School’s out, and now’s the time for family and friends to gather for that great American tradition: the backyard barbecue. Grilling burgers and enjoying cold drinks in the warm summer sun are favorite pastimes, but what if the fun comes indoors? The experts at STAINMASTER® carpet offer some simple cleaning solutions to help you avoid summertime stains.
CLEANING SOLUTIONS:
For charcoal:
Sudsy Foam
Mix 1/4 cup liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water. Using a whisk or beater, whip the solution until you have created a sudsy foam. Use only the foam on the carpet. Note: It may be necessary to increase the amount of detergent to get enough suds to create foam.
For ketchup, soft drinks
and beer:
Detergent Solution
Mix 1/4 teaspoon mild liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.
Vinegar Solution
Mix two tablespoons clear, white non-suds ammonia in four cups of warm water.
For mustard:
Detergent Solution
Mix 1/4 teaspoon mild liquid dish detergent (with no optical brightners) in one cup of warm water.
BASIC CLEANING STEPS:
1. Scoop up and blot as much of the spill as possible.
2. Vacuum any dry particles.
3. Prepare suggested cleaning solutions, beginning with the first one listed.
4. Pretest the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous spot of carpet to ensure it does not discolor or damage the carpet.
5. Apply the cleaning solution to the stain area. Work from the outside of the stain toward the center.
6. Allow the cleaning solution to remain on the spill for at least five minutes.
7. Blot with a clean white cloth until no more stain transfers to the cloth. Do not rub the stain area or you might damage the carpet fibers.
8. Rinse with cold water. Be sure all cleaning solution is removed from the carpet.
9. If you can still see the stain, repeat the process until either the stain is removed or the stain no longer transfers to the cloth.
10. If the stain remains, try the next solution on the list and follow the same protocol above. If the stain persists after trying each of the solutions, contact a professional cleaner.
11. Once the stain is removed, place layers of white paper towel on the site to absorb any moisture. Weight down the towels with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. You can let them sit overnight
12. When the carpet is dry, vacuum to restore the texture.
13. Have your carpet professionally cleaned every 24 months, as required by the STAINMASTER® carpet limited warranty.
*Barbecue Industry Association 2001, Barbecue Lifestyle Usage & Attitude Study: Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association Barbecue Industry Statistics
• Three out of four U.S. households own a barbecue grill.
• Men are more likely than women to be the household member who barbecues (66 percent), however, women are more likely to decide when to barbecue and what foods to prepare.
• Hamburgers, steak, hot dogs and chicken breasts are the most frequently barbecued food items.
• The Fourth of July is the most popular holiday for barbecuing, with three out of four grill owners choosing to barbecue on that day, followed by Memorial Day (58 percent) and Labor Day (51 percent).
• Food tongs and long handled forks are the most common utensils used for barbecuing.
• The most popular woods used to add smoke flavor to grilled foods are mesquite, hickory and fruitwoods such as apple and cherry.
The Stainmaster Carpet Difference is....
Your carpet stays 30% Cleaner and lasts 50% longer than any other carpet.
Call today today for a free, in home estimate.
303-816-2273
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