Are your area rugs starting to look dull and drab? All rugs will fade as they age for reasons that include, sun damage, wear and tear as well as improper cleaning attempts. These reasons can cause your area rugs to wear out a lot sooner than you’d like. Area rugs have colorful and illustrious designs that can cost a pretty penny, so it’s important to take care of them to ensure they will last for a long time. The things we do every day could be damaging to our area rugs. How can we prevent this from happening?
 

Reasons Your Area Rugs are Fading Too Soon

Washing Rugs. You may think that washing your area rugs by hand is the gentlest way to clean them, but if you wring them out to get all the water out or you use cleaners with harsh chemicals in them then you could be causing damage. Make sure you use gentle solutions and only use enough to work up a lather to clean. Hang your area rugs outside to dry rather than wringing them out. Try not to use a dryer to dry your area rugs as it can warp the backing of some rugs. The best way to clean your areas rugs is by picking up the phone and calling the professionals. There methods are not harsh and will clean your rugs to maintain them for years to come.
Sun Fades & Damages Area Rugs. When sun shines into our homes, it’s great but not so much for your furniture and rugs. It can cause uneven fading and the rays of the sun are a natural bleach that can affect the color of your carpet. Make sure you place them in areas without direct sunlight and rotate them regularly, so the fading will at least be even. There are protective coatings that you can apply to your area rugs for further protection from sun damage when they are cleaned.
Vacuuming Area Rugs. Vacuuming on a low setting without shaking your area rugs out first is a mistake. Area rugs need to be vacuumed on a higher setting to reduce pressure on the delicate fabrics. Do not vacuum the fringe on area rugs, instead brush it with your fingers or a wide toothed comb to remove dirt and debris. Include area rug vacuuming when you vacuum the rest of your home and don’t forget to vacuum the back of the rugs to keep them in good condition. Rugs that get more traffic will need to be vacuumed more often.
Area Rug & Runner Placement. Carpet runners are better suited for high traffic areas than area rugs, and a beautiful area rug is better suited in your living room rather than your patio. The benefit of the rugs in your home will be realized when they are placed in the right places. Decorative rugs need to be placed correctly to pull your home together and to ensure they will last as long as they are supposed to. The professionals can help you determine the best placement for all the rugs in your home.
 

Professional Area Rug Cleaning & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

These are the reasons that your area rugs may be fading sooner than you’d like, but the best way to keep them looking fabulous for years to come is to hire the professionals at Steam Green Carpet Cleaning to have them cleaned regularly. Call us to schedule an appointment today!

Wool carpets are a luxurious option with its beauty and plush texture; many homeowners are using it as an option for the flooring in their homes. High quality wool is very durable, and when properly cared for and maintained, it can last a life time. Today, we at Steam Green Carpet Cleaning would like to list some helpful tips and suggestions to better preserve your wool carpets.
 

Wool Carpet Care

Like all carpets, vacuuming daily is the best approach, and wool is not the exception. If daily vacuuming is hard to manage with a busy schedule, as often as possible is essential. Be sure to always vacuum before a DIY shampoo if you prefer to take on the deep cleaning yourself. Any spills should be treated promptly with a damp cloth, using pats and blot techniques, avoid using scrubs and rubs. Keep in mind that is essential to treat pills as quickly as possible because the longer they set, the risk of a stain can occur even though the waxy coating that is designed to repel liquids wool carpets will help them resist stains.
 

Wool Carpet Cleaners

Using cleaners on wool carpets need to be done with caution. Not all cleaners are user friendly on wool so be sure to check the label when buying a carpet cleaner. It is best if you stick with wool carpet specific cleaner to treat the stains and spots. Avoid using bleach or bleach based cleaners on your wool carpets as it wool cause the fibers to disintegrate. Peroxide is an ideal chemical to treat tough stains without compromising the wool. For organic material-based staining, they can be effectively removed with bio-enzyme cleaners. Stains that are due to grease or grime residues are dissolved easily with mild dish soap and water. However, it doesn’t matter which cleaner you prefer, never skip the patch done t ensure it is safely used on the wool carpet.
 

