How To Remove Oil And Water Based Ink From Your Carpet

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All inks are made with a liquid, which is either oil or water based. In this liquid, there are different pigments, which gives the ink its color. The stain you see is the pigments attaching to your carpet fibers. Each type of stain from ink requires a different approach to remove it. Follow the steps below for tips on how to remove both oil based and water based inks from your carpets.

Remove Oil Based Ink

If you have natural-fiber carpet, follow these steps to remove oil based ink stains. This method works best for ballpoint ink pens. 

One of the most surprising techniques for cleaning ink from carpet, in particular from natural fiber carpets, is to use lacquer hair spray. 

  1. Purchase one or two cans depending on the extent of the stain and aim them directly at the ink stains. The chemicals within the hairspray will soften the ink.
  2. You can then use a clean white towel or cloth to blot the lacquer away. It’s important to blot instead of scrub so you don’t wipe the ink further into the carpet fibers. 
  3. Continue to blot and spray until the ink stain disappears, and allow the area to dry. 
  4. Wrap up the process by hand-brushing the area with a toothbrush, then vacuuming. 

Remove Water Based Ink

If you have natural-fiber carpet, follow these steps to remove water based ink stains. This method works best for rollerball pens or washable markers. 

Rollerball pens and washable markers can stain your carpet, but these types of stains are much easier to remove since the inks are water based. 

  1. Start by mixing one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with a bowl of lukewarm water. Common dishwashing soaps usually work just fine for this method. 
  2. Dab a clean towel into the mixture and blot the ink stain with the towel, being careful not to rub. 
  3. As you keep blotting, you’ll notice the stain start to disappear and transfer to the towel.

By acting quickly and using the right cleaning methods, you can remove most types of ink from your carpets. ​​Whichever cleaning solution you choose to use, be sure to color test a small inconspicuous area of your carpet to check for the colorfastness of the carpet. You don’t want to turn a small stain into a larger spot if the carpet reacts to the cleaner of choice. If you’re unsure of the material of your carpet or the type of ink stain on your carpet, it’s always best practice to bring in a professional to get the job done since expert carpet cleaners have access to quality stain-fighting products and methods that can remove even the toughest ink stains.

How To Maintain Clean Tile & Grout

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The most popular flooring choice is tile because of its beauty and easy maintenance. There’s just one downside and that is the grout. Since it is porous and often light- colored, it can be prone to stains and damage from water. Without proper maintenance, the grout can also become mildewed or cracked. Proper maintenance for your tile floors may sound like a tiresome chore, but it is really quite easy. Here are some steps that will help keep your floor looking nice.

Vacuum and Dust

Use a vacuum or a fluffy dust mop daily to remove dust and dirt before it becomes embedded in your tile and grout. This is the easiest and fastest way to maintain your flooring. Never use a straw broom for the job, though, because it will scratch your tiles.

Mop it Up

Mop your floor with warm water once a week. You can also use a mild soap to enhance your tile’s color, shine and gloss. Make sure to check with the manufacturer before using any cleansers to avoid damaging your tiles.

Don’t forget to dry your floor right after damp mopping to avoid accidents, as well as to prevent new dirt from settling into the wet area.

Clean up Spills ASAP

Use absorbent cloths to wipe up spills to avoid dirt collection and slipping. Plus, it’ll reduce the chances of stains building up on your tile.

Use a cleanser or disinfectant to clean dirtier spills. Raw meat and egg spills require a more aggressive cleaning to prevent bacteria from setting into your tiles. Since the chemicals may dull the tiles, it might be a good idea to mop the area with water.

Use Doormats

Place doormats on both sides of the doors that lead in and out of your home. This will eliminate mud or water from getting tracked indoors during inclement weather. If you have floor tile in your bathroom, use a bath mat to keep your tiles dry.

Add Some Area Rugs

Place area rugs or runners in areas that receive high foot traffic. This can prevent dulling, scratches and dirt build-up that will occur in areas such as the entryway or family room.

Clean the tiles

Use deep cleaning solutions every so often. This will help remove stains and greasy residue without damaging your tiles. Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water. This natural approach is especially useful for kitchens. 

Fresh water and dish detergent will help remove hard grease from your flooring. A half-and-half scouring power and warm water solution will remove stains.

Clean the Grout

Don’t forget to clean your grout. You don’t have to go out and buy special cleaners for this job. Simply create a paste mixture with baking soda and water. Spread the paste onto the grout and let it sit overnight, then use an old toothbrush to scrub the grout. Rinse the paste off with warm water when you are finished cleaning.

If you follow these steps regularly, your tile floors will hold up very well over the years. For a professional deep cleaning, call in the experts at Indy Carpet Cleaning!

How To Maintain A Clean & Fluffy Shag Rug

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There is no denying that shag carpets add luxury and elegance to any room. However, there is one thing most people forget to mention – These soft and fluffy shag rugs can be a pain to keep clean without proper maintenance! 

The high pile in these rugs makes it significantly harder to clean than it is to clean regular area rugs. Dirt and dust tend to go deep in the crevices between the fibers, making it nearly impossible to reach them with a simple dusting cloth or a brush. You need to know how to keep them looking fluffy and how to maintain them to keep them clean for a longer time. Let us guide you on this.

