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How to Remove Pet Odor from Rug

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There are a few different ways to remove pet odor from a rug, but it will vary from rug to rug. It’s the best to look at the label on the rug for care and cleaning instructions. Some rugs will need to be dry cleaned, while others can be hand washed or placed in washing machine. Also, make sure to only use cleaners designed for your rug and it’s special material.

Removing Pet Odor from your rug can be a challenge is the proper steps are not taken

Pet odor can sometimes be a pesky smell to get out if the proper care is not given. For a simple rug that can be hand washed, it is the best to use a pet odor remover cleaner. These products can be bought at many different large retailers like Wal-Mart, Target or PetSmart. They will have a wide variety, so it important to make sure you are buying one designed for your type of surface.

If you rug is small enough and can be placed in your washer machine, then you can simply use some mild detergent and warm water. Also, to remove pet odor, it is a great idea to place a cup or so of Arm & Hammer
Baking Soda in the water. This will help remove the pet odor and create a clean smell to the rug.

If your rug must be dry cleaned, then you can simply take the rug to your local dry cleaner. They should have products that are industrial strength but still gentle on the rug to remove the pet odor. It is the best to call them ahead of time to make sure they take the size of your rug. Some dry cleaners have a size limit and you will need to take it to specialty cleaning shop.

Inexpensive Rug Cleaning

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What do you do when you need your rugs cleaned and you are on a limited budget? If you want your rugs looking like new, but don’t have a ton of cash to make it happen, check out these tips for getting your rugs deep cleaned.

Do It Yourself

Many people prefer to do it themselves as it’s a lot less expensive than hiring a company to come in and clean the carpets and rugs professionally. If you have a home carpet cleaner/extractor, that’s a great option. People who own one are more likely to deep clean on a regular basis or as spots occur, so chances are the carpet won’t need the special attention of a professional. What if you don’t have a carpet extractor? You can rent one at most grocery stores. You may see a small kiosk as you enter or exit your local grocery store. Generally they are anywhere from $20-$50 for a day or two and you will have to purchase the cleaning concentrate separately. You could also see if a friend or family member would let you borrow their machine for a few days. Just keep in mind that not all machines are created equally and although you may get a good clean and be able to remove some spots, generally a professional cleaning will get them cleaner.

Shop Around for Deals on Professional Carpet Cleaning

You may find that your carpets and rugs are too dirty or you would just like a professional to do the work for you. Often carpet cleaning services do have specials from time to time during the year. Call a few different companies to see what they offer. Check your local free papers or in the coupon clipping magazines that sometimes come in your mail or head over to www.valpak.com, search for your zip code to see if there are any companies offering specials in your area. Once you get a price you are happy with (usually priced per room), decide if you want to splurge and get the whole house done or just the rooms with high traffic or even just your rugs.

Follow these tips and you will have sparking clean carpets and rugs without breaking the bank.

Small Apartment & Small Home Carpet Cleaning Tips

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Living in a small apartment usually means storage space is a commodity. You may not have room for a lot of cleaning supplies, a vacuum cleaner, and a carpet cleaner. In a small apartment, you may not have a lot of square footage to clean, but you still have to clean it.

There are so many products that you could use like Oven Cleaner, Kitchen Surface Spray, Bathroom Cleaner, Toilet Cleaner, Floor Cleaners, Spot Removers and the list goes on (and on). They also take up precious real estate in a small apartment. Don’t forget about the dusters, vacuum cleaners, hand held vacuums, steam mops, wet mops, and carpet cleaners. That could fill a whole closet! It’s not an issue when you have a home or larger apartment, but what do you do if you don’t have that extra closet space to dedicate to cleaning supplies? Check out these tips for keeping the carpet clean in your small space.

  • Make your own cleaning supplies – Look in your pantry! The majority of natural remedies for carpet cleaning (and other general cleaning) involves just a few ingredients and some can be found in your pantry. Most DIY cleaners involve Vinegar and baking soda. If you mix your DIY cleaning supplies in small batches, then you don’t have to store them. This will save you a ton of space! Also, you won’t need to buy multiple cleaners for one specific area.
  • Go for lightweight space saving vacuum that takes the place of a few appliances – Dyson and Shark Navigator are a perfect example. They both have small frames but are powerful. They also have attachments for upholstery and the Navigator has a lift off canister, so you can carry around and can access places both high and low that a upright vacuum can’t always get to. It takes the place of a hand held, canister, and upright vacuum.
  • Always use non-toxic cleaners. There isn’t as much ventilation in small spaces, so you want to make sure that you aren’t inhaling any unnecessary and harmful chemicals.

If you follow these tips, you can save your closet space and have piece of mind..

Cleaning Tips for Old Upholstery

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We all have that piece of furniture that has been with us forever. Either we inherited it from a loved one or it has sentimental value, but we keep it around because we love it (or because we can’t afford to buy new).

