Tackle those stains!

Let’s face it, getting stains on your clothes, carpet or any other surface is just a fact of life. It doesn’t matter how careful or diligent you are, or even if you think you have escaped a saucy dinner unscathed, they always seem to happen no matter what. Carpet stains are not all made equal and tomato sauce stains can be some of the worst – whether it’s pasta, pizza, lasagne or even just plain old baked beans, tomato sauce has some special super power to make a real mess. Getting it off clothes is one thing, but getting those red, oily stains out of a carpet is a completely different ball game. This is where Drytron Carpet Dry Cleaning comes in handy.

It’s important to point out the difference between a spot and a stain. A spot can be a result of an incident that just happened and can be cleaned very easily if it hasn’t soaked into the carpet fibres. Stains, on the other hand, are typically older and more permanent. These have got into the carpet fibres and have the power to change the colour of the carpet forever.

While it’s sometimes possible to get them out, taking on those greasy, orange spots out of a carpet can be a real hassle, and not every carpet cleaning method works as well as you’d like it to. Here are a few stain removal tips you can try to get rid of those damned tomatoey spots (even those dried on ones!). If you are not sure you can tackle these alone, call in the carpet cleaning experts. Just remember, before attempting any stain removal technique, you should always check with the manufacturer’s guidelines and do a cleaning test on a small inconspicuous area first.

Ice, dish detergent and vinegar

This home remedy can be used on most surfaces, however it works best on clothes or other easy-to-wash items. Carpet stains can be removed this way but it can get a little tricky getting it dry afterwards. All you need for this is an ice cube, dish detergent and white vinegar.

First, make sure you have scraped off any excess tomato sauce, then go ahead and apply a little of the dish detergent to the carpet stain. Second, place an ice cube on top of the stain and let it sit for 2-3 minutes or so. Third, drop a few drops of vinegar onto the stain and, once again, let it sit for a short while. Lastly, using a clean cloth, spot clean the area and the stain should be all gone. This one can be a little fiddly, but the dish detergent can be great on those oily stains that tomato sauce usually leaves behind.

Baking soda and lemon

This next home remedy is one of those Grandma tricks that everyone seems to know, but does require a lot of time, reapplication and elbow grease. All you need is salt, baking soda and water. Simply mix equal parts salt and baking soda together in a small bowl, then add a little bit of water to form a paste. Once combined, rub the paste into the stain and let sit until dry. This trick can require multiple applications and sometimes isn’t strong enough to get the stain out, so you may be best using another method.

Store bought stain removers

This last one is almost always more effective than the ones above as store bought stain removers are typically faster, cleaner and stronger for getting out even the worst of tomato stains (we’re talking the full plate of spaghetti on the floor kind).

The Stain Buster or Wee Buster packs from Drytron Carpet Dry Cleaning are known for their ease of use and ability to remove even the toughest of carpet stains. First, try your best to scrape or scoop up any solids first. It’s really important not to scrub the stain further into the carpet at this point as it can push the stain deeper into the carpet fibres.

Second, blot out the liquid with any clean towelling material – and act fast. The earlier you get to the spot or stain the better. Third, making sure you follow the cleaning instructions carefully, apply the cleaning product to another clean towel or cloth and get to work on the stain.

Applying the cleaning product to the carpet can discolour the carpet if too much is used. To keep the stain in one spot, dab and wipe from the outside of the stain inwards in small, light motions. Then rinse the area with cold or lukewarm water. Lastly, gently blot the area with a white paper towel. You are essentially trying to ‘pick up’ the stain with a paper towel. Keep dabbing the area until the stain has been lifted off.

If these stain removal tips still aren’t getting rid of that damned spot, you might need to get someone in to give you a hand. For professional carpet cleaning help, cleaning advice and even more carpet cleaning tips and tricks, Drytron offer excellent professional carpet cleaning services. We even offer personalised carpet cleaning consultations to make sure you get those pesky tomato stains out for good.

Call our friendly team to discuss your cleaning requirements:

Book Online or Call: 13 12 50

A FIVE-STEP GUIDE FOR HELP WITH TREATING CARPET SPILLS AND STAINS AT HOME.
While there are various stain-resistant carpets on the market these days, no carpet is 100% stain-proof. If your carpet has suffered a recent accident, it can often be cleaned easily if it’s treated right away, as it may have only formed a colour on the surface of the carpet fibres. For longer term stains however, once the spill has seeped into the carpet fibres, the colour of the carpet can be forever changed. To prevent this from happening, have a look at our carpet cleaning process here.

DIFFICULT STAINS TO REMOVE
Any coloured liquid is potentially a stain that may prove too difficult to get out. Seven stains are common among carpets and relatively difficult to remove, even with recommended carpet stain removal techniques.

