4 Lessons I Have Learned Trying to Keep My Home Clean and Healthy

Having bright-colored soft furniture in my home always makes me freak out when my sister’s kids come over. There is no way to prevent juice spills over the sofa or the carpets and of course I cannot just put plastic over everything. So the worst thing happened — grape soda stain on the white couch — and I had to remove it.

It turned out that upholstery cleaning was not that expensive and as something that I have often neglected in the general home maintenance, it’s better to be performed on a regular basis (and not just when there is an impossible stain). Why? Keep reading.

1. Clean House Equals Healthier Life

The furniture and carpeting are the first areas in my home that welcome me after a long day at work (surrounded by other people) or when I get back from a gruelling session at the gym. Over time, germs, dirt and sweat naturally build up in the textile. Searching for more information, I’ve found that it’s recommended to clean your upholstery at least once a year, which definitely wasn’t my case. And I know too many people that don’t get their upholstery cleaned nearly enough, if at all. The main reason why it’s recommended to clean your upholstery regularly, is because by keeping your home clean, you will contribute to its welcoming and inviting look, but more importantly to the health of your family.

2. Personal Attempts to Clean Random Spills and Carpet Stains

As I still haven’t used the services of a professional company to take care of my sofa and there was a spill, I naturally tried to clean it by myself. I learned that even better solution is to take pre-emptive measures — always ask the furniture maker or the carpet store how to properly clean the textile, before buying anything. Often you will find that you may get very helpful information that you can use to purchase a furniture which will stay cleaner for longer (not like my white sofa). You will also have some heads up on how to deal with issues when they arise. Some manufacturers even have specific cleaning detergents that you can’t use without discrediting the warranty.

3. Why Did I Get Better Results With Professional Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning Services?

In most cases you won’t be able to get the stains out. I wasn’t too. The magic is not only in using some detergents and cleaning products. They might have not worked, but that doesn’t mean a competent cleaning service won’t be able to do it for you. In my experience with an Atlanta based cleaning company, I found out that the cleaners are trained to know what chemicals work with different types of spills and to choose the proper tools for any situation.

An important part of the home maintenance is making the process easy for yourself. The way to do that is to hire a cleaning company. Most cleaning contractors give you the option to schedule a monthly or even yearly service. That way you will know that every “whichever day of the month you choose”, you will get a call to arrange a cleaning appointment. Most importantly, it will bring more life to your furniture and protect your family from the accumulation of germs and dust.

4. How to Choose a Carpet And Upholstery Cleaning Contractor?

With so many cleaning companies out there, it’s not that easy … and it’s time consuming, so let’s get straight to the point.

• Make interviews with several cleaning contractors before choosing. Ask for references and check them. They will spend time in your home and you have to be comfortable with that. You need to trust them, because the cleaning person will have access to your entire house.
• Ask them if they are going to supply the cleaning equipment. Nearly every cleaning company that I have spoken with, told me that the cleaning team will arrive at my home, equipped with all necessary supplies for the job (solvents, brooms, brushes, vacuums, etc.). Only one or two companies requested me to supply my own cleaning detergents. What would have happened if I had chosen that one without knowing that?
• Show them the areas that have to be cleaned. It’s always a good idea to spend a few minutes to note which areas of the property should be included in the scheduled cleaning. Make sure you find a cleaning service that will accept your requests and prior to each visit be sure to leave a list of problem areas.
• Find out what is the charge for your specific needs. Get that individual cleaning quotes and compare the benefits.
• Discuss payment for the cleaning services ahead of time. All payment arrangements should be discussed before the first visit. Most companies will offer you a wide variety of options. Choose the most suitable for you.