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Carpet cleaning is an essential part of maintaining a clean and healthy home. Regular cleaning can remove dirt, dust, and allergens from your carpets, improving air quality and extending the life of your carpets.

However, there are several carpet cleaning methods available, and it can be challenging to understand which method is best for your carpets. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of the most common carpet cleaning methods and discuss their advantages and disadvantages to help you make an informed decision.

Dry Cleaning Methods

Dry cleaning methods involve using a minimal amount of water to clean carpets. Instead of using water, dry cleaning methods rely on chemicals or other solvents to break down and remove dirt and stains from carpets. Two popular dry cleaning methods are bonnet cleaning and dry powder cleaning.

• Bonnet cleaning is a method that uses a rotating brush to agitate the carpet fibers while a cleaning solution is applied. The solution is then extracted using a bonnet or absorbent pad, leaving the carpet dry within an hour or two. Bonnet cleaning is effective for removing surface-level dirt and stains but may not be as effective for deep cleaning.
• Dry powder cleaning involves applying a dry cleaning powder to the carpet and working it into the fibers with a rotating brush. The powder is then vacuumed up, taking the dirt and stains with it. Dry powder cleaning is effective for removing surface-level dirt and stains but may not be as effective for deep cleaning.

Wet Cleaning Methods

Wet cleaning methods use water and cleaning solutions to clean carpets. The two most popular wet cleaning methods are hot water extraction and steam cleaning.

• Hot water extraction, also known as carpet steam cleaning, involves spraying hot water and a cleaning solution onto the carpet and then using a powerful vacuum such as the best backpack vacuum to extract the water and dirt. Hot water extraction is effective for deep cleaning carpets and removing stubborn stains. The high suction power of the backpack vacuum helps to remove more dirt and water from the carpet, resulting in a more thorough cleaning. When selecting a professional carpet cleaning service, it’s important to ask if they use a backpack vacuum for hot water extraction, as this can ensure the best possible results for your carpets.
• Steam cleaning, on the other hand, uses hot water and steam to clean carpets. The steam is generated by a machine and applied to the carpet, then the dirt and debris are extracted with a vacuum. Іteam cleaning is effective for removing dirt and bacteria, but it may not be as effective for removing stubborn stains.

Low-Moisture Cleaning Methods

Low-moisture cleaning methods use minimal water to clean carpets, making them ideal for carpets that cannot handle excess moisture. Two popular low-moisture cleaning methods are encapsulation cleaning and foam cleaning.

• Encapsulation cleaning involves applying a cleaning solution that encapsulates the dirt and stains on the carpet fibers. The solution then dries into crystals, which can be vacuumed up, leaving the carpet clean and dry.
• Foam cleaning involves applying a foam cleaning solution to the carpet and then working it into the fibers with a rotating brush. The foam then dries, encapsulating the dirt and stains, which can be vacuumed up, leaving the carpet clean and dry.

Choosing the Right Cleaning Method

To choose the right cleaning method for your carpet, consider factors such as carpet type, level of soiling, and personal preferences. Some cleaning methods may not be suitable for certain carpet types or may not be as effective for deep cleaning. If you are unsure which method is best for your carpets, we recommend consulting with a professional carpet cleaning service, such as The Blind Carpet Cleaner. Their experts can help you determine which cleaning method is best suited for your specific needs and can provide professional cleaning services to ensure your carpets stay clean and healthy. Make sure to choose a service that uses the cleaning method that is best for your needs, and schedule regular cleanings to maintain the longevity of your carpets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the different carpet cleaning methods available can help you make an informed decision when it comes to maintaining the cleanliness and health of your carpets. Whether you choose a dry cleaning method, wet cleaning method, or low-moisture cleaning method, make sure to select a method that is safe and effective for your carpets. By keeping your carpets clean, you can improve air quality and extend the life of your carpets. Remember to vacuum your carpets regularly and schedule professional carpet cleaning at least once a year. By following these tips, you can enjoy clean and healthy carpets for years to come.

Finally, we encourage readers to take action and schedule a carpet cleaning appointment or try a DIY carpet cleaning method. By taking proactive steps to maintain clean carpets, you can enjoy a healthier and more comfortable living environment.

Introduction

The weather is warming up, the sun is shining, and that means one thing: it’s time for spring cleaning!

Spring cleaning is a crucial opportunity to take inventory of what’s in your home and give hidden surfaces the scrub they deserve. We’ve also spent considerably more time in our houses due to the pandemic, meaning surfaces are going to need a little extra love (and elbow grease!). In this article, we’ve compiled a complete list of all the different chores you can do as part of a seasonal refresh.

It may seem like a lot, but you can enlist help! Have your kids help you disinfect some of their toys. Have a roommate? Split tasks up so you can get more done. If you live alone, you can break up these lists into small chores that you can do over a few days.

We can help too! Spring cleaning is a massive effort, and some tasks are better outsourced. The Blind Carpet Cleaner can help with some of those more demanding jobs. From shampooing rugs, curtains and carpet to sanitizing your children’s toys, we can help make spring cleaning a breeze! Our complete list of services is available on our website, but it doesn’t stop there. Get in touch with our specialists if you have questions about spring cleaning to see where we can help!

Tasks that you can find in every room:

We’re starting this list with a series of tasks that you can do in every room. We recommend cleaning and dusting all surfaces and vacuuming before washing the floors. Dust and dirt will end up on the floor as you scrub, and you’ll quickly need to rewash them!

1 – Clean walls

2 – Wash baseboards

3 – Clean and dust light fixtures

4 – Clean windows and windowsills

5 – Clean curtains and blinds

6 – Empty closets and organize, donate linens and items you no longer use

7 – Sweep and mop floors

8 – Shampoo carpets and rugs

Kitchen

In the kitchen, prioritize cleaning and wiping out your fridge and getting those hard-to-reach places like the range hood and top cabinets where grease can build up. If you’re short on time, you can add a small task every time you are in the kitchen. For example, you can make dinner, tidy up, and then run a self-cleaning oven cycle before you head off to bed. Or, you can take a week and pull out items from one cabinet per day. Ultimately, you’ll want to use this opportunity to declutter and sanitize, so pick the spots you think are most used in your kitchen.

1 – Clean major kitchen appliances: your oven, microwave, fridge and dishwasher

2 – Pull each appliance out and clean behind them

3 – Pull out old food from the refrigerator and freezer, remove ice build-up

4 – Degrease cabinets, walls and range hood

5 – Remove items and wash inside of cabinets, toss expired products

6 – Dust high surfaces

7 – Clean out your pantry closet and remove expired canned goods, old spices and donate unused appliances

Office

We’re in the home stretch of the 2020 tax season. Make sure you use this opportunity to get on top of your office organization! Here are some of the ways we’ve gotten our desk organized for 2021:

1 – Clean out any desk drawers, remove clutter and scrap papers you don’t need

2 – Organize invoices and paperwork, shred old files

3 – Prepare organization systems for next year’s taxes

4 – Store photos and cards in a small memory box

5 – Dust surfaces, including hard to reach shelves

6 – Clean your keyboard, wipe down screens and dust electrical cords

Bedroom

If you live in the city, you’re probably tight on storage space. These yearly purges are so essential to make sure every square inch of your closet is efficient to use. When going through your bedroom, think about other ways to switch up your storage solutions to fit the items you need to store better. Vacuum seal bags go a long way when packing up those winter clothes!

1 – Flip or rotate your mattress and give it a thorough deep clean (we can help with this!)

2 – Wash bedding and throw pillows

3 – Go through winter clothes, dry clean and store what you want to keep, donate the rest

4 – As you pull out your summer clothes, feel free to donate those you didn’t wear last season

5 – Clean out your nightstand and any other dressers

Living Room

The living room’s most significant focus will be on cleaning those fabric surfaces: curtains, couches, rugs, and carpets. These fabric surfaces trap dust, bacteria, and funky odours circulating the living room, making dusting a lot more complicated! Shampooing fabric surfaces regularly extends the life of your furniture and removes stains that can accumulate over time. While our name may be The Blind Carpet Cleaner, we do more than just carpets! Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can help refresh your living room.

1 – Clean and disinfect electronics

2 – Dust behind the tv, clean cords that accumulate dirt and pet hair

3 – Shampoo couches, loveseats, poufs and other fabric seats

4 – Dust frames, books and decor

5 – Repot plants (spring means new growth and bigger pots!)

6 – Declutter shelves where possible

Bathroom

The bathroom is the most neglected in terms of clutter. Too often, containers of product end up buried in the back of the medicine cabinet or under the sink, never to be seen again. This year, make an effort to dig to the back of your cabinets and clean out products you don’t need!

1 – Clean vanity

2 – Wash makeup brushes

3 – discard old makeup

4 – scrub tile grout and tub

5 – replace shower curtain liner

6 – Clean showerhead

7 – Empty medicine cabinets and clean the inside

Kid’s Bedroom

1 – Flip or rotate the mattress, give it a deep clean

2 – Clean bedding

3 – Wash toys: plastic ones can go in the dishwasher (or the sink!), and stuffed animals can go in the laundry

Garage + Yard

1 – Weed garden beds, pull plants that didn’t come back

2 – remove large debris from the yard

3 – Gutters

4 – Clean out and organize garage

Bonus Spring Cleaning Tip – What do you do with unwanted items?

