cleancare, Author at Cat Cleancare

Upholstery Cleaning Tips – Your Sofa

You just moved into your new apartment, a beautiful space and a great neighbourhood to boot. Now that you have made this huge step you get excited, finally, you can make it your own. Slowly you begin to furnish buying pieces at a time, trying to get everything just perfect to turn a house into a home. The focal design point comes when you have to pick the perfect sofa set and bed to complement your lifestyle, something seriously chic but ultimately comfortable. A few perusals through catalogues, referrals and walks to upholstery dealers later you find your match. You turned your house into a design mecca and it’s beautiful, one thing that bothers you though, is how will you maintain the quality of your items to avoid wear and tear or replacement.

Sofas and chairs are not only vulnerable to surface stains, dust, and dirt but grime can become deeply embedded into the fibres too. Washing your couch should be handled with ultimate care, the best approach to use is three steps centred; pre-cleaning, cleaning and post cleaning. Each stage requires detailed planning and preparation in order to get the best results, there are steps that can make the process easier whether you decide to routinely clean them or opt to bring in an expert cleaner to handle the job. In this article, we will explore the ways you can clean your couch at home and why you should consider hiring an expert.

Pre Cleaning

During pre-cleaning clear all the furniture around the area where the sofa rests, and clean the area with a damp cloth or mop; if the sofa was against a wall check it for scratches and touch up the paint. The next step is to remove the cushions; clean the spaces where they have been resting ensure you get into the crevices and stop polishing any wood parts and wiping them down. If parts of the sofa use special features such as levers for recliners to ensure they are working, it is recommended that you fix the furniture parts before you clean.

Cleaning

Now you are ready to clean your sofa, first thing is to read the care instructions if the couch came with any as this will help you know what material the couch is made of and the cleaning instructions made by the manufacturer. For minor stains always spot clean first, while spot cleaning makes sure not to rub or scrub instead of gently pressing the rag onto the spill if recent to avoid soaking the stain further into the fabric; for older stains try an upholstery cleaner with a cleaning rag. Always ensure to follow the instructions on the bottle, scrub the spot until the stain is removed rinsing and reapply repeatedly depending on the severity of the stain. Some cleaners may require you to allow it to sit for several minutes so it can penetrate the stain. Once the stain has been cleaned using a clean rag to rinse the spot, remember that the cleaner that is left on the upholstery will attract dirt.

When you have the option of machine washing remove the cover from the cushion. It is advisable to wash your cushion covers in a gentle machine cycle with mild cleaning detergent. Cushion covers can be dried naturally in the sunlight but it is preferable to put them back on the cushion while still damp. This is practised because some fabrics are prone to shrinking and should be allowed to dry on the cushion to ensure a snug fit but be sure that the cushion is completely dry before putting it back on the couch.

For the cushion, you may need to wash it as well as the cover; it is a little trickier than the cover but not impossible. The safest way for washing cushions is to put them in the bathtub with regular laundry detergent and wash it by hand. Rinse thoroughly and set them outside to dry, this should happen within 24 hours so try to clean your sofas on a warm day and keep your windows open to have a breeze circulating.

Bringing in the professionals

Some covers and stains prove too stubborn for DIY cleaning, they, therefore, require expert professionals to come in and handle the cleaning. Professional upholstery cleaners use steam cleaners, and vacuum cleaners designed to be used on furniture; materials that may require special care include silk blends, wool, linens and particular cotton blends. A professional company is knowledgeable enough to know that certain fabrics need unique care, detergents used can maintain or ruin your sofa fabric and drying will take a shorter period. Experts recommend that you get your sofa cleaned professionally at least thrice a year to keep them in its best shape and extend their longevity

Take these simple steps today to prolong the life of your sofa, bring in an expert to give your couch a little pampering while at it.

Curtains: Home Cleaning vs. Professional Cleaning

Curtains form an important part of your home, framing the windows, create a decor aesthetic that contributes to the beauty of your living areas. As much as curtains add to the decor of your home, they are like any other item in the home and require detailed care, without proper attention they can host dust mites and allergens that will wreak havoc on your health. Not only can your curtain harbor debris if left unclean for too long it may also grow old much faster and lose the beauty of its design with time leaving you no choice but to replace them. It is possible to lengthen the life span of your curtains and keep them clean either at home or through specialized cleaning by a team of professionals.

