Rug cleaning

In most cases, rug cleaning consists of little more than vacuuming and treating an occasional spill. But what happens when house pets and rugs meet? Do you really have to choose between children or rugs?

House pets and rugs

Some house pets live in enclosed spaces, like cages, aquariums or terrariums. Unless the aquarium springs a leak, or your bird is a messy eater, the affect that these animals have on your rugs and furniture is probably minimal, and you can follow regular rug cleaning protocol: vacuum once a week, deep cleaning every two or three years. If your pet roams freely through your home, however, there are a few rug cleaning tips you should follow:

Rug cleaning tips for pet owners:

1. Sweep your rug before you vacuum using a rubber broom to remove hair and fur. Pets shed hair, fur and dander. Hair, fur and dander easily become embedded in carpet fibers - especially if the pile is even moderately high. If you vacuum before sweeping, one of two things will happen: your vacuum will quickly lose suction as it becomes clogged with hair (or fur) or it just won't pick up the fur in the first place.
2. Sprinkle the rug with baking soda before vacuuming to help combat pet odors.
3. Clean up pet accidents as soon as they happen to avoid staining. Gently remove feces, hair balls or any other hard matter, doing you best not to rub it in. Use clean towels (paper or cloth) to blot up liquids. Then try applying a paste made of baking soda and water, letting it dry, and then vacuuming. If discoloration persists, you may need to use a commercial product or call professional rug cleaners. Avoid flushing the area with water - too much moisture can lead to other issues.

Rugs Stains

Chewing gum in the carpet? Try freezing it out. Put an ice cube in a plastic bag, and then place it over the gum. When the gum has hardened, simply pluck it off. If it is still resistant, repeat the process. The plastic bag is important - you don't want the ice to melt and turn the whole thing into a soggy mess. This also works for removing crayon from rugs.

Avoid vomit stains by first removing as much of the vomit as possible, without rubbing it in. Then, blot the area dry with towels or a sponge and clean with vinegar diluted in dish washing liquid and water.

For more information and free estimate call bay-area-cleaning.com at 888-397-8423.