Water can wreak havoc on your carpets and floors. From flash flooding to burst pipes, large amounts of water on your carpet can pave the way for mould, discolouration and bad odours. Here are our top tips to succeed in water damage restoration for your carpet and prevent a costly replacement.
If you have experienced heavy rainfall, the source of the water may be obvious. However, slowly leaking pipes may be more difficult to spot. Look out for warping flooring or walls, mould, and carpet separating from its backing, as these are all signs of water damage.
It is not possible to begin water damage restoration until the source of water has been fixed. Whether that's turning off your stop tap or waiting for the rain to end, you need to make sure that water is still not pouring onto your carpet before you can repair the damage. You should also remove any furniture or belongings from the saturated area.
Water damage restoration cannot be carried out if your flooring is still saturated. Use a wet vacuum to remove as much of the water as possible. You may be able to rent a wet vacuum or hire a carpet cleaner to thoroughly remove the water.
Your carpet may still be slightly damp after the water is removed. Using a towel, soak up as much water as you can. Avoid leaving a wet towel in one spot for too long, as this can trap moisture and lead to mould.
Water travels all the way through your carpet and underlay to the floor below. This can cause it to swell, warp and split. If possible, lift up your carpet and underlay to allow the floor underneath to dry.
For isolated patches of damage, you may be able to peel back just a small section of carpet, but make sure that wet carpet does not sit folded over onto dry carpet.
Wet rugs should be hung outside whenever possible. If you notice damage to the floor, you should get this repaired as soon as possible.
Specialist equipment like dehumidifiers is a must to remove as much moisture as possible and minimise the chance of mould forming. Unfortunately, even with this equipment, you may find that the underlay needs replacing.
In the cases of flooding or sewage leaks, your carpet will be covered with dirt and bacteria, as well as water.
If you know that your carpet has been in contact with sewage, it is a health hazard and the best option is replacement. Other kinds of dirty water may be able to be cleaned up.
For extreme cases like water-damaged carpet, you should hire a professional carpet cleaner to tackle the cleaning, as at-home products are unlikely to scratch the surface.
Repairing water-damaged carpet can be a long process that requires specialist equipment. Calling in a professional cleaner gives your flooring the best chance of recovering. Use the National Carpet Cleaners Association directory to find expert cleaners in your area and salvage your carpet.
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Some stains seem to stick in your carpet no matter what you do, while others lift right out. Understanding why this happens is key to tackling difficult stains - and why many DIY methods are unsuccessful. Here is a simple explanation of carpet stain science and how to avoid a DIY stain removal disaster.
Every substance is made up of molecules. Your carpet has very porous fibres which absorb these molecules. These molecules then bond with your carpet fibres, and the task of stain removal is to break these bonds.
Some substances form these bonds quickly, which is why coffee and red wine are such difficult stains to remove. Some bonds are also strengthened by high temperatures, which is why things like blood should never be cleaned with hot water.
There are different types of stains, which explains why some substances are easier to remove than others. Water-soluble stains like mud can be cleaned away with water - assuming their pigment has not already begun to bond with your carpet. Oil-based stains are water-resistant, making it difficult to clean them with just water. Some substances, like chocolate, are a mixture of water-soluble and oil-based parts, which may require more than one approach. However, even once the substance itself has been removed, you may find that it leaves a stain behind due to the bonds it forms with your carpet.
Many DIY stain removal methods are ineffective as they do not tackle the bond between the substance and the carpet. Some methods even make this worse - many people instinctively tackle stains with hot water, but this encourages bonds to form faster and makes your job harder.
At the other end of the spectrum, DIY methods such as bleach should never be used as they damage your carpet. When it comes to carpet, bleach actually has no cleaning power – just the ability to remove dyes, especially in wool.
Other approaches that involve saturating your carpet may also lead to damage from mould and water damage. Due to their porous nature, carpets take such a long time to dry that they create an ideal environment for mould to grow.
It's important that you act quickly to remove the substance before it forms bonds. Ensure that you blot stains rather than rubbing them, as this can drive them further into your carpet. The best step to avoid further damage is to contact a professional carpet cleaner.
Avoid damaging your carpet by bringing in an expert on stain removal methods. Every cleaner in the National Carpet Cleaners Association directory is trained to remove any kind of stain, protecting your carpet in the process. You can also find other services such as upholstery cleaning, water damage repair and insect treatment using our drop-down menu.
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Wear and tear is one of the most common reasons that carpets and upholstery get replaced. However, protecting your carpet and furniture and extending their lifespans is simple. With the right care, you can extend the life of your soft furnishings by years. Read on to find the best ways to safeguard your carpet.
The longer a stain sits on fabric, the more likely it is to set there. By removing stains right away, you are protecting your carpet and upholstery from lasting discolouration and lingering smells. Be careful when confronting stains – never use bleach on your carpet, and contact a professional cleaner if you are not sure of the right way to remove something.
Vacuuming several times a week is your first line of defence against wear and tear. It stops too much dust and dirt from building up, removes allergens and gets rid of pet hair. Often overlooked, vacuuming is very important in extending the lifespan of your carpet. You should also use the appropriate attachment to hoover sofas, chairs and any other upholstered furniture.
