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Archive for Carpets & Upholstery

What to do when Mr. Cuddles leaves a puddle {or worse!}

By Francine · Comments (9)
Thursday, February 14th, 2013
How to clean pet stains

Do you ever feel like you are on your own when it comes to cleaning up pet stains?

I love animals, I really do. Growing up I had every type of pet from boa constrictors and iguanas to guinea pigs and ferrets and everything in between. I am not really sure why my parents indulged me in this passion of mine but they did and it made me one happy kid. Currently I have three cats and a dog (I just lost my parrot of 18 years this past November) so I have a pretty good idea about how messy pets can be. Ironically the night I wrote this post I woke up to my beagle barfing on my bedroom floor at 5am just to assure me of my authority on the subject. The good news is, with a couple of key ingredients and a little know how, dealing with pet stains and odor can be (almost) painless. Read More→

Comments (9)
Categories : 365 Cleaning Tips, Carpets & Upholstery, Chemical Free, Cleaning & Organizing, Pet Care
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Armageddon Green, are YOU?

By Francine · Comments (9)
Thursday, December 20th, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012 marks the end of the Mayan long-count calendar. On this day, some believe the world will end when a planet called Nibiru, discovered by the Sumerians, will collide with the Earth. Chances are, just like previous end-of-the-world predictions, December 21 will come and go without incident so why not green your routine for a more sustainable future?
 
Send VOCs packing
Conventional house paint emits harmful volatile organic compounds (aka VOCs). Consider giving your walls a green makeover with “low” or “no VOC” paint to cut down on your family’s exposure to these toxic fumes. Carpeting, pads and glues can release harmful VOCs as well so when you shop for your new floor covering, consider ec0-friendly options.
 
See the light with greener lightbulbs
Incandescent bulbs are a huge waste of energy since less than 10 percent of the bulb’s energy is used to produce light (the rest escapes as heat). When shopping for  a greener light bulb, you will be looking at  brightness (lumens), color, life, energy use (watts), and estimated operating costs for the year. Check out this Green light bulb guide put out by Consumer Reports to see what type of bulb is right for you and your home
 
Make those old appliances green with envy 
Upgrading old appliances to new, Energy Star-rated ones can save you about a third on your energy bills along with the added benefit of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. To entice consumers to steer towards these energy saving appliances, rebate-with-purchase are offered from time to time. Check out this Energy Star Rebate Finder to see what is currently available before you hit the stores. Want to save even more? Try unplugging while not in use. No matter how energy efficient your electronics and appliances are, if they are plugged in, they are using energy. Stop this energy suck known as “phantom energy“  in its path and keep about 10% of your energy costs in your pocket. That’s like getting a FREE month of energy a year!
 

Be a heat miser
Did you know that a properly pre-programmed thermostats can save you about $180 every year in energy costs and that your air filter needs to be changed every 3 months? How about the fact that by sealing and insulating ducts you can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more? These little changes can make a huge difference in the environment and your bank account.

 
Love Low E
Low emissivity aka Low E windows offer significant improvements over the traditional window. These windows are energy efficient and block most UV light which protects the fabrics, carpets and finishes of your home from the effects of sunlight. These windows are also often eligible for tax credits.Just say no to water bottles
You know you should be drinking filtered water so you have a few bottles a month delivered. This might be good for you but not so good for your bank account and mother earth. Consider installing a whole house water filter and never worry about storing giant plastic water bottles, using excess fossil fuels having it delivered and no more water delivery bills! If you can’t install a whole house filter you can still reap the same benefits and save money filtering tap water using one of the many pitcher filters available in any big box store or supermarket. Either way, a small investment now, saves a tremendous amount of money and resources vs buying bottled or delivered water.Be a Greener Cleaner

Green your cleaning solutions by making them at home. Homemade cleaning solutions are:

  • Cost effective
  • Have multiple uses
  • Healthier to use
  • Environmentally friendly 

Small changes over time can make a huge impact so don’t fret if you can’t accomplish these all at once. Most of these tips are so simple and easy, we know you won’t Mayan them one bit.

Comments (9)
Categories : Carpets & Upholstery, Chemical Free, Cleaning & Organizing, Green Tips & Events, News

They came, they ate, they STAINED! Now what?

By Francine · Comments (7)
Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

The stains of the holiday

It happens every year. Weeks of planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning to create the perfect holiday. We all do it to to create wonderful memories with family and friends and sometimes we get more than we bargained for…like stains! Eek! The good new is, if you are prepared to deal with the most common stains before they happen, chances are, you wont have an unwanted memory left behind after the party is over. For even less stress, make sure you check out our amazing deal at the end of this post to help you get through all the holidays!

When you have a large amount of people in your home (or even a few people) it is bound to happen. A spilled glass of red wine on the carpet, food stains on your linen table cloth or coffee on your couch. Now before you run out to Home Depot to cover your entire home in drop cloths, check out the tips below and learn how you can easily clean up* these common stains when they happen and still enjoy  your get together!

