It's more important than ever to protect our planet, but it can be difficult to reduce the environmental impact of cleaning. The experience of trying an eco-friendly product that doesn't actually work is familiar to many, but there are effective methods that have minimal environmental impact. Here is how eco-friendly carpet cleaning works.
The feeling of a freshly cleaned carpet does not have to bring with it a hefty environmental cost.
Choosing an eco-friendly cleaning method will reduce your environmental impact, reduce your household’s exposure to chemicals, and is often safer for children and pets to be around.
Using less water means that there is less hazardous wastewater to dispose of afterwards. The reduced amount of solvents and toxins ensures a better indoor air quality than less eco-friendly carpet cleaning methods.
‘Green-washing’ is where businesses claim to be eco-friendly, but then continue using practices and ingredients that harm the environment. Look out for ammonia, bleach, sodium hydroxide and phthalates in products advertised as eco-friendly, as they are harmful and it is possible to carry out an eco-friendly clean without them.
Always patch test any product before using it on your whole carpet.
By spreading an absorbent compound over the floor, dry compound cleaning makes dirt easier to vacuum away. You can choose a product using plant-based material for eco-friendly carpet cleaning. This method is suitable for carpets that cannot get wet, protecting delicate materials.
This method uses very little water, and works by sealing dirt in a crystal that can be vacuumed away. Because of the reduced amount of chemicals, water and therefore wastewater, this is a greener method of carpet cleaning.
Using household items to tackle stains reduces waste, uses minimal chemicals and can be cost-effective. However, tread very carefully when using anything not created specifically for carpets. Take a look at our guides for some ideas.
As convenient as it is to grab a piece of kitchen towel to wipe up stains, this waste can add up over time. Instead, you can use washable microfiber cloths, plastic-free brushes, reusable mops and carpet rakes when caring for your carpet for a more eco-friendly home.
Regular vacuum cleaning prevents a build-up of dirt that would require heavy-duty cleaning later on. Not only does vacuuming not require any water or chemicals, but it is a useful prevention tool. Maintaining a vacuuming schedule increases your carpet's lifespan, reducing the need for more energy and materials to go into making a new one.
Many professional carpet cleaners can use greener methods upon request, and some even use these methods by default. Find a professional carpet cleaner using the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) directory and they will accommodate your environmental concerns. Every cleaner is experienced, accredited and insured.
Search our cleaner directory
Photo credit: Rothwell's Cleaning Services Ltd
Rugs are a functional way to add colour and warmth to your home. However, they collect dirt and dust just like any other carpet, and should be maintained in their own way. Here's why you should get your rug professionally cleaned - even if it doesn't look dirty.
Professional rug cleaning extends the lifespan of your rug by keeping it healthy. Dirt can hide deep into the pile or weave of your rug. You may not notice the sand, salt and grit that builds up over time until it becomes compacted and permanent damage to the fibres has already been done.
Regular cleaning helps to maintain the colour and integrity of a rug, saving you from splashing out on a new one. This is also better for the environment, as looking after your rug prevents unnecessary materials being used to make a new one.
Rugs are absorbent, which leads to bad smells getting caught inside them and lingering. Pollutants, bacteria and allergens - like pollen and dust mites - also get stuck in the fibres of your rug. Every time someone steps on the rug, these particles are propelled into the air, potentially causing health problems for your household. Professional rug cleaning is one of the best things you can do for allergy sufferers as it helps to reduce the amount of pollutants in the air.
Accidents happen, and rugs can end up with all sorts of stains. Whether it's coffee, ink or blood, you can try to use home methods to attempt to manage stains, but they won't come close to an experienced hand. Don't accept defeat - a professional cleaner can remove these marks without damaging or discolouring your carpet, leaving the mistake in the past.
Properly cleaning a rug is a lengthy, laborious process. Not only do you have to complete multiple steps to clean the rug and remove stains, but you also need to dry the rug properly to prevent mould and water damage. Carrying out these tasks can take a long time, especially if you have more than one rug. Professional rug cleaning takes care of this procedure without wasting your time and energy.
Rug cleaning requires the correct products, equipment and method. Different rugs need different care, so you also need to be able to identify the type of rug you have and understand how to clean it. Even a slight mistake could cause damage to your rug, leaving you with more work to do and more expenses. By hiring a professional rug cleaner, you can be reassured that the task will be done right, using high-quality equipment.
