There are so many holidays that celebrate messy foods. Take July 25th for example. It is National Wine and Cheese Day. Wine stains when spilled, and a really good cheese has an odor you don't want ground into your furniture or floors! So enjoy the finer dining experiences at home and use these tips to help clean any accidents that may stain or smell.
1. Don't let the spill sit. Be sure to clean it up as soon as possible. Leaving it until later allows the affected material to absorb the stain or odor more thoroughly making it harder to remove.
2. Be sure to dab up liquids or using a moist paper towel pinch up solids from the surface gently so the offending spill is not ground into the material (fabric, carpet, hardwood, etc.).
3. Use a non-bleach cleaner made for your affected material or else use this gentle cleanser (2 cups cool tap water, 1 tablespoon bleach free dish soap and 1 tablespoon white vinegar). Using a product that is not made for your affected material or a product with bleach in it will damage the material and permanently discolor the area being cleaned. Even if you are using the cleanser mentioned here or a cleaner made for this use, be sure to test it in a small area that is not regularly visible to make sure before proceeding with a full cleaning.
4. Spray the cleaner directly on the stain. Blot at the stain until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat this process until the stain disappears. Be careful to not rub the stain while blotting up the cleaner to avoid grounding the stain into the material or worse making the area stained larger. Do not apply too much cleaner to the stain because oversaturation can cause damage as well.
5. Once the stain is no longer visible, put a small amount of water on the affected area and blot it up like you did the cleaner. This will help make sure all the cleaner is removed as well as the stain itself.
6. If cleaning carpet, a rug or upholstery, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda over the area AFTER it has fully dried. After letting it sit there for about 10 minutes vacuum up the baking soda to make the area look and smell fresh and clean.
7. If the stain or odor continues to persist in spite of the home care treatment, call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett. Our trained professionals will be happy to come help you get out stains and odors before they have a chance to become permanent features of your home.
Once of the best protections you can have for spills, stains and high traffic areas is the use of protector for all your carpet, rugs and upholstery. This will make the materials stain resistant and easier to clean. Have ServiceMaster of Gwinnett apply protector to your floors and furniture when you schedule your next cleaning.
