When you offer a professional carpet cleaning and stain removal service, you get to see some pretty bad carpets… by which I mean formerly good carpets that have got into a very bad state (we see some carpet jobs that are in questionable taste as well, but that’s another story for another day). Blood, urine, paint, ink, poop… we see it all in our beloved London. In most cases, we’re able to restore the carpets to their former glory so that you’d never know that the mess had been there; in the rare cases when we don’t, we’re able to help with the insurance process (ask us about this).

However, there’s one carpet cleaning job that every professional carpet cleaner hates dealing with: vomit on the rug. We will clean it up – no doubt about that – but we’ll confess to getting that sinking feeling when we hear from a client who needs this sort of work done.

Part of this reaction comes from a basic, primal instinct. Wincing and staying well away from vomit is a survival mechanism designed to keep us away from something that will potentially make us ill. Most of us feel nausea when dealing with vomit is our bodies telling us, “Smell that? See that? Stay right away!” However, this reaction can be overcome, and you can harden off to it. Nurses, vets and doctors do it, just like London carpet cleaners have to. Bear in mind London is full of clubs where heavy drinking takes place on weekends (and weekdays too).

Why Puke Is Such A Problem

You may think it’s abundantly and nauseatingly obvious why vomit on the carpets is a big problem. It smells and looks revolting, after all! However, it’s not quite like other disgusting substances that get on carpets, such as dog poop or pee. The big problem is that what’s in vomit varies, affecting how the carpet absorbs or doesn’t absorb it. What’s more, the combination of warmth and strong acids from the stomach makes woollen fibres more prone to staining. Depending on what’s been eaten – or drunk, which we see frequently – there can be quite a lot of liquid and substances prone to staining carpets. Different substances need different methods for removing the stains from the rugs and carpets, which makes it tricky. Let’s just say that a curry to finish up a night of wild drinking in London’s finest pubs and clubs isn’t the best for your carpets.

The problem is often made worse by how the problem isn’t usually dealt with straight away. People who are actually sick are usually pretty good about getting vomit where it can be dealt with easily, whether it’s the loo or a handy bucket – with the exception of small children who sometimes can’t read their bodies’ warning signs until too late. However, those who have had way too much to drink aren’t quite so… discreet about it. This means that the problem isn’t dealt with until they’ve sobered up and probably had a few aspirins, etc. This gives the substances that the body has evicted time to set into the carpet fibres, which increases the likelihood of staining. Red wine and curry that has sat overnight? That’s a devilish duo from the perspective of stain removal! All of London’s carpet cleaning technicians will instantly confirm what I mean

How Not To Remove Vomit From Carpets

If you are lucky (?) enough to be able to deal with vomit as soon as it’s got onto the carpet, then you may be able to remove most, if not all, of it yourself, at least once you’ve comforted that sick child and tucked him or her up in bed with a comforting book, lemonade and a hot water bottle. However, there are some ways that one should never try using to remove vomit from carpets. They may seem like useful hacks – but they’re definitely not!

The first common trap that people could fall into is trying to vacuum up the mess with a wet and dry vacuum – or a plain ordinary vacuum cleaner in the case of more solid stuff or stuff that’s had time to dry. Sure, this will remove a lot of the mess from the carpet, but it will then get all over the inside of your vacuum cleaner, including the hose, the brush, the filters and the dust compartment. It is very tricky to clean all of these thoroughly enough, so the end result is that you will fill your house with the smell of puke every time you vacuum afterwards. The same principle applies to other revolting organic substances that get on the carpets.

The other trap is to use hot water to try to remove the vomit stain. Instinctively, you may feel that hot water will clean more efficiently and will help kill bacteria. However, this is a bad mistake. If the vomit contains proteins, which is quite likely, the heat will set the stain into the woollen carpet fibres. Even if the technicolour yodel doesn’t contain protein by some miracle, the combination of heat and acid will permanently help the wool take up the colour. (On a more cheerful note, it’s possible to dye wool at home for craft use with hot water, vinegar and food colouring, and the results are colourfast.)

The Right Way To Remove Vomit From Carpets

Cleaning vomit from carpets is not a pleasant job by any means. However, grit your teeth, fight back that nausea, don your rubber gloves and get on with the job. Good for you if you have caught the worst of it straight away. The job will be a lot easier. You may still need to call in a professional to get rid of residues, but the more you can do yourself as soon as possible, the simpler it will be, and the time that you spend smelling the disgusting stuff will be much shorter. You have full permission to run off and throw up in the loo if you need to – no shame in that if you’re not used to it.

