There are several ways to clean up stains simply by using products already available in your home which you use on a regular basis, such as detergents, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc.  Its simply a matter of knowing how to use these common household products and the procedures involved to clean up stains.  Below, you’ll find some tips on how to clean up pet stains and some other types of common carpet stains.

Pet Stains

For your first option you can use one teaspoon of clear, household type ammonia to a half cup of cold water.  You can use this solution in a spray bottle or apply it to the carpet directly.  It is very important not to wet the carpets backing when you apply the solution.  After you have applied the solution, use paper towels to blot then allow it to dry completely.

For a second option, you can use detergent solution made of hand soap or dish soap.  The combination is one quarter of a teaspoon detergent to one quart of water.  You should always make sure the soap  doesn’t contain bleach or lanolin.

The third and best option, is to use water, it can rehydrate the stain to help with removal.  Most types of pet stains can be cleaned up by using a  steam cleaner.  Once you have finished, be sure to dry the area as thoroughly as possible.

Ink Stains

1. You can purchase isopropyl rubbing alcohol at your local department or grocery store.
2. You can apply it by pouring some onto a clean white towel or cloth.  You can use paper towels as well, as long as they are white.
3. Blot the stain as much as possible  until it is removed.
4. Make sure you be careful, because if the stain is small, you need to blot in one direction only so you don’t spread the stain.

Beer and Wine Stains

1. Mix a solution with one part white vinegar and one part water.
2. Apply the mixture to the stain using a spray bottle to saturate.
3. You should allow the stain to sit around ten to fifteen minutes.
4. Use a sponge and clean in a rubbing motion.
5. Rinse the area with warm water.
6. Brush the carpet pile back into the  natural direction it has.
7. By using layers of white paper towels, place paper towels on top of the area, then something with weight on the paper towels.  Allow everything time to sit like this until the area has dried.

Now that you’ve got those luxurious-looking and easy-to-care for hardwood floors that embellish your home, you want to make sure you’re providing the best care for your floors. You’ll need to find what type of care that is, and the right hardwood floor cleaner that will keep the wood looking bright and new. There are many different products out there that make it hard to choose the best hardwood floor cleaner for your home. Bottles are all touting claims to be the only hardwood floor cleaner you should ever need to purchase, telling you they’re safe and will make your floors shine.

You’ll need to keep in mind the manufacturer’s instructions and care tips for your floors. Did the package suggest a particular type of hardwood floor cleaner? Some flooring doesn’t even require a special product and you can simply use regular soap and water. In fact, most new flooring today doesn’t require much maintenance at all. Popular click-it styles of flooring come pre-varnished with their own protective coating and it may be better to not use a hardwood floor cleaner at all. If there’s no manufacturer’s advice that came with your hardwood flooring, ask about care tips at the hardware store where you bought the wood, or contact the manufacturer yourself.

For older houses with pre-existing floors laid down years ago, you may find that a cleaning solution containing waxes might help to provide a better shine and protection. Another hardwood floor cleaner will promise to strip down wax build-up and remove grime from traffic, but be wary that you don’t end up leaving your wood unprotected. Stains and dirt may mar your floor, leaving spots or scratches that you won’t be able to clean away. Research the type of flooring you have and look up what might be the best hardwood floor cleaner that won’t damage the wood.

While hardwood floors are meant to last a lifetime, lack of proper care can leave you wishing you could sand down the top layer to return a lack of luster and that rich look the floors originally had. No matter if your floors are old or new, taking the time to choose the right hardwood floor cleaner, or whether you should use a special product on your floors to begin with, could save you trouble and money later on down the line.

If you can clean the carpet before it becomes too bad, the cleaning chore will be easier to do and a lot more successful. There is a myth that is totally false, which states that cleaning the carpet before it is necessary will get it dirtier faster. The carpet with the typical household should be cleaned every 12 – 18 months depending on the number of people living there and the amount of traffic that walks on the carpet.

The choice of the right vacuum is important as well. There are some vacuums that will leave residues behind, which will promote re-soiling and basically defeat the whole purpose of household cleaning.

Professional Carpet Cleaners

It is in your best interest to use professional cleaners simply because their experience will enable them to do a much better job than you can do yourself. The equipment they use has more extraction power than the units available to you, and the carpet will dry faster as well. They know the cleaning agents to use, and they know the differences in carpet construction and fibers.

Doing it Yourself Carpet Cleaning

If you have made the decision to rent a steam cleaning machine and do the job yourself, you should check on several systems before you make a selection. Most of the units available for rent don’t clean well enough and may end up damaging your carpet. Therefore, you should always consider the following:

• Several rental companies offer cleaning equipment that is similar to what the professionals use. The equipment should have enough vacuum power to allow the carpet to dry within 12 hours of cleaning. You should always avoid rental units found in retail and grocery stores that don’t have the power to extract the cleaning solution from the carpet fast enough, as it can actually damage the carpet due to over wetting.
• Make sure you avoid overwetting the carpet. Any prolonged dampness can lead to mildew growth and bacteria in the carpet, or cause a separation of the backing. A wet carpet that stays this way for longer than 24 hours can develop problems. You can control this by using proper equipment and the right training.
• Carpets that have stain resistant treatments have to be cleaned with products that are formulated for this very purpose, or the stain resistance will be impaired and the warranty will be voided. Never use cleaning or spotting solutions that contain bleaches as they can mess up the color of the carpet.
• Never use any silicone based treatments on the carpet.
• You can help to reduce the drying time by using several fans to move the air around the carpet. You can use a dehumidifier as well, as it will pull moisture from the air.

Hot Water Extraction (Steam Cleaning)

The hot water extraction system is highly recommended, as it considered to be one of the best methods for carpet cleaning. Also known as steam cleaning, the process consists of spraying a mixture of water and detergent into the pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum that puts it into a holding tank. You can use a truck mounted unit or a portable self contained unit as well. This method is easily one of the best, and is ideal for soiled carpets or pet stains that you have yet to get out of the fibers.