Chem-Dry Offers Carpet Cleaning Tips for the Hectic Holiday Season

NASHVILLE, TN, December 06, 2012 (Press-News.org) As the trees become bare and the seasons start to change, the one universal custom that best signifies the end of fall and beginning of winter even more than climate is the holidays. No matter where you reside, mid-November always marks the start of the compact holiday season, filled with family visits, lights, decorations, and an abundance of food. Unfortunately, along with all of the holiday celebrations and joy also come all of the unavoidable messes and clean-up.

Chem-Dry, the world's largest carpet and upholstery cleaning service, has over 35 years of experience in resolving carpet, rug and upholstery cleaning crises. With expertise in all things carpet and upholstery, Chem-Dry's line of green certified products - including their original Professional Strength Spot Remover and World Famous Pet Odor Remover product - have the power to salvage and restore the most supremely tainted carpets. As leaders in the field, the Chem-Dry experts have identified the most common carpet casualties that occur over the holidays, and the various ways to best combat these incidences to protect your carpets and upholstery.

"We want to help our customers enjoy their holiday season with as little stress as possible," said Dan Tarantin, CEO of Chem-Dry. "The Chem-Dry team understands as well as they do that hosting during the holidays can be very taxing, and we've made it our duty to provide our customers with all the products and tips necessary to ensure a happier, healthier, stain-free season."

Tarantin offers the following carpet cleaning tips for homeowners hoping to preserve their healthy carpets over the holidays:

- Placing area rugs in high traffic areas, such as entrances to your home, will protect your carpet from unnecessary staining and wear from all the guests entering and exiting.
- It is recommended to request that guests take off their shoes upon entering your home, as shoes often carry dirt, debris and oils on their soles. Having people take them off should help prevent grime from being tracked over your carpets.
- Vacuuming before hosting a holiday party will help prevent everyday dirt from accumulating and setting into your carpet, before adding more dirt that may be tracked in from your guests.
- The likelihood of a spill drastically increases over the holidays. If you do encounter a stain, blot it with lukewarm water immediately to prevent it from sinking into the carpet pad. Use a cloth towel for blotting.
- To remove onset spots and stains:
- Make sure you do NOT rub it in!
- Do not pour an excessive amount of water over the stain to "lighten it." Although this may loosen the stain, it can also cause the stain to sink deeper into the carpet pad, making it harder to get out.
- Try mixing warm water with white vinegar or dish detergent, and blot the stain with the mixture.
- For a red wine spill, follow a two-step process using first a detergent solution, then a vinegar solution. With the detergent solution, first dip a white cloth or plain white paper towel into the detergent solution and dab repeatedly. Press the cloth on the spot for a few seconds, wait 15 minutes for the stain to break down, and then soak up the excess liquid with a dry white cloth. Repeat the process with the vinegar solution. Continue by blotting the entire area with a cloth soaked in lukewarm water. Wait a full hour or until the carpet dries completely. If the stain still remains, place a 1/2-inch-thick stack of white paper towels over the stain and rest a glass baking dish on top for 15 minutes.
- For tough, stubborn stains, spray a small amount of Chem-Dry Professional Strength Spot Remover or Chem-Dry Grease & Oil Remover. It is important to first test the fabric by spraying the product on a hidden area and observing for 10 minutes.
- Once you have determined the most effective course of action, work from the outside edge of the stain to the inside to keep the stain from spreading.
- If you have a pet that gets nervous around large groups of people and expresses his/her nerves indoors by urinating, blot up as much of it as you can with a towel, and then lightly sprinkle water and baking soda over the area. After the area has dried, thoroughly vacuum. For improved results, try Chem-Dry's Pet Odor Remover, which eliminates pet urine odors and stains at the source.
- Make sure to vacuum immediately after a party to avoid food crumbs from sticking to the carpet and turning into mold and bacteria.
- Go over the most heavily trafficked carpet areas in several directions to allow the vacuum to pick up all it can.

If you have a spot or stain you cannot eliminate or you are unable to clean your heavily trafficked areas, schedule a professional carpet cleaning appointment with the carpet and upholstery cleaning experts at Chem-Dry. They will use their green-certified solution and deep-cleaning hot carbonating extraction cleaning method and specialty stain removal products to give your carpets, rugs and upholstery a deep, healthy clean that will dry in just a couple of hours.

About Chem-Dry
Founded in 1977, Chem-Dry is the world's largest carpet and upholstery cleaning service with over 3,500 units in 35 countries. Its green-certified solution and proprietary hot carbonating extraction cleaning process allow surfaces to dry faster, provide a deeper clean, and leave homes healthier. Chem-Dry has been ranked the number one carpet cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 24 consecutive years and has been selected by Franchise Direct as one of the top 100 global franchises. For more information, visit http://www.chemdry.com or visit http://www.chemdryfranchise.com for franchise opportunities. Chem-Dry is owned by Harris Research, Inc., which is also the founder and owner of the fast-growing N-Hance Wood Renewal franchise.

Media Contact: Stefanie Zimmerman, Fishman PR, 847.945.1300 x 267, szimmerman@fishmanpr.com