For a homeowner, the type of flooring is one of the biggest decisions one will make.  Would you rather feel hardwood or carpet first thing in the morning?  It is a question that many people must answer, and one that can take quite a while to decide.  Well, today, we would like to speed up that decision, by providing some pros and cons for each type of flooring.  Hopefully, after you read this, you will better be able to make your decision, and sleep comfortably at night with it.

Since carpet cleaning is our specialty, let’s start off with carpet first.  At first glance, carpet is cheap, easy to install, and warm.  It works as a great insulator, trapping heat on those frigid winter mornings, and will stop furniture from sliding around.  Not only that, but there are thousands of different styles, textures, and colors that are readily available for the consumer.  Carpet will also hide dirt, at the expense of collecting it.  Over time, carpet can become bogged down with dirt, dust, and spills that require a professional cleaning every once in a while.  Other than that, carpet is highly recommended in homes with kids, as it will cushion an fall, and provide a no-slip surface to walk on.

On the other hand, hardwood flooring is durable, strong, and easier to clean.  Since hardwood does not have individual fibers, it will not collect dirt like carpet does; all that is needed is a quick sweep or a vacuum to get rid of it all.  However, the other side to this argument is that hardwood will get scratched.  Scratches are hard to get out, which is why any type of furniture on wood floors should have furniture pads underneath.  In addition, hardwood is generally more expensive, harder to install, and will become very cold in the colder months of the year.

All pros and cons aside, both types of flooring will look great in any home, and in any room.  Consider all the factors you need, but know that whatever you choose will be right for your home.

No matter what you pick, just know that you can always call Bayside Carpet Cleaning for a thorough cleaning.  With a money-back guarantee, you can be assured that your floors will get the best cleaning that they have ever had.

Over the years, your carpet can take quite the beating, which wears it down more and more.  Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of pressure applied in the wrong direction, and…RIP– your carpet has a hole in it.  While this may seem like a major issue to the average homeowner, 10 minutes, a knife, and some tape are all you need to fix that tear and have it looking like new.

The first thing you will need to do is to find the remnant piece of the carpet that was leftover when it was first installed.  If you cannot find it, or the carpet was installed when you moved in, no worries, just cut a portion out from a spot where carpet won’t be missed, like in the back of a closet or behind a couch.  Take a can, or a similar firm-rimmed object, and make an impression on the remnant piece that matches the size of the rip in the carpet.  For best results, leave an impression on the ripped carpet, and if it fits correctly, use the same can on the remnant piece.  Next, cut the remnant piece according to your measurement.

Then, take a piece of tape, place it on the ripped carped, and indicate the direction that the nap is facing–that is what direction the carpet fibers go.  This step is extremely important in making your carpet look like nothing ever happened.  Now, cut out the ripped carpet in a size similar to what you cut out on the remnant, and remove it from the flooring.  Apply some carpet tape to the hole, and insert the remnant piece, ensuring that it faces in the same direction that the original was.

That’s it, you’re done!  How easy of a fix is that?  Just make sure to go back and trim any long fibers on the remnant piece, to make sure that it looks like nothing ever happened.

For more carpet care and cleaning tips, be sure to check back to our blog every Tuesday and Thursday!

We all love the rooms in our homes, but from time to time, they need a little bit of rearranging to keep things fresh.  Whether you plan just to swap the order of the couches or to gut and replace the whole room, make sure not to neglect your carpet during the whole process.  Rearranging your room provides the perfect opportunity to have your carpet checked-up on, leaving it looking fresher than ever when you finish your little project.  Here’s a few carpet care tips when moving things around.

Arguably one of the biggest complaints that people have to rearranging furniture are all of the indentations on your carpet left by the old furniture.  Dents, deep patches, and faded-out carpet can drastically take away from the overall look of your carpet, but there is always a fix.

Take an ice cube (or a few, depending on the size of the dent), and put it right on the flattened area.  Allow the ice cube to melt completely, and then take a towel to gently soak up the excess moisture.  Try not to press down too hard here, or else you’ll leave another indentation in your carpet.  Next, lay the towel on the patch, grab an iron, and start ironing the towel on the “cotton setting”.  Stop ironing once the towel feels dry, and then you’re good to go!  The polarizing mixture of the coolness from the ice cube and the heat from the iron, in conjunction with the moisture, will provide for a deep-cleansing steam that will make your carpet look plump and plush again.

