UK Home Improvement Blog

When it comes to cleaning, your mind probably doesn’t have the room for any more tips and myths about the best products to use or the best methods to follow. However, some of these myths are indeed true, and once you start practicing a few of those tips, they’ll probably stay with you for life. Carpet cleaning too has its’ share of myths and tales.

Let’s break some down for you.

Cleaning carpets often can cause more wear and tear

This myth was probably true decades ago before the introduction of modern and professional carpet cleaning services. The fabrics used in carpets too have evolved to be much more durable. In fact, carpets have to be regularly cleaned to avoid stains, to retain their appearance, and to avoid dust bugs and allergies.

Abrasive dirt particles that have settled into your carpet fibres cannot be coaxed out with your household vacuum cleaner. These particles cause a lot of damage to your carpets, especially in areas that are constantly used.

Steam cleaning carpets can lead to mould formation

Professional carpet cleaners use an optimum level of steam to ensure that the carpet does not get too wet and soggy. And their services include ascertaining if the carpets are clean and dry before they leave. Furthermore, carpets are installed with impenetrable pads. So there is no question of water saturating beneath the carpets and leading to mould etc…

Carpets shrink with every cleaning

If your carpet does shrink after a cleaning, it is most likely due to the fabric and rarely due to improper cleaning techniques. Discounted carpets made from less durable fibre like olefin will probably show signs of wear shortly after installation and once you start cleaning them regularly.

You can compare the effects of the same products and techniques on nylon fibre-made and latex-backed carpets, and they are sure to vary.

Home cleaning techniques are much more cost effective

That’s only if you plan to change your carpet every few years. The do it yourself kits in supermarkets and hardware stores maybe good enough to get rid of some stains, but there is no way you can clean your entire carpeted area with these products.

And if you ignore your carpet cleaning needs long enough, even a professional probably can’t help retain the natural lustre of your carpets.

With all that said, the durability of your carpet greatly depends on your choice of fabric and its effective installation as well. Carpet cleaning is mandatory to keep the dust and bacteria away from your home and kids. A safer option is to opt for carpet cleaning services as they understand the kind of cleaning best suitable for your floors and carpets.

http://www.carpetcleanerslondon.co.uk

Tags: Cleaning Services by UK Home Improvement Team
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It’s amazing—and disgusting—just how much dirt and grime your house can accumulate, even when you dust, sweep, disinfect, and Hoover regularly. But don’t despair: with a little extra effort and a lot of patience, you can get your home looking as good as new. Follow these expert home cleaning tips to restore your home to its most sparkling and shining state:

1) Say goodbye to soap scum.

Most of us regularly spray our showers and sinks with disinfectant, but that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear when it comes to soap scum build-up in the bathroom. A simple yet effective trick is to use baking soda to eradicate soap scum, which is comprised of a mixture of mildew, hard water, mineral deposits, body oils, and soap talc—yuck! Sprinkle baking soda generously onto a damp cloth before scrubbing, or use a bit of lemon juice or a baking soda/vinegar mixture for tougher stains. Bonus tip: The baking soda/vinegar duo works great for cleaning kitchen sinks as well.

2) Invest in a good rust stain remover.

Another problem that plagues your bathroom is rust. All-purpose cleaners just don’t cut it when it comes to rust removal, but a product that contains diluted hydrochloric acid (like Iron Out) will. For thorough toilet cleaning, add the product to the bowl and work in with a nylon-bristled brush. For sinks and tubs, you’ll need to wet the working surface before applying the Iron Out product with a damp sponge. Make sure to wear rubber gloves and a mask for your safety.

3) Steam clean your carpet and fabric woes away.

The Hoover is great for picking up dirt and dust, but what about those hard-to-remove red wine, tomato juice, and nail varnish stains? Especially if you’ve let them sit for a while, you’re going to need something more powerful than a damp cloth to whip those carpets and fabrics into shape once and for all. Steam cleaners do just the trick: by applying a powerful heated detergent solution at a high pressure, they can extract the toughest of stains to keep your carpets and upholstery looking as good as new. If your stains are still fresh, try lemon juice for tomato stains, a water/vinegar/soap combo for red wine stains, and nail polish remover or nail varnish spills.

4) Get out of the grout gunk funk.