We’ve all held onto valuable things that we don’t use anymore. We aren’t ready to donate it yet, and throwing it away is out of the question! Here are a few suggestions of ways to find homes for some of your higher value items:

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is becoming a vibrant hub of smaller value items. Post the item through your Facebook account and watch the replies flow in! It’s easy to manage on Messenger and perfect for things you hope to resell quickly.

Bunz

Bunz is an app that exists purely on trade. You can build your profile with ISOs (In Search Ofs) and add items you’re willing to trade. If you’re patient, you can connect with a wide array of great people in a community focused on ecological conservation and the barter economy!

Buy Nothing Groups

Facebook also has several groups under the “Buy Nothing” project in which members of your neighbourhood can ask for or post items for free. These groups aren’t part of the barter economy, and you can’t expect anything in return for the item you post. It is, however, a great way to connect with your neighbourhood, and it’s lovely knowing that the things will go to someone who needs it.

Donate to a Local Thrift Store

If you are hesitant to bring your items to Value Village or other big box thrift stores, get in touch with your local shop! There are a number across the city and often take in a wide array of things. Make sure you get in touch before you drop off a box, as they may have specific COVID-19 guidelines. It’s a great way to support local!

Conclusion

In this article, we went over the list of all the different spring cleaning tasks that you can dive into this year to freshen up your home. As we’ve been in the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year, our homes need a clean more than ever! Going through some of these chores one day at a time will leave you feeling clean, organized and refreshed.

If this list is overwhelming, we get it! At The Blind Carpet Cleaner, we work hard to make things easier for our clients. Whether it’s tackling your carpets, refreshing your couch, or deep cleaning your mattress, we’re here to help with some of those complex tasks! Get in touch with a carpet specialist today to hear more about our exciting packages and house cleaning solutions.

Keeping you safe during COVID-19:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging time for everyone, and we know that people are hesitant to bring professionals into their homes. At the Blind Carpet Cleaner, we work hard to put our customers at ease by employing a high standard of safety – we want to protect you and our employees!

Our carpet cleaners wear disposable hospital-grade nitrile gloves, 3-layer surgical masks, and over the shoe covers, which have been proven effective as a preventative measure against COVID-19.

All microfiber cloths and scrubbing tools are replaced between client homes, ensuring that there is no pathogen-crossover between sites. The tools are returned to our premises where they’re thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

All of our carpet cleaning equipment, hand tools, wands, cleaning buckets, and spray bottles are disinfected after each use.

The Blind Carpet Cleaner team members are provided with a one-step alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which they regularly use between homes.

The interior of our vehicle is disinfected on a daily basis.

Want to learn more? Click here to see how we put your safety first.

Introduction

The days are getting longer, bulbs and buds are peeking out, and that means spring is just around the corner! And with spring comes spring cleaning – that long-dreaded task where we q-tip every nook and cranny and dig into those hard-to-reach areas to make our home sparkle – including upholstery cleaning!

And while the hard surfaces in your home appreciate the attention, neglecting upholstery – the fabric used on your armchairs, sofas, and other furniture – means trapped odours stay trapped and the freshly-cleaned quickly gives way to the old and stale.

At the Blind Carpet Cleaner, we value all fabrics and surfaces, and we recognize the challenges that come with keeping upholstered furniture looking like new. In this guide, we will go over some of the different types of upholstered fabrics and their cleaning methods. We will then take some time to dive into some of the most common types of stains that you will find, as they often have different cleaning methods.

If you have come to the end of this blog, tried the upholstery cleaning methods, and the stain still won’t budge, it may be time to call in a professional. We take pride in our transparent prices and hot water extraction methods that provide the gold standard of clean without the harsh chemicals, and it’s pet-safe too. Our specialists will go the extra mile to make sure your couch looks new again.

Types of Upholstery Fabric

Natural
There’s plenty to love about fabrics woven from nature. Derived from plants or animals, natural upholsteries are more environmentally friendly, albeit the more expensive options overall. In addition, these materials are biodegradable, although most manufacturers offer natural-synthetic blends, owing to their versatility.

Bottom Line? Overall softer and more environmentally friendly, but tougher upholstery to keep clean.

Cotton
Cotton is a popular choice for upholstery, owing to its soft feel and durability. Most fabrics are a cotton blend, however, due to the fact that stand-alone cotton is more susceptible to stains and wrinkles. Like most materials, manufacturer production quality and thread-count are key to the longevity of your sofa.

Leather
Overall, leather is the winner for upholstery for ease-of-cleaning and comfort. As a top-choice in pet-friendly homes, a quick vacuum will remove pet hair and a follow-up wipe with a damp cloth eliminates any dirt or sticky finger marks. A leather conditioner is recommended to extend the life of the fabric, and most agree that full or top-grain leathers are the best, albeit the most expensive options.

Linen
If you’ve ever owned a pair of linen pants, you’re already well aware of the pros and cons of this strong, yet breathable fabric. Woven from flax, it is soft and resists pilling. Unfortunately, this is arguably where the positives end. Linen wrinkles easily and is prone to shrinkage, so any cleaning, spot or otherwise, is best left to the professionals. Not a family-friendly option.

Wool
Another durable weave, wool is usually blended with other fibres as it can be scratchy next to the skin. Created from animal hair, wool is stain and wrinkle-resistant and is a popular choice in blended fabrics.

Synthetic
Synthetic upholstery fabrics are man-made materials, designed with function in mind. They first appeared more than sixty years ago as a less expensive alternative to pricey silk, and have evolved to meet ever-changing consumer demands for affordability and durability. The most popular for upholstery are below.

Bottom line? More durable and less expensive overall, but not landfill-friendly.

Nylon
Nylon is one of the most popular fabrics but is rarely used alone. Rather, it is blended with other softer fabrics to improve strength and durability and minimize the ‘worn’ look. Be careful of cheaper nylon blends as they are more prone to fading and pilling.

Polyester
70’s fashion flashback? You won’t find polyester on its own, thankfully, as it is another fabric typically blended for maximum wrinkle resistance, wearability, and lasting colour. It can pill, so quality blends are critical here.

Olefin (polypropylene)
Olefin is one of the new kids on the market, relatively speaking. Making its appearance in the ’90s, it is the most durable and stain-resistant without the need for additional stain-guard chemicals. The biggest drawback is its vulnerability to heat, but its overall workhorse versatility makes it an attractive choice for upholstery both inside and out.

Rayon
One of the early developments in synthetic fabrics, rayon was intended to imitate natural fabrics, such as linen and cotton. It is not surprising, then, that the major drawback of rayon is also wrinkling. Improvements have made this material better but are still best as a blend.

Tackling Upholstery Cleaning Stains

First things first. Ensure you vacuum your upholstery regularly to keep dirt, dust, and other debris from settling in. This is your best defense against odour and dinginess. Sprinkling with baking soda before vacuuming is an effective method to trap and remove odours from your fabric. But no amount of vacuuming can prevent accidental spills and stains. When they do happen, it is important to first identify what you can and cannot do with your upholstery.

Know your upholstery cleaning codes!
We found ‘The Spruce’ Using Fabric Cleanability Codes to Clean Fabric to be our go-to-guide to decode that big tag under our cushions.

W – water-based cleaners only

S – mild, water-free cleaner or dry cleaning product (such as rubbing alcohol); good ventilation and no nearby open-flame

W-S – either water or solvent-based product (such as an upholstery shampoo)

Code X – vacuum or gentle brushing only. Never use any cleaning agents

Most Common Spills and Stains Requiring Upholstery Cleaning

Oil Stains
Movie night doesn’t come without its share of casualties and a spilled bowl of hot, buttery popcorn can be a nightmare to clean without the proper technique. The first step is to absorb as much of the oil as possible with cornstarch, talcum powder, or baking soda, by sprinkling it on, gently working it in with a soft brush, and leaving it to absorb for at least fifteen minutes before vacuuming it away. You may have to repeat this step.

Next, follow the fabric instructions for appropriate cleaning agents. Delicate fabrics such as silk or other dry-clean-only upholsteries will need professional cleaning once the cornstarch has been sprinkled on.

Pet Urine
Patches didn’t make it outside? Ashley’s Home Furniture recommends Nature’s Miracle, an enzymatic formula specially designed to conquer this smelly problem. Enzymatic formulas break down different types of stains, in this instance, a protease formula to break down the proteins in urine. While a complete clean might be in order to pull out especially voluminous pet fluids, or ones that go unnoticed for a time, a cleaner such as this is a good place to start if it’s small and freshly ‘deposited’.

*Ashley’s cleaning tip? Ensure you clean seam-to-seam and blot dry thoroughly to avoid water marks.

Red Wine
Like most liquids, the key is to use a towel to blot as much as possible before cleaning, then use the guide below. Blot as you go to avoid oversaturation, but the key to success here is to get to the spill as quickly as possible and persist with your blot/clean/blot cycles as it may take more than one round to completely lift the stain.

