Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

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.

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.

How to Remove Champagne Stains

Champagne | Flat Rate Carpet BlogMost people who host a New Year’s party spend the night worrying about red wine spills and ground up appetizers ruining their rug, but few think about spraying champagne all over the house at midnight. Although champagne is colorless and bubbly, it can still leave behind marks on furniture and other fabrics. Here are some simple tips in removing champagne stains.

Add a small drop of dish soap to warm water and mix. Dip a clean, white cloth into the solution and gently dab the stain. Repeat the process until you’ve covered the whole area.

Next use a different clean, white cloth and redab the area with warm water to rinse.

This method will get champagne stains out of upholstery, carpets and clothing without any added hassle.

If only everything in 2013 will be this easy!

How to Remove Candle Wax From Carpets

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!

How You Can Help Others

With so many people in need from the aftermath of Sandy, it’s hard to know how to get started helping others. Many people want to help out by donating items, but don’t know what

people need, or how to get it to them. Anything you can do to help those in need is important and valuable, but here are some of the best items to donate to help get you started:

Canned foods and clean water are in the highest demand right now. Since many people still don’t have power to cook food, canned foods are easier to prepare than dry goods like rice or pastas. Make sure to donate non-perishable and non-damaged items only.

Many food banks, soup kitchens and other organizations can purchase large amounts of food at extremely low costs. Giving money can sometimes be uncomfortable as you can’t always be sure if you’re gift is really helping people. Locating reputable food banks and local religious organizations make it easier to give worry free financial donations.

It’s literally freezing outside, and many people are cold. Warm blankets and clothing are very much in need. Contact your local soup kitchen, shelters and religious organizations to find out where you can bring warm clothing for donation.

Donations are pouring into New York and New Jersey from all around America, but getting the needed items to the people that need them is still difficult. To give a truly amazing gift to others and to yourself, donate some of your time. Volunteering to drive supplies, organize, or help out at a soup kitchen is an amazing way to give back to your community.

By pulling together and helping our neighbors, we can make this storm a thing of the past.