Grout may give extra strength to your flooring, but it’s a huge hassle to clean. Long after your kitchen floors are spic and span once again, dirt, mold, and mildew stay lodged deep within the grout’s grooves. But the solution to removing gunk from grout may be closer than you think: in a spray bottle, mix together hydrogen peroxide and water, making sure to add twice as much water for every cup of hydrogen peroxide you put in. Then simply spray the mixture onto your grout, rinse with water, and dry the floor. For tougher areas, call on an old toothbrush to help scrub the gunk away.

Tags: Cleaning Services by UK Home Improvement Team
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Duxcoat  is the revolutionary treatment that protects and preserves a variety of everyday products and surfaces using Nano Technology.

Over the last few years there has been a lot of excitement around nanotechnology but there is finally a mainstream application for it with the revolutionary Duxcoat range.

Duxcoat products create a ‘liquid glass’ film – a hydrophobic substance that operates on a nano level to protect virtually any exposed surface in homes, gardens and cars against water, oil or dirt.

Nanotechnology is the development of the structure of substances in their smallest dimensions. These substances are then synthesised into the usable chemicals that make up the Duxcoat range. As the chemicals are applied to the surface, the atoms arrange themselves into a structure that creates the protective barrier.

Nanosealed surfaces repel any water, oil and dirt for up to one year. They are chemical-free, easy to clean and provide long term protection gainst contamination and bacteria. There is no alteration to the appearance of the surface of the treated product.

Duxcoat can be applied to a variety of surfaces:

Textiles: Duxcoat Nano Textile Sealant will treat all types of fabrics and materials, from textile surfaces to clothes. Once the treatment is applied, these textiles will be protected against contamination and liquids will not permeate their surface.

Ceramics: This treatment covers anything from tiles with glazed surfaces, baths and wash basins, architectural ceramics and even
monuments.

Timber & Stone: Treated surfaces become resistant to dirt and fluids.The treatment is suitable for all wood and stone surfaces, including wall and floor tiles, window frames, doors and so on. Porous surfaces such as terracotta or sandstone become completely hydrophobic.

Automotive: Duxcoat offers treatments for paint, rims and most importantly glass – applicable for all windows, headlights and wing mirrors – which allows driving in pouring rain without the need of using wipers.

Utilising the best of nanotechnology, these products are affordable, easy to apply and have a multitude of applications for both homes and car.

For more information and pricing, head over to www.duxcoat.co.uk

Tags: Cleaning Services by adtrak_admin
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With busy lifestyles juggling work, children, relatives, shopping, leisure time and more, cleaning isn’t usually on the list that we look forward to.

These days, it’s more commonplace for busy households to employ a cleaning service. Whilst you may save £25 odd a week by doing the dusting, hovering, mopping etc yourself, think of what you could be doing with the spare time you manage to squash all of the chores into in the evening or at the weekend.

It’s important to understand though the boundaries between a cleaner, a nanny, a maid. Whilst your neighbour may have a local cleaning lady performing all sorts of tasks, expect something more orderly from cleaning agencies and their staff.

Regular Cleaning Service:

• Vacuuming
• Dusting
• Polishing
• Sweeping / Mopping of non-carpeted floors
• Kitchen surfaces & appliances cleaned down
• Bathroom cleaning – bath tub, shower cubicle, mirrors, sinks and toilets
• Empty the bins
• Interior Window Cleaning

In essence, they allow you to keep on top of cleanliness and live in a clean, tidy home.

Advanced Cleaning Services:

• Ironing
• Carpet Steam Cleaning
• Bed Making
• Deep Oven Cleaning

Cleaners Usually Don’t Do:

• The laundry
• The washing up
• Plant watering

What’s important is to find out in the beginning what will and won’t be done. It’s fair enough that people will want to get the best value for money, and pay the least amount possible, but in turn you might receive skeleton service that reflects your fee.

You never know, you may benefit from the “tidy house, tidy mind” mentality people sometimes experience and enjoy.  Most importantly, enjoy the spare time a cleaner will afford you.

Tags: Cleaning Services by UK Home Improvement Team
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What happens when that stain on your prized leather sofa still leaves a mark behind, your kids treat it more like a trampoline, or the cat uses it as it’s rubbing post?

