DYI Carpet Cleaning With Rug Doctor

Many people want to save a few bucks and clean their own carpet. Many supermarkets have Rug doctors that you can rent for as low as .00 bucks. You will also need the cleaning supplies shampoo and spot treater so ad on anther .00. There are some very important things to consider when using one of these devices.

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You should also look at picking up a carpet rake to rake the carpet before getting started. A carpet rake can be found at any home depot or Lowes. Some Walmart's carry them as well. It looks very similar to a regular yard rake but only plastic and about half as wide. You use a rake to brush the carpet fibers and get them to stand up straight. As you walk on carpet is gets matted down and traps the dirt. By raking you are opening up the pockets that have dirt trapped in them. It's not a bad idea to use a rake even when your not getting your carpets cleaned because it will help them stay cleaner longer.

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After you rake the carpet be sure and use a good vacuum to fully pick up all the loose dirt. In many cases a second vacuuming is recommended. Now that all the loose dirt is gone pre-treat and stain and high traffic areas of the carpet. Be sure and follow the directions on the bottle. In some cases you are better off testing the product first in a corner closet or some place out of the way. This is to ensure you will not be causing any carpet discoloration.

Once the floor is pretreated, start up the rug doctor and clean those floors. The full directions on how to use the rug doctor are on the side of the machine it's very simple to use. Be sure and overlap your streaks when you clean the carpet. Another simple tip is to go slow. Yes you will use more solution but often times going slow will help. Once you are done go back and pick up any excess water on the carpet with the machine. Most likely you will have to go over the heavy traffic areas a few times but that is normal when cleaning carpets even with heavy duty cleaning products. By following these simple no brainer tips you should be able to get your carpets looking around 70 percent cleaner. Most do it yourselfers would agree that cleaning your own carpets is a good way to go. One thing to keep in mind is you should have your carpets cleaned regularly.

DYI Carpet Cleaning With Rug Doctor

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Applying Teflon to Your Carpet

Teflon is a product manufactured by the DuPont Corporation. This product bonds to the carpet fiber preventing liquids, dirt and debris from penetrating. Dirt stains left untreated quickly embed in the carpet fiber. Teflon keeps the dirt from adhering to the fibers, making the clean-up process much easier. Therefore, your carpet will look better and last much longer. Teflon will work on the majority of carpet fibers including wool.

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In order for the Teflon process to work properly the carpet must be prepared for the application process. The two types of treatments are oil based and non oil based treatments. Teflon also needs to be worked into the carpet by using a pile brush for pile types and a rake for shag applications. The result will be the same, but the application and preparation process are different.

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Preparation.

First, the carpet must be cleaned to remove any dirt, grease or debris. If the carpet has not been cleaned the Teflon will not adhere correctly. Therefore, the product may not work as well. There are many different types of carpet cleaning methods to choose from. The most recommended way to clean carpet for a Teflon application is hot water extraction. This process actually sprays a hot water solution onto the surface of the carpet and is vacuumed up shortly after. Hot water extraction equipment is usually very powerful and can remove the majority of stains and carpet soil allowing the Teflon to adhere. Teflon can be applied to wet or dry carpet. Dry carpet is recommended. 

Application.

Teflon can be applied many different ways.  You can apply Teflon on your own, using a pump sprayer. A good pump sprayer can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes. They will have a nice selection to choose from. The cheaper sprayers have plastic nozzles and tend to leak more often and the spray pattern is not as precise. When applying Teflon, a precise flow of solution is important. Be sure to read the directions on any chemical treatment. The latest Teflon treatments on the market today have no odor and safe to use. Pour the Teflon solution into the pump sprayer and pump several times. Do not over pump the sprayer! This is a hazard and can cause the sprayer to rupture. You want a wide spray pattern when applying Teflon. Once the spray pattern is set you can begin to apply the solution. Hold the spray nozzle 7-8 inches from the carpet surface and spray evenly from one corner of the room to the other. Continue this process until the room has an even coat of Teflon. You can use a pile brush to work the solution into the carpet fibers. A pile brush can be purchased at a carpet supply company. Be sure not to brush with too much force or the carpet fibers can be damaged. See the Teflon instructions on the drying time.

Applying Teflon to Your Carpet

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