Spill Cleanup Tips

There is a right way and a wrong way to clean up accidental spills on your carpet. What you should not do is just as important as what you should do. Today’s new carpets resist spots much better than those manufactured even a few years ago. However, they are still susceptible to spots and should be treated quickly to avoid a permanent stain.

Step 1: Blot up as much of the spill as you can. Make sure you blot - don’t scrub. Scrubbing will only work the spill deeper into the fiber, and may leave a wear mark. Use a white paper or white cotton towel to blot. Fold the towel and press it into the spill. Continue to blot until no more of the spill transfers to the towel. Remove any solid material with a rounded spoon or the edge of a dull knife.

Step 2: Cover the blotted area with a fresh white towel. Weight the towel with something that will not transfer color to the carpet or towel. Leave this in place for 15-20 minutes to remove any remaining spill.

Step 3: Spotting the remaining stain in your carpet requires care and patience. You cannot apply most household cleaners to the stain without further damaging the carpet.

Many common cleaners contain dyes that will discolor the carpet, or chemicals that will permanently set the stain.

If you can locate the literature you received when you bought the carpet it should contain spotting procedures for you to follow.

Should a stain persist, contact

Cherokee Carpet Cleaning for assistance. We may be able to offer further advice by phone, or if necessary, we’ll dispatch a technician with a complete spotting kit to remove the stain.

Cherokee Carpet Cleaning

Keeping Carpets Clean

Since 1983

856-2144

Did You Know About Animal Stains?

Dog may be man’s best friend but not necessarily that of man’s carpeting. Neglected animal stains have been a problem ever since the first “accident.”

Two types of reactions can take place between the chemicals in the urine and those in the fiber dye. Some dyes change color as soon as the urine comes in contact with them.

The other change develops slowly over a period of several months and results in permanent change in the fiber dye. Not only is there a dye change but some fibers become weakened or are destroyed. After cleaning, these areas are more obvious because the soil has been removed.

The next time you are confronted with an animal “accident,” immediately absorb as much liquid as possible. If immediate action is taken to remove the stain in this manner, little or no change in color should occur and that forgotten “accident” will not become apparent after your carpet has been professionally cleaned.