Here’s some do’s and don’ts for getting your leather suite back into shape.

Do’s

• Wipe it every now and again with a damp clean cloth. This will take off any surface markings and keep any bacteria from growing in the nooks and crannies.
• Use recommended leather cleaning products. Although they may appear pricey in comparison to regular fabric cleaning solutions, you are actually prolonging the life of your sofa. Plus, it doesn’t have to be part of your weekly clean, but applying leather cream or polish products every few months or so will do your sofa good. They’re not just cleaning, they’re also protecting against dry, cracked leather too – the main reason a leather sofa is ditched.
• After a long session sprawled out on the sofa, make an effort to plump it up for next time – obviously the type of sofa you have depends on how doable this is. Although it may seem odd at first, push your hands down the side of the bottom fitted cushions and pat with some strength. Then, on top, try and spread out the cushion evenly through patting and plumping. It basically means that rather than squidging the certain section you sit on even more (and encouraging undesirable sagging), next time you’ll have a flat, even surface on which to rest!

Don’ts

• Don’t use baby wipes. Whilst initially it may seem that a quick going over with a wet wipe restores a bit of shine and life to the sofa, more so than a damp cloth, you may actually be doing damage to the leather. Suites nowadays come with an invisible protective layer to defend against life’s everyday bumps and spills. Over time though, this gradually wears thin and attacking it with a fairly harmless wet wipe could just be causing the protective layer to wear down even more.
• Don’t use shoe polish – it may sound silly but the stuff we apply to our leather shoes often contains colouring and resins that are simply not for use on your sofa. (Note: Shoe Creams could be used as a last resort if you have the right colour etc.)Not only could shoe polish rub off onto your clothes and never come out, but we don’t want young kids with their hands on the sofa to then go putting it into their mouths!

Still Looking Worst For Wear?

If the tips mentioned above don’t fit your situation, it may be time to consider renewing a bit of life.

• An upholsterer could be one option. Depending on their range they could be able to match the colour, thickness with your existing suite. Plus, this will likely be a huge amount cheaper than buying an entire new suite. Also, you’re not being wasteful by ditching a suite that can be made new with a small change. A good example of where this can be used simply: if the arm(s) of the sofa have cracked, a piece of leather material, cut to shape, will go on top nicely, halting any further damage. Think of it as a pillow case for the sofa’s arms.
• Professional leather sofa cleaners can also be called out to perform a decent restoration. Although it differs from service to service, you might expect a pro to perform a deep clean of the suite and apply replenishing creams / products to make the leather supple, soft and appear more vivid in colour. You may also get a protective solution on top, to further safeguard from spills. It’s no surprise that professional leather cleaning services suggest your sofa will feel like new again after all the tlc they provide.

Tags: Cleaning Services, Furniture by UK Home Improvement Team
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The nightmare situation is a full wine glass mistakenly tipped over onto your cream carpet.

Whether you have suffered this problem, or else are worried and want to be prepared, the following tips should put you in good stead if the problem ever occurs.

Salt

1. Lightly dab the stain with kitchen towel. Do this to soak up the liquid. Do not wipe or scrub as this may cause the stain to settle deeper into the carpet fibres.
2. Salt. Pour over the red wine stain, with a good covering and leave to soak up the liquid for 2 or 3 minutes. You should notice that the salt becomes a red / pink colouring.
3. Hoover up the salt with the nozzle attachment, and repeat the process.

White Wine

Adding white wine to a fresh red wine stain is an Old Wife’s Tale from yesteryear. For the best results do not do it.

Whilst the white wine may counteract the red wine staining initially, once the stain has dried, the sugars inside white wine will actually interact with the carpet fibres. This in itself can cause a dull / darkened stain to remain, defeating the object of stain removal.

Carbonated Water / Sparkling Water

The low acid value of fizzy water lends itself to diluting the red wine stain. Equally, the bubbles enable the stain to lift off of the fibres easier.

1. Lightly dab the stain with kitchen towel. Be careful not to rub or scrub as this can cause greater the stain to have a greater effect.
2. Pour over a small amount of sparkling water also known as Club Soda, and leave it to react with the red wine stain in the carpet. If you listen closely, it should fizz lightly.
3. After 3 – 5 minutes lightly blot the carbonated water away until the carpet feels slightly damp.
4. Apply some warm water with a weak mixture of washing up liquid. Dab this and then leave to dry.

