How To Keep Carpet Clean With Dogs

How To Keep Carpet Clean With Dogs

Bringing a pet into your life, particularly a dog, is great for your health and wellbeing.

They’re touted to have a positive effect on your cholesterol, and even lower your blood pressure.

This is a great health and lifestyle advantage, but with it comes some drawbacks. Brace yourself for accidents, chewing, and hair EVERYWHERE.

With more and more people having their dogs live inside the home, it’s important to know how to keep your home, and particularly your carpets, clean.

Read on to discover 4 simple and easy tips to smoothly integrate your dog into your home with minimal mess.

steam cleaning best for homes with dogs

1:     Invest in a comfortable dog bed

The easiest way to keep your house clean and under control, and still enjoy having your dog inside is to limit their access to a certain area.

Buy a good sized, comfortable dog bed, and find a permanent spot for it. The hub of your home, where you spend most of your time, is recommended. By having your dog near you it will be able to see you, and therefor will be more likely to relax.

Start as you mean to go on. So as soon as you let your dog in and you’ve greeted it, direct it to it’s bed and spend some time making a fuss of it in this area.

Begin to teach it the command “Bed”. Make sure to reward it with treats while it’s learning.

With repetition and practice, your dog will learn that the dog bed is it’s space, and it will be manageable and relaxed indoors.

2:     Handling the hair

Animals shed. There’s no getting away from it: literally. You’ll find it on your furniture, the carpet, your clothes, everywhere your dog has been.

This is where tip number 1 can make a positive impact. A calm dog that spends most of its indoor time relaxing on the dog bed will not spread as much hair around as one that races throughout the house, following you everywhere and leaping on furniture.

To handle the hair that does begin to gather, invest in a rechargeable cordless vacuum. These are very compact, can easily be stored close at hand, and are perfect for zipping around each day collecting the stray hair.

You’re more likely to stay on top of the hair situation with one of these compact vacs than having to lug out your heavy duty vacuum each time.

Added bonus: Most models come with a detachable hand held section, perfect for giving the couch a quick going over.

You can also use a rubber head broom or rubber squeegee to remove pet hair from your carpets.

Regular grooming will also help your pet to shed less, meaning less cleaning up indoors.

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3:     Accidents happen; react quickly to avoid stains

If your pet has an accident, the sooner you can deal with it, the less likely you are to be stuck with a permanent stain.

Remove any solids, and blot fresh stains with a clean cloth.

After absorbing as much moisture as possible, mix a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid mixed with a cup of warm water and blot with another clean, dry towel.

Rinse by blotting again with warm water and a clean cloth. Repeat until the mark is gone.

4:     Don’t let odours take hold

Nose blindness is a real thing. You may not realise that your house is taking on a perfume of eau de canine because you’re quite simply used to it.

Incorporate these steps into your regular routine to keep your house smelling clean and fresh:

  • Change cat litter regularly. Sprinkling baking soda underneath the litter will keep it smelling fresher for longer.
  • Wash your pets regularly. Dogs particularly are big explorers, and consequently can quickly smell less than fresh
  • Wash the pet bedding every couple of weeks, as well as any plushy toys. The fabric will quickly absorb smells, and can make your house smell distinctly doggy.

For tips on keeping your carpet clean with cats, check out our companion article on How To Keep Carpet Clean With Cats.

 

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How To Easily Keep A Clean And Tidy Home – Top 5 Tips

How To Easily Keep A Clean And Tidy Home – Top 5 Tips

Sometimes, life gets on top of us, and even the best intentions get swept away by the tidal wave of work, school, cooking, activities and everything else in between.

Cleaning and tidying are often the first things to fall by the wayside.

In this article, you’ll find 5 simple tips to help you get a handle on the chaos.

Making them part of your daily routine can make a huge difference to the appearance of your house, and help to reduce mental clutter too.

 

How to keep a clean and tidy home. Steam Cleaning Services for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth Australia

Tip 1:     Make your bed

This may seem like such a small thing, but it can make a big difference.

Quickly tugging the fitted sheet snug, pulling up and smoothing the quilt, and re-setting the pillows will immediately lift the look of your bedroom.

Not only that, your bed will look much more inviting at the end of a busy day than rumpled, messy sheets.

Tip 2:     De-clutter efficiently

Even with the best intentions, things don’t always end up back where they belong after use. Shoes, handbags, clothes and other bits and pieces often end up spread throughout the house, making the place look untidy.

Rather than picking up one or two items and returning them to their rightful location which is time consuming and inefficient; grab a laundry basket (bear with me!).

Starting in the living room, grab everything that doesn’t belong there, and put in the laundry basket. Move to the bedroom, and repeat. While there, if you have anything in the basket belonging in the bedroom, put it back where it belongs.

