While the holiday season should come with feelings of warmth and joy, many people find ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ to be stressful and hectic. Between all of the extra parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, and entertaining, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lose sight of the real meaning of the holidays. In a recent study conducted by the American Psychological Association, more than 80 percent of Americans experience a heightened sense of stress during the holidays. Additional research found that 81 percent of women believe cleaning is the most stressful component of hosting a holiday gathering.

Unpleasant holiday stains are common when it comes to entertaining family and friends. With the increased amount of foot traffic, keeping carpets soil and stain-free can be a difficult task. With over 35 years of experience in resolving carpet, rug and upholstery cleaning crises, Chem-Dry, the world’s largest carpet and upholstery cleaning company, has made it their duty to prepare families to deal with unexpected holiday stains and messes.

“Our goal is to help ease holiday stress so consumers can enjoy time with their family and friends, rather than worry about their carpets or upholstery,” said Dan Tarantin, CEO of Chem-Dry. “At Chem-Dry, we understand the pleasure and relief people feel when they know their homes are truly clean and healthy. By offering top quality products and cleaning tips to resolve the most common holiday stains, they can ensure a joyful, healthful and stain-free season.”

Tarantin offers the following home remedies to help families maintain their healthy carpets and minimize stains over the holidays:

• Place holiday-inspired doormats in each entryway and other high-traffic areas to protect carpets from unnecessary wear and tear. Not only will the themed mats capture guest’s attention, but they will also encourage guests to wipe their feet before they enter each room.

• Act quickly to remove unexpected stains. Blot the area using a terry cloth or paper towel with cold water or club soda to soak up as much liquid as possible – DO NOT RUB. It is essential to dilute the stain immediately. Avoid using an excessive amount of water, which can cause the stain to sink deeper into the carpet pad, making it more difficult to remove.

• The next step is to pre-treat the area with the following home solutions:

• For non-greasy spills, sponge with a solution made of one teaspoon liquid detergent to one cup water.
• For greasy spills, sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the stain. Let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes and then vacuum. Next, sponge with a solution made of one tablespoon liquid hand dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Blot until the liquid is absorbed. Lastly, sponge with cold water and blot dry to remove the vinegar solution.
• For pet stains, sponge freely with cold water. Apply a solution made of three tablespoons white vinegar to one quart water.
• For red wine spills, use white wine, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or club soda to neutralize the stain. Pour the neutralizer over the wine stain and use a clean towel to begin blotting up the liquid. Dampen a sponge with cold water and blot it on the stain. Next, shake salt onto the stain to help deter the wine from setting into the carpet. Keep applying salt until it no longer absorbs the wine. After this, add another layer of salt, cover the area with a layer of paper towels, place a heavy object on top and allow it to sit overnight. Remove the paper towels the following morning and vacuum the area.

• When applying spot remover or homemade solution, start from the outside edge of the spill and work in a spiral toward the center to prevent it from spreading. Work the spotter into the spill using a spoon to prevent damage to carpet fibers.

For holiday stains that are too stubborn for home remedies, consumers can call the experts at Chem-Dry to schedule a professional cleaning. Chem-Dry uses a green-certified solution that’s safe and non-toxic for kids and pets along with a low-water, carbonating cleaning process that will give the home a deep-down, longer lasting healthier clean. Unlike typical steam cleaning where water can soak through to the carpet backing and produce mold and mildew, Chem-Dry’s process uses 80 percent less water, so carpets dry in a couple of hours rather than a couple of days, avoiding the risk of mold and mildew growth. Chem-Dry offers a deeper, longer lasting, faster drying carpet, area rug and upholstery cleaning experience so families can start the new year off in the most happy and healthy way. For more information, visit Chem-Dry’s cleaning tips blog.

A common question we get from many of our first time customers is “What kind of chemicals does Chem-Dry use to clean my carpets.” Many people assume that since we use the term “Chem” in our brand name that our cleaning process employs some type of harsh chemical solution. That couldn’t be any further from the truth, our process is powered by nature.

The short and sweet of it – our cleaning solution is powered by nature and nothing else.

All of the ingredients in our main cleaning solution that we use to penetrate deep into your carpet to get that long lasting clean are naturally occurring; that is why we call our cleaning solution “The Natural.” Each of the cleaning agents used in our green-certified cleaning solution are listed in the FDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list. Not only are we providing an environmentally sensitive cleaning solution free of toxins, but we have also made it safe for your entire household, pets included!

