Natural Carpet Cleaning Archives - Citrus Carpet Cleaning - Natural Solutions Highlands Ranch Colorado

Cleaning Delicate Carpets May Need A Different Approach

December 26, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

Commercial carpets are meant to be strong. They take a lot of wear and abuse every single day.

But in your home, your carpeting doesn’t get the same level of foot traffic. And in some areas of your home, you may even have carpeting that’s more delicate in nature. One of a kind or antique rugs, or even delicate carpeting made out of natural materials don’t wear and handle the same way as carpeting meant for high traffic areas. Which is also why you can’t treat them like you would with any other carpeting.

Keeping them as clean as possible is the key to longevity. Start by ensuring visitors take off their shoes before walking on it. Then vacuum on a regular basis to ensure dirt, dust and debris doesn’t settle into the fibers.

But even with these extra precautions, they still will need cleaning on a regular basis. Yet not every carpet cleaning company is meant to clean this special type of carpeting. High temperature cleaning machinery can easily impact fragile and antique carpeting by causing colors to dull and patterns to fade. And if you have carpeting that has been glued to the floor, hot water can actually penetrate to the glue, causing it to come apart and begin to dissolve.

What should you do instead?

Never use high heat, boiling water carpet cleaning companies. Their philosophy is the more water, the hotter the water, the more dirt will come out. However with delicate carpeting, hot water may do more harm than good.

Low moisture is best. When gallon upon gallon of water is used in the cleaning process, stress is put onto each fiber. Less water is more in the case of delicate carpeting – focus in on using a low moisture system made with natural cleaners instead.

Go with experienced carpet cleaners. Before you hire anyone, talk to the consultant about your carpeting. Have they worked with something similar before? How will they test the carpeting to ensure their method is safe for your carpeting and can give you great final results? What guarantees do they offer? Harsh chemical cleaners will only reduce the life of your rugs and carpets; an experienced carpet cleaner will be able to offer solutions and information on how to do it the right way every time.

Myths About Carpeting and Allergies

December 21, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

If you would like some soft, lush carpeting in your home, but you hesitate because you worry about the carpet triggering your allergies, stop hesitating!

There are many myths surrounding carpeting and allergies. Knowing the truth will help you decide whether carpet is the best flooring choice for your home.

Carpeting diminishes air quality inside your home – The truth is that carpeting can actually improve the air quality in your home. Dust and other allergens that come into your home will settle into the carpeting. As long as you vacuum and professionally clean your carpets regularly, you can keep those allergens at a minimum. With hard floors, those same allergens will be stirred around with every step, putting them back into the air – and into your lungs.
VOCs in carpets lead to allergic reactions – While this may have been true years ago, today’s manufacturers use the least amount of VOCs in carpeting to ensure the health of consumers. Pay attention to the labels, choose the carpeting with low VOC levels, and you should be good to go.
Carpet cleaning solutions can irritate allergies – Some cleaning solutions can trigger allergies, but this applies to the harsh chemical cleaners; as long as you hire a professional that uses a natural cleaning process, you will not have to worry about an allergy attack.

Those three myths are the primary myths surrounding carpeting and allergies. The best thing you can do to prevent an allergy attack is to maintain your carpet. Regular vacuuming, as well as professional cleaning, will remove the dust and allergens from your carpeting. This will keep it clean and fresh – an asset to your home, instead of an allergy trigger. There is no reason why someone with allergies cannot enjoy the beauty and comfort that carpeting can bring to a home!

Filed Under: Highlands Ranch Carpet Cleaning, Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: carpeting and allergies, myths about carpeting

How to Keep Your Carpets Clean This Holiday Season

December 18, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

With the holidays just around the corner, you’re probably anticipating lots of time spent with family and friends. It’s the perfect time of year for happiness, cheer, and plenty of food and drinks. But what’s not so perfect is a dirty carpet! And with the company you’re expecting, there are bound to be some spills and stains happening.

