Stain Removal & Protection Service, Edinburgh and West Lothian

Trust The Stain Removal Experts

When an accident occurs, don’t panic. There are some simple and safe steps that you can take to resolve the problem or lessen the possibility of lasting damage before Aquatec Cleaning Group has a chance to attend and hopefully resolve the problem.

To achieve the best possible result, always deal with stains as quickly as possible. For really bad stains, seek advice from us before attempting to treat the stain yourself. Doing so could prevent irreversible damage to your carpet and/or upholstery.

Follow these simple steps and you should achieve great results:

Remove any excess liquid spills or solids. If your carpets or upholstery has been treated with a stain protector the spilt liquid may float on top for a while, giving you time to mop it up using kitchen roll. If you don't have stain protection, there's a good chance the fibres will absorb the liquid like a sponge.
Always work from the outside of the stain towards the centre.
DON'T RUB or SCRUB – apart from damaging the carpet fibres rubbing or scrubbing will force the liquid into the fibres and down to the base of the pile making it more difficult to get any staining out.
Use a blunt knife to scrape up any remaining solids.
Dip a cloth (preferable a white cloth) in the lukewarm water and squeeze out the majority of the water.
If you've got a bottle of recognised carpet or fabric solution, apply it to the cloth or, directly to the stain and then give it some time to work. After a couple of minutes, dab the fibres in the stained area with the cloth, working from the outside edge towards the centre. Turn your soft cloth frequently so you're always working with a clean surface. Never rub, scrub or use a harsh brush.
Dampen (don't saturate) the carpet fibres with clear, lukewarm water to rinse out the liquid you've applied and to remove the residue from the spillage.
Cover the spot with an absorbent white towel or kitchen roll and gently press down to blot and dry the area.
Repeat the rinsing and blotting procedures until you have removed as much of the stain as possible and the moisture you’ve applied.
Now place the absorbent white towel or 5 - 6 layers of kitchen roll over the area you've just cleaned, and weigh it down with a heavy, colour-fast object. The weight increases the absorption of any moisture that's still on your carpet. If the stained area is large, you may have to change the towels or kitchen paper frequently until the carpet is dry. Allow drying over 24 hours, this will absorb any stain in the base of the fibre that may wick up to the surface during the drying process. You can also apply gentle heat from a hair drier to speed up the drying process and lessen the risk of the stain wicking to the surface.

Carpets and upholstery are probably two of the bigger purchases you make in a lifetime. Below are some useful tips to help keep these furnishings in tip top condition for longer.

These tips will help reduce the need to have your carpets and upholstery cleaned, ultimately saving you money and, extending the life and pleasure you derive from your soft furnishings.

Vacuum your carpets and upholstery on a regular basis. Carpets act as a filter trapping the dirt, grit, allergens, dust mites and a whole host of nasties.
When vacuuming, always go North to South and then East to West. This will lift the pile and aid the removal of dirt.
Where adjacent floor coverings are wood, laminate or lino, keep these floors clean to prevent transferred soiling taking place. This will prevent greasy traffic lanes from developing.
When attempting home spot cleaning or any general cleaning, only use WoolSafe approved products. These products have been rigorously tested to ensure they are safe for all fibre types and that they meet their claims and don’t leave a sticky residue which will later attract dirt.
Should an accident occur, follow the DIY guide on this web site to ensure you don’t make the problem worse and to, hopefully, remove the problem. Where the stain or spillage leaves a residual mark or, if you don’t feel confident enough to tackle it yourself, call Aquatec Cleaning Group.
The use of barrier mats at external door entrances will greatly reduce soiling being carried into the property. Care must by taken to ensure these are not tripping hazards. These barrier mats should not be neglected when vacuuming or having carpets cleaned
Removing shoes at the door also helps reduce the amount of dirt carried into the house. Youngsters are good at this but the older generation are less inclined to remove shoes.
Stain protection acts by placing a barrier around every fibre. This barrier acts in a similar way to the Teflon coating on a frying pan, by stopping dirt sticking to the fibre so readily. This means that your vacuum will remove more dirt, keeping your carpets cleaner for longer. The stain protection will also assist in dealing with spillages to prevent them from becoming ugly and unsightly stains. See the video below for a remarkable demonstration of this.
When your carpets or upholstery starts to look a little dull or tired, that is the time to consider having them professionally cleaned. Always employ a WoolSafe registered Service provider – your guarantee of industry approved training, sound practice and tried and tested solutions which are safe for all in the household as well as for the carpets and fabrics being cleaned
Consider a maintenance plan to allow regular cleaning of your carpets and upholstery. This will prolong their life, keep them looking good and save you money and upheaval.