The first step is to remove as much as you can. As mentioned above, don’t use the vacuum cleaner for this. Scrape up as much as you can with something rigid, such as a dustpan (but not the brush). Dispose of this, preferably down the loo.

The next step is to irrigate the area so that the carpet fibres take up plain water and the puke particles can be flooded out. This requires a lot of care to ensure that the stain doesn’t spread further – you need the right amount of water, but not too much. Use cold water – it will not set protein stains.

Once you have added the water, you can start the process of blotting up. This is best done with an old towel – it will need thorough washing and disinfecting later. Blot up as much as possible and keep going until the carpets are slightly damp.

After this, you can spray some disinfectant over the spot to kill bacteria. However, they will die if the bacteria have nothing to feed on and no moisture.

To remove any grease particles and to remove the smell from the carpet, which is very important, sprinkle baking soda over the area and brush these gently through the carpet fibres. It’s best to do this when the carpet is mostly dry. Leave the baking soda to absorb the smell, then sweep it up and throw it away – you can just get away with using the vacuum cleaner for this, but I don’t recommend it.

Some traces may still be left in the carpet fibres. In this case, you will probably want to call in a London-based professional stain treatment service to tidy up the remainder. In fact, you can call in a stain removal expert at any stage, but the more that you can remove yourself, the more effectively the professional will be able to remove the stain.

Like any other piece of furniture in your home, you need to clean your carpets regularly. It will help increase their durability and improve their appearance. Your home will have a healthier environment, and your children and pets will play calmly. 

However, many homeowners are not sure how to properly clean their carpets. By the DIY method, they often come to mediocre results. The truth is that you will not have a well-cleaned carpet. Using this approach can even damage your precious carpet. That’s why you need to rethink how you take care of the carpets in your home. 

Understanding the Harms of DIY 

A little soap and water do an excellent job for most things, but not for carpets. The reason is that its fibres are delicate. It can often be difficult to rinse all the soap off the carpet. For example, I will share my experience cleaning the carpet in my living room. One day after I had spilt coffee, I decided I could handle it on my own, took some soap and water, and started rubbing. I didn’t even have detergent at home then. The coffee stain faded a little, but I had to rinse that part of the carpet satisfactorily. I used plenty of water to remove the soap, but it never washed off. I let it dry. The result was not satisfactory. The remnants of soap in the carpet’s fibres formed a sticky consistency, which was very unpleasant and suggested even more pollution. After it dried, my carpet didn’t look clean at all. 

Another option I could apply to the stain was to rent a steam cleaner. I consulted with a friend about this method because I knew she had used it. She told me that steam cleaning brings many of the same negatives as soap and water. It takes days to dry, and detergent residues will likely continue to attract dirt. 

But I decided to try this method, confident I would manage to do it this time. I did it. I had taken the carpet out of the living room for that purpose. After the treatment, I was eager to use the rug and put the furniture back in place before it dried. Then it got even worse: the wood dyes applied extra stains. In addition, my carpet shrank because it was too saturated by the steam cleaning process. That eventually led me to buy a new rug. 

Now that you read about the risks of DIY carpet cleaning methods, you’re probably wondering what your options are for ridding your carpet of dust, dirt, and stains. Fortunately, there is a solution that does not rely on gallons of water or soap detergents. With professional carpet cleaning, the process is very gentle, and through it, the carpets get rid of dirt very easily and quickly. Instead of being drenched in water and drying for days, your carpet will be dry, fresh and healthy. And the peace of mind it gives you, knowing that you provide the best care for your carpet, is indispensable. This way, you ensure the comfort of your home. Your children can play on a completely dry and soft rug. 

I can assure you that investing in a professional cleaning service will allow the removal of dirt, odours and allergens while extending the overall life of your carpet. 

Professionals have the special tools, equipment and experience needed for expert cleaning without causing damage. Don’t make my mistake of cleaning your carpet! Now my children play on the new carpet, but when it comes time to clean, I will not resort to DIY methods. I will research and call the right people. 

Carpet Care When You Have Pets 

Some pet owners may think they will have to put up with the smells on the carpet if they have one. My neighbour Rachel thought when she took a dog at her grandchildren’s insistence. She didn’t want to remove the carpet from the floor because it made her comfortable, so she left it there. 