Read on to learn more about the 7 deadly carpet stains:

1. COFFEE & TEA
   These beverages are mortal enemies for carpets. If you can’t find carpet cleaner particularly made for them, or coffee remover, the carpet stain may be there to stay. You are really best calling in the carpet cleaning specialists for this one.
2. NAIL POLISH
   This hardly ever comes out of your carpets when it spills. Nail polish removal on carpet requires tough and thorough jobs with solvent and rinsing, and is best left to the professionals.
3. COOKING OIL
   This is a nasty carpet stain that easily attracts other dirt and generally gets worse over time. However, it can be removed with a good enzyme and hot water extraction.
4. GREEN TEA
   This beverage contains a green dye that is usually impossible to remove, making it a frustrating stain to get off. On rare occasions, dye removers may have some success.
5. COLOURED DRINKS
   Red wine and coloured sodas have some food colour in them that rarely comes out with steam cleaning alone. There are different carpet cleaning services available that will give it your best shot.
6. YELLOW MUSTARD
   This is one tough stain to get out. Try as much as possible to keep that hot dog away from your carpet for its chance of removal is close to zero. You may need to give Drytron, the professional carpet cleaners, a call for advice on this one.
7. PET STAINS
   Pet urine contains strong acid that can bleach carpet if left for too long. It can only be removed with urine spotters or good carpet cleaning products.
8. BLOOD STAINS
   Blot the stained area of the carpet with a paper towel to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Spot with cold water or an enzyme based cleaner to break down the protein. 

HELP FOR CARPET SPILLS AND STAINS
Below are Drytron’s step-by-step carpet stain removal tips to follow.

We’ve never spent so much time inside, as during this pandemic. That’s why now is the perfect opportunity to put that time at home to good use, by undertaking some simple home improvement exercises. 

We’ve got ten ideas to get you started. 

1. Spring clean for a thorough spruce up.

Now is the time to get your house ready for Summer and potential visitors in the hotter months, by undertaking a thorough Spring Clean. We’ve got a checklist with ten ideas  to help you get started. 

2. Find your perfect couch.

Updating a key furniture piece can have a massive impact on your home and living space. Picking the perfect couch is important, but there are many bargains to be had at retailers at the moment. Or, you could even find a second-hand couch to keep costs down.

3. Get inventive with new soft furnishings.

Discover what rugs work best for your home, and invest in some new accent pieces to liven up your spaces. Look at bright blues, greens, burnt oranges and pinks, to stay up-to-date with current trends.

4. Modernise with colour.

If you are feeling the pandemic pinch, and need to be thrifty with any home improvement ideas, try adding a splash of colour to modernise outdated spaces. Even something as simple as a brightly coloured mug, or even just vibrant fruit like lemons and limes placed in a bowl, can really brighten a room and make it feel fresh and modern.

5. Get smart with small spaces.

You might not believe it, but there are so many things you can do with small spaces to bring out the WOW factor. Don’t be afraid to play with colour, mirrors, levels or clever storage ideas, to trick and transform.

6. Hang some fresh art.

The simple act of hanging some fresh art can make a huge difference to how your home is presented. If you don’t have any art sitting around, and can’t afford to purchase some, try a framed print OR even create a hanging space for your kids to show off their art. They are mini Picassos afterall.

7. Introduce a sanitation station.

Unfortunately, our new normal is a little different to the life we had all grown accustomed to, but what better way to embrace it than by making a specific, stylised space in your home for sanitation? It could be in the entryway, hallway, or any other area near the entrance of your home. You could even invest in a hands free sanitiser to add a modern, innovative touch.

8. Convert a nook or spare bedroom into a home office.

With the whole world largely working from home at the moment, most of us need a functional, quiet home office to get things done in. Try converting a nook, or spare bedroom into an office space with the introduction of a nice desk, comfy chair and some stationary and decor items.

9. Plant a little positivity in your garden.

Right now, we need all the positivity we can get, so why not plant some? Turn your outdoor space into a flower garden, green oasis, cactus walk or even, a mini orchard and vegetable garden.

10. Have your carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned.

When it all comes down to it, an improved home means nothing if your carpet and upholstery is dirty, lacklustre, and in need of some serious TLC. Don’t break your back, or your wallet, trying to find solutions. Call in the professionals and let Drytron take this job off of your hands, to free you up for more of the good things. Like, enjoying your home, and this precious time with loved ones.

If you need a professional couch cleaner, call us.

Couches aren’t household items that you replace often, therefore when you choose a couch, you must be absolutely certain it is perfect as you will have it for several years. The most important question to ask yourself when choosing the perfect couch for your home is “what kind of lifestyle do I live?” Once you figure that out, then the decision will be easier. Keep in mind the kind of lifestyle you live and who you share your home with when reading the following considerations to help you choose the perfect couch.

Fabric Colour

The fabric of your couch must be able to withstand the everyday use of your family or the people you live with. If you live with young children, then you will know that sometimes they can get a bit messy after eating or playing outside. A darker fabric will hide the icky food and dirt stains better, which will especially come in handy when you have unexpected guests pop by. 

If your family also consists of fur babies, then consider how high or low maintenance their fur might be. Consider materials that won’t easily collect pet hair especially if you have a pet that malts easily. If you allow your furry friends to join you on the couch, you should consider a colour that will hide their hair easier. A cream coloured couch will look very dirty very easily with black pet hair on it, and it will seem impossible to keep clean.

Fabric Type

Stains aren’t the only thing you should consider when thinking about fabric. Choose a couch that is durable and can also maintain its appearance. Again, if you like having your pets on the couch to cuddle, then you will need a fabric that doesn’t pierce easily from their claws. It might help maintain the quality and smell of your couches for longer, by having a cover for areas that your pets can sit. Maintaining the quality also refers to the colour of the couch. If your lounge gets a lot of sun, then ask the couch salesperson if the colour will last under regular sun exposure – try and avoid couches that will fade easily as that will mean you need to spend more money to replace the couch.

