Re-grout and restore los angeles

Bed Bugs, and how to fix the problem

Bedbugs are more prevalent these days than in the past. I’m not sure if it just seems that way because people are talking about the issue more, or if bed bugs have seriously gotten out of control. If you happen to get them there are a few steps to follow so they don’t spread to your furniture, mattresses and infest your carpet and area rugs.

Here are some step you can take to get rid of the bed bugs that have infested your home.

Carpet, area rugs and floors

1. Clear things off the floors. Make sure you move everything. (toys, shoes, books, etc)

2. Do not sweep or mop floors you have the high possibility of spreading eggs or larvae.

Vacuum the floors.

3. Bag up all area rugs if you can. This will keep the bed bugs in the bag and not all over. You have two choices here. The first would be to call a professional to take your area rugs and have them cleaned off-site. This is the safest method, as most professionals use steam to clean your carpets. Your other option would be to bag up your area rugs and bring them to a laundromat and clean them with the highest heat setting possible. This is dangerous though if you have handmade, silk, or wool carpets as the colors may bleed.

4. You must vacuum the entire house to remove the bugs from the carpet. Use a vacuum

that has an easy bag  to dispose. Also add some borax powder to the bag. As the bed bugs are picked up they will mix with the borax, ensuring the bugs are eradicated. After vacuuming, remove the bag from the vacuum (best to do this outside), place it in a plastic bag and seal the bag, before putting it into the trash.

5. For your wall to wall carpet it will need a professional steam cleaning. Ask the

carpet cleaning technician to use the highest heat setting possible.

Mattresses and bedding

1. Remove bedding, linens, curtains and clothing and wash everything in hot water and use the hottest setting for the dry cycle.

2. Put all stuffed animals, shoes and any other items that cannot be washed in the dryer for 30 minutes, once again on the highest heat setting.

3. Using a dry stiff brush, scrub mattress seams to remove bedbugs and any eggs before vacuuming the mattress and surrounding carpet. Next, seal the mattress and box springs in a woven zippered cover to keep bedbugs from leaving or entering. Keep your mattress covered for one year. Bedbugs can live up to one year without eating. Or, as an alternative, you can call a professional to steam clean your mattresses as well.

Beautiful Furniture

Your furniture is the centerpiece of your home. Your couch, love seat and ottoman match and set the tone of your home.

Upholstery Cleaning Los Angeles

Is the upholstery green? Or perhaps it's red! Is the fabric microfiber? Are the pillows filled with feathers? Are your pillows patterned? Are they a contrasting color in order to add a bit of flare?

Each piece of furniture is unique! From the color to the fabric type to the decorative pillows. We love our couches (and if we don't, we are in the market for new furniture!) and we use them everyday. Just like carpets however, daily use will cause some dirt and oils to become trapped in the fibers of your upholstered furniture. Soon that beautiful, brilliant red love seat you have becomes dingy. Your kids and pets don't treat your couch with the same amount of love as you.

Whether you need full couch cleaning, or just couch cushion cleaning, let a professional service take care of it for you. Though it is not in the name, JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care  can and will take care of it for you. From microfiber to velvet to cotton, synthetics and more, JP is simply the best in upholstery cleaning. Let the premier upholstery cleaning service in Los Angeles take care of you!

Wood Floor Alternatives

Wood floors are beautiful. Here are some alternatives to solid wood flooring.

• Bamboo
• Laminate
• Wood-Looking Vinyl Plank
• Cork
• Wood Tile
• Engineered Wood

Each of these has their good and bad qualities. But it's up to you which type of floor fits your home and your budget. We've included some pictures to give you an idea of the different types mentioned above. Of course each of these options comes in different colors to suite your style.

Bamboo:

Laminate:

Wood-Looking Vinyl Plank:

Cork:

Wood Tile:

Engineered Wood:

As you can see, no matter the type of flooring, you can still achieve the beautiful look you want. As always, if you have any questions or need help making your decision, we at JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care are always here to help you!

