Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Carpet Questions: Part 2

We’re back with part 2 of our frequently asked carpet questions series. This was a fun series to write. All questions are provided by real customers with real concerns. As always, we really enjoy helping our customers with their flooring and cleaning needs! Read on to learn about old pet stains, scratches on hardwood floors, how long carpets take to dry and more!

Pet Woes

Q: We just found an old pet stain, can you get this out?

Great question, but a tough question at that. Pet stains are very tricky, and there are many variables that play a role in removing it successfully or not.

Here are a few factors:

1. If the urine or pet stain is deep within the carpet padding, they only way to truly remove it, is to remove the soiled padding, replace it with new padding, clean the carpeted area front and back, and tack it back down.
2. If the stain has had commercial products used on it, that may have set the stain rather than relieve it. Thus, making it more difficult to get out.
3. There are not many DIY solutions to remove old pet stains. The best thing to do is call a professional, NewGen Restores, to see how we can help.

Q: My dog threw up blood on the carpets, what should I do?

Unfortunately, as our beloved pets get older, we have to deal with various medical issues that occur. Although blotting liquids is the right way to extract them from your carpet, when you’re attending to a pet, it’s understandable that the stain may have dried into the carpet fibers by the time you get around to cleaning it. Organic stains such blood will often need stronger cleaning agents to remove them from the carpet, and this is something a professional floor-cleaning company can provide.
For now, just blot up as much excess as it will allow and call a professional.

Q: My hardwood floors are showing my dogs scratch marks, can you help?

Absolutely! We can clean, refinish or install wood floors depending on the needs of your home. But, not all hardwood floors are made the same; some floors are laminate, some are engineered and others are real wood. So, depending on the wood floor itself and the extent of the damage, we would buff up your wood floor’s coating (the polyurethane) and put down a new coat of our premium polyurethane. It’s also possible to completely sand down the flooring, re-stain it in a color of your choosing and then re-coat it with polyurethane.
Not sure what you need? Call us to walk through your project, together.

A Professional Clean

Q: How long will it take the carpets to dry?

This depends on which technique used and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and air circulation. Encapsulation is a low-moisture technique which will leave your carpets dry and ready to use again within about 2-4 hours. However, more thorough methods such as hot water extraction will take longer than this. Although furniture shouldn’t be returned to the carpet until it’s completely dry, you can walk on it immediately, they will just be damp. At NewGen Restores, we even leave booties behind for you to wear.

Q: Is low moisture cleaning as effective as hot water extraction?

It can be as effective but isn’t as thorough. Low-moisture techniques such as encapsulation achieve great results and are ideal for when you don’t have much time for your carpets to dry. Hot water extraction penetrates deeper into a carpet’s fibers, working best on carpets which are dirty and it’s the most effective way to eliminate bad odors.

Q: Is it really steam?

No. Steam will actually burn your carpets because you need boiling water well over 200 degrees. Older stains will need even higher temperatures to be effective. Rental units aren’t able to reach these high temperatures. Professional-grade cleaning equipment works by using special exchangers which produce heat while it’s running, giving a consistent deep clean throughout.

Q: Will our furniture get wet during the cleaning?

No – as part of our process, we will tab and block all of the furniture in the room to protect it from the moisture. Once the carpets are dry, you can remove those blue blocks and tabs. However, if you would like to maximize your carpet cleaning, your furniture needs to be removed from the area to effectively clean the entire space. You’ll then need to wait for your carpets to be completely dry before returning the furniture or you’ll risk paint or wood stains marking your freshly cleaned floors. It’s best to remove all electrical and breakable items yourself, but professional floor cleaning companies such as NewGen Restores will discuss what furniture needs moving in our preliminary visit and do this for you on the day. Drapes and curtains should also be lifted from the floor area.

Were there questions you have that didn’t get covered? Let us know!

About NewGen Restores:
NewGen Restores is a carpet cleaning and floor care specialist offering solutions for both residential and commercial clients. With over 25 years of experience, our team offer professional cleaning services and tackle the toughest of stains.