• talcum powder
• cornmeal
• baking soda
• cornstarch

You can also use shaving cream or carbonated water to remove small greasy stains. Let dry, then vacuum.

I need to say that the best way to get rid of your carpet stains is to call a professional carpet cleaning company with tonnes of experience. It is safer and quicker.

We appreciate your business!

Thank you!

Suddenly, you noticed (horrified) a long black mark along the edges of the freshly cleaned carpet. ‘This stain wasn’t there. You made it’, you quickly blame the poor carpet cleaner who had just finished his work.

Let me explain something: the carpet cleaner has no fault whatsoever. The black stuff that you see is coming from under the carpet when sucked with the powerful vacuum motors of the carpet cleaning machine. Unfortunately there has been dirt under the carpet that is resurfacing now and the only way to resolve the problem is to remove the carpet, clean well and fit it back.

I have been trying to justify the purchase of a £15k truckmount carpet cleaning machine for a long time but still can’t find a reason strong enough to make me go and spend this kind of money. And not because of the price tag of the equipment, but the lack of parking and the heavy traffic in London. It is an overkill. An expensive one. So I stuck to porties.

Another useful feature of the Scorpion is the in-line heater. You can connect it just a couple of metres behind your wand and you won’t lose any heat due to the long operating distance between the machine and your wand. Handy when you place the Scorpion at the entrance hall and work on the second or third floor of a large house.

I don’t know if Solution in Cornwall are still making the Scorpion, but if you are after one, I will be selling mine soon. Watch this space for some pictures.

When it comes to carpet cleaning the odds are that you are not going to do a satisfactory job because:

1. You are not a professional carpet cleaner.
2. Your (hired?) equipment’s performance is not even close to the professional carpet cleaning equipment, unless you are prepared to spend a few thousand pounds to get properly kitted up for this one off job
3. You lack the training and experience the average carpet cleaning technician has under his belt. Have you cleaned at least 5 houses every week? I guess so
4. You don’t have the patience to do a proper carpet cleaning job. I don’t. I’d rather be sipping from a nice cool pint down the “Horses” (:)).
5. You are not a professional carpet cleaner. End of story.

There is people and companies for everything. If yu can’t do it the way you want it done, let a professional do it for you. I know it costs money but I’d rather have a nice and clean carpet (not ruined ) than try and make a poor attempt. At the end of the day carpet cleaning London is not that expensive as you might think. It’s more expensive if you have to clean just a tiny landing, but having your whole house cleaned gives more value for your pound.

I have always wondered why people would book a carpet cleaner only when their carpet changes its colour from the grime. Carpets should be regarded as filters that need regular cleaning regardless of whether you can see the dirt or not. There are lots of creepy crawlies not seen by the naked eye but get removed by the carpet cleaning process.

Convinced? I am.

• Quality. The quality of the carpet cleaning services is very important. Ask for references from happy clients.
• How long have they been in the carpet cleaning business? If they are just starting, there is a high possibility of you getting a rookie carpet cleaner who can damage your soft furnishings.
• Insurance. Are they adequately insured? Their carpet cleaning must be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy which will pay in case of a damage to the item worked upon. Many “just started” carpet cleaning companies in London tend to cut start-up costs by taking out cheap public liability insurance policies, which normally will cover any “accidental damage” but the item being cleaned.An example of an accidental damage is the following scenario: you iron a shirt and accidentally drop the iron on the carpet and burn it. If you iron a shirt and burn the shirt – this is not an accidental damage – this is neglegance or a lack of training/care/professionalism, as insurance companies call it. The same applies to carpet cleaning – if the carpet cleaner shrinks the carpet while cleaning it (or does any damage to it during the cleaning process) it will not be classed as an accidental damage and your claim will not be covered. So be careful – ask what the insurance policy will cover and have it in writing.
• Prices. How much they charge? Do not go for the extremely cheap quote for it is normally the worst quality of carpet cleaning. Reputable London carpet cleaning companies have expensive carpet and upholstery cleaning equipment, offices and staff to whom they pay wages so their quotes are not the cheapest, but you can expect a good and reliable cleaning service. If they have been around for a while that is a good sign. There is no chance of someone providing poor carpet cleaning service and surviving for years in the carpet cleaning London business.