Couch Sizes

Couches can take up a lot of room in your living room, and there are two things that will influence the size of couch you choose: the size of your living room, and who will be sitting on the couch. If you have a smaller living room then smaller couches are the way to go but bear in mind that too many couches can also make a big lounge feel cramped and small. 

You should also consider who will be sitting on it. Couches are the one household item that can fit everyone comfortably at the same time – like the dinner table, they are the best instrument for family time. If you have younger children, choose a couch that the whole family can snuggle up in. If you’re watching a movie as a family, you don’t want anyone to feel left out by having a couch that is too small to fit everyone. If you have older teenage children, then being snuggled up in one couch together might be the last thing your children would want, so make sure there are enough couches for everyone to have their own personal space.

Suitable Shapes

Couches come in so many different shapes and sizes to suit various needs. When choosing the shape of your couch, consider how to maximise the space in your living room and who will be sitting on it. Couches can sometimes leave wasted space in the living room, particularly in the corners where two couches meet. Couches that are perfect for maximising space are ‘L’ shaped couches. They can also fit more people on them than normal couches. 

If you like hosting guests, consider the layout of the lounge. You don’t want to squeeze everyone in the same couch, and you also want some couches facing each other so it’s easy for people to have conversation without talking over people. One solution might be having multiple couches, but also think about purchasing a couple of matching lazy-boy chairs. 

Price

Couches can be an expensive purchase so consider how long you expect to have your couch for before you need to change it. If you have a young family, then be prepared to change it sooner than if you had adult children. If your children are playful, then consider choosing a cost-effective option as you will most likely have to replace it in a couple of years. If you are living with adults that are generally tidy, then by all means treat yourself to that high-quality couch. Another key thing to look out for is that the price is reflective of the quality you are getting. A lot of couches come with extra features such as arm rests, fold out beds, and recliners. 

Versatility

If you often host family and friends, then you might want to consider the versatility of your couch. If there are no spare beds left in your house then the couch is usually the next best option, however it isn’t always the most comfortable. Furthermore, if people keep sleeping on your couch then it will alter the shape of the cushions. Consider a sofa-bed where the bed folds out of the sofa. This will mean that you can host more people comfortably, and more importantly, not at the expense of a comfy sofa for everyone else. 

Ease of care

The key to making these benefits last is the ease of care. If your couch is too hard to clean then you will become reluctant to clean it or to use it freely, and if it’s not cleaned regularly then the quality will decline fast. Some couches come with recommended cleaning guidelines and chemicals, however no one can really clean a couch like a professional can. Consider using professional couch cleaning services to maintain the quality and longevity of your couch. 

Drytron are the couch cleaning experts in Melbourne. Offering upholstery cleaning, curtain cleaning and carpet cleaning services, Drytron can help you maintain the quality and comfort of your interiors, saving you money in the long run. Give our friendly team a call.

Book Online or Call: 13 12 50

For Your Nearest Rug Carpet Cleaner, Get In Touch!

Wondering about flooring for your home? Solid hardwoods are a timeless, eye-catching option that come with a long list of benefits. Hardwood floors are a sleek and impressive addition to any home interior. They’re a classic twist within a modern household, or can be restored and preserved within older houses to look polished and good-as-new. Easy to clean and keep maintained, hardwood is bound to give your home that really standout, refined appearance. 

Hardwood flooring also allows for plenty of wiggle-room when it comes to interior creativity – a wonderful canvas to work with when placing eye-catching, decorative rugs! While hardwood floors can really add character to your home, they can come off a bit cold and hard. So, it’s important to utilise soft furnishings as much as possible to bring softness to your home. 

Here are 7 reasons why a hardwood floor is greatly benefited through the addition of rugs – a winning combination with plenty of positives! 

1. Dimension, Elegance & Cosiness 

Hardwood floors not only add a touch of elegance to your home, but also help to retain warmth. Team your hardwood floor with a classic shaggy rug or carpet, and you’ll add to that already warm, cosy feel. Wood helps to give a room the illusion of being bigger than it is, while rugs placed on top of the hardwood floors help to stop the room feeling too stark and bare. Keep one corner open and expansive with wood flooring left exposed, while enclosing other areas of your room with a piece of shaggy material can add different spaces for different moods e.g. a library corner for reading or a “TV den” within your open lounge. 

2. Low Maintenance

Hardwood floors are pretty low-maintenance and easy to keep clean. There’s the ability for any surface dirt to be swept, steam-cleaned, mopped or vacuumed away easily without any hassle – and if you spill something, all you need to do is wipe it up! You may think it’s a risky addition, but adding rugs to your hardwood floor can help to cover any surface damage caused by high-heeled shoes or wear/cracking over time – so this helps to provide a barrier between foot and floor. 

3. Strength and Resistance 

Many households upgrade to solid wood floors due to their appealing strength and resistance. Scratches and other abrasions are always a possibility but not-easily caused, due to the durability and long-wearing nature of hardwood. Adding a variety of rugs in different shapes and textures can provide more than just aesthetic variety. They can also add an extra layer of durability to the floor adding to its resistance factor – a great reason to invest in a couple of eye-catching rugs.

4. Warmth-retention & Insulation 

Unlike carpet, hardwood floors do not trap dust, animal dander, pollen, particulate matter or other common allergens, meaning they’re often a must for allergy sufferers. If allergies aren’t a problem faced by your household occupants, you can add in a few rugs for basic warmth-retention and floor insulation. Rugs dotted around your space can help to stop warmth leaving the floorboards and protect cold feet through the winter months. 

