Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

How to Clean Air Conditioning Vents

Clean Air | Flat Rate Carpet BlogIndoor air pollution is a big issue in most homes, and dirty air vents are a major cause of allergy symptoms. All winter long dust and dirt collect in the home, contributing to allergy symptoms. Cleaning your air conditioning vents will not only extend the life of air conditioning units, but it will also make the air in your home more breathable and help prevent allergies.

To get started cleaning your air conditioning vents, take a regular broom and use it to brush dirt away from air vents in the ceiling and on the floor. You’ll be shocked at how much dust collects on the outside of the vents.

Next, remove the vent covers and vacuum inside the air ducts. This will remove the built up dirt and dust and keep it from being recirculated into the home.

Make sure to change the filters in all your vents at least once a year. Blocked filters prevent air conditioners and furnaces from working properly, wasting energy and increasing indoor air pollution.

If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned the air vents in your home, consider hiring a professional cleaning service that cleans air vents and ducts. Professionals have high powered vacuums and brushes that can quickly clean out even the dirtiest vent.

Keep your air vents clean and help your whole family breath easy.

Bed Bug Prevention

Bed bugs are extremely tiny pests that make a large mess inside of a home or building. If you live in, or are traveling to, an area that is affected by bed bugs it’s important to take certain measures to prevent bringing bed bugs into your home. Taking a few small steps in bed bug prevention is much easier than getting rid of the bugs once they have moved in.

Bedroom | Flat Rate Carpet BlogFinding furniture on the street used to be a great idea, however you may be bringing more than a sofa into your home. Bed bugs are not easily detected, so you have no way of knowing what you’re bringing home.

When purchasing used furniture take the time to deeply inspect all cracks and crevices for any signs of bed bugs. Using a magnifying class and a flashlight, look for blood spots, bug feces, or the bugs themselves deep in cracks and crevices of furniture.

Sometimes bed bugs wander into a home from a nearby apartment through small cracks in the walls, baseboards and other similar fixtures. To avoid this you can seal cracks and crevices in your home with caulk.

When traveling in areas well known for bed bugs be especially careful with your luggage, as bed bugs can hide in the seams and hitchhike home with you. Do not place suitcases on the bed or floor until you’ve inspected the mattresses for signs of bed bugs (tiny blood smears). Make sure to check the seams of your suitcase for hitchhikers before you leave.

If you think your clothing was exposed to bed bugs, wash and dry them in very hot temperatures to kill the bugs. Keep all clothing in a sealed, plastic bag until you can wash them in order to trap the bugs.

Identifying and getting rid of bed bugs is very difficult, which is why proper bed bug prevention is so important. Avoid expensive exterminations and sleepless nights by keeping bed bugs out of your home.

Valentines Day Stain Removal Tips

Valentines Chocolates | Flat Rate Carpet BlogAre you planning the perfect Valentines Day for your special someone? A special dinner can quickly turn into a disaster with spills and stains. Know how to treat the most common Valentines Day stains, and make sure your night stays magical.

Chocolate: To remove chocolate from fabric, simply run under cold water and pretreat. Removing chocolate from furniture or carpeting requires nothing more than an ice cube. Hold the ice over the chocolate until it’s solid, and gently scrape with the edge of a spoon. When nearly all the chocolate is gone blot gently with cold water.

Candle Wax: Wax spills are much easier to clean up than most people think. When the wax is solid, simply pick off the large clumps and scrape away what you can with a plastic knife. Next you’ll need an iron and a clean, white cloth. Place the cloth over the wax and iron. Continue moving the cloth around, careful to only iron clean cloth and avoid spreading the wax. Soon the wax will be as good as gone.

Red Wine: Wine stains are pretty scary, but don’t fear. Sprinkle salt on the spill to soak up excess wine, and then rinse well with white wine or club soda, then cold water. If you have a stain treater handy go ahead and pretreat the stain as well.

No matter what kind of spills happen during your romantic evening, the best way to treat any disaster is to stay calm. A ruined dress doesn’t have to mean a ruined night.

Happy Valentines Day.

How to Remove Stains From Wool

Wool Carpets | Flat Rate Carpet BlogWool carpeting is a beautiful addition to any room, and is a great way to add value and comfort to your home. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to prevent dirt and stains from getting onto your carpet, and wool carpeting is very durable, but can still be harder to clean than some synthetic carpets. Often made with natural dyes, wool carpeting is easily damaged by harsh cleaners. Taking care of a stain quickly, and correctly, will help preserve your wool carpets for years to come.

Acting quickly is the number one way to prevent stains from sticking. For liquid stain removal, gently blot up as much liquid as possible with a clean, white paper towel or rag. Continue gently blotting the area until the stain has been removed.

For stains like chocolate or chewing gum, place an ice cube on the chocolate until it is frozen. Then gently pick off the frozen chocolate or gum with a knife.

Make sure that you find a stain treater that is safe for wool carpets, and that will not bleach or discolor the carpeting. Test any new cleaning products on an area of the carpeting that no one will see, such as inside of a closet.

If you’re not sure of the best way to treat a strain on a wool carpet, it’s best to call a professional.

Taking proper care of your carpeting will not only extend the life of the carpets, but will increase the value of your home.

Make Your Own Green Cleaners

Green Cleaners | Flat Rate Carpet BlogMany of us would like to make the switch to a totally green and organic home, but are limited by the high cost of green cleaning products. By making your own green cleaning products, it’s easy to keep your house spotless and free of chemicals. All you need are these five simple household items to make your own green cleaner for almost everything in the home.

  • Distilled Vinegar- Vinegar is the king of green cleaners. Vinegar kills most bacterias and molds, wipes out odors and makes surfaces shine.
  • Liquid Castile Soap- What vinegar can’t clean, a good castile soap like Dr Bronner’s can. A little bit of liquid castile soap mixed with water is perfect for cleaning dishes, marble, floors and even yourself!
  • Baking Soda- Baking soda wipes out odors and makes the perfect whitener or scouring agent for any surface. Sprinkle baking soda on a stinky rug or inside shoes, and smells disappear. Mix baking soda with vinegar and make your whole house shine.
  • Essential Oils- Adding a few drops of tea tree or lemon essential oils not only makes your house smell fresh and clean, but it also adds a powerful antibacterial punch to any cleaner.
  • Cleaning Rags- Green cleaning isn’t just about what you clean with, it’s also about how your cleaning impacts the world. No matter what kind of cleaner you use, you can save money and the world by switching from paper towels to cleaning rags. Either purchase a few microfiber cleaning rags, or rip up some old t-shirts or towels to make your own cleaning rags.

Green cleaning doesn’t mean choosing between your values and your wallet. Make 2013 the year you start making your own all natural green cleaning products.