Author Archives: Travis

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Carpet Cleaning Price Scams Vs Honest Pricing

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Secrets Of Carpet Cleaning Price Scams

When it comes to carpet, tile and upholstery cleaning a mainstay of many companies marketing plan includes using deceptive or downright dishonest pricing that hurts consumers and gives a very negative impression of the professional cleaning industry.  If you look at the complaints made to the BBB about this industry, the two most complained about issues are bait and switch pricing and high pressure sales tactics.

(If you have ever been a victim to either of these two scams or any other scam in the carpet cleaning industry please share your experience by commenting at the bottom of this page.)

In this blog I have included two videos.  In each one I take a competitors actual coupon and break it down and show you how to look at it so that you don’t fall victim to it.   I don’t do it with the intent of attacking these companies, but with the intent of educating you to help you make an informed decision.  Then I will go into how to really look at cleaning pricing.

Scam 1: Unbelievable Low Price Offers

These are the most insidious, and trying not to sound like a pessimistic person, I will say in this case if it sound to good to be true it simply is.   I promise you that companies would actually lose money at some of the advertised prices, watch the video to see one of the worst examples of this.

Scam #2: Per Room Carpet Cleaning Pricing

Sometimes this can be combined with the first example I already gave, but I do want to offer this disclaimer.  There are many good companies that offer per room pricing, companies that will do a good service and in the end charge a fair price.  My main concern with this type of pricing is that often the estimate over the phone can be much lower than the price when they get to your home.  Please watch this video for a real life example that I recently dealt with.

The Truth About Pricing For Professional Cleaning

The truth is a professional cleaner will have alot of problems giving you an exact price over the phone.  They really need to see the scope of the job, what they will need to do to get results and how long it will take.  Carpet cleaning is not rocket science, but there is a science to cleaning and we have to know the variables to be able to set a price.   It is possible to give a ballpark in many cases and sometimes an onsite evaluation is required.

Just remember when looking at pricing, the price you pay is not what the cleaning tech makes.  That money goes to the company to cover the business expenses and pay the employee.  If companies charge to little they have to remove expenses somewhere.  They will either do work much to quickly, so they can fit in more jobs so they can make more money,  They may save money by hiring cheap technicians, buying cheap equipment and cleaning solutions or skipping other expenses like insurances, tax payment ect.  It goes without saying that when they start cutting corners it impacts the quality of their work and the results you get from them.

If you found this information beneficial please “share” or comment below.

Sincerely,

Travis

Travis Miklethun

PS.  If you would like to book appointment or have any questions please contact us at 602-486-3966 or visit our primary website.

 

Posted in Stain Removal • Tile Cleaning

Remove OIl In Driveway

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Professional Way To Remove Oil From A Driveway

 

Do you have eyesore in your driveway and don’t know what to do?  Are you getting fined by your HOA and know you have to do something?

I get it!!!!

Awhile back I had a major transmission leak in my own driveway.

I was getting fined by my HOA every month and it was adding up.

After a lot of research online I figured out a steps when repeated over time can remove enough oil to pass an HOA inspection.

I decided to record a Youtube video that described the process just to help people out.  I never really had the intention of offering the service.

That video now has about 75,000 views and I started getting calls asking if I could just do it for them.  I resisted at first, but finally decided that I had to figure out a way to take care of the oil in only 2 treatment, to keep costs down.

Well I came up with a solution and the three picture above show the results.

You will never get 100% of the oil out a driveway, but the goal is to lesson the eye sore and not get fined by and HOA.

If you want to try to do it yourself review the information below.  Those steps repeated over several weekends got enough of the stain out of my driveway to stop being fined by my HOA.

(These before and after pictures are of my professional system of removing oil, the system below can get good results but probably not this good)

This information will help you attempt to remove the oil from your driveway yourself.

3 Steps To Removing Oil From Driveway

Step 1:  Alkaline Degreaser – Dawn liquid soap is one of many options here.  Apply the degreaser to the oil stain and agitate heavily with a stiff bristle brush.  Pressure wash area until all cleaner solution is gone.