Coffee
If your fabric allows it, mix one tablespoon of liquid hand soap detergent with two cups of cold water. Apply some of the solutions to a clean cloth and blot the stain. Alternatively, blot with a clean dry cloth until the stain is no longer visible. Lastly, apply clean water to a new cloth and blot to remove the cleaning solution. Blot dry.

General Upholstery Cleaning

Sometimes a sticky handprint from your favourite little appears on a cushion, or a swipe of dirt finds its way to the side of a sofa as a muddy pup slinks by, avoiding the dreaded bathtub. When that happens, we like the environmentally-friendly home-made solutions from HGTV’s How To Clean a Couch:

Fabric upholstery:
Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 warm water, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Castile soap. Put in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area. Scrub with a soft cloth until the stain lifts. Use a second cloth moistened with clean water to remove the soap. Dry with a towel.

Leather upholstery:
Mix 1/2 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup vinegar and put it into a spray bottle. Spray the cleaner on the surface of the couch and buff with a soft cloth.

Synthetic upholstery:
Mix 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of warm water, and 1/2 tablespoon of liquid dish soap or castile soap in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area and scrub with a soft cloth until the stain is gone

The key here is to dry the fabric by blotting as much as possible before attempting to address a spill or stain, as well as after. Leaving upholstery too damp leads to water stains and leather demarcation

To Conclude our Upholstery Cleaning for Beginners Guide:

Vacuuming and quick spot cleaning are important tools in extending the life of your upholstery. Still have some stubborn spots or stains that won’t budge? Lingering pet odours overpowering that spring-clean feeling? Allergy concerns? Much of our scrubbing focuses on the high-traffic, hard surfaces in our homes because they seem to be subject to the most use. But when is the last time your sofa received the same amount of care and attention?

Keep in mind that it is generally recommended that you vacuum your upholstery weekly and have it professionally cleaned every six to twelve months, depending on how heavily it’s used. For that reason, a detailed upholstery cleaning is your best option, and when you need an extra boost, it may be time to call in a professional.

At The Blind Carpet Cleaner, our professional cleaning specialists will efficiently bring your upholstery back to life with our upholstery cleaning services.

We apply a non-toxic odourless solution, which has a neutral pH to the upholstery in your home or office. Coupled with our hot water extraction method, we will remove over 85% of stains from your upholstery safely and effectively!

This method, the gold standard in upholstery cleaning, cleans, and sanitizes at over 260 degrees F, tackling dirt, dust, pollen, smoke, toxins, germs, bacteria, allergens, and contaminants also living in your upholstery.

Our trained professionals pay particular attention to areas affected by pet problems, stains, and heavy use upholstery items.

If you’re already in spring-cleaning mode, why not employ The Blind Carpet Cleaner for your other home-cleaning needs? Our mobile service has everything to clean and freshen your carpets (commercial and residential), area rugs, and mattresses. In addition, we specialize in dust-mite removal, bathroom and kitchen appliance cleaning, outdoor furniture cleaning, and children’s toys sanitation.

Do you have an item that’s not included in this list? Do you have questions about a lingering stain that just won’t budge? Our specialists are trained to help answer your questions about anything fabric-related, and we’re eager to work with you. Get in touch with us to get started.

Keeping you safe during COVID-19:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging time for everyone, and we know that people are hesitant to bring professionals into their homes. At the Blind Carpet Cleaner, we work hard to put our customers at ease by employing a high standard of safety – we want to protect you and our employees!

• Our carpet cleaners wear disposable hospital-grade nitrile gloves, 3-layer surgical masks, and over the shoe covers, which have been proven effective as a preventative measure against COVID-19.
• Between client homes, all microfiber cloths, and scrubbing tools are replaced, ensuring that there is no pathogen-crossover between sites. The tools are returned to our premises where they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• All of our carpet cleaning equipment, hand-tools, wands, cleaning buckets, and spray bottles are disinfected after each use.
• The Blind Carpet Cleaner team members are provided with a one-step alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which they use regularly between homes.
• The interior of our vehicle is disinfected on a daily basis.

Want to learn more? Click here to see how we put your safety first.

Introduction

Moving back into the workspace is stressful, and the new movement restrictions essentially mean you’re either at the office or in your home. Keeping these spaces clean is challenging – and COVID-19 certainly hasn’t made it easier!

Cleaning hard surfaces is easy as you just need to spray a disinfectant and wipe. But what happens with your carpets? Vacuuming regularly can keep the dust down, but the coronavirus can stay in the fibers for several hours and can be tracked into spaces where it’s more easily transmitted.

Now more than ever, we need to do our part to protect our loved ones, employees, and support staff. We also need to ensure everyone feels safe in the environments they spend the most time in, which also means that sometimes professionals are necessary to uphold the high standard of cleanliness that’s required.

How can carpet cleaning services help you in keeping you and your family safe?

The BCCDC has put out guidelines on disinfecting your home, recommending regular cleanings of high touch areas. But what about carpet? That’s high traffic too! The Blind Carpet Cleaner uses the Gold Standard of carpet cleaning – applying a non-toxic solution and then using a hot water extraction method to effectively clean and sanitize. We recommend cleaning your carpets professionally every 6-12 months in order to get deep into the parts that a vacuum cannot reach.

Beyond carpets, our specialists are able to help with a range of tough-to-clean items, such as:

• bathrooms
• children’s toys
• dust mite removal
• floors
• kitchen appliances
• mattresses
• outdoor furniture
• pet care & odour removal
• stairs
• hallways
• and area rugs

Beyond COVID-19, other types of bacteria still exist in your home!

Regular steam cleaning of carpets and upholstery is an important step to help prevent the transmission of infection, including COVID-19 – but it provides additional benefits beyond the pandemic.

COVID-19 has taken over headlines, and rightly so. This doesn’t mean you should stop thinking about the other types of bacteria, mites, and dust that can build up in your home.

The golden age of antibiotics is over, and broad spectrum antibiotics are not as effective, meaning we have to save them for when we really need them. In other words, we now have smarter bacteria! Health authorities and advocacy groups are now focussing on prevention of infection, including handwashing and regular cleaning of surfaces.

In this article, we’ll go over a few topics that highlight the importance of cleanliness for prevention of illness and allergies, including:

• Most common bacteria found on your home
• The most common places to find bacteria in your home
• Keeping your employees healthy at work, COVID-19 and beyond

Bacteria development in the home

Bacteria aren’t all bad, and some are good for your health. However, there are many bacterias that can cause a variety of illnesses. These are some of the most common bacteria that can be found, along with their negative health outcomes.

Staph bacteria

Fun fact: Most staph bacteria types are completely harmless! There’s a range of staph bacteria types from harmless to harmful that live on you and nearly every surface you use. They can also survive with or without oxygen.

If you become infected with harmful staph bacteria the outcome can range from a few symptoms requiring no treatment, all the way up to pneumonia and sepsis.

E. coli

You’ve probably heard E. coli when watching the news. Lakes and beaches close based on their levels of E. coli, and food outbreaks are declared when it’s found on food (think back to the romaine lettuce recall earlier this year.)

Much like staph bacteria, E. coli is mostly harmless, but an important marker of contamination for biologists. It can be found on meat, vegetables, soil, and bodies of water. The more harmful strains can cause diarrhea, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. Young children and the elderly are more negatively affected. It’s important to keep kitchen surfaces clean and disinfected on a regular basis!

Salmonella

Salmonella got its name from its discoverer, Dr. Daniel E. Salmon (not from the fish!), and can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and fever. It can be contracted through contaminated food and water or from interacting with animals (including their environment) that are infected.

Salmonella infection is often managed at home or through a short course of antibiotics, depending on whether symptoms persist. Salmonella illness is incredibly common and about 1.35 million Americans get it every year.

Pseudomonas

Pseudomonas are tricky as they are opportunistic, infecting people with compromised immune systems. They are found in soil, water and plants. This bacteria likes to evade antibiotics and become resistant, and are the most dangerous in healthcare settings, where they can enter the body through wounds or ventilators. Another common infection from pseudomonas is Swimmer’s Ear, which tends to heal on its own.

Where are some of the top places to find bacteria?

Bedroom

The bedroom is where you spend the most time in your home, and it also may not receive the same attention that your kitchen might! Here are a couple of places where bacteria can hide:

1. Mattress

Your mattress is an infrequently cleaned dust centre! It’s important to regularly clean your mattress to keep allergy symptoms down and prevent illness.

2. Pillows

Pillows have high concentrations of skin flakes, dust mites, old makeup residue, and bacteria. Change these, along with your sheets on a regular basis – and replace pillows every 1-2 years.

3. Children’s toys

Kids aren’t reading up on the latest infection prevention techniques, nor should they! Washing your kid’s toys on a regular basis is an important step to slow the spread of germs and infections, especially as they head back to school. Soft toys may need the additional touch of a professional, and our specialists are happy to help

Kitchen

The kitchen is rife with bacteria, as food is brought in from a variety of different sources. Here are some of the most common places to find it:

1. Kitchen sponge

The kitchen sponge is the rumored worst place to find bacteria (although it actually isn’t!) One of the best ways to combat bacteria is to regularly change out your sponge and ensure it’s wrung out fully in between each use.

2. Counter

Are you cleaning that counter with your kitchen sponge? Counters go through a lot in a day and need to be cleaned thoroughly after every use.