Repeat this process from room to room until your basket is empty. Allocating 10 minutes a day to de-cluttering will make a big difference to the tidiness of your home, and will help you to get into the habit of returning things to their rightful place. 

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3:     Run the dishwasher each night

Dishwashers are so water efficient these days, you actually use less water running the dishwasher every day than you would washing things by hand.

At the end of the night, put everything into the dishwasher, and even if it’s not full, run it anyway. A quick cycle will not use much water, but the mental benefit of a clean and tidy kitchen is huge.

Having your dishwasher run inefficiently can affect how well your dishes are cleaned. If your double handling by both washing dishes and dishwasher, then you need to get that fixed. Go ahead and call the team at Quality Appliance Repairs (our appliance repair partners).

Having a properly running dishwasher will help keep your kitchen tidy.

4:     Wipe down the kitchen benchtop

It’s easy to get stuck on the couch after dinner and think “I’ll tidy up later”. Before you know it, it’s late and it’s time for bed, but the kitchen is still a mess.

First things first: see step 3. After that, put away condiments, bin any rubbish or scraps, and wipe down the benches and stovetop.

10 minutes after dinner, and you’ve got a clean kitchen, and can relax without feeling guilty.

Steam Cleaning Keep Kitchen Clean. Servicing Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth Australia

5:     De-clutter the bathroom

Usually, we’ve got a few products we use every morning as we get ready for work.

Putting these items in a small basket or bag makes it quick and easy to find in the cabinet every morning, saving time, and preventing a collection of products we don’t use regularly accumulating on the bathroom counter.

Keep the items on your bathroom countertop limited to soap, and a canister holding your toothbrush and toothpaste, and possibly your hairbrush. Everything else should go in the cabinet, leaving the countertops clear and tidy.

It’s That Easy!

As much as we’d all love a cleaner to tidy up the debris we leave behind every day, barring a lotto win, it’s unlikely to happen.

The tips above will make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home if you implement them in your daily routine.

Getting a professional steam clean will also enhance the look and feel of your home which will encourage you to upkeep daily.

A clean kitchen and tidy bathroom are the hot spots for visitors too, so you no longer need to dread the “drop-in” guest. 

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Best Ways to Effectively Clean your Carpet

Best Ways to Effectively Clean your Carpet

Knowing how to clean your carpets effectively is essential for anyone who has carpets in their home.

Whether the carpet is throughout the house or only in bedrooms, keeping them clean will not only prolong their life but also keep your home free of accumulating dust, allergens, and mould. 

Keeping your carpets clean involves frequent vacuuming and periodic deeper cleanings. 

Carpets tend to take a lot of abuse daily. Be it from shoes, children, or pets to various spills, hence requiring constant care to remain in good shape, and enjoy longevity. 

Below are some actionable carpet cleaning steps and tips to help make the chore easier and more efficient.

How To Clean Carpets Effectively

How Often Should You Clean Your Carpet?

Knowing how often to clean your carpets is crucial to prevent overcleaning and prolong their lifespan.

Wall-to-wall carpets and specific area rugs need vacuuming at least once a week to remove general dust buildup. However, if you have kids or are a pet parent, you should vacuum high traffic areas at least three times a week or as needed. 

Also, any kind of stains and spills should be treated and cleaned as soon as possible to avoid long term effects. 

Even as you do your best to vacuum your carpet as often as possible, it’s advisable to get professional carpet cleaning services at least once or twice a year to give your carpets a deep clean, reduce allergens, increase carpet longevity and give your home a bright and fresh feel. 

How To Go About Routine Carpet Cleaning

Remove the dirt and dust

Dirt and dust will make your carpet seem dull and even smelly. And if left there for long, they can wear out the carpet’s fibres and backing. 

Invest in a vacuum with a strong suction vacuum to remove dirt and dust as regularly as possible. If you don’t have a vacuum, consider using a broom or any other carpet sweeper. 

For best results:

  • Move the furniture and any other thing from the carpet
  • Adjust the vacuum settings to ensure you achieve the best suction
  • Slowly vacuum your carpet, focusing more on high traffic areas, until you’re completely satisfied with the results.
  • Get a lint roller and use it to clean up any excess pet hair or crumbs
  • If you’re a pet parent, use a rubber-edged squeegee over your carpet to collect any excess hair

PRO TIP: During your monthly cleaning session, generously sprinkle some baking powder on the carpet, and let it sit for 1-2 hours or more, before vacuuming it. This will leave your carpet smelling fresh and looking so bright.

 

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How to Spot Clean your Carpet for Stains

The best time to treat any type of carpet stain is as quickly as you notice it. 

For instance, if you notice a liquid spill, reach out to your paper towel or cloth, and blot the moisture away. Ensure the cloth is white or colour-fast to ensure you don’t get dye from your cloth into your carpets.

When dealing with solid stains such as mud or food droppings, avoid rubbing them and instead use something like a dull knife or any solid card to lift them away. 

