PROTECTING YOUR VALUABLE AREA RUGS

Area Rug Stain Protection
Most wool and silk rugs are sold without protection of any kind. We offer special protectors for all rugs, including fine wool and silk. These products are designed to help protect against water-based and oily spills

Typical Scotchgard type products are not well suited to hand made rugs. We use a protector designed specifically for rugs.

There are 3 basic benefits to having your rugs protected after cleaning.

Protection provides a barrier to inhibit spills and even pet accidents from soaking into the rug. You will have more time to get to the problem and blot it out.
Protection greatly improves the efficiency of vacuuming. Coating the fibers with a proctector coating makes dirt much easier to remove.
Application of this specially formulated protector actually adds luster to the rug and contributes to a very nice hand.
Protecting valuable rugs just makes sense

INEXPENSIVE AND SIMPLE PET URINE HELPER

 You will have a better chance of keeping your carpet fresh and new looking when pets have accidents. More and more people want home-made carpet cleaning solutions because of the fact that they are really inexpensive. An example would be the acetic acid present in vinegar. Common household white vinegar is effective in combatting odors from pet urine. This type of carpet cleaning solution is also non-toxic in nature & inexpensive;and will not harm your children or pets in any way. It is an excellent pet accident remedy.   
Homemade Stain remover
If you want to prepare homemade urine remedy, all you need is white vinegar, and a pistol grip spray bottle. Mix vinegar and water, 50/50 and mist on the area in question…..BLOT and repeat as necessary. Be sure not to rub vigorously as this may distort carpet fibers and while the odor may be gone, an unsightly area will remain. A larger accident (we have big dogs ourselves, so we know these kinds of accidents are rarely “small”)…..may require more vinegar solution as the urine has usually also soaked into the padding underneath. In this case, it is essential that you remove all the solution by blotting with white towels and then laying a towel down and weighting it with something heavy to help soak up the solution as it wicks to the surface. Of course you and I know that prevention is the best cure, but sometimes accidents happen. Prevention is the same case when it comes to the cleaning of carpets. If you vacuum your carpet daily, especially with pets in the home, you will find the indoor air quality is much more healthier and carpets will look and be cleaner longer. Check your vacuum cleaner belt often to insure peak performance.

What’s The Secret To Longer Lasting and Cleaner Carpets in Deland and Deltona?

One of the most important things we can do to maintain a clean and healthy home, as well as make our carpeting last longer and look better is to v acuum, vacuum, vacuum!!  Not one of most people’s favorite things to do (even we admit we don’t love the vacuuming part of our job!)–it is, however SUPER IMPORTANT.   Our carpets act as air filters in our rooms and trap dust that would normally be floating around in the air.  This is a good thing, as long as we vacuum routinely to keep the “filter” clean.

Shaw Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of carpets recommends rooms with light traffic be vacuumed once weekly and the traffic lanes 2x a week.

In heavy traffic areas, Shaw recommends vacuuming traffic areas DAILY and the entire area 2x weekly.  In heavily soiled areas, we should make at least 5-7 passes of the vacuum, changing direction occasionally to help reduce matting. 

Don’t forget to change the bag often so vacuum suction won’t be impaired…and clean the filter if you have one.   Many people who don’t like vacuuming may do so more often when using the type machine with a clear dirt receptacle so they can see exactly what they’re getting out of the carpets.  And don’t forget to vacuum the area rugs–hand knotted orientals can hide pounds and pounds of dirt and still look great.  When we bring in Orientals to clean in our shop, we not only vacuum, but use a commercial rug duster that gets piles of sand out before we wet clean them.

If you use carpet powders, DON’T!!  But, of course some people will and super vacuuming is essential—-once the perfume wears off, the powder then absorbs any odors and what was intended to remedy a smelly situation actually ends up making it worse.