3. Appliances

Appliances have a lot of nooks and crannies that can hold bacteria. We go beyond the carpets and help you with surfaces that are harder to clean, including appliances. Ask one of our specialists how we can give you the gold standard of clean with our hot water extraction method.

4. Cutting boards

Plastic cutting boards have a porous surface that break down over time, allowing bacteria to grow. Use a bleach solution with a ratio of one capful bleach per gallon of water, and after running the solution over it, let it stand for several minutes. Wash with soap and water afterwards!

Bathroom

1. Bathroom mats + linens

Face cloths and towels should be washed as often as you’re able, as bacteria can grow quickly and contribute to breakouts on your face. It can also make your towels smell over time. Your bathroom mats should also be regularly washed. If they are too large for your washing machine, our specialists can clean your mats along with the other carpeting in your home.

2. Shower curtains

Shower curtains stay in a moist environment all the time and are challenging to take down and clean. They can develop black mold spots over time. Fabric can be cleaned, but it’s important to remember to do it on a regular basis. For the plastic insert, make sure it is not resting at the bottom of the tub where water can pool, and stay on top of the mold spots with household cleaners.

Pets

Pets don’t wear shoes, and they track in all sorts of bacteria in their paws. And if they have an accident on the carpet, it’s near impossible to get out all the mess.

Cats present a unique issue as they can track their litter throughout the house, and the dust is riddled with bacteria coming from urine and feces. In order to reduce bacteria spread, make sure you place a mat under the litter box in order to reduce the tracking of dust and ensure it is scooped daily.

How can carpet cleaning help?

Carpet is a moist, high traffic area that is an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive in, and can harbour dust. Vacuuming regularly can help keep the dust down, and regular hot water extraction cleans are additional insurance in keeping your space clean.

As Healthline says, dust isn’t just dirt! It’s a combination of many different types of chemicals, dust mites, dead skin, and other allergens that can affect your upper respiratory tract. It can also hold bacteria like the ones discussed above: E. coli, staph, pseudomonas, salmonella, and bacillus.

Ensuring that you maintain healthy lungs means limiting irritants and allergens. Vacuuming is helpful to limit the dust, but it’s not as effective as hot water extraction. Regular intervals of hot water extraction cleaning is an important step in limiting allergic reactions and irritation that can often be mistaken for COVID-19 symptoms

COVID + Your Workspace – Why you should be looking to your carpets to maintain employee health

With the current restrictions in place, our main places of gathering are at the office. High traffic areas are the riskiest for passing COVID-19, including hallways, doorknobs, and lunch rooms. Workplaces and employers have to make an extra effort to protect their employees when they’re in the office. Regular cleaning with a disinfecting solution is helpful for hard surfaces like desks, lunch tables, and bathroom surfaces – but they are ineffective on the carpet.

Recommendations for a safe workplace means identifying those that may have symptoms of COVID-19, and a lot of times these symptoms are shared with other illnesses. Your workers may have allergies, or sensitivity to dust mites, pollen, or other chemicals found in carpet. It’s important to ensure your employees are in top health – and minimizing allergens is a great place to start.

Carpet cleaning sanitizes, but it also helps remove stains and salt residue. Much like your home, your office needs to be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis in order to keep bacteria at bay. This is why professional services are necessary!

COVID-19 is here to stay, and it’s important to acknowledge the efforts it requires to keep your family and workplace safe. The Blind Carpet Cleaner is here to make that a little easier. Not only do we clean the carpets in your home or office, but we also offer a number of professional upgrades for those that are looking for that extra touch in their space.

To Conclude

This article may make bacteria sound like another thing to worry about, but with good hygiene and a clean home or workspace, you can be perfectly safe. Regular professional carpet cleanings are an important step in maintaining a clean space for everyone who uses it.

Our specialists can help answer your questions and come up with a personalized approach to cleaning those nooks and crannies that are tough for household equipment to reach. We use a neutral solution that is non-toxic and then utilize our hot water extraction method at 260 degrees fahrenheit in order to kill 99% of bacteria and lift as much as 85% of stains from your flooring. We can even go further- you can add any of the following services for that extra level of clean:

• Mattresses
• Outdoor Furniture
• Pet Care & Odour Removal
• Stairs & Hallway
• Area Rugs
• Bathrooms
• Children’s Toys
• Dust Mite Removal
• Floor & Carpet
• Kitchen Appliances

Contact us to schedule your home carpet cleaning. Our professional carpet cleaners will work hard and diligently to remove viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, leaving your home clean and safe for you and your family.

We understand that bringing anyone new into your home or office is stressful, and we want to assure you that we are doing our part to ensure that you and our staff are safe.

1. Our carpet cleaners wear disposable hospital grade nitrile gloves, 3-layer surgical masks, and over the shoe covers – which have been proven effective as a preventative measure against COVID-19.
2. Between client homes, all microfiber cloths, and scrubbing tools are replaced, ensuring that there is no pathogen-crossover between sites. The tools are returned to our premises where they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
3. All of our carpet cleaning equipment, hand-tools, wands, cleaning buckets, and spray bottles are disinfected after each use.
4. The Blind Carpet Cleaner team members are provided with one step alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which they use regularly between homes.
5. The interior of our vehicle is disinfected on a daily basis.

We look forward to cleaning with you!

The DIY movement has made significant inroads into home maintenance, with carpet cleaning being no exception. The appeal of saving money by renting a machine like Rug Doctor is strong. However, the question remains: does it truly serve your home’s needs, or is professional carpet cleaning a better, more efficient solution? Let’s delve into a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision.

1. Improving Air Quality:

• DIY Method: Most DIY carpet cleaning machines struggle with inadequate water pressure and vacuum strength, leading to incomplete cleaning and water extraction. This inefficiency could leave your carpets damp and worsen indoor air quality by trapping pollutants.
• Professional Cleaning: Professionals use advanced hot water extraction techniques, reaching temperatures above 260 degrees Fahrenheit to thoroughly cleanse carpet fibers. This process not only removes dirt and debris but also eliminates airborne pollutants, significantly enhancing indoor air quality.

2. Lengthening Carpet Life:

• DIY Method: While DIY methods can maintain carpets above the level of regular vacuuming, they require careful preparation, including pre-vacuuming with a high-quality machine and multiple passes over the carpet to ensure water and dirt removal. This intensive process demands considerable time and effort, which may not always be practical for busy homeowners.
• Professional Cleaning: The professional approach goes beyond surface cleaning by deeply penetrating carpet fibers, removing all traces of dirt and grime. This thorough cleaning helps preserve the carpet’s integrity and appearance, effectively extending its lifespan and saving homeowners from premature replacements.

3. Removing Stains:

• DIY Method: Achieving stain removal with a rental machine is possible but demands diligence. Incorrect usage can leave residues, making carpets look dirtier over time as they attract more soil. This method requires a commitment to follow through meticulously to avoid such pitfalls.
• Professional Cleaning: The superior cleaning power of professional equipment, combined with the expertise of technicians, allows for the effective removal of even the most stubborn stains. The high temperature and powerful extraction capabilities ensure that carpets are left clean and residue-free.

4. Eliminating Bacteria, Allergens, and Mold:

DIY Method: The limitations of DIY steam cleaning technology mean it is less effective at fully saturating carpet fibers with water, leaving harmful substances like bacteria and allergens behind. Additionally, inadequate drying can create a breeding ground for mold.

Professional Cleaning: Professional services eliminate these concerns by using equipment that cleans at a germ-killing temperature, ensuring a comprehensive removal of harmful microorganisms and preventing mold growth through effective water extraction and drying techniques.

5. Enhancing Home Appearance:

• DIY Method: For superficial aesthetic improvements, DIY cleaning can be effective. However, for homes on the market, this approach may fall short, potentially leaving carpets looking and smelling less than ideal, which can deter potential buyers.
• Professional Cleaning: Regular professional cleaning not only maintains but enhances the appearance and ambiance of your home. Professionals ensure a level of cleanliness and freshness that DIY methods can’t match, making it particularly valuable for homes being shown to potential buyers.

6. Maintaining Carpet’s Warranty:

• DIY Method: Carpet warranties vary greatly, and some may not cover damage caused by DIY cleaning methods. It’s crucial to verify with your warranty provider whether DIY cleaning meets their requirements to avoid voiding your coverage.
• Professional Cleaning: Most carpet manufacturers recommend or require professional cleaning to maintain warranty coverage. Professionals provide documentation of the cleaning, which is often necessary to keep your warranty valid.

7. Removing Bad Smells:

• DIY Method: If not done correctly, DIY cleaning can leave carpets damp and prone to bacteria growth, leading to unpleasant odors. Proper drying is essential but not always guaranteed with rental equipment.
• Professional Cleaning: The combination of high heat and effective extraction used by professionals not only cleans but also eliminates odors at their source. The faster drying times reduce the risk of bacteria growth, keeping carpets smelling fresh.

8. Removing Hidden Bacteria and Viruses:

• DIY Method: Given the current health climate, especially concerning COVID-19, DIY methods are insufficient for sanitizing carpets. The lack of deep cleaning and sanitization capabilities can leave harmful pathogens in your carpets.
• Professional Cleaning: Professional cleaners use methods and solutions that are effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses, providing a safer environment for your household.

