Will cold weather remove flea problems?
Ideally, fleas need a warm, moist environment to live. So if the infected area is 40 degrees or less, yes, cold weather can kill fleas. However, since most of us don’t live in temperatures of 40 degrees or less, fleas which have nestled indoors in your carpet or pet’s bedding are sheltered from the cold. So once fleas are indoors, their larva and pupa or cocoon stage can survive even the harshest winter.

How do I remove fleas from my home?
Pets can bring fleas into your home.  But even if you don’t have pets, fleas can attach to humans’ clothing. To remove any residual fleas and larvae, you should dust, vacuum, and mop your floors. Be sure to toss the vacuum cleaner bag away outside because fleas can jump up to ten inches right out of the bag! Then professionally steam clean the carpets in your home.

If you have pets in your home, place your pet’s bedding outside. Dust it off well and leave it in the hot sun for several hours. If it’s removable, launder your pet’s bed. Then wash your pet. Ordinary organic dish soap will kill any fleas. Pay special attention to your pet’s head and tail as fleas like to hide there. To be absolutely sure you’ve removed all fleas, brush your pet with a flea comb. These are available at any pet supply store. And while there is nothing which kills the fleas in their pupa stage, there are preventive treatments which attack the birth cycle, killing fleas as they hatch as well as killing adults already living on your pet.

Another effective way to kill fleas on your pet is to rub food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) over its coat. Also, as an additional preventative, dogs can be fed brewer’s yeast and garlic. If your dog can tolerate eating these, fleas won’t nest in an animal which has them in its diet.

How can I tell if I have a flea problem in my home?
If your pet is repeatedly scratching himself, fleas are a possible cause. Check your pet’s fur for “dirty spots,” or dark dander which indicates fleas. Another easy way to tell if you have fleas in your carpet is to wear a pair of white socks around the house. As startling a discovery as this may be, you’ll be able to easily see specks of black fleas as they jump on your socks.

Preventive follow-up
There are a variety of flea sprays available at pet supply and grocery stores which you can use to treat areas where your pets sleep and play outdoors. Dogs and cats can also be treated with the flea prevention treatment products Frontline or Advantage.

Audit your carpet
By far, the best way to decide how often to clean your carpet is to call a professional carpet cleaner. Technicians can inspect your carpet for free and recommend how often your carpet needs cleaning. You may even find you need to replace the carpet altogether.

However, the life of a carpet can be measurably extended with a routine cleaning which is right for your lifestyle. Take a walk around your house. Are there stale odors or stains? Do you see dark shading around your base boards? Carpeting absorbs dirt, asphalt, pollens, insecticides, and fungus which can emit an unpleasant odor or cause discoloration over time.

Filtration soiling
Inspect the base boards in your home, under the doors, and around the air vents. Your carpet has a built-in filtration system which traps tracked-in contaminants. Even if you vacuum, over time this filtration system can “fill up.” If you don’t professionally clean your carpet regularly, these particles can become airborne. Babies crawling on your carpet are particularly vulnerable to this unhealthy environment. Think about it – if you don’t change the filter in your car engine regularly, your car’s engine chokes. It won’t run efficiently and may stop altogether. It is the same with your carpet filtration system. Keeping it clean will enable it to do the job it is meant to do.

Does your carpet need replacement?
Take a look at the type of carpet you have and its condition. If the carpet is nylon or part-nylon and not visibly worn, its condition will likely improve with cleaning. However, if it’s matted polyester, threadbare in spots, aged, or unevenly worn cleaning won’t rejuvenate the fibers.

Also, watch for soils which can reappear after professional cleaning.  Sometimes a spot (pet urine, wine, large volume spills) has seeped into the backing of the carpet. The material dries in the carpet’s backing and pad. After cleaning, the surface tufts of your carpet become clean. However, moisture can reach the carpet backing. As the spot dries, the material in the backing of the carpet comes forward into the carpet pile. If over-the-counter cleaners have been used on your carpet, these can leave a residue which reappears after your carpet is dry. Excessive spotting which can’t be removed may be a good reason to replace your carpet.