STEP 1- Shake The Rug Out

A good way to clean a shag rug is to simply shake it out. 

Take the rug outside and shake it around to remove the vast majority of dirt and debris. Hang the shag rug from a laundry line to neutralize odors.

STEP 2- Vacuum The Rug

Sometimes the old-fashioned method of shaking out a rug doesn’t remove all of the debris. Or maybe your shag rug is too large to shake out by yourself.

If you decide to vacuum your shag rug, it’s essential that you use one of the brush attachments rather than the actual vacuum itself since many vacuums have motorized rollers on the underside and a shag rug can easily become entangled in this roller. The brush attachment, on the other hand, doesn’t contain these rollers. Instead, it just picks up debris through suction.

STEP 3- Hire A Professional Rug Cleaner

Investing in a professional cleaning service will allow removal of dirt, odors and allergens while greatly extending the overall life of your rug.

Professionals have the special tools, equipment, and experience required to expertly clean a shag rug without causing damage.

Benefits Of Hiring A Professional House Cleaning Company

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Benefits Of Hiring A Professional House Cleaning Company

Do you often stress about your house’s cleanliness? Professional house cleaning services are a lot more affordable than you might think. In addition, house cleaning professionals have professional-grade tools and supplies, which means that they can do a great job of tackling even the toughest of messes. Here is a list of some other benefits of hiring a professional house cleaning company.

Save Time

Everyone would agree that cleaning is undoubtedly one of the most time-consuming household chores and trying to squeeze in cleaning into your busy schedule can be stressful. After a long day, you can kick back and relax in a neat, tidy home without having to stress out about cleaning it yourself.

Save Money

The cost of cleaning supplies can quickly add up. When you work with a professional company, however, you don’t have to buy your own cleaning products. Instead, the company brings their own supplies with them.

Equipment

Another incredible benefit of hiring such services is having your house cleaned with a variety of tools and cleansers. Many companies also give the choice of green cleaning options.

Professional Results

Cleaning services train their employees to consistently deliver excellent results. That means that they will focus on all of the details, taking extra time to thoroughly clean your home. You can trust that every nook and cranny will be clean by the time they are done.

Flexibility

Flexibility is yet another amazing advantage of hiring home cleaning services, as professional cleaners adapt to your requirements. For instance, you are the one who determines the schedule and frequency of the services in accordance with your needs.

Healthier Home

If you or your family members spend time outside of your home, you most likely are exposed to a lot of germs and bacteria. This is particularly true for children who attend daycare or school. Unfortunately, germs like these can easily spread throughout your home, posing a risk to anyone who comes in contact with them. Having your home regularly cleaned and disinfected can help kill these unwanted microbes, helping to keep you and your loved ones from getting sick.

If you have been on the fence about whether or not you should work with a cleaning company, this list should help. Fortunately, whole home cleaning is a service we provide here at Indy Carpet Cleaning!

How To Maintain Carpets After A Professional Cleaning

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After a professional carpet cleaning, it’s important to continue to maintain your carpets cleanliness up until your next scheduled cleaning. Maintaining clean carpets will not only benefit your health and indoor air quality, it will also extend the life of your carpet. Consider these tips to keep your carpet clean after it’s been professionally cleaned.

Stay Off Carpet Until It’s Dry

We recommend to wait until your carpet has fully dried before walking on it. You can speed up the drying process by turning on ceiling fans.

Wait Before Moving Furniture

You should not move furniture back until the carpet has dried completely. Moving furniture onto wet carpet can cause carpet under furniture to take an extended amount of time to dry and may cause color transfer or re soiling on carpet.

Clean Stains And Spills Immediately

Always clean up spills and spots as soon as they happen. The longer a spill remains on carpeting, the harder it is to remove it. It’s also important to try a natural cleaner versus using harsh chemicals. Another recommendation is to blot spills as this soaks up the spill, whereas rubbing spreads it and causes it to soak into the carpet fibers.

Vacuum Regularly

Do you vacuum only when your carpet looks like it needs vacuuming? Keep carpet looking clean longer after a professional carpet cleaning by vacuuming regularly, whether you think the carpet needs it or not. Vacuuming removes dirt and particles you may not see. Vacuuming regularly also helps remove allergens and other pollutants carried inside.

Remove Your Shoes

Shoes carry bacteria into the home. If you remove your shoes immediately upon entering your home, you can stop the spread of bacteria, allergens and other contaminants on the carpet.  

Utilize Door Mats 

You can reduce the amount of dirt and bacteria that your guests bring onto your carpet by utilizing indoor and outdoor mats.

Rotate Furniture

Rotating furniture every few months will make way for new traffic areas. When your furniture sits in the same place for years, you’ll continue to walk on the same traffic areas and thus these areas will start to look dingy and fibers will wear more quickly than the rest of your carpet. 

Apply A Carpet Protectant

One of the best things you can do to prevent soiling and extend your carpets life is to have a carpet protectant applied after it’s freshly cleaned. A carpet protectant works to repel spills and dirt from penetrating the fibers. It’s important to have carpet protectant applied yearly as it wears over time, especially in high traffic areas of your home. 

If you’re in need of a professional carpet cleaning, we would love to help. Please use these tips to maintain your carpet in between cleanings and to get a long life out of your carpets.