Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

How to Remove Candle Wax From Carpets

December 2 by

Candle Wax | Flat Rate Carpet BlogHannukah is right around the corner, and it’s time to break out the beautiful menorah’s and little candles that will light up the home for eight fun filled nights. Don’t let a few drips of candle wax on the carpet ruin your holiday this year. With this easy way to remove candle wax from carpets you’ll never worry about getting candle wax on your carpets again.

Taking care of any stain right away increases your chance of getting the wax out completely, but make sure not to rub the stain in any further.

For wax stains on carpets, put some ice in a waterproof bag. Place the ice over the wax, allowing the wax to freeze. Getting water on the wax will make it harder to get out, so make sure no ice is dripping into the carpet.

Once the wax is frozen, gently scrape it off the carpet with a knife. Don’t worry about getting out everything, just get out as much as you can without ruining the carpet.

Next, spread a clean cloth or paper bag over the remaining wax stain. Use and iron to go over the area, drawing the remaining wax into the cloth or bag. Continue this last step until all the wax is gone.

This Hanukkah spend your time opening presents and eating latkes, instead of stressing over a few drips of candle wax.

Happy Hanukkah!

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How to Clean Christmas Ornaments

November 25 by

Christmas Ornaments | Flat Rate Carpet BlogThanksgiving is over and it’s time to get the tree up and decorated. Of course we all want our tree to be bright and beautiful, and that’s why we put so much effort into decorating. Cleaning your Christmas ornaments before hanging them on the tree is an important step in keeping your tree beautiful and making sure that your ornaments stay beautiful for years to come.

Start by making sure that you have the right equipment for Christmas ornament cleaning.

  • Glass Cleaner (windex is fine)
  • Feather Duster
  • A soft, cotton cloth for cleaning
  • Gloves (not large dishwasher gloves, latex is best)

Next, separate all your ornaments and divide them for easier cleaning. Each type of ornament is cleaned differently.

  • Glass, acrylic or perspex Christmas ornaments are cleaned by spraying a bit of glass cleaner on a clean cloth and gently wiping the surface.
  • Glittered ornaments can be cleaned with a gentle dusting of a feather duster. If too much glitter is coming off, then gently blow on the ornament and forget about any dust that won’t go away.
  • Crystal and porcelain ornaments are best cleaned with either a feather duster, or a gentle cleaning with a soft, cotton cloth.
  • Hand painted ornaments must always be cleaned while wearing gloves, so that the oils from your skin don’t damage the paint. Clean hand painted ornaments with a feather duster, and never use any cleaning products as they can easily damage the paint.
  • Wood and Resin ornaments are best cleaned by gently rubbing them with a soft cotton cloth.
  • Gold and silver ornaments are cleaned with jewelry cleaner and a soft cotton cloth.

Keeping your ornaments clean will not only make your tree sparkle, but it will also extend the lifetime of your ornaments so that you can pass them down for generations. Merry Christmas.

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Move Over White Vinegar

November 5 by

We all know the wonderful cleaning and green power of baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and lemons. All of these products offer so many amazing cleaning options in all parts of your home and everyday life.

But, lurking in the medicine cabinet stands another super powerful and green cleaning product—hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide provides a useful alternative to most major commercial chemical-based cleaning products.

Hydrogen peroxide, chemically-speaking, features the same make-up as water, just with one extra hydrogen molecule. This gives the product strong oxidizing properties.

While many forms of hydrogen peroxide exist, the safest for domestic use comes in a 3% solution available at all drugstores. With this solution you can enjoy a cleaner, brighter, and healthier home.

Use hydrogen peroxide in the following ways and enjoy the benefits for days:

  • Pour your bottle of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and use it as an all-purpose cleanser for your sinks, counter tops, and tubs.
  • Pour a couple of tablespoons into your white laundry load for a brighter white.
  • Disinfect cutting boards, sponges, and toothbrushes by soaking them all in straight hydrogen peroxide. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water once properly soaked.
  • Use it to kill mold and mildew spores. Mix together one part water and one part hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle then spray the affect areas. Let stand for at least ten minutes, and then scrub clean with fresh water.

carpet cleaning ny

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How to Clean Glitter

October 24 by

Glitter | Flat Rate Carpet BlogSure the pink, princess glitter costume is going to be a big hit for Halloween, but you’re not looking forward to spending the next few months cleaning glitter off of every surface. Here are some easy ways to clean glitter off fabric and furniture.

To remove glitter from washable fabrics, all you need is a can of aerosol hairspray. Thoroughly spray the glittered area with hairspray and allow the hairspray to dry completely. Wash the clothing as you would normally, and the glitter should come off completely (without sticking to anything new). You may have to repeat the process twice if not all the glitter comes off on the first try.

For removing glitter from furniture and other non-washable fabric, you have a few options. If you have a lint/pet hair remover in the house, they are also great at removing glitter. Use the sticky, rolling kind for optimal glitter removal. However you don’t need to run out of the house and buy a rolling lint remover, you can make your own by wrapping masking tape around your hand, sticky side out. Then just pat your hand over the glitter until it all comes up. You may have to change the tape a few times, but in the end you’re house will be glitter free.

Make this Halloween stress free with this great way to clean up glitter.

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How Healthy is a Bacteria-Less Home?

October 17 by

Commercial cleaning companies continue to come out with new and improved products. These products claim to sterilize all surfaces and items in your house—we’ve all heard their claims, “kills 99% of all germs and bacteria.”

But, does a completely sterilized and germ-free home really keep you healthier in the long run?

Recent findings say no. According to new research, sterilizing an area removes natural and harmless bacteria from the environment. This creates stronger, drug-resistant forms of brand new germs. Exposure to these new germs causes all kinds of illnesses since your body does not recognize them.

Not to mention, that these new germs also attack and kill and the good bacteria in your body. Not cool.

So, in order to keep your home healthier and clean, take a break from the harsh chemical-laden, anti-bacterial products. Instead, use a simpler product or an all natural alternative for everyday use.

Try using a simple combination of water and distilled white to clean your home. Or mix together a few 100% all-natural essential oils. Certain essential oils feature mess and germ fighting qualities.

So trade out your chemicals for a natural substitute and reserve the serious products for a heavier mess.

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