Afterwards, use a mixture of vinegar, dish soap and water in a spray bottle to spray the area, let it soak for around 10 minutes before blotting with a dry clean towel. 

When and How Often Should You Get Professional Carpet Cleaning?

As mentioned earlier, it is recommended to hire a professional carpet cleaner for your home at least once or twice a year for a deep carpet cleaning.

However, you can always call on a professional carpet cleaner more often or whenever you find yourself dealing with stubborn stains and need help to remove them.

Also, any deep-seated dirt needs an expert to help remove it to ensure no damage is done to the carpet fibres.

Remember, carpet cleaning professionals use proper equipment and products for a thorough and high-quality job. 

How To Maintain a Clean Carpet After Professional Cleaning?

After you have invested in a professional carpet cleaning, you need to work on keeping it looking good and maintaining that high-quality cleaning. But how?

Directly after the carpet cleaning, ensure it’s completely dry before walking on it again. 

Avoid walking barefoot on it, especially after applying oils or moisturiser on your feet to avoid the oily residues from attracting dust and even looking dirty.

Ensure you clean stains and spills immediately by blotting. The longer they stay, the harder it would be to remove. 

Vacuum your carpet regularly, even when it appears clean to get rid of dirt and dust. 

Here are additional tips on maintaining clean carpets after a professional carpet cleaning.

It’s That Easy!

We hope the above tips and insights help you learn how to clean carpets. Feel free to get in touch with Myer Carpet Cleaning for any further advice or book a carpet cleaning or steam cleaning service. 

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Why Your Carpet is Changing Colour

Why Your Carpet is Changing Colour

The colour scheme of your home is a big part of the design process, and the carpet is vital to tying your colour scheme together.

It’s worth spending the time to diagnose any potential problems with the carpet you are choosing before it becomes a problem.

When purchasing new carpet for your home, you may want to check if any dyes have been used to colour the carpets.

Different dyes react differently to both environmental factors and cleaning products, which could leave you with a case of blue carpets turning pink and other possibile colour changes.

If not scrutinised properly before buying, there are possibilities that a carpet may need to be replaced due to discolouration, or colour change, way before the life of the material is over.

The factors behind the colour change of a carpet are usually created by environmental reasons rather than manmade or controllable circumstances.

 

Carpet Colour Changes. Professional Steam Carpet Cleaning servicing Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth Australia

There are two major factors contributing towards carpet colour change.

  1. Fume fading: Occurs due to change in the dye chemicals because of environmental factors such as air pollution, excessive amount of nitrogen oxides and sulphur combined with over exposure to sun, heat, acidic materials in the carpet, and high humidity. The change in colour in such cases is usually gradual and starts at the tufts and progresses towards the backing. Some common examples are turning of blue to pink, brown to red and green to yellow.
  2. Ozone fading: Usually caused by ozone exposure in the surrounding environment combined with sun exposure and excessive heat. Ozone fading is more common in the urban area where the amount of ozone in the air is increased because of electrical motors, lightning storms and fluorescent lights and the reaction between the polluted air and light. Ozone fading usually results in faded and lightened colour and many times a complete change of colour similar to fume fading.

Before purchasing a carpet, it is important to check the kind of dye material that has been used for colouration.

There are instances wherein an indicator dye is used for colouring of carpet which is highly sensitive to alkaline products and may change colour if washed with ammonia or alkaline detergents.

This is called the ‘Indicator Effect’ and can be reversed with the usage of acidic products.

There are dyes that are sensitive to acid and changes colour if exposed to acidic cleaners and vinegar. In such cases ammonia can be used to restore colour.

It is important to keep in mind that the ageing process also contributes to the change in colour and it is important to take the help of professional carpet cleaners who are well equipped to handle such situations.

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Forgotten Spills On Carpets

Forgotten Spills On Carpets

Do you sometimes see a stain on your carpet and wonder where that came from? Forgotten spills on carpets can be difficult to remove.

Some stains do not show up immediately. They are usually from spilled liquid containing colourless sugar.

In time and after long exposure to the air, the spilled liquid has changed to an insoluble brown stain.

Steam Cleaning for carpet spills and stains. Myer Carpet Cleaning. Servicing Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth Australia

Other kinds of stains can be caused by water soaking through and absorbing sizings, browning or fugitive dyes from the backs of the material.

Because the fibres act as wicks, moisture will rise to the surface to evaporate, and discoloration will be left.

Consumers who try to remove stains by using wrong cleaning compounds and procedures, may only make the stained areas more noticeable.

To lessen the possibility of stain damage, immediate action should be taken:

 

  • Thoroughly absorb all moisture and, when possible, put a ½ inch thickness of clean white absorbent material over the area, weighing it down
  • Call your professional cleaner to learn how to remove the spot safely before it becomes a permanent stain.
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