Carpet Care & Maintenance Tips from A.J. Rose, your MA Carpet Cleaner

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Carpet Care & Maintenance

Normal Day-To-Day Care

There are three aspects to maintaining your carpet:

Frequent thorough vacuuming
Prompt clean-up of spills
Periodic professional care and cleaning

Basic Steps for Cleaning Common Food & Beverage Stains

What You Will Need:

Clean white cloths or white paper towels

1 quart of warm water

1 teaspoon of a mild, non-bleach liquid laundry detergent (not dish washing detergent)

Here’s How To Clean Your Carpet:

1.	Immediately scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Then blot, do not rub, with clean, white absorbent cloth or paper towels to remove excess moisture. Use wet/dry vacuum if spill is large.
2.	Most stains clean up with warm, not hot, water applied to the stained area. Then blot with clean white cloth or paper towels. Press down firmly to remove as much moisture as possible. Do not rub, as rubbing can alter the carpet’s texture. Repeat until no stain is evident on cloth or towels.
3.	If stain remains on carpet, make a solution of warm water and mild non-bleach liquid laundry (not dish washing) detergent (1 teaspoon to 1 quart water). Using a clean white cloth or sponge, apply enough solution to cover stain and let soak for about 5 minutes.
4.	IMPORTANT: Then blot up the excess moisture. Rinse with warm water and blot thoroughly using a clean white cloth or sponge to extract water. Repeat until all detergent is removed – any residual detergent may accelerate soiling.
5.	Absorb remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels, weighted down overnight with non-staining glass or ceramic object.
6.	When completely dry; vacuum or brush the pile to restore texture.

Cleaning Other Kinds of Stains (Non-Food-And-Beverage)

	The following guidelines refer to stains from substances other than foods and beverages. Identifying the source of the stain is the key to successful removal, since different stains require different cleaning procedures. Regardless of source, any spill should be cleaned up immediately. The longer it sits, the more difficult it may be to remove.
	While the substances below usually can be cleaned up successfully with prompt, proper steps, some stains may require professional cleaning.
	Check the accompanying list for the type of stain and its corresponding cleaning key. Then check the Cleaning Procedures Table, which will refer you to both the Basic Cleaning Steps (BCS) above, plus specific procedures for the particular staining agent you’re dealing with.

Stain	Key	Stain	Key	AStain	Key
Acne Medicine	G	Furniture Stain	A	Nail Polish	F
Asphalt	A	Graphite	H	Paste Wax	A
Bleach	G	Grease	A	Plant Food	G
Blood	B	Hair Oil	A	Rubber Cement	A
Carbon Black	G	Hair Spray	A	Rust	C
Chalk	H	Hand Lotion	A	Shellac	A
Charcoal	H	Ink	A	Shoe Polish	A
Crayon	A	Insecticide	G	Solder	G
Chewing Gum	E	Iodine	G	Soot	G
Cough Syrup	D	Lacquer	A	Tar	A
Dirt	H	Latex Paint	A	Toilet Cleaner	G
Drain Cleaner	G	Lipstick	A	Tooth Paste	G
Dye	G	Linseed Oil	A	Urine/Feces	C
Flea/Tick Powder	G	Machine Oil	A	Varnish	A
Fungicide	G	Makeup	A	Vaseline	A
Furniture Polish	A	Mascara	A	Vomit	G
		Mertholate	D	White Glue	B

Cleaning Procedures
Key (‘BCS” refers to “Basic Cleaning Steps” above)

A	Follow BCS No. 1. Then apply dry cleaning solvent (available at a hardware store or the cleaning aisle of you supermarket). Follow instructions and precautions on container. Then follow BCS No. 2 through No. 6.
B	Follow BCS No. 1, 2, & 3. Then apply solution of clear, white, non-suds ammonia (2 tbs. to 1 qt. water). Blot with clean white cloth or paper towels. Repeat BCS No. 3. Then BCS No. 4, 5, & 6. Note: For blood stains, all ingredients must be cold.
C	Follow BCS No. 1, 2, 3, & 4. Then apply solution of white vinegar (2 tbs. vinegar to 1 qt. water). Blot with clean white cloth or paper towels. Repeat BCS No. 3. Then BCS No. 4, 5, & 6.
D	Follow BCS No. 1, 2, & 3. Then apply solution of white vinegar (2 tbs. vinegar to 1 qt. water) and blot. Next apply solution of clear, white, non-suds ammonia (2 tbs. to 1 qt. water) and blot. Repeat BCS No. 4, 5, & 6.
E	Freeze area with ice cubes. Shatter gum with blunt instrument. Vacuum up pieces. Follow BCS No. 3, 4, 5, & 6.
F	Test nail polish remover on an obscure non-visible section of carpet to see if it removes color. If not, apply remover and blot. Repeat if necessary.
G	Follow BCS No. 1, 2, 3, & 4. If stain remains, apply dry cleaning solvent (follow instructions and precautions on container). Repeat BCS No. 3 & 4. Then BCS No. 5 & 6.
H	Vacuum thoroughly. If needed, follow BCS No. 1 through 6.

Note: If these procedures do not work for you, consult a professional carpet cleaner.
Disclaimer: A.J. Rose Carpets & Flooring is not responsible for any results of carpet cleaning procedures