Rachel had learned well about carpet maintenance in these circumstances and knew that even with a dog, she could keep her carpet in excellent condition. She found a professional who took cleaning precautions seriously. She also hires a professional cleaning team 2-3 times a year. 

Another important thing is that she uses a vacuum cleaner with a solid vacuum to absorb the hair from the carpet. Regular vacuuming eliminates allergies. She immediately cleans the footprints of mud, paws, and stains, even cleaning the vomit from the carpet fibres. Rachel got used to postponing these things would cause a permanent mess. Rachel invests in pet-friendly carpet cleaning solutions to remove these stains on time. So she has a clean and fresh home for herself and her dog. And when her grandchildren come, they enjoy the cosiness of her granny’s house. 

How to Clean the Carpet if the Stain is Fresh 

Still, we can’t call a specialist for every minor carpet incident. If you have just spilt liquid, and there is a fresh stain, it is best to attack it immediately. Use a material that absorbs well, such as a kitchen roll, to absorb liquid, and remove more problematic debris. Avoid rubbing and smearing, as this will fix the stain and make it harder to remove. After soaking most of the liquid, lift the paper and sprinkle baking soda on the stain. Then after standing for about 15 minutes, vacuum. 

After applying the above method: 

1. Moisten the area with clean water.  
2. Put shaving foam on the stain and treat it with a clean toothbrush.  
3. Wipe the foam with a clean, damp sponge (don’t shave the carpet K). Allow it to dry. 

So, what methods will you use to clean your carpets perfectly?  

The choice is yours! 

The carpet’s life is directly related to the amount of dust. Ordinary household dirt and dust are destructive to your rugs.

Regular vacuuming keeps your carpet cleaner and significantly reduces wear (caused by abrasive dirt) in traffic areas. If your vacuum cleaner is of good quality and well-maintained, it will help it last longer. Suction prevents impurities from penetrating deep into the carpet and damaging the fibres. Vacuum the entire surface of the carpet at least once a week or more often if necessary.

A vacuum cleaner and slow back-and-forth movements achieve the most efficient de-dusting. It allows air to enter between the hairs and eliminates even the smallest particles in depth. Slow down the movement and straighten the vacuum cleaner tube slightly each time the brush is “pulled back”, as this is when the suction is most potent.

Accept the “no shoes” rule in your home to protect your carpet. Shoes bring dirt from the outside and can be very abrasive to your carpet. Home slippers or socks are the best solutions.

Strategically placing durable mats or rugs near areas with the most passers-by can help keep your rug cleaner and reduce wear.

Cleaning stains and spills

Avoid using home remedies or detergents that are not formulated for carpets. Many cleaners contain detergents or chemicals that can “stick” to a stain or cause discolouration.

First, you must remove excess liquid from the carpet by soaking it in plenty of paper towels. Take a clean white towel and clean from the outer edges of the spill to the centre to prevent further spread.

Do not rub excessively, and do not use a brush, as it can permanently destroy the fibres. After removing the spill, dry the area as much as possible in the air. To remove greasy stains and maintain the carpet well, ask for professional carpet cleaning at least once a year – more often if you have children or pets. Regular cleaning will significantly extend the life of your carpet. Remember that, as a rule, it is easier to maintain your carpet than to restore it. Always insist on a certified professional technician.

Maintenance of polyester carpets

Microfibre polyester rugs are very stain resistant due to their properties of polyester, and cleaning and maintenance are straightforward.

You should remove liquid stains with a paper towel or dry cloth – do not rub, but soak up. Solid dirt should be collected and vacuumed to prevent it from entering the fabric. Apply a small stain remover on a dry cloth and rub lightly. After the stain is removed, soak a clean cloth in water, wring it out and press where the stain was to remove the remnants of the detergent. Use a dry cloth to dry the cleaned area.

How to clean sand from the carpet?

Knowing the structure of your carpet will help you see what the damage can become when the dirt is left unattended. Your rug is made either by tufting with primary and secondary padding, weaving in different patterns and textures, or sculpting with two sets of stitches to get a sculpted design.

When sand stays under the carpet after a day at the beach, for example, it can cause individual grains to rub into the carpet fibres and make your carpet look dirtier. That can also affect its structure and damage the carpet fabric.