The right professional cleaner can make all the difference. The National Carpet Cleaners Association has a directory of expert carpet cleaners all over the UK, all with insurance. Every cleaner has training specific to handling rugs, helping you feel all the benefits of a squeaky-clean rug without hours of effort.
Search our carpet cleaner directory
Cleaning the hard floors in your home is an important part of maintaining a healthy household. Hard floors are often found in rooms where hygiene is key, like the bathroom or kitchen, making proper cleaning vital. Here are our top tips for hard floor cleaning and maintenance.
Most homes have at least one hard floor. Examples of hard floor materials include laminate, tiles, hardwood and stone - most floor coverings that are not carpet. Where carpets can hide dirt and dust amongst their fibres, many hard floors leave dirt exposed for all to see. Hard flooring is also vulnerable to scratches, which are unsightly and lead to wider damage underneath your floors. Follow these rules to ensure that your hard floors are taken care of.
To prevent scratches on your floor, do not wear shoes in the house. You can also use rugs to protect the floor’s surface from wear and tear. However, make sure that you lift these rugs when cleaning, and follow advice to take care of your rugs, too.
In day-to-day life, it's easy to neglect hard floor cleaning when it's not part of our routine. Most households don't need to deep clean their hard floors every day, so long as they carry out small maintenance tasks regularly. For the best way to take care of your floor, sweep daily, vacuum every few days, and wet mop at least fortnightly. When you wet mop, it's crucial to use the appropriate floor cleaner for your specific floor type and you should always minimise water use on wooden and laminate floors.
While hard floors seem solid, many of them are actually porous. Spills can soak deep inside them, causing swelling and other damage. Drinks like coffee can also leave long-lasting stains if not handled immediately. You should always soak up spillages as soon as you can.
By dealing with damaged floor as soon as possible, you prevent damage from spreading. Restoration is different depending on what kind of hard floor you have, so research this process fully before attempting anything. Consult a professional hard floor cleaner if you are unsure what flooring you have or how best to reseal, repair or rejuvenate your flooring.
Hard floor cleaners are essentially vacuum cleaners that also scrub stains. They help you to tackle both dust and stains in a singular circuit around the room. However, beware that they are not always as effective at tackling dust as vacuum cleaners - you may be better off hiring a professional cleaner with access to industry standard machinery.
Hiring an expert to take care of your hard floor cleaning is a sure way to keep your home looking its best. Every National Carpet Cleaners Association member meets our high standards of training and insurance. They can be found in our directory of cleaners all over the UK.
Search the carpet cleaner directory
Pricing your services is a precise business. On one hand, you want to maximise your profits, but on the other hand, you don't want to price out potential customers. The benefits of competitive pricing include increased sales, customer loyalty and brand awareness. Read on to find out how to get your prices just right.
Market research is crucial to competitive pricing. Take a look at other carpet cleaning businesses and what they charge for similar services:
It is not just about undercutting their prices to be the cheapest option. Sometimes, slightly higher pricing can indicate better quality or more expertise, while lower pricing can attract a wider audience.
Breaking down the running costs of your business is an important part of calculating your prices. There is no point setting your prices so low that you lose money, as you would go out of business quite quickly! Tally up how much you spend on fuel, wages, chemicals, and anything else you use.
Also, consider any investments you have made into your business – owning your own equipment means you don't have to pay for it every trip, but it is still a relevant cost.
Training courses in Business Management can help you understand the different costs involved. They’re often offered by banks or local chambers of commerce.
If you are working in a highly competitive area, you may want to match or beat your competitors’ prices. So long as your prices cover your costs, you may choose to sacrifice some profits in order to attract customers – which may make you more profits in the long run.
However, if you have a unique selling point or specialist service, your pricing can reflect this. While this may put off some customers who are looking for a budget-friendly clean, you’ll typically make up for this with a higher profit margin per job.
Another option is to use a mixture of the two methods – essentially having two tiers of services.
A value tier may even contain some loss leaders (services that don't cover your costs) if you are certain that customers will purchase other services alongside it that have higher profits. Your premium tier can then contain added extras at a higher cost.
Remember to monitor the market – prices change all the time, so it is important to keep up with trends. You might find that you need to tweak your prices now and then as costs rise or demand increases.
For expert advice on pricing and so much more, join the National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA). Our members gain access to courses, along with consulting and mediation services. Through networking events, you can also meet other carpet cleaners and form business relationships. Become an NCCA member today and start reaping the rewards.