How do we get such a long lasting clean without using a laundry list of hard to pronounce chemicals? We use the same elements that make your soft drinks bubble and your club soda fizz, carbonation. By employing the natural reaction of water combined with carbon dioxide, Chem-Dry provides a deep clean to carpets, breaking up the dirt, grime and stains trapped within its fibers. We call our method Hot Carbonating Extraction.

How does Hot Carbonating Extraction Work?

During the first part of the process, we use top-of-the-line equipment to apply our carbonated solution under low pressure, dislodging dirt and grime from your carpet.  Right away, an army of tiny bubbles goes to work busting up the muck clinging your carpet’s threads and fibers. Then, the hot water extraction sucks all the loose material from the carpet, leaving behind a fresh and spotless clean.

All this is accomplished using minimal amounts of water.  By decreasing the levels of water used in the cleaning process we avoid leaving behind soapy residues that can attract more dirt and cause stains to reappear.  Low water usage also results in faster drying times so your family can get back to enjoying your home’s living spaces sooner than later. In addition, low moisture decreases the possibility of excess water seeping past the bottom layers of your carpet.

By using the cleaning properties found in nature and an environmentally safe, low impact process, we are able to ensure a deep, healthy clean that lasts. This is why we are one of the world’s most trusted names in carpet cleaning.

What chemicals do we use?  Only the ones manufactured in Mother Nature’s lab – for a quick drying, safe and healthy clean the whole family can enjoy.

Have 4th of July visitors in route to celebrate the holidays with you? There’s still time to have your carpeting, tile, upholstery and even mattresses cleaned just in time for friends and family arrival. Carpet Cleaning For The Fourth of July is often the preferred semi-annual time people have their carpets cleaned. Since most all carpet manufacturers recommend to clean your carpets twice per year to meet warranty requirement, a lot of our customers have their carpets cleaned just before the holidays in November and December, and the other semi-annual cleaning for the holidays in July.

Chem-Dry of Stratford is a family owned environmentally responsible carpet, tile and upholstery cleaning company serving all of Wheaton, Bartlett and DuPage County. Our technicians are certified by the world’s most respected certification body for textile professionals and our cleaning solutions are environmentally GREEN, anti-allergen and kid and pet safe.

When you decide to have your carpets cleaned, you’re not only changing the appearance of your carpeting you’re also creating a healthier indoor environment. Your carpeting is the largest “filter” in your home and routinely collects dust, dust mites, bacteria and thousands of allergen producing micro organisms.

Carpeting provides warmth, sound proofing and beauty and if maintained properly will last many years. Most carpet manufacturers recommend that your carpeting be cleaned at least once a year to extend its life, improve indoor air quality and to maintain the carpets warranty.

To schedule an appointment in real time online, please visit us at https://chemdrystratford.fittlebug.com/ or call us anytime at 630-562-3930.

The Carbonating Secret Revealed

There is no secret to reveal, we simply clean better, dry fastest & your carpet stays cleaner longer; all because we use the power of carbonation while deep cleaning your carpets without leaving residues.

The secret to Chem-Dry’s clean is the millions of microscopic, carbonating cleaning bubbles in our cleaner we call The Natural®. The carbonating solutions penetrate deep into the base of the carpet, literally exploding dirt and grime off of the fiber’s surface. Then, we use hot water extraction to lift the dirty particles to the surface where they are whisked away.

This concept is almost identical to that of using club soda to remove a stain from a shirt. The awesome cleaning power of carbonating solutions creates a powerful reaction that deep cleans carpets and upholstery in a safe and gentle way.

Carpets That Stay Cleaner Longer

Due to the natural power of carbonation, Chem-Dry does not have to use excessive amounts of moisture to clean your carpet or upholstered items. Because the bubbles do the work for us, Chem-Dry does not need to use soapy cleaning chemicals other cleaners or do-it-yourself machines rely on so much. Soapy residues attract dirt like a magnet, causing your carpet to get dirty again faster than before.

Chem-Dry’s primary carpet cleaner contains no soaps, detergents or surfactants. You save money when your carpet stays cleaner longer. Less cleanings means better bang for your buck and one less thing to worry about.

Reappearing Carpet Stains? No Problem with Chem-Dry

Carpet stains reappear in the same place after cleaning for two reasons. First, they were never thoroughly removed to begin with. Often the unwanted material is forced down below the surface of the carpet by a high pressure steam cleaning unit, only to resurface as the carpet dries. Secondly, the cleaning solutions used by many steam cleaners create a sticky residue that attracts more dirt and grime to the location.