9. Routine Maintenance:

DIY Method: For those committed to regular carpet maintenance, DIY cleaning can be part of a routine care strategy. However, the effectiveness and convenience can vary based on the machine’s quality and the user’s diligence.

Professional Cleaning: Engaging professional services for routine maintenance ensures consistent results and peace of mind. Professionals tailor their services to your schedule, providing convenience without compromising on the quality of care your carpets receive.

While DIY carpet cleaning offers an immediate cost-saving benefit, the long-term advantages of professional carpet cleaning—ranging from improved air quality and extended carpet life to superior stain removal and sanitization—clearly outweigh the initial savings. Professional cleaning not only preserves the aesthetic and health of your home but also offers convenience and effectiveness that DIY solutions cannot match.

For personalized advice or to schedule a professional cleaning that will rejuvenate your carpets and home, call today- 604-626-5002. Our team is dedicated to providing service that exceeds expectations, ensuring your living space remains welcoming, clean, and safe.

Now more than ever, the importance of keeping your home clean and safe for your family and guests is paramount. Unlike hardwood or concrete flooring, those of us that have homes with carpet face a unique challenge. Although regularly vacuuming your home will remove some of the surface-level dirt and other unwanted substances, having your carpets cleaned by a professional is and always will be, a necessary and essential step.

We recommend that your carpets are professionally cleaned every 6-12 months to keep them fresh and sanitary, especially if you have pets, children, or aging adults in your home. At the Blind Carpet Cleaner, we specialize in carpet cleaning services for residential sites. Our steam technology kills 99% of germs, bacteria, and toxins. We’re fully trained and highly experienced carpet cleaning professionals that can help you extend the life of your carpet, and most importantly, keep you and your family safe.

As many of our clients were unaware of the reasons why they should have their carpets professionally cleaned before they met us, we decided it would be helpful to put together our top 9 reasons why you should have a professional clean your carpets, versus doing it yourself.

#1- Air Quality

There have been numerous empirical articles published that have shown dirty carpets not only impair your home’s indoor air quality but can also have serious negative health consequences for you and your family, including respiratory and cognitive problems.

Because the link between a clean carpet and clean air inside your home is well supported by scientific research, this makes the first item on our list of the utmost importance – especially since many of us are spending more time indoors as a result of COVID restrictions and the looming winter season ahead.

Unfortunately, most vacuum cleaners are unable to properly remove the pollutants from your carpet that result in poor air quality, so this is definitely something that you’ll need a professional’s help with!

We suggest having a professional come in every 6-12 months to do a proper cleaning to ensure that you and your family are breathing the best air possible – typically once during spring break and once at the end of summer before school starts.

#2- Longer Carpet Life

Having your carpets cleaned by a professional versus just vacuuming them yourself will certainly extend the life of your carpets significantly. We like to compare the act of vacuuming your carpets to regularly brushing your teeth – while necessary, you will still require professional cleaning once or twice per year in order to ensure longevity and overall health – as some stains and bacteria will lurk in hard to reach spaces.

If you’ve ever had to replace the carpet in your home, you’ll know that it’s a tedious and expensive process. In order to prevent or prolong that from happening, it’s best that you have a professional come in at least once per year to assess your carpet’s health, thoroughly clean them, and offer helpful tips you can use throughout the year.

We’ve actually written another blog post that contains a number of additional tips to lengthen the life of your carpets if this is something that interests you!

#3 – Stain Removal

We’ve all had those “uh oh” moments where we’ve spilled something on our carpets that we swear will never come out. From red wine to pet accidents, hair dye, to muddy footprints – we’ve seen it all! We’ve also seen some very unfortunate situations where stains have been left for too long, or have been attempted to be removed in an incorrect manner – which always makes the situation worse.

Although there are some handy tips you can utilize yourself to partially remove stains, it’s always best that you get the help of a professional cleaner. Otherwise, you might find yourself needing to replace your carpet on a more regular basis – which can be incredibly costly.

With that said, here are our top tips that you can follow to temporarily remedy the stain until someone is able to help:

Red wine spills – Once you’ve blotted out the majority of the wine, pour a small amount of cold water onto the stain and continue blotting. This will dilute the colour of red wine.

If the stain still persists, make a baking soda cocktail. Mix a 3-1 ratio of baking soda to water. This will create a paste that you can directly apply to the blotted carpet stain. Pour yourself another glass of wine while you wait for it to dry. Then vacuum up the dried paste and the stain will go along with it.

Bloodstains – Similar to red wine, blood can be tough to remove, especially if it’s dry. Once you spot the stain, blot as quickly as you can.

Next, head to the medicine cabinet and grab your hydrogen-peroxide. Test it on a hidden spot on your carpet first to ensure that it won’t change the colour. If this goes well, dip a cotton swab in the hydrogen peroxide and apply it carefully to the stain. Rinse it with a clean wet cloth and let the stain air dry.

Grease stains – Dropped food happens to the best of us. Once again, the key is to act fast. Use a utensil to lift any solid remnants from the carpet. Make sure not to rub the grease stain so it doesn’t spread through the fibers.

Next, sprinkle with cornstarch or baking powder to absorb the liquid oil. Then, you’ll need to use a soft bristle brush to help the powder penetrate the fibers. Leave the powder on for at least fifteen minutes and then vacuum the spot.

Once you’ve done your vacuum pass, mix one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent in two cups of hot water. If you have ammonia handy, add a tablespoon. Once your cocktail is ready, blot the stain with the cleaning solution until the stain is removed. Finally, grab a clean, wet cloth to rinse the area from the soapy solution.

At the end of the day, professional carpet cleaning specialists like The Blind Carpet Cleaner will efficiently bring your carpet back to life by applying a non-toxic odourless solution with a neutral pH to your carpets. Coupled with steam technology, these methods will remove over 85% of stains from your carpets and upholstery safely and effectively!

#4 – Removal of Bacteria, Allergens, and Mold

Many of us assume that we’re only allergic to substances found outside our homes but this, unfortunately, more often than not, isn’t the case. Your carpet is a breeding ground for common allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores!

A professional carpet cleaner utilizes steam technology which cleans at over 260 degrees F, tackling dirt, dust, pollen, smoke, toxins, germs, bacteria, allergens, and contaminants living in your carpet – something that regular vacuuming won’t resolve.

If you or a member of your family has been experiencing worsening allergy symptoms, your carpet could be the culprit!

#5 – To Improve the Appearance of your Home

We all know how nice it is to walk into a clean home after a long day. You instantly feel relaxed. The cleanliness of your carpets has a great deal to do with how clean (or not clean) your home will feel. Despite how many times you vacuum, nothing creates a clean home feeling better than freshly, professionally cleaned carpets.

This is also critically important for those of you that are about to put your home on the market. We’ve all heard the tip from real estate agents about baking cookies before an open house to create that warm and comfortable feeling for prospective buyers. The same holds true for carpets that have just been professionally cleaned, so give it a try!

#6 – To Maintain the Carpet’s Warranty

Most carpet companies warranty regulations stipulate that you should have your carpets professionally cleaned every 12-18 months in order to qualify for a claim and will ask for your receipts as proof. It’s critical that you choose your carpet cleaner thoughtfully, as the warranty often asks for specific types of cleaning, usually involving hot water extraction that’s PH balanced.

There’s also a number of stipulations in most warranty regulations regarding stain removal, so it’s best that you consult a professional if you’re faced with a problem stain. Otherwise, you might be faced with having to replace your carpets at your own cost.

#7 – To Save Money

This one seems a bit counter-intuitive as hiring a professional carpet cleaner obviously costs money. As mentioned in many of our other top 9 items, the cost you’ll pay to have your carpets professionally cleaned every 12-18 months will be significantly less than the cost of having to replace your carpets.

#8 – To Remove Bad Smells

Typically speaking, a simple vacuum pass or two won’t even come close to removing any unwanted smells from your carpet. There’s also a plethora of deodorizers on the market, but many, if not all of them, contain harmful chemicals that will likely do more harm than good.

When you’re dealing with any pesky smells in your carpets, it’s best to have a professional carpet cleaner come in and remove them safely for you. We also highly recommend having a professional cleaner come in every 12-18 months even if there aren’t any smells.

#9 – To Remove Hidden Bacteria and Viruses

Did you know that some carpets contain more bacteria than a toilet seat? It’s a very scary, but very true fact. With all the precautions that everyone’s taking in today’s world to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, having your carpets professionally cleaned should be high on your list.

Our clients often ask us whether or not they should be concerned about the possibility of the Coronavirus living in their carpets and upholstery – and the answer is yes, absolutely, you should be concerned and take proactive measures to keep your home COVID-19 free.

Unfortunately, you cannot drench your furniture and carpets with hand sanitizer or disinfectants like doorknobs, countertops, and other hard surfaces. One of the ways we can protect ourselves is by maintaining a hygienic home and working environment. During this pandemic, sanitation and disinfection control matters greatly, and there has never been a better time to hire a professional carpet and upholstery cleaning service.

At The Blind Carpet Cleaner, not only do we help remove the risks of COVID from your home but we also take a number of precautions to ensure that while we’re cleaning your carpets, we’re doing so in a manner that’s safe for you and your family.

