Mr. Steams Valley Steam Blog

Olefin is a very versatile carpet fiber. It is used in carpet backings (called polypropylene), face yarns and even astroturf. Olefin has become almost synonymous with one of its trade names “Herculon” a trademark owned by Hercules Corporation, a major manufacturer of olefin.

PROS

1. Keep your Brush Roll Clean. Before starting to vacuum, take a look at your brush rolls. Take away particles that may be stuck to it like lint, pet and human hair, small pieces of paper - take them out and free the brush roll from anything that might block dirt from being picked up by it.

2. Brush Roll and Oil. Once in a while it is advisable for you to lubricate your brush rolls.  Check your manual , if you have lost the manual, you may try calling the manufacturer or checking their website.

3. Check Vacuum Hose. -your vacuum hose has a clog or an obstruction and won’t properly clean your carpet.

4. Check Vacuum Bags. Before starting to vacuum, always check the vacuum bags first. It is best for you to empty them when they are just half-full.

5. Check Vacuum Belt. Check for spots, cracks, and tears. Belts wear out after a few months (depending on usage) and would need to be replaced.

6. Check Vacuum Filters. - always make it a habit to check and clean the filters before vacuuming

Don’t panic.  First, extract all that you can with a wet vacuum or shop vac.  Then, call us.  We’ve taken care of problems just like this.  We can save your carpet if you call us IMMEDIATELY!

Acrylic paint might be a problem. Acrylic is often referred to as craft paint, so it’s a common kind of paint you might have in your house. If some gets on the carpet, here’s what you can do to get rid of it.

First, extract with a wet or shop vacuum.  Then, blot the area with a mild cleaning agent that is safe for your rug (we have an excellent one available at our location). If you are concerned about the laundry detergent bleaching or harming your carpet, test in an inconspicuous spot first.

Like with latex paint, use odorless mineral spirits if the stain still remains as according to the directions above.

If you have a paint stain that has dried or you have spilled a considerable amount of paint, you might need to seek the help of a specialist.  If you experiment too much, you could ultimately damage your carpet.

Paint is one of the most vicious stains on carpet.  But if you know what to do when the emergency arises, you’ll have emerged with beautiful carpet

Dates are occasionally woven into a rug. The date can be in the format of the Western calendar that begins with the birth of Christ and is based on the solar year. Dates woven in the Islamic solar system can be converted to the western format by adding 622.

Polyester’s popularity seems to go up and down like a roller coaster. Because it’s relatively inexpensive to produce, manufacturers are regularly reintroducing this fiber to the carpet industry. Although it has some excellent qualities, and is a great fiber for clothing, it does have some limiting factors when used in carpet.

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CONS

Cleaning has historically been viewed as a commodity - a menial task that anyone can do. Long before sophisticated textiles and complex built indoor environments were created, cleaning may have been a simple, easy task, but that is no longer the case.

Complex flooring systems, sensitive fabrics, and new age soiling conditions have created a need for advanced education in the cleaning industry. Unfortunately, many cleaners (and consumers) have not understood this concept. We still see the ads for $6.95 per room for carpet cleaning and sofa cleaning for $45.00. The cleaner puts the ads out, never intending on cleaning for those prices, and the consuming public gets the idea that cleaning should be cheap.

These so called cleaning companies also happen to be the ones that don’t educate themselves or their employees. The result is that carpets and fabrics are being ruined every day by uneducated, uninformed, and sometimes downright unscrupulous carpet cleaners.

They are facing soiling conditions that they have never seen or heard of due to a lack of education. Or worse, they create a situation on a carpet or fabric that they have no idea how to fix.

Education is expensive, but the result of not getting the knowledge necessary is much more costly.

Our company invests a great deal in education.

PROS

CONS

1. NEVER use acidic cleaners like muriatic acid to clean your floors. Even vinegar is an acidic cleaner you should avoid. This is even more important if you have natural stone tile.

2. Instead of sweeping with a broom, get a vacuum sweeper for dry soil removal. This will keep soils out of your grout.

3. Mop your floors at LEAST once a week.

4. Use a neutral PH cleaning agent made specifically for tile or vinyl floors. Call us for specific recommendaitons.

5. Professsional cleaning and sealing should be done every 1-2 years to prolong the life and beauty of your floors. Mr. Steam’s Valley Steam is here to help.

Rug fibers usually consist of wool in most mid to upper end rugs. High-end rugs may also have silk. Synthetic fibers such as acrylic, polyester, nylon, and olefin (polypropylene) can be found in more economical rugs.Cotton, sea grass, and sisal rugs are often moderate rugs. Your most stain resistant rugs will contain synthetic fibers, but won’t feel as soft and luxurious. All other natural fiber rugs are susceptible to staining if spots aren’t cleaned immediately.

What do you look for in a rug? Quality of wool, type of dye, and knots. Simply because a rug is expensive, doesn’t mean it has good dyes or is constructed well. Make sure you know what it is and shop around first. Be extra cautious about purchasing a rug outside the United States.

The construction of a rug is also a key factor. To determine if the rug is handmade, turn it upside down and look at the back. If you cannot see the pattern as clearly as on the face, the rug is not handmade. If the rug passes this first test, look at the fringe. The fringe should be an extension of the yarn inside the rug and should not look like it was sewed on separately. Many rugs that claim to be hand stitched are stitched by hand with a machine.

BEWARE of rugs with cloth backings. These rugs often have something to hide. The cloth is either covering flaws in a handmade rug or even worse, glue that is holding the backing together. Glued backings have a tendency to get torn when the rug is moved or cleaned.