As anyone who has tackled household cleaning duties knows, messes and spills aren’t limited to hard surfaces and carpeting. Some surfaces can be particularly harder to clean than others, including mattresses.

Though cleaning a mattress doesn’t come with the same simplicity of other bedding items, that doesn’t mean the mattress shouldn’t deserve equal attention. Cleaning your mattress can be effective and efficient with the right approach. Follow these steps so that you and your family can sleep on fresher bedding by nightfall.

Vacuum: When cleaning your mattress, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to tackle dust, dander and dust mites that can build on the surface. Repeat this process every six months, or more frequently if the mattress is used by a person with allergies.

Shampoo: After vacuuming, apply an upholstery shampoo to the surface of the mattress to fully remove dirt and soil. If you don’t have upholstery shampoo, apply a solution of water and mild detergent to the entire area of the mattress. Wipe the shampoo or detergent solution clean by using a sponge that has had warm water wrung from it. Turn on the ceiling fan and portable fans to allow the area to dry quickly.

Cleaning spills: When cleaning spills and stains from your mattress, start by soaking up all liquid using dry towels. Once the stain has been completely soaked up, immediately toss the towels into the washing machine on a hot water setting to kill all bacteria. After doing so, lightly spray vinegar on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes to fully disinfect the mattress and eliminate odor. Afterward, sprinkle baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 12 hours to soak up the rest. After the 12-hour period, vacuum the remaining baking soda.

Drying stains:  Place the mattress outside in the sun for a few hours to speed up the drying process and allow the mattress to fully air out, or pull back the blinds or drapes in the bedroom and open the window to expose the mattress to the maximum amount of sunlight and outside heat. When you replace the mattress, make sure to place the stain side down to prevent concentrating multiple stains onto one region.

In addition to cleaning your mattress, you can prolong its life by flipping and turning it every six months to ensure even wear. Use a mattress cover to ensure protection in between cleanings. To prevent dust mites, choose a mattress cover that is specifically designed to protect against the invasion of these tiny critters.

It’s also important to replace your mattress after about seven years of use, according to The Better Sleep Council, a nonprofit agency that represents the mattress industry. With repeated use over time, a mattress can gradually lose its ability to fully support you. This can lead to sleepless nights as well as the feeling of cramps and stiffness upon awakening.

Though cleaning a soiled mattress is a household task you can tackle yourself, a Orange County house cleaner might be able to offer some expert solutions to ensure your mattress is cleaned properly the first time.

The objective of any good carpet cleaning method is to remove as much soil or foreign material as possible from the carpet fibers without causing any damage or harm to the carpet, humans, pets or the environment.

Deep steam or hot water cleaning with a truck mounted extraction system is a great method to accomplish this task. Below are four essential elements of this procedure that should always be considered

.1. Chemical type and concentration 

The wet cleaning process involves a reaction between chemicals. The more heavily soiled the carpet is, the more concentrated the chemical reagent will have to be in order to complete this reaction in a reasonable amount of time. That is one reason why even deionized water with zero conductivity will never be sufficient to remove really tough stains.Many kinds of chemical reagents have been developed that have specific applications for particular cleaning situations. A good carpet cleaner will know how to choose a suitable detergent for prevailing conditions.

2. Temperature 

This is probably the most important aspect of the cleaning procedure. Elevated temperatures usually accelerate chemical reactions. Carpets will require less chemicals and a shorter time to clean up when the cleaning solution is hot enough.

Some people fear that hot water will cause damage to the carpet. This is possible when the carpet cleaner is uneducated and uninformed, but even the most powerful truck-mounted heater equipment can be regulated to deliver a maximum of 150 degrees Fahrenheit at the carpet surface. That will be quite safe, even for wool textiles.Another advantage of using a hot solution is that the fabric will dry faster. Heat also helps to reduce the surface tension of the cleaning solution, thereby facilitating soil removal.

3. Time 

Chemical reactions require time for adequate completion. Of course the time required will vary according to the situation, but for most carpet cleaning conditions, a reaction time of 10 to 15 minutes will be sufficient.

One problem that may occur is a reversal of sequestration if the carpet dries before the emulsion is washed out. Again, a well-trained technician will be fully aware of this and will make the necessary adjustments.

4. Agitation 

The main purpose for agitation is to spread the chemical uniformly and completely over the carpet fibers. A secondary purpose is to dislodge any soil particles that may be adhering to the fabric. Agitation also helps to speed up the chemical reaction of the cleaning solution.Agitation may be accomplished by using various devices. On the carpet, this is usually done with a grooming rake, especially for high density, plush pile carpets. A bonnet machine with rotating brushes is also very effective. Agitation on fabrics during upholstery cleaning is usually done with a horsehair brush, a sponge or a terry cloth towel.

Many people have no idea of the costs or benefits in reupholstering a piece of furniture. There are a few factors to consider before deciding if you should invest your money into having this type of service.

First, decide the quality of your piece. A lot of furniture made today is not as well made as it was years ago. If you have a well-built piece, chances are that it’s probably worth investing in.

Second, do you like the way the piece “fits” in your room? If you have a small room and your sofa or chairs are just the right size, it may be difficult to replace them with the right fit.

Finally, if you are considering replacing your furniture, are you able to find the perfect fabric that compliments your decor?