5. Colour Doesn’t Fade

Many carpets will lose their lustre over time, if they’re not cleaned or serviced properly. Hardwood doesn’t face this issue, instead only the victim to the odd surface-abrasion. Adding a rug to your hardwood floor, and making sure you’re properly maintaining your rug, can prevent the wood from any unexpected abrasions. It’s far easier to have a rug commercially cleaned than it is to try and restore a piece of wood flooring – so the two paired together means protection for your floor and a rug that you can whisk away to be professionally cleaned when required. Easy as!

6. Endless Decor Options

Hardwood flooring has an array of benefits, ranging from the smart and practical to the purely aesthetic. Nobody would argue though, that their ability to adapt to any interior design or household theme is arguably one of their most appealing aspects. Wood can seamlessly blend in with whatever additional accents you choose to add to your rooms, in particular the ability to layer on top of your flooring with a wide range of colours, shades and textures of rug. 

The natural beauty of hardwood, which comes in a variety of shades, swirls, and grains, adds a timeless character and elegance to your home, while providing a beautiful blank canvas for endless décor options. 

Drytron Carpet Cleaning 

So, you’ve invested in beautiful, timeless wood flooring for your home, and a couple of eye-catching rugs for particular areas of your room. It’s looking and feeling just as you hoped it would, and your home has come together seamlessly. You’ve added flair, dimension, warmth and protection for your new flooring, and now all you want to know is how to maintain this brilliant new aesthetic. 

Based in Melbourne with operations across Victoria, we are a mere phone-call away when you need some professional rug cleaning and maintenance. Drytron’s six-step rug cleaning process provides a rapid treatment that leaves them dry to walk on instantly – without that dreaded damp smell or feel. Your wood floors will remain good as new, while your carpets will continue to thrive with Drytron’s expert mobile rug cleaning process. Bright clean carpets will be an ongoing element of your household, keeping your overall aesthetic good-as-new for as long as you want it to. 

Beautiful polished floors and impressive, elegant rugs – you’ve done the hard part by choosing your décor accents, so allow Drytron to deliver the ease and satisfaction with their unbeatable carpet cleaning services. 

For Your Nearest Commercial Carpet Cleaner, Get in Touch!

The purchase of a carpet can be a daunting endeavour and one that requires more thought than just the choosing and installation aspects of the purchase. You can’t control the everyday foot traffic and surface-level dirt that comes into contact with your carpet, but you can have peace of mind that a great commercial carpet cleaner will know how to keep the surface-level aesthetic looking fabulous and potentially add years onto the lifespan of your carpet.  

To really benefit from your carpet investment, it’s a smart idea to consider what commercial cleaner you’ll be turning to for ongoing maintenance. When considering who to choose, you do need to know the questions to ask and the criteria to look out for. 

Listed below are some basic yet important factors to take into consideration when finding the best team – follow these criteria and you should end up in the most capable, trusted and expert cleaning hands on the market. 

The Cleaning Process – Why & How

Carpet cleaning is required for a variety of reasons – stemming from the everyday spills and stains, to the heftier jobs of preparing/restoring a carpet for a rental office, refitting an entire office space, or even selling a space. Perhaps you’ve just inherited moved offices and the floors need a very good refresher, or you’ve just purchased a new space and can see carpeted areas needing urgent attention…

Every company has their own method of commercial carpet cleaning, so it can be a good idea to review the material your carpet is made of and use this to align with a particular cleaning technique. A little independent carpet research can ensure your chosen cleaning team have the knowledge of what cleaning process your carpet requires. For example, the dry (powder) method can yellow some carpets; while extraction (which uses a lot of water) can lead to degradation of the carpet’s construction. 

The wrong method can damage your carpet so make sure you have the confidence and basic knowledge to ask questions! 

Products Used in the Cleaning Process 

Products used for the carpet cleaning process hugely vary – both in what they are and what they can do to a carpet (both good and bad). 

Quick-fix products are usually never used by commercial cleaners, and are best reserved for those urgent ‘spot-cleaning’ moments where you need to decrease the appearance of a new stain or spill. These ‘emergency products’ often contain chemicals with optical brighteners or high alkaline levels, that can eventually cause fading, yellowing or discoloration over time. 

A great question to ask a prospective commercial cleaner is what products they use and how these will affect the quality of your carpet. Better to do your research and ensure you’re being serviced with appropriate, safe chemicals rather than abrasive products that could cause visible surface damage or colour change. 

Quality of Service and Company Experience 

It’s no good having your carpet serviced using top-notch, highly-effective cleaning products, if the team using the products don’t have a wide understanding of what they’re doing. Just as important as the products being used are the people using them. You want your team to care enough about carpets and proper maintenance, that they demonstrate a strong understanding of how different chemicals affect different carpet types and give you the reassurance that your carpet is in good hands. 

Make sure you always have trained, experienced and certified technicians cleaning your carpets and don’t be afraid to ask them anything you’re not 100% sure of. 

The Extra Mile 

You’ve found a couple of great cleaning companies and can’t make a decision – this is the ideal time to look for a ‘point of difference’. Does the company offer any additional value that sets them apart? 

For example, a company may include spot cleaning and repairs (cutting snags to prevent unravelling, etc.) within their standard service package, while another company does not. Similar price, but one has an ‘extra mile’ service – these small extras can really add up into making a business stand out and help with your decision.