It’s tough to keep your house looking great when there is company during the holidays. Luckily, there are some ways to keep your carpet cleaner for a longer amount of time while you have holiday parties and gatherings.

Carefully plan your holiday menu. You want to avoid as many spills as possible in order to protect your carpet, so be sure to serve appetizers such as tapas, finger foods, and hors d’oeuvres that can easily be eaten in one bite. Also serve wine in seamless glasses to prevent them from tipping over on your carpet.

Request that your guests take their shoes off. This is especially important if you have guests over during inclement weather that involves slush and snow. If your guests are family, they can definitely bring their own slippers.

Know what your carpet is made of. Different carpet materials need different types of care. Wool fibers are different than synthetic. And depending on what your carpet is made of determines how a stain will react. Keep in mind that natural fibers absorb more moisture than man-made fibers, which means that the carpet will take longer to dry.

Act quickly if a stain occurs. The most importantly thing to remember is to tend to the stain as soon as you can. If you take immediate action, most stains can be eliminated. While no carpet is completely stain-proof, the longer you wait, the worse the damage will be.

Use the blot and treat method. Be sure to quickly absorb the spill with a dry, white cloth. Blot the stain until it is barely damp, but do not scrub the stain. Next, treat the stain with a good carpet cleaner or baking soda. Be sure to pre-test the cleaner on a hidden area of the carpet first.

Filed Under: Highlands Ranch Carpet Cleaning, Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: cleaning carpets, keep carpets clean during holidays

8 Reasons To Call Citrus Solutions Carpet Cleaning For Your South Metro Denver Home

December 5, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

1. You’re tired of having soaking wet, smelly carpets hours, even days after your professional cleaning. Is that truly a sign of good carpet cleaning? Is that truly good for your carpeting? No, we don’t think so either. Without chemicals and with a cleaning process derived from citrus peels, we don’t need the water most cleaning companies do. Which means we cut drying time way back – 1 to 3 hours max!

2. You’re tired of spots that keep coming back days after a professional cleaning. Just show us where they are, and we’ll handle the rest. Naturally.

3. The last time you had your carpets professionally cleaned, you wondered why. They looked better before. Yes, that’s the reality of some of these companies that use harsh chemicals. Once applied to your carpeting, they can do all kinds of things to the appearance. You’ll never have that with a natural base of citrus.

4. You have an extra sensitive person in your house. Do you have a elderly person with chronic illness? Do you have a brand new baby with a sensitive immune system? Maybe you have suffered with asthma your entire life. Chemicals add into the problem. Natural based citrus cleaner won’t.

5. You have a pet. You love them. You probably feed them high quality food, and even focus in on the best treats available. What happens when he lays on, plays on, and rubs around on chemically treated carpeting all day? Yes, natural is the only way to go to keep your well loved pets safe and healthy.

6. You’re trying to live in an eco-friendly way. Have you focused in on doing things in a greener way? Buying a energy efficient water heater? Using less water? What about the chemicals you release into the air? Citrus is natural; which means you’ll be doing your home and the environment a favor.

7. Are you tired of being quoted one price, only to find your final bill sky high? We quote you one price from the beginning, no price changes or hidden fees.

8. Are you tired of the small print? You know, that tiny stuff you can’t even read with a magnifying glass? Us too. Which is why we don’t have any. What you see is what you get with us. Have a question? Just ask. We’ll give you an honest answer up front.

Filed Under: Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: Citrus Solutions Carpet Cleaning, south metro denver carpet cleaning

Why You Should Clean Your Carpets Before You Move In

November 29, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

Just bought a new home? You might think that the empty space will be clean, but in fact the opposite may be true.

Imagine what the old owners did as they moved out. They had boxes everywhere, piling their personal assets inside. They pulled out stuff from the back of their closets – dust flew everywhere. They cleaned out their cabinets – crumbs, dirt and other residuals made their way from hibernation to your new flooring.