Wood Floor Care And Maintenance

Your floors are an investment. Something that you want to last for years and years and years. But when it comes to wood flooring what can you do? It's fine right? It's a hard floor, it shouldn't need as much professional maintenance as carpet or tile right? Well, not really. Wood floors don't need as much professional maintenance, but they still require some TLC. We have compiled a list of important thing you should and should not do with your hard wood flooring. 

• Sweep regularly with a soft bristle broom or dry dust mop. 

• Use a suction only type vacuum. Vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head can damage a wood floor and should not be used. 

• Wipe up spills promptly and use approved hardwood cleaner. 

• Use felt protectors under heavy pieces of furniture and chairs.

• Use protective mats at all exterior entrances. 

• Spiked heels or shoes in need of repair can severely damage flooring. 

• Replace hard plastic, metal casters, or wheels on furniture with soft rubber casters or by using a protective mat under the casters.

• Never wet mop your wood floors. Excess moisture or liquids can cause damage to wood flooring. 

• Never use oil soaps, wax, or other household products to clean your floor. 

• Keep pet nails trimmed. 

• Protect your floor when using a dolly for moving furniture or appliances. 

• Use protective window coverings to protect hardwood floors from excessive heat during periods of direct sunlight. 

• Never use rubber backed rugs or pads as they may damage hardwood floors. Area rugs should be soft, non-abrasive, and urethane backed.

As always, if you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to either leave a comment below or give us a call at 818-263-9314

Grease in the Kitchen

Every home has a kitchen, and every kitchen has a floor. No matter what type of flooring you have in the kitchen, unfortunately grease will build up. This is normal and common, as long as you use your kitchen. Daily cleaning of the floor with warm water and a small bit of dish soap can help curb the build up of grease. When you have tile floors however, the grout line will start to darken despite your efforts if the floor has not been sealed. The most effective way of avoiding this darkening is to have your tile sealed when the floors are laid. If this isn't possible, it is possible to have a professional come to clean the tile and grout and seal it once they are finished. Click Here to see how JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care will help you take care of your tile and grout, and help protect your floors from that nasty grease build-up.

Area Rug Underpads

Happy Friday Everyone! This week we've done a lot of work with different wood floors. I just want to let you guys know one thing to be aware of when it comes to your wood floor.

Area rugs are beautiful! The allow us to change the look and feel of our home. Unfortunately, one of the most common problems with area rugs on wood floors is what we call "waffling." This happens because of a certain underpad. The so-called "waffling" is shown in the picture below.As you walk along the carpet, the plastic of the underpad melts and sticks to the floor, causing the utter mess in the picture above.

(For the "after" click here!)

So, as you can see, when we start working, we have to tackle this area first. Also, this limits your choices when trying to choose a new rug. The non-skid carpet underpad (pictured below) would not be our recommendation if your area rug is slipping and sliding.  

"So, carpet tape then?" you may be asking. While carpet tape is a viable solution, when trying to remove the carpet tape, it has tendency to want to stay stuck to the carpet and the floor, either damaging your floor or your carpet as a result.

You best bet is something with a cloth top and a rubber bottom. The rubber keeps the carpet padding from moving along the floor, while the cloth top keeps the carpet secure to the padding. If you have already done your research and are trying to find said carpet padding, JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care can provide you with the padding you need, cut specifically for your area rugs!

The beauty of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is a type of floor that mimics the look of real wood floors generally at half the cost! Laminate floors are simple to install and require very few materials, while still giving your home a fresh, new look.

 When it comes to purchasing the material, ensure that you purchase enough for the total square footage of the area in which you want to place the flooring, plus 10%. Just like yarn if you buy from a different skein, the details of the laminate may not match from flat to flat, so make sure you purchase enough of the material beforehand! The insulation, or sound barrier should also be purchased at this time. Again, purchase as much as you need based upon the square footage. 

 Once your new floors have been installed, a new life has been given to the atmosphere of your home! When in between professional cleanings, we recommend moping once every week or two with just hot water and a drop of dish soap. 

 Next time: The Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring

Carpet Steam Cleaning

Curious as to how we take care of your carpet? Here is a video of our team hard at work, steam cleaning this carpet. Look at the difference!  

Share your thoughts! Post any questions you have below!

