Removing Ink From Carpet

School's back in session and for many of you that means it's time to reclaim your house (at least for a few hours every day).   It also means homework, tests, and lots of running errands and to school functions. Sometimes when it hasn't been that long since our carpets have been cleaned we get that pesky spot that we just want to go away. This week I will tell you how to use common household products to get rid of one spot out of your carpet that's very common, ink. Be sure to read  ALL the below instructions before you try this. It never hurts to first try in a closet or somewhere nobody will see with any spot cleaner you try.

Removing Ink (Ballpoint) From Your Carpet   Remove as much of any foreign material as possible by blotting with a white paper towel or scraping with a dull knife.   Apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol to a clean white cloth, white paper towel or cotton ball. If the spot extends deep into the pile use a blotting motion until the spot is removed or no color is transferred to the cloth. Do not allow the alcohol to penetrate into the backing as this will destroy the latex bond. If the spot is on the surface only, rub in one direction at a time. Never us a circular motion to remove spot as this may destroy the texture. Stop if spot is removed. If not, go to the next step.   Apply a small quantity of detergent solution to the spot. (To make the detergent solution mix 1/4 teaspoon of a hand dish washing detergent which does not contain lanolin or bleach with 1 quart of water; examples of safe detergents are Dawn and Joy.) Use a blotting motion to work the detergent into the affected area. If spot is being removed continue applying detergent and blotting with a white paper towel until spot is removed.   Rinse with tap water using a spray bottle, blot to remove excess moisture.   Spray lightly with water, do not blot this time; apply pad of paper towels and brick and allow to dry.   If there is still some stain on the carpet and blotting is not removing it, then moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand for on (1) hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain free. Light will cause peroxide to change back to water so no rinsing is necessary. Apply pad of paper towels and weight down with brick. Important - ALWAYS read and follow the care instructions and any warnings provided by the carpet or upholstery manufacturer. Carpeting and upholstery with natural fibers and/or certain dyes or finishes may require special treatment. If in doubt contact Overturf's Cleaning for advice/service first. NEVER PROCEED with any stain removal instructions without knowing the exact nature of the stain involved. NEVER USE any retail products to remove stains from carpet or upholstery without seeking the advice of the manufacturer or you could void your warranty.

Safely Removing Spots from Carpet

Although we've posted various types of spots and how to get rid of them, here are some basic steps for effective removal no matter the spot, along with some precautions.

Act Quickly!

Most carpet available today has been treated with a stain-resist treatment, so many spills can be removed if immediate action is taken. The longer the delay, the higher the probability of a spill becoming a permanent stain. Remember, staining is influenced by many factors, and no carpet is completely stain proof.

Blot liquids with a dry, white, absorbent cloth or or white paper toweling (no printing or colors on the paper towels).

Do not scrub! Scrubbing may cause pile distortion in the affected area. Continue to use a dry cloth or paper towels until the area is completely dry. For semi-solids, gently scrape up with a rounded spoon. Solids should be broken up and vacuumed until completely removed.

Pretest any spot removal agent in an inconspicuous area to be certain the solution will not damage the fiber or the dye. After applying several drops to the testing area, hold a white cloth on the wet area for 10 seconds. Examine the carpet and cloth for color transfer, color change, or damage to the carpet. If a change occurs or any color comes off onto your cloth, another cleaning solution should be selected.

Apply a small amount of the selected cleaning solution to a white cloth and work in gently.
Work from the edges of the spill to the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Remember, do no scrub! Blot in order to absorb as much as possible, and repeat if necessary.

Continue using the first cleaning solution as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. It is not necessary to use all of the cleaning solutions if the first solution removes the spill.

Be patient! Complete removal of the spill may require repeating the same step several times.

After the spill has been completely removed, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, and blot with a dry cloth until all of the solution has been removed. Some cleaning solutions, especially the over the counter variety, can dry leaving behind residue. This will cause rapid soiling if the solution is not completely removed. Apply a one-half inch layer of white paper towels to the affected area, and weigh down with a flat, heavy object. Continue to change paper towels as needed.

A dry, absorbent, cleaning compound may be used as a substitute to accelerate drying time.
For more detailed information on a specific spill, please feel free to contact us or refer to our newsletters that contain this information.

