Have Your Upholstery Live a Long and Happy Life

Upholstered furniture can turn a house into a home, giving it style and comfort. But upholstery suffers in the wear and tear process just like all your other furnishings. How do you keep this from happening too quickly and maintain the inviting look of your furniture?

The trick is frequent steps in maintenance, all the more so if you have young kids and pets
at home.

Choose wisely

Begin by choosing the right fabric for your home and lifestyle. There are different types of fabrics that upholstery comes in and you should understand what type would be suitable for each part of your house. For example, in high traffic areas of your house, synthetic fibres would be an appropriate choice. Avoid fabric with heavy texturing if your pets are going to make themselves at home in it.

Protect your upholstery

Turn over loose cushions frequently and change their placement on the furniture. This will delay the formation of unsightly dents in your cushions. Fluff them after they’ve been cleaned to maintain their shape.

Keep your upholstery fabric out of the sun. Frequent exposure to harsh sunlight can cause fabrics to fade. Be especially careful with delicate material like silk. Keep your upholstered furniture away from pollutants such as smoke and kitchen fumes as much as possible. Proper ventilation can go a long way in odour control, too.

Clean with care

Follow instructions for cleaning that you should find on the label of the upholstery or in the
user manual.

Spills:
Spills, spots, and stains are inevitable. Gently blot spills with a clean towel. Placing paper towels underneath the fabric that has been soiled can help keep the spill from spreading and make your cleaning process quicker.

The next step is to deal with staining if any. If you’re using a liquid-based cleaner, run a patch test in an inconspicuous part of the fabric, first. Apply it in a circular motion and remove all soap residue to prevent the fabric from attracting dust after it has been cleaned. Dry the area out and finish by vacuuming.

Vacuum:
Vacuum your upholstered furniture at least once a week to prevent dust, soil, and dirt from getting embedded in the fibres. You can even start by using a soft brush to remove dirt that’s more visible. In case of pet hair, you may find a brush sold at a pet store, especially for this purpose.

Professional cleaning

The above steps are essential for regular maintenance of upholstery. However, there’s no substitute to having it cleaned professionally every year or two.

For deep-cleaning of upholstered furniture or for restoring upholstery that’s suffered from spills and staining, call Classique ChemDry on 1800 213 006. We operate in Bungendore, Crookwell, Goulburn, Yass, Gunning, Marulan, Collector and surrounding areas of NSW. We will help your home look welcoming again.

How you can help your kids to not ruin the carpet

Kids, no matter how old, seem attracted to carpets like magnets - whether in the house or in your car. But then the little angels go one step further and attempt to destroy them.

Carpets and food

Their elbows may stay off the table for the most part, but your kids, especially the toddlers cannot help themselves spilling food. And if your dining area is carpeted, it must be a crumb magnet.

Using a splat mat or a chair mat would offer some kind of protection and help keep your floors clean. A mat would work well for snacking spots as well and is easy to wipe when snack time is over. Plus, they’re portable so they can go from one room to another, as needed.

Snack time could also mean your toddler picks up their juice cup like they are taught to. But then, they carry it around with them and don’t miss the carpet. Spill-proof cups could go a long way in keeping juice off your carpets and off the rugs in your car, too.

Carpets and shoes

When your kids come home from playtime in the park or from football, they somehow manage to find the carpet with their soiled shoes still on, bringing in grass clippings and mud, thus leaving the evidence all over the house. It’s that much worse if they’ve come in from the rain.

While the “no shoes on the carpet” rule may not produce results by itself, a shoe storage might be the key. If each member of your family and especially your kids could have a special place for their shoes, it might be easier to set a routine that the kids could follow every time they come in from school and play.

Carpets and activities

If your kids seem to arrive at creative epiphanies in the carpeted room, your carpet could be attacked with everything from Play-Doh to paints. When it comes to Play-Doh, a quick cleaning tip would be to let the sticky pieces dry and then vacuum the carpet.

Covering the play space would also help keep those carpets clean. A splat mat could work here, too and can be cleaned in a jiffy.

Tricky as it might be, it could be a good idea to limit material when your kid is at messy play. This should be done not in a way that could hamper their creative process, but in a way that’ll teach them to be responsible with smaller amounts of material. Your carpets will thank you for this.

Kids and carpet cleaning
Of course, this doesn’t mean you make your little kids vacuum the carpet, but while you do this, they could pick their toys off the carpet. This would save you time and teach them to be responsible, even for the carpet.


All of these tips may help you and your kids get through the day with a somewhat clean carpet. But, you still need to think about your family’s health and call in the professionals regularly to keep your carpets ultra-clean. Do this often to keep your carpets free from mould, dust and so much more.

