FAQs and Hints

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Q. Is it true that once you have had your carpet/suite cleaned they get dirtier quicker?

A. This was true many years ago when cleaning by shampoo was the normal way owners tackled their carpets themselves. Chemicals and Cleaning Machines are much more sophisticated these days and providing cleaners follow the correct procedures this rapid resoiling shouldn’t take place.

Q: What about reoccurring spots?

A: If a spot returned a day or so after cleaning: it may have been oily or sticky and was not completely removed, or “wicked back” due to the nature of the spot. Possibly it’s not a spot, but a permanent stain. If this occurs, don’t hesitate to call us, we will return to your home, and where possible rectify the problem.

Q. How long will my carpet/furniture take to dry?

A. Drying times for carpets and soft furnishings can vary greatly due to the following conditions:

The cleaning system used
Relative humidity within the environment.
Adequate ventilation introduced to the environment.
The degree of soil contained within the carpet or fabric.
The level of competence of the cleaning technician.
The moisture retention rates of the respective fibres (Wool, Nylon, Cotton, Polyester, Polypropylene, etc.)
Carpets can be walked on immediately, however it is advisable to leave them for between 2-4 hours to allow them to thoroughly dry, Upholstery can take longer to dry, we advise having upholstery cleaned in the morning so there is a better chance of it being in use that evening. However we do advise to leave all furnishings, which have been cleaned, for 24 hours before using.
In the most favourable conditions drying times can be considerably less.
In all cases do not remove the styrafoam blocks or foil tabs from underneath furniture for 24 hours

Q. Do you use chemicals to clean?

A. Every cleaning system uses some form of chemical to clean soft furnishings, water is a chemical and forms the basis of most cleaning solutions. A good experienced cleaning technician will be using safe chemicals and will rinse the items to make sure that no chemical residues remain within the fibres. Where possible we are now using cleaning products that are Eco Friendly.

Q. Someone in the house suffers from an allergy will the cleaning chemicals be a problem?

A. This obviously depends on the allergy, Carpet cleaning methods rely mainly on water based solutions and the cleaning technician should be made aware of the allergy. Steps can be taken to ensure that the risk of the allergy sufferer coming into contact with a cleaning solution is eliminated. We have products that can be applied to the furnishings to eradicate the house dustmite if this is the main cause of the allergy.

Q. Will my carpet shrink?

A. The cleaning technician should inspect the carpet prior to any cleaning taking place. During this inspection any risk of potential shrinkage can be identified and discussed with you. It may be that the carpet fittings are not secure and require correction. Some carpets are more prone to shrinkage and may have to be cleaned by an alternative method but this would be thoroughly discussed with the client before any work proceeds.

Q. Does the room have to be clear?

A. No, but it does help if any breakable items (i.e. China, glassware etc.) are removed from the room, including those inside cabinets that will have to be moved. It would also help the technician if small items of furniture are also removed, such as waste paper bins, paper racks etc. The technician will then move the items, clean and put the back in position placing protector pads/fibre blocks beneath the item to prevent staining from loose wood dye or rust from metal studs under the legs transferring onto the carpet. We do not move breakables, electrical items, desks or anything that may break or cause us to break something if moved. The technician will be happy to move any item as long as there is no risk of injury to himself or causing damage to the item.

Q. Will all the stains come out?

A. Most marks will come out during the cleaning process. Some of the more difficult dye stains may need some specialist treatment to deal with them. Any success at removing these types of stains is often diminished by home remedies that have already been tried before the technician is called out to deal with them.
The technician will know the fibre content of the carpet/fabric and if the stain can be identified an outcome may be predicted. We will attempt to remove any stains shown to us, we cannot however guarantee complete removal without causing further damage to the fibres.

Q. What system do you use to clean carpets?

A. we are experienced in all methods of cleaning, the technician will use the appropriate system to clean your furnishings to achieve an excellent result, safely. Some carpets need to be cleaned using low moisture systems whilst others benefit from a deeper clean using hot water extraction.

Q. Do you use steam?

A. The systems that are more popularly used professionally do not use steam in the true sense of the word. The small moisture particles that are sprayed onto the carpet are very fine and give the appearance of steam. There are some units on the market that do produce steam and some models are sold through High Street stores for ceramic tile cleaning etc. They also say that they can be used for carpets and soft furnishings but unless you know exactly what you are doing considerable damage can be done to carpets and fabrics.