Is there a still a stain:  YES = Go to step two      No = Congratulations you got lucky

Step 2   Acid Cleaning – Remember to only use this step if you are ok with permanently changing the appearance of the concrete.  watch the video for more info.  If you are not ok with the risk, skip this step and go to step 3.  Apply the acid cleaner directly to the oil stain, agitate with a stiff brush, and pressure wash

Is there a still a stain:  YES = Go to step three      No = Congratulations you got lucky

Step 3:  Apply a poultice, ready made or follow my steps below to make your own.  Allow poultice to cure and drive over the next 24 hours or so.  Sweep or was poultice away.

Go back and repeat steps 1 and 3 until stain is gone, stain stops responding, or it reaches a point that you can live with.

How To Make A Poultice To Remove Oil From A Driveway

The two ingredients that I use are diatomaceous earth and Mineral Spirits.  You can find diatomaceous earth at your local pool store are hardware store.  Mineral spirits can be found at paint and hardware stores.

Mix diatomaceous earth and mineral spirits together until they become a paste about the consistency of paint.

Sincerely,

Travis Picture

 

Travis Miklethun

Owner – Integrity Cleaning Systems

602-486-3966

If you liked this information please comment and share below

Posted in Blog • Uncategorized

Stain Removal Tips: How To Remove Makeup

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How To Get Makeup Out Of Your Carpet, Without Making The Stain Permanent

 

In these stain removal videos I will give you my best advice on how to remove a stain WITHOUT causing futher damage to the fiber.  Many of the stain removal videos I see online are recommending techniques that can cause problems like:

Fiber Damage called tip blooming that will shadow under different light sources.

Color loss of the carpet fiber.

Permanently set the stain so that even a professional cant remove it.

Leave a residue that will attract soil.

Check out the video then you can  view the written instructions below.

 

Video:  How To Remove Makeup From Carpet

Written Instructions:  How To Remove Makeup From Carpet

  • Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.
  • Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth, white paper towel or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing as this will destroy the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Never us a circular motion to remove spot as this may destroy the texture. Stop if spot is removed. If not you need to look for a reliable laundromat or do the next step.
  • Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.
  • Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.
  • Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.
  • If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.



Important – ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Pro-Care for advice/service first. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty. 

Posted in Blog • Uncategorized

Kirby Review

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Should You Buy A Kirby,  A Professional Cleaners Review

As a professional carpet cleaner I am often asked what vacuum cleaner I recommend.  There are a couple brands I really like, but in this blog I will be discussing the Kirby Vacuum Cleaner and if I think a homeowner should have one.

Let me start by saying that I believe proper dry soil removal with a quality vacuum cleaner is the number one factor that will determine how long you carpet last or how prematurely it will wear out.

This is the amount of dirt I found under a carpet and pad that I pulled back.

This is the amount of dirt I found under a carpet and pad that I pulled back.

The three determining factors will be:

How often you vacuum.
The speed you vacuum (most people vacuum way to quick)

The quality of your vacuum

So is Kirby the right vacuum for you?  I am going to go over the pros and cons of this vacuum.  Let me first tell you that I sold Kirby vacuums back in 1990 when it was the Generation 3 model.  I lasted about a week and the sales manager told me to make the sale or get kicked out of the house.  I quit that day.

I also recently purchased a new Kirby Vacuum Cleaner, the Sentria, so I do know a lot about this Vacuum.

The Pro’s of the Kirby:

Dry soil Removal: probably the best upright of any vacuum I have tested at removing dry soil.

Attachment Setup: most vacuum cleaners with attachments have a permanent hose that is part of the vacuum even when running the normal vacuum head.  This makes normal vacuuming less effective because it has to “pull” the air and soil a longer distance.  This creates the need for a bigger motor, more stress on the motor and more energy used.  The Kirby does not use the hose for normal vacuuming, instead you detach the power head when you use the attachment hose.

kirbyAutomatic Drive: the auto drive system makes it very easy to push this vacuum back and forth.

Filtration System:  if you invest in the better bags they are a high quality HEPA Filter.

Some Of The Attachments:  The hose, extension tubes, upholstery head works very well.

Mattress Vacuuming:  This is something you should do monthly and it works very well.  Leave your sheet on to protect your expensive Eva Mattresses and then wash your sheet afterwards. But at first, you must learn the difference between each mattress in order to treat it in the right manner.

Built To Last:  This thing will keep going.  Most vacuums you need to replace about every 5 years, this one you won’t.

