Leather furniture is awesome, but sometimes it may seem like a bear to clean.  However, cleaning leather is simply a task of mind over matter.  With the right steps, you can cut the job of cleaning right down to size.  Read on to learn more about cleaning leather furniture.

When it comes to cleaning leather, the first thing that you should take note of is the type of leather that you are dealing with.  Some leathers will react differently with cleaners than others, so it is imperative that you know what you are working with before you get down to business.  To find out the type of leather, look behind the cushions for the tag.

Once you have that figured out, you then need to know what you are cleaning for.  Are you giving it a general touch-up before some friends come over, or is there a nasty stain that needs to come out ASAP?  This will help determine how much cleaning you will need to do.

Before we even get started with the process, the golden rule of cleaning leather furniture is to stay away from commercial cleaners.  Believe it or not, these cleaners will not always do what they are intended to do, and can actually cause some harm to your couch.  Instead, stick to water and some mild dish soap, if you need it.

Now that you’re ready to clean, the first thing you are going to need to do is to vacuum it.  It may seem odd, but this will ensure that all the particles that you cannot see will be taken out, making it that much easier for you to clean it out.  Next, mix together the water and soap so a little bit of suds form—you do not need anything crazy, just a little bit of suds to help the cleaning power.  Then, take a clean rag, collect some of the suds, and wipe the surface of the furniture.  

After the suds are all on the leather, you need to grab another rag and dampen it with regular water.  Use this to go back over the furniture, picking up as many suds as you can.  It is very important that no suds remain, as their lingering will be the bane of the leather.  

Finally, take another rag and wipe up all the water from the second rag.  After all the water is picked up, you’re done!

Now, if you are dealing with a stain, you are probably going to need to go over it a few more times, but with enough determination it should come out without a problem.  At the end of it, you’ll have the stain out, without breaking the bank with expensive cleaners that do not do much.

Cleaning leather is not difficult, it is just a process, much like everything else.  However, if you need a little bit more help, know that Bayside Carpet Cleaning is there for you!

Vacuuming is a vital task for keeping any carpet healthy, but why exactly do we do it?  Not only that, but what are the exact benefits to vacuuming, even if there is no large mess on the floor?  Well, we have the answers to these questions and more, all in our latest blog!

First and foremost, vacuuming does the job that most people cannot do with a standard broom—it takes care of all the individual particles in your carpet that you cannot see with your eyes.  For example, humans can shed up to 1 million skin cells per hour, which will inevitably fall onto your floors when people move around.  In a family of four, this can mean that your carpet can become absolutely littered with skin cells without you even noticing— just because it looks clean does not mean that it is!  With this said, vacuuming picks up all of those cells, leaving your carpet free and able to breathe again.

Not only that, but if you have pets, regular vacuuming also does a great job of picking up what they brought in, even if you cannot see it.  Things ranging from pet hair and dandruff to mites and fleas can come in via your pests, which can make for a very filthy carpet.  Thankfully, vacuuming can take care of all of them in one simple cleaning job.

In addition, regular vacuuming can also improve the air quality in your home.  Think of your carpet as a giant air filter, trapping all impurities in the air throughout the day.  Well, this filter gets filled up from time to time, and must be cleaned in order to work properly again.  The more you vacuum, the more you will notice that the air in your home has become much fresher, leaving you in a blissful aura of self-accomplishment.

Vacuuming may be essential for your carpet, but it does not have to be extensive.  Just one, 10-minute vacuum session per week will leave your carpet looking great and you feeling good.  

So what do you say?  Set up your vacuuming schedule today to get yourself a cleaner carpet!

From all of us at Bayside Carpet Cleaning, we hope that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas!  Now that the presents have been opened and the relatives have left, it is time to give your flooring a quick touch-up to rid the Christmas messes, and to usher in the new year with a clean carpet.  Read on to find how you can give your carpet a quick, effective clean!

