The typical white-collar employee spends 13-years of his/her life inside an office. If the office is teeming with dust and contaminants, this will have a negative impact on staff health and productivity. This is why commercial carpet cleaning is essential for Puyallup businesses. 

Office Carpets Are Dirty

Most office carpets contain microscopic germs and pollen. It may also contain food remnants, insect remains, and even human skin cells. This leads to a carpet that’s highly unsanitary, even if the carpet appears more or less clean on the surface.

Here’s another alarming fact: the average commercial carpet is 4,000 times filthier than a home toilet seat. This was verified in a research from the University of Arizona. Continue Reading →

The world is gradually returning to normalcy after over two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the issue is still at the forefront of most people’s minds. This means homeowners are naturally going to be more cognizant of home cleanliness. One way you can promote good home sanitization is through carpet disinfecting. Learn how this is done around Puyallup.

Minimizing Germs on Carpet Floors

Prevention is essential. We recommend placing a doormat at the front porch and enforcing a “no shoes” rule indoors. Footwear can attract a host of contaminants, from dirt to sidewalk residue.

You can also set a rug over the carpet. It’s not strange in the least bit to have a rug on top of a carpeted floor. In fact, it’s becoming quite trendy as a way to keep the carpet clean. Continue Reading →

We have discussed many step-by-step removal processes for common stains like wine and coffee spills. Now, we must talk about the grossest of all: carpet poop stains. It’s possible to remove excrement from your carpet if you act fast.

Why Poop Stains Are a Problem

Poop stains are not unusual if your household includes toddlers and non-potty-trained dogs. Even if you don’t have kids or pets, it’s possible to step on dog poo outside and bring it indoors.

Apart from being gross, feces are also a major sanitation issue. When still fresh and moist, feces is teeming with bacteria that can lead to illness and disease.

Carpet Poop Stain Removal Process For Your Puyallup Home

1. Remove as much of the poop as you can. Pick up the solid material with a baby wipe using a pinching motion.
2. Spray the stain with a mixture of water, non-bleach detergent, and white vinegar. Just spray three to four times; don’t over-wet the area.
3. Let the solution remain until the stain dissipates. If the stain is still there after 24 hours, spray some hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. For wool carpets, leave out the ammonia. Another option is to sprinkle some baking soda and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
4. Blot the spot using a clean and lightly-wet sponge

If the stain doesn’t budge, then you’ll need carpet cleaning care. The steps also work for upholstery and mattresses.

Let Us Handle Stubborn Stains

We remove the toughest of stains from carpets and tiles. Contact Rick’s Family Carpet Care for carpet poop stain remediation. We remove the stain and all remnants of bacteria and odors. Don’t let baby or dog poo ruin the cleanliness and aesthetics of your precious carpet floor.

Carpet Poop Stain Removal in Puyallup

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on February 23, 2022 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

A common frustration about carpets is that stains often manifest in the same spot, even after you already cleaned the area. What’s the cause for reappearing carpet stains in Tacoma residences? Just as relevantly, is there anything that can be done to rid the stains permanently?

Why Stains Return

Homeowners often use a towel to wipe the stain away. The problem here is that the towel only scrubs the stain at the surface of the carpet fibers. It doesn’t reach the liquid spill at the base. The fiber at the surface eventually reabsorbs the liquid in a process known as wicking. All it takes is for the spot to get wet for wicking to occur. The water shuttles the stain residue to the surface, hence the return of the stain you previously removed. Wicking is also common in upholstery and mattresses.

How to Eliminate Stains Once and for All

Stains require treatment the minute a spill occurs. If not, then a professional carpet steam cleaning may be your only remediation.

Blot at the stain using a towel or sponge. Next, apply baking soda and water to the stain and blot again with another clean towel. After this, there is one final step that the majority of homeowners ignore, hence why the stain returns.

The third and final step is to place a clean towel over the stain and place a weighted object over it, such as a stack of paperbacks, and leave it overnight. This draws moisture from the bottom of the carpet fibers.

We Put a Stop to Reappearing Carpet Stains in Tacoma

Stains can appear on just about any surface, even on hard floors like tile and grout. Treating the stain with household solutions may not always suffice. This is when you should contact Rick’s Family Carpet Care. We professionally treat the stain and put an end to reappearing carpet stains for good.

We Remove Reappearing Carpet Stains in Tacoma

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on January 23, 2022 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

Rugs are like smaller and movable versions of carpets. This doesn’t mean, though, that the cleaning processes are identical. The approaches are actually quite different. Here’s how carpet cleaning differs from rug cleaning.

Construction

Carpets and rugs may appear similar on the surface. However, their construction is different. rugs are usually denser and thicker. Carpets are thinner and cover the entire living space. This makes the material more susceptible to wear and stretch marks. This is why most homes require eventual carpet repair. Rugs, on the other hand, are often replaced once they begin to wear.

