Turn the Heat Up on Dust Mites.  Unique Upholstery Carpet and Rug Cleaning of Chicago, IL.
 

Fixing Those Irritating Dents.  Unique Upholstery Carpet and Rug Cleaning of Chicago, IL.
 

 
When you think of a dent, you might reflect on that small golf-ball sized one on the fender of your car, or the front or side of an appliance that got squashed when moving it in.
But dents can happen to floors as well. You might be thinking of certain hard floors that can be damaged by falling objects. But it happens to carpet most often.
“What? How can a carpet get dented?” you ask.
Just move a heavy piece of furniture, and look where the legs were. That is a carpet dent, or indentation, and you might try to fluff up or pull up those carpet yarns that have lost their resiliency. They are stubborn, are squashed down into the backing of the carpet, even crushed into the carpet padding, and with fight off the most valiant efforts you put forth to resurrect them.
Dent removal tips
So you got ambitious last week, and moved your furniture around, and now you can see a few dents that just have to go.
One of your options is to simply wait. In time, most carpet dents (and the squashed padding underneath them) will work their way back up. But this could take months, even a year, depending on the carpet fibers, as some are more resilient and can bounce back faster.
One popular way to remove a carpet dent is to add moisture to the area, but slowly. Putting an ice cube in the dent can do the trick, but you have to help it along. Get a screwdriver, kitchen fork, or other sharp object and, as the ice melts and the fibers absorb some of the moisture, start working the carpet yarns back out and up and give them a gentle grooming. This should help remove most of the dent.
When the carpet is dry, put your vacuum cleaner to work, using just the suction hose. Vigorously work the hose cuff over the dent and use the vacuum’s force to finish the job.
Dent still there? Do the ice trick again; it might take a few attempts.
 
If you still have carpet dent challenges, and can’t live with the issue, don’t despair. A thorough steam cleaning by your favorite carpet cleaner should finish the job. Give them a call and explain the issue. Their specialized equipment partnered with their expertise and years of experience have the power you don’t. After all, it pays to call a pro!

A Clean Kitchen the Easy Way.  Unique Upholstery Carpet and Rug Cleaning of Chicago, IL.
 

 
Here’s an easy quiz for you: What’s the most popular room in your home?
 
If you guessed “the bathroom” you wouldn’t be totally wrong, as it might be the most frequented room in the home.
 
But hands-down, the kitchen is the most welcoming, most enticing room in your home, because of what happens there. Delicious food preparation, nice conversations, a general gathering place for family and friends.
 
With that comes much usage and the need for cleaning. To make the unwanted task of cleaning a little easier, here are some simple maintenance tips that will save you time.
 
Above the floor
The sink, countertops, stove, cabinets and other areas above the floor get heavy use, and the residue can be sticky and challenging to remove.
 
The most aggressive cleaning is probably in the sink, where grime can build up that isn’t always that apparent. Use cleanser and a sponge or cloth, apply the product and clean multiple times, rinsing often. It should actually squeak when you run your fingers over it.
 
The other areas should be cleaned with an all-purpose, milder cleanser, misting it on and wiping it off with soft cloths. A final wiping with a cloth with warm water will remove any cleaning residues. You do this every day or so, and you will never notice a buildup of grime or dirt.
 
The floor
Sweep and mop on a schedule before it looks like it needs it. A dust mop might be OK, but a regular broom with soft bristles often picks up more debris. Hot water and a detergent for the type of flooring you have is recommended, but don’t overdo the concentration as it can leave streaks.
 
Odds and ends
Something often neglected are the drawers, especially those that hold small items like cooking utensils. Take a look at the drawer that holds your silverware, pull out some forks or spoons, and you will see bits of all kinds of food and debris hiding underneath. Every week, plan on cleaning just one drawer and they will all stay nice and neat.
 
But when you need a complete, thorough cleaning and don’t want to tackle it yourself, call your professional cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
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Tile and Grout Floor Care.  Unique Upholstery Carpet and Rug Cleaning of Chicago, IL.
 

 
Tile floors are everywhere, and where there’s tile, there’s also grout to separate it all, keeping everything nice and even, with straight lines.
 
But a straight line may not always be so… clean. Dirt and grime and other contaminants build up over time and make what was once a beautiful floor look downright ugly. The grout is especially susceptible to soiling and staining.
 
Just as you would clean any surface, tile and grout floors need special attention. If you keep them clean, following a maintenance schedule, you won’t have to deal with the tough issue of restorative cleaning.
 
Here are a few simple tips for you to follow in order to keep your tile and grout floors in tip-top shape.
 
Sweep it
 
The first step is keep the floor swept. Sweep it daily, which will remove dust and debris and other contaminants that can eventually cause tough-to-remove soiling.
 
Mop it
 
Tile floors are very easy to clean and maintain. Use a clean mop and an approved detergent to clean the floor. Some prefer the newer flat floor cleaners. Doesn’t matter the tool, it is how you use it and the products you choose.
 