The first thing you need to do is an obvious one: vacuum all your floors.  Relatives galore have most likely tracked in dirt, dust, and who knows what else, so do yourself a favor and break out the vacuum to save yourself and your carpet.  Next, take a walk back through your home, looking for stains.

Should you find a stain on your carpet, you can take advantage of this simple, all-purpose cleaner to take them out.  Mix together cold water and a small amount of dish soap, and dab on stains that you encounter.  If that seems to be ineffective, you can step up your game with a vinegar-based carpet cleaner, and try that.  With enough vinegar and patience, you should be able to get the stain right out.

In addition to taking care of your carpet, you should also give your tile floors a quick mop to relieve them of any Christmas residue left over.  However, we highly advise you to use just water when you mop, as some commercial cleaners can wind up hurting your tile floors over time.  Just water will do the trick, and if you’re feeling a little adventurous, feel free to add in a few drops of essential oils to give your carpet a nice, refreshing smell.

Of course, most of us are busy in the time between Christmas and New Year’s, and do not really have time to give our flooring the cleaning that it deserves.  That is where we come in.  One call to us can give your carpet a professional clean, without the hassle.  In no time, you’ll feel like it’s Christmas all over again with your new-to-you carpet.

Give us a call today for a free estimate!

So you plan to clean up everything in your household for the coming onslaught of holiday guests, but there is one question that keeps bugging you: Does my home smell good, and how can I make it smell better?  Well, today we have an answer to your question, using only all-natural remedies that you have right in your cabinet.  Read on to find out more!

Sometimes, no matter how many times you go over your carpet with the vacuum cleaner, the faint smell of pet hair or spilled ice tea still lingers.  However, that smell can begone by just using the cinnamon that can be found in your spice cabinet.  Simply take a tablespoon of ground cinnamon and mix it with a cup of baking soda.  Put the contents into a shaker container (like an empty pepper shaker) and sprinkle all over your carpet.  Let it sit for a solid hour, and then vacuum over.  By letting it sit, you are letting the cinnamon dig into the fibers, providing a fresh smell that lasts even after the powder is vacuumed up.

Now for furniture, the method is the same, but the ingredients are quite different.  To mix together an effective furniture deodorizer, take a tablespoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil.  For the holidays, peppermint may be a great oil to add in.  Once you have mixed those two together, pour into an 8-12 ounce spray bottle, and fill with water.  Shake, and spray your furniture.  No need to wipe this up, and the essential oils will absorb into the fabric, providing yet another lasting scent that will have guests wondering about your scent-based secrets.

Finally, for good measure, you can always place a bowl of vinegar into any room that you think has a funky odor to it.  Wait overnight, and we guarantee that the smell will be gone, replaced by fresh air.

Cleaning for the holidays may seem hectic, but it doesn’t have to be.  Give us a call today to squeeze you in before the holidays!

During these next few weeks, you may find that you are crunched for time between decorating for the holidays, shopping, and enjoying quality family time throughout the most wonderful time of the year; so much so, that you may need to forgo your usual workout schedule.  However, did you know that you can get a rigorous workout by just doing some simple cleaning around the house?  Read on to find out how you can combine a killer work-out routine with easy household chores!

You may not have time to hit the gym, but you will have to make time to clean the house before relatives arrive.  Thankfully, you can take an extra step when cleaning to burn off a few extra calories.  For example, when vacuuming your carpet, do lunges to reach those corners instead of walking the vacuum over there.

In addition, instead of mopping your hardwood and tile floors, you can take a cloth and scrub them yourself, making for a killer workout for your core muscles.  Besides, you will also get a much deeper clean!

Also, when dusting around the home, squat when necessary instead of sitting on the floor.  This is great for getting in the corners of your appliances and door frames, and will give you a burn like no other.

Finding time to workout can be challenging, but with a few tweaks, your regular cleaning routine can also become your regular workout routine!

For more carpet and household tips and tricks, be sure to check back every Tuesday and Thursday for out latest article!

