Most people buy furniture and let the fabric on that furniture go its entire lifespan without ever doing anything more than using the occasional spot cleaner on it. If that sounds like you, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s less a matter of neglect and more a matter of just not knowing better. The reality is, even when upholstery looks clean, it usually isn’t. A clean white cloth and a little bit of water rubbed on one of the arms or headrests will show you that pretty quickly.

Manufacturers and professional cleaners recommend getting upholstery (like carpet) professionally cleaned once every 6 months to 1 year, depending on use. For light colors, that frequency may increase. For homes with pets or similar circumstances, it may even be an as-needed basis.

The Process of Cleaning Upholstery

The upholstery cleaning process goes through a number of simple steps to ensure a thorough and accurate cleaning:

• The professional will examine the piece of upholstery, noting any specific concerns or trouble areas and then discuss with the owner.
• Spotters and chemicals will be tested in an inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure the colors won’t run and no damage will be done, always in accordance with manufacturer labels or recommendations.
• Stains and problem areas will be addressed with the appropriate cleaning methods.
• Steam extraction or similar method will remove remaining dirt and grime from the upholstery.
• Post-inspection will be performed with the owner, noting any issues.
• Optionally, there could be the application of a protector, like ScotchGuard, to help reduce soiling in the future.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, whether your upholstery needs to be cleaned or not is a choice that is up to the individual. If it is dirty and isn’t a problem for you, don’t clean it. However, bear in mind that regular cleaning and inspection can greatly extend the life of your fabrics. At the very least, I would personally recommend cleaning your most-used pieces once a year and having a protector applied. That will save you money in the long run by not requiring the same frequency of cleaning down the road.

I’d love to hear from you if you have questions or concerns. For more information or an inspection of your own upholstery, call Alex with Bon-Care at 757-715-0503 or email info@bon-care.com. We service many areas in southeastern Virginia, including Hampton, Yorktown, Newport News, and Norfolk.

Paint can be one of the most difficult and frustrating stains to remove from carpet. It should also be noted up front that not all paint can even be removed. When the paint hits the carpet fibers, the fibers can easily become dyed, changing color regardless of whether the actual paint is cleaned up or not. The longer it sits, the more damage can be done in this way.

Here are a few important things to note up front:

• Once the paint dries it becomes exponentially more difficult, time consuming, and potentially dangerous to remove.
• The solvents used to remove paint can also remove the glue from the backing of the carpet (delamination) and cause buckling and further damage.
• Never apply solvents directly to your carpet.
• Try to get up as much paint as possible prior to beginning the actual process of cleaning your carpet.
• Paint will ruin rental steam units and, worse, the units won’t clean them up adequately to begin with.

While homeowners and landlords can do well for themselves by learning to clean up messes, the process can also cause more harm than good. Hiring a processional to clean up a paint spill is going to require much less hassle than replacing your carpet because you accidentally dissolved the backing trying to clean that spill up by yourself to begin with.

Cleaning Up Small Spills

A drop or two of paint, even a small smear, is usually something that can be handled by the homeowner. It is essential, however, that you begin the cleanup process as soon as the spill occurs and do not wait for it to dry. For spills larger than the size of the palm of your hand, see the cleanup procedure below this one.

Here is the process to cleaning up small paint spills on your carpet:

1. Get a clean white cloth and some spotting solvent, ideally isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). White vinegar will also work for this, though it can cause an unpleasant odor if not cleaned up properly afterward.
2. Apply the solvent to the white cloth and begin to blot (not rub) the affected area, working from the outside of the stain toward the center.
3. Repeat the procedure with clean portions of the cloth until no more paint is coming up.
4. Moisten a new clean white cloth and go over the area to get up remaining paint and solvent.

It is very important not to use too much solvent during this process or, again, there is a risk of damaging the carpet. Once the paint has dried, it is highly recommended that the only action you take is to call a professional, as the job will have become much more difficult.

Cleaning Up Big Spills

Cleaning up larger spills is largely a process of ensuring the stain doesn’t set while a professional is called.