While putting carpet over carpet may seem counterintuitive, rugs are a great method of protecting carpet. All of the area's footfall is transferred to the rug, slowing the degradation of the carpet below. It’s worth noting, however, that rugs can be a trip hazard for elderly people, especially those with poor vision or pre-existing mobility issues.
Furniture leaves imprints in your carpet which can be difficult to remove. Moving your furniture regularly prevents this damage from being focused on one spot, while giving you a good opportunity to clean underneath them easily. You can also use specially-designed pads as a buffer between your furniture and the carpet, stopping these indents from forming.
Shoes don't just bring in bacteria and dirt from outdoors – their hard soles wear away at carpet much faster than socks or slippers do. Leaving your shoes at the door makes everyday traffic less damaging to your carpet or sofa.
Regularly deep cleaning your carpet is the best way to prevent wear and tear. Dirt can get compressed into the deep fibres of your carpet, causing damage, discolouration and weakening of the lining. Professional cleaners have their own equipment and are experts at using it, which is not possible using home methods. Protecting your carpet by bringing in a professional cleaner is vital to maintaining a soft, healthy carpet.
The National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) has a directory of accredited carpet cleaners all over the UK. Trained, insured and adhering to a code of conduct, every NCCA cleaner can help with protecting your carpet and upholstery. Search by postcode and particular service for best results.
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As a business owner, you're probably constantly on the lookout for ways to bring in new customers. A simple way to increase your customer base is through online reviews. Here's why you should never neglect the chance to publicise your happy customers, along with tips for collecting more reviews.
Imagine someone who has never had their carpet professionally cleaned before, and what they’ll want to know when researching the options available. New customers are likely to be anxious about who they can trust, as well as sceptical about the industry. By having a range of positive online reviews, you can reassure customers that you are a tried and tested business.
Reviews are a great way for existing businesses to generate new business. On some search engines, good reviews help your business appear higher in search results. By pairing them with before and after photos, you showcase your cleaning skills and the happy customers benefiting from them.
By making it as easy as possible for customers to leave reviews, you increase the chance that they do so. List your business on review sites like Yelp and Google to allow clients to leave feedback easily. Including feedback forms and reviewing links on your website, social media and even your email signature is also an effective way to collect reviews. You could even create a QR code for physical materials so that customers do not have to type out a link.
Whether it's face-to-face, through follow-up emails or both, asking for a review makes people more likely to leave one. Like you, customers are likely to have busy schedules and may not even think of leaving a review unless asked. When you ask for a review, make it clear where you would like them to leave it.
Many review websites will let you publicly respond to reviews left for your services. If you respond to every review, no matter how good or bad, potential clients can see you engaging with your customer base and showing that you care. Keeping a professional tone even in the face of criticism demonstrates that you do everything you can to ensure a positive experience for your customers, and encourages them to feed back.
Showing how grateful you are for positive reviews on your website and social media channels creates a sense of community. It also emphasises how much they matter to you, inspiring regular clients to leave one. Plus, you get to flaunt all the nice things your customers are saying!
For more advice about marketing, customer service and running a cleaning business, join the National Carpet Cleaning Association. Our members get access to exclusive training and forums, helping them to improve their cleaning business. Membership also grants you a space in our carpet cleaner directory, allowing new customers to find you.
With spring cleaning season well underway, it's time to give your leather upholstery some attention. Cleaning leather can be intimidating, especially when dealing with valuable items, but the right technique will help your leather last longer. Find out how to clean leather with our simple guide.
The first step is to figure out whether your furniture is real or faux leather. If you still have the label, look out for words like synthetic, polyester, or vegan, which indicate faux leather. You can also tell whether leather is real by touching it - real leather is soft, flexible and stretchy.
Real leather is more durable, but also requires more maintenance. It must be regularly cleaned, conditioned and polished to keep it in shape.
You should begin by vacuuming all over your furniture, paying attention to seams and removable cushions.
Next, blot the furniture with a damp cloth. Keep in mind that moisture can warp leather, so you should squeeze excess liquid from the cloth before applying it to your sofa.
For more stubborn stains, you can use leather cleaner or a natural, fragrance-free soap. However, be careful with aniline leather in particular, as it has no protective topcoat or pigment, meaning soap can drive in stains and make them worse.
You should then condition your sofa using leather conditioner and a sponge or cloth.
Never use heat to dry your sofa, as this can worsen moisture damage. Instead, wipe up spills with a dry cloth.
Faux leather is usually made of plastic, then finished with wax or polyurethane. It is considerably easier to clean than real leather, as it is resistant to moisture and stains. However, faux leather still requires care as it is more prone to cracking than real leather.
First, vacuum your furniture to remove any crumbs. With sofas and armchairs, make sure to lift the cushions and hoover inside.
You can then use a damp cloth to wipe it clean. Harsh chemicals like bleach will dry out faux leather and damage it, so never use any bleach-based products. Water and white vinegar is a better alternative to tackle any stains, or you can mix a small amount of unscented soap with water.
Leather is difficult to restore, so the best approach is to clean your leather as often as possible to prevent damage. Regular conditioning should help to maintain colour, prevent water damage and take care of small scratches and prevent them from growing.
Once leather is cracked, you should consult a professional leather restorer to help
If you want to take care of your leather upholstery, call in a professional cleaner. The National Carpet Cleaners Association has a directory of expert cleaners specially trained in how to clean leather. Our cleaners are located all over the UK, so finding one near you is simple.
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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.
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