Turkey Day has come and gone, and with it, all the close relatives whom you love to spend the holidays with.  However, in the midst of the holiday and a weekend of guests, there may be some cleaning to do around the house, especially on your floors.  Today, join us as we give you a quick and comprehensive guide to a thorough Thanksgiving clean up to help bring your floors back to looking like new (even if a full turkey made a spill onto it)!

The first thing that we are going to cover in this guide are carpet stains.  Now, you may have missed them on Thanksgiving, but make a point to go back over to where you and your family ate your meal, and check the floor to see if anything spilled.  One stain that you are likely to find is a gravy stain, as the gravy just seems to go everywhere.  To take care of this, place down a absorbent such as baking soda, and allow it to soak up all of the gravy from the carpet.  If dry, or if there is no more gravy to soak up, use a gentle commercial dry solvent on the stain to take it right out.  Blot the stain with water after application of the solvent.  Repeat until the stain is totally lifted.

Another common stain that may still be one your floor is one caused by cranberries.  To remove this stain, simply mix together a concoction of one tablespoons of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol.  Blot the mixture onto the stain, and then dab with a dry towel to pick up the solution, along with the stain.  Repeat until fully removed.

In addition to these stains, you may have stains on the tile in your bathroom from overnight guests.  The overall best way to get these stains out is to use a mop, water, and some elbow grease, as some commercial cleaners can damage the tile.  With enough persistence, you should be able to get just about every stain out of your tile.

Remember, however, that help is always there when you need it.  If you come across a stain that you just cannot get out, or you want to spruce up the house for the coming holidays, Bayside Carpet Cleaning has you covered.  Simply give us a call, and we can take care of whatever stain or mark is in your flooring, guaranteed.

Give us a call today for a free in-home estimate!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner; are you ready?  From planning out the award-winning menus to making sure the fine china is clean, there is a lot to be had in preparation for the big turkey day.  However, in the midst of all this, we hope that you pay some attention to your carpet, and give it a quick clean before guests arrive.  Read on to find out how you can give your carpet a professional-clean look in no time with not much effort to you!

First, give your carpet a quick vacuum to get out any lingering dirt or dust in the fibers.  To give your carpet a nice scent to it, lay down some cinnamon or a commercial vacuum powder to give it a sweet smell.  Then, look over to see if any noticeable stains are popping out.

If you can see stains in the carpet, then it is time to mount a short-term solution to get them out.  Mix together 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 2 cups of water.  Either spray or dab the solution onto the stain, and let it soak for 10 minutes.  Blot the spot with a clean towel to see if it was removed.  Repeat until the entire stain is gone.

Now there are some stubborn stains that just don’t want to come out.  If this is the case, either try to cover up the spot the best you can, or call us ASAP for a quick professional clean.  There is just enough time before the holiday to get it out, so give us a call today!

On the big day, just remember to keep an eye on your carpet, and act fast if anyone spills anything on it.  Soak up the liquid as soon as you can, and take care of it with the same aforementioned solution sooner rather than later.  Feel free to call us in if the stain still persists after the big turkey day.

From all of us at Bayside Carpet Cleaning, we wish you and your family a very happy and stain-free Thanksgiving!

Let’s face it, accidents happen.  Whether it’s about spilling something, burning yourself on the stove, or by just having an “accident”, they’re all bound to happen.  While we can’t necessarily help with with the first two, we can help you clean up the latter, and help make your carpet look like new again.  Today, we ask you to join us, as we go over simple ways on how to get pet urine out of carpet, and how to have it smelling fresh once more.

First, in order to remove the urine from the carpet, you’re going to need to place some paper towels over the spot, and weigh it down with something, as it will help to squeeze out any remaining liquid.  Then, take about a cup of baking soda and sprinkle it over the carpet.  After that, mix together a solution of half a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of dish detergent.  Pour the mixture over the baking soda.  Lightly scrub the mixture into the fibers, and let it sit for the next 15 minutes.  Vacuum over.  If a stain still persists, repeat the above steps until the stain comes out completely.