The Blind Carpet Cleaners safety protocols:

• Our carpet cleaners wear disposable hospital-grade nitrile gloves, 3-layer surgical masks, and over the shoe covers, which have been proven effective as a preventative measure against COVID-19.
• Between client homes, all microfiber cloths, and scrubbing tools are replaced, ensuring that there is no pathogen-crossover between sites. The tools are returned to our premises where they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• All of our carpet cleaning equipment, hand-tools, wands, cleaning buckets, and spray bottles are disinfected after each use.
• The Blind Carpet Cleaner team members are provided with one step alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which they use regularly between homes.
• The interior of our vehicle is disinfected on a daily basis.

Wrapping it Up

Now that you’re well informed about the main reasons why you should clean your carpets, it’s time to take action! The Blind Carpet Cleaner is here to help you with all of your carpet cleaning needs. With over 100+ reviews, our services are dependable, fast, and trustworthy!

Not only do we clean the carpets in your home, but we also offer a number of professional upgrades for those that are looking for that extra touch in their space.

You can add any of the following services for that extra level of clean:

• Mattresses
• Outdoor Furniture
• Pet Care & Odour Removal
• Stairs & Hallway
• Area Rugs
• Bathrooms
• Children’s Toys
• Dust Mite Removal
• Floor & Carpet
• Kitchen Appliances

Contact us to schedule your home carpet cleaning. Our professional carpet cleaners will work hard and diligently to remove viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, leaving your home clean and safe for you and your family.

We look forward to cleaning with you!

Pet owners are well versed in the idea of comfort. They pay attention to their loving pets like they’re family and know that their comfort is just as important as the rest of the household members. This is why most pet owners prefer to have carpeted homes – they’re cozy for humans and pets. This might leave you wondering, what is the best type of carpet for pets?

A beautiful, clean carpet can be both a focal point in your home and a place to relax and play with your furry sidekicks. When it comes to installing a new carpet in your home, you’ll need to be specific in your search if you plan on sharing it with one of your cuddly friends. Cats and dogs can quickly wreak havoc on carpeting! It’s not just accidents you need to keep in mind though. Even well-trained animals can cause issues by using their sharp claws on the carpet’s tender threads, by getting sick on the floor, or simply by shedding on it.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the best type of carpet for pets and the top five things to keep in mind when carpeting hunting.

Once you’ve decided on your carpet, it’ll be important to build a maintenance plan for keeping it in tip-top shape. We strongly suggest having your carpets cleaned professionally at least twice a year if you have pets. At the Blind Carpet Cleaner, we specialize in carpet cleaning services for residential, commercial, and industrial sites. Our steam technology kills 99% of germs, bacteria, and toxins, including anything coming from your best furry pal. Our team is composed of highly experienced carpet cleaning professionals that can help you extend the life of your carpet, and keep your home safe for the whole family.

Five Things to Keep in Mind When Getting a Carpet for Your Pet

1) Stain Resistance

Cats will be cats. Dogs will be dogs. And even the best behaved, sweetest pets are still animals. There will be an accident on your carpet whether you predict it or not. It might not be urine, but it could be mud, food, or dozens of other unpleasant treasures brought to you by your pet. As such, stain resistance is a key feature to think about when buying your new carpet.

Technically speaking, most stain-resistant carpets are made from 100% polypropylene. These carpets are often referred to as Olefin. They are made of a synthetic fiber that can closely resemble wool but without the hefty price tag.

Polypropylene/Olefin is hydrophobic, which is a fancy way to say, it doesn’t absorb liquid. In fact, not even bleach will damage this material. This is a fantastic option for accident-prone homes.

If you prefer the organic route, wool is a great option. It’s of natural origin and incredibly comfortable – but it won’t offer as much stain resistance. However, what it lacks in stain-fighting power, it makes up for in durability. More on that later.

A great mid-range option is nylon. It’s the best of both worlds. It’s durable like wool and can handle accidents well when treated immediately. Your decision on carpet fiber will be based on your budget and the style you like best. Nylon tends to be the most popular choice due to its moderate pricing, variety of colours and patterns available, and general toughness.

2) Durability

All beloved pets have their own quirks and strange habits. Cats often love to scratch at fabric and high-spirited dogs will dig in their claws during playtime. As such, durability should be a factor you consider when selecting the best type of carpet for pets in your household.

We highly advise that you look for carpets that are rated as “extra heavy” or “extra heavy domestic”. These types of carpets are designed to “stay together” under duress. They’re able to withstand the play fighting, running, and light clawing your pets may be into.

Another suggestion to improve durability is to consider installing high-quality carpet pads under your carpet. Carpet pads are wonderful for many reasons including the fact that they create a softer feel on your floor – which is great for both you and your pets.

Moreover, a carpet pad makes cleaning your carpet a lot easier. Without a carpet pad, your vacuum actually raises the carpet slightly when it sucks up dirt. A carpet pad keeps your carpet locked down, ensuring that you’re not pulling up the fabric and all of the allergens/pet hair that’s stuck in it. Carpet padding also reduces the sound of movement on your floor so if you have active pets that love to run around, you’ll be doing your neighbour’s a huge favour. It’s important to look for a carpet pad that has a breathable moisture barrier so that if there are accidents in your house, they don’t soak through the carpet and into the subfloor of your home. The carpet pad protects the foundation.

In terms of durability, we suggest installing carpet pads and then a carpet made from nylon fibers. Wool carpets are also very durable but can be quite expensive. Olefin is the most economic option but this type of material will be the first to tear, as it’s not as durable as the other suggestions. Nylon is affordable, stain-resistant, and very durable.

3) Pile

Carpet pile refers to the surface loops on a carpet and is an important thing to keep in mind when shopping around.

There are two types of piles – “high pile” and “low pile”:

Low pile carpeting features fibers that are shorter and tighter. This is sometimes also called “loop carpeting” because the carpet threading pattern comes up from the bottom and then loops back under.

High pile carpeting features fibers that are taller and looser. This is sometimes also called “cut carpeting” because the loops are cut at the top to give the carpet a plush feeling.

So which style is better for a home with pets? While each has its pros and cons, both in terms of comfort and look, we recommend high pile carpeting for pets.

The reason we don’t recommend loop carpets is that they’re literally made of loops. Animals gravitate towards them as scratching posts. Not only does this invite your carpet to be destroyed, but it can also hurt your pet’s tender paws.

In terms of hair, high pile rugs are indeed more likely to catch hair. However, because their fibers are cut, they’re much easier to vacuum, giving clear access to the bottom of the rug. High pile rugs end up being much easier to maintain.

Now that you know that the best type of carpet for pets is stain-resistant, durable (made with nylon or wool), and has a high pile, let’s discuss colours and patterns.

4) Colours and Patterns

While we always want you to choose the pattern and colour of your carpet dreams, we do have a couple of suggestions to steer you in a more pet-friendly direction. When selecting your style, you want to think about what kind of colours are best for covering accidents, the presence of fur, and any other imprints your furry friend will inevitably make.

While your instinct might be to get a darker carpet to keep fur less noticeable, this isn’t a good idea if you have a white or light-coloured pet. We suggest that you get a carpet that’s a similar colour to your pet so that pet hair is not as visible to the naked eye.

In terms of patterns, run wild! Carpets that have repeating patterns and a combo of different colours can help disguise stains and pet hair.

Regardless of the colours and patterns you choose, the most important thing is that you’re regularly cleaning and caring for your carpet. After all, the best type of carpet for pets is a clean one.

5) Have the Right Tools on Hand

To keep your carpet in prime shape, you’ll need to master your carpet cleaning skills. Once you’ve decided on your carpet, you should make sure you’re well-equipped to care for it in your pet-friendly home.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum – We recommend everyone vacuums at least once a week. When you have a pet, you should consider vacuuming twice a week. If your whole family is working/learning from home this season, and there are a couple of furry babies around, you may want to consider vacuuming highly trafficked areas daily. This is the quickest way to ensure you’re not spreading bacteria around the house.

Invest in a top-rated vacuum like the Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum. Dyson is one of the most reputable brands out there and this specific model features a “Tangle-Free Turbine Tool”, an attachment that sucks up pet hair without tangling it into knots. If you’ve used a cheap vacuum on pet-dwelling rugs, you’ll know that it inevitably knots up and gets stuck in the mechanics of your vacuum. Save yourself future headaches and invest in a good vacuum cleaner.

Groom your pets – If you have a pet that sheds constantly, it’s important to brush them regularly to get as much of the hair out in one swoop. We suggest that you don’t groom your animals inside your home. Instead, take them to the yard or the park and give them a good brushing. They’ll be happier and your carpet will thank you.

Keep your pet’s nails trimmed – We all know how much cats love to sharpen their nails on fabric, and we’re all familiar with a dog getting the zoomies on a carpet. Both instances can severely damage your carpet fibers if your pet has long nails. It’s imperative to keep their claws in check with regular trimmings.

If you have a cat, we recommend getting a scratching post to itch their urges.

Clean paws, clean claws – We strongly recommend that all humans take their shoes off before stepping on your carpet. Your cats and dogs don’t have shoes so it’s important to give their paws a quick clean if they’ve been outside. Keep a towel at the door and give them a rub when they’re entering the home.