Wool Carpet & Water

Water will not cause wool carpeting to shrink, stretch, or warp since wool is a natural fiber. Like with all carpets, it is never safe to over saturate or use hot water. Use cool or warm water to treat any spots or stains. Too much wetness will cause water damage; creating foul odors, potential mold growth, and discoloration. Should too much water make contact, expedite the drying process as best you can. Flip on ceiling fans and use portable fans. If the weather permits, open a window. Providing you have an water extraction equipment, such as wet/dry vac, use it to pull up as much liquid as possible. If necessary, place a dry on top of the area to draw up the moisture. Repeat with a separate dry towel and place weight on top of it and leave it for several hours. When you wool carpets are hit with flooding of any kind, call in a professional right away for immediate water damage restoration services.
 

Professional Carpet Cleaning & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

Wool carpets are more efficiently cleaned by a professional. They should be deep cleaned 1-2 times a year according to manufacturers. When it comes time for your wool carpets to be professionally cleaned, call in the experts of Steam Green Carpet Cleaning and let our team get your carpets cleaned and refreshed.

Having kids in your home means more carpet stains. Clean carpets are important because our children spend so much time playing on them. Muddy shoes, spilled drinks and artwork on your carpet are all parts of parenthood. Steam Green Carpet Cleaning offers helpful tips to remove common kid carpet stains.
 

Carpet Stains with Kids in the Home

1. Mud. Remember how fun it was to play in the mud? Kids love it! We all want our children to enjoy having fun jumping through mud puddles on a rainy day, but it can be quite a mess when it gets tracked into the house and onto the carpet. If your kids aren’t great at removing their shoes at the door, you’ll need to know how to handle muddy messes. Grabbing a cloth and starting to scrub isn’t a good idea. This just spreads the mess around and grinds the mud deeper into the carpet fibers. The best way to take care of mud messes is to let the mud dry and blot any puddles. Blotting will lift the mess into the cloth. Once the mud is dry it can be vacuumed. Then dab a clean cloth into a mixture of mild soap and water to clean up anything that remains and remember to spot-test the solution you’ll be using on a hidden area first.
2. Juice. Kids love juice and the brighter the color, the better! This can be bad news for your carpets. Again, grabbing a cloth and starting to scrub is not the way to go. This will only push the stain further in to the carpet fibers and will just spread the stain. Blot with a paper towel or clean cloth to soak up as much of the spill as you can. A mixture of mild sap and water can help remove a light stain, but heavier stains will need more work. Professionals are experts at getting stains out and store-bought cleaners might have a negative effect on your carpet. Some can damage carpet fibers and others can discolor it.
3. Artwork. Kids love to make artwork and you’ll love all their creations until they end up on your carpets! Different art stains require different methods of cleaning. Crayons are waxy enough and probably won’t leave a stain behind. Just vacuum any debris left behind and you should be good to go. Paint that is darker in color can be hard to remove. Remember no to rub. Let the paint dry and vacuum up the leftover remains. Crayon and paint stains can be completely removed with a mild cleaning solution. Permanent marker will most likely leave permanent stains. Cleaners can help remove a lot of it but probably not completely. For complete removal you will probably need to give the pros a call.
 

Professional Carpet Cleaning & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

It doesn’t matter how careful kids are, accidents will happen so it’s always good to be prepared. Contact the pros at Steam Green Carpet Cleaning for expert advice and methods to have your carpets looking like new all the time, even with kids in your house!

If you want to see a child’s eye light up bring a puppy into the room. When it comes to things that really make a house feel like a home it is the presence of people, laughter, love and of course a pet. They are the one part of the family that seem to be the most loyal and happy to see you no matter what time of day and night. Although a cute new puppy or kitten is a great addition to your household they can be a burden as well. They start off by chewing all the things in your house such as shoes, pillows, toys and more. Studies have shown that kids that grow up with a pet in the house turn out to be happier people. That is why it is important to know about all the aspects of having a dog or cat in your house. One aspect happens to be the messes that they tend to leave on your carpets, rugs and upholstery.
 