Classique Chem-Dry provides the best carpet cleaning service for a clean and healthy home. Call 1800 213 006 for a free quote.

Tips To Remove Pet Urine Odour

Pic credit: flickr

Our pets are like family to us. They are the best part of the day when you come home tired from work. Nothing can match the feeling when your pet gets all happy to see you come home and sits to cuddle with you. But with all the cuddling, there are the pet droppings as well, which can give rise to really bad odour making your home smell very bad. Here are some of the tips to make your home feel fresh throughout and keep the bond with your pets unconditionally loving.

Carpeted areas and upholstery

For the stains that have just happened and are fresh, try soaking up the urine as much as possible with a cotton cloth. Place paper towels on the area to soak up the urine, cover it with a newspaper and stand on it for a while to soak up everything. Repeat this procedure till the area is barely damp. If possible, place one of these urine soaked paper towels near your pets designated bathroom area. Since they are attracted to the smell, it could teach them that this is the place for them do their business. Don’t forget to rinse the accident area with cool water and blot it dry.

Paint and wood damage

If the wooden surface of your furniture, walls, baseboard or floor is discoloured, it means that the varnish or paint has reacted with the acids in the urine. It’s best to get a new layer of varnish or paint. While doing so, don’t forget to make sure that the new paint material is safe for pets to avoid any further such incidents.

Finding Older Mess

Sometimes it so happens that the odour is already present but you do not know where the source is. In such times, turn to your natural instincts, follow your nose to find the source. If you have a black light, use it to identify the soiled area and mark it for cleaning.

Avoid Future Accidents

There’s a high chance that your pets will return to the “accident zone” if they can still smell their personal scent. Make sure you properly clean the area to remove any smell which could lead the animal back to the same spot. Try to make this area not so attractive to them and their actual designated potty area extra attractive. Productively cultivate a new habit in your pet’s mind to do its business in this designated area. Normally re-training will take about a week or two.

Classique Chem-Dry is always available for service of any form of pet urine odour removal. Visit our website to know more about services or call us on 1800 213 006 to get a free quote.

Upholstery Cleaning - Doing it the right way!

Having your upholstery cleaned regularly is a must for all homeowners. With all the bacteria, dust and other allergens that enter your home, your upholstery can be a source of allergies if not cleaned from time to time. However, it's not just about cleaning it timely but also doing it correctly. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure your upholstery cleaning is a success.

Use the right cleaning solutions
Using the wrong cleaning products won't give you the desired results. Hence it is important to buy appropriate cleaning products for your upholstery after doing considerable research. If you miss this step you could end up staining and damaging your furniture.

Test the cleaning product
Always do a test patch before you use the product on your entire upholstery. With this, you will know if the cleaning product is safe to use or not. If you see no signs of damage then you can go ahead and clean the remaining parts of your upholstery with the same cleaning product.

Never soak in water
One thing you must avoid is soaking your upholstery in water as this could worsen the stain and do substantial damage.

Do not ignore the upholstery material
When it comes to upholstery cleaning there's no one technique fits all. What works for a plush sofa need not work for a leather sofa. So keep in mind the type of material used in your upholstery before you begin the cleaning process.

Clean regularly
Clean every 12 to 18 months to extend the life of your upholstery. Also, vacuum your furniture every 2 weeks especially if you have children and pets at home. And remember to act right away when you spot any stains on your upholstery.

If you're looking for experts to handle the cleaning for you, look no further. Call Classique Chem-Dry on 1800 213 006. We offer professional upholstery cleaning services to revive the beauty of your upholstery/furniture.

Why is it important to clean office upholstery?

Regardless of the size of your office and the hustle and bustle that happens in it, there are a few things that should not be ignored - one of them is the office upholstery. Having your office furniture cleaned regularly is particularly important as it affects your employees, customers/clients, and overall company reputation.

Below are a few reasons why office upholstery should be cleaned on a regular basis:

To ensure comfort: Quite often, we notice the padding and foam on office seats/ chairs are damaged. These kinds of damages need to be checked timely and fixed promptly before your employees start experiencing back and other muscle problems. Also, damaged upholstery does not create a good impression on visitors.

For health safety: A lot of people suffer from dust allergies which could lead to breathing or skin problems. Upholstery that has been eating dust for a long time could give rise to such allergies resulting in employees falling sick. While some cases may not be as severe, there are a few that could lead to a runny nose, constant sneezing, cough, watery eyes, and congestion. Hence, regular dusting and cleaning of upholstery are crucial to ensure the environment is healthy.

Increases productivity: You'll be surprised to know how office upholstery can enhance productivity. When office upholstery is clean and maintained, employees actually feel comfortable, sit at ease and work more efficiently. This helps in getting more work done in a shorter duration, thus raising overall work productivity.