Good Vacuums Make for a Healthy Carpet

     And a healthy carpet makes for a healthy home. Many people don't realize that vacuuming their carpet is one of the best ways to increase the life of their carpet. As such, a good vacuum cleaner and proper vacuuming techniques are helpful.
     The first and most important rule is to vacuum  at least twice a week. This keeps the dust and soil from the day from settling into the carpet fibers. When vacuuming, most people push the vacuum in a "W" shape. However, this is very inefficient as most people put more emphasis into the pushing movement. It is indeed the pulling action that removes any dust, debris and other allergens from the carpet. The forward motion should be considered only a positioning motion. Don't forget to use the nozzle attachment to clean around baseboards and such!

     Alright, so now we know the proper way to vacuum! Awesome! Now the question is: do we have a vacuum that is right for our carpet?

     The vacuums we recommend are vacuums with a beater bar and HEPA filters. Although, it does depend on the pile of your carpet. First, let me explain "pile." The pile of your carpet is how tall the fibers are. For example, this rug has a higher pile than this rug. So in order to vacuum each carpet properly you'd need the proper vacuum. Any professional you have come to your home or business should have a vacuum with an adjustable beater bar, to accommodate the pile of your carpet. However, I'm not telling you to go out and buy an industrial grade vacuum!

     For high pile carpets, I recommend something with adjustable heights, efficient airflow, and large wheels.

     For medium or low pile carpets, a vacuum with a smaller power-head would do just fine, with the added bonus of being able to vacuum other types of flooring too. Although, if your carpets have  a lot of pet hair, I would recommend you go with something that has a turbo-head.

     But having a good, appropriate vacuum is just the beginning. We also need to worry about maintaining it so it doesn't lose any suction power. Before you freak out and start to think "Oh goodness! MORE things to worry about?!" let me tell you that the maintenance of the vacuum is quite a simple thing.

• Clean Bag Often: when the bag is about  half full, you should empty or replace the bag.
• Check the Belts: make sure they can spin the brush, i.e. no tears
• Check the Height Adjuster: if you have a height adjuster (Awesome!) make sure it is set so the bush just barely touches the carpet, this will maintain the proper amount of suction, too high or too low will cause problems.

See? Easy!

     Of course as with all things, a professional cleaning is always a good idea! For your carpets, I recommend JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care.

     So happy vacuuming!!

Clean Dark Water Spots From Hardwood

Have dark spots on your hardwood floors? Here's our simple at-home solution (of course, we recommend a professional for a more extensive cleaning, but this is a good "in between" fix).

The first step would be to clean the spot and surrounding area with No. 2 steel wool and a wood floor cleaner or mineral spirits. Thoroughly wash the spotted area with household vinegar and allow it to remain for three to four minutes before buffing the area to remove the vinegar. If the spot is still there, sand with fine sandpaper, following the grain pattern of the wood and feathering out 3 to 4 inches into surrounding area. Apply the vinegar again and again allow it to remain for three to four minutes. If the spot is still there, repeat the sanding. If two repeated applications of the vinegar do not remove the spot, apply an oxalic acid solution directly on the spot. Proportions are one ounce of oxalic acid to one quart of water.

**Always use the recommended cleaner for your floors, and buff vigorously with clean towel. Refinishing might be necessary. And never be afraid of calling for help, our experts are here to help you (818) 263-9314! 

Any questions? Something we didn't address? Tell us below and we'll take care of it!

Carpet Beetles

Just when we took all the precautions for bed bugs a new indoor bug comes into the lime light... the carpet beetle also known as the flour or furniture beetle. These rather tiny beetles come in different shapes, colors and very in sizes.

These beetles will eat just about anything organic. For example, these bugs will eat your carpet, furniture, lint, hair, clothes, blankets, pet food, animal nests, leather, pollen from flowers, flour, grains and many more materials.

What do you need to do to get rid of these bugs?