Warranty:  I have only had one thing go wrong with mine and they did fix it without any issue.   So as far as I can tell they offer a good warranty.

The Cons of the Kirby:

Weight of the Machine:  The auto drive helps with the vacuuming, but doesn’t help if you have to carry it upstairs

Maneuverability:  The Kirby does not turn around furniture (including this outdoor heater) very easy and has a high profile so it does not get under furniture very well.

Attachments:  Some of the attachment do not work as well as they claimed.  You will probably not use the blower system to replace your leaf blower, although it works well to blow up air mattress or exercise balls.  The suds of gun doesn’t have a lot of value, I would be very surprised if you actually used it to paint your fence.  The stair attachment does not work well and the normal vacuum is to big for stairs.

Carpet Cleaning Head:  This is a waste of money and it is poorly built.  They claim that you will never need to hire a carpet cleaner again.  Not only is that not true it will void your carpet warranty.  I know this may sound self serving since I am a carpet cleaner, but check your carpet warranty.

High Pressure Sales:  I am not a big fan of their lead generation system or their sales tactics.

Price:  This is a big one.  They ask way to much for this machine.  If you really want one.  Skip the carpet cleaning head and offer $1000 if you are financing.  If you have cash you can probably get it for about $700 – $800.

My Conclusion On If You Should Buy A Kirby:

If you have $700 – $1000 to spend it’s a good vacuum.   You may want to check out the filter queen majestic also.  It has an even stronger motor and filter systems.  It is a canister system so it is not transported easy which is why I didn’t buy one.

If you don’t want to spend that much check out a Riccar at the local vacuum store.  They are about $350.  Don’t buy the one with attachment for the reason I mention above.  Instead you purchase and Riccar hand vacuum with attachment for your detail work.  You can find Riccars at your local vacuum supply store.

If this helped you with your decision please comment on this post.  If you would like to see my video on the proper way to vacuum, please click here.
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Posted in Blog • Carpet Cleaning • Uncategorized

How to remove pet hair

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Why You Need To Remove Pet Hair From Carpet & Upholstery

 

We all love our pets, but there are a couple of issues they can bring to our life, along with the joy.  Pet stains and odors are one issue and you find information about that at this blog post.

In this post I will talk about the issue of pet hair.  Pet Hair can cause a number of problems, but the good news you don’t need to hire a professional to take care of it.    I will give you some tips from my friend who writes for RasingSpot.com on how to remove pet hair below, but first I want to talk about the problems.
Problem 1:  As pet hair gets wrapped around the carpet fiber below the surface of the carpet it can start to resemble soil.  pet hairEspecially if the pet hair is of a darker color, making your carpets look dirtier.

Problem 2:  Pet hair has natural oils in it.  Those oils can attract and hold on to dirt, causing your vacuuming to be less effective leaving more soil in the carpet.  A dirtier carpet will get permanent wear patterns sooner.

Problem 3:  Pet hair can cause odors, especially when humidity rises.  Think “it smells like a wet dog”

Problem 4:  Many people are allergic to pet hair itself.  In addition to that other allergens can actually stick to pet hair, like soil,  increasing allergens in the carpet.

Those are just a couple of the problems.  The solution, luckily, is not that hard, once you know the right way to do it.

 

How To Remove Pet Hair From Carpet

 

The biggest problem with removing pet hair from carpet is the way it wraps around the carpet fiber and depending on the type of carpet you have it can works it way down the fiber making it even harder to remove.

Most vacuums are not good at picking up pet hair because the roller brush on the vacuum doesn’t reach the hair below the surface.  If you’re not sure if your vacuum is suitable – and want to know what is the best vacuum for pet hair, flip your vacuum over and look at the length of the bristles that touches the carpet and you buy CBD products see what I mean.  In one simple step you can fix this problem.

Before you vacuum your carpet you need to rake it.  As aesthetic clinic says that pet hair is one of the main reason for acne and allergies. If you look at the picture of the rake you can see how much longer the bristles are.  The rake will grab a hold of the pet hair and bring it to the surface, then your vacuuming will be effective at picking up the hair on the surface.  You normally don’t need to do this every time you vacuum depending on how bad you pet hair problem is.  On occasion if you lightly mist the carpet with water, before you rake it, will give you better results.   If you do this make sure the moisture is gone before vacuuming.

