your carpet properly rather than risk setting a stain or damaging the carpet. There is also a big difference in equipment from a small electric do-it-yourself machine to a van-powered carpet cleaning machine with a trained technician running it.


Professional cleaners use similar methods to home cleaning, but they should have the knowledge, equipment, training, and experience necessary to do a more thorough job of removing embedded soil. When selecting a cleaning service, look for an IICRC certified firm and an IICRC certified technician. Ask reputable carpet retailers in your area who they recommend. Friends and family that have used a particular cleaning service before may also be able to give you a good referral. Stay clear of cleaners offering ridiculously low advertised rates. Many times you will never get the low price or you will get a cleaner that will leave your carpet wet for days and might make it worse than it was before they arrived.

When the cleaner arrives at your home for the cleaning, it is a good idea to point out any spots and stains or areas that you would like to receive extra attention. Professional cleaners will have many different spot removers on their truck and should be able to remove lots of different types of spots. They should give you a firm price before they begin the work and you should not pay until you are satisfied with the job. Some cleaners might even give you a demonstration in the worst area before they begin with no further obligation. If you have never used the company before this would help ease your mind as to the quality of work they were going to do.

Regular and thorough vacuuming can remove over 70% of all dry soil that is in the carpet fibers, thus keeping their appearance good and extending their life. For the most soil removal use an upright vacuum cleaner with a beater bar. Most carpeted areas in a home need to be vacuumed once a week, maybe more. Vacuum using several slow strokes over the same area then go over the same area from different angles. When carpet is not vacuumed regularly, the dry soil from shoes, crumbs, etc. may stay on the surface of the carpet for a short time before working their way down into the carpet where it can scratch and abrade the carpet fibers.

Room size rugs should always be sent to a specialty rug cleaning plant. An area or oriental rug should not be cleaned in your home. Rugs can be expensive and sometimes delicate, so it's important to have them maintained properly to protect your investment. To clean a rug properly involves many steps and specialized equipment that can not be transported to your home. A professional rug cleaner will check for dye stability of the colors in the rug and advise you as to any issues they foresee before cleaning the rug. They might also offer a discount if you bring your rug to them for cleaning rather than them picking the rug up.

Did you know that a rug can hold nearly a pound of dry dirt per square foot and still look clean. An 8x10 rug could hold nearly 80 pounds of dry dirt. So, to check and see whether or not your rug is dirty, pick up a corner of the rug and while holding it with one hand, hit the back of the rug sharply with the other hand. If a cloud of dirt flies out of the pile, the rug is dirty and needs to be cleaned. You could also take a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar and with the rug face down on a hard surface turn on the vacuum and leave it in one spot for 8-10 seconds. Then flip back the rug and if there is some dirt on the floor beneath it then it is time to clean the rug.

A professional rug cleaner can also dry a rug thoroughly after cleaning. A wool rug can hold 30% of its weight in water and still feel dry to the touch so it is important to make sure the rug is dry before putting it back down on a wood floor.

So think twice before deciding to clean your carpet or rugs yourself. There are many tools and tricks professional cleaners know that will result in your carpet or rugs being cleaner and lasting longer than if you did the cleaning yourself.

If you are interested in rugs and would like to know more about their value, how to care for them, etc. Then here are some other blogs and sites to follow.

http://oriental-rug-cleaning.blogspot.com/2011/10/rug-care-simplified-by-kevin-pearson.html

http://www.orientalrugtalk.com/forums/content.php?212-Rug-Care-Simplified-by-Kevin-Pearson

These sites are run by Barry O'Connell and he has probably forgotten more about rugs then I will ever know. He also has http://www.spongobongo.com/.

Roscoe's Rug Emporium

This video always cracks me up and since it is about rugs, its perfect for my blog.  After you watch the video make sure to visit our website. http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com/

http://youtu.be/T0q1i2mqMgs

Tips for Keeping Your Car Clean

There’s nothing worse than buying a new car and realizing a couple of weeks later it is already filthy. Food and drinks get spilt, the dog rides with you, kids are sweaty when getting picked up from ball practice and then bam your car is dirty. By maintaining the appearance of the vehicle inside as well as out, you retain the value of the car, which will help you when it’s time to trade it in. Here’s a few tips on cleaning up your car.

1. Dilute coffee spills immediately with water and blot with a clean white terry cloth rag. If a stain remains after the spot dries, spray on a glass cleaner. Soak the area with the glass cleaner, allow to sit for five minutes, and blot. Glass cleaner cleans without leaving the soapy residue that most carpet spot removers do, which only attracts more dirt afterward. Glass cleaner is normally effective on even the most difficult stains. However, do not try this on your home carpet. Since most car carpet is olefin and can stand up to most anything it is ok to use it there, but most in home carpet is nylon and it will not work the same.

2. Hairspray will lift out pen ink stains on carpeting or upholstery. Spray the hairspray on the ink spot and blot with a rag or extract with a shop vac.

3. If carpeting begins to smell, sprinkle on 20-Mule Team Borax generously, then let it sit undisturbed for an hour before vacuuming up both dirt and unpleasant smells. If your dog rides with you a lot and you have fleas in your car, then put a second application of 20-Mule Team Borax on and leave it over night before vacuuming thoroughly and it will kill the fleas and their eggs.

4. Before your vehicle carpets begin to show excessive wear and tear, vacuum them just as you would at home. This will lift the fibers back upright and counteract the long-term ill effects of the dirt that’s been pounded into it. Since over 70% of soil in carpet is dry soil, vacuuming is the best thing you can do for any carpet to prolong the life.