Q. I have black lines all around the edge of my carpet, will they come out?

A. These marks are known as soil filtration or venting marks. It depends on the severity of the black marks. A professional cleaning technician should be able to significantly improve the appearance, however the source of the problem needs to be dealt with to prevent the staining returning. Ask the technician for further advice.

Q. The areas in front of settee and armchairs are very dirty; can you get it all out?

A. The dirt can be removed but continual foot movement from all the people who use the furniture will have damaged the carpet fibres. This abrasion will cause a difference in light reflection giving the appearance of light soiling.

Q. I have just bought a steam cleaner can I clean my carpets/upholstery with it?

A. Although these steam machines are often advertised as suitable for cleaning carpets and soft furnishings BE CAREFUL! The twist in a cut pile carpet is heat set and using excessively high heat (steam) can release the twist in the pile giving the carpet a felt like appearance. The use of these units on velvet pile fabrics will result in severe distortion damage.

Q. Can I put the cushion covers in the washing machine?

A. Not Advisable . . . the zips are fitted on cushions are for the ease of the manufacturer to get the foam fillers into the covers NOT for the consumer to take off to wash. These zips are not very strong and can easily break. The covers can shrink making it difficult to get the fillers back in. Some washing powders can affect the colours of the cushions giving a less pleasing appearance to the item of furniture.

Spots & Spills

General Tips

Do not over wet into backing materials
Always test any detergent on an inconspicuous area of carpet prior to treating a stain
Use detergents at recommended dilution ratios
Scrape up or blot up any access prior to treatment
Never rub or scrub
Do not use inappropriate detergents on carpets or upholstery i.e. (washing up liquid, wash powders, household bleach, disinfectants)
Always work from the out side of the stain inward to avoid spreading
Always apply the cleaning fluid to the absorbent spotting material not directly onto the carpet or fabric
Encourage quick drying
Deal with stains as quickly as possible for increased chances of success
Keep the fabric or carpet as dry as possible

Spot Removal Chart

Key to cleaning solution:
A - Dry Cleaning Solvent (surgical spirit)
B - Neutral Cleaning Solution
C - Cold Water

Type of spill	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3
Unknown Spill	A	B	C
Beer	B	C
Human Blood	C	B	A
Butter	A	B	C
Sweets	B	C
Ketchup	A	B	C
Chocolate	A	B	C
Coffee / Tea	B	C
Cooking Oil	A	B	C
Fruit Juice	B	C
Gravy	A	B	C
Ice Cream	A	B	C
Preserves / Berries	B	C
Mayonnaise	A	B	C
Milk / Cream	A	B	C
Mixed Drinks	B	C
Mustard	A	B	C
Soft Drinks	B	C
Human Urine (wet)	B	C
Human Urine (dry)	B	C
Wine	B	C

Spot removal procedures
(Using chart)

Before applying any cleaning or spotting solutions, pre test on an inconspicuous area.

Solid type stains should be gently scraped and lifted off the surface.
Liquid stains should be blotted up with a clean white absorbent material.
For all stains work from the outside to the centre of the stain.
Avoid rubbing, over agitating or too much pressure to avoid damaging the fibres.
Apply the solutions A, B, C as prescribed on the chart for each type of stain. Apply in turn using a clean white absorbent cloth, blot the recommended solution into the stain and blot dry. Follow this method for as long as the stain can be absorbed into the blotting material.
When the stain no longer transfers to the blotting material, change to the next solution in the procedure.
Avoid over wetting and blot the treated area as dry as possible after each application of solution.
To avoid causing water or ring marks, make sure that the treated area dries out evenly by feathering out the edges or dampening the entire panel. Use a hairdryer, keeping the dryer moving at all times, to help prevent water marking.

Dried In Stains

If you have used your bottle of spotting solution use the following mixture.
Detergent Solution: Two litres of tepid water + a quarter of a teaspoon ONLY of carpet shampoo + one eggcup full of (white vinegar)
Rewet the stained area using the detergent solution applied on a piece of cotton wool.
Blot using kitchen roll or terry towel as above.

The final procedure for carpets following the wetting and blotting procedures should be as follows: -

Place 5-6 layers of kitchen roll on the affected area and place on top a telephone directory. Allow to dry over 24 hours, this will absorb any stain in the base of the fibre’s that are likely to wick up to the surface during the drying process.

Whilst the stain removal guide may be simple and basic, it will assist in the professional’s chances of success should you find expert assistance required. If followed it should help prevent some quite common and expensive DIY stain removal damage.

Next step: call us on 0800 0378094

Five Star Furnishing Care Consultants