Heading 3: Customer Service

The level of customer care provided by a company is as important as the service itself. Unfortunately, you don’t always know the customer service of a company until you either have a problem, or you’ve used the company already so have taken that first step before knowing the people. Commitment, passion and good communication are three factors you can generally identify upfront in the early stages of dealing with a commercial cleaner. Furthermore, customers testimonials and word-of-mouth are other ways of gaging public perception of a business and direct comments from previous customers on their own experiences.

Following the guidelines listed above should lead you straight into the hands of the best commercial cleaning business in your area. Based in Victoria, Drytron Carpet Cleaning offers commercial carpet cleaning technicians throughout Melbourne and Regional Victoria. Reliable, expertly-skilled and easily-accessible, we have the experience to help.  

Our effective and trusted six-step cleaning process provides rapid service without long-term visible or internal damage. Known as ‘the Drytron technique’, this uses minimal moisture which eliminates the smell, mildew and inconvenience associated with the old carpet steam cleaning process. 

More so than just an excellent cleaning process, you’ll be dealing with professionals who will go out of their way to ensure you’re a happy customer, and a repeat customer. Get in touch with our carpet cleaning team, we’ll get the job done and leave you feeling satisfied that you’ve serviced your carpet properly. 

Book Online or Call: 13 12 50

For your nearest carpet cleaner, get in touch!

In general floor-covering, the use of the carpet has been the choice in most Australian homes because it is durable, soft, suitable for insulation, stylish and, most especially, quiet underfoot. And the professional services offered for carpet cleaning in Melbourne and other major Australian cities, to maintain carpet makes carpet buying decisions even easier for most. 

However, choosing the right carpet can be a tough process. You may have wondered, which material is best. Both wool and synthetic carpets have their advantages and disadvantages. The decision to choose the right carpet solely rests on what suits your situation. You have to compare and contrast the pros and cons of the two carpets and then finally decide on which one you think fits your lifestyle. Buying the wrong kind of carpet can be a costly error in judgment. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing a carpet type.

Wool Carpets

Wool carpet is famous for its natural fibre. Its luxurious appearance gives a comfortable feeling to everyone who walks on it. Wool carpets are used both in homes and in corporate offices, and have a very long lifespan. Wool carpets are also quite elastic; they can stretch as long as thirty percent more than their original length, and, like little springs, can also shrink back to their default size when released. They can easily recover from the crushing of furniture; wool carpets are generally resilient. Where appearance is crucial, wool is an appropriate choice. It is resistant to some stains; this means that liquid stains can be easily cleaned whenever there is a spill, but it is advised that you don’t leave stains for long on wool carpets as they might seep into the fibre and become permanent. The kinds of carpets in fancy hotel lobbies and hallways are usually woollen. 

Benefits of Wool Carpets

• Wool carpet is fluffy and soft to the touch; walking on it gives a generally pleasant feeling.
• It has no toxicity or any toxic compound for it is made of natural wool and its production requires no use of chemicals whatsoever.
• It is strong against compacting from furniture or heavy objects.
• Wool is naturally processed to resist dirt.
• It is capable of retaining color; colors on wool carpets rarely fade.
• It does not readily burn.
• The wool fiber is opaque and so does not soil as easily as the transparent synthetic carpets.
• Unlike the synthetic, wool does not reflect light.
• It is relatively easier to clean than synthetic carpet.
• Wool can absorb and likewise release about a third of its entire weight. Wool carpets move with the seasons; it is warm in summer and cool in winter.

Disadvantages of Wool Carpet

• It is weak against moths and beetles; however, insecticides can be sprayed on the carpet to prevent such infestation.
• In washing wool carpet, some detergents can contain alkaline solutions that can destroy the fibers of the carpet.
• Wool carpet is much more expensive than the synthetic carpet due to its more luxurious quality and other advantages attached to it.
• Because wool easily tolerates dyeing, it also easily gets stained.
• If overexposed to light, a wool carpet will begin to fade. UV window protection, curtains, shades, and blinds should be drawn to protect the carpet from direct sunlight.

Synthetic Carpets 

Synthetic carpets come in three forms: polyester, polypropylene, and nylon (the most popularly used synthetic). They sell better than wool because they are a lot cheaper. However, in buying carpets, the price shouldn’t be the only factor to consider, rather the quality and how well it fits one’s lifestyle should be the ultimate motivation. 

Benefits of Synthetic Carpets

• Polyester carpets do not fade, they do not absorb stains, and they are produced in an array of different colours and patterns. 
• Unlike the wool carpets, polypropylene does not fade from exposure to sunlight.
• They are relatively cheap and have more resistance power against stains. 
• Nylon carpets are easy to clean and generally long lasting. 
• Synthetic carpets have good resistance against crushing; no matter how strong or heavy the objects on them are, nylon carpets will still retain their original shape. 
• Since nylon absorbs less than 8% of its weight in water, it dries up a lot faster than wool. 
• Synthetic carpets are perfect for homes with kids and/or pets.

Heading 4: Disadvantages of Synthetic Carpet

• Polyester carpets can yield to shedding, piling and oil-based stains.
• Polypropylene has very low resilience, and this may cause crushing. Because of how they are dyed, polypropylene carpets have colour limitations.
• Nylon carpets have the tendency to attract static electricity, except if they are treated against such challenges.
• Synthetic carpets can look cheap and unoriginal, as opposed to wool carpets whose fibres are made of natural wool.

