| Jeff Chester
is president and owner of ACT Inc. Advance Catastrophe Technologies Incorporated. Jeff has written training materials and procedures pertaining to the many facets of restoration including mold, fire, water, and smoke damage. Jeff is a member of The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration, Inc., The National Institute of Disaster Restoration, The Mechanical Systems Hygiene Institute and The Water Loss Institute. Jeff can be contacted at his office at (316) 262-9992 or you can e-mail him at act@actcat.com |
Carpet Cleaning & Restoration
2003-05-01 11:00:00
Getting out carpet stains
: I have seen a 'household tips list' for getting certain stains out of carpeting, but I can't seem to find it. Do you have anything that might help?
ANSWER: I get a lot of phone calls from people who have stains on their carpet and need advice. The most common issues are pet related, juice spills, candle wax, assorted beverages and so on. With the increase of do-it-yourself programs on TV and articles with household do-it-yourself tips it is important to realize that the wrong method of treatment can permanently set a stain and ruin your carpet. While I'm not against people doing things on their own and becoming more and more resourceful in their abilities, home remedies more often than not make the problem worse. The best advice I can give someone who has a serious stain or spill on their carpet is to hire a professional to take care of the problem. The cost of a carpet cleaning compared to the price of replacing carpet makes the choice an easy decision. When people use household items such as vinegar, hot irons and over-the-counter spot removers the ph levels of the fibers are moved to extreme and over time can degrade the carpet prematurely. A reputable carpet cleaner will invests in state of the art cleaning equipment and training. When choosing a carpet cleaner, look for certifications from the IICRC "Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration”. When a technician completes their training they will understand and be able to identify different types of carpets and fiber characteristics, the proper Ph levels, how to treat oil based spots verses non- oil, how to treat protein stains such as food and beverages and most importantly they will have products, tools and cleaners that are designed specifically for carpets and the type of stain in question.