Carpet Steam Cleaner

Large Area Rugs Over Travertine Floor Tile

david — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:39:02 +0000

In the Los Angeles west region, located on a specific block less than half a mile from popular Beverly Hills lies a house which has been able to showcase a beautiful combination of large area rugs as well as travertine floor tile. Such a home also has a large Persian carpet on the floor of the living room. Another Persian rug is placed underneath the table within the dining area. Also, not too far from the table in the dining room is a row of floor tiles.

Take note that such gorgeous limestone tiles have long been utilized in the making of an awesome winding staircase. The tile’s ivory color perfectly complements its iron black wrought railing. Essentially, the staircase’s curve along with its railing provides the home with an attractively elegant look. The addition of the Persian carpets helped further accentuate the home’s elegant feel.

From a technological perspective, the selection of the travertine tiles could also serve as an effective exercise of good judgment. These particular limestone elements offer comforting durability and at the same time beauty that is yet to be unmatched. They also perfectly blend with the overall appearance of a carpeted room as well as winding stairway. The tile’s quality as well as the rug ensures the sustainability of both.

When this particular writer was in such a home, the house’s owner presented the floor tile’s easy-to-clean feature. Basically, she invited over young children to color and eat whilst comfortably seated on the beautiful tiled stairs. In the meantime, the mothers made sure to express their admiration with regards to the room’s quiet elegance.

Maybe one day, one of these children will decide to take an architecture degree and she or he would then assist in the making of a similarly gorgeous stairway, probably one that has the same curve and travertine tile steps.

Different Styles of the Dalyn Area Rug

david — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:30:56 +0000

A rug is a great and beautiful way to accentuate a room. It is also an extremely practical item that can be used on some floors. Rugs made from thicker materials will give a warm feeling on cold floor surfaces and will also provide more comfort to walk on. The range of Dalyn area rugs is available in all kinds of styles and fibers. The company, being one of the biggest manufacturers, has rugs which are hand tufted or machine made, on offer. You can also find some rugs, which have been dyed and printed to create unique patterns.

These rugs are available in Persian designs, and even in Southwestern and Indian styles. There are many charming country motifs which include different patterns. In general, a rug made by machine will often be created from polypropylene, a synthetic fiber. A majority of their designs come in various sizes, so that you can choose the most appropriate one for your room or area where you would like to place the rug. Some of the standard sizes available are 8 ft. x 10 ft. room size piece, 3 ft. x 4 ft. rectangular size and the 2 ft. x 7 ft. runner.

You can even find some styles in shapes that are round or oval, and in various different sizes. The Dalyn area rug can also be found in several contemporary designs which have, in the print, geometric patterns. They rugs come in several contemporary designs which have, in the print, some attractive, geometric patterns. You can find a number of such modern styles of rugs in their Capri line. A small rug is great for use in the front door area as a decorative piece, whereas a larger rug for a room can be used on a wooden floor to provide warmth and comfort. Round and oval styles go well in rooms equipped with some furniture including a sofa and chairs. A rug together with all other elements in the room also exudes a professional-styled appearance.

Steam Cleaning Tips

david — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:25:01 +0000

- Steam cleaners are excellent for sanitizing, killing dust mites, bacteria, and mold. Steam cleaners use a combination of heat and antibacterial solution to loosen dirt and extract it.

- Every steam cleaning unit contains a water tank with a built-in-heater used to heat the water up to 260 degrees.

- Steam cleaners hold anywhere from 10 ounces to 4 quarts of liquid.

- If you are cleaning a stain or difficult spot try holding the nozzle so the spray is directed at that small area.

- All steam cleaners come with different features which are important to consider when purchasing a steam cleaner. Some steam cleaners come with attachments of various sizes, tools to get into crevices, squeegees and extension hoses.

- After running out of steam you must wait around 20 minutes for the steam cleaner to cool before you can add more water. Newer models have a continuous fill system that lets you safely add more water as you run out of steam because they have separate water tanks and reservoirs.

- A standard feature on modern steam cleaners is an indicator light that tells you when the water level is too low.

- Find a steam cleaner with wheels for easy portability.

- Steam cleaners are great not only for cleaning carpet but also bathroom and kitchen grout, floors, and counters.

- Hand held steam cleaners are an excellent choice for people who do not have enough space to store a canister steam cleaner unit.

- It is important to consider that steam cleaning can be time consuming because of all the time it takes water to boil and because of the cooling off period between each fill.