Carpet Cleaning Vs Rug Cleaning in Puyallup: The Basics

Carpet cleaning requires professional treatment, employing a mixed approach of vacuuming, steam cleaning, and hot water extraction. For minor stains, you can often minimize the blemish using a homemade solution of dish detergent, vinegar, and water. Baking soda is also useful for removing persistent odors.

Rugs are actually more challenging to treat. The denser material makes it more difficult to suck up dirt and debris using a conventional vacuum cleaner. The optimal way to clean a rug is by taking it outside and brushing it with a hard-bristled brush or beating it against the wall. It’s not unlike the way most people clean their car mats. With the dirt and debris removed, continue with steam cleaning or using a soap and vinegar mixture.

We Clean Carpets Wall to Wall

Many residences have carpets and use rugs in areas with tiles or hardwood. Rick’s Family Carpet Care steam cleans carpets and upholstery. Make this a yearly maintenance endeavor that’ll keep the interior spotless. With carpet and rug cleaning requiring separate methodologies, be considerate of how you treat these different materials.

Carpet and Rug Cleaning in Puyallup

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on December 23, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, expect a lot of banquets and homecooked meals. With the delicious food, though, also comes the probability of a spill. Foods like a turkey drumstick and other holiday treats may contain grease, and the oil residue can wreak havoc on your carpet floor. Fortunately, grease removal is doable, but you must act quickly.

Getting Rid of Grease

There is more than one way to remove grease. The most common method is to use a homemade mixture of water, white vinegar, and liquid dish soap. Use a paper towel to remove as much of the grease as you can, then spray the solution on the affected area. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before dabbing away with a clean towel.

Another solution is to apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Apply an absorbent pad over the surface and gently apply weight over it. Remove the pad and allow the spot to dry naturally. 

Both aforementioned solutions also work for removing grease from upholstery and furniture.

If some grease still remains, then some of the oil may have penetrated more deeply into the fibers. If it reaches this stage, then you’ll need to make arrangements for carpet cleaning services. Even with tile floors, grease may be stubborn and tricky to eliminate if it has been left untreated for several days.

Odor Removal

What if you successfully remove the grease but the odor remains? In this case, apply a small mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Let the solution sit for 24 hours. The next day, remove the powder with a sponge or vacuum the spot. 

We Perform Grease Removal in Tacoma

Whether on carpet or upholstery, we fully remove grease and lingering odors. Contact Rick’s Family Carpet Care if a food spill has led to a greasy residue that resulted in a visual eyesore and/or foul smell. Grease removal is among the many tasks we perform for residences in and around Tacoma.

Professional Grease Removal in Tacoma

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on November 23, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

Halloween is not far off. Your kids will be bringing home sweet delights in the form of Skittles, Blow Pops, and more. While tasty, the candy can become a nightmare if it makes its way into the carpet and melts. The good news, though, is that removing melted candy may be possible if you act quickly.

Why Melted Candy Is a Problem

Candy mixed with water or saliva creates a sticky glob of mess and will stick to the carpet like glue. This is the case with most candy varieties, including hard candy and chocolate. The key is to act right away. If not, then the only solution will be professional removal and carpet cleaning.

A Step-by-Step Guide for Removing Melted Candy in Puyallup

1. Remove as much of the solid gunk as possible. Try applying ice to the candy. This freezes it enough so that it’s manageable to scoop up or chip off.
2. Scrape away any remnants using a butter knife.
3. Create a mixture of one cup of water and a teaspoon of dish detergent and pour into a spray bottle.
4. Spray a small amount into the carpet and dab at the surface using a clean towel. This enables the particles to dissolve and break down
5. Blot at the stain using a fresh and dry towel.
6. Blot at the stain once more, this time using a solution of white vinegar and spring water.
7. Dab the stain with a dry cloth.
8. Rinse and repeat until the stain is completely gone.

We Remove Old Candy Stains

We completely remove candy stains from all surface types, including carpets, upholstery, and tile. Contact Rick’s Family Carpet Care if a Kit Kat or Smarties left a long-lasting stain. Removing melted candy may warrant professional intervention.

Removing Melted Candy in Puyallup

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on October 23, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

Your house interior may be the root cause of your allergies. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor contaminants are up to five times greater than the pollutants outside. The condition of your carpet plays a major role. Carpet care and indoor air quality are highly connected.

Bacteria

Unless you just steam-cleaned the carpet, the fibers are almost certainly teeming with bacteria. Typical germs found in carpet include listeria, shigella, and salmonella, among others. Here’s another jaw-dropping fact: a carpet can contain as high as 200,000 bacteria per square inch. Research also reveals an average indoor carpet is 4,000 times filthier than a public toilet seat.