See some helpful tips on how to remove sand from the carpet here:

How to treat and what not to do?
Do not leave the sand for long without trying to remove it. Not only is it sandy and uncomfortable to walk on, but the sand is harsh, and the sharp edges can destroy the tiny fibres that make up your carpet, giving it a lifeless and dull look. As the carpet gets dirty, sharp debris can cut through these fibres.

• The first you will want to do is take a soft bristle brush and brush the carpet to move and mix the hidden sand particles. The microfibre cloth will also attract sand and help with the removal process.
• You can then vacuum your carpet thoroughly. That will immediately remove all the sand that is on top. Vacuum in various directions with a low brush setting to get as near the carpet as possible, passing through the affected area two or three times.
• Keep in mind that excess fine sand can block your vacuum cleaner’s filters if you do not empty the bag, which blows the sand once more high in the air.
• Alternatively, a wet/dry vacuum can effectively remove the underlying sand. You should be able to effectively remove sand from your carpets by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Do not be tempted to spray the carpet, as wetting it will make the sand soak deeper into its fibres.
• Use indoor and outdoor bedding at the entrances and encourage visitors to wipe their shoes before entering. Remember that your carpet acts as a magnet, collecting and hiding all kinds of bacteria.

Professional carpet cleaning

Booking a deep carpet cleaning service will eliminate all worries about removing sand from your carpet! Your carpet cleaning experts will be qualified and experienced and bring the most powerful carpet cleaning conveniences to do the job.

To guarantee that all aspects of your floor covering are expertly cleaned, you can prepare the rooms that need attention before the cleaning experts arrive. Clearing the space will be of great help.

The high-performance technologies that your professional cleaners use will ensure removing all stains. They will identify and analyse substances that have caused scars and apply the most appropriate treatment. Treating these stains before deep carpet cleaning will show the best results.

You may also want to apply stain prevention products to your carpet to create an invisible barrier that stops future stains from becoming a permanent part of your carpet fibres.

Then the experts perform a hot water extraction procedure. That incorporates utilising extraordinarily productive gear that infuses a blend of boiling water and cleaning arrangements profound into the floor covering filaments at high strain. At the same time, dust and dirt will move and displace and be sucked out of your carpet along with excess moisture.

Advantages

The advantages of this strategy are that your carpet will not be damaged during the cleaning process, and no residue will remain. Hot water extraction dries quickly, and with environmentally friendly solutions that help restore the condition of your carpets, you will achieve a fresh finish. It will help extend the life of your carpet.

Professional cleaning once a year guarantees that your floor coverings remain perfect, giving you a sound and fresh home climate.

The holidays are coming, and we are busy preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Many people will celebrate at home with their loved ones and friends. It is a good idea to be aware of any problems with the flooring that may arise during the festivities. For example, spilt wine, coffee, grease, wax, etc., on the carpet or rug.

Proper carpet maintenance prevents wear of the fabrics and preserves the appearance as new for a considerably longer time. Here’s how cleaning experts deal with dust, hair, stubborn stains and all sorts of dirt on carpets in their homes.

Never rub stains on the carpet!

Professionals in carpet and rug washing say that the worst thing you can do is start rubbing the stain furiously because that’s how you spread the dirt around and get the ground even deeper into the fibres. It is a first signal reaction caused by panic, especially if your spilt is nasty and difficult to clean.

Notwithstanding, the primary thing you want to do is absorb the abundance of fluid from the floor covering with kitchen paper or a towel and apply exceptionally light tension. Assuming the stain is persistent (like chocolate or a thick sauce), you can eliminate the overabundance with a spoon, spatula, or gruff blade.

Keep these basic carpet and stain remover products on hand

Experts advise us to keep a stock of the following cleaning products at home at all times:

1. Carbonated water: a great way to remove stains from beer or wine
2. White vinegar: a mixture of water and vinegar can help you deal with fruit and juice stains
3. Dishwashing cleanser: If you don’t have a particular rug cleaner or don’t know that you are utilising the correct item, you can be confident that a glass of warm water with two drops of dishwashing fluid will consistently help.
4. Ammonia is a versatile ingredient for cleaning various stains (even organic contaminants such as urine, blood, or sweat!)
5. Wet wipes: use them to deal with minor stains on your carpet easily
6. Baking soda: a perfect remedy for removing foul odours from the carpet, including cigarettes, pet urine, and the smell of cooking.
7. Hydrogen peroxide: if you dissolve a spoonful of the substance in 1 glass of water, you get an excellent detergent for removing stains from light carpets. As it has a slight whitening effect, please do not overdo it.
   With the above items, you can blend a wide assortment of powerful means for eliminating stains and washing rugs at home. The vast majority of these fixings are available in the recipes of specific cleaning items. However, they are not destructive to people or pets, utilised in small amounts and broken up in much water.