Carpet Maintenance is Key

Whatever kind of carpet you choose, maintenance is key for long lasting and good-looking carpet. Good maintenance makes your carpet last longer and retain its high quality. A thorough and regular dry cleaning system is one of the ways to maintain your carpet over time. 

This is where Drytron’s carpet dry cleaning comes in. We provide an extensive yet rapid carpet cleaning service that will leave your carpet totally dry without a stench or a damp underlay. Rather than doing the tedious, backbreaking work yourself, our carpet cleaning service in Melbourne can offer you carpet cleaning and maintenance solutions to suit your needs. Contact us for a carpet cleaning quote and be assured of a professional and reliable carpet cleaning service. 

Book Online or Call: 13 12 50

Need to remove a carpet stain? We can help.

Carpets are a fabulous feature to a residential or corporate interior. Warm, comforting, pleasing to look at and lovely to touch, they are a worthy investment for any home or office space. The upside of carpets is that they withstand the test of time, but the downside is that this lifespan can be heavily impacted if not shortened, by residual dirt, damage and surface stains. If you do have carpet throughout your home, it’s almost impossible to completely avoid the odd stain and splodge of dirt coming into contact with it. Add kids and pets into the mix, and you can almost guarantee your carpets will be stained on a semi-regular, if not daily basis.

What’s in a stain?

A lot of DIY carpet stain removal attempts end in serious disaster. Why? Because of a lack of knowledge about the type of stain you’re dealing with, and how this changes the method in which you need to use to remove it! To strip it back to basics, stains fall within several typical ‘families’ – protein, oil-based, tannin and dye. Protein-based stains are usually caused by substances such as baby food, dairy products, faeces and urine. Oil-based stains can arise from substances such as motor oil, hair products, kitchen grease, butter, ointments and some beauty products. Tannin stains are the result of spillage from alcoholic drinks, black tea or coffee, fruits and juices. Dye stains come about from entities that contain a lot of pigment and easy colour-transfer such as blueberries, cherries, grass and condiments like mustard or tomato sauce. As for combination stains – these contain both oils or waxes and dyes. Examples of potential combination-stain culprits include eye makeup, chocolate, hair-spray, peanut butter and tomato-based foods. 

It can be extremely frustrating and deflating when you put in so much elbow grease to remove a new stain, and it just won’t budge. That or some unlucky folk even face the prospect of the stain becoming worse than it was before the ambitious DIY cleaning attempt! While it could be a useful exercise list a million and one carpet stain removal tips, it also pays to look at what not to do. Once you have all the necessary information, and you’re still feeling brave – well by all means, tackle those fresh spills with confidence and the power of knowledge.

Myth #1 – Steam Shrinks

If a carpet has been laid down properly, steam will not affect the tufting of a woven or wool blend. The myth of steam causing shrinkage and deformity has only arisen due to shrinking occurring as the result of a bad carpet installation job. Over 90% of woollen carpets are constructed using the tufting method and those woven carpets still out there can be steam cleaned by someone who knows what they are doing – it all comes down to the quality of the carpet and how securely it is fixed to the floor. 

Myth #2 – You can’t wash wool or you’ll hurt the Lanolin

Well let’s just clear something up right here and now – Lanolin isn’t even in your carpet to begin with! Did you know that it is 100% removed from the wool as it is processed into yarn? And this occurs long before any weaving takes place. Lanolin is a greasy oil-based substance that simply must be removed from wool before processing otherwise it would make the cleaning and maintenance of your carpet virtually impossible! Consequently, no woollen carpet has ever had the smallest trace of lanolin left in it – meaning that anybody who claims washing wool damages Lanolin, is seriously misinformed. 

Myth #3 – Cleaning carpets ruins their appearance

It’s not about the cleaning; it’s how the carpet has been cleaned. A job done incorrectly, using the wrong technique and the wrong products can result in residue, surface damage, pH imbalance and delayed stain-resurfacing. A properly cleaned carpet will be dirt and chemical free and the carpet will be left in a neutral or slightly acidic state – eradicating potential static or delayed residual dirt. Depending on the fragility, material-type and age of your carpet, different methods will be applied with a specific product to suit your carpet’s unique qualities. Even the gentlest of products can prove ineffective or somewhat damaging if used in excess or on the wrong area. 

Myth #4 – The TV ad said it works

Any quick-fix, “magic potion” you see advertised online or in the middle of your favourite YouTube video is just a no-no if you really want to play it safe. Products that claim to eradicate stains and dirt instantly tend to have a high alkalinity, which makes them likely to be dangerous to ingest and damaging to your carpet. The reason for this high alkalinity is to make the products effective on grease and oil, and with the “vanishing effect” that sells quickly.  However, this high pH can chemically burn wool carpets and strip the surface protection that most new carpets embody to make them last. It is extremely important to spot-test any new product you’re trying for the first time – this can be done on an old scrap of carpet that you have sitting in the sewing draw, or on a corner of the room that’s out of sight. As well as being damaging, these products can simply be ineffective on most coloured stains once they have dried, meaning they’re a waste of time. You can also read up on some tips and tricks on how to tackle carpet spills and stains. 

