How to get red wine out of carpet? Asked by sravan from Zoar, OH

Act Quickly! Delaying may cause the spill to become a permanent stain. Blot liquids with a dry, white absorbent cloth or white paper towels. Do not scrub the area! Scrubbing can cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry.

Call a Professional - Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.

Do It Yourself Precautions:

Many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil. Thoroughly rinse the area several times with lukewarm tap water. A mist type sprayer is recommended to prevent overwetting. Blot with paper towels and pat dry after each rinse. Several rinses are often necessary to thoroughly remove residues. Never use any of the solutions in concentrations stronger than those recommended.

First Try A:

Detergent Solution - Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill. Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times.

Then TRY:

Vinegar Solution - Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Again don't move on as long as you are getting a transfer to your rag. Be patient!

If you still cant get it out Call a Pro and then have them apply Commercial formulations like Scotchgard that work well on carpets, couch and chairs to help prevent stains from wine, especially if you frequently entertain in your home. You may need to apply Scotchgard every six months or so for it to be fully effective. The wines or grape juice stain will be repelled like oil and water. This is an excellent way to protect your furnishings from wine stains for many years to come.

What is the best way to wash wood floors? Asked by jmarksjimenez from Chicago, IL

The Best Way to care for your wood Floor is by using a microfiber applicator along with a wood floor cleaning chemical. The best product you can get is from a company called Bona. We use this to maintain Abercrobie and Fitch' s wood floors. You can order everything you need at this link http://store.mybonahome.com/

Even a swiffer wet jet will do the trick but you wont be as happy with the results.

Dan Worley
www.cleaninteriors.us

First and Foremost, What NOT to Do With Mustard Stains! Part 2

First and Foremost, What NOT to Do With Mustard Stains!

Before you start trying to remove the mustard, please be sure to read the labels on anything that you’re going to use. The absolute worst thing in the world to put on a mustard stain is ammonia. Ammonia reacts with turmeric to set it even more permanently than it naturally sets itself. If you use a cleanser with ammonia on the stain, you’re officially ensuring that your item will have a lovely yellow adornment for all time.

All About Mustard Stains part 1

Why are Mustard stains so hard to remove?

Many brands of mustard contain turmeric, a spice that adds flavor and gives mustard its bright yellow color. Turmeric is a yellow dye that’s present both in the mustard seed itself and in the commercially produced mustard as an additive to enhance the yellow color. Because turmeric is a dye, if it’s not treated as quickly as possible, you could be faced with a newly-dyed polka dot on your carpet!