Those dark lines around your carpet edges are called infiltration

Have you noticed dark lines at the edges of your carpet?

Those dark areas are a sign of infiltration. Infiltration occurs when the air being forced into the room is escaping through small cracks under closed doors and wall frames. When this air is forcing its way through the carpet it is leaving behind small particles and pollutants that will eventually turn the carpet black. Common pollutants include cooking smoke, dust from uncleaned air ducts, and cigarette or candle smoke. Household Tips Guidesays infiltration can occur no matter how much you vacuum It is not a sign of a dirty home, but it will be difficult to clean.

Can infiltration be prevented?

According to The Spruce, changing the furnace or air conditioner filter by the recommended time frame can help. You could also consider sealing the gaps between the wall frames. This is usually done with a foam sealant. If the gap is too large the carpet will be pulled up and then re-installed after sealing. Cutting back on the amount of smoke in your home will also help. Burning fewer candles and smoking outside are steps in the right direction. Finally, having your air ducts professionally cleaned on a regular basis is the best preventative action that you can take.

Can those dark lines be removed?

The particles and pollutants causing the dark lines are very small and if they have become noticeable than it is time to call a professional cleaning company. A cleaning company will have all of the specialty tools and cleaning solutions to get the dark lines out of your carpet. 

Benefits of Cleaning and Sealing Your Tile and Grout

Are you using a shampoo bottle to hide a mildewy corner of your tile shower? Don’t worry – we’ve all been there. Just like any other frequently used surface in your home, grout and tile collect a lot of dirt over time. So if you’re starting to forget what color your grout used to be, it might be time to give it a good cleaning.

Cleaning grout is difficult, time-consuming work. Without a good set of knees, an old toothbrush, and several hours of back-breaking work, it is almost impossible to thoroughly clean soiled grout. If you have the elbow grease, go for it! Or, you can hire professionals to do a fast, thorough cleaning of your tile and grout for you.

Whether you choose the old toothbrush method or hire professionals, it is important to know how cleaning your tile and grout can improve the aesthetics and safety of your home. Tile can get slippery when wet, especially when water mixes with mildew from the grout. This is potentially dangerous for you, your children, and your pets. In addition to improving the traction on your tile, a thorough cleaning can completely change (and improve) the look of your entire room if your grout is in bad shape.

At Alpine Specialty Cleaning, we highly recommend sealing your grout after cleaning. Our grout sealing service is a great way to prevent the grout from mildewing, and it will keep your tile looking clean and new. Here are some more tips for preventing your tile and grout from re-soiling:

  • Sweep or vacuum before you mop. This will reduce most of the wet dirt that might gather in your grout when you mop.
  • Use gentle cleaners on your grout, especially if you have it sealed. Some cleaners can erode sealants and allow moisture and dirt to get into the grout.
  • Give your tile an extra rinse after you mop. This will help get rid of a lot of loose dirt that may remain.
  • Clean frequently. Nobody wants to mop every day, but even giving your floor a quick sweep on a regular basis can help keep your tile and grout looking squeaky clean.

Do It Yourself Home Cleaning Tips

Looking for a safe eco-friendly way to clean your home and save some money while doing it? On this article, we’ll be sharing six of the best cleaning tips for the home that will help you clean smarter not harder. These tips will help you have a clean toxin-free home while keeping money in your pocket. These are items that you can find in your kitchen and can be used to efficiently clean your home.

Vinegar

One of the best things to have in your home at all time is Vinegar. This is the most versatile product in the market. This is something that should be in the pantry at all times and it’s inexpensive. You can use vinegar to naturally disinfect surfaces, clean toilets, floors, clean coffee pots, steam clean the microwave, & even restore used paint brushes!

Arm & Hammer

A great way to go green is by switching out your laundry detergent for Arm & Hammer’s washing soda. Like all their products it is Phosphate and fragrance free which is a huge plus! Not only will this help you clean more eco friendly it will help you save money. This is another miracle product that you can also use to clean sinks, bathtubs, grout, and even stainless steel. Yes, I said stainless steel!

Micro Fiber rags

These are great for wiping down surfaces! And the best part about them is that they are reusable. No more unnecessary money on paper towels. Some places even carry rags that are resistant to bacteria. All you have to do to reuse them is to get them into the washer.

Air flow

You always want to keep a good flow of air coming and going throughout your house. Poor air quality leads to dust build up and toxins in the air.

Make your own cleaners

A really good way to make your house cleaning more eco-friendly is to make your own cleaners with everyday things find in your kitchen! Products like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, dish soap, and washing soda will give you great cleaners such as:

Multi-surface cleaner: Empty spray bottle with a 1:1 ratio of water and apple cider vinegar then add a couple drops of pure lemon juice.

Window cleaner: Empty spray bottle filled with water, 1 drop of dish soap (I use Ajax), & 1 tbsp. Of apple cider vinegar.

Floor cleaner: One and a half gallons of water in a bucket, half a cup of vinegar, lavender essential oil.

A lot of eco-friendly moms use these three cleaners all the time, but you can make any cleaner you wish. You could also add essential oils for different scents and smells.

Laundry sponges

We love sharing this tip with people, we think it’s so cool. And it saves you a ton of money on dryer sheets. Buy a pack of four sponges, soak them in halfway in warm water (You want an index card container for this) and a half of a cup of any fabric softener and boom you’re good to go. No seriously, that’s all there is to it! Every time you need a “dryer sheet” grab a sponge out of the water, squeeze it out really good and throw it in the dyer.