- Be sure to always use a steam cleaner properly. Not following safety precautions can cause severe burns. Remember to face the nozzle away from you at all times.

- Always vacuum your carpet before steam cleaning to remove loose dirt.

- If your carpet is extremely soiled try using a spray to lift the dirt up out of the carpet. There are many sprays that come in a can and are sold at the grocery store that will help your steam cleaner with bad stains.

-Remember to move the steam cleaner nozzle slowly so that it has time to get the carpet wet, loosen the dirt, and suck the excess water and dirt.

- If the carpet is very dirty it will need to be shampooed twice to get rid of all stains.

How to Properly Care for Your Area Rug

david — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:26:51 +0000

Area rugs can be beautiful additions to your home, but they can be expensive and sometimes delicate. It’s important to know how to clean and maintain area rugs to make them last for years to come. By following some simple guidelines, you can keep your area rugs looking bright and new as the day you bought them.

Proper Cleaning is Crucial

The first thing any rug owner should understand is the difference between rug and carpet. While these terms were used interchangeably for hundreds of years, today they describe two different types of floor covering. A carpet is attached to the floor using tacks and is often “wall to wall” while a “rug” is a textile that is not fastened down. The two are made from different materials and this is why cleaning a carpet is not the same as cleaning a rug.

Many rug owners opt to have their rugs professionally cleaned. It’s a good idea to have your rug cleaned every two years. Many professional cleaners will pick up your rug, clean it, and deliver it back to your home. Some even come to your home and clean your rug right then and there. Owners of expensive rugs like to use these cleaning services because of the many kinds of rugs and different materials woven into them. It does take a skilled, trained expert to clean most high quality rugs.

In Between Cleanings

The easiest this to do to maintain your rug is vacuuming. To properly vacuum area rugs, remove all furniture from them and vacuum to remove surface dirt. Weekly vacuuming on both sides would be ideal. Vacuuming the flip side of the rug is the only way to get the dirt that settles into the backing. Use the curtain-cleaning attachment of your vacuum to clean the fringes.

You can help to lengthen the life of your rug by rotating it at least once a year, six months if there’s furniture on it. This will help to evenly distribute foot traffic over the entire rug. If you do have furniture on your rug, place a support underneath the rug where the legs rest. You can purchase special rug supports, pads or, in a pinch, use small tile under each leg. By doing this will you will help keep the furniture from indenting the rug. If the rug is reversible, flip it over every six months.

If you spill something on your area rug or notice a stain while you’re vacuuming, you should attend to the stain right away. For new spills, place a clean towel or cloth underneath the rug. Use paper towels or a dry, clean towel and blot the stain. Repeat this until you’ve gotten as much of the spill as you can. Next, try to remove the stain. Replace the cloth or towel underneath the rug with a clean, dry one. From the top, dip a cloth or towel in a little club soda or cold water. Ring it out well so it’s only damp. Blot the stain and follow by blotting with a dry towel. If it doesn’t get out the stain, try blotting some shaving cream onto the stain. If the shaving cream doesn’t work, try a gentle solution of 1 teaspoon dish soap to 1 cup of water. If your stain remains, call a professional. Trying anything harsher can damage your rug.

How to Clean and Maintain your Outdoor Rugs

david — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:27:45 +0000

It can be very friendly and welcoming to walk up to a persons home and find a rug outside greeting you. Its stylish, polite and generally gives a good impression of the people inside. Many find outdoor rugs essential for their back garden or outside their front door. The problem is, however, that these rugs are constantly in use and therefore its condition can be less than perfect. Its important that you know how to clean an outdoor rug, leaving it shiny and new like the day it was first purchased.

Firstly, the easiest option when dealing with dirt or mud is to prevent its appearance in the first place. You can’t stop people walking on it of course but you can keep it safe during harsh weather conditions. When bad weather strikes just roll up your rug and keep it inside till the sun’s back out. If you keep pets then be careful when they are coming back from a walk with muddy paws, the same rule applies to the other people living in the house. Only allow clean shoes, runners, boots etc to walk across the outdoor rugs.

A good strong vacuum will give you a lot of assistance when removing excess dirt or crumbs. Rugs can attract all sorts of dirt which builds up quite quickly so a regular vacuum will leave it looking new. If your problem is stains or muck then it would be recommendable to work with soap and water. Take your rug outside where you have space and use the garden house to water it down. Then apply your soap and start scrubbing away, it could take some time so keep at it until you are satisfied with the end result.

Outdoor rugs tend to differ in sizes so if you have a larger one, then your regular brush won’t do the job for you while cleaning. Look into buying a large broom and then apply the same methods of soap and water.

For a broad look at different rugs to use outside, visit the Outdoor Rugs Guide.

Should You Use a Floor Buffer at Home?

david — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:13:04 +0000

When it comes to the cleaning and maintenance of flooring in the lobbies of high rise office buildings, corridors of medical facilities and warehouse loading docks, there is no question that a floor buffer is essential. What about the floors in our homes? Obviously, most people manage without them, but there are many time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks that could be accomplished far quicker and easier with a buffer than doing it all by hand.

Other than carpeting, practically all types of flooring found in most homes can benefit from the use of a floor buffer. This includes stone, vinyl, laminate, linoleum and even the oak or walnut wood flooring in your living room or den. Ceramic tile can not only be cleaned with a buffer, but with a little practice, you will be amazed at how good a job you can do on that grout that is next to impossible to keep looking like it’s supposed to!

Perhaps the most common reason that buffers are not found in most home utility closets is because they are somewhat difficult to use. We’ve all been the hapless victim or know someone who naively flipped the “on” switch, expecting to be able to operate a floor buffer with as much ease as a lawn mower. Sometimes the result was simply the shock of being rapidly, and none too gently, propelled across the floor, no matter how hard we tried to dig in our heels and make it stop. Then there were those instances when the consequences were more extreme and damage ensued to a wall or other object. In reality, buffers require far less strength to use than that lawn mower but they cannot be controlled by brute force. It merely takes learning how to use the controls and a bit of practice.

The good news, however, is that once you’ve mastered the simple techniques of using your floor buffer, including which attachments and accessories to use for each type of project, as well as the correct chemicals, you will be able to accomplish far more than you can imagine. Stripping, deep cleaning and polishing are a snap and you will find that your neighbors and friends will be jealous of how fantastic your floors look.

There are many advantages to owning and using a buffer in your home. In fact, the only true downside may be those neighbors and friends. They will not only be wanting to borrow it but you may well end up spending some of that extra free time teaching them how to run it!

How to Decorate Using Area Rugs

david — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:51:49 +0000

Adding a rug as an accessory to your home décor has never been easier or more fun due to the large variety of rugs to choose from. Area rugs come in all sizes and shapes, colors, prints, designs, fabrics and themes. You will find rugs to mix and match any room décor, or you can start from scratch and purchase new furniture to accommodate your newly acquired carpet. There is no limit to what a home decorator can do with a little imagination and creativity.

However, when it comes to the practicalities of choosing a rug, there are some factors to consider which will help make your choice much easier. These factors include: the traffic you expect the rug to get; whether your rug will be subject to children or pets; the duration you expect from a rug; the price you expect to pay. These are but a few practical matters to determine ahead of time before you begin shopping as they may help narrow your rug choices to specific types, brands or fabrics.

When decorating with your carpet, the style, color, size and shape of the product you choose will also depend on certain factors such as what area of your home you are buying the rug for, the existing room décor, the mood, atmosphere or theme you hope to create with the addition of a rug, etc. Area rugs can be used to add warmth and charm to a rustic den setting, or elegance and fashion to a more formal living room environment, complementing a stylish living room set. They can be used as functional pieces such as a mat for a child’s play area or runner for an entrance way or hall in a home. For more details on rug types as well as additional decorating tips, you can visit floor rugs online for all your carpet shopping needs.

Brown Area Rugs: Great For A Natural Look

david — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:56:02 +0000

With a lot of people choosing to go for natural colored rooms, with a feeling of calm and relaxation, a brown area rug is often the perfect choice of decorative piece for the centre of the room. Available in a plethora of different styles and patterns, there are rugs out there to fit more or less any room design.

What Material to go For?

When buying an area rug, there are a wide range of materials available, all offering a selection of qualities. For the more budget minded, you can pick up a polypropylene area rug for as low as $10, but with the cheaper material comes a loss of tactile quality, however they are very durable.

If you’re looking for something made of higher quality materials, a wool rug can be bought for around the $75 mark, offering a much better quality of fabric. For some of the higher end pieces, you can look at the better quality wools or a wool/silk mix, for around $750-$1000 plus.

Decorating Around a Brown Rug?

