A Pro’s Guide To DIY Carpet Stain Removal

The Best Tips From The Carpet Cleaning Experts

A Pro’s Guide To DIY Carpet Stain Removal

What do children, pets, and wine all have in common? They all should come with a warning sign any time they’re near carpeting. Among other things, stains from dirt, bodily functions, and wine tend to be some of the trickiest to remove. Hiring professionals to clean your carpets can add up to a pretty heft bill too, so trying to DIY is more feasible for many people.

Luckily, The pro’s at Best1 Carpet Cleaning will teach you the ten tips for carpet stain removal without having to call in for backup.

1. Clean Messes Right Away

As soon as you witness a mess happen, it’s best to clean it up right away. Doing this prevents the water-soluble mess from setting into the carpet fibers. When you clean a spill right away, it also makes the stain spot much smaller and more manageable to clean up.

2. Use a Vinegar Solution

Acidic liquids are great for breaking up dirt and other stains. For this reason, you’ll find a lot of cleaners for various purposes contain vinegar or another liquid with higher acidity levels. To clean up a stain with vinegar, mix equal parts vinegar with warm water.

Next, you’ll spray the solution onto a cloth or sponge and then apply the cloth or sponge to the stain. Spraying your cleaning cloth or sponge instead of the floor keeps the floor from getting too wet.

3. Cater to the Stain

Depending on what caused the stain, there may be a specific way to remove the stain. For example, removing a blood stain from the carpet requires cold water. Using warm water will make the blood clot faster and result in a much harder time trying to remove the stain. On the other hand, removing dirt is better with warmer water as it lifts the dirt easier.

4. Use Detergent

Similar to vinegar, you can also use some type of soap or detergent with water to clean up the stain. For synthetic carpets you can mix ¼ teaspoon of dish detergent with one cup of warm water. If your carpet is made of natural fibers, use one teaspoon of dish detergent mixed with one cup of warm water. Make sure the dish soap is translucent to avoid secondary staining.

5. Use an Oil Solvent

Using an oil solvent or non-acetone nail polish remover dabbed onto a cloth can also provide a thorough removal. Nail polish remover is an ideal stain removal technique for any spots made by tea or sharpie markers. Oil stains can also be removed with acetone nail polish remover, but it’s important not to use too much or it may bleach the area.

Carpet Stain Removal

6. Blot, Don’t Scrub

While you’re removing the stain, it’s important to remember not to scrub the area. Doing this will spread the affected area to unaffected carpet fibers. Blotting the area instead keeps the stain within the same area and makes for a smaller cleanup radius.

7. Use a Carpet Cleaner

If you don’t want to get on your hands and knees to remove the stain, you may want to consider investing in a carpet floor cleaner and steamer. These appliances are good to have on hand, especially if you find stains often. They can also make the cleanup process much more streamlined and efficient.

8. Use Dry Baking Soda

Using baking soda is extremely effective if you’re doing so in an area that won’t be used. To do so, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on and around the stain. You’ll then need to spray the baking soda with hot water until you find the floor is slightly damp. After that, you need to leave the baking soda and water mixture to sit overnight before vacuuming in the morning.

Stain Remover

9. Use Club Soda on Fresh Stains

If you’re looking for a non-toxic stain removal option, you can sprinkle salt over a fresh stain and then pour club soda over the top of the affected area. Leave the mixture to sit overnight and then you can blot the area again before vacuuming up the salt.

10. Take Preventative Measures

To prevent future stains from popping up, you may want to consider getting the carpet treated with a protectant. On top of that, cleaning and vacuuming regularly keep the room looking fresh. Use plastic mats or rugs near any home entryways and encourage your guests not to wear shoes in your home. By following the first suggestion on our list (cleaning spills right away) and keeping up with other preventative measures, you’re sure to say goodbye to stain issues.

Best DIY Pest Control Tips

Top 20 DIY Pest Control Tips From The Pros

Effective Methods From The Experts

Homeowners across the country state that their home is one of the most important assets they own. That is why many spend the time and money to ensure that their homes are as pest-proof as possible. Ensuring that pests are out of your home and around your property can help protect not only your home’s value but also your owns safety. The following includes 20 DIY pest control tips from Adam Love ,a professional exterminator from a local pest control company based in Sydney.

20. Seal Any Gaps

One of the first things you need to do is look around your home for openings/cracks. This is prevalent within older homes as years of weather cause windows and door frames to expand and crack. Sealing these areas can reduce the number of pests that make their way through your larger openings. Here’s the areas where cracks are commonly seen:

Doors & Window Corners
Pipes & Wires Installed
Stoops & Porches
Exhaust Fans Vents

19. Keep Firewood Away from the Home

Termites are one of the worse pests to have within your home. They can cause severe damage without you even noticing them. So, what can you do to detour them? An important step you take is to begin removing any firewood you may have and storing it far away from your home.

