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Do it Yourself Pet Odor Treatment

2/12/2018

Animals are wonderful. And having a pet offers an occasional gentle reminder that anyone can be loved unconditionally, and the love can be reciprocated – even if the object of affection reeks terribly.
Pet odors are no joke. In fact they can become such a lingering and prevalent smell in any home that it would become practically impossible to host anyone, much less sell the home – if the need arises.

This small hurdle in pet care doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your furry friends to eliminate the smell – a viable means of handling this would be to hire an expert in the field of pet odor elimination, or a professional carpet technician (if the ‘accidents’ happened on the carpet) otherwise – you may consider one of these two DIY remedies;

Vinegar-Citrus Spray

This formula is especially recommended to get rid of dog and cat urine odors naturally.

Things You’ll need –

Empty Spray Bottle
White Vinegar
Dish Soap with Orange scent or Wild Orange Essential Oil
Hydrogen Peroxide
Baking Soda

The Process –

Pour 5oz hydrogen peroxide, 1 tablespoon vinegar, I tablespoon baking soda and ½ tablespoon dishwasher orange soap into the spray bottle
When all the ingredients have been added, gently shake the bottle and apply generously to the affected area, then allow to completely dry.
When it dries, it will become powder-like. When this is done, vacuum up the powder.

To Purify the Area Further –

Add 6 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 cup of baking soda and place into a container and shake until well combined.
Sprinkle affected area and leave on for several hours – or even over night.
Vacuum up the powder that forms.

Depending on the size of the area, you may choose to double or triple the recipe for larger quantities of the formula.

Christen’s Pet Odor be Gone

This formula is so easily thrown together, it is slightly ridiculous to think that it works. It is important to note however, that if it is an older accident, the process may need to be repeated multiple times. It is said to work great for pet odors and toddler ‘accidents’ as well as lingering vomit smells.

Things You’ll need –

Empty Spray Bottle
Mouthwash
Water

The Process –

Pour 2 parts water into one part mouthwash and mix in the spray bottle
When all the ingredients have been added, gently shake the bottle and spray the affected area.
Lay a newspaper on top of the area and allow to stand – the newspaper will absorb the smell completely.

Take note that you are better off using blank newspaper, this would reduce risk of the newspaper ink dripping onto the furniture or carpet. Need professional pet odor treatment services? We can help. Give us a call today!

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Furniture Cleaning How To's|Step-By-Step Furniture & Upholstery Cleaning

2/11/2018

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From the beautiful wooden designs to the amazing intricacies of upholstery there is no running short of excuses to purchase furniture even if it is only to put them on display as a proud owner.

Good furniture is, no doubt – a treasured possession in any home but prolonging the life span of these investments can prove a tougher job than you bargained. But what is all that compared to the joy of having fine wood furniture with which to entertain guests and the cushioned softness of a favorite sofa?

How To Clean Wooden Furniture
In its natural state, wood contains a surprising amount of moisture – enough to cause it to spontaneously begin to deteriorate if not stored properly.

Dust often and Dust Damp

Frequent dusting removes dirt and secures the wood from any potential oily build up that may be hazardous to the wood. Dusting with a dry cloth can scratch the wood, so lightly wet the cloth used with water or dusting agent.
The furniture must not be wet directly however. Over wetting can prove hard to dry and encourage more dirt build up.

Polish or Wax

Either wax or furniture polish when applied to wood has the capacity to protect the surface. These two products must not be combined however as they may end up producing a sticky mess.
Before deciding which is more appropriate for the furniture, seek professional advice with the wood type in mind.

How To Clean Upholstered Furniture
Upholstered furniture may seem especially demanding in terms of care and maintenance, but the process needn’t be a hassle –

Vacuum

Before proceeding with deep cleaning, vacuum the surface of the furniture to remove any surface debris and loose dirt. You may use a dust buster or a hose attachment on a full-sized vacuum cleaner.

Remove lint and pet fur

An average vacuum may not be able to pick up on lint and fur, so it might be necessary to use a lint roller and work in a systematic grid across the entire surface of the sofa to ensure you do not miss any hair or lint.

Wipe down hard surfaces

Furniture with exposed wood surfaces should be cleaned with all-purpose-surface-cleaner that would make the wood shine.