Additionally, give your pets frequent baths to keep any pesky smells off the carpets.

Create designated animal spaces – Even though you’ve chosen the best type of carpet for pets, it’s important to identify any areas where you might need a little bit more protection. For example, if you plan on feeding your pets on a carpeted space, we suggest you put down a mat to avoid consistent spills that may get sucked into the carpet.

Spot clean – Regardless of your carpet choice, when accidents do happen, make sure to clean the stain as soon as possible.

Urine is one of the most common and difficult stains to treat. Here’s our recommended recipe for getting it out: Absorb the urine with a couple of layers of paper towels. Next, mix up a solution of 2 cups of vinegar, 2 cups of warm water, and 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Shake it up in a spray bottle and spray the soiled carpet. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then blot with a clean cloth. Repeat if necessary.

Book regular professional cleaning – If you have pets, once a year is the bare minimum but we strongly suggest having your carpet cleaned at least twice a year. If you’re not sure what kind of cleaning is best for your home, contact us to discuss what’s best suited for your particular carpet.

The Blind Carpet Cleaner is here to help you with all of your carpet cleaning needs. Our professional carpet cleaners will work hard and diligently to remove viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, and our cleaning methods are safe for your pets and the whole family.

If it’s your first time with us, you can take advantage of our new carpet cleaning customer program. If after your cleaning, a persistent stain resurfaces on your carpets or you are not entirely satisfied – call us within five days of your last visit and we will be happy to resolve the problem.

We look forward to talking to you about your carpet and your furry loved ones!

Keeping your carpets clean is crucial for a cozy, inviting home. Carpets add a layer of warmth but come with the challenge of maintenance, especially with everyday spills and foot traffic. While we advocate for professional cleaning twice annually for deep sanitation, here are expert tips to keep your carpets in top shape all year round:

1. Select a High-Quality Vacuum

• Choosing the Right Vacuum: Carpets vary, and so should your vacuum. Manufacturers often have recommendations; a powerful vacuum is key for synthetic fibers, while natural fibers require a gentler touch.
• Product Spotlight: The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E stands out for its effectiveness and versatility, boasting thousands of positive reviews for its dual functionality as an upright and handheld vacuum, complete with essential tools for comprehensive cleaning.

2. Master Your Vacuuming Technique

• Prep Your Space: Start by removing small objects and debris that could obstruct or damage your vacuum. A clear area ensures a smoother vacuuming experience.
• Vacuuming Strategy: Slow and steady wins the race. Move the vacuum slowly to allow it to pick up as much dirt as possible, overlapping slightly with each pass. For a deeper clean, vacuum in perpendicular directions on the second round to lift trapped dirt from all angles.

3. Vacuum Frequently

• Routine Maintenance: At least once a week is recommended, but homes with pets or high traffic may need more frequent vacuuming. Regular vacuuming prevents dirt accumulation and eases the cleaning process.

4. Immediate Spill Response

• Act Fast: The sooner you tackle spills, the less likely they are to set into stains. Immediate action can save your carpet from long-term damage.

5. Blotting Over Rubbing

• Correct Technique: Gently blot spills from the outside in to prevent spreading. Rubbing can push the spill deeper into the carpet fibers, making it harder to remove.

6. Choose the Right Cleaning Solution

Specific Solutions for Common Stains:

• Red Wine: After blotting, dilute with cold water and blot again. A baking soda paste can lift remaining color.
• Blood: Hydrogen peroxide can break down blood stains after initial blotting.
• Grease: Remove solids, then use cornstarch or baking powder to absorb grease. Vacuum, then clean with a detergent solution for residual stains.

7. Handling Pet Accidents

• Prompt Cleaning: Quickly absorb urine with paper towels, then treat the area with a vinegar, water, and baking soda spray. Blot and repeat as needed to fully remove the stain and odor.

8. Implement a No-Shoes Policy

• Keep Dirt Out: Shoes carry dirt and pollutants. Keeping them off your carpets drastically reduces the amount of dirt brought into your home.

9. Utilize Mats and Runners

• Protect Your Carpets: Place doormats at all entrances and use runners in high-traffic areas. They not only catch dirt but also add to your home decor.

10. Deodorize with Baking Soda

• Natural Odor Removal: Baking soda is excellent for absorbing odors. Sprinkle it on your carpet, leave overnight, and vacuum it up for a fresher scent.

Beyond DIY: The Importance of Professional Cleaning

These tips are your go-to for daily and weekly maintenance, but the deep cleaning power of professional services like those offered by The Blind Carpet Cleaner cannot be matched by DIY methods alone. Our steam cleaning technology ensures a germ-free, vibrant carpet, contributing to a healthier and more beautiful home.

Remember, while regular maintenance can significantly prolong the life and appearance of your carpet, the expertise of professional cleaners is invaluable for addressing deep-seated dirt, bacteria, and stains. To keep your carpets looking and feeling their best, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional cleaning services.

In recent months, the emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene has skyrocketed due to COVID-19, affecting how businesses operate worldwide. As companies gradually welcome employees back into offices, ensuring a clean, safe work environment is paramount. Beyond basic hygiene practices, regular professional carpet cleaning plays a critical role in this process. Here’s why commercial carpet cleaning should be a priority for your business:

1. Combatting Allergens and Bacteria

• Seasonal Pollutants: Dirt, pollen, and exhaust fumes accumulate in carpets, especially in offices with air conditioning, trapping allergens and bacteria.
• COVID-19 Concerns: Though less infectious on carpets, the virus’s survival rate of up to 2 days on fabric surfaces necessitates professional cleaning for safety.
• Deep Cleaning Benefits: Regular vacuuming can’t remove all contaminants. Professional cleaning with steam technology eradicates deep-seated dirt, dust, and pathogens, ensuring a healthier office environment.

2. Maintaining a Professional Appearance

• First Impressions Matter: Clean carpets reflect your business’s values and professionalism. Stains and wear can negatively impact your corporate image.
• Odor Control: Regular professional cleaning prevents the buildup of odors caused by bacteria and debris, enhancing your office’s overall ambiance.

3. Protecting Your Investment

• Warranty Requirements: Many carpet warranties mandate professional cleaning to remain valid, safeguarding your investment.
• Preventing Damage: Professional services can prevent issues like dust mite infestations and mold growth, extending your carpet’s lifespan and avoiding the need for costly replacements.

4. Improving Air Quality

• Carpet as an Air Filter: Carpets trap dust and allergens, affecting air flow and quality. Professional cleaning ensures better air circulation, crucial for a healthy workspace.
• Vacuuming Limitations: Standard vacuums may not effectively remove all contaminants. Professional cleaning guarantees a thorough removal of particles, enhancing office air quality.

5. Handling Pet Traces

• Pet-Friendly Offices: While pets boost morale, they also leave behind hair and odors. Professional cleaning is essential for maintaining a clean, welcoming environment in pet-friendly workplaces.

When to Schedule Professional Carpet Cleaning:

• Bi-annual Cleaning: At a minimum, carpets should be professionally cleaned twice a year. However, factors such as foot traffic, business size, and carpet type may necessitate more frequent cleanings.
• Customized Cleaning Plans: Discuss your specific needs with your carpet cleaner to determine the optimal cleaning schedule for your office.

Choose The Blind Carpet Cleaner for Your Commercial Needs:

• Expertise and Trust: With over 100 positive reviews, our services are reliable, efficient, and tailored to meet commercial demands.
• COVID-19 Safety Measures: We adhere to strict safety protocols, including the use of hospital-grade gloves, surgical masks, and thorough sanitization of equipment to ensure your workplace remains safe.
• Satisfaction Guarantee: We offer upfront pricing and a satisfaction guarantee. If issues arise within five days of service, we’re committed to resolving them.

Professional carpet cleaning is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s a health and safety priority for businesses. The Blind Carpet Cleaner is ready to assist you in navigating these challenging times with comprehensive, safe, and effective carpet cleaning solutions. Contact us today to schedule your service and ensure your workplace is clean, safe, and welcoming.

Did you know that right now is the best season to clean your carpets? Summer carpet cleaning is exactly what your home needs to flourish.

Because of the dangers of COVID-19, many people held off on having their carpets cleaned this past spring. Although traditionally, spring is the most popular time of year for carpet cleaning as most families prefer to do one massive seasonal clean of their homes – this year is different.

With social distancing practices now in place, it’s safe to have your carpets cleaned again. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the benefits of summer carpet cleaning, including how it combats allergens and toxins.

The Blind Carpet Cleaner specializes in carpet cleaning services for residential, commercial, and industrial sites. Our steam technology kills 99% of germs, bacteria, and toxins. We’re fully trained and highly experienced carpet cleaning professionals that can help you extend the life of your carpet.

Below are the top six things to keep in mind when it comes to summer carpet cleaning.

1) Summer Carpet Cleaning Has MANY Benefits

Help with Allergens – With your windows open throughout the spring and early summer, carpets are exposed to dirt, pollen, exhaust fumes, and even mold. If you use an AC unit, your carpet quality might be even worse. AC units can cause dirt to fly through the air and can even suction outdoor bacteria into the home.