Whether the boxes were new or used, they sat on your carpets for extended periods of time.

Then came time for the move. More people than normal – including professional movers with work boots – came in and out of your home, tracking a little of everything everywhere.

Finally when everything was gone, they ran the vacuum over the carpets one last time to give it the appearance of a clean home.

But what is truly lurking inside those fibers?

Or maybe you’re moving into a new home. Its new – new home equals new carpets.

Technically, yes. But again. How many workers were in your home completing last minute tasks? How many tracked in dirt and debris at the last minute? How many things now exist in your carpeting from all the traffic over the last few days and weeks?

A new home means a fresh start, so why not have clean, fresh carpets waiting for your move-in?

No matter how new or old your home is in age, its new to you. Taking the time to clean your carpet ensures a fresh-smelling, clean house for you and your family, and it is also good for your overall health as well. A healthy and clean environment means happier homeowners!

Filed Under: Carpet Stains, Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: clean your carpets before moving, Natural Carpet Cleaning

How Toxic Are Your Carpets?

November 28, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

When you walk across your carpeting or sit on the floor to play with your children, you do not think about the possible toxicity of your carpeting. After all, you vacuum it on a regular basis and have it steam cleaned several times each year.

Your carpeting looks clean and smells clean, so it must be clean, right?

The truth is that your carpeting may look and smell clean – and it probably is clean – but that does not mean that it is safe. Carpeting actually contains many toxins that are potentially harmful to you and your family.

Volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, are found in various types of products, the most common being paint. You have probably heard of VOCs, and you take care every time you purchase paint to make sure and buy paint that is low in VOCs.

However, VOCs are also found in carpeting. That new carpet smell that you enjoy so much – that comes from the toxic VOCs in your carpeting.

Carpeting contains many VOCs, including acetone, benzene, and even formaldehyde. The various VOCs provide a particular function, such as helping your carpet be stain-resistant or flame-retardant. However, these VOCs can wreak havoc on your health and the health of your family.

Older carpets are just as toxic as new carpets because they may contain VOCs that have since been banned. Older carpeting also contains a higher level of dust mites and other allergens simply because of its age. Even thorough vacuuming is not capable of removing years and years of accumulation of dust mites and allergens from your carpeting.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to remove all of your carpeting in order to keep your family healthy. If you’re investing in new carpets, talk with your reputable carpet dealer about laying carpets with low VOCs, and carpeting that is eco-friendly. They will be able to make suggestions on the best carpets for you.

For carpeting already installed that you aren’t ready to change, invest in a high quality HEPA vacuum to help remove the dust mites, allergens, and VOCs from your carpeting.

Have your carpets cleaned on a regular schedule, and avoid wearing shoes on the carpeting. Don’t rely on a carpet cleaner that introduces more harmful chemicals into your home; instead, ask about natural carpet care, and make sure they use natural products that won’t further damage your family’s health.

Every little effort you make to protect your family will help keep them safe.

For Natural Carpet Cleaning in Highlands Ranch – Contact CitruSolution today

Filed Under: Highlands Ranch Carpet Cleaning, Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: carpet toxicity, how toxic are your carpets

Are Soil Resistant Finishes Like Scotchgard Safe For Your Family?

November 24, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

Scotchgard has become a staple in many homes for decades, giving the best soil-resistance finishing. For over 50 years, Scotchgard gained acclaim for being one of the most stain resistant products out there for fabrics. However, in 2000, Scotchgard changed forever.

The Unsafe PFOA and PFOS

Want something protected from stains? Scotchgard became the synonymous product for the job. Scotchgard became so well known it actually became a word in the dictionary. However, what was inside of Scotchgard that made the product so efficient at battling stains on furniture and carpets eventually came into question.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are manmade products that contain a C8 chemistry breakdown. These chemicals made the original Scotchgard a strong and powerful stain fighter on every day materials. But when things are that powerful, eventually questions arise as to their safety in everyday life.

