It’s all too common to use the terms “spots” and “stains” interchangeably. When you’re experiencing a spot or stain on your carpeting or upholstery, however, it’s exceptionally important that you have a thorough understanding of what defines spots vs. stains in Village.
Most simply put, a spot is caused when a substance leaves texture on fabric, carpeting or upholstery. A stain, meanwhile, occurs when a substance leaves color on one of these materials.
While this definition may seem pedantic, it will actually determine the way that you approach the cleaning process. Significantly different cleaning methodologies are used to clean spots versus stains in Village.
Cleaning Spots
If there’s a spot on your carpeting or upholstery, you may be encouraged to know that they’re usually easier to clean and remove compared to stains. Because most spots are deposits of a substance on your fabric, you simply have to work to remove the offending substance in order to eliminate the spot.
To effectively clean the spot, you’ll have to determine what substance caused it in the first place. If the spot was caused by a water-soluble substance, like children’s craft glue, the process of removing the spot is relatively simple and straightforward. Wet a clean cotton cloth with warm water, and gently pat the spotted area. Allow it to air dry, and then reexamine the spot. If some of the leftover texture remains, repeat the same process again.
If the spot appears glossy, or if you know it was caused by a non-soluble substance, you’re likely better off calling for professional help. Glossy spots typically indicate a spot caused by grease. Attempting to clean these more challenging spots on your own could cause damage to your carpeting.
Cleaning Stains
The process of cleaning stains tends to be more challenging than removing spots. This is because stains occur when a substance or its pigmentation leaches into the fibers of your fabric, carpeting or upholstery. Rather than removing surface-level contamination, you have to extract the pigmentation from the fibers themselves.
To clean a stain, you’ll typically have to use some type of hot water extraction method. This involves saturating the fabric or carpeting in hot water, usually with some kind of detergent element incorporated, and then extracting the water from the fabric using a vacuum system. Hot water extraction can be challenging to accomplish at home without professional assistance and equipment.
If you have a stain on your carpeting or upholstery, do your best to blot away the excess moisture using a clean rag or towel, then call for the help of a professional cleaning company. They’ll be able to bring a commercial hot water extractor to your home or place of business.
Since 1975, King’s Cleaning Service, Inc. has been the premier cleaning expert in Village. If you’re looking for a trusted partner to assist you with determining whether your problem is caused by spots vs. stains in Village, you can count on us. Our friendly, highly skilled team members will help you eliminate even the most troublesome stains and spots.