Of course, removing all of the furniture from one room provides the perfect opportunity for it to be professionally cleaned, all with no extra hassle to you.  With Bayside Carpet Cleaning’s money-back guarantee and a special 10% off discount during the month of August, you simply can’t go wrong.  Give us a call today for your free in-home estimate!

In this insane heat wave that we are in the middle in, everyone is reach for their thermostats and sunscreen, hoping to provide a little relief from the scorching weather outside.  Apply sunscreen when the sun is extremely strong is always a great idea, but getting it on your furniture and floor can really put a damper on things. However, never fear, because today, we are going over some quick and easy methods to get sunscreen out of just about anything in your home, even if it seems impossible at first glance.

Out of all the things that you can spill sunscreen on in your home, spilling it on tile is the best.  As with other stains, wipe it up as soon as you can, and then reach for a sponge and bucket.  Fill the bucket with warm or hot water, add in a splash of ammonia (it helps to cut through water-resistant liquids, such as sunscreen), and start to sponge the area.  Once all of the sunscreen is removed, go back with some more water and a dry cloth (to get the ammonia out) and you’re done.  Now, how’s that for easy cleaning?

Now, all things in life are not perfect, and you may find yourself with a sunscreen mess on your leather furniture.  While your first reaction may be to scream, you can easily clean up the mess without a stain with little effort.  First, dab the area with paper towels to get as much of the sunscreen up as you can (do not rub it in).  Then grab a bucket, and fill it with a solution of some mild soap and warm water.  Once you have it all sudsy, grab a sponge, and swish the mixture around on your leather furniture.  Wipe it dry, and then apply a little bit of leather conditioner.  That’s it, and the sunscreen is gone with your furniture looking like nothing ever happened!

With the right attitude and a little bit of know-how, you can get the stain out of just about anything.  However, for those times that seem like it’s impossible, know that you can always rely on Bayside Carpet Cleaning to get the job done.  And with a money-back guarantee AND a special 10% off discount when you use the promo code “August”, you have nothing to lose!  Give us a call today for a free in-home estimate!

Grout can come in all shapes and sizes, but caring for it is relatively simple.  However, if you leave your grout unattended for a while, it will start to crack and discolor, and that is when people start to take notice.  Join us today as we go over a few grout protection tips, and remember to use the promo code “August” for 10% off your next tile and grout cleaning when you choose Bayside Carpet Cleaning.

When all is said and done, grout has a very simple job: keep tiles locked together.  Without grout, tiles would be apt to move all over the place, providing a very nonuniform and disheveled look.  For the job that it does–to keep water out and making your tiles look near perfect–your grout deserves some loving every now and again.

To make your grout a very happy grout, give it a weekly washing with water and a mop–no commercial cleaning products necessary.  By keeping up on your grout weekly, there is less of a chance of a tile issue sprouting up due to unkempt grout, which can save you big bucks in the end.  Should you ever encounter a spill on your tile, wipe it up promptly followed by a wet mop–this should eliminate any chance of a stain.  If a stain does pop through, however, try a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to get it out, or just call in the cavalry.

Despite your weekly upkeep, your grout should be seen by a professional at least once a year, to clear up any dirt and debris that may have gotten past your weekly mopping.  If you have not had your grout cleaned in a while, or have never had it professionally cleaned before, now is the time to have it cleaned!  With a 10% promotion going throughout the month of August, and a no-hassle money back guarantee, you can have your tiles cleaned virtually risk-free.  Simply give us a call for a free in-home estimate, and we can get the ball rolling.

As the saying goes–happy grout, happy life.  Keep your grout cleaned, and your tiles will thank you for it.  Trust us.

In the professional carpet-cleaning world, there is no wrong time for a proper cleaning.  However, taking advantage of having your carpet professionally cleaned in the summer can arguably be the most effective.  Join us today as we tell you all of the benefits of having your carpet cleaned in these next few weeks of summer, and remember that you can use the promo code “August” to get 10% off your next cleaning from Bayside Carpet Cleaning!

