Have you ever wondered why your carpets may wrinkle after they’re cleaned? If not, great! Your carpet is in excellent shape and you don’t need this information…yet.

The technical term for wrinkles is Latex Displacement or Expansion Differential (either term is acceptable). Tufted carpets have 4 layers:

1. Face Fiber
2. Primary Backing
3. Latex Adhesive
4. Secondary Backing

Each layer of the carpet has a natural absorption rate. The issue starts with that layer of latex adhesive. Latex is water-soluble and will absorb significantly more moisture than the 2 layers it’s sandwiched between. Both backing layers are typically made of polypropylene, which absorbs .025% moisture (virtually nothing). The latex is swelling and has to go somewhere so it manifests itself as wrinkles.

It’s important to understand that moisture absorption is the catalyst for wrinkles appearing but it’s not the cause of the problem. The problem already existed. Carpet cleaners get blamed for wrinkles all the time but they are rarely the actual cause. The good news is that once the latex completely dries it will usually go back to its original wrinkle-free state. These are the actual problems causing the wrinkles:

Manufacturing:

1. Latex degradation
2. Low-quality latex (high filler load)

The latex used in carpet manufacturing is notorious for have a high filler load of calcium carbonate. This causes the latex to go further in the manufacturing process but will shorten the usable life of the carpet. If you pull the carpet back and notice if there are lots of little white crumbs on the cushion.

Installation:

1. Improper stretch
2. Incorrect cushion (too high)
3. Incorrect or damaged tackstrip
4. No acclimation of product or installed too cold
5. Seams and transitions not properly sealed

Improper installation is the most common reason for wrinkles; and not by a little bit. Carpet must be installed using a powerstretcher – that is the rule and there are no exceptions. It must be stretched in the length and the width evenly. Most installers soft stretch the width to minimize seam peak but this causes wrinkling within a short time. Carpet cushion should not exceed 7/16” and should be of high quality. Cushion that is too soft or too tall will allow the backing to overly flex with high traffic. Tackstrip that is old or damaged must be replaced. The pins on tackstrip must also be the right height for the cushion used. Did you even know that carpet should be acclimated to the environment? Installing on a cold day where the carpet sits outside or in a garage will cause it to shrink up. And once in the home at a comfortable 72 degrees + that carpet will relax. Another very common mistake is not sealing the seams or the transitions from wood or tile floors. Any delamination starting at these points will be directly related to installation error.

Environmental & Use Conditions:

1. High humidity (only when combined with another factor)
2. Flooding
3. Improper maintenance
4. Age of the carpet (it doesn’t last forever folks)
5. Wrong carpet for the traffic load (unrealistic expectations)

Carpets have a usable life cycle. It’s the homeowner’s job to maintain carpet the right way so that it lasts as long as it can. That includes proper vacuuming, spot cleaning, and hiring the right cleaner to meet manufacturer’s warranties. Not all carpet is made to the same quality level and carpet designed to last 5 years is not going to hold up for 10 years in an active home.

Professional Cleaning:

1. Overly wet for an extended time period
2. Specialty spotters reached the backing and dissolved the latex

Can the carpet cleaner be at fault? Yes, it is possible. If the carpets stay wet for too long (and we’re talking days not hours) that can weaken the backing. Also if spotters that are made to dissolve adhesives are used, that can contribute. It’s unlikely that solvent spotter such as these are used throughout an entire room though.

Ready to Try Chem-Dry of Stratford?

Give us a call at 630-562-3930 or book your service online by visiting https://chemdrystratford.fittlebug.com/

With just a couple short weeks before Thanksgiving, you may be starting to go over your check list. Have you planned your meal, made your grocery list, sent out invitations? Do you have a plan for your center piece? What will you make for dessert?  Have you made an appointment to have your carpets cleaned?

We know by first-hand experience that the holidays can get hectic. With family all over the midwest, from Wheaton, to Glen Ellyn, to West Chicago and Bartlett! Trust me, cleaning the house is always our biggest concern! Scheduling a carpet cleaning before you host your friends and family for Thanksgiving will give you extra confidence that your guests will be comfortable in your home. You won’t have to worry about any unsightly stains embarrassing you and making you feel more than a little ungrateful during the day you’re supposed to be thankful.

Make sure you schedule your carpet cleaning a few days before the big event so you will have time for your carpets fully dry before you guests arrive.

If you’re fortunate enough to have the kind of incredible non-judgemental friends and family who wouldn’t even notice stains on the carpet, and you feel comfortable enough with them to have them over stains and all, then you could actually schedule your carpet cleaning for after Thanksgiving dinner. This approach allows you to feel very casual about the meal and not stress out about any of the inevitable spills that seem to come along with any big fancy meal.