Washing your curtains at home may seem like a daunting task but it needs not be a difficult process and with a few handy tips you can take care of them. There are two main ways to take care of your curtains at home, you can hand wash them or use a washing machine. It is important to note that you will need mild laundry detergent and rubber gloves if you have sensitive skin. The detergent will go a long way in cleaning your curtains as they tend to pick up smells from around the home such as cigarette smoke and cooking aromas as well as stains.

Most curtain materials allow for machine washing which may make your task less expensive and easy to manage. Some materials such as delicate cotton are not machine friendly, they may shrink in hot washes so it is important to check the label instructions or ask when you purchase them. There are a few points to note if your machine washing your curtains, the most important is to always wash them on the delicate cycle or choose a cool wash with a slow spin setting; a normal everyday detergent should be suitable for handling the cleaning. It is advisable to wash your curtains in cold water to keep fading and shrinking to a minimum as well as invest in a detergent designed not to fade color if you have curtains in dark colors.

Flooring Options: Carpets

Your home is a haven of serenity and creating a living space that is inviting is the pride of any home owner. A great addition to any home is the chance to experience the soft warmth and welcoming nature of a soft spot for your feet. Carpeting makes a home serene and with a plethora of textures, colours and patterns, design style is amplified to make your house a home. Not only are carpets beautiful they can also withstand heavy traffic, kids and pets ensuring you have a comfortable living space that is also user friendly for your family.

How does one go about choosing a suitable carpet for the areas in their home and what should you consider before making that key purchase. The problem with selecting the right carpet is you can seldom tell the difference just by looking at the carpet samples or by feeling the pile with your hands. Everyone wants a soft and luxurious carpet but the look does not guarantee durability or suit the foot traffic of the area you may choose to place it in. There are specifications you need to understand before purchasing your carpet, these factors will affect all aspects of your purchase from the durability to which area of the home it is most suited to.

The fibre type available will help you know which area the carpet is best for, these range from nylon, polyester, olefin to wool. Nylon is the most common as it is very durable with a wide selection of designs, available at a reasonable price and suited to any area of the home. Polyester is another commonly preferred fibre for carpets because it gives a luxurious feel and resists water soluble stains but is suited to low traffic areas of the home. Olefin is a fibre that resists fading and staining, moisture and mildew with reasonable pricing and suited to outdoor or indoor areas of the home. There are other carpet fibres which may not as popular as the above mentioned such as Saxony which is made of close tufts and is good for formal settings, frieze which is made of twisted tufts that curl at the surface to create a textured look that hides footprints and is best suited to high traffic area and sisal which are made from plant fibre and are a great choice when looking for a textured look.

The next thing to consider in your carpet is the pile height, this refers to the thickness of a rug. This is normally measured from the backing of the rug, heights include short velvet piles and longer plush piles; deeper pile has a more luxurious feel but the short pile tends to be easier to care for and remains new looking for a longer period

Office Cleaning

To keep your office clean and comfortable for your staff and clients, Isamado Homecare Company undertakes the following:

Office Floor Cleaning: Floors and tiles are cleaned and machine buffed to ensure they have a uniform, glossy appearance free of discoloration. Office Furniture and other movable items are moved to clean floors underneath them, and then returned to their original locations.

Office Glass Cleaning: Cleaning of all interior glass, including glass in doors, walls, display cases and furniture.

Office Furniture Cleaning: Furniture such as tables, seats and cupboards as well as light fixtures, and ceiling fans are cleaned and left free of dust and dirt.

Office Stairway Cleaning: Stairway surfaces are cleaned as appropriate for the type of floor covering. Grease and grime are removed from stair guards, hand-rails and baseboards.

Office Carpet Cleaning & Vacuuming: Carpeted areas are deeply vacuumed, cleaned and dried.

Office Window Cleaning: Window glass surfaces and curtain boxes are cleaned of all traces of dirt, smudge and water.

Office Kitchen Cleaning: If your office has a kitchen or kitchenette, we will ensure appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, and microwaves are clean and disinfected. We will also clean and sanitize kitchen counter tops, shelves, cabinets, and sinks.

Toilet/Restroom Cleaning: Surfaces of sinks, toilet bowls, showers, tubs, plumbing fixtures, doors, walls, mirrors and other such surfaces shall be cleaned with a germicidal detergent. Tiled floors are machine buffed.