Cleaning Curtains 'in situ'

Did you realise that curtains can be cleaned without taking them down? If you have non-washable heavy drapes or wall hangings that are difficult to remove and re-hang, they can be cleaned where they are, in your own home.

When preparing for cleaning, check for holes where moths and mites may have caused damage. If there are small black specks, these could be caused by fly 'poo' which is difficult to remove.

If in doubt about trying a 'do-it-yourself' cleaning solution on expensive items, choose a professional onsite cleaning service for curtains, pelments, carpets, rugs and upholstery. Wall hangings are prone to dust-gathering too.

First of all, items are prepared with a vacuuming to remove dust, hair, fibres, etc., then pre-sprayed with Prochem (or similar) dry cleaning solution. Soft furnishings are then dry cleaned with a professional machine, designed especially for the job, operated by trained professionals. When completed, everything should be bright, clean and smelling fresh!

Check out our other tips on this blog!

Autumn 'to do' list for your Home

Carpets.
A whole summer of dusty feet coming in from the garden makes carpets look flat, grubby and tired. Clean your carpets before the winter wet makes them worse.


Driveways.
A wet summer causes havoc in Britain. Stones or Paving may have been dislodged by driving rain or tough weed growth and will certainly have ground-in dirt. A professional clean and seal will return your driveway or patio to its former glory ready for the winter weather onslaught. (Not usually necessary ever year!)

 

Gardens.
A final cut of the lawn and then clean the lawn-mower before storing it away until next March, ready for the first cut of next year. Trim dead growth from shrubs and borders. Don't undertake any serious tree surgery until late - your local experienced tree service will not only advise the best time for various tree types but their service usually includes a logging, chipping or carting service (be sure to check what's included and what isn't).

Gutters & Drains.
Also, remember to clean out your guttering. A build-up of soggy leaves will prevent rainwater from draining away. It may spill over - or worse, damage the guttering. Any clogged drains should be remedied too.

• All house-hold jobs done? Time for fun. Carve some pumpkins for the front step! 
• Naughty or nice? Start writing that Christmas list and plan for a long, cosy winter.

Allergies? Eliminate Dust Mites from your Carpets

House dust mites are mostly found in carpets and mattresses; their numbers are increasing because we provide perfect conditions - humid warm environments - in our centrally-heated, thermally-insulated, double glazed homes. They feed on dead skin that has been shed and forms part of general household dust.

They are a significant source of allergies, including: asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis.

There are a couple of ways to eliminate dust mites.

• Subject dust mites to extreme heat (60'C) or cold (0'C) for about an hour -  therefore hot washes or putting a pillow in a large chest freezer would be quite successful;
• Sofas, mattresses and carpets can be vacuumed with a high suction cleaner. Treat first with a mite powder.

And no, we are not going to use a magnified image of a mite, just for sensationalism. Nor are we going to use a boring photograph of a vacum cleaner. Here is a beautiful carpet of flowers instead.

Would you notice if your Carpets Smell?

Food smells from cooking, particularly oily fish, frying and roasting are easily noticeable and dealt with by washing pans and regularly cleaning the oven. Similarly, fridges are regularly emptied and cleaned. But what about the gradual build-up of general household smells?

We get used to odours in our own homes and summer is usually a great time to 'air' carpets as windows and doors are open most days - except when the British summertime is wet! In fact, wet dogs and muddy shoes leave marks, cats stay in and drop hairs, we may even have resorted to bringing barbecue food and drink inside, adding to the spills and smells.

Time to think about a freshen-up! Professional carpet cleaners are usually very busy in the first week of September when children return to school, as well as the end of July before customers set off for their annual holidays. If you want to clean your own carpets, you need to ban children and pets for a good few hours!

When we have pleasant weather, the best way to bring the fresh outdoors inside is to open windows and patio doors. Beware of dirty shoes though!

Buying a Carpet and Caring for it.

A good quality carpet in
neutral tones is an ideal
background for most
colour schemes.

 

 

When choosing a carpet, consider how much wear it will get – a bedroom has less wear than a hallway - and how long it should last - a few months until someone buys your house? Or years with a growing family, pets and muddy boots? Poor quality carpets will become flattened or discoloured soon after fitting.

If carpets are not fitted properly, joins and gaps not only look ugly but can trap dirt. Improperly laid, un-stretched carpets may have lumps, bumps and wrinkles, causing doors to scrape and catch each time they are opened or closed. Additionally, a loop pile (e.g. Berber) must be cut correctly - if a loose cut is caught in a vacuum cleaner, it will unravel along the whole seam. The same is true of loose threads from hessian carpet backing.

At the time of writing, the carpet industry’s trade body, the Carpet Foundation, suggests that £20 per square metre should buy a good quality carpet. A quality underlay and fitting will cost extra.

Your carpet, however good its quality and however clean your home, will eventually attract and trap dirt - particles in the air from open doors and windows, minute dead skin cells, etc. Dirt and dust should be regularly removed with a vacuum cleaner and deep-cleaned every few months to remove dirt and mites.