Also, many fiber manufacturers provide toll-free cleaning assistance and advice (consult your carpet or fabric's warranty).

If you're looking for professional grade spot cleaners and other cleaning supplies, please visit our website at www.CleaningManatee.com/shop.

Successfully Maintaining Wool Carpets

Please note: these are not instructions for taking care of a wool rug, or an oriental rug.
Oriental rugs should always be cleaned in a rug plant by professionals, not at your home. “Why not at my home, so and so cleaning company did it before?” many ask. If you had your oriental rug successfully cleaned before, consider yourself fortunate. These rugs may have loose dye that will bleed or crock. You may have 10 colors in your rug and only one bleeds. This can be cared for and prevented much better at a rug plant, plus the cleaning, dusting and drying process is far superior than what can be done at your home. If you decide to spot clean your Oriental rug, make sure you test every color separately for color fastness. You test for color fastness by taking a white cotton towel that has been dipped with a small amount of wool safe cleaner, and then patting the towel on each color separately.

Regular Maintenance of your wool carpets
If you have wool carpets, get rid of all your store bought carpet cleaning spotters. Many of these products not only leave behind dirt attracting residue, they also have a high pH that is too aggressive to use on wool and can ruin your carpets.
Use a product that indicates on the packaging that it is wool safe. Using too high a PH cleaner on your wool carpet can turn the fibers brown or yellow.
High PH cleaners will also break down the cuticle or hard scaly surface that holds the fiber together. Breaking down the cuticle leaves you with a fuzzy mess. When using a wool safe product – blot. Scrubbing will also cause the fiber to fuzz out.
Do not get bleach on your wool carpet. Bleach will dissolve wool carpet and leave a hole behind.
As with all carpet, vacuum as often as you can, at least once a week.

You want your wool carpet to dry quickly when it is cleaned. If the carpet takes too long to dry it can turn yellow or brown. Your professional Sarasota carpet cleaner will run an air mover to help dry the carpet faster while he is there. He will also give you instructions so you can help the drying process to happen quicker after he leaves.
Much effort, training, and specialty products go into cleaning wool carpets correctly. That’s why using the right professionals like those at Overturf’s Cleaning makes this job a successful one with no headaches down the road. You also want to be sure the carpet cleaner you use is IICRC Certified. That means he has undergone formal training and has received at least some education in carpet cleaning. At Overturf's Cleaning, we help you avoid uneducated, uninformed, and even downright unscrupulous carpet cleaners by providing the most outstanding service experience ever, guaranteed.

The Second Reason Spots Sometimes Reappear

Reason # 2: Re-soiling. Re-soiling is caused by a sticky residue that has been left behind. What causes the residue? It may be from the spot itself, the cleaner that was used (especially an over the counter cleaner, like those foam type), or both. I once had a residue issue at a job due to me not rinsing out the spot cleaner I used thoroughly enough. Once I returned and flushed the cleaner out, the carpet looked as good as new.  

Some common residue causes are over-the-counter carpet cleaners purchased at the grocery store. The sticky residue they leave behind often attracts more dirt. They are usually not rinsed out properly, since their instructions often say to let them dry on the carpet then vacuum them up.

Avoid using these cleaners all together. If you have to use one of these cleaners, or you have to use dish washing detergent, use as little as possible and rinse with water thoroughly.

  

Other residue causes would be oily spots. Duct tape residue, body oils (like from our bare feet), lotions, sticky mats or other types of adhesive, etc. If all of the oily residue is not removed, it will attract soil as the carpet is walked on. Even quality professional cleaning may not remove all oily residue the first time.

SPECIAL NOTE: Cheap carpet cleaners use cheap products that are loaded with Optical Brighteners. Optical Brighteners are most commonly used in laundry detergent. They create an illusion of clean that causes the soil or spot to appear to be removed. The spot is still there. The soil is still there. Optical Brighteners create a film that reflects light so that the carpet looks incredibly clean. It's an optical illusion.

Using optical brighteners will often void your carpet's warranty. See your warranty for details.  