It’s a challenge to clean them since they have been around a long time. Here are a few tips on how to get your furniture sparkling like new:

  • Vacuum your furniture at least once a month. This will extend the life of your furniture and will make it stay cleaner longer.
  • See if there are cleaning instructions on the tag. This will tell you how best to clean the piece. Follow the instructions just as you would with a piece of clothing. If you can’t find the code or a tag, then research the fabric online or call a professional who deals with upholstery. They should be able to give you tips on how to best clean it.
  • After years of use, your furniture may not smell so fresh. You may want to freshen it up with an odor neutralizing spray or using a DIY concoction of fabric softener and water. You can also sprinkle baking soda and vacuum off.
  • If your piece of furniture is still looking dingy, you may want to call in a professional. Call a carpet cleaning company that also offers upholstery cleaning. You would be surprised how the piece may look after the touch of a professional. Once they get it clean for you, just maintain with spot cleaning and vacuuming.
  • Remember to always test your furniture on an inconspicuous area to make sure there will be no damages to color or fabric.

What do you do if you can’t get that stubborn spot off or your furniture is showing wear and tear? Cover it! There are many slipcovers for every type of furniture. They have it for dining room chairs, recliners, sofas and more. Some of these can give your old furniture a face lift and change the look of your room.

How Can I Clean the Carpet Safely for My Baby?

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You probably remember bringing your little one home from the hospital. You vowed to feed them organic baby food, use cloth diapers and dye free laundry detergent. You were determined to do only the best for your baby. Generally we don’t think about the floors where your baby will sit, roll over, and eventually crawl on.

Some cleaners are made with harsh chemicals that are dangerous to expose to small children. We also drag in dirt, germs and bacteria from our shoes into the home. As adults, we really don’t think about it as we generally just walk on the floor. All of these chemicals, dirt and germs would just be on our feet and we will wash them off in the shower. Now think about your baby’s exposure to the floor. They will spend most of their day near it. They drop toys and then pick them up and stick them in their mouths. They will roll around and sometimes bury their face in the rugs. It’s important to clean and sanitize your floors safely and with cleaners that won’t expose your baby to unnecessary toxins

So how can I clean the carpet safely for my baby? For a deep clean, you may look into hiring a company that specifically deals with green cleaning methods. They will use child and pet safe materials and leave your carpets looking like brand new. This is the best way to get a clean carpet, however, many people can’t afford to have their carpets professionally cleaned more than once or twice a year. For your weekly cleaning routine, you will want to shop in the natural section of your grocery store. There are many floor cleaners for hard and soft surfaces that use ingredients that are safe for baby. Some of those ingredients may even be in your refrigerator (oranges) or your pantry (baking soda). If you would like to try the DIY approach to making safe natural cleaners, you can make your own cleaners for your hard floors and carpets.

A tip to keeping your carpets safe for baby is to take your shoes off when entering your home. This will reduce the amount of dirt and germs that will stick to the carpet. Also, making sure that you are maintaining your vacuum cleaner properly, changing the filters and cleaning the brushes are important. The best vacuum cleaners will have a HEPA filter or a closed system to avoid excessive dust and dander to enter the air of your home.

You can’t take every germ or piece of dirt out of your home, but using these tips will make it safer for your baby.

How to Clean Your Carpet for Dust Mites

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Dust mites are a pest that feed off of dead skin cells. This means anywhere you touch can be an ideal food source for them. The average life span of a dust mite is only four months but they leave a lot of waste and reproduce rapidly in that time. There are a few ways to get rid of dust mites; you can get rid of your carpet which is very costly or you can clean your carpet in a way that will get rid of them.

Dust your furniture

Dust mites can live on any surface that has dust which is made up of dirt and dead skin cells. The first step to removing these pests is to clean all surfaces they can live on. If you skip this step the mites will only return to your carpet no matter what you use. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling the excrement from these bugs. Use a dusting solution found at any local store to insure you remove all particles from the surface.

Clean Furniture and Stuffed Toys

After you have finished dusting all surfaces, the next steps is to take all bedding and stuffed animals and wash them or clean them following the instructions given by the manufacturer. If you are unable to wash certain items you can put them in a freezer to kill the mites. Vacuum your furniture with a HEPA Filter vacuum. You should then use upholstery cleaning solution and a steam cleaner to clean all upholstered furniture. You can buy cleaners specifically for dust mites but that is not always necessary.

Vacuum the Carpet

To prevent mites from re-infesting the furniture you have already cleaned, you should move the furniture to a different area of the house. Once the furniture is moved it is time to vacuum the area thoroughly using a HEPA Filter vacuum. Once you have vacuumed the entire area you should immediately take the vacuum outside to empty the canister and clean the filter. Dumping the canister indoors can allow the mites to return.

Steam Clean Carpets

After you have finished vacuuming you will use a steam cleaner or carpet shampooer to thoroughly clean your carpet. The heat and water will kill the mites and their eggs and the suction of the cleaner will pull them out of the carpets. Once you have finished cleaning the carpet again dump the canister outside to prevent the mites from possibly returning.