Here are the recommended steps for cleaning up larger paint spills:

1. Using a large spoon (that you don’t particularly care about), skim as much of the paint as you can. Do not use much pressure or smear it. Skim it toward the center and into a container or trash can.
2. Once you have removed as much paint as you can, get two large towels and moisten them. Moisten, not soak. You will place these towels over the stain to keep it moist.
3. Cling wrap can be placed over the towels for added protection, but is not always necessary.
4. Call a professional to come out and clean it. If the professional cannot get there within 12-24 hours, call someone else who can. It is essential to have it cleaned prior to it drying.

Larger paint spills are going to require a professional for a true cleaning. The damage that can be done by homeowners and renters looking to solve the problem themselves simply cannot be overstated. What was a nasty stain can quickly turn into permanent damage. If you are on the fence about the size of the stain, just call someone.

Bon-Care Custom Cleaning is a professional carpet and upholstery cleaning company operating out of the Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia, servicing Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and the surrounding areas. For a free estimate or advice on what to do, email info@bon-care.com or give us a call at 757-715-0503.

There are very few things that the eye will catch more than red wine stains on a carpet. In a time when many people opt for white, beige, or tan carpets, a red wine stain stands out like nothing else. Most wine stains are, obviously, accidental. They are usually limited to either a drop or two that spilled out of a glass or, at worst, an entire glass that spilled onto the floor. And the biggest problem with these stains? They can seem impossible to get out. Presented with a situation in which there is a glaring red stain on a pristine piece of carpet, many people will turn to friends and family and (perhaps) various chemicals under their sinks in order to try and remove these stains.

How Stains Affect Carpets

The dyes that are contained within red wines are extremely strong. They are easily absorbed by fabrics and carpet fibers (and even your teeth, as some heavy wine drinkers can attest). Once a medium has been exposed to red wine, the red wine begins to work its way into it and will, if given time, set. Once set, red wine can become extremely difficult to remove. It is important to try and clean up any spilled red wine as quickly as possible to avoid this situation. Similar to fabric dyes, red wines have a pigment that is derived from grape skins. That pigment is part of a food-coloring family of chemicals that are collectively known as anthocyanins. These chemicals are quickly and easily absorbed by fabrics through attachment of the anthocyanins to the fibers that those fabrics are composed of.

Red Wine Removal from Carpets and Fabrics

There are a few tried and true methods for the removal of red wine stains from carpets:

• White wine – It may seem counterintuitive to try and clean up one wine stain with another, but white wine is one of the best ways to remove red wine from fabric. Pour a small portion of white wine onto the red wine stain and blot with a clean and absorbent cloth. It is very important to blot and not to rub or wipe. Wiping or rubbing will spread the stain.
• Peroxide – Mixing common 2% hydrogen peroxide half and half with dishwashing soap in a bowl and applying it to the stain can help to remove red wine stains. Let the mixture sit on the stain for up to two minutes, then scrub the affected area with water and a cloth and apply a clean cloth to the area to soak up excess liquid. Repeat until the stain has been removed. Again: remember to blot and not to wipe or rub.
• Salt – Adding salt to a fresh red wine stain will help to absorb some of the stain and will help to prevent the stain from setting and/or spreading. Vacuum the salt and stained area after allowing the salt to sit for a couple of minutes.

One thing not to try is using bleach. Bleach may get rid of the red wine stain, but it will take all of the color out of the carpet (including white carpet) right along with it. Never use bleach to remove a carpet or upholstery stain.

Solutions exist for removing red wine stains somewhat easily at home. These solutions are often best utilized as quickly as possible after the stain has occurred (prior to any drying). While these stains can be removed from carpet by individual homeowners, it may be a good idea to consult a professional cleaning company in order to make sure you are not going to either damage your fabric or simply to review your options. Many companies offer quick and easy solutions for removing red wine stains from carpet and will often include that service along with their other carpet and fabric cleaning solutions.