When we don’t vacuum, the dirt and sand act like sandpaper on our carpet fibers, taking away the lustre and changing the appearance (think what your waxed car would look like if you rubbed sandpaper on it) and grinding away at the fibers—leading to carpets wearing out faster and looking bad sooner.

Often, when we go to clean carpets, homeowners will tell us that some rooms don’t need cleaning because they never get any foot traffic even though they haven’t been cleaned in a few years—of course we couldn’t go several years without dusting our furniture–well, we could, but you wouldn’t!  All that dust has also settled on our carpets.

Of course All Pro Carpet Cleaners of Deland, FL vacuums before we clean your carpeting and we encourage you to get out that vacuum now and have fun!  We vacuum fine homes in Deland, Deltona, DEbary, Sanford, Lake Mary, New Smyrna Beach, Winter Springs, Tuscawilla!

Do Any Of You Have Allergies or Asthma???

Have you ever had your mattress cleaned? Most of us haven’t even given any consideration to mattress cleaning. Do not underestimate the potential value of this cleaning process. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of allergies or asthma.
Most allergies are caused by contaminants in the environment that we can remove by specialized cleaning.

Dust Mites Inhabit Mattresses, Pillows, Carpet, Draperies, Furniture

Do You Have Dust Mite Allergies?

Dust mites are microscopic, eight-legged creatures (7,000 can fit on a fingernail) and are invisible to the naked eye. It is the dust mite feces that caused the development of allergies.

A dust mite will produce 200 times its own body weight in feces during its lifetime!

Mattresses contain 60% of the dust mites found in the home. Given that we spend up to one-third of our lives in the bedroom and are exposed to this highly potent allergen for long periods of time, the bedroom is the number one treatment priority.

Mattress cleaning is safe&efficient.;

The products that we use to clean your mattress are hypoallergenic, dye&perfume free. They have been specially formulated for use around people with allergic illness and chemical sensitivities. Call All Pro Carpet Cleaners for a free Quote !!

All Pro Carpet Cleaners
386 774 7441
407 833 8888

Carpet Care Tips: Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference

 

1) Take off your shoes?  Where have they been today?

 

2) Change the air filter in your air handler.  The more dust particles removed from the air, the less that will wind up on the carpet.

 

3) Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum.  Especially with homes that have occupants younger than six or older than sixty.  These age groups are more affected by dog/pet dander and dust particles.  Frequent vacuuming is the easiest and best way to keep your carpet clean.

 

4) Use a mat at your entry door.  This is your first line of defense!

 

Carpet, tile and wood/laminat cleaning is just like exercising……Your carpet will look, last longer and you will see great results from your own efforts.!

Our Pets….we love ‘em, but don’t want to smell ‘em

Our doggies and kitties are a source of companionship and joy for millions of us.  We know we love our boxers and treat them like children…well, maybe even allowing them to do things we’d never allow our children to do!

Understand how to help your pets stay healthy and clean and happy and your home will be fresher for it. There are two pet-related problems that can affect the freshness of your home and its furnishings. These are pet accidents, both urine and feces, and body oils. Knowing about them can make living with a pet an even more positive experience.

Hot steamy weather (like we have most of the time in Florida!) is the time you are most likely to notice pet odors. That’s when pet hair, skin dander, and the residue from “pet accidents” begin to decompose — generating a distinct “doggie” smell that plagues even the most fastidiously cleaned homes. 

Dogs, especially, secrete oils from their fur and paw pads. Good grooming and baths keep this in check. Periodically launder your pet’s bedding. If your pet has a favorite spot on the floor or in a chair (or on the bed), you might want to put a pet blanket/rug or some other washable item there.

Pet accidents are always cause for concern. Animal behaviorists will tell you that by instinct pets are attentive to good hygiene. They don’t want to have accidents in their homes. When they do, it is usually because of some other factor. Perhaps the pet is sick. Perhaps the pet’s exercise schedule was interrupted or wasn’t long enough. This happens a lot in rainy and cold weather when the pet doesn’t want to go out or mostly the owner doesn’t want to go out!  Perhaps the litter box needs to be cleaned. Maybe the pet has been traumatized. It’s been recommended that the first thing to do when a pet unexplainably starts having accidents is to talk to your veterinarian.