Allergies can be difficult to pin down. If you or your family are experiencing sniffles, headaches, rashes, or even more serious symptoms like chest problems or sickness, you might be looking around for a cause.
The short answer is that you could be allergic to carpet, but it's probably not that simple. While it's possible that your allergy is caused by the materials your carpet is made of, it's highly unlikely. It's more common for people to be allergic to allergens that have found their way into their carpets.
Many substances that come into contact with your carpet will leave a small trace. Think of when you spill crumbs on your carpet – they get lost amongst the fibres. This is the case with any allergen, but on a microscopic level.
Whenever someone walks across your carpet, these particles are disturbed and thrown around your room, potentially towards people with allergies. Here are some common allergens that may make you feel like you are allergic to carpet:
Dust can be found in any house – you'd have to be constantly cleaning to entirely eliminate it! Some people react to dust itself, while many are actually allergic to the droppings of tiny mites that flock around dust.
Hayfever is a common allergy that causes problems, especially in warmer months. When your windows are open, pollen can fly inside and burrow deep into the carpet. It can also travel in on people’s shoes.
Once mould spores find their way into your carpet, it can be very tricky to remove them. As soon as any moisture lands on your carpet, they will grow into patches of mould. Many people are allergic to mould, but it can also impact the health of people without a mould allergy.
As much as we love our furry friends, they don't agree with everyone's immune system. Pet dander in your carpet can trigger allergy symptoms for those who suffer. Paws, claws and fur also collect allergens outside, bringing them indoors and releasing them into the house.
Households with allergen-prone members should vacuum more often. Increasing the frequency that you vacuum can keep the levels of allergens in your home low.
Taking your shoes off when you enter your home reduces the amount of allergens you bring in with you, keeping them outdoors and away from your family.
Longer carpet fibres collect more allergens. By choosing a low-pile carpet, you can reduce the amount of allergens that get stuck in your carpet.
Protect your family's health by hiring a professional carpet cleaner. Regular professional carpet cleaning prevents allergens from building up in your carpet, keeping allergies at bay.
For the best results, every cleaner in the National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) directory is fully trained in how to keep your carpet healthy. Browse our directory today.
Cleaning carpet stains can be a tricky task. Muddy footprints, spilt drinks and ink stains are all parts of a busy household, and it's important to treat your carpet with care. Here are our key pointers for spot cleaning carpet successfully.
Spillages are much more likely to do permanent damage if they are left. To prevent discolouration through bleaching or dyeing, treat stains as soon as you can. The fresher the mess, the easier the clean!
When faced with a stubborn stain, your instinct might be to scrub your carpet. It's important that you ignore this instinct – it can damage your carpet and actually make the stain harder to clean. You might even find that scrubbing spreads the stain, giving you a tougher job later.
Blotting is the best method to spot clean carpet. By gently dabbing the area in circular motions, you begin to rub away the stain without driving it further into the carpet. You are also less likely to flatten the fibres of your carpet.
While water is helpful to the carpet cleaning process, it should be used in moderation. A saturated carpet takes a long time to dry, which can open the door to mould. Instead, apply any water gradually and ventilate the room as much as possible. If your carpet can be hung up outside, as with a rug, that gives it the best chance of drying.
A substance that works well on one carpet may ruin another. Carrying out a patch test on a hidden area of carpet is the best way to avoid damage. While it may take a bit longer, it can save you from causing accidental harm when spot cleaning carpet.
Hiring a steam cleaner (also known as a wet extraction cleaner) yourself is often recommended as a cheap way to handle a dirty carpet. However, it's difficult to properly dry your carpet afterwards without the right equipment and techniques. This can lead to damp carpet, mould and nasty smells.
Regardless of the cleaning method you choose, it's always worth trying to manually remove as much as possible. Solid substances like wax, dry nail polish and many foods can be scraped away with a blunt tool like a spoon or spatula. However, ensure that you act gently to avoid damaging your carpet fibres.
Bleach is a very strong cleaning chemical, and can tackle most stains. However, it also leaves permanent stains of its own. Spot cleaning carpet with bleach is not advised – it's best to leave harsh chemicals to the professionals.
Carpet cleaners are experts at spot cleaning carpets, so they're the best people to call for carpet stains. The National Carpet Cleaning Association (NCCA) directory is full of experienced cleaners all over the UK.
To find one, all you need to do is enter your postcode and we'll show you carpet cleaners in your area. Each carpet cleaner is accredited and insured for the best possible customer experience.