However, before replacing your carpet, you might also want to consider your lifestyle. Do you entertain a lot? Do you have children who are too young to tell you about spills? Or do you have pets which could scratch new carpet or are old and incontinent? If so, you might want to consider waiting to replace your carpet. Even if you have to live with an older carpet, routine professional cleaning will help. Also, for a quick touch-up to your carpet between cleanings, sprinkle baking soda on your carpet and vacuum after an hour. This will leave your home smelling fresher.
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If you need a carpet audit or to schedule a cleaning for your home, please give us a call today!

To extend the life of your carpet, you’ll need to clean it frequently.  How often you clean it will depend on the size of your household, if you have pets, and whether there are smokers in your home.

Clean your carpet every six to 12 months if - You are a household of one or two non-smoking adults
Clean your carpet every six months if - There are children OR pets in your home
Clean your carpet every four months if - Your household includes a smoker
Clean your carpet every three months if - There are children AND pets in your home

What is the best way to keep my carpet clean?
Hiring a professional carpet cleaning service is by far the best way to keep your carpet clean. However, to maintain that freshly cleaned appearance between professional cleanings, you can rent or purchase a carpet cleaning machine. Reasonably-priced rentals are available at grocery and drug stores. Steam cleaners are lightweight and easy to use. Just fill them with hot water and carpet shampoo.

If you notice dark areas and stains in your carpet, clean them right away, because waiting will do even more damage to your carpet. Pay close attention to the areas where people sit and move their feet. Vacuum these areas of heavy traffic more diligently. For especially dirty carpets or plush carpets where dirt can hide, take extra time to vacuum each section of carpeting more than once.

What if I don’t have access to a carpet cleaning machine?
To quickly freshen your carpet without use of a carpet cleaning machine, mix a little powdered laundry detergent with a small amount of water. Apply this to your carpet with a damp cloth. Take a scrub brush and gently scrub your carpet. For tougher stains, pre-treat them with the solution and let it soak in for five minutes before scrubbing.

​Apply a little water to the cleaned areas and brush again to remove any detergent residue. Let the carpet dry. Your carpet will not only be clean, it will smell freshly laundered! Once the carpet is completely dry, vacuum it. Adding baking soda to the bag in your vacuum will also help fight any residual odors.

As always, for a thorough and detailed cleaning, call Revive Carpet Cleaners. We do a common job uncommonly well.

Listen To Your Dog
First, and foremost, a well-trained dog will let you know when he needs to be let outside to “do his business.” Your dog wants to please you, so learn to read his cues. Some dogs will bark, others will quietly stand near you and not move. Is your dog a frequent barker? If so, watch where he’s barking. If he’s standing by a door, he’s most likely trying to tell you he needs to be let out. Anticipating when your dog is asking to be let out will spare you unnecessary messes.

Preventive Maintenance
Keeping your dog clean will help prevent dirt, dander and hair build-up in your home, particularly in your carpet. Bathe your dog once a month and spray and wash his feet before he enters the house. Brush him daily –if weather permits, do your brushing outdoors. During shedding season in the spring and fall, you can even use a hand-held vacuum! Brushing daily also removes flaky skin and distributes natural oils through your dog’s coat, making your dog look and smell great.

Place washable towels on his bedding and other places he sleeps, and regularly launder the towels.  Vacuum frequently, ideally with a vacuum designed to lift pet hair. If your furniture has fabric upholstery, hair can be removed with a damp cloth or lint roller, by vacuuming with a hand-held vacuum or by using a pet-hair attachment on your vacuum. Air your cushions out (if the weather allows) by placing them on a clean sheet on your lawn.

In Case of Accidents
Elder dogs or those with health conditions may have more difficulty asking or remembering to be let out, so accidents can happen. When they do, wipe the problem up immediately using an enzyme-based cleaner to remove any odors. Your local pet store can help you find a good one. Even if you can’t smell the odor, your dog has a much keener sense of smell and can get confused into thinking the spot is a fine place to relieve himself.

For a quick clean-up solution, use a mix of one quart hot water, one teaspoon dish soap, and one teaspoon white vinegar. Spray or blot the area with towels and the mixture. Repeat after 15 minutes. Your home may smell like a salad for a short while, but the vinegar will neutralize any lingering odors. Baking soda will also rid your home of pet odors. Sprinkle it on your carpet and let it sit for a couple of house and vacuum. Your home will smell much fresher.

​Be sure schedule a deep carpet and upholstering cleaning once or twice a year to maintain that fresh smell and keep your home clean and healthy. Give us a call today!