As an added bonus raking the carpet will lift and separate the carpet nap in the traffic lanes improving soil removal of the vacuum as well. Have your pet checked by a vet if its shedding too much, here is a list of veterinary practice management software

Several stores will carry carpet rakes or you can one through Amazon.com by click the picture below.

How to remove pet hair from upholstery

This difficulty is very similar to that of carpet, except for the length of the nap on the fabric.  Even though upholstery has very little nap the pet hair can still get stuck into the fabric.

The process to fix it is also very similar, a light misting of the fabric with water will help.  Agitate the fabric with a lint and hair removal brush to separate it from the fabric.  Let fabric dry and then vacuum.  There is a link below for a hair removal brush that has very good reviews.

A couple of other options that I have seen people talk about, but haven’t tried my self.

Tape:  either a strip of tape or a tape based lint roller.  Stick the tape to the couch and lift it up, much of the pet hair will transfer to the tape.

Central Home Services couch cleaner is your go-to company for professional couch cleaning in the country. They are proud to offer their residential and commercial customers, a highly effective couch steam cleaning services.

Rubber Glove:  Put on a rubber gloves move the glove in circular motions on the area of hair.  This can separate the pet hair from fabric then vacuum.

If you have any question feel free to call us at 602-486-3966 or ask you question below in the comments section.

If you found this information beneficial please share it with your friends and family below.

Have a great day and we look forward to helping you with your future cleaning needs.

 

Sincerely,

Travis

Travis Miklethun – Owner

Integrity Cleaning Systems

 

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Posted in Blog • Stain Removal

How To Remove Paint From Carpet

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How To Remove Paint From Carpet, WITHOUT damaging the fiber

 

Paint is one of those types of spills that can easily turn into a permanent stains, if it is not treated correctly and quickly. In this video I go how to deal with a small paint stain and a large one. Follow these steps and it will give you the best chance of getting the paint out of your carpet WITHOUT damaging the fiber.

Written Instruction For Removing Paint From Carpet

Remove as much of the foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel, extracting with a wet dry vac or a big platic spoon. For professionals use the dry cleaning, which lets you walk on your carpets soon after the process is complete. Many business owners choose dry cleaning over steam cleaning because it doesn’t interrupt business operations or require as much time to perform. According to dry cleaner professionals, dry cleaning services are effective for carpet cleaning. Many choose dry cleaning over steam cleaning because it doesn’t interrupt business operations or require as much time to perform. But there are some owners who choose carpet cleaning louisville for sanitation and removing unwanted stains with the use of non-toxic materials.

Dry cleaning also offers you a fairly thorough clean. The rigorous chemicals can dismantle most stains, including difficult ones that some steam cleaners can’t combat.

Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (solvent cleaner) to a clean white cloth, white paper towel or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing as this will destroy the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Never us a circular motion to remove spot as this may destroy the texture. Stop if spot is removed. If not, go to the next step.

Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn® and Joy®.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.

Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture. Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.

If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick.

Important – ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Integrity Cleaning Systems for advice/service first or if you’re in the city of south Perth. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

Calling A Professional To Remove Paint From Carpet

If it is a large spill or you simply don’t want to deal with it yourself, you need to call a professional right away and don’t let the paint dry until they get there.  If you live in the greater Phoenix Arizona area I would be happy to help you.

Sincerely,

Travis Miklethun
Owner – Integrity Cleaning Systems

 

If you found this post beneficial please share and comment on it below.

 

Posted in Stain Removal

Stain Removal Tip: Green Beer (or any beer)

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How To Get Beer Out Of Carpet

(Green or otherwise)

You can also find house painters in FL to get the best painting services.In case of any stain in the carpets.In these stain removal videos I will give you my best advice on how to remove a stain WITHOUT causing futher damage to the fiber.  Many of the stain removal videos I see online are recommending techniques that can cause problems like:

Fiber Damage called tip blooming that will shadow under different light sources.

Color loss of the carpet fiber.

Permanently set the stain so that even a professional cant remove it.

Leave a residue that will attract soil.

Check out the video then you can  view the written instructions below.