A 1999 study released by the 3M Corporation showed that these manmade products weren’t just affecting humans, they were also impacting animals across the globe: dolphins, polar bears even penguins. Scientists began noticing that these toxic chemicals were showing up everywhere, including our tap water and our blood supply. Both PFOA and PFOS do not decompose in nature, which means once they are there, they exist and are potential threats for a very long time.

High dosages of these chemicals given to lab rats caused death. Less high dosages showed an increase in developmental and other adverse effects in animals and humans alike.

Eventually regulations began changing, and 3M discontinued its Scotchgard production.

Reforming the formula of Scotchgard, 3M Corporations substituted these products for perofluorobutane sulfante (PFBS).

Scotchgard and Other Products Now

Since the 2000 scare, companies like 3M Corporation and DuPoint were forced to reevaluate all of their products, including their soil resistance formulas. Many of these are now considered to be “environmentally friendly” since they do not possess a toxic element to them.

However, many are skeptical, 3M Corporation promised consumers that the PFBS was harmless and left the bloodstream quickly unlike their previous brands.

The products are water-based and do not cause concern. Although the formula changed in many products and the products do not seem as efficient as they once were, many consumers believe they are still getting a top-rated product at an efficient cost.

The End Result

Do your own due-diligence. Scotchgard and like-named brands are deemed to be safe and can be extremely beneficial when applied to furniture, fabric and carpet. You’ll likely find it in many of the rugs and carpets you buy today.

And if you have a question, just ask. As a natural carpet cleaner, my job is to understand safety and your carpets. I’m happy to provide my advice.

Filed Under: Carpet Stains, Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: Clean Carpets, using Scotchgard on your carpeting

Fall Tips: Keeping Your Carpets Clean When You Own a Pet

November 20, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

In the summer months, everyone likes to be outside. Your pet is no exception.

But when summer turns into fall, nights turn cold and snow begins to fly, all of you will want to spend more time indoors curled up by the fire.

In the summer, your lawn is kept neat and clean. In the fall, things begin to go dormant. Without cleaning up on a regular basis, your dog can track in things that weren’t there even a few weeks before. Dogs can cause havoc on your carpets – but a few tips can assist with keeping your carpets as clean as possible during the fall and winter months.

Tips to Follow

Grooming your dog more may be the norm. When he runs through the leaves or rolls in … well, whatever it was – that’s the last thing you want on your carpets. Whether you hire a professional groomer and bring him in on a regular basis, attempt it yourself, or somewhere in between, a clean dog means cleaner carpets.
Trim your dog’s toenails. A common problem with allowing the dog to stay inside for long periods of time is the excessive scratching on hardwood floors and deteriorating gnawing of the carpet. In order to prevent your dog’s toenails from performing too much damage, it will be necessary to remember to trim them. Whether you feel comfortable doing it yourself or having a pet groomer do it, this will be a necessary step. Once every month or two will keep the scratching at a minimum.
Order pet-ready rugs for the season. Pets have their favorite areas too. They may hang by the family room glass door to watch out over the yard. They may track in snow and dirt when they head outside several times a day. Whether it is to sleep or simply to relax, he invests more than enough time in that area. Pet-ready rugs can be placed in these areas to prevent damage from occurring in those areas. These rugs add comfort for your pet as well and it will become an even more frequented spot.
Wipe their paws off before coming back inside. Both kids and pets are well known for tracking dirt, mud and snow inside after playing outside. It worsens in wintertime since neither kids nor pets want to stay outside for long periods of time. Wiping your pet’s paws off before coming inside will seize the traction of dirt and debris from outside to the inside. This becomes vital especially when you purchase new carpeting.
If your fluffy friends are young and still being potty trained, the best place may be a warm, safe kennel they can call their own. You can latch the door and keep them safe while you’re away, and protect your carpeting from mishaps that will invariably be a part of their days.