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning Lists Stains Your Pet Can Leave On Your Carpets, Rugs & Upholstery

Pet Hair, Fur & Dander: One of the things that start to cause allergies and breathing trouble in your household happens to be from the pets. They tend to shed and most people think that the hair or fur that is left around the house is what causes the allergies. The interesting fact is that the hair may play a small role but the bigger problem is the dander. Pets like dogs and cats have dander on their skin that sheds off just like the hair and fur and that is found all over the house. The problem you are left with is the hair, fur and dander can be found on every surface of the house including your carpets, rugs, couches and more. The best way to combat that is to vacuum on a regular basis as well as have them cleaned by a professional.
Pet Urine Accidents: The other problem is that when you get a new dog or cat they are learning your house. They also will take some time to learn how and where to use the bathroom. This is why it will lead to accidents on the carpet and rugs. These are a problem on your carpets because it will start to soak into the carpet fibers, backing and padding. The biggest trouble is that the urine will leave an odor behind. The odor has to be treated as well as the stain to ensure that your carpets are clean and smelling fresh.
Dirt & Grime: Pets are fun but if you have a pet that spends any time outdoors you are sure to find that they bring dirt and grime into the house. The dirt and grime can become compacted into the carpet and it will cause it to become lifeless and flat. You want to make sure that you have your carpets cleaned regularly to keep the dirt from damaging your carpets and rugs.
 

Carpet Cleaning, Pet Stain & Odor Removal & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California.

Steam Green Carpet Cleaning offers cleaning services to care for your rugs, carpets and more. Call us today to get your appointment booked.

Carpets, kids and pets. Carpeting and kids kind of go together. They provide a safe and comfortable surface for kids and grandkids to play on and protect them from knocks, scrapes and mishaps. Pets go with kids. You find a child and a dog or cat are not far away. Beverage spills and pet urine are usually associated with the kid-pet environment. Most of us try to protect our children from disease, injury and discomfort. But that carpet harbors secrets.
 

Mold in Carpet

Breath in, breath out, mold spores, which are a common constituent of the air we breathe. Give these spores a place, meaning a surface to attach themselves, a cocktail of moisture, food and oxygen they will grow and spread. Carpeting is an ideal breeding ground for mold spores. Mold destroys the carpet and padding and can be allergenic. Asthma sufferers are at risk from mold exposure and even non-allergic people can suffer from irritated nose, throat, skin and lungs. Mold is not always readily identifiable or observable on the surface of the carpet. Mold is secretive, living in the padding and lower fiber matrix of the carpet. Hiding, waiting, growing and expanding mold is like some sci-fi alien invading your home. Flooding, spills and condensation provide the moisture that is necessary for mold growth. Basement carpeting is very susceptible to mold infestation. Reduction of indoor humidity will aid in the prevention of mold growth, with a range of 30-60 percent humidity is acceptable. Prior planning helps.
 

How to Avoid Wet Carpet Mold Dangers

Do not install carpet in high humid environments, like bathrooms and basements. Choose high quality padding, solid rubber with antimicrobial properties are a high priority, particularly if you live in coastal or other high humidity locations. Never allow standing water, if a leaks and flooding occur, the carpet and underlying padding should be cleaned and dried. Use dry carpet cleaning methods so as to minimize introduction of additional moisture.
 

Can You Remove Excessive Mold & Mildew from Carpet?

Extensive mold that has grown into the carpet is impossible to remove through cleaning. If mold growth is extensive or occurring in more than one area the carpet will most likely need replacing. Detergent and hot water from a deep clean steam cleaner can sometimes remove mold from a carpet if the mold invasion is localized and relatively light.
 

What Causes Carpet Beetles & How to Get Rid of Them?

If your carpet is made from natural fibers cotton, linens, rayon and wool, you have to consider carpet beetles. These ugly little critters will munch on your carpets, clothing and furniture. They devour fur, hair, animal detritus, woolen and plant materials. These little monsters are scary enough but their worm like larva is worse. And carpet beetles fly. The black carpet beetles are highly destructive and are common pest. To wage war on these things you can vacuum, spray a preventative agent, spread boric acid which is harmless to pets and humans and pack you clothing with moth balls. Be sure to vacuum up the boric acid within two hours to prevent bleaching of carpet and textiles.
 

Carpet Cleaning, Stain Removal & More in Valley Village, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Simi Valley, Burbank, Calabasas, Beverly Hills, Thousand Oaks & Los Angeles California

Our last little sojourn into the creepy is dust mites. Dust mites are miniature tick like critters that eat all of human detritus like flakes of shed human skin. In a way these things are beneficial in that they clean up a lot of the ‘garbage’ that collects in the house. The problem is that they are very, very small and ride along with the dust when airborne. Breathed in they are a common allergen encountered in any human habitation. They exacerbate asthma and other allergic reactions. Contact Steam Green Carpet Cleaning to remove all these contaminants and more.