Why do Spots Come Back?

Naturally you expect your carpets to look better after cleaning than before. So it may come as a surprise when some of the spots return. There are two reasons that this can happen: re-soiling from various residues and soil-wicking.

Re-soiling
Re-soiling is the result of new soil that is attracted to an oily or sticky residue on the carpet. One of the most common residues is left behind by common spot removers. Some of the products sold at grocery and home improvement stores can leave behind sticky, soil-attracting residues, especially when they are over-applied or not thoroughly rinsed.

Other residues that cause rapid re-soiling are: food grease, animal body oils, adhesive-tape residue, petroleum based oils, moisturizing lotion, hairspray,tanning oil, and sugar from spilled drinks. Once the visible soil is cleaned away from these areas, the carpet will look clean. However, the invisible residue acts like a soil magnet, leading to rapid re-soiling. This can take days or even a few weeks to occur.

Soil-wicking
Soil-wicking is another ,common reason that spots reappear after cleaning. Soil-wicking is a result of how carpet is made and how it dries. Carpet is made up of multiple layers. Each of these layers plays a role in soil wicking. The yarns that you  see in the face of the carpet are stitched into a thin, woven fabric called the primary backing. This primary backing can be seen by parting the fibers of the carpet and looking down between the rows of yarns.

During “normal” carpet cleaning, the intent is to clean the face yarns only. But sometimes spots, spills and pet urine penetrate the primary backing. If you look at the back of the carpet, you will see the secondary backing, a coarser, stiffer woven material designed to give the carpet more strength and stability. The secondary backing creates a capillary action that can spread a spill out to a much larger area than you see on the surface. Just a 2-4 ounce spill can create a 12 inch diameter spot on the back of the carpet.

Between the primary and secondary backings, there is a layer of latex adhesive holding it all together. Some spills can penetrate into thislayer and dry. These deposits can be “reactivated” by normal cleaning and wick to the surface of the carpet fibers during the normal drying process.These returning spots can be as much of a surprise to your carpet cleaning professional as they are to you.

The reason the spots return has to do with the mechanics of capillary action. As carpet dries, water evaporates from the tips of the carpet yarns, drawing some of the remaining moisture behind it. If there is any kind of soil or spill at the base of the yarns or in the backing, it too can be drawn up to the yarn tips. Unfortunately, while water readily evaporates, soils do not. So the spots that were hidden in the backing system are now at the top of the carpet where they can create a visibly noticeable spot. Correcting recurring spots may simply require a thorough rinse. Other times, specialized cleaning agents and more intensive cleaning techniques are needed.

While we do our best to prevent recurring spots, it does happen sometimes. If you ever see a spot come back after Hansen  Steam Way cleans your carpet, please call us as soon as possible so we can return and properly address the situation. Once we find the cause, we’ll use special techniques to correct it and leave your carpet spotless again.

For a beautiful start in spring, store your tropical bulbs

The growing season might be over, but you don’t have to say goodbye to your tropical plants. With a little effort, you can have twice as many next spring, and you won’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. You can store the bulbs.

For those who have a special liking for elephant ears, cannas, gladioli, dahlias, begonias, caladium, and other exotics, here’s  how to save bulbs from the winter cold.

After foliage has dried back from the first light frost, trim the top growth, then gently dig up each bulb and brush off excess  soil. Discard any that are dried out or rotted.

Spray each bulb with a protective fungicide such as Concern Copper Soap and allow to dry. Keep bulbs in a warm, dry area   for a week to ease them into dormancy.

Store the bulbs in a cardboard box. Cover the bottom with newspaper and place the bulbs so they don’t touch each other.  Cover with peat moss, then make another layer.

Most bulbs prefer a 45 to 55 degree temperature range. Begonias, gladioli, and cannas prefer 50 to 60 degrees.

Knee replacements not for everyone

In older adults, cartilage in the knee joint can wear away, causing pain and limited movement.

A new study shows that, for the most serious cases of arthritis, knee replacement did improve quality of life. However, for most people the improvements were minimal.

The study published in The BMJ observed the results of 7,400 middle age and older adults who had arthritis of the knee or were at high risk for the condition.

If your knee pain is not severe, you might be able to get some relief and postpone knee problems by strengthening your thigh muscles.

Losing weight also helps. Each additional pound adds four pounds of pressure on the joints. Less weight equals less pressure and happier knees. But avoid high-impact jogging, aerobics, or jumping while you lose the weight.

According to the Harvard Health Letter, people with good range of motion in the knee have fewer pain symptoms. It’s important to be able to straighten out the knee. Try sitting on a bed with a pillow under the ankle. Then use your leg muscles to gently move your knee down and straight.

Osteoarthritis symptoms often get worse by standing on a hard surface for long periods or squatting (as an example, while gardening). Sitting on a low stool is better than squatting.You can also wear cushioned shoes or gel inserts.

Spend a little now… save a lot later

Fall is the perfect time to do some maintenance on your home’s exterior. Warm weather and the higher humidity of  summer cause materials to shift and expand, then as the weather cools and the humidity decreases the process reverses. This can leave your home with areas that water, pests and rot can penetrate. Now is the time to act.

As Winter Approaches

Paint, caulk, shingles, wood, rubber, vinyl and siding are all affected by high temperature and UV radiation from the sun. As a result, the exterior envelope of your home may not be as “tight” as it was in the spring. As weather gets cooler,  materials tend to shrink and harden. Air is drier, resulting in further shrinkage as materials lose moisture. Rubber seals around doors and windows become brittle. Caulk separates from siding and trim, allowing outdoor air and damaging moisture to enter.

The wood around doors and windows can rot. High moisture levels encourage insects and termites to make your home their home. Hidden mold growth on wood, drywall and other porous surfaces causes millions of dollars in structural damage every year. Moisture is the primary cause. You can take a few easy steps to ensure your home is in good shape as winter approaches. Following is a list of things that you can check out and another list the ambitious homeowner can do, or which you can hire an inspector to check out for you.

Easy Fall Checkpoints

As fall approaches take a slow walk around your house and check the following:

• Visually check out all windows and doors. Look at the wood trim to ensure it is not rotted or pulling away. Check the caulk to ensure it is flexible and wellsealed. Pound in loose trim nails and re-caulk if necessary. Remove brittle, deteriorated caulk before resealing.

• Check weather stripping to ensure pliability and good seal. If you can see daylight around the door or window then you may need to install new weather stripping.

• Look around windows, doors, soffits and other areas for water intrusion. If you see dark stains or rotted areas you may have a leak and want to call a professional. After the leak is fixed you can replace damaged wood. Or, check out this great product called “Git Rot”, available at marine centers, for repairing rotted wood.

• If you have a basement check it for leaks by touching the wall, especially where it meets the floor. Sometimes, minor water issues can be corrected with sealing paint.

Getting Professional Help

If you are a very handy homeowner then do the following checks as well. Otherwise, hire a pro to:

• Have your gutters cleaned and checked. Ensure all downspouts are directed away from your house. If you don’t have gutters, consider having seamless gutters installed; they are actually quite inexpensive compared to other home improvements.

• Have the roof inspected. Many roofing companies will do this for free, just be sure to pick a reputable one. Ensure they look for gaps and issues around the chimney, plumbing stacks and any other roof penetrations.

• If you have a crawl space under your home, hire a professional to crawl under it once a year and check it out for plumbing leaks, structure issues, and animal infestation.

The old saying says that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It can save you a ton of money in the long run as well.