Talk to Drytron

The only way to truly tackle carpet stain removal is to consult a professional and gather advice or direction on what your specific carpet cleaning situation requires. Through an efficient and expert call-to-action service, Drytron will consider your unique circumstances, give you an insight into what to expect in your carpet cleaning service, and provide an unbeatable quote that will see you out of stains and not out of pocket. Call Drytron Carpet Dry-Cleaning in Melbourne today, and take the strain out of tackling your stains.   

Drytron are your go-to professional carpet cleaning professionals in Melbourne. Call the friendly team for a free quote or to make a carpet dry cleaning booking.

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Keep your Upholstery, Curtains and Drapes clean!

When you step in to any household, one of the first things that catches your eye more often than not, is the furniture that’s waiting to greet you, and upholstered pieces of furniture are particularly striking. These include dining room chairs, couches, foot stools, padded storage boxes and loungers. Upholstery is the materials in which a piece of furniture is encased with or comprised of – these include but are not limited to fabric, padding, webbing and springs. 

As upholstery has become a more popular feature either when buying furniture – or later down the track as a restorative measure – the materials in which are used in this process have become quite varied. The interior materials, while not always visible, play a big part in whether the piece of furniture is comfortable or not. Surface fabric can always be changed or cleaned, but the interior upholstery remains an untouchable and important aspect of your favourite household items. 

There is a huge variety of options when it comes to choosing a piece of furniture or the material in which to restore/upholster your current furniture with. Natural fabrics are made from natural fibres that come from either plants or animals. Examples of natural materials include cotton, leather, jute, linen, silk and wool. Synthetic fabrics – otherwise known as “engineered” fabrics, are textiles produced from man-made fibres. Synthetic fabrics tend to be more durable, resistant to cleaning and resilient against everyday contact. It’s a common feature of many furniture companies to stock both natural, synthetic and a combination blend of the two in their upholstery selections. 

Prices can of course vary, and the way in which you care for these different materials is a big consideration when choosing what material to go with. Listed below are some basic DIY cleaning tips that you can implement to keep your items looking great. Periodic cleaning is super important – particularly if you are investing in a piece that you want to last through the generations. While the cleaning technique will need to be adjusted according to the type of material at hand, you can absolutely make a periodic maintenance job easier for the professionals through regular upholstery care habits!

Don’t Underestimate the Vacuum Cleaner!

Dust and residual dirt can soon become your arch nemesis if you don’t keep on top of it on a semi-regular basis. Unless vacuumed properly, surface dust and dirt can actually be worsened during a more thorough cleaning process due to compaction and eventual smearing as they are wiped away by chemical products. While a vacuum might not look friendly enough for the antique velvet sofa from grandma, you can use a lint-roller or soft brush head to wipe away dirt from delicate surface areas. As for the worn and beloved living room couch; using the vacuum to regularly remove surface dirt and dust is an effective and time-saving practice. Be sure to remove the brush-head component to really suck up dirt build-up between crevices or cracks. for any hidden dirt or particles. Turn cushions over too, to tackle those hidden dust balls and crumb piles that are starting to encroach on the under-surface. Once you have the loose stuff removed, a periodic cleaning job will be much easier to implement – and much more effective! 

Without impulsively slapping on the wrong chemical, do try and be proactive when it comes to combating stains in their early stages of contact with your upholstery. Why? Well think of it like this – tomato sauce is a tough one to remove. But tomato sauce that you’ve let sit there without attention for several weeks? Even tougher. A trained cleaning-professional will just about be able to remove any stain you face them with – provided it hasn’t been living there for a prolonged period of time. To get the best service and result from a professional upholstery cleaning service, try and keep stains at bay as they crop up. It’s important to know how to identify and spot-treat stains.

Start with the Obvious

Whether you’re tackling a brand-new stain or finding ancient discoloration that you didn’t know was even there – spot clean these areas first. If your upholstery is looking pretty good as a whole, there’s not much point attempting to deep-cleanse the entire item yourself – leave this to the pros. However, if you can identify a few spots needing attention, check with the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning directions. If there are none, apply a little warm water mixed with white vinegar to the surface to gently break down the stain. If vinegar sounds a little scary, there are products available to purchase that are designed especially for different materials. Don’t forget to specify what type of material your upholstery is made of when purchasing a cleaner in store and be mindful of ingredient lists when taking the plunge online. 

Most importantly – do a patch test. Regardless of the product you’re using, ensure you test a very small area of the upholstery to observe what the end result may be if you slap it on everywhere. Allow the patch to dry completely before checking for any damage. When you’re feeling confident, begin spot cleaning using a microfiber cloth and strict attention to the recommended quantity. Some material-types will have a strict code of conduct for professional-cleaning only. This is where you need to hang up the cloth, put down the vinegar and give Drytron a call! 

Curtains, Drapes, Upholstery, call Drytron!

There is nothing better than the smell of clean furniture. While new household items start off smelling squeaky fresh, this will not remain without some periodic cleaning. The effects of weeks, months even years of human, pet and food contact can really affect the feel, smell and look of your favourite furniture pieces. So, you’ve read through some easy DIY upholstery-cleaning tips – now it’s time to call on the best professional upholstery cleaning team in Melbourne for a periodic cleaning job that will rejuvenate your home. Curtains, drapes and upholstery cleaning are all services provided by the expert team at Drytron. Through a tried-and-test six step cleaning process, Drytron will assess your situation and keep your furniture looking and feeling as good as the day you brought them! Call our team today or book online for a free quote and get the deep-cleaning process started.

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Your home is full of opportunities!