5. If you get shocked a lot getting out of your car there are several things you can do. You can wear an anti-static wrist band, rub the upholstery and carpet of your car with a dryer sheet, use an anti-static laundry spray or touch the metal on the door of the car with a key before you get out. However, these are mostly temporary fixes. So if the problem is bad enough you can go to your mechanic (Beckwith’s Car Care) and get a grounding strap installed. Also, getting new tires on your car can eliminate you getting shocked when getting out of your car.

Should you have your carpet and rugs professionally cleaned

Here's a link to an article I wrote titled Should you have your carpet and rugs professionally cleaned.

10 Ways Organizing Saves You Money

Here are 10 ways that cut to the chase on organizing and saving money. 

1.                  You won’t need to buy things you already have. You won’t have to run to Walgreens to buy your kids index cards or school supplies.

2.                  You find money in your pockets – lots of it! We found $15,000 in a bin of papers!  We have found some money in every home where I work. 

3.                  You get reverse income by donating and using itsdeductibleonline.com. Make a list of what you donate and create a spreadsheet.  Each time you donate usually adds up to $500 for tax deductions.

4.                  Your emotional and physical health improves so fewer doctors’ visits.  There are tons of allergens in paper piles, especially dust mites!

5.                  You prioritize saving money in keeping receipts in one place so you can review them, know what you spent money on, and know where you can spend less.

6.                  You clip coupons and save money every time you are at the grocery or drugstore. Some families spend only $20 on groceries a week with coupons.

7.                  You keep on top of home repair and other tasks. Prevent big expenditures by routine upkeep of your home and car.  Regular maintenance of your home and car mean you can make more money on the resale.

8.                  You save money on the utilities in your home.  Being organized about your laundry means consistently filling the tub, washing the dished regularly with a full load and saving on heating/cooling costs by setting the temp at a consistent level.

9.                  You keep your purchases to a minimum. Being organized means buying what you need, when you need it, rather than compulsive and chaotic shopping.

10.             Everyone knows saving time is saving money.  You can be more efficient and effective at everything you do by being organized!

Not sure how to start getting organized? To learn techniques, tools and tips to declutter, simplify and create organizing routines, visit www.professional-organizer.com or join me on Facebook at the business page Professional-Organizer.com,\.

 

Certified Professional Organizer and Family Manager Coach Ellen Delap is the owner of Professional-Organizer.com.  Since 2000, she has worked one on one with her clients in their home and offices streamlining their environment, creating effective strategies for an organized lifestyle and help prioritize organization in their daily routine.  She holds ADD and Chronic Disorganization certificates and specializes in working with ADD and ADHD adults and students.  Ellen has been featured at The Woodlands (Texas) Home and Garden Show, on ABC13 Houston, in the Houston Chronicle and is an Expert on The Clutter Diet, an online organizing resource. To learn more about her and her work,  visit www.professional-organizer.com, tweet her @TexasOrganizer or become a fan on her Facebook Fan Page Professional-Organizer.com. 

Choosing A Carpet Cleaning Company

So you are tired of looking at your dirty carpet, but you don’t know who to trust to get it clean for you.   Here’s a few tips and questions to ask to be able to get a good reliable company.

When looking for a cleaning professional, be careful of any company that contacts you by phone or that advertises a cleaning price by the room.  Room sizes vary and charges should be based on the square footage of carpet cleaned.  Also, ask if they offer free on-site written estimates.  Never go strictly by television ads or newspaper inserts or jump at the lowest price.  And don’t accept quotes over the phone.  Have the cleaning representative come to your home or office for an inspection.  Obtain a written agreement before any work is done.  Usually there will not any charge for furniture moving (unless it is really large or difficult).  There should also be no charge for routine spot removal or preconditioning.   Get a written contract with the total price and statements of guarantees that the cleaning company offers. This way you know to the penny what you will spend before the cleaning is actually performed. 

Make sure that you select a cleaning professional with certifications from an organization that certifies professionals, such as the IICRC ( Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) or the RIA (Restoration Industry Association).  These are the two most recognized certification groups.  The technicians as well as the company itself should be certified.  Also, at least one technician on the job should be certified in the cleaning job that is being performed, whether it is carpet cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, upholstery, etc. 

Here are a few questions to ask. What method of cleaning do you use and what type of equipment? Steam cleaning or hot water extraction is the most preferred method.
Are you certified? What certifications do you have?
Do you guarantee your work?
How quickly will the carpets be dry?
Can you reapply the stain protection?
How long have you been in business? The answer can speak volumes about a company’s reputation and experience.
 Does the business have references for you to call?
Are they a member of the local Chamber of Commerce or other professional organizations?  A business that is involved in the community is usually concerned about their image and wants happy customers. 
Make sure to ask if the company uses employees or sub contractors. Company employees are always best.  Ask if a uniformed employee in a lettered company truck will show up to clean your house. There are some carpet cleaning companies who are really not carpet cleaning companies they just do the advertising and book the jobs then sub it out to an independent carpet cleaner. In this situation the actual company who books the job has little if any control over the sub contractor entering your home. 
Remember you get what you pay for and if you do your homework, ask a lot of questions and hire a good reputable company you should be more than satisfied with the work.

Kevin Pearson is a Master Cleaning Technician with the IICRC and has over 17 years experience in the carpet cleaning industry.   Kevin is presently working on a committee to rewrite the carpet cleaning standards in the industry.  For information Call Pearson Carpet Care at 281-548-7200 or visit our website at http://www.pearsoncarpetcare.com.  

Oriental / Area Rug Cleaners Houston

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