The Best Flooring for Homes with Pets
“What’s the best flooring for pets?” That’s a question we get a lot at Dr. Chem-Dry Carpet & Tile Cleaning. It’s a very good question: If you have the wrong kind of flooring, you could end up spending a significant amount of time and money cleaning up pet-related damage that wouldn’t be an issue with other kinds of flooring.
Homeowners looking for pet-friendly flooring options are in luck: There are quite a few different ones to choose from! They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but with the right care and upkeep they could serve you and your pet well for years to come. Here are four of the best types of flooring for homes with pets.
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- Published in Flooring
What to do if pets scratch your furniture
In a perfect world, pets and furniture would mix together as well as peanut butter and jelly. Unfortunately in the real world these two household staples can sometimes clash. Your cat might love that new loveseat you bought, but for entirely different reasons than you do: You might love the comfortable upholstery, while your cat loves shredding the upholstery with her claws.
Dogs and cats add a lot of life and joy to your home, but they can wreck havoc on your furnishings if you’re not careful. At Dr. Chem-Dry, we’ve seen what can happen when your pets
get their furry paws all over your beloved furniture. If you need help figuring out how to keep your pet’s destructive impulses in check, follow these simple steps.
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- Published in Uncategorized
Can an old stain still be removed years later?
It’s always best to clean stains as soon as they happen. But what happens when you miss a stain? Or inherit a carpet with a stain that’s a few years old? If you flip your couch cushions and find a coffee stain a crafty guest hid months ago, is it too late to get it cleaned? The answer is no: Just because a stain has overstayed its welcome for a long time doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with it forever.
We’ve been cleaning stains old and new for years at Dr. Chem-Dry. We know that no matter how old or awful a stain looks, there’s still hope: With the right amount of elbow grease and the proper cleaning solutions you can kiss that ghastly old stain goodbye. Just follow these simple steps. And in case you got a stain that you can’t lick, give us a call and we’d be glad to help you get it out.
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- Published in carpet cleaning
7 Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Carpet New
New carpet is a beautiful thing. It’s clean, its pile is still fluffy, and its colors are still crisp and bold. But give that carpet a bit of traffic, and it may start to lose its shiny new luster.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to keep your carpet looking new, and it starts with prevention.
1. Use Doormats
The best way to maintain your carpet is to protect it from dirt, spills and stains. A good way to do this is to use mats at all doors to catch mud, water, dirt, and other substances that would soil your carpet. Use a stiff-bristled mat outside your door and a thinner, softer one inside to protect the carpet where it meets the doorframe.
2. Remove Your Shoes
Doormats are a good first defense, but to really preserve your carpet’s beauty, make a habit of removing your shoes at the door. This keeps the dirt, oil, mud, and other gunk that your shoes encounter on the streets from being tracked into the house and ground into the pile of your carpet.
3. Vacuum Regularly
Most people sweep their hard floors several times per week, and a carpet that gets the same amount of traffic should be treated no differently. High-traffic carpeted areas of your home or office should be vacuumed daily to remove dirt buildup. Low-traffic areas can usually be vacuumed only once per week.
4. Clean Spills Immediately
Unfortunately, spills are an inevitable part of life, but that doesn’t mean set-in carpet stains have to be. Cut down on the number of unsightly spots on your carpet by tackling any spills as soon as they happen. Use clean, white cloths to soak up wet spills before applying a stain remover or cleaning solution to the area. For chunky spills, remove as much solid as possible before treating.
Related: Can Stain Removers Ruin My Carpet?
5. Blot, Don’t Rub
When cleaning a spill, most people’s reaction is to scrub at the spot. But scrubbing is actually the worst thing you can do to clean a spill — the back-and-forth motion grinds the stain deep into the fibers of your carpet and down to the padding below. Usually the spot disappears, but resurfaces later or the next time the carpet is dampened. Instead of scrubbing at a spill, blot it gently to absorb excess moisture before bringing out the stain remover.
6. Stay Out of the Sun
We all know that the sun’s UV rays can wreak havoc on our skin, but did you know that even your carpet is susceptible to sun damage? Your carpet can fade and break down over time if exposed to sun too often and for too long. This is especially true for synthetic fibers, which are a little less UV tolerant than natural materials. Keep your carpet looking brand new be closing the drapes before you leave each day.
7. Clean Periodically
Any carpet will need to be professionally cleaned periodically. High traffic areas usually need to be cleaned once every 6 months or so, while low traffic areas should be cleaned annually. Opt for a method that uses only a small amount of water to prevent the growth of mold or mildew, which drastically cut down on the life of your carpet.
Related: What Can I Use to Clean My Upholstery?
Dr. Chem-Dry’s carbonated cleaning method uses only one-tenth the amount of water used by other steam cleaners or traditional carpet shampooers. The carbonated cleaning solution lifts even the most stubborn dirt and grime to the surface, leaving no sticky, dirt-attracting residues behind.
To learn more about our specially formulated cleaning system, or to claim your free quote, give Dr. Chem-Dry a call at 602-243-6379.
- Published in carpet cleaning