Through the use of carbonated carpet cleaner, Chem-Dry thoroughly removes stains quickly and efficiently. We apply our solutions so sparingly, and without high pressure, resurfacing of stains is not a problem. However, if a spot does reappear, then so will we until the problem is solved.

Having your carpets cleaned is a chore that usually falls into the same category as spring cleaning: not everyones favorite thing to do, but very necessary, and should occur at approximately the same level of frequency. Most carpet owners, however, will only have their carpets cleaned once every few years (and some not even that, ahhhhh!). Carpet cleaning is not just important for removing stains. Having your carpet cleaned will improve and prolong your carpet’s performance.

How Often Should You Clean Your Carpet?

To keep your carpet looking and performing well for as long as possible, manufacturers recommend having your carpet cleaned at minimum every 12 – 18 months, depending on the amount of traffic in your home. In fact, such frequent cleaning is a condition of many warranties — be sure to carefully read your warranty information.

Nylon Carpet

While regular cleaning is important for all types of carpet, it is especially true in the case of nylon carpeting. Nylon contains a hydrogen molecule. This is the primary source of nylon’s resiliency. When the fibers have been flattened down due to foot traffic, cleaning reactivates the hydrogen molecule, causing the fibers to literally bounce back. The cleaning will actually revive the carpet and enhance performance.

Hot Water Extraction and Steam Cleaning

The method of carpet cleaning recommended by most carpet manufacturers is hot water extraction, which is more commonly (though slightly incorrectly) known as steam cleaning. Which is what we specialize in at Chem-Dry of Stratford.

In the hot water extraction method, hot water is essentially sprayed on the carpet and then sucked back into the machine, along with any dirt that was in the carpet. There is usually a cleaning solution added into the water (and in our case hot carbonated water) to assist in the removal of stains and soiling.

This is different from the process of true steam cleaning.

However, today it is widely accepted that the term steam cleaning actually refers to hot water extraction, the most trusted carpet cleaning process.  Learn the difference between steam cleaning and hot water extraction.

Professional Carpet Steam Cleaning

Professional cleaners may use either a truck-mounted unit or a portable machine. The portable machine has obvious benefits, such as being able to be used in apartment and condo buildings in units that would otherwise be beyond the reach of a truck-mounted unit’s hose. However, truck-mounted units are more powerful than portable units and should be used whenever possible for maximum efficiency.

DIY Carpet Steam Cleaning

There is an abundance of do-it-yourself (DIY) steam cleaning machines available for either rent or purchase. With so many different machines on the market, it can lead you to wonder if you should skip calling in the professionals at Chem-Dry of Stratford, and just tackle the job yourself.

If your household is prone to spills or accidents that are difficult to clean, a small cleaner may be a worthwhile purchase to have on hand. However, for more general cleaning of your entire carpet surface, it’s highly recommended to have a professional come to do it.

Risks of DIY

Generally, DIY machines do not heat the water to the same high temperature as our professional machines, which results in less effective cleaning. In addition, these machines are not as powerful as the ones our professionals use, which means that they are not able to extract as much of the water (and therefore dirt) from the carpet.

When properly done, carpet should be only slightly damp after it has been thoroughly cleaned. Wet carpet indicates that the machine was not powerful enough to do the job effectively. If your carpet is very wet after cleaning, use fans to speed up the drying, and be sure to stay off it until it is dry. Do not replace the furniture before the carpet is completely dry.

Other variables, such as the amount of cleaner to add to the machine, and the technique for using the machine (how fast/slow to move across the carpet), present several opportunities for things to go wrong with DIY machines or at least not as well as with professional cleaners.

Cost Savings Concerns

If you are concerned about the cost of having one of our professionals come to clean your carpets, consider having only the “traffic areas” cleaned. This means that your big pieces of furniture, like the sofa, bed, etc., are left in place, and the cleaner simply goes around them. Not only do you not see the carpet under these large pieces of furniture, but it is not exposed to the air, light, and traffic the way the rest of your carpet is, so it makes sense that it does not require cleaning as often.

Of course, if you frequently move your furniture around, it would probably be best to have the entire surface cleaned. Having only the traffic areas done should result in cost savings versus cleaning the entire area.

Call us or use our form for a Free Estimate

Please feel free to reach out to us at Chem-Dry of Stratford with any questions you have! We are always happy to give tips and pointers, and also to come visit your property and give your carpets the best cleaning they will ever have!