How to Properly Steam Clean Your Carpet & Other Spring Cleaning Tips
Now that Spring has sprung in Lancaster County, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about giving your office some extra attention when it comes to cleaning. One of the surfaces that often gets overlooked but is most used is the floor. If you have carpet, this surface should be steam cleaned properly. In this month’s blog Angie will provide suggestions on how to properly perform an office carpet cleaning, along with some other spring cleaning tips.
How to Properly Steam Clean Carpet
The biggest office carpet cleaning mistake most companies make is not cleaning the carpet properly annually. A carpet should be steam cleaned at least once per year by a professional. That’s because, over time – and especially over the winter months – foot traffic, salt, and snow mattes down and discolors carpet, especially in high-traffic areas. Once you are ready to steam clean your carpet, you should follow three steps to ensure your floor is properly cleaned.
Prep the Area
The first thing you need to do is prepare the floor that needs to be cleaned. Move furniture out of the way, so you have access to the entire carpet. Next, vacuum the surface thoroughly by completing slow passes in multiple directions. This is critical so you remove all dry soil.
Third, spot treat stains using a carpet-safe stain remover and let it sit for at least 5-10 minutes. Then blot stains gently with a clean white cloth. This will pull the stain out of the carpet. Keep going until you can no longer remove any color from the stain. Do not use a colored cloth because it can transfer its color to the carpet. Also, do not rub hard, as this will set the stain and could harm the carpet.
Clean the Surface
Before cleaning the carpet, you want to make sure you are using the right cleaning solution. Choose a cleaner made for your carpet cleaning machine. Less is more, and you don’t want to overdo it with too much soap. Avoid using dish soap or do-it-yourself mixes that can leave residue on carpet that attracts dirt faster.
Next, fill the steam cleaning machine with hot water. Don’t using boiling water unless your machine specifies this. Fill the clean water tank with cleaning solution, according to your steam cleaner’s instructions.
Begin cleaning the carpet in slow, controlled passes. Work in small sections – approximately three-feet by three-feet – and push forward while releasing the water/solution. Pull back slowly to extract the water.
Angie suggests doing one wet pass and one to two dry passes without spraying to remove as much moisture as possible. You don’t want to over-wet the carpet, which can lead to mold/mildew, carpet backing damage, and longer drying times.
Once the whole carpet has been cleaned, Angie recommends performing a rinse pass. This involves going over the entire area again with clean hot water only (no cleaner). This will remove leftover detergent that can attract dirt.
Dry the Surface
To help the carpet dry as quickly as possible, Angie recommends opening windows or turning on fans. If you can’t open the windows, you can turn on the air conditioning or a dehumidifier. Don’t let anyone walk on the carpet until it is mostly dry, which takes about 6 to 12 hours.
If this sounds like too much work, contact Angie’s Custom Cleaning! Our professional carpet cleaners employ a variety of commercial-grade cleaning tools to ensure your carpet receives a proper deep clean and looks its best.
Other Spring Cleaning Tips
Now that you know how to bring your carpet back to life after the winter months, you may also want to consider performing some other deep cleaning tasks. Here are five tips to tidy your office space and keep it looking fresh.
Clean From Top to Bottom
If you really want to give your office a thorough cleaning, you should start by cleaning the highest surfaces first. This is important, so dust and dirt don’t fall onto already-clean areas. Angie suggests you start by cleaning the ceiling fans and light fixtures, air vents, and returns. Then clean the tops of cabinets and shelves.
Next, move to doorframes and door handles. It’s important that these items are wiped down and disinfected. This is also a good opportunity to spot clean walls or to scrub them completely. Angie suggests using warm, soapy water for this task. The last thing that should be cleaned is the floor, which will be addressed in more detail a little later.
Windows
The second area you should focus on to effectively clean your office space is washing your windows and window treatments. Spring sunlight will show every smudge. To prevent this from happening, follow these window cleaning steps.
Wash the inside and outside of your windows first. Next, remove the screens and give them a good scrub. Third, wipe down the blinds or wash the curtains. Performing these steps will make your home feel dramatically brighter.
Kitchen
The third area you should focus on during a spring deep cleaning is the kitchen. When cleaning this space, you will want to give extra attention to each appliance.
When it comes to the refrigerator, you should empty it and wipe down the inside of this appliance and its shelves. Next, focus on your microwave and oven by cleaning the inside and outside of them.
While in the kitchen, don’t forget to clean the cabinets and the backsplash. Wipe the backsplash, cabinet fronts and handles with the appropriate cleaner. It’s also a good idea to sanitize the sink and the garbage disposal.
Bathrooms
Like the kitchen, bathrooms also benefit from a deep disinfection. As such, you should scrub the tile and grout. Next, clean the sinks and toilets. Third, wipe down cabinets and drawers. Don’t forget to disinfect high-touch areas like handles and switches.
Dusting
The final task you should focus on when performing a deep spring cleaning is dusting. Many surfaces accumulate hidden dust during winter. Angie suggests taking everything off each surface and making sure you clean the corners. A microfiber cloth works best for trapping dust.
That’s it! By focusing on these five deep spring cleaning tasks and properly steam cleaning your carpet, your office will sparkle. For more commercial cleaning tips or to get help with a deep clean visit https://angiescommercialcleaning.com/.
