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Month: January 2021

How to Remove Paint from Carpets

No matter what type of paint it is, you can still get it out of your carpet with a few household remedies! It can be a bit tricky, but as long as you follow these guidelines you will have a paint free carpet in the end.

Type of Paint & Initial Removal

The first step in removing paint from your carpet is determining what type of paint it is so you can figure out what method will work best in lifting the stain.

If you notice the accident right away while the paint is still wet, start by gently blotting up the paint. Start blotting the edges of the stain and moving towards the center stain to prevent from the stain from getting larger.
If the paint is already dry, start by scraping off as much dried paint as you can with a butter knife or something similar. Then after you have scraped away all the dry paint, vacuum up all the bits and flakes.

Then soak the area in a 1:1 ratio combination of hot water and dish soap to soften the paint. You can also steam the area use a handheld steamer or a clothing iron on the steam setting. If you use an iron place a wet rag between the carpet and the iron so you don’t burn the carpet fibers.
Once the paint has softened, go back and gently scrape it off the carpet. Continue to add more of the solution as you scrape and get rid of the paint and continue to blot away paint.

Water-based or Latex Paint
Water-based or latex paint is easy to clean up with dish soap.
After you have blotted away the excess paint, combine warm water with dish soap and apply it to the stain. Grab a clean towel or sponge and soak it in the dish soap and blot it on the stain. Again, start on the edges of the stain and work towards the center that way it prevents the stain from spreading.

Continue doing this until the stain has lifted.
Once all the paint has lifted, rinse the are with a clean cloth dipped in plain water. Then dry the area with a clean towel or paper towels.


Oil-based Paint
Oil-based paint is made using synthetic or natural oils. Oil-based paint is more resistant and harder to dissolve, so this will take a little more elbow grease.

Start by cleaning the area by using water and dish soap, like with water-based paint, or by using a handheld carpet cleaner and make sure the stain is fully saturated.

Use paint cleaner, turpentine, acetone, or hydrogen peroxide to remove the stain. Always do a test patch on a hidden part of your carpet to see if the solution will damage your carpet. When using a harsher solution like any of these be sure to use the proper protection like gloves and goggles while cleaning the stain. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and blot the stain so that the paint begins to break down. Be sure to open a window or use a fan to keep proper ventilation.

After you have blotted away the paint with your dissolving solution, you will want to clean the area and remove any further discoloration. Use a 1:1 ratio of dish soap and hot water and blot the area with a sponge or clean towel soaked in the water.
Then rinse the area with a clean cloth dipped in water to remove the soap.
After all the soap is removed then dry the area with a clean dry cloth or with paper towels.


Conclusion
While paint can be hard to remove, it is not impossible. Using household solutions and the proper precautions will help get the paint out.

The Dangers of DIY Carpet Cleaning

DIY carpet cleaning may seem like the best route to a clean carpet while saving money, but DIY carpet cleaning can lead to a lot of issues that may actually be more of problem. Personal carpet cleaning machines may seem like a good investment but they’re not a good solution to getting a clean carpet. 

 Getting your carpet professionally cleaned gets your carpet thoroughly clean without any issues or risks.  

Here are some dangers of DIY carpet cleaning. 

Weak Cleaning Machine

A carpet cleaning machine is made to be small enough for you to fit into your car and lug into your house. Because of its small size and user-friendly design, it may be weak and not actually perform in the way you want it to. These carpet cleaners have little power and just can’t clean as well as a professional carpet company machine can. These machines also generally only get surface level dirt and grime and can’t deep clean like a professional carpet cleaning company could. 

Wet/Overly-Damp Carpets

When you attempt to clean your carpet yourself, one of the issues that can arise is that your carpet can stay wet because it was not dried properly after cleaning. It can be hard to determine the amount of water and cleaner you need to use to clean your carpets and thus it can lead to an excess of water in your carpets. 

The wet carpet can lead to a wet fabric smell that permeates your home and the excessive wetness can lead to discoloration because the fibers are so saturated with water and can attract more dirt. Along with this the water can cause mold growth. Mold growth can also lead to it’s own host of unpleasant smell and discoloration, along with health risks such as respiratory issues.

A wet carpet can also shrink and pull away from the walls causing more carpet issues. 

Delaminated Carpets

Delaminated carpets are caused by excessive moisture. Delaminated means that your carpet separates from its backing causing ripples and buckling in the carpet

Effort

DIY carpet cleaning is not a simple task. You will have to put in a lot of effort to perform the task. Moving furniture and attacking stains one at a time. Plus, the machine is heavy to move around. And If you work throughout the week, you’ll likely have to commit to this job on the weekend you normally relax. 

Rapid Re-Soiling

Your carpet can get dirty again rather quickly if an incorrect amount of detergent was used. There may be a high amount of residue left over in your carpet because it was not cleaned properly. This residue attracts dirt and causes your carpet to get dirtier again faster. 

Conclusion

While it may seem like a money-saver to clean your carpet on your own, it will probably cause more issues because you don’t have the proper tools to thoroughly clean your carpet well. 

Choosing a professional carpet cleaning service is your best option for an extremely clean carpet without any issues!