Video demonstration of Removing Beer From Carpets

 

Written Instructions for Removing Beer From Carpets

 

Act Quickly! Delaying may cause the spill to become a permanent stain. Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or white paper towels.  Continue to blot until no more transfer of spot to towel.  If stain persists go to the steps below

  1. Pretest any spot removal solution (for color transfer to the cloth or damage to the carpet) in an inconspicuous area. If a change occurs, select another solution.
  2. Apply a small amount of the solution to a white cloth, and work in gently – do not rub — working from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent spreading. Allow to remain on the spill a few minutes. Be patient. Blot.
  3. Continue to use the first agent as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. Be patient. Complete removal may require repeating the same step several times. Or, you may need to move to the next solution.
  4. When the spill is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water; blot with a dry cloth until all moisture is removed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to minimize drying time.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Spot Removal Kit – Available from Integrity Cleaning Systems. Follow directions closely! Some spot removal kits contain: (A) a detergent solution and (B) a stain-resist solution. Use of the (B) solution prior to the complete removal of the spill may cause a permanent stain. Other spot removal kits may contain a dry extraction cleaning compound that can be used effectively for most common household stains.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Call a Professional – Integrity Cleaning Systems has the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills.

Residue Precautions
Many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil. Thoroughly rinse the area several times with lukewarm tap water. A mist type sprayer is recommended to prevent overwetting. Blot with paper towels and pat dry after each rinse. Several rinses are often necessary to thoroughly remove residues. Never use any of the solutions in concentrations stronger than those recommended.

Important – ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Integrity Cleaning Systems for advice/service first. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

 

 

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Posted in Uncategorized

Stain Removal: Chocolate

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Stain Removal Tips:  Chocolate

In these stain removal videos I will give you my best advice on how to remove a stain WITHOUT causing futher damage to the fiber.  Many of the stain removal videos I see online are recommending techniques that can cause problems like:

Fiber Damage called tip blooming that will shadow under different light sources.

Color loss of the carpet fiber.

Permanently set the stain so that even a professional cant remove it.

Leave a residue that will attract soil.

Check out the video then you can  view the written instructions below.

This Video Shows How To Get Chocolate Out Of The Carpet


Delaying may cause the spill to become a permanent stain. Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or white paper towels. Gently scrape up semi-solids with a rounded spoon. Break up solids and vacuum.

  1. Pretest any spot removal solution (for color transfer to the cloth or damage to the carpet) in an inconspicuous area. If a change occurs, select another solution.
  2. Apply a small amount of the solution to a white cloth, and work in gently – do not rub — working from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent spreading. Allow to remain on the spill a few minutes. Be patient. Blot.
  3. Continue to use the first agent as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. Be patient. Complete removal may require repeating the same step several times. Or, you may need to move to the next solution.
  4. When the spill is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water; blot with a dry cloth until all moisture is removed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to minimize drying time.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Call a Professional – Integrity Cleaning Systems has the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills.

Residue Precautions

Many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil. Thoroughly rinse the area several times with lukewarm tap water. A mist type sprayer is recommended to prevent overwetting. Blot with paper towels and pat dry after each rinse. Several rinses are often necessary to thoroughly remove residues. Never use any of the solutions in concentrations stronger than those recommended.

Important – ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Integrity Cleaning Systems or professional commercial cleaning and Commercial Building Disinfecting services for advice. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

Posted in Stain Removal

Stain Removal Tips: Wax

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Candle Wax On Your Carpet

In these stain removal videos I will give you my best advice on how to remove a stain WITHOUT causing futher damage to the fiber.  Many of the stain removal videos I see online are recommending techniques that can cause problems like:

Fiber Damage called tip blooming that will shadow under different light sources

Color loss of the carpet fiber

Permanently set the stain so that even a professional cant remove it

Leave a residue that will attract soil

Check out the video then you can  view the written instructions below

 

This is embarrassing,but my video camera broke.  I will get this video up soon, until then you can follow the written instructions below.  If the wax has already dried take a plain brown paper bag (no writing) and put over the wax.  Take an iron on medium heat and put on the bag until you see the wax melting into the bag.  Once the wax is in liquid state use the instruction below.

 

Tips on how to remove wax from your carpet.

Candle Wax :
Act Quickly! Delaying may cause the spill to become a permanent stain. Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or white paper towels. Gently scrape up semi-solids with a rounded spoon. Break up solids and vacuum.