Whichever your approach to holiday hosting, cleaning before or after the big event, please contact us to schedule your carpet cleaning.

If you need a carpet cleaner in Carol Stream, carpet cleaner in DuPage County, Carpet Cleaner in Kane County, we have you covered! Please contact us. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are happy to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have.

Chem-Dry of Stratford has a conveniently located office in Illinois to help better serve our growing list of customers.

Medinah, Elk Grove, West Chicago and surrounding areas:  1820 Wallace Ave. #112 St Charles, IL 60174

Cleaning Your New Carpet

You may have heard that it’s best to wait as long as possible before having new carpet professionally cleaned. People who offer this advice believe that the manufacturer’s carpet protection treatment will be washed away with a professional cleaning and that carpets once cleaned will start attracting more dirt.

How valid are these concerns? Should you wait as long as possible to have your new carpets cleaned? The definitive answer is no, and here’s why.

The Carpet Protective Sealants Concern

If you’ve ever owned a set of nonstick cookware, you know that dish soap and a sponge won’t ruin the coating. Similarly, protective sealants on your carpet are specially designed to easily withstand carpet cleaning processes.

The real concern about breakdown of the protection is abrasives. If you took steel wool and scouring powder to your nonstick cookware, it would be ruined. The same concept applies to your carpet. Built-up dirt, grime, and grit have an abrasive effect, not only on protective treatments, but worse, on the delicate carpet fibers. Allowing contaminants to settle in and remain is a sure way to ruin protective treatments and invite premature wear.

Does A Chem-Dry Cleaned Carpet Attract More Dirt?

There could actually be an element of truth to this, but it’s not what you think. This is where professional, quality carpet cleaning vs. cheap makes a big difference. Very cheap carpet cleaning services will often use less expensive, lower quality soaps and detergents that leave a sticky residue or may not take the time to thoroughly rinse the cleaning solutions from the carpet. Contaminants adhere to what’s been left behind, and the carpet can quickly become even dirtier than it was prior to having it cleaned.

Quality vs. Cheap Really Makes a Difference

However, a truly professional carpet cleaning company, like Chem-Dry of Stratford uses quality cleaning solutions, equipment and techniques and knows how to rinse completely.  When they are done you will be left with pristine carpets that are no more prone to soiling than if they were just installed.

Don’t Forget About the Manufacturer’s Warranty

Remember, if you have invested in new carpet, your manufacturer’s warranty has required care and cleaning obligations you must follow in order to maintain coverage. For example, Stainmaster’s carpet warranty states that professional carpet cleaning services should be “performed by a trained, qualified carpet care professional, at least as frequently as every 18 months since the date of purchase of your carpet. Failing to do so will void your warranty coverage.”

So, the definitive answer is…

Don’t delay professional carpet cleaning. Take care of your investment. As long as you choose your carpet cleaning service provider wisely, and have regularly scheduled cleaning done according to recommended guidelines, your brand new carpet will be clean and inviting for years to come. If you have any more questions please feel free to reach out to one of our carpet cleaning expert technicians at Chem-Dry of Stratford. Call us at 630-562-3930 or use our contact form.

As summer dwindles down to its last few days, and children have to return back to school it becomes easier to keep our carpet clean. We experience less running in and out, which tracks dirt and germs across your carpet on feet or bottoms of shoes. It is the perfect time for a professional carpet cleaning from Chem-Dry of Stratford Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.

You may be saying to yourself “I can clean it myself” or, “I just need to rent a carpet cleaner machine.” But, do you know that using carpet cleaning solutions on your carpet allows dirt to accumulate on your carpet more heavily and quicker? Regardless of what brand cleaning solution you use, whether you scrub by hand, spot clean, or use a carpet cleaner, residue from your carpet cleaning solution builds up within your carpet fibers attracting any new dirt that crosses its path.

Chem-Dry of Stratford’s Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning can provide a high quality low cost cleaning to every room in your house leaving no residue for dirt to collect. Stop layering cleaning solution upon cleaning solution on top of each other trying to get rid of those stains that seem like they continuously get worse and worse.

Chem-Dry’s cleaning technology not only cleans your carpet free of surface stains and dirt, but penetrates deep into your carpet, breaking down and cleaning away the buildup of previously used carpet cleaning solutions. You will be amazed at how those awful stains that have been setting for years can easily be lifted from your carpet with one quick call.

Regardless if you need to clean pet stains, coffee/wine spills, or the stains from your children that you aren’t quite sure what they really are, Chem-Dry of Stratford Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning is only a phone call away. Call now to schedule your end of summer carpet cleaning appointment and we will leave your carpet feeling and smelling clean and refreshing. 630-562-3930.