An illustration of this can be seen at a flea market, home show, or a late night infomercial. Someone will be demonstrating a miracle cleaner on a small rug. The rug is saturated with motor oil. The salesman then scoops off just the foam of the miracle cleaner and then presto, the motor oil is gone! This is physically impossible. Notice that the salesman has several bright lights shining on the demo rug to create the illusion.

Quality cleaning companies use quality, professional products, and they guarantee their work. Even though we could use cheaper products without our clients knowing, we've found that using a better quality means fewer call backs and happier clients.

Why Spots on Your Carpet Keep Coming Back

Have you ever wondered why spots return after having your carpet cleaned?

There are two reasons that spots return:

Reason # 1: Wicking. Wicking is the upward migration of moisture or other substances during drying.  

Many times, the spots in your carpet have seeped into the backing of the carpet. This is common with liquids such as pet urine, beverages, and anything that is spilled in “volume”. The substance dries in the backing and the cushion (pad) of the carpet. When the spot is cleaned, only the material in the “pile” of the carpet is removed. However, moisture is introduced to into the backing of the carpet. As the spot dries, the material that is in the backing of the carpet “wicks” back into the pile of the carpet and comes to the surface much like a candle wick.

Even traffic area soil that is embedded can wick back. This is especially common in glue down carpet that is heavily impacted with soil. When the carpet is cleaned, it looks good. When it dries, the spots and traffic areas come back.

The good news is that if a spot actually wicks back, it can be removed. When spot cleaning yourself, place a folded white terry cloth towel over the spot just after you clean it while the spot is still moist. Place a heavy object on top of the cloth. Be sure to use something non porous that won’t transfer color onto the carpet (like a paper book cover). Use a brick, a planting pot, or something like that.

When you have your carpet cleaned professionally, be sure to point out spots that have wicked back in the past, so they can be treated properly.Often, getting the carpets dry quickly will help prevent wicking. Your carpet cleaner can do this by running air movers to help dry the room (one of Overturf's Cleaning's steps in our 12 step process). You can assist in your carpets dry time by running any available fans like ceiling fans, along with turning your air conditioner on to about 70 degrees. The sooner the carpet dries, the less chance for any substance on the backing of the carpet has to wick up to the surface.

We will discuss reason number 2 for spots returning in a future post.

You'll Get the Cleanest Carpets in Bradenton

You’ll love this exclusive deep cleaning process. The system is designed to go WAY beyond what most cleaners think of doing.

Your carpet will be cleaned by experienced, honest, IICRC certified technicians who excel at pleasing you.

GUARANTEED

If you're not happy, we'll re-clean the area for FREE. And if you're still not pleased, you don't pay for that room. 

This is Jeremy Overturf with Overturf's Cleaning. My wife Stefanie and I have built our family business on reputation. Several homeowners in Manatee County recommend our service. Call us for references.

Here's the multi-step process we go through with every standard carpet cleaning:

Step 1...Dry soil removal with commercial vacuum.

Step 2...Pre condition fibers to break down dirt and oil in traffic lanes.

Step 3...FREE spot cleaning to remove stubborn stains like gum, spills, ink, food, mud, mystery spots, etc.

Step 4...Your carpet will be as clean as possible with our deep steam cleaning truck mounted system while our special formula removes odors.

Step 5...Any remaining spots get extra treatment with specialty spotters.

Step 6...Your carpet is groomed to remove footprints and accelerate the drying process.

To see what we can do for your carpets, visit our website: Bradenton Carpet Cleaners

BONUS GIFT: For a limited time, get a FREE bottle of professional spot remover with lifetime refills.

Call 941-301-9555 for an honest, friendly phone estimate with no bait and switch. 

You’ll be glad you did.

One last thing: Trust is a big issue when hiring a carpet cleaning service. I’ve been in the carpet cleaning business for over 12 years. And in that time, I've learned that carpet cleaning can be confusing. In fact, people have so many misconceptions about carpet cleaning that I decided to offer educational information so when you select a carpet cleaning company, you can make an informed decision. It's available to read or as a free PDF download at our Bradenton Carpet Cleaning website, www.CleaningManatee.com. 
 
Thank you, 

Jeremy & Stefanie Overturf

Overturf's Cleaning