Once you open your windows in the springtime, dust and allergens start to enter your home with the warm breeze. Simultaneously, the onset of summer tends to bring more traffic to the entrances of your home. Because everyone’s wearing sandals, you or your housemates are walking in from the beach, a BBQ, or the park, and are dragging in the sand, grass clippings, and dirt on your feet and shoes.

Ultimately, all of this activity gets sucked into your carpet. If your allergies are persistent and happening when you’re inside your home, there’s a good chance that your carpet is the culprit.

Your carpets and upholstery are the most sponge-like surfaces in your home. Vacuuming them helps get rid of the first layer of toxins. However, irritants like dust mites and pollen tend to thrive deeper in the fabric. By professionally deep cleaning your carpets in the summertime, you’re helping eliminate pests, dust, and pollen that have made their way into your home over the past few seasons.

After your carpets are cleaned, not only will you have a beautiful home but the air quality will drastically improve.

Faster Drying Time – It’s not rocket science. Another benefit of summer carpet cleaning is the speed at which the carpet dries. With warmer temperatures, your carpets will dry much faster, allowing your home to quickly return to a state of comfort.

At The Blind Carpet Cleaner, we use little to no water in our treatments, meaning our drying time takes 3-4 hours at most and even quicker if the airflow is good in your home.

Aesthetics – After having your carpets cleaned, your house will look like it’s had a facelift. Cleaning your carpet in the summer immediately brightens the home and creates a light atmosphere. Not to mention that cleaning your carpet will extend its life and help reduce any lingering odors in your space.

2) Prepare Your Carpet for Summer Carpet Cleaning

Pre-clean – To maximize the cleaning power of our specialists, it’s a good idea to prepare your space in advance. Before turning your attention to the carpets, we suggest you dust your home. Pay attention to the gritty spots – between your blinds, on your books, behind furniture, baseboard heaters, etc. By dusting, you are preemptively saving your soon to be clean carpet from a layer of dust.

Vacuum – It’s important to remove small objects like dog toys, socks, etc. as it’ll speed up the cleaning process for our specialists. A preemptive vacuum can be very helpful, allowing us to put more focus on removing stains and uprooting the pollutants residing deep in your carpet. This is especially true if your carpets haven’t been vacuumed in a long time. Don’t worry if you’re strapped for time and unable to vacuum beforehand – we’re able to provide vacuuming at an additional charge if need be.

Identify problem areas – Make a list of any trouble spots in your home, including any areas where spills may have occurred. It’s also helpful to indicate to your specialist which areas see the most traffic and dirt being pulled in from outside.

In most cases, your carpet cleaner will recognize these problem areas but it’s helpful to know what your primary concerns are.

Take care of your pets – We advise pet owners to put their dogs and cats in a safe and secure area while their carpets are being cleaned. Our cleaning equipment isn’t extremely loud but it may frighten pets. We want to keep your companions happy so please make sure they are somewhere comfortable during the cleaning.

3) What to Expect During Summer Carpet Cleaning

Once you’ve scheduled your appointment and made note of any problem areas in your home, the magic is ready to happen. When we arrive at your home, we’ll do a walkthrough and discuss any problem areas you want to take care of.

When we get to work, we’ll apply a non-toxic odourless cleaning solution, which has a neutral pH to your carpets. Coupled with our steam technology, our solution will remove over 85% of stains from your carpet and upholstery safely and effectively.

Our steam technology cleans at over 260 degrees F, tackling dirt, dust, pollen, smoke, toxins, germs, bacteria, allergens, and contaminants also living in your carpet. Our trained professionals pay particular attention to areas affected by pet problems, stains, heavy foot traffic, and of course, any space of your concern.

In terms of time commitment, it takes us about 25 minutes to clean a room so timing will vary based on the number of rooms being cleaned, how they’re set-up, and if there’s a lot of furniture, etc.

Extra touches – We offer additional services for an extra level of clean, including mattress and upholstery cleaning, which we highly recommend if you have serious allergy issues. We also provide cleaning services for outdoor furniture, pet care & odor removal, dust-mite removal, and kitchen appliances. If you’re not sure about how to clean a certain area of your home, please contact us and we’ll help.

4) How to Maintain Your Summer Carpet Bliss

Everyone loves a clean home because it makes you feel comfortable and accomplished. Here’s some tips to keep that feeling alive after your summer carpet cleaning:

No shoes allowed – If you haven’t enforced this rule in your home yet, now’s the time.

As mentioned, summertime tends to bring more people through the door. To minimize the amount of dirt being dragged into the home, shoes should be taken off as close to the entrance as possible.

Use welcome mats – Doormats are also extremely helpful, allowing people to wipe their shoes as they come close to your space. We suggest you place a sturdy, coarse mat on the inside and outside of each exterior door (front door, back door, side door, etc.).

Vacuum regularly – At a minimum, you should vacuum weekly. If you entertain or have a busy household, we encourage you to vacuum even more frequently. Regular vacuuming helps keep dust, dirt, and allergens from entering your carpet fibers deeply. Vacuuming also helps eliminate some of the odors that can get stuck in your carpet from cooking and hosting. If the odour is of particular concern to you, we suggest adding baking soda to the bag in your vacuum; it will help fight any recurring odors that frequently enter your home. We love simplicity, so we recommend Arm and Hammer Baking Soda for your vacuuming needs.

We also suggest that you vacuum slowly. The higher the foot traffic, the slower you should move your vacuum so that it’s getting a chance to grip everything. Take advantage of slow periods in the day when the house might be empty to do your vacuuming.

Lastly, make sure you change out your vacuum filters often so that your vacuum cleaner suction is working at its best.

Replace air filters – This is often overlooked but should be a part of your regular home maintenance. If you have a cat or dog, you should be especially mindful of this. Air filters need to be changed and cleaned regularly. The dirtier they are, the more dust will be spread out onto your carpet and furniture.

5) Get Comfortable Spot Cleaning

Accidents happen, from potty training puppies to a spilled glass of wine or milk. The crucial thing to keep in mind with stains is that they need to be treated ASAP.

Regardless of the type of spill, there’s one rule that goes across the board when it comes to cleaning a stain: Never rub.

Instead, start by scraping away any excess material. Next, blot the stain with paper towels and water. Then, move on to a cleaning solution.

Are you unsure of how to treat certain stains? The truth is all stains are built differently and how you clean them can make a world of difference.

Here are a few of our favourite spot cleaning methods:

Coffee – A daily ritual in some households and a common culprit in the world of spills. The first step to cleaning a coffee spill is to soak it up with a towel. Next, you’ll want to rinse the area with cold or room temperature water and then blot again. If there’s still a stain, you can use your favourite cleaning solution. Alternatively, you can mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with two cups of water. This should take care of any pesky remnants.

Dog urine – The next time your puppy leaves a special surprise for you, clean up as quickly as you can. Use a paper towel to blot the stain until you’ve removed all the liquid. Next, mix together a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Soak the stain with the mixture. The vinegar will neutralize the ammonia smell of the urine while also sanitizing the spot.

Let it sit for a minute and then scrub. Once you’re done scrubbing, apply a little baking soda and a little more of the vinegar-water mix. Rub it into the carpet fibers. Leave the baking soda to dry. It may take a day or two but once the spot is dry, vacuum the carpet.

Candle wax – The wax drips from a melting candle can get on the ground quicker than you can anticipate. Wax can be particularly tricky to clean, so as before, try and clean it up as soon as you see it. Next, fill a plastic bag with ice and put it on top of the wax stain. You want to get the wax to freeze, but avoid getting it wet from the ice. When the wax is frozen, it can be scraped off with a dull knife. Next, put a brown paper bag over the stain and run a warm iron over it. The paper will absorb the wax as it melts.

Mud stains – Summer days can bring many mud stains into the house. To clean them out of carpet fibers, you first need to let the mud dry. Once it’s dry to the touch, vacuum up as much as possible. Next, mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with two cups of water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. And then repeat until the stain disappears and then sponge with water.

6) Consider Summer Carpet Cleaning Your Extended Homes

If you have a summer getaway like a cottage, you should absolutely consider having the carpets cleaned during the summer, especially if the home isn’t used in the off-season. Likewise, if you have an RV or a houseboat, it’s important for your health to have your upholstery, fabrics, and carpets cleaned regularly.

Without regular cleaning, months of dust, and debris pile into your carpets. Annual cleaning of your “home away from home” will also keep away the pesky odor that comes with vacation houses.

Book Your Summer Carpet Cleaning

The Blind Carpet Cleaner is here to help you with all of your summer carpeting needs. Our clients love the carpet cleaning results they’re seeing after just one service. With over 100+ reviews, our services are dependable, fast and trustworthy!

Our pricing is competitive. We want to earn your business with upfront pricing – we will tell you what it will cost in advance so there are no surprises or hidden fees. If you’re new to us, you can take advantage of our new carpet cleaning customer program. If after your cleaning, a persistent stain resurfaces on your carpets or you are not entirely satisfied – call us within five days of your last visit and we will be happy to resolve the problem.

Contact us to schedule your summer carpet cleaning now. We look forward to tackling all of your summer carpeting needs and getting your home in optimal shape to enjoy the rest of the summer.