18. Fresh Herbs and Mosquitos

Fresh Herbs

If you enjoy the outdoors but don’t want to deal with mosquitoes ruining the party. You must prevent mosquito from breeding at your own backyard. Adding fresh herbs to coals can detour mosquitoes from entering the space. Herbs that are effective mosquito repellent:

Sage
Rosemary
Citronella
Catnip
Lavender

17. Window & Door Screen Repairs

It may seem like door and window screens are only used to enjoy the fresh air without having to keep your door open. However, they are also very helpful in keeping pests outdoors. That is why it is recommended to inspect all your screens and repair them.

16. White Vinegar

Ants are smart creatures. This is especially true for when it comes to finding food. If they find food around your home, they will leave a scent for other ants to follow. Even if you clean the area, the scent remains. Adding white vinegar is a great chemical to use to remove that scent and detouring other ants from entering your home.

15. Garage Weather-stripping

One of the most common areas that homeowners miss when getting the pests away is the garage door. The garage door is a huge opening, and thus must ensure that weather-stripping is in functioning order.

14. Wire Cloches

Pests come in all shapes and sizes, and they don’t have to be small insects to cause damage to your property. Those with home gardens understand the importance of protecting their gardens from small animals such as rabbits and certain types of birds. A great protection to use are wire cloches.

13. Copper Mesh

The outside of the home may also have cracks present. Placing copper mesh into these holes is a great way to seal areas where you can’t just place sealer into it. For many homeowners, this is also a cost-effective way to reduce pests without having to change out multiple bricks or panels.

11. Baffles

Although cute, squirrels can really do some damage if they are allowed to climb around your home. This is especially true for those who have birdfeeders on their porch or on a tree. Baffles are used to keep squirrels from being able to climb onto these areas and either get to the upper areas of your home or onto a birdfeeder.

10. Dehumidifier & Spiders

There’s no doubt about it; the basement is a perfect breeding ground for spiders. Acquiring a dehumidifier and setting it to at least 40% humidity level, you will detour spiders from accumulating in your basement.

9. Save Your Coffee Grounds

An interesting fact is that many pests hate the smell of coffee grounds. So, before you go throwing away that filter, you may want to simply toss it around where you think the pests are coming through.

8. Crawl spaces & Nesting

Pests love to hide within areas that are dark and where they are not going to be disrupted. One of the most common areas that you will find pests are crawl spaces. That is why it is important to look into these areas with a flashlight and remove any nests that may be located within them.

7. Hide & Protect Pet Food

Our dogs and cats love their food, but pests also love it as well. Remember, pet food is still food and will attract certain insects and bugs to them. To ensure that pests don’t attack your dog’s food, homeowners are recommended to close off bags properly and put away food during the night when everyone is asleep.

6. Dryer Vents

Another spot where homeowners don’t tend to think about is the dryer vents. These are literal pest expressways into your home. You can detour pests from coming in by ensuring that the wall seal is in place and that no nests are growing around the entrance.

5. Start the Trimming

One of the ways that pests tend to get into the home is by simply walking into it through a variety of objects. For example, overgrown plants that lay against your home can be the access point for many of the pests that you see. That is why it is recommended to begin to trim any shrubs, plants, or trees that rest on your home.

4. Preventing Bed Bugs

Bed Bug Treatment

If you have been to a hotel or someone else’s home lately, then it is critical that you clean all your clothes before lying on your bed. This is a great way to keep bed bugs from entering your home. You can also use these oils to defend yourself from these nuisance:

Peppermint oil
Clove oil
Thyme oil
Tea tree oil
Eucalyptus oil

3. Clean Seasonal Clothing

If you live within a desert climate, it’s likely that you don’t wear jackets as often as most people. However, it is still important to clean them every few weeks as clothing is a common spot where spiders and other small pests reside.

2. Chimney Guards

Your chimney is a wide-open area for pests to walk right into your home. A great way to reduce small pests from coming in is to install a chimney guard. This will prevent larger animals from entering your home and dropping off a few critters, such as fleas, along their way out.

1. Clove oil & Ladybugs

Although very pretty to look at, ladybugs can quickly take over a space. If you have a swarm of ladybugs within your home, you may place down some clover oil. Ladybugs absolutely hate the smell and will remove themselves from the area. As you can see from the information above, there a plethora of ways to keep the pests at bay. Depending on your particular issue, it is important to attempt to apply the tips listed above before spending hundreds on an exterminator.

Conclusion

Depending on your particular issue, it is important to attempt to apply the tips listed above before spending hundreds on an exterminator. They are easy to follow and highly effective. See how it goes!

Pest Control Checklist

Home Pest Control Checklist

DIY Pest Control For Domestic Homes

Pest Control Checklist

Spraying pesticide around the house doesn’t necessarily assure you of a complete pest eradication. You might have sprayed your home with the best pesticide, but you may still be a victim of an infestation after a while. Nonetheless, you can counter this by carrying out a regular checklist to ensure there are not pests infesting your home. If you’re not the DIY kind of person, hiring a profesional exterminator is wise. Simply use google or social media to find a local pest control company near you and ask for quotes so you can compare prices.