Many people like to think they can keep their carpets clean on their own. We just need to vacuum every month or so and blot when there’s a stain… right?

Wrong. What you’re likely forgetting is that almost all carpet companies require you to professionally  clean your carpet every 12 to 24 months, to keep your warranty valid.

In other words, vacuuming is not enough. Neither is steaming carpets yourself. Professional cleaning is, like it or not, legally the only way to protect your carpet in most cases. And it’s also a way to protect your health.

“Indoor air quality can be eight to ten times worse than outdoor air quality, if you don’t clean your flooring, clean your drapes and let air inside regularly,” says interior designer Robin Wilson, who specializes in allergy-free housekeeping. When millions of Americans suffer from indoor allergies, air quality is a huge issue.

Wilson — and the other experts — says that to keep the air in your home clean, it’s important to follow a few carpet-cleaning rules. Namely:

Call professionals to clean your carpet, more often than you think you should.

Many carpet companies won’t honor your warranty unless you hire professional cleaners every 12 to 18 months, says Carolyn Forte, a director at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. In some cases the requirement may be 24 months — check your carpet’s warranty for specifics.

Wilson, meanwhile, recommends even more frequent cleanings in the interest of a dust-free home: she says to call in professional cleaners every six months, and every four to six WEEKS if you have a pet. (Keep in mind this applies to carpets, not area rugs).

Regardless of how often you choose to use them, the experts agree that professional carpet cleaners are hands-down necessary — you shouldn’t attempt to steam carpets yourself. Only Chem-Dry of Stratford can effectively lift dust from deep within your carpet, if left there, it will wear down and rip the carpet’s fibers. But only professional machines can truly zap all the steam’s moisture from the carpet when you’re done cleaning. The results of trying to do it yourself can be sickening.

“I’ve been on job sites where you pull up the carpet and see a mold patch,” Wilson says. When you steam clean yourself, “you turn your house into an incubator for mold growth,” Wilson adds.

Between cleans, vacuum at least weekly (or much more often with pets).

Of course, vacuuming remains the easiest way to keep carpets and area rugs clean between steams — the experts recommend vacuuming once per week, to keep those abrasive dust particles out of carpet fibers. Ramp up the frequency in high-traffic areas or if you have pets — these spots might need daily vacuuming depending on how much debris you notice, according to Merry Maids Training Manager Debra Johnson.

And take area rugs out for spring and fall cleaning sessions.

Area rugs vary in their care instructions, so check yours for its ideal cleaning schedule. Generally, Wilson says, you should vacuum rugs with the same frequency as carpets, then deep-clean them every six months with a good old-fashioned broom-beating. Take rugs outside, shake them out, beat them with an actual broom (ideally while wearing a mask to protect your face), and let them air outside for a day.

Many area rugs can also be steam cleaned — if yours allows, you might steam it once per year, Wilson advises.

Another secret? Vacuum slowly.

“One of the most common errors people make when vacuuming is that they do it too fast,” Johnson says. “Vacuuming slowly allows a vacuum cleaner to do its best work by vibrating carpet fibers and containing dust in the vacuum.”

Blot carpet spills immediately — do NOT wait.

Rubbing a stain will spread goo around and can distort the carpet’s pile, or fluffy shape. And waiting to clean a stain lets moisture seep deeper — Forte recommends cleaning spills the instant they happen.

Spray carpet cleaner on a cloth and dab the stain, working from the outside to its center. Rinse with a clean cloth the same way, and then blot dry. To absorb leftover moisture, pile on a stack of paper towels and place a heavy pot or vase on top. Leaving it there overnight will ensure all wetness is fully zapped.

Pick a carpet that’s not a dust magnet in the first place.

To prevent dust buildup in the first place, choose a low pile, Wilson says. This means picking a carpet or area rug with short fibers — high layers of fluff or shag will trap more dust (not to mention mite carcasses… ew). Wilson recommends natural, durable materials like wool instead of synthetic ones like nylon. Carpet tiles are a stellar alternative to wall-to-wall carpets, she says — when there’s a spill, you can pull up the tile and clean it on its own, and you can remove them completely when you’re ready for a scene change back to hardwood floors.

…and if you keep it clean, you can keep it forever! (Well, almost.)

“You can keep a rug for a lifetime, if you keep it clean,” Wilson says. Carpet lifespans, however, range with quality — some well-made varieties are made to last up to 15 years if kept dust-free, she adds.

…It’s just a little more motivation to summon the steam machine.

Call Chem-Dry of Stratford or get an estimate and Book a Job NOW!

If it’s time to get your carpets professionally cleaned, you can call us at Chem-Dry of Stratford: (630) 562-3930

Or you can click HERE and get an instant estimate and Book a job based on our real time schedule.