Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

Clean, healthy and allergy-free bedrooms…

February 23 by

We spend about one third of our lives asleep, so keeping our bedrooms as clean as possible is really the best way to keep allergies at bay and stay healthy.  But apart from thorough spring and fall cleaning, what’s the best way to keep your bedroom a pleasant place to rest and sleep?

  • Clear it of clutter.  Everything that isn’t necessary should go.  So those piles of magazines, mail, and other papers…move them out!
  • Wash your blankets, bedsheets and comforters regularly.  Hot water will kill dust mites, especially if it’s above 140F.
  • Vacuum your bedroom regularly.  Don’t forget ceiling fans, under the bed itself and above the door.  This really helps keep dust at bay.
  • Clean your heating and air conditioning systems regularly, to make sure mold, fungus and bacteria don’t build up.
  • Have your mattress cleaned by professionals like us.  This will rid it of dust mites, pollen, pet dander and other nasty allergens lurking deep inside it.

Sleep well.

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Take a good look at those drapes…

February 3 by

Why is it that we seem to be so much better at getting our carpets, rugs and upholstery cleaned than our drapes?   Drapes are pretty important…after all, they give any room a great “extra touch” and are an easy (and cost-effective) way of change its style, color or mood.

But drapes attract so much dirt, grime and allergens, especially in big cities like New York, particularly when we want our windows open on cool spring evenings or hot summer days.  Cabs, cars, aeroplanes…they all contribute to the pollutants in the air which will leave your windows and the fabrics hanging by them grimy, to say the least.

Here at Flat Rate Carpet, we offer a top-quality drapes cleaning service, and because we’re professionals, we know exactly what care your particular fabric needs.  We’ll take them down, clean them carefully at our factory then hang them back exactly as we found them (using the digital photos we took beforehand).  They’ll be dust, pollen and dirt-free, and your room will take on a whole new look…

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How often should I be cleaning my carpet?

January 25 by

It’s the big question – should you get in professionals regularly or try and do as much of the cleaning as you can yourself?  The general view, in the industry, is that using a company with the right know-how and expertise is the way to go.  As pros, we’ve seen a dirty few carpets in our time, and many of them ended up just like that because they were left until they couldn’t be left a day longer.

The truth is that trying to clean a carpet that’s in such a state is hard work – and it’s also going to be a costly job for the client.  Manufacturers, overall, take the view that your carpet needs professional cleaning every 12-18 months, and more if it sees heavy traffic.  This is really the only way to make sure that grime and dirt are removed effectively.  The good news, is, however that once you’ve invested in the service, subsequent cleanings are going to be easier, because the carpet won’t soil as easily.

So spend a few nickels, and the dimes will take care of themselves…

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Grout Cleaning Tips

October 31 by

Grout can really make a beautiful bathroom look dull and dingy.  So what’s the best way to deal with it?  There are so many theories, and a lot of the experts will tell you to go out and buy expensive cleaning solutions designed especially for this purpose.  But whilst it might be effective, there are other ways of getting the job done properly, such as:

  • Mix three cups of baking soda with a cup of water.  Put it on the grout and leave it for 30 minutes, before cleaning away then putting clean water on the area.
  • Use an old toothbrush – it’s a sure fire way of getting into the most difficult nooks and crannies of the tiles!
  • Dampen the tiles and then mix the juice of a lemon with a cup of water.  Apply.  This is a great way to bring the white color back to your tiles.
  • If your tiles are colored, pour vinegar on them and let it sit for a while.  Rinse off! You’ll quickly see the difference.

All inexpensive, and all effective!  Good luck!

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How to keep your home in great shape – Part II

October 4 by

Keeping your living environment pleasant and comfortable creates a good sense of well being.  And it doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming either.  Small things can make a big difference, so here are five tips to keep your home smelling fresh and clean:

  • Use lemon polish on your furniture (one cup of mineral oil mixed with several drops of essential lemon oil)
  • To eliminate unpleasant odors, light a match and let it burn for a few seconds.  It’s a sure way of clearing the air.
  • Place different types of pot pourri in bowls around the salon, hallway and bedroom, to create pleasant and restful scents
  • Run the exhaust fan when showering, to avoid moisture build-up
  • Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets – leave it for 15 minutes then vacuum it up
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