Summertime affords the opportunity to take advantage of the countless outdoor activities that the Jersey Shore has to offer.  From boating, to hiking, and to just hitting the beach, there are so many things to do.  While you take back memories with you from all of these events, you are also taking back remnants of your expedition home to your carpet, even if you do not know it.  Sand can be sticking to your beach bag as you heave it through the front door, or animal droppings could be lodged in your boots as you cross the threshold into the living room.

All of these little incidentals add up, and before you know it, your carpet is being bogged down by countless remnants of your adventures.  Not only will it look duller, but they will damage the individual fibers of your carpet, effectively shortening the overall lifespan of your carpet.

By taking advantage of a summer cleaning, you are effectively removing everything you may have tracked back into your home from your summer fun.  And since we’re approaching the end of the summer season, now is the optimal time to get a cleaning, as it will prepare your home for the onset of fall.

With our special month-long promotion, and a money-back guarantee, you simply can’t go wrong!  Give us a call today for a a free in-home estimate.

There are many people out there who believe that carpet has a predetermined lifespan, and after those years, the carpet needs to be stripped and replaced.  While your carpet fibers are bound to fray and fade over time, there are a few simple things you can do now to extend the life of your carpet by a solid few years.  These methods are non-invasive, easy, and won’t require much effort on your part!  Read on to find out how much a simple change can impact your carpet!

One of the best things you can do to prolong the life of your carpet is not to walk on it with shoes on.  Have you ever noticed that the carpet nearest the door looks a lot more faded than the carpet in your bedroom?  That is because the carpet near the door has been exposed to much more sand, dirt, mud, clay, and other shoe hitchhikers than the carpet in your room.  Ask your guests not to step on the carpet with their shoes when they walk into your home, or better yet, ask them to remove their shoes entirely.  That way, you can be guaranteed that nothing on the bottom of your guests’ shoes will wind up in your carpet.

Another simple carpet longevity tip is one that you should be doing on the regular, but plays an extremely important factor in expanding the life of your carpet: changing your air filters.  Carpets act like a sponge when it comes to particles in the air; their fibers will suck up anything and everything floating around, including dust, mite, and other microbes.  By changing out your air filter and reducing the amount of impurities that make their way into your house from the outside, you reduce the amount of things the carpet will soak up.  The less impurities on your carpet, the longer it will last.

By following these two simple tips, you can do wonders when it comes to improving the lifespan of your carpet.  These, in conjunction with weekly cleaning and a professional cleaning every year, can very much double the projected lifespan of your carpet.  As the saying goes, the things that you take care of last.

To schedule your free in-home estimate, give us a call today!

When a nasty stain pops up on the carpet, many people will run right over to the store to rent one of those steam-cleaners, thinking it will do the job to take out the stain.  While the rented steam-cleaner will drive the stain away, it will drive a sharp pain into your wallet.  Believe it or not, you can skip these insanely high rental costs and get the stain out efficiently with a steam-cleaner that you already have in your home: an iron.

Steaming out stains with an iron is just as effective as using one of those rental machines, and it will save you time and money in the process.  Simply vacuum the area of the stain, ensuring that there are no loose particles lying around.  Next, take a rag and dampen the stain with a water-vinegar solution (one part vinegar to three parts water).  Once the stains are damped, lie the rag over the stain, turn that iron to the highest setting, and start ironing.  Science 101 tells us that the heat from the iron combined with the moist rag will create steam.  The steam will penetrate the stain, and lift it up into the rag–leaving your carpet looking fresh.

This trick can be used on any type of carpet, but only on carpet–hardwood will not respond kindly to your iron.  Not only that, but this method is sure to get out the nastier stains, like wine, marker, and food.  However, for some of the heavier-duty stains, such as blood, calling in the professionals may be in your best interest.

Thankfully, Bayside Carpet Cleaning offers room-by-room pricing, so you only have to pay for what you need.  For a free in-home estimate, give us a call today!