• Go through your pantry and check flour and grains
• Check closets, drawers, storage boxes
• Check under carpets and area rugs
• Check your couches and chairs

Thoroughly vacuum (looking for a good one? Here's some tips on what to look for!) your home and wash all bed linens and clothing in hot soapy water. The next step is to have your carpet professionally steam cleaned; make sure you get a deep steam cleaning. It is sometimes useful to treat infested areas with insecticides to eliminate residual populations of carpet beetles. In nonfood areas household formulation of various pyrethroid insecticides can be used. Numerous products allow such use and contain as the active ingredient permethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, tralomethrin and realted compounds. Use according to label directions and pay particular attention to treating baseboards, corners, edges of carpeting and other areas where lint and other debris accumulates that is fed on by carpet beetles. To keep them from coming back, make sure there is no hair and dust floating through your home. Thus you must keep up a cleaning regiment: vacuum often (at least 2 times a week), keep all flour products and grains in air tight containers. If you follow these steps, you should get rid of them and stay rid of them.

Hardwood Flooring

Choosing to have new flooring is a big decision, on that you need to be well informed. Should I go with real wood or laminate? If you are not sure you need to educate your self, find out what the difference is.

 

Laminate floor is made of high density fiberboard core, placed between a melamine laminate backing and a high quality photographic paper. The image can range from wood, stone or any other natural flooring. There are a few hybrid products that replace the photographic paper with a very thin piece of real wood veneer.

 

There are benefits and drawbacks to both hardwood and laminate flooring: hardwood floors can be scratched, but scratches can be repaired. If laminate floors get scratched, it’s not very easy to repair. A hardwood floor can be sanded to remove any imperfections; you can not do this with a laminate floor. One benefit to laminate floors is that they do not fade or turn yellow from sunlight. Most stained wood floors will change color over time. On the other hand wood floors can be restored to their original beauty. Laminate floors never need to be waxed or polished, they also hold up better in a kitchen or bathroom, where hardwood floors do not do well in rooms with a lot of moisture.

 

Ultimately, the decision is yours whether you go with hardwood or laminate flooring; you need to examine what is best for you, your family and for your home. But don't fret, you can always turn to the experts at JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care if you need help or have any questions at all!

Choosing Hardwood Flooring

Choosing what type of wood floors best suit you home is an important decision. The 3 main types of hardwood floors are: solid wood – engineered wood – acrylic impregnated flooring. When choosing your flooring you should keep in mind that solid hardwoods may require more upkeep than engineered wood flooring, but they can be re-sand and refinished.

 

Solid wood flooring comes in unfinished and pre-finished  the difference is that unfinished floors need to be installed, sanded, stained and sealed. Pre-finished wood floors just have to be installed; they have been finished at the factory. Three main types:

 

Solid wood:

 

            Strip flooring – has a set width, from 1 ½, 2 and 2 ¼ inches

            Plank flooring – comes in 2 thicknesses, but is available in widths from 3 to 8 inches

            Parquet flooring – made up of geometrical patterns composed of individual wood slats

 

Engineered wood flooring is produced by adhering layers of plastic laminate veneer with real wood. (You should not confuse engineered wood flooring with laminate flooring; there is no actual wood in laminate flooring.)

 

Acrylic-impregnated wood flooring is infused with color and sealant throughout the thickness of the wood, so the finish is actually all the way through the wood. (Mostly used commercially)

Marble Maintenance

Marble is a very beautiful and unique natural stone. Whether it is in kitchen, bath or throughout your home it can be a challenge to clean. If you do not sweep or vacuum your floors dust and dirt can and will leave scratches. So sweep and vacuum as often as you can. To clean or wash your marble never use an acidic cleaner. The best thing is a little mild dish soap in warm water. The key is to always rinse your mop in between strokes; you don’t want to push dirt from on side to the other. After mopping always dry the marble never let it air dry. Marble being a porous stone even water can leave spots.

Whether you like the mirror shine or a matte finish, you will need to have a professional come and polish the marble by using diamond abrasive compound to smooth down and bring back the finish that you desire.

Any questions? Share your thoughts in the comment section, we love your feedback!

Never scrub. Always blot.

Take Caution!!