A lot of consumers are unaware of what can actually be done with their existing furniture. If the company you hire consists of skilled professionals, they should be able to build, reconstruct and even alter the design of your piece, giving it a new updated look.

Sometimes all that’s needed for a droopy seat cushion is some new foam, which is a small fraction of the price of buying new. These are all options that can be discussed with your upholstery professional.

Finding the perfect fabric can be challenging, but if you bring something (like a pillow or arm cap) with you, along with the colors you are trying to match, you can save a lot of time second guessing your choices. In choosing fabric, make sure it is durable.

Additionally, don’t forget to ask your upholsterer what the abrasion cycle is and how to clean it. Most upholstery fabrics are “dry clean only,” but there are more out now that are washable.

If possible, always visit the upholstery shop. Make sure it is clean. Would you want your brand new fabric being applied in a not-so-clean environment? Make sure your work is being done “on site” and not being shipped somewhere else. Look at other pieces they have done and make sure the company you hire is licensed and insured. If they’re covered, you’re covered.

Upholstery Cleaning

Our company offers safe and effective upholstery cleaning too in Orange County CA. We can spot clean and pre-condition your upholstery to make sure that it looks clean and attractive. Our technicians have the right tools and cleaning supplies to work on all types of upholstery without causing any damages. We can get rid of stains, pet hair, and more.

What should a homeowner do with a pet stain on upholstery in Orange County CA?

Don’t try to fix it yourself. Take paper or terry cloth towels and blot the area; don’t rub it and don’t put anything on it while it’s wet. Then call an upholstery cleaning professional.

The store-bought cleaning products some homeowners use are Band-Aids that can actually upset the problem and make a little spot huge, four or five times as big as it was. Then you’ve got a whole mess under the carpet itself.

After blotting it, lay a heavy towel on the area and let it dry. A lot will evaporate and absorb upward as it dries into the towel before the cleaners get there.

In the case of pet urine, we use a decontamination system that pre-treats it to loosen the urine salts, shampooing it as many times as we need to, rinsing it and post-treating it to kill any remaining bacteria and eliminating the odor.

With urine, if you can smell it, you’re breathing in waste matter that you can’t see. And that’s extremely unhealthy and can be a big problem for sensitive people with allergies, or anyone for that matter. My job is to kill the bacteria so they don’t have any further issues.

If the pet messes are an ongoing issue, the owner should keep the animal off [the upholstery] and not allow them free roam of the house. Sometimes we’ll come to a job and staining is all over the place and the smell is just overwhelming. In that case, we are very honest with them and tell them it’d be cheaper to get a new carpet.

But the best advice I can give people is to call a cleaning professional. I know if I used my pliers, I could pull a tooth out, but it wouldn’t be the right way. So I go to a dentist. I’d hire an attorney before I’d try to represent myself in court. Do the necessary research, really investigate it, then call a professional.

Upholstery Cleaning

Our company offers safe and effective upholstery cleaning too in Orange County. We can spot clean and pre-condition your upholstery to make sure that it looks clean and attractive. Our technicians have the right tools and cleaning supplies to work on all types of upholstery without causing any damages. We can get rid of stains, pet hair, and more.

Tile and Grout Cleaning in Orange County CA

If you’ve never had them professionally cleaned, tile and grout are two of the most reliable indicators of a home’s age. Even if you sweep and mop regularly, it’s inevitable that tile will become stained and grout will absorb dirt and grime.

Reasons to Have Your Tile and Grout Professionally Cleaned

You may think it’s best to avoid professional tile and grout cleaning and simply do it by hand. However, there are a few significant benefits of calling on professionals for the job:

• Deeper clean: Grout is a porous material that becomes discolored as a result of soaking up dirt and spills over the course of several months or even years. Professional equipment delivers a deeper clean than a toothbrush and some elbow grease could ever hope to match.
• Protective sealant: The beautiful results of professional tile and grout cleaning are designed to last for months thanks to the post-clean sealant the technician applies. This helps make grout more spill- and stain-resistant, thus prolonging that just-cleaned look with no extra effort on your part.
• Ease: Tile and grout cleaning by hand is a painstaking, messy and uncomfortable process. Scrubbing each and every inch of grout with a toothbrush while on your hands and knees is not exactly a relaxing way to spend your Saturday afternoon. With professional tile and grout cleaning from Rainbow International®, you can go about your day as usual and let the cleaners do their job quickly and thoroughly.

Common Causes of Stained and Dirty Tile and Grout

The reason you’re seeking professional cleaning is because the tile and grout in your home has become stained and discolored. The most common reasons for this include:

• Exposure to environmental elements: Water, dust, soot, dirt and spills that come in contact with porous grout eventually take their toll and cause the grout to stain.
• Certain grout properties: Some types of grout are more porous than others, meaning they are more susceptible to staining.
• Mildew: Bathroom tiles are subject to high levels of moisture and, more often than not, inadequate ventilation. This allows mold and mildew to grow on the tile and porous grout surfaces.
• Soap scum: This accumulates on the grout as minerals in the water combined with poorly rinsed soap settle and dry.

How to Maintain Tile and Grout between Professional Cleanings

It’s recommended that you schedule a professional cleaning every one to three years. Between these cleanings, keep your floor sparkling clean with the following tips: