Tips
Chris’s Carpet and Upholstery Tips
Chris Alber is recognized as an expert in carpet, upholstery and furniture care. In this section, Chris will discuss how to handle stains before they set and cause permanent damage. To start, Chris recommends you have these common household items on hand:
1. Clean white cotton towels.
2. Sprayer bottle with adjustable nozzle.
3. Fill sprayer bottle with a solution of 1 ounce vinegar to 1 quart of water.
Never rub carpet back and forth: friction causes heat which untwists carpet fiber and sets stain. Blot or wipe, lifting towel to allow carpet to cool between wipes.
For stains that are just on the tips of your carpet (i.e., food): use a fine mist so the stain doesn’t run further into your carpet fibers.
For stains that are deep: use a stream to saturate and suspend stain into cleaning liquid, then blot with towel to extract, or use a spot extractor such as Green Machine.
If you find a spot or stain that has already dried: try to scrape or peel it from carpet or upholstery first before getting it wet or using solution.
Steamex recommends obtaining an inexpensive, professional cleaning kit that includes Avenge, Solvent Spotter & All-Solv for tough stains. Ask us for details.
For small spots from sipper cups and baby bottles, and most food stains: try vinegar solution first. If this does not completely remove the stain, use Avenge.
For most liquid spills (kool-aid, gatorade, sodas, coffee, tea, juices):
1. Blot liquid with towel using your weight to press down and squeeze liquid from carpet & padding into the towel (this may require several towels).
2. Apply moderate amount of vinegar solution (5% ratio water to vinegar).
3. Blot again.
4. Get clean, dry white cotton towel and lay over stain. Set a flat heavy object (preferably plastic, or use a sheet of plastic between towel and object. Plastic toolbox or storage bin works well) on towel. Check every 4-8 hours until dry, and change towel if wet or stained.
For tar, grease, oil, some inks or small fresh paint spots: use a solvent based aerosol such as All-Solv, spray and blot.
Pet urine: Blot and wipe up. Spray with vinegar solution (or Avenge for tougher stains), until saturated and blot.
More serious problems (water damage, serious spills etc.) require the attention of a professional. When these occur, call Steamex for emergency service.
We are constantly updating this page based on topics that may interest you. Do you have a question you’d like to see us post an answer for in this section? Just contact Chris Alber at chris@steamex.com and we’ll provide the answers in our next update.