As for cleanup, you need to blot up as much of the problem as you can. If solids are involved, gently scrape it up with a bit of cardboard. Work from the outside toward the center. This is important: Don’t apply house cleaners to the site. Some of them can change the color, texture or stain resistance of the affected fibers. Scented powders are almost impossible to remove with residential vacuums and once the fragrance goes away, we are left with the bad smell, only worse.  Some can leave strong smelling residues that serve as “marker” triggering further accidents from your pets. Some concentrated cleaners leave soapy residue that attracts dust and soil, making the spot return in a couple of weeks (as well as continuing to smell)  New safe-to-use enzyme products are available which do an excellent job of treating these problems areas.

Here’s How You Can Help Keep Your “Home-With-Pets” Clean and Fresh

1. Act immediately when pet accidents occur. The longer the soil stands, the greater the chance it will seep through the carpet to the pad and floor.
2. Remove as much moisture as possible by blotting the spot with a clean white absorbent material. The more moisture you remove now, the less residue has to be treated later. Using a clean white absorbent material lessens the risk of transferring dye between your cleaning material and your affected fabric. It also helps you to “see” if the stain is being successfully removed.
3. If you catch the animal in the act, use a mixture of one part ammonia to three parts water. Spray it on the spot to neutralize the urine, let stand for five minutes, then flush with water and blot with a dry towel. If the urine spot is not fresh, use an enzyme to help kill the odor
4. Call us. We are trained and equipped to thoroughly clean, disinfect and deodorize pet stains. We also stand behind our work

All Pro Carpet Cleaners     

386 774 7441     407 833 8888

Whoops! I spilled some coffee (wine, tea, red punch)…now what?

As carpet cleaners, we have seen everything spilled on carpets!  And spills don’t usually pick the best time……..so–club soda is the best emergency spotter there is.  Keep club soda on hand to clean up spills on carpet and clothing.  Remember to act as soon as possible to a spill.  If you act fast, a spot shouldn’t become a stain.  Club soda will remove red wine, coffee, tea, soda (yes, even red soda and fruit punch!) and any other spills you can think of.  Lift any solids carefully off the carpet or clothes and then pour on the club soda, blotting with an old rag until all color from the spill is removed.  Don’t be afraid to really wet the carpet as long as you blot it after by folding a towel and standing on it, turning the towel or rag as it absorbs the moisture and discoloration from the spill.  The carbonation in the club soda brings the offending spill to the surface so that you can blot it up, and the salts in it will help prevent staining.  If you spill on your clothes in a restaurant, ask for a little club soda or seltzer and use your napking to blot the stain until it is removed.  At home, you can pour the club soda directly onto the spot, flushing it out.  I have found that club soda will even work on many old stains, too.  Always keep several bottles on hand.

Get Off Your “But”…..What an inspiring read!

     Am reading a great book Get Off Your “But” by Sean Stephenson.   A 32 year old with a fragile bone disease leaving him 3 feet tall, confined to a wheelchair, and with 200 broken bones by the age of 18, Sean faces life with optimism and enthusiasm. Connie and I had the privilege of hearing him speak at a carpet cleaning conference in late 2009 (the carpet cleaning biz may be a dirty business, but it is a great vehicle to meet and be exposed to many fantastic people!)

     After a setback at age 9, his mother asked him the question that he says changed his life, “Is this going to be a gift or a burden?”  Today Sean has written 4 books,  is a board-certified psychotherapist, and is sought after as a public speaker who has inspired millions to choose whether every moment is a gift or a burden. 

Encourage all to read this super book!  Inspiring me to get off my “but” and do my best!

Find out about Sean http://www.timetostand.com/

The latest greatest miracle carpet fiber or not?