For some of us, leaving the house for our regular gym visit is a luxury. While it might leave some of us with tender muscles and a beetroot-red appearance, it can serve to be that one hour or two of the day where we are able to work on ourselves, with ourselves, for ourselves. 

The thing is, not everyone has the ability to join a gym or even to leave the house in order to implement health and fitness behaviours. Whether you work from home, don’t like gyms, have kids to worry about, are trying to stay within a budget, or you just like your own space – well look no further. Your very own home environment is filled with options when it comes to implementing and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Ok you might have to walk out the front-door and down the street… but if you don’t like the idea of having to drive to exercise, we’ll help set you up with an insight into how you and your home can work together! 

Use what you’ve got!

Before we get into the how and the when, take a look around at the what! Do you have stairs which you can use for running sequences or interval training? How about a wide and open space in the living room in which to do on-the-spot cardio and strength training? 

Your own home can contain a lot of elements that you can use to your health and fitness benefit. As mentioned, stairs are fantastic tools for cardio-fitness, running, stretching and even some yoga poses. Be careful if your stairs are wood as this can make you susceptible to slips and tumbles. A good pair of sneakers will easily grip any floor surface, and textured socks are also effective when finishing your exercise with yoga or Pilates. Outside, inside, on the side… stairs and inclines, paths and open spaces, heavy jars and random bars – all of these household features can be incorporated into an exercise routine. Take a walk around, make note of your options, and use the internet if you’re needing creative health inspiration. You’d be amazed at what you can do just by effectively utilising your own space.

Get to know your surroundings via exercise

Have you always wanted to properly explore your neighbourhood, but never seem to find the time to do so? Take your exercise outside and go for a walk, run, jog or bike-ride around your local area. Exercising outdoors is also a great way to discover new places closer than you realise. Parks, walkways, hills are all elements of a neighbourhood that you could utilise in your health plan. If you’ve got kids, take them on an “adventure” to an unknown patch of grass. If you’ve got a pet, delight them with a trip to new smells down hidden alleys. Run up and down dead-ends if you want to have an end-point in which to cordon off your running distance – the opportunities are endless. Exploring is great for the mental health too, and when tied in with your physical health efforts, it’s a win-win! Personal training sessions can also be organised to occur in your house, should you request it. Be your own strength and conditioning coach, or, if you need some extra guidance – call a local health and fitness trainer to talk through your exercise goals.

Plan your week on a Sunday

Planning ahead is key to any effective and maintainable health and fitness plan. Create a space on your fridge, office or bedroom wall, in which to stick up a nice, bright and colourful weekly plan. Separate it into the days of the week, hours of the day, and leave room for both eating and exercise. Creating a weekly plan is a sure-fire way to set you up for positive behaviours in the coming days. There’s no reason to avoid it if it’s right in front of you – and especially if you’ve put it together yourself, for yourself. Studies have shown that 87% of men and women who made a health and fitness plan and physically placed it somewhere visible in their home, stuck to the plan and carried out their goals. Tick off each day as you complete it, vary your recipes and/or exercises, and watch as the weeks pass and your health condition soars. 

Remove the junk supply – Restock the good stuff

If your particular focus is on eating and nutrition, well, the home has got to mirror that mindset. What this means is ensuring your cupboards, fridge and drawers are only stacked with the items beneficial to your health journey, and you won’t find yourself susceptible to temptation. Everyone has a different outlook on food, snacking, ingredients and diet plans – do whatever works for you. But make sure that you don’t self-sabotage by keeping certain food products that you know will derail your momentum. Customise and re-work your food storage to reflect your daily routine. Storage and packaging can be a great means of portion control and aesthetic improvement of your kitchen. If you’ve got other family members to answer to, simply allocate yourself a shelf that is all your own and that way you only have to look in one place to find your healthy foods. Make it work for you. 

Create your own meditation/relaxation space

It can be easy to neglect mental and spiritual wellbeing when embarking on a health journey. A lot of residual health issues and goals can be linked to mental-state and a want for happier feelings. If you’re somebody who craves peace and quiet, or if you need a balance between cardio/outdoors and quiet meditation time, then find a space in which to implement this. Offices or spare bedrooms can be easily transformed into post-workout meditation, yoga and reflection areas. Light candles, place incense, have a music playlist that calms you – whatever you need to reach that internal “Zen” – put it there. Meditation and mental relaxation are very important in conjunction with a physical health routine. 

A healthy mind also aids in the ability to sleep better and for longer. Poor sleep has repeatedly been linked to a higher body mass index (BMI) and weight gain. In fact, despite the varied requirements for peoples sleeping habits, if you’re sleeping less than you should, there’s a likelihood of obesity increasing by 55% in adults. A healthy mind equals a healthy body! Keep these two hand-in-hand and there’s no way you won’t achieve your goals. 

If you’re using the floors, the stairs, the couch or the foot stool to stay active in your home – congratulations. You have identified ways to keep fit and maintain a routine within your own four walls. Don’t forget about the health of the items in which you’re depending on for your weekly health initiatives though – I.e. carpet, upholstery and even the drapes which can affect home-circulation and breathing-capacity. Call Drytron, for expert advice with their carpet cleaning service, rug, upholstery and curtain-cleaning. Drytron carpet cleaning Melbourne will make sure your home is as fresh and healthy as your new health and fitness plan! 

Call our friendly team to discuss your cleaning requirements: 

Book Online or Call: 13 12 50