Filed Under: Natural Carpet Cleaning, Pets and Carpets Tagged With: clean carpets and pets, keeping carpets clean

Holiday Parties: Tips For Removing The Most Common Stains

November 15, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

The holidays are here and that means that it is party time! The holidays are the perfect time for having large gatherings with your family and friends. Big celebrations during the holidays provide you with the chance to spend time with those that mean the most to you – and they also provide the perfect opportunity for some wicked stains on your flooring and furniture.

The most important thing you can do when it comes to stains is take action immediately, even if it is simply blotting up the stain. Here are some tips for removing some common stains during the holidays.

For cocktail sauce, blot with a clean cloth, then mist with a mixture of 1 cup of water and ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Blot again, then mist with water to remove the soap, and blot one more time. If the stain is still there after a few hours, use a mixture of 1 part water and 2 parts white vinegar and blot until the stain is gone.
For candle wax, wait for the drippings to dry, then cover them with an ice pack. Wait overnight, and then scrape as much wax off as possible. Use a paper bag beneath the item, such as a placemat, and another on top of the wax stain. Iron the stain until all of the wax is transferred to the paper. If the wax is on your carpeting, break up the wax into pieces and vacuum.
For chocolate, blot up as much as you can as soon as possible. Use a dry solvent to help remove the chocolate. If the stain is still there after the area dries, use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to remove the remaining chocolate.
For red wine, cover the stain with table salt and blot with a clean cloth. Use a sponge with white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to remove as much of the color as possible. If the stain is still there when the area dries, use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to remove the rest of the color.

While its important to take fast action on every stain that makes its way to your carpeting, its equally important to book your next appointment with your natural carpet cleaning company as fast as possible. Whatever remnants are left, we’ll have a better chance of removing them completely if we take immediate action. Give us a call today.

Filed Under: Carpet Stains, Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: common stains at holiday parties, tips for removing carpet stains

The Five Most Dangerous Chemicals In Carpet Cleaners

November 5, 2013 by Citrus Man Leave a Comment

Sometimes I think we live in a toxic world. There are toxins in the air we breathe, the things we touch, the food we eat, not to mention the things we use to clean the toxic things around us. When it comes to these cleaning products, reading the ingredients list is as effective as trying to read a foreign language.

How can you tell what is harmless or what is toxic? How can you tell what is bad for you verses what is horrible for you? If you are concerned about the chemicals you are putting in your home, here is a list of five of the most dangerous chemicals you might find in your carpet cleaners.

Perchloroethylene – This chemical is typically found in dry-cleaning solutions or carpet related cleaners. It is a neurotoxin and, according to the EPA, a “possible carcinogen.” Perchloroethylene is categorized as a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC).

Tetrachloroethylene – Similar to Perchloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene has been listed as a “probable human carcinogen.” This particular chemical is considered to be a potential cause in a cluster of Leukemia in Woburn, Massachusetts.

Hydrofluoric acid – Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive chemical. When in a gas state, hydrofluoric acid can seriously damage the lungs and eyes. Due to its corrosive nature, this acid can cause severe burns on contact.

Perfluro-octane Sulfonate (POS) – This chemical has been categorized as a “Persistent organic pollutant” (POP). This chemical has also been linked to potential hormone disruptions.

2-Butoxyethanol – More commonly known as 2-BE, this chemical is a skin and eye irritant. Some studies have suggested that this chemical may be associated with certain blood disorders.

We strive to live in a clean environment, but how often are our efforts to clean causing more harm than good.

In many professional carpet cleaning companies, you’ll find these chemicals and more. That’s where natural carpet cleaning stands above the rest. We don’t rely on chemicals to get your carpets clean; we rely on one of the most powerful, natural cleaners that has been used for centuries.

If natural is important to you, give us a call today.

Filed Under: Natural Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: dangerous chemicals in carpet cleaners, toxins in carpet cleaning solutions