Life Happens Think Smart…

Smartstrand made with Dupont Sorona polymer represents a breakthrough in fiber technology.Dupont’s propietary sorona polymer has engineered stain protection that will never wash off or wear off. The fiber’s outstanding resiliency and durability make it a natural choice for busy households.When life happens, think smart. Think Smartstrand.
Well that’s what the marketing professionals have to say anyway…….

All Pro Carpet Cleaners, on the other hand are the Cleaning Professionals and we are constantly asked for recommendations on what carpet types work best. Up until now we have always recommended Solution Dyed Nylon as the best all around carpet for most home owners. It holds up well and cleans up great! There have been other fibers out there that have lasted for years, but they have not cleaned up well or looked good for those same years!

Not a week goes by that we are not in a flooring store and many of the finest Carpet retailers in Volusia, Seminole, and Orange counties have been very impressed with this new form of Polyester called Smartstrand. We have friends who have installed it in a day care setting to try it out in possibly a tougher setting than Ricky’s!

We’re watching Smartstrand to see how it does…..Stay tuned!

WHICH CLEANING METHOD IS BEST?

The  real answer is, all of them..

Don’t buy into the “our method is best” advertising you’ll find all over the Internet and Yellow Pages.

Comparison of Carpet Cleaning Methods

There are four basic methods for cleaning carpet:

* Carpet Shampooing
* Dry Powder Method
* Bonnet Cleaning
* “Hot Water Extraction/Steam

Carpet Shampoo Method

The theory in the shampoo method is to generate a lot of foam in the carpet, allow this foam to dry, have the resulting residue attract the soil, and vacuum up the residue and soil the next day.

Because of historical past resoiling problems, carpet shampoos will frequently also have an anti-resoiling additive such as a resin or polymer to reduce this resoiling tendency.Today’s carpet Shampoos (often called Encapsulation Solutions) offer terrific results with no resoiling what so ever if done correctly.

Three primary types of machines are used for this process:

* Cylindrical Foam
* Dual Cylindrical Brush
* Rotary Shampoo

The Cylindrical Foam Shampoo machine uses an air compressor to create dry foam before the foam is applied to the carpet and the carpet is then agitated with a revolving cylindrical brush which combs the foam through carpet pile. This method will leave dirt trapped in the carpet pile. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

The Dual Cylindrical Brush machine usually has an onboard shampoo tank that disperses the cleaning agent across the carpet as the brushes work it into the pile. Embedded debris is usually “dug” out of the carpet at the same time. Post vacuuming is a must. Matted or distorted pile can be rejuvenated with this method.

The Rotary Shampoo method uses an ordinary rotary floor machine (the same kind used for stripping wax), sprays shampoo onto the carpet from a dispensing tank, and a rotary brush whips the detergent to a foam. Post vacuuming is needed as well to remove dried shampoo and soil.

Dry Powder Method

In this method, dry absorbent compound (containing small amounts of water, detergent, and solvent,) is sprinkled over carpet or worked into the carpet with a machine. This purpose of this cleaner is to attract and absorb soil. Mechanical agitation from a brush works the cleaner through the carpet.

These products usually contain an absorbent carrier, water, detergent, and solvent. The theory is that the liquids dissolve the soil and this soil/detergent/solvent mixture is absorbed into the carrier and is then vacuumed up. They are often used with a detergent prespray in heavily soiled areas.

The absorbent cleaner most commonly is organic, but may also be polymers. The compound is supposed to absorb the dislodged soil and is then vacuumed away. Carpet must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after cleaning.

Very thorough vacuuming should be used to ensure that most of the carrier comes out of the carpet. With the extremely fine powder types, indoor air quality can be reduced. If a white powder starts appearing on shoes and cuffs of pants, too much was used and it was not thoroughly vacuumed up. A common problem is for this white powder to reappear after wet extraction cleaning.