Get outside and enjoy the sunshine
Getting outside is healthy for you and your family. A great way to make cleaning easy and fun is to make a game of family teamwork. Take fifteen minutes once a day and assign a job to each family member according to their abilities. Then clean together! If everyone gets their job done successfully, follow the cleaning game immediately with a treat or outdoor activity.

If you live alone, rather than letting chores accumulate, clean as you go. Maybe you have fifteen minutes before your favorite TV show begins or your dinner is ready. Look around the room. Is there a small task, like dusting the blinds or doing the dishes, you could do quickly? Don’t let mess accumulate. Rather, attend to it one mini-task at a time.

De-clutter the family room
By far the most frequently used place in your home during the summer is the family’s main living area. Clutter seems to grow overnight here. To avoid hours of cleanup, vacuum high traffic areas and save the others for another time. If you have hardwood floors in the room, vacuum surrounding carpets before mopping the floors because vacuuming will stir up dust and lint.

Has the dog used your throw pillows as a bed? To quickly freshen them throw a few at a time into the dryer on the air cycle. Toss in a dryer sheet for extra freshness. Then go through your mail. Throw away piles of unnecessary magazines, newspapers, loose papers, and junk mail. Fold throws and clean off the coffee table.

Make a list of chores
Keeping a clean house can seem like an overwhelming task. And only you know what your priorities are. So first make a list of chores you need to do and prioritize them. Decide how much time it takes to do each one, then sit down with family members and identify their priorities. Schedule more time for what is most important to you and your family. This may also help you decide which jobs to assign to others! Make a checklist and, as you stay on track and complete a chore, check it off the list. This will give you and your household a sense of satisfaction and shared accomplishment. By following a routine schedule, your house will stay clean. And you may just find yourself with more time to relax in the sun!

First, look around your home. Which objects make you feel happy when you look at them and which ones don’t? If an item doesn’t make you smile, toss it out! If the sentimental is too great to part with, box it up and shelve it.

To organize closets, pull absolutely everything out of the closet. Scrub the walls with soap and water and vacuum the rug or mop the floor. Then take a look at your space.  Make sure you are maximizing every inch you have. To increase room in your closet, install valet hooks on door frames. Stack items you don’t use frequently on high shelves. Hang over-the-door shoe racks on the closet door or put shoes you don’t wear often in containers under the bed.

Put your clothes and shoes in three piles:
1. save:  you love it and it fits
2. donate: you don’t wear it but others could
3. toss: it’s stained, ripped, scuffed, or stretched out.

Then review the items in each pile. Ask yourself honestly: have you worn the item recently? Is it still in style? Are you keeping that wonderful dress which you love – but is two sizes too small – because you plan to lose weight? Be firm and let go of everything you don’t use. If you do lose weight, you’re going to want to celebrate the occasion with new, updated clothes anyway.

Place sweaters, shirts, and shoes you want to keep in clear plastic bins. You’ll have a much easier time finding them if you can see them. Also, group like items together: blouses with other blouses, pants with pants, etc.
If you simply can’t make up your mind whether or not to let something go, box it up and label the outside of the box with the current date. Go back to the box one year later. Chances are if you could do without it for a year, you’ll by then be ready to let it go.

Finally, gather up the usable items you’ve decided to let go and donate them to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. For a fun celebration, throw a household items and clothing exchange party with your friends. Giving to others will not only clean out your home, it will make you feel great!

Once your floors and furniture are cleared of all the extra items that you’ve just removed or organized, give us a call – it’s a perfect time for a thorough carpet and upholstery cleaning!

What can you do?
A good doormat is an easy, affordable way to keep toxins from entering your home. Taking your shoes off is also a good idea. Washing your pet’s feet after he’s been outside is advised, too. Additionally, vacuum at least twice a week. Check to be sure your vacuum is well sealed to reduce the chance of dirty air blowing back into your home. Finally, professionally steam clean your carpet at least once a year to not only keep the air in your home cleaner, but extend the life of your carpet.