Butter/Grease
  • If a pat of butter happens to find its way out of the dish and on to your table cloth or your shirt, simply sprinkle some salt, cornstarch or artificial sweetener on to the spot immediately to sop up the stain and prevent setting. Before tossing in the laundry, pretreat the spot with a dab of green laundry detergent and launder as usual. If possible, apply a dab of dye-free, non-toxic hand dishwashing liquid to the stain and gently work in. Rinse with white vinegar and repeat until the stain is removed. Launder as usual.
  • Grease stains on your carpet or sofa* can be treated using the same detergent based solution as seen under “Red Wine” If you are unable to treat the stain right away, prevent the stain from setting by sprinkling salt, cornstarch or artificial sweetener on to the spot immediately.

Coffee

  • If you find yourself with a black coffee spill on your sofa, try blotting the stain with a clean, white cloth dipped in a solution of 1 tablespoon dye-free, non-toxic hand dishwashing liquid combined with 2 cups cool water. Blot with a dry cloth and repeat until stain is removed. If your sofa is made of a delicate material like silk, or if there was milk in the coffee,  it is best to leave the stain alone and consult a upholstery  professional before treating.
  • For most coffee stains on linens and carpet gently blot the stain with a clean, white cloth, removing as much of the stain as possible. Apply a solution of  1/3 cup of white vinegar combined with 2/3 cup warm water to a clean white cloth. Gently blot the stain with solution, then with a clean, dry, white cloth. If you do not have vinegar on hand you can use 1/4 teaspoon of dye-free, non-toxic hand dishwashing liquid mixed with 1 quart warm water instead. Repeat until stain is removed. Once the stain from the carpet is completely removed, rinse well with a clean, damp cloth (do not saturate) and blot dry. To help the drying process, take a stack of white paper towels, or a white towel and place on the area you just cleaned. Add something heavy like a stack of books and leave overnight to allow the towels to pull out any remaining moisture left behind. Leave overnight. In the morning, remove the towels and fluff the carpet to finish drying. Launder washable items as usual.
Red Wine
  • No matter what the stain is, the quicker you get to it, the better. This is especially important when dealing with a red wine stain. As soon as you notice the stain, blot (do not rub!!) immediately with a white cloth, using a fresh part of the cloth each time you blot. When you have absorbed all the liquid, spritz some cold, plain water on the stained area (do not saturate) to dilute and blot thoroughly again. To treat the stain, make a 3:1 baking soda and water paste and gently apply directly to the stain. Allow to dry, then vacuum.
  • Another method to try after blotting and diluting the stained area is to mix a solution of 1 tablespoon dye-free, non-toxic hand dishwashing liquid, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Dampen a white cloth with this solution and apply directly to the stain, one small area at a time. Blot as you go along using a separate dry cloth. Once the stain is completely removed, rinse well with a clean, damp cloth (do not saturate) and blot dry. To help the drying process, take a stack of white paper towels, or a white towel and place on the area you just cleaned. Add something heavy like a stack of books and leave overnight to allow the towels to pull out any remaining moisture left behind. Leave overnight. In the morning, remove the towels and fluff the carpet to finish drying.
  • Treat red wine on light colored clothing by first blotting up as much liquid as possible with a clean white cloth, then spraying area with 3% hydrogen peroxide* followed by a generous amount baking soda. Leave on for 2-3 minutes then rinse with water (launder as usual if washable)
  • If  you are unable to treat the stain immediately, pour some white wine, club soda or salt on the stain to neutralize the purple pigments and prevent the stain from setting before you can treat it.
  • If the stain has set or if these methods have not worked, consider calling a carpet professional before running to the store for a conventional carpet cleaning spray or foam. These products are general cleaners and contain toxic chemicals and because they are not always stain-specific, by using them, you always run the risk of permanently setting the stain so always take that into consideration before using.
No matter what spills, spatters or flops down during your holiday gathering, always remember to treat the stain as soon as possible, blot, don’t rub and always check with the manufacturer for cleaning instructions when in doubt. *When using any cleaning method or product, always test in an inconspicuous area first before treating entire area, especially when using hydrogen peroxide which has a mild bleaching effect. When in doubt, consult manufacturer’s instructions.
Now that you are all prepared for the big meal (and the big clean up), are you ready for your Black Friday shopping plans? To help keep the stress of scrubbing, dusting and household chores away and to keep you in the holiday spirit we are offering our amazing, once-a-year Black Friday Sale available for purchase only on 11/23/12! Make sure you take advantage of our lowest rates of the year and save the after-holiday-mess for us…we really don’t mind!


Comments (7)
Categories : 365 Cleaning Tips, Carpets & Upholstery, Chemical Free, Cleaning & Organizing, House Cleaning
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