Ok, so not we have the stain out, but what about the smell?  For starters, a few companies sell a fragrance powder that will cover up a smell when you vacuum over it.  While this is not a permanent solution, it works wonders if you are in a pinch.  The same goes for commercial pet-odor neutralizers.  It works for a good amount of time, but eventually the odor will return.  Here, the best thing to do is to call in the professionals, as they can deliver a deep clean that will remove the urine particles from the fiber completely, and restore to your carpet the fresh smell it deserves.

However, it is extremely important to note that steam-cleaning will NOT get the odor out of your carpet.  In fact, the steam will help the particles settle deeper into the fiber, doing the exact opposite of what you intended.  Again, the tools and knowledge of the professionals is the best thing to do.

Accidents happen, but know that Bayside Carpet Cleaning is always there to help.  Rain or shine, we will be there to clean your carpets right up, and make them look like new again.

Give us a call today for a free in-home estimate!

Red wine, while being a hit 80’s song from UB40, can appear to be a disaster to the homeowner.  At first glance, you may think that it will never come out, but with a few simple tips and the right mindset, red wine poses no threat to you or your carpet.  Join us today, as we discuss ways to get out some of the most stubborn red wine stains.

If your red wine has taken a tumble and has sprawled out over your carpet, no need to panic. First, take a dry cloth or paper towel, and blot up as much of the wine as you can, as quickly as you can.  The sooner you soak the wine off the carpet, the less likely it is for it to leave a lasting stain, even if it’s in white carpet.  Next, you are going to need to mix together a homemade detergent consisting of one tablespoon of dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar, and two cups of warm water.  Soak up the detergent with a sponge or cloth, and dab the area gently.  With some patience and persistence, that stain will come right out.

Now, perhaps you’re relaxing with a glass on the couch, and it just slips out of your hand.  Again, no need to panic, scream, or curse profusely here, as some simple tips will make short work of that stain.  First, just as with the carpet, blot up as much as you can with a dry rag.  Then, mix together a solution of one tablespoon of dish soap to two cups of cold water, and blot the stain.  It is extremely important here to use cold water as opposed to warm, as the warm water will help the stain set into the upholstery.  Cold works best, but only if mixed with some patience.  Dab the area until the stain is gone, and then blot up the excess detergent with a clean sponge and cold water.  Let air dry, and you are good to go.

Sometimes, stains appear to be worse than they actually are.  However, with a little knowledge and persistence, you can do just about anything–even getting out red wine stains.

For more stain treatment tips and tricks, be sure to check back to our blog every Tuesday and Thursday for a new article!

Whether you plan to get new couches or just to rearrange some furniture, carpet dents can put a real dent in your plan.  They pop up almost everywhere and seem impossible to get out.  Thankfully, there is a simple solution that will make short work of these dents, with all of the materials being readily available.  Read on to find out more!

Of all of the home-remedies out there for furniture dents, ice takes the cake.  It allows for water to seep back into the fibers, giving the once crushed spot new life, and making it look like new once more.  Simply place the cubes at least 2 inches apart in the dent (with the size of the cube dependent on the size of the dent) and wait.

When the carpet is dry, vacuum up the area.  By this time, all of the individual fibers should be standing again, but if they are being a little stubborn, don’t worry.  Grab a fork and gently fluff up those pieces, and before you know it, your carpet will look great once more with the new floor plan.

Now, a word of warning with this method: do not use it on antique or hand-dyed rugs, as the water can weaken the fibers.  In addition, steer clear of using this with delicate rugs, and be sure to be careful with a carpet that has a wood floor underneath.  While this method is effective, it should not be used with all sorts of carpets.

Should you have one of these carpets, you can still get the dents out of it by calling in the professionals.  We here at Bayside Carpet Cleaning have been trained to clean some of the most delicate carpets out there, so you can be assured that we will handle your carpet with care.

For a free in-home estimate, give us a call today!