Preventive solutions
If you are installing new carpet, the fumes associated with installation, or “out-gassing,” can also be harmful to your health. Often this is associated with the carpet underlay, or “padding.” Sometimes foam is used, and if it is petroleum based, it can “outgas,” or emit odors. Directly following installation, it’s important to let your home ventilate for 48 to 72 hours. Also, if possible, request the carpet be unrolled at the warehouse for 72 hours prior to installation for additional airing. Make sure to install the carpet with staples, not glue. For those extra sensitive to odors, get an air purifier. Any dust or toxins dislodged into the air from the carpet during use and vacuuming will be removed.
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Revive Carpet Cleaners has been revitalizing homes and refreshing the interior of businesses in the Puget Sound for more than a generation. Give us a call today to schedule a Spring cleaning for your carpets!

1.  Dust can build up on your carpet, making it dirty over time. One of the ways to reduce how often you have to vacuum is to decrease the amount of dust that falls on your carpet. A great trick for repelling dust anywhere in your home is dusting with dryer sheets. Quickly brush drapes, computer and television screens, and wooden and fabric furniture with new or used dryer sheets. As an added bonus, your home will also smell fresh! To repel dust on your drapes, you can also use a static-eliminating spray.

2.  To quickly spruce up area rugs, try “double-vacuuming.”  First, vacuum the top of rug. Then flip the rug over and vacuum its underside. Follow by turning the rug over again and vacuuming the top a second time. Vacuuming the back side of  the rug will actually loosen more dirt from the top and give you a better overall result.

​Revive technicians are here to provide you with top cleaning at the best value. And as an added support, we’ll also continue to give you tips to preserve the life of your carpet. Call today to schedule your appointment!

Do they have good references?
We have served thousands of satisfied customers and refreshed tens of thousands of carpets in almost 45 years of providing superior service to customers on the Eastside and throughout the Puget Sound. Just ask us for the name of one of your neighbors.

What kind of experience do they have?
Technicians with Revive Carpet Cleaning have access to the most current training procedures from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, known as “The Clean Trust.” The facts speak for themselves: 85% of our business comes from our client base. Another 12% comes from referrals from our past customers. If you have a problem, we’ll find the solution.

Are they well educated in their field?
You be the judge. Revive Carpet Services operates under “The Clean Trust.” An IICRC certified technician will be on every job to guarantee that your carpets and upholstery will be cleaned to the highest possible standards of our industry.

Can they be trusted in your home and with your furnishings?
​Your home is your castle, and we go out of our way to respect our clients and their possessions. Revive has developed internal procedures to insure the safety of your belongings. Our core ethics assures that you will receive the most professional cleaning possible from trustworthy professionals on every job.

What system do they use?
Clean is more than just a word to us. Revive Carpet Cleaning operated the first heavy duty truck-mounted steam cleaning system in the Pacific Northwest and incorporates the latest tools and equipment, which allows us to customize each job to assure complete cleaning and quick drying. Your carpets will look and feel new and smell their best each time we drive away.  Your complete satisfaction is guaranteed every step of the way.

Do they use top quality products?
We stay on top of all the latest (and best) products and services available in today’s marketplace through our affiliation with both local and international cleaning institutes. Your carpets will be cleaned by a true professional, with the best equipment without compromises to the environment.

Will I get what I’ve paid for?
We’ll let our customers answer that question:
“You don’t charge as much as I thought.”
“What a bargain!”
“I thought it would be more.”
“Is that all?”
“What a lovely way to end a job!”

Do they guarantee their work?
Our guarantee is that you will refer your friends, family and co-workers to Revive Carpet and Furniture Cleaning for all of their cleaning needs.

Code of Ethics
We, the owners, managers, and employees of this firm are proud of our profession and the professionalism we display in the cleaning and restoration work we perform. We are committed to our obligation in providing the best possible service to all our customers. We believe that all our transactions should be fair and honest. We pledge to steadfastly avoid any false or misleading representation of our products or services. We value our place in the community and recognize our responsibilities as local business people. We support the aims and objectives of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration and participate in efforts towards advancement of our industry through its programs and services. We therefore subscribe to the Code of Ethics and will conduct our business affairs accordingly.

Ron, Robin, Brent, Chris and Brandon

Before we walk out the door, every Revive client receives a spray bottle of our exclusive formula to deal with those ugly stains. Our formula is oxygen-based, so it can be used on virtually any stain…no matter how long it’s been embedded.
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Always try to blot up any spill as soon as it happens. But our spot remover can help save the day before your guests arrive or the next morning when you begin to clean up from the party.