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.

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

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!

Cleaning Dark Water Spots on Hardwood Floors

Dark water spots are a nuisance. Between professional cleanings or other hardwood treatments, it's worth knowing how to manage dark water spots on your hardwood floors. 

Clean 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. Allow it to remain for three to four minutes. If the spot remains, sand with fine sandpaper, follow the grain pattern of the wood, feathering out 3 to 4 inches into the surrounding area, re-wax, and polish. If two repeated applications of vinegar do not remove the spot, apply the oxalic acid solution directly on the spot. Proportions are one ounce oxalic acid to one-quart water or a fraction thereof.

**Use recommended cleaner and buff vigorously with a clean towel. Refinishing might be necessary