The golden rule when spot cleaning your carpet in between professional cleanings is to never scrub, always blot. Scrubbing will push the spot more  into the fibers of the carpet and make it hard for JP Carpet Cleaning to remove. It's not impossible but it is definitively hard to get out. First, get up as much of the spill as possible the blot the rest when you have removed as much as you can. Then sprinkle with baking soda or salt, this will absorb more. When it is completely dry vacuum up. If there is any residue take some warm water and a very little dish soap blot it up.

A Natural Way to Remove Pet Stains

If you are looking for a more natural way to get up pet urine, the key is to act fast, so that the stain has no time to penetrate into the carpet. Get up as much of the solid and liquid waste as possible. There are a few products that you can use that are safe for you carpet and pets:

1. Vinegar – pour directly onto the area; allow it to soak in for a minute then begin blotting with a clean dry towel until the stain is gone. Remember to always blot never rub.
2. Baking Soda – coat the entire area; allow it to sit until it is completely dry (usually overnight), vacuum the stain and odor away.
3. Salt – sprinkle a generous amount onto the stain, allow it to work for a couple of hours then vacuum up.

Hopefully you can catch it before it has time to set into your carpet. The key is to act fast and if none these solutions work you should contact a professional carpet cleaner. 

 

Need help? Call us right away (818)263-9314 or post a comment below!

Fresh Red Wine Stain Removal

If someone spilled red wine on your light colored carpet or upholstery, don't worry, it's not the end of the world. If you act fast you can remedy the problem yourself. Here is the first of several solutions to resolve your red wine spill.

 

First, as with any spill, blot up as much of the liquid as you can. Pour white wine on a red wine spill. The white wine will dissipate the red wine. Again blot up as much as you can. If you can still see the stain generously sprinkle with salt, while the salt is drying it should lift out the remaining red wine. If you don't get the stain out yourself do not hesitate to contact a professional carpet cleaner.

 

Share your stories about red wine spills with us! 

If you do not have white wine on hand, first and always blot up as much of the spill as you can. Then spray the area with hydrogen peroxide, follow that with a generous sprinkling of baking soda. Let it dry. As it is drying the peroxide should neutralize the red wine and the baking soda will absorb the liquid as it dries.

All Rugs Are Not Made Equal.

Area rugs and wall to wall carpet should not be cleaned the same way. Wall to wall carpet is synthetic materials and can withstand steam cleaning on a regular basis. While area rugs are usually made of natural or animal fibers, need to be cared for in a different way. Most area rugs are hand-knotted and soil gets trapped in the knots and crevices. You can have your area rugs steam cleaned; this will only get the top portion of the rug cleaned, but what about the fibers in between and the underneath. Handmade natural fiber area rugs are a big investment, so choose a professional carefully, one who has experience in area rug cleaning, like JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care!

 

Share your thoughts with us below!

How Often Should I Clean My Carpets?

First question to ask yourself…..Why should I get my carpet cleaned?

 

Even if you don’t think your carpets look dirty, guess again, they are. Dirt gets deep down into the fibers of the carpet. Getting your carpets cleaned on a regular basis will make your home a healthier place to live. Carpets that are cleaned regularly will extend the life of your carpet. The largest carpet manufacturer highly recommends hot water extraction (steam cleaning).

 

Next question to ask yourself…..When should I get my carpet cleaned?

 

Just don’t get your carpets cleaned when it looks dirty or once every couple of years. Here are some guidelines to go by:

 

Lightly soiled - vacuum once a week – clean every 12-18 months

Normal soil (families’ w/kids, elderly) – vacuum 1-2 times a week – clean every 6-12 months

Heavily soiled (families’ w/pets, smoking) – vacuum 2-4 times a week – clean every 3-6 months

Extreme conditions (large families, multiple pets) vacuum daily – clean every 2-3 months

 

Last question to ask yourself…..How should I get my carpets cleaned?

 

Use a company that does hot water extraction or in other words, steam cleaning. Ask them what exactly do they do or what process. For example do they prespray the whole carpet, treat the stains and spots and is it a deep cleaning for the price they are charging you. Also use a company that gives you a firm price up front.

 

The very last questions to ask yourself…..Who should I get to clean my carpets?

 

The only answer, JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care, of course! Share your thoughts and questions below!