When designing a room around a brown rug as the centerpiece it is easy to find furniture to fit your color scheme. There is a wide variety of lounge furniture available with exposed wood as well as differing shades of brown leather to match the rug. It is also easy to go with a nature based theme, using plants to match the earth tones of the rug and natural materials to compliment the overall feel.

Why use a Brown Rug?

When you consider that rugs are often placed in areas of high traffic such as in front of furniture, brown is a great shade to chose as it will hide signs of usage, as well as accidental stains better than many colors of rug. Also, with a wide range of colored rugs and furniture being available, brown area rugs can be some of the easiest to match with a varied selection of colors.

Keeping Kitchen Hardwood Floors Clean and Beautiful

david — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:29:01 +0000

The kitchen, since it is a cooking area, always presents some cleaning challenges. Taking consistent care of your floor is the key. It’s easy.

Hardwood floors are definitely one of the most beautiful flooring created, and following a simple routine can increase the lifespan and beauty of your floor. Cleaning hardwood floors has never been easier, and there are many new tools and cleaning products available to help you, depending on the type of protective finish that you have.

The easiest and best way to care for a wood floor is by sweeping it on a daily basis. If you are not able to sweep it daily, then at least try to sweep it a couple of times per week. The small particles of dirt and sand, that are carried in on our shoes, can act like sand paper and do damage to wood, that is sometimes not immediately noticed. Having your stainless kitchen trash can available is essential.

Keeping rugs and runners in high-traffic areas coming into the kitchen like entryways, hallways, can help to keep some of that dirt from spreading to the kitchen, but you will need to keep them vacuumed regularly or you will be defeating their purpose. There are many soft sweepers on the market today, which are made specifically for wood floors, and they make sweeping much faster.

Vacuuming a wood floor is not recommended unless you use the soft-bristled attachments alone. Today, vacuums come with a setting for hardwood, but unless you can change the bristles on the rotating brush, you should not trust it. Over time, it may scratch and dull the floor, and that can be an expensive risk to take.

You should always be sure to immediately and thoroughly wipe up and clean any spills, as water and moisture can damage a wood floor. If one of your stainless steel pots and pans falls to the floor while cooking, address it right away. Warping is a result of moisture left unattended. If you plan to use any cleaning products on your floor, be sure they will work with the type of wood finish you have. Read all directions, and test a small area in a corner before using it. Some people swear by water alone, and others use a vinegar and water mixture of 1/4 to 1 gallon of water, only when the floor feels sticky or filmy.

Preventative maintenance is key, when it comes to keeping your hardwood floor clean and beautiful. Daily sweeping is by far the easiest and best defense. It is well worth the effort to keep your floor looking its best.

Carpet Cleaning Equipment and Supplies: The Top 3 Companies

david — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:38:03 +0000

Seasonal allergies can put a damper on anyone’s summer. While the weather outside is gorgeous, the sun is shining, the birds are at play and a flock of scantily clad men and women stroll down warm walkways, you are stuck indoors with a rolling cough, a stuffy nose and watering eyes. The problem is, and you know it: your house is chalked full of allergens. What you might not know is that along with the traditional hideouts of household allergens such as ducts, floor vents and bathrooms, carpet may be the worst of them all.

If you have not had a professional cleaning service come in months or years with the top of the line carpet cleaning equipment, you might have found the reason for your allergy flair-up. If all you have used to clean the carpets is your home vacuum cleaner, you have not really addressed all of the dusts, pollens and allergens that are lurking in your carpet. Professional equipment is designed with deep suction to get to the bottom of your problem. A thorough shampooing will also add to the cleaning benefit.

Commercial cleaners have the cleaning supplies that most people cannot get their hands on.

Companies like Stanley Steamers, a national carpet cleaning service, have the equipment to do a deep steam clean that extracts all of the soot from the carpet. After the first treatment, you will begin to notice an abatement in your allergy symptoms. Other companies, as well, use specialized treatments to clean your carpet.

Chem Dry, also a national carpet service, uses a carbonation process to effervescently remove dirt and muck from your carpet. They are trusted in the industry for being tough on dirt and being able to get even the filthiest carpets clean like new. They have a wide range of service and their employees are friendly and professional.

Lastly, Sears, that giant company that has been around since before anyone can remember, offers a well known and effective cleaning process. Sears uses a pH balancing solution followed by a thorough rinsing solution. Their mission is to extract even the cleaning solutions they use from the carpet. The idea behind their method is that leaving soap residue behind attracts new dirt. Each company has a different method, and all three will get your carpets clean and allergen free so you can join the fun outdoors.