Proper application of the technique of removing stains from carpet wax

Everyone has heard the family’s trick of removing candle stains with a newspaper and iron. But (there is a big “But” here), remember that the scheme is not universal, and if not done correctly, the stain of wax on the carpet becomes larger. You will best deal with the incident as follows:

First professional subtlety: If you spilt a large amount and do not want to wait, you can place an ice cube on the spilt substance to speed up the process. That will prevent the wax from spilling and absorbing deep into the fibres. It is crucial, especially if the candle you spilt has a rich colour. Quick freezing of the wax will keep the floor coverings from being painted.
Remove as much of the hardened pieces of carpet wax as you can with a spoon or oil knife.

Second professional subtlety: Do not use a newspaper to remove the wax – the ink can further stain the carpet. Instead, place a clean cotton material on the spot of the melted candle.

Third professional subtlety: Do not heat the iron to the max. Most current floor coverings contain fake strands that can dissolve because of high temperatures. You need no more than 40-50 degrees to remove the melted wax from the carpet. When you reach the required temperature, iron the cotton material you put on the wax without squeezing hard.
The softened wax passes from the rug to the towel. If the towel gets too drunk, take another. Otherwise, your efforts will be in vain.

Easy removal of fur and hair from the carpet

The fur of long-haired breeds of pets irritates the eye but is relatively easy to remove with a suitable vacuum cleaner tip. But what about the skin of short-haired pets? Short hair is more complex and quickly gets deep into the carpets in most cases. You could not clean it with the vacuum cleaner! You can use the following trick to remove hair from the mat: run the rubber edge of the window cleaner along the fibres after vacuuming. The tire will easily pull out even the shortest hairs stuck in the tissues, and you will not waste unnecessary time on this task.

Bonus tip from professionals

Basic cleaning and washing of the carpets prolong their life. So think about making an appointment for professional carpet washing at least once a year. They recommend basic cleaning twice a year for larger households with small children or pets.

Weavers Carpet Cleaning is the perfect partner you can trust with the treatment and regular care of your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. If you live or work in London, you can take advantage of our versatile range of residential and commercial carpet care services. We employ some of the most effective methods and innovative equipment for long-standing, effective results.

Do not despair that your floor coverings are beyond repair – our perfectly trained technicians can deal with the most common negative factors that ruin the appeal and condition of carpets and rugs. Dust and dirt smothering, persistent stains, bad smells and pet hair, discoloring, shrinking, and even fabrics damage – we can deal with them all!

Weavers Carpet Cleaning is fully prepared to offer you the most cost-effective service that you can find in the entire London Metropolitan area! You can book us seven days per week, all throughout the year! Do not delay taking care of your carpets – you will thank us afterwards!

Our range of services

Though carpet cleaning is the focus of our professional portfolio, we offer our Harrison home and business clients a versatile scope of home improvement and maintenance services, including:

• Area rug cleaning
• Upholstered furniture cleaning
• Mattress cleaning and anti-dust mite treatment
• Marble surfaces treatment and restoration
• Tile grout cleaning
• Pressure washing.

Cleaning teams and equipment

We have some of the best London carpet cleaning specialists working for us, backing up their extensive experience with impressive skill set and knowledge on how to deal with any carpet-related problem. Our team is entirely result-oriented, striving to deliver the quickest and most effective service possible so that you enjoy the comfort of your home or can go back to the daily rhythm of your business.

We operate industrial-grade carpet cleaning equipment that greatly facilitates our works and significantly improves our performance. Weavers Carpet Cleaning strongly commits to eco-friendly cleaning – all the materials we employ are organic-based and biodegradable for your complete peace of mind.

100% customer satisfaction guarantee

We are perfectly confident in the quality of our service and the positive effect it will have on your carpets, rugs, furniture or any other area we treat in your home and office. In fact, we offer a 30-day guarantee on all our services. If, within 30 days of our treatment, you spot a problem as a result of the procedure, we will return and address the issue – FREE OF CHARGE!