Moisture

Moisture can become “locked” into the fibers. This can be due to a liquid spill or walking barefoot with wet or sweaty feet. Moisture induces mold growth, which takes place beneath the surface and is invisible to the naked eye. This can lead to flu-like symptoms like chronic coughing and watery eyes.

Allergens

Allergens range from common dust particles to pet fur. Having these in your carpet is particularly terrible if you have multiple allergen sensitivities. Carpets can have as much as 100 times more allergens than hardwood flooring. This is because the carpet fibers trap minute particles much the same way an HVAC filter traps debris.

Chemicals

Chemicals may linger deep in the carpet. This includes a number of chemicals found in everyday items, such as window and pest sprays. The chemical remnants can remain for years.

We Perform Carpet Care and Indoor Air Quality Control in Tacoma

Apart from the carpet, the tile floors and upholstery can hide just as many contaminants. This makes professional care necessary for interior cleanliness. Contact Rick’s Family Carpet Care to book a residential cleaning. Indoor air quality is highly dependent on the condition of your carpet.

Carpet Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality Improvement in Tacoma

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on September 23, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

Any type of spill, even water, can potentially induce damage to your carpet’s fibers. Some liquids, however, are more of a hassle to address than others. Let’s look at the worst carpet stain agents and the appropriate ensuing course of action.

1. Blood

Even a minor papercut can lead to a gush of blood. Blood is a protein-based fluid that makes cleaning problematic. You’ll need to react quickly and employ an enzyme-based cleaning spray. This also applies to bloodstains on upholstery and furniture.

2. Bleach

How ironic is it that a liquid intended for stain removal can create a stain itself? To be more precise, bleach doesn’t leave a stain. Instead, it leads to fading by removing the fiber of its dye. This makes cleaning exceptionally difficult if not treated in a timely fashion. This will require a professional carpet cleaning service. Store bleach near tile or other hard surfaces so it doesn’t spill on your carpet.

3. Red Wine

Red wine stains are definitely bad news on light-colored carpets. The acidity can cause irreversible damage to the strands. You’ll need to blot the stain using a towel before sprinkling baking or club soda to dilute the liquid. Light wiping will eliminate the majority of the stain, though some discoloration may linger.

4. Coffee

Just as coffee stains teeth, it can also leave a brownish tint on the carpet. As with other spills, the stain will be more noticeable on a light-colored carpet. Blot up the spill, then gently wipe away using a homemade mixture of white vinegar and filtered water.

We Remove all Carpet Stain Types for Puyallup Homes

Stains are a visual blemish, and DIY measures usually aren’t 100% effective. If DIY care fails to produce meaningful results, give Rick’s Family Carpet Care a call. We eliminate stains on all surface types. No carpet stain is a match for our industry procedures and commercial tools.

Residential Carpet Stain Treatment in Puyallup

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on August 23, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

You plop on your couch daily. This is your go-to seat when watching sports or your favorite primetime programming. However, everyday use is exactly why the couch is likely teeming with dust and bacteria. You’ll be shocked as you learn some jaw-dropping facts about a dirty couch. Fortunately, keeping the couch clean doesn’t require that much work.

A Filthy Couch May Be Teeming with Mold

During hot and humid days, the upholstery absorbs moisture like a sponge. The same goes for other household items like carpets and mattresses. Moisture plus high heat creates a breeding environment for mold.

A Filthy Couch Has Grease Residue

Your couch is likely full of grease residue even if you have never spilled any oily fluids on the surface. The human body excretes natural oil, which can smear on the couch if your bare skin comes into contact with the surface. Dirt, germs, and debris are attracted to the oily spots like a magnet.

A Filthy Couch Is Full of Bacteria

Research shows that a couch has more bacteria per square inch than a toilet seat. Viruses like those that induce the common cold can survive on fabric surfaces for as long as 24 hours. Your couch could be the source of your illness or allergies.

How Frequently Should You Clean Upholstery?

According to the Hygiene Council, 61% of residents have never had the couch professionally cleaned or have only done so once in the upholstery’s lifetime.

We suggest an annual upholstery cleaning in tandem with a carpet and tile cleaning. Just as you normally wipe your kitchen countertop and bathroom sink, you need to give the same attention to your upholstery.

Let Us Sanitize Your Dirty Couch in Tacoma

Make summer the time of year to freshen your home with a much-needed cleaning. Begin by contacting Rick’s Family Carpet Care. We sanitize a dirty couch and eliminate stubborn stains and foul smells.

Dirty Couch Cleaning and De-sanitization in Tacoma

Serving Customers in Tacoma, Puyallup, Spanaway, Graham, Yelm, McKenna, Roy, Lakewood, Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacey, Tumwater, University Place, Federal Way, Gig Harbor, Sumner, Edgewood, Milton, Kent, Auburn, and Fife

Posted on July 23, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business