How to Clean Fabric Furniture-

Precondition the Fabric
Fabric conditioners can be found in any supermarket; simply mix and apply as directed.
Shampoo the Fabric
Any homemade cleaner or detergent mix may achieve this effect. Evenly distribute it to ensure the best results
Steam Vacuum
Use a steam vacuum to apply pressure to furniture – this would encourage soil separation and thorough cleaning that may not be otherwise achieved.
Air Dry
Ventilate the room where the furniture is placed, and allow to dry before subsequent use.

How to Clean Leather Furniture-

Use Vinegar based Cleaner
Either mix water with white vinegar or mix the cleaning solution with vinegar and apply on the leather.

Condition the Furniture Over Night
After wiping the leather clean of the first application, make a solution of one part white vinegar and two parts flax seed oil and apply again. Then leave to stand over night.
Buff the Furniture
Rub the sofa down with another fresh clean rag and make the leather healthy and shiny.

There is unlimited beauty and comfort that good furniture adds to a home. Turns out, if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

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Do it yourself Deep Soil Cleaning

2/8/2018

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Cleaning carpets was, for most of us – who would rather not be bothered with any kind of chore, an all too familiar but yet friendly evil. So it was a little frightening to be told at some point, that the normal routine of cleaning – which was to simply take it outside and beat it, was not an altogether efficient method. But the advent of vacuuming and the vacuum cleaner exceeded expectations, providing a less labor intensive method of cleaning without the risk of doing oneself any serious damage.

Regardless of all of this however, advancements in technology have proven once again that even regular vacuuming falls short, leaving you with hygienically unsafe carpet since dirt can still remain deep within the pile of a carpet.

Deep soil cleaning of carpets simply addresses the shortcomings of vacuuming by using various methods to extract soil residue embedded within the carpet fibers. It eliminates problems associated with both dirt and detergent residue, which can be detrimental to the life span of the carpet.

So what do you do if you want this quality of cleaning without parting with a small sum and hiring a professional?

Nothing. You can’t get clean professionally if you aren’t a professional carpet technician and have the necessary equipment. However, there are a few things you could do that would give closely related results, so don't give up just yet.

Here are – steps to carrying out a standard DIY Deep Soil Cleaning, but first –

What Are the Methods of Deep Carpet Dirt Extraction?
There are primarily three methods of deep soil cleaning, alternatively known as soil extraction

Dry Extraction:
This process uses an absorbent substance containing detergents and solvents which is brushed into the carpet fibers. The compound then attaches to the soil particles, and both the soil and compound are then removed by vacuuming.

Dry Foam Extraction:
In this method, a detergent is selected and made to foam, and then worked into the carpet and rinsed off following wet vacuuming.

Hot Water Extraction:
This is also called steam cleaning. The process involves a cleaning solution being introduced into the carpet fibers under such pressure that the soil is removed. When steam cleaning, areas of heavy use are preconditioned to pull out the soil and then a pressurized cleaning solution is injected into the pile. Subsequently, the soil and the solution are immediately extracted.

What Kind of Carpet Extraction Equipment Do You Need?
There are many factors to take into account when purchasing a carpet extraction equipment. The type of extractor would be determined by the dimensions of the place you would be cleaning, the construction of the carpet and fiber type, and also how frequently it would need deep soil cleaning.

Ultimately, be sure that you purchase the best machine available to you. Cheap doesn’t always translate to ‘good deal’.

How to Carry Out a Do-it-Yourself Deep Soil Cleaning

Remove all furniture from the carpeted area (if possible). If the furniture cannot be moved, tilt it and place a plastic film beneath its legs or stand.
Pre-vacuum. This would get rid of loose dirt and lower the soil concentration.
Follow the instructions on your machine thoroughly, with the cleaner filled in begin at the farthest point from the doorway and work back toward it so that you can step out when you are done.
Extract as much of the water and soil as possible and wait until the carpet dries before replacing the furniture or walking on the carpet. This may take 6 or more hours.
Ventilate the room. Open the windows or turn on the air conditioning, but never close the room with a wet carpet, this could encourage the growth of mildew.

While this process might be effective at cleaning spots and spills and provide excellent interim cleaning, they cannot take the place of periodic deep cleaning by a carpet cleaning professional.

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Do it Yourself Pet Odor Treatment

Furniture Cleaning How To's|Step-By-Step Furniture & Upholstery Cleaning

Do it yourself Deep Soil Cleaning

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