Professional  Carpet Cleaning

1. A professional carpet cleaner will be available for a one off job, so contact your local reputable carpet cleaner. Check with friends, or online customer feedback to make sure they’re legit and insured.
2. The professional will advise you on how to prepare the area, perhaps suggesting you move furniture out of the way.
3. The carpet cleaner will attend to the stain using their approved methods. Their experience in the industry will mean they are familiar with the more powerful cleaning agents and the suitability with your carpet. Plus, using an insured technicians mean you should be safe if anything further was to go wrong following their work.

Using powerful chemicals yourself could damage the carpet, or pose a risk to your health and safety, so avoid using the harsh chemicals.

If in doubt about any stage of the cleaning processes mentioned above, consult a professional!

Tags: Carpets, Cleaning Services, Other by UK Home Improvement Team
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It happens to the best of us. You spill a drink, a pet has a mishap or you tread dirt into the carpet with your muddy shoes. Fortunately, there are a range of options to tackle these situations.

The problem is, should you do it yourself and invest in a steam cleaner? Or is it worth calling a carpet cleaner to visit your home and tackle your carpets professionally?

Professional Carpet Cleaner – the pros

• Pay as you go – you pay for the service as and when you need it. Either as a one-off, or more regularly.
• No elbow grease required – you don’t need to do any of the hard work!
• Professional expertise – dealing with a range of stains and dirt daily, a professional carpet cleaner will usually have expert knowledge to remove those stubborn stains without damaging your carpets.
• Advanced cleaning – industrial or innovative cleaning products, more advanced than those available in the supermarket are likely to be used by professional carpet cleaners. These have various benefits such as faster drying times and/or being chemical free and/or shifting the most difficult of stains.

Professional Carpet Cleaners – the cons

• Risk of rogue traders – technically speaking, carpet cleaners can do their work without qualifications. It could therefore be subject to rogue traders providing a substandard service.
• Increasing pricing – the advertised price or quotation could creep up when the cleaning technician sees the extent of cleaning required.
• Potentially inconvenient – it may mean having to take time off work to be home for the visit.

Meanwhile, steam cleaners, available in a host of shops, have pros and cons too.

Steam Cleaners – the pros

• Convenient – you can do the cleaning when you want, at a time convenient to yourself. Furthermore, you can repeat the application numerous times should you not achieve the level of cleanliness you first desired.
• Set price – more often than not, you pay the price you see advertised. Requiring only water, you’re unlikely to continue spending on additional cleaning agents for the machine in the future.
• Chemical free – heated up and outputted as steam, water is the key component in a steam cleaner. You may have no need to buy pricey carpet cleaning agents again.
• More hygienic than regular vacuuming – bacteria are killed when they come into contact with the heat produced by the steam cleaner. This makes steam cleaning good for homes in need of great cleanliness for health reasons. Plus, a steam cleaner won’t produce any potent gases in your home.

Steam Cleaners – the cons

• Cost - the cost of purchasing the equipment can soon mount up. If you want a good job doing then you’re likely going to have to pay the associated price.
• Excess water – steam cleaners can flush carpets with excess water. The damp carpet then becomes the perfect environment for bacteria and mould to breed – unhygienic.
• Longer drying times – steam cleaning can incur long drying times of several hours. Rather than sucking up unwanted debris, you are cleaning or washing the carpets. This could mean certain areas of your home are out of bounds for lengthy periods of time whilst you wait for the carpets to dry.
• Risk of damaging your carpets – you could potentially damage your carpets if they are delicate or are made of a special fibre. The heat blasted from the steam cleaner can have an adverse effect on the pile of your carpet, whilst the water may cause it to alter in its appearance

It’s a case of summing up your priorities and being wise. Don’t rush to the store and purchase on impulse when you see a super low price – read reviews of the machine online and make sure it’s suitable for your carpets and upholstery. Alternatively, hire someone based on a friend’s recommendations, and ensure that their carpet cleaning service is insured and within budget.

At the end of the day, you’re protecting the investment you made when purchasing your home carpets.

Tags: Carpets, Cleaning Services by UK Home Improvement Team
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