Stain Protection For Your Carpets, Upholstery and Curtains

How Stain Protectors Work

Guardsman Stain Protector is the most advanced product on the market for protecting your soft furnishings and its kind to the environment. Effectively putting a shield around every fibre. This means that any spillage has to first penetrate this invisible shield before it can damage the fibres. This allows time to treat the spillage before irreparable damage is done. One added benefit is that dirt finds it much harder to stick to a treated material and therefore, with routine maintenance, such as vacuuming, your soft furnishing will stay cleaner for much longer.Guardsman protector fends off soil, stains and spills on wool, cotton, and blends without impacting the fabric’s weight, look, feel, colour or breathability. Guardsman fabric protector makes it easier to keep upholstery, curtains, bedding and linens looking fresh and clean. Guardsman protector provides continuous protection for awnings and patio furniture cushions.

Fabrics treated for repellence fight off dry soil and nasty, unpredictable spills and splashes, allowing liquids to bead up and roll off. Liquid spills can easily be wiped away when blotted with a clean cloth, and dry soil can be brushed off easily. Great for contract, fabrics, upholstery, luggage and outdoor fabrics. Fabrics and carpets stay cleaner for longer.

Flame Retardant

A flame retardant is a substance that reduces flammability of fuels or delays their combustion. This gives valuable time to a householder to either extinguish a fire before it takes hold or, allows valuable time to vacate a property.

Fire-retardant fabrics are normally treated to different British Standards normally this depends on the end usage of the fabrics. BS 476 is a fire treatment for fabrics that are normally for wall hanging, and must only be used as for that purpose, where as CRIB 5 is a fabric fire treatment for upholstery and must only be used for furnishing and upholstery purposes, even if both fabrics have been treated for fire-retardancy. The relevant standards for fire-retardant fabrics include:

BS 5852:2006 describes the best practice methods to assess the ignitability of single material combinations, such as covers and fillings used in upholstered seating, or complete items of seating. These tests determine the effects of a smouldering cigarette, or other flaming ignition sources such as burning matches or a four-sheet full-size newspaper. This standard can be used to establish the potential ignitability of components in conjunction with other specified materials. BS 5852:2006 first looks at the criteria of ignition, and the health and safety of operators. It then explains the various apparatus, before focussing on smouldering ignition sources – such as a cigarette, butane gas flames and flaming wooden cribs. It also looks at ways to test for the ignitability of upholstery composites and complete items of furniture. The standard concludes with a final examination and test report.BS 5852:2006 replaces the older certification standard, BS 5852 - 1990BS 5867 is for flame retardant fabrics. It relates to curtains, blinds and drapes for windows when tested by the methods specified in BS 5438:1976. Where appropriate, a cleansing or wetting procedure specified in BS 5651 may also be required.

Source 5 (Crib 5) is related to upholstery and furniture coverings, and is related to BS 5852. The crib test uses a plank made from wood that is glued together. The fabrics is attached over the lint, then at bottom and a propane-diol is added. The testing unit is then ignited with a match. To decide whether the test has been passed the fabric and the crib are assessed to see whether there is flaming or smoldering on both the outer cover and the interior material. Assuming it does not ignite or smolder, the material will pass the test as no ignition. Similar tests include Source 0 (smouldering cigarette) and Source 1 (simulated match).All standards are designed to protects the consumer. Appying a flame retardant solution to upholstery, carpets and curtains can be a vital life saving measure.

Stain Removal & Protection Service, Edinburgh and West Lothian

Trust The Stain Removal Experts

Follow these simple steps and you should achieve great results:

Carpets and upholstery are probably two of the bigger purchases you make in a lifetime. Below are some useful tips to help keep these furnishings in tip top condition for longer.

Stain Protection For Your Carpets, Upholstery and Curtains

How Stain Protectors Work

Flame Retardant

Many thanks for looking over our website. Should you like to contact us for advice or, to request a free quotation for any work you would like carried out, please do not hesitate to contact us by using any of the phone numbers listed below or, by filling out the fields in the email option.

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Livingston

Falkirk