This cleaning method has the advantage of no drying time for interim maintenance, since little water is used. This makes if a common maintenance cleaner.

Host®, Capture®, Love My Carpet®, Arm and Hammer®, and Carpet Fresh® would be included in this category.

Bonnet Method / “Carbonated Cleaning”

This method is sometimes called “dry cleaning”, which is a misnomer, since water is used.

Bonnet Shampooing is simply an adaptation of hard floor spray buffing to carpets.

This method for carpet maintenance consists of the use of a rotary or oscillating brush adapted with a stiff brush or drive block designed to drive wet, damp or dry pads. The carpet can be sprayed with the cleaning solution and/or the pads can be soaked in the cleaning solution and squeezed lightly before placing the pad under the driving brush.
Sometimes, carbonated water is used to (in theory) give better soil suspension and bring down the pH. Companies using this method frequently use “scare” tactics to convince consumers that extraction cleaning or steam cleaning will destroy the carpet.
This method is best for light use commercial glue down carpeted areas where children and bare feet will not come in contact with the carpet. Used as a interim cleaning method it can keep your business flooring looking good between more thorough Extraction cleanings.

Steam Cleaning

This method is often called “Hot Water Extraction” or “Steam Cleaning” and is the cleaning method nearly all carpet manufacturers and carpet fiber producers recommend.

This is the only cleaning method classified as “deep cleaning”. All the others are considered “light surface cleaning” because they are incapable of removing soil deep in the pile. Also, all other methods leave large amounts of cleaning agent in the carpet after cleaning.

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends this method, because its own research indicates that it provides the best capability for cleaning.

This method is frequently called “steam” cleaning due to the fine spray of water used to force dirt out of the carpet which is sucked up by the vacuum slot immediately in front of the spray. Seldom is real live steam used, however. This process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and floor tool brought inside, or by a portable, system brought into the home or office.

From a health standpoint, the truck-mounted system is preferred because the dirty air and humidity are exhausted outside rather than recirculated around the house. Additionally, truck-mounted systems usually are more powerful than portable units and do a much better cleaning job and get the carpet dry more quickly.

With some truck-mounted systems (called PTO’s), the vehicle itself must run in neutral during the cleaning and in many others a separate engine (sometimes with a propane or oil-fired heater) is used to power the unit and heat the water.
Depending upon the equipment, temperatures may range from cold tap water to boiling hot water and even super heated water over 240 degrees F.
General Comments

The choice of the proper cleaning system is extremely important. Some systems leave residues which promote re-soiling and defeat the whole purpose of cleaning. Some methods actually damage the carpet fibers and shorten the life of the carpet. Check with the carpet manufacturer for recommendations.

Carpet Cleaning Frequency:

If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Allowing the carpet to become overly soiled may result in irreversible damage. It is a common myth that cleaning the carpet before it is absolutely necessary will cause it to get dirty faster. This goes back to the days when the shampoo methods were the most common.

Carpet in a typical household should be professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months depending upon the number of residents, amount and type of activity, and whether the carpet is light or dark color.
Professional Carpet Cleaning versus “Do-It-Yourself” Cleaning:

The maintenance brochure published by the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Industries, recommends professional carpet cleaning over “Do-It-Yourself” because of the potential problems that can occur from using rental equipment – such as yellowing, overwetting, fiber tip damage, severe resoiling, overuse of detergents, etc.
Most rental units available do not adequately clean and may actually damage the carpet.

Make sure to hire a cleaning company that offers all of these methods. In some cases it takes a combination of two or more methods to achieve the best results. The best “Multi Method Cleaners” in Volusia, Seminole, Lake, and Orange counties is, you guessed it…….All Pro Carpet Cleaners.  Deland, Deltona, Debary, Orange City, Lake Helen, Deleon Springs call 386 774 7441 and Sanford, Lake Mary, Heathrow, Winter Springs, Longwood call 407 833 8888.