Cleaning processes vary depending on your preference. However, there are recommended processes that can be beneficial for you to do your task effectively. These recommended methods help you do your job in an effective way that does not harm or do damage to the area that you are working on.

To keep your materials and the surfaces you are cleaning safe, you must always know which products to use on them and what method you should use. This is because some materials are vulnerable to products and techniques that are common in cleanings, such as abrasion and scrubbing.

As a cleaner, you are tasked to take care of the items you are cleaning. This is why you should always be aware of the processes to do. For example, in materials such as cloth-covered furniture or carpets, you should be mindful of the products that clean and harms them. These are stain-prone items that need proper caring.

Types of stains

What are the type of stains?

There are various types of stains that you can encounter when cleaning rugs and furniture. Some causes are accidental spills, aging, and kids playing around the area. Although you can prevent these from happening, you should also know how to get rid of them in cases that already happen.

Water-based stains

Water-soluble stains are the most common but the easiest to remove from a carpet or furniture. These are beverages that you often drink in these places, such as coffee, soda, wine, and other alcohol, juices, and jelly stains. Commonly you encounter these stains in places like the living room furniture and carpets or chair cushions in your kitchen.

Protein-based stains

Some liquids that you might think are water-based can actually be protein-based. These are harder to get rid of than your everyday water-based stains. Examples are blood and other bodily fluids, dairy liquids, and meat and meat juices. Moreover, they are more stubborn and stick quite firmly to the fabric material of your carpet or furniture. A good stain removal process should get rid of these in no time.

Oil-based stains

Oil-based stains, being the most difficult stain to remove, oil-based stains need quite more work for them to be able to be eradicated. The fat and oil compositions are very sticky to surfaces such as carpets. Some common oil-based stains are petroleum jelly, makeups such as lipsticks, grease from food, etc. For prevention, these stains are avoided by applying a coating on the carpet or furniture fabric itself.

How to get rid of stains?

How to get rid of stains

There are numerous stain removal techniques available for teaching. This helps people to eradicate stubborn stains without the use of professional help. Although if stains are severely nasty and cannot be removed by a one-man job, then calling for help is alright. Stains damage the furniture and carpet in the long run, which is why preventing and maintaining them is a must, especially for homeowners.

#1 Getting rid of water-based stains

Water-based stains, being the easiest to remove, water-based stains need just a couple of steps to get through. First, remove the solid and dense materials in the spill that you can hold easily. This way, we are only dealing with the stain itself. After, blot the area with paper towels and wait for it to attract the liquid as much as possible. Then, get a clean cloth and dip an adequate amount of warm water or vinegar. Vinegar is preferred because its lower pH acidity attracts moisture from the edges. Next, carefully blot the area of the stain with your clean cloth to eradicate the stain slowly.

#2 Getting rid of protein-based stains

Warm temperatures commonly solidify protein-based stains, so it is recommended to use cold water to treat them. After damping with a sufficient amount of cold water, not too much that it would spread, you should use a detergent or a stain remover with an enzyme. For example, a white carpet requires the involvement of ammonia or hydrogen peroxide to bring back the colour. Moreover, dry the carpet by dabbing on a paper towel.

#3 Getting rid of oil-based stains

Oil-based stains are the most difficult to get rid of, given that they stick well to surfaces. Even furniture or spaces that do not have an outer fabric material, grease and oil still stick, such as on the tiles or counters. To get rid of these, there are two conditions. First, if your carpet is protected with a layer of safe coating as prevention to the oil stains, then you just need mild soap to get rid of them. However, if the manufacturer does not indicate that this furniture has a coating, you need steps such as drying it first before treating it.

Rubbing vs dabbing

Rubbing vs dabbing

The vital question is, through what process should you remove the stains. Usually, when you see something that is messed up or spilled on a surface, you try to wipe it off immediately. When it stains, then you tend to scrub and rub it off of you or your clothes. Rubbing helps in ways such as doing the laundry and wiping the counters, but it is not always the best decision to go through with stain removal.

Dabbing is common in skincare and products you put to your face. And like the face, carpets and furniture are also delicate, especially when it is covered with beautiful upholstery. When these are scrubbed, then you are risking the material any damage, such as spreading the stain more and destroying the fabric if done aggressively.

Getting a piece of paper towel or clean cloth is essential in stain removal. It helps more and does less to no damage to the carpet and pieces of furniture. It efficiently removes the stain by letting the towel absorb the stain on top of it. Hence dabbing the area with stain is highly essential to do minor damage and maintain the beauty of your carpet.

Conclusion

Carpets or pieces of furniture covered with fabric are those that are harder to get rid of. It needs extra careful work rather than hard surfaces such as counters and floors. Stains are prominent in fabric because they absorb these, and in a way, it is also not waterproof and cannot be waterproofed by the manufacturer.

Knowing the right and correct method to take care of your furniture is essential to working efficiently in your field. As a cleaner, you must know when and what to do after getting rid of the stains. However, you should not create another disaster by using cleaning products that can also stain these surfaces. Hence, be knowledgeable about what you do to excel in it.

FAQ

What are other stains?

Other solid and liquid stains can be present on your furniture, such as gum that sticks to the fabric, burns, and candle wax.

When should I clean my carpet?

Clean and vacuum your carpet regularly and deep clean it yearly to avoid the build-up of unnecessary germs.

How do I waterproof the carpet?

You’ll need a waterproof rug pad to put underneath your carpet and a fabric seal spray to cover the carpet itself.