Keeping your house clean to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation is also another way to help prevent a possible pest infestation. Since it’s hard to avoid the common house pests like cockroaches, ants, bedbugs, or termites, you need to conduct a proper checklist to help you control them.

Here is a DIY home pest control checklist with regard to the areas you need to check regularly to ensure your house is free from pests.

1. Kitchen/Dining Area

You could find flies, cockroaches, or rodents in the kitchen. Some might be located in the cabinets, kitchen equipment, the ceiling, waste disposal areas, or inside other storage areas.

Mostly, such pests might infest the kitchen area if there are food particles on the floor/tables or dirty dishes in the sink. Loose food containers can also attract the pests in the kitchen. That said, here are tips to help you manage the kitchen hygiene and sanitation as well as keep away the pests;

Keep countertops, drawers, and shelves clean and dry.
Keep the refrigerator and dishwasher areas clean
Clean out any spills or debris on the floor
Store food in air-tight containers
Limit the use of cardboard boxes in the kitchen (they might be possible hideouts for cockroaches or other insects)
Fix any crevices, cracks, or holes around the kitchen
Inspect shipments and incoming boxes for any possible pest
Check that the garbage bins or trash cans have proper plastic liners
Keep the oven and microwave clean at all times
Set up insect baits or a reliable pest trap when necessary
Take action whenever you notice rodent droppings or damages around the kitchen
Avoid leaving food particles on the table or the floor. Conversely, you should clean up drink spills or food wrappers immediately.

Always ensure that the kitchen/dining area is tidy and airy enough. Other than keeping pests away, the kitchen/dining area should be clean and tidy for health purposes. Avoid using toxic pesticides in the kitchen or dining area.

2. Entryway

These areas are mostly infested with cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, and flies. They will be in plenty near cracks or gaps, under doors, or near the plants in the entryway. Here, the pests might be looking for a warm habitat with limited to no disturbance.

Here is how to control and prevent pest infestation in the entryway;

Get rid of water that sits on the veranda near the entry areas {it could be a breeding place for mosquitoes}.
Use artificial trees and plants if the pests are uncontrollable. When choosing artificial plants, ensure that they are attractive enough to maintain the décor effect.
Ask your air conditioning expert to install a unit that blows air out of open entrances to eliminate the pests.
Avoid leaving doors open. You can also install weather stripping or door sweeps to block the pests’ entry areas.
Trim the branches that extend towards the house, and install a gravel perimeter around the house if the pests are uncontrollable.
Talk to a professional to eliminate the landscaping options that might attract pest to your home.

You must ensure that there is no any possible entry point that pests can use to enter the house. Also, make sure that the compound around your home is tidy at all times.

3. The Attic

The attic is a favorite hideout for rats, mice, or birds. These pests mostly choose the lofts or ceiling cavities {attics} because they are dark and warm. One possible sign of pests in the attics is unfamiliar noises. Rodents can chew on electrical cables, which can then cause a fire breakout. On the other hand, birds can contribute to the spread of mites, fleas, and other diseases.

Carry out an inspection whenever you hear noises coming from the attic. If it seems dangerous to access the attic, you can contact a pest management professional to handle it for you.

4. Bathroom

You might probably find cockroaches, mosquitoes, or rodents in the bathroom. If you have a broken drainage system that leaves water clogged in the bathroom, it can attract pests in your house. The pests can also feed on soaps or other products in the bathroom. Here is what to do to ensure you keep the pests away;

Eliminate any mildew and mold growth. You might be needed to inspect the bathroom thoroughly to spot them
Check and replace any loose tiles in the bathroom
Seal the gaps between the walls and the cabinets
Check and fix any leak in the pipes and faucet
Seal the gaps around vents and pipes
Take the necessary action whenever you notice rodent or pest droppings or damages

Using the right pesticides can also help to limit the infestation of the pests in the bathroom if you incorporate it with a regular checkup.

5. Bedrooms

You may find cockroaches, ants, bedbugs, and even rodents in the bedroom. These pests will infest the bedroom if it is stuffed, dark, and untidy. Here are some tips to help you handle pests in the bedroom;

Get rid of the headboards and check if there are bedbugs once or twice in a year.
Avoid taking food or drinks to the bedroom. If you have kids in the house, discourage them from eating in the bedroom
Take immediate action whenever you notice bedbugs in any room
Keep the bedroom tidy and avoid stuffing suitcases and other boxes
Inspect the rooms for potential hiding places of pests.
Other than keeping the bedroom tidy, ensure that you change the bedsheets regularly to ensure the environment is clean enough. If you have carpet, rugs, or sofas in the bedroom, make sure that you clean them regularly as well.

Conclusion

This is a home pest control checklist that you can handle without the help of an exterminator. Nonetheless, always contact a reliable and reputable pest management professional if the pests are in plenty in your home. Also, seek professional advice before you start using any pesticide.