Some recommend the use of chlorine bleach, which acts as a disinfectant. The challenge here is remaining residues can create issues, such as being tracked off onto carpet, causing color loss. Be careful with the use of any type of bleach.
 
Grout issues
 
The toughest part of a tile and grout floor cleaning job is… the grout. It’s porous, even if sealed, and becomes an eyesore quickly. Purchase a heavy-duty grout cleaner and follow the directions. You will most likely be on your hands and knees, and it takes time to do this right. Apply the product to the grout, allow some reasonable contact time, and scrub - scrub - scrub! Repeat as necessary. Work carefully until the grout looks great again.
 
When everything is cleaned up, be sure to rinse with a neutral detergent, or just water, and let air dry and inspect. You will find areas need more attention. When you do… get back to work!
 
Tile and grout cleaning is no easy task, especially when it becomes really soiled. When you find yourself up against an impossible task, do the smart thing. Call your professional cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
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Cleaning Up ‘Accidents’.  Unique Upholstery Carpet and Rug Cleaning of Chicago, IL.
 

 
Our pets. We love them. No matter what.
 
No matter if they hack up hairballs. No matter if they barf up their breakfast. No matter if they mistake the corner of the living room for the litter box or the grass patch outside.
 
Dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, birds… the list goes on as to the types of pets that people have in their homes and subsequently treat like family. Or even better than family.
 
With owning a pet comes responsibilities. Some obligatory, such as taking them to the vet for annual checkups. Others more of a necessity, such as cleaning up after they make a mess, from turning over the food dish to the previously mentioned hacking or barfing — or other issues that create a smelly, visible mess that must be dealt with.
 
Pet accidents. They happen to every pet owner. And are they really “accidents” — as if the pet didn’t really mean to do it? That’s another story entirely.
 
Here are a few basic steps to consider when cleaning up “accidents”.
 
Scrape or wipe it up — all of it
No matter the mess, whether tossed up tidbits from the food bowl to a hacked-up hairball to urine or feces in the carpet, the first order of business is to clean up excess residue. There’s no point to applying cleaning product or deodorizer to substance that you can remove with a few paper towels.
 
Blot and blot… and blot some more
Now is the time to get as much moisture (gross!) out of the carpet or off the flooring material, or even off furniture. Using white, absorbent paper or cloth towels, push down on the affected area. Do not scrub. The idea is to absorb as much contamination as you can.
 
Apply product — and clean!
The final step is to clean up all remaining residues from the surface. Always pretest colors and fabrics before adding cleaning products, although most surfaces are fairly durable and can handle mild cleaning agents. Get some ideas for the best products from your local carpet cleaning company. Control the amount applied with a flip-top bottle or adding the product to a white, absorbent paper or cloth towel. Work into the area and clean away the contamination. If you remove it when fresh, there should be no residual issues.
 
Sounds easy, right? It’s not always this easy. When you have difficult cleaning challenges, do the right thing. Call your professional cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
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Cleaning the Air Conditioner.  Unique Upholstery Carpet and Rug Cleaning of Chicago, IL.
 

 
It’s summertime. And if it isn’t that hot yet, it will be really soon. If hot weather isn’t in the forecast right now, give it time… it will warm up.
 
When hot weather strikes, most people work hard to be comfortable, and that means turning down the air in the home, using their trusty air conditioning system. For some, that means 80 degrees Fahrenheit. For others, 70. Others… like it even colder. It’s all about personal preference.
 
But when your air conditioner doesn’t perform adequately, or even worse, stops completely, panic strikes as the heat and humidity increases.
 
How can you avoid a sluggish or broken air conditioner? A few preventative maintenance steps can help tremendously.
 
Keep it simple — and clean!
Any part of your air conditioning unit, whether it is a portable window variety, mini-split, or central air, it’s important to keep all working parts, filters, everything clean of dust and debris.
 
All this means is a regular inspection, perhaps twice a month, and taking steps to clean dirty areas. If your air conditioner is portable and has a water collection tank, empty it regularly.
 
What comes in handy for removing dust and debris, especially from filters you can’t remove and aren’t washable, is a can of compressed air, such as you might use for your computer. But remember that when you blow dust off one surface, it will land on another.
 
And, if you aren’t sure about filter location or any aspect of your AC unit, ask a professional and take notes so you can refer to them in the future.
 
Call the pros
As with any electronic and complex piece of equipment, there are limits to what you can do yourself. Consider calling a professional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning company come in annually and perform an inspection. These are usually very inexpensive and, if you ever need repair service, they will respond faster if you are a regular customer (usually).
 
Once in a while, an air conditioning unit malfunctions or spills over, making a big mess. If that ever happens, it’s time to call your favorite cleaning company to take care of the issue. After all, it pays to call a pro!