  1. Pretest any spot removal solution (for color transfer to the cloth or damage to the carpet) in an inconspicuous area. If a change occurs, select another solution.
  2. Apply a small amount of the solution to a white cloth, and work in gently – do not rub — working from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent spreading. Allow to remain on the spill a few minutes. Be patient. Blot.
  3. Continue to use the first agent as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. Be patient. Complete removal may require repeating the same step several times. Or, you may need to move to the next solution.
  4. When the spill is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water; blot with a dry cloth until all moisture is removed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to minimize drying time.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Nail Polish Remover – Two types of nail polish removers are available. One type contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent. Use the same precautions as with other dry cleaning solutions. The second type contains amyl acetate, which is used in many paint, oil, and grease (POG) removers. Many POG removers leave residues that may cause rapid soiling. When using a POG remover, always rinse the area thoroughly with a dry solvent. (See Residue Precautions.)

Call a Professional – Integrity Cleaning Systems has the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills.

Residue Precautions

Many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil. Thoroughly rinse the area several times with lukewarm tap water. A mist type sprayer is recommended to prevent overwetting. Blot with paper towels and pat dry after each rinse. Several rinses are often necessary to thoroughly remove residues. Never use any of the solutions in concentrations stronger than those recommended.

Important – ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Integrity Cleaning Systems for advice/service first. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

Posted in Carpet Cleaning • Stain Removal

Pet Stains and Pet Odor Solutions

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How to love your pets, even when they go wild

Your pets are part of your family, right, and just like your kids they are a complete joy, but pets gone wildsometimes they can also be a downright pain in the butt.  In this blog I will help you deal with one of the biggest problems of owning a pet, Pet Stains and Pet Odors.  I will tell you how to get them out yourself, a lot of times you can if you get to it quickly.  I will also tell you how a professional can fix it, if you can’t get it out yourself.

The Chemistry of Pet Odor and Stains

Here is the biggest trick to Pet Urine Damage.  The process changes based on if the damage is recent or old.  Stain treatment is all about chemistry and ph.  When urine is first expelled from the animal it is acid on the PH Scale, like almost all spills.  The problem is when it dries it changes to an alkaline on the PH Scale.  So when it’s fresh you can treat the stain with most quality spotters on the market, but once it dries they will not work because the PH changes.  When it dries you need to use an acid based spotter.  This is why if it is fresh my tips below will often be effective, but if it’s older damage you should call a professional.

You also have to deal with urine salts and the bacteria that can grow in urine.

How To Treat Pet Odor and Pet Stains Yourself

Step 1:    Soak up as much of the urine as you can with a towel.  Stand on the towel and then take the backside of you hand and thump the towel.  Switch towels and keep doing this until you are no longer getting any transfer to the towel.

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If urine reaches the carpet pad or sub floor a professional is needed!

Step 2:   Apply a Pet Urine Stain Remover product to a clean towel and starting at the edge of the visible damage blot with the towel.  Work around the perimeter of the stain and then work your way towards the center.  When the majority of the visible stain is gone, saturate fibers with an enzyme based pet spotter to kill the bacteria. Place a clean towel over the area and put a heavy weight on the towel.  This will force the towel and the enzyme treatment in the back of the carpeting to wick up additional urine to the towel. You can use enzyme cleaner on dog stains that is proven to be successful in removing stains and smell.

Step 3:    If there is still an odor when you remove the towel, repeat step 2 or call the professionals.  If the odor is gone, but there is still residual staining you can try following the steps in the tips guide of my website.  These tips are more aggressive and client agrees to do them at their own risk, or hire a professional to do it for them.  Improper usage of these tips can result in color loss from fiber or setting the stain permanently.

How A Professional Treats For Pet Odor and Pet Stains

In this video I discuss the different level of Urine Contamination and the professional treatment for each level.

If you would like Integrity Cleaning Systems to perform a complete urine damage analysis with black light we would be happy to do so.  For this service we charge a $50.00 inspection fee, but if you choose to hire us for the decontamination we credit the $50.00 towards the cost of the service.

If you found this information valuable, please share it below and feel free to ask questions or comment on the information below as well.

Sincerely,

Travis

Travis Miklethun

Owner / Integrity Cleaning Systems

602-486-3966