It adds to the overall look of the office: When your office upholstery is cleaned regularly, it adds to the overall appeal of your office. It not only creates a positive impact on the employees but also makes a good impression on visitors. An office that ensures it's furniture and upholstery is clean and well maintained portrays the level of professionalism in the office.

Saving on replacement expenses: Ensuring that your upholstery is cleaned periodically, will eliminate the need for high-cost upholstery replacement in the long run. It is wiser to spend on regular cleaning and maintenance than to spend huge sums in buying new office upholstery.

Long-term usage: With the help of efficient cleaning methods or the services of a professional cleaning company, your office upholstery will be in good condition and can be used for a long time. Cleaning on a regular basis will extend the lifespan of your upholstery furniture.

If upholstery cleaning doesn't fit into your office schedule, give us a call on 1800213006. Using professional upholstery cleaning systems, our technicians at Classique ChemDry will clean and revive your office upholstery.

7 Simple steps to help you deal with a wet carpet after water damage

Have you had a flooding or a broken pipe in your home? What do you do if you find your carpet has been exposed to or has been under water for a long time?

Don’t worry, most carpets can be saved if addressed as quickly as possible.
And a quick response is vital not just to save your carpet, but for the health of the home occupants too. Water remaining in your carpet becomes a breeding ground for mould in as little as 48 hours. Exposure to airborne mould may trigger symptoms in people with hay fever, asthma, and allergies.

So what are the things you need to do immediately?

1. Turn the water off at the source and be sure to turn off the electricity.
Have a good knowledge of where your main water valve is located and how to turn it off. This would save time, rather than finding out where the leak is.
Don’t step on any wet carpets till you have turned off the power. Water and electricity is a deadly combination.

2.  Identify the source of the damage and address it separately.
Find out how the water damage has happened, fix or replace any leaky or broken pipes. Takes steps to ensure that this kind of accident won't happen again.
It is important to identify the source so you can decide on how to take care of your carpet. If it is clean water, then drying your carpets will be easier. However, if its water from your washing machine or sewer pipes, you’ll have to get a professional cleaning company to disinfect the carpet.

3. Remove water as quickly as possible.
If the water is clean and non-contaminated, try to remove as much water as possible off the carpet and out of your home. However, if it is contaminated, don’t risk touching it. Let the experts and their special equipment handle it.
Using a wet/dry vacuum is one of the most effective tools and it can be easily rented.

4. Remove the carpet any other water-logged furnishings if possible.
You will definitely need help to move a wet carpet as it will be much heavier than usual. But it will dry better if it is out in open air.
Check carefully for water damage to any furniture and your flooring. You may need to avail the services of a water remediation company.

5. Ventilate the area.
Vacuuming the carpet and extracting water from it should help reduce it from soaking wet to damp. But you have to keep drying it, as mould and mildew are just waiting to grow there.
Keep all windows and doors open and fans running as this will ensure fresh air circulates.You can limit mould and mildew growth by using a dehumidifier.

6. Steam clean the carpet and check the carpet padding.
To properly sanitize and deodorize the carpet, you must use an effective steam cleaner. You may need to hire professionals to ensure the cleaning process is completed quickly and efficiently.
Thoroughly check the carpet pad under your carpet. If it is soaked through and you cannot remove the moisture through extracting, vacuuming, and dehumidifying, then it must be replaced. Usually, water damaged carpet padding cannot be saved and it will be less expensive than having to re-carpet your home.

7. Clean up and sanitize the affected areas.
Anything touched by the water, including the walls, hard-surface floors should be cleaned thoroughly and sanitized. Most household surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water. Sanitize and disinfect everything with a chlorine bleach solution. Remember to always wear rubber gloves.

If you are in need of a carpet cleaning after water damage, avail of our professional cleaning services. Your carpet will be clean and dry within hours as we use 80% less water than typical steam cleaners. We provide services in Goulburn and all surrounding suburbs.
Call 1800 213 006 or visit http://www.classiquechemdry.com.au/services/carpet-cleaning/

Leather Care Tips

Leather is a popular choice in furniture that adds style and character to any room in a home. It is one of the more durable and low-maintenance surfaces for home furnishings. Keeping your leather upholstery clean and in top condition is relatively simple if you follow the proper care. However, different types of leather upholstery have different cleaning requirements.

How leather is processed determines which of the three main categories it falls under:

Aniline Leather

This is the most natural-looking leather but is highly priced. As it is not coated with any additional polymers or pigments it retains all the unique markings and characteristics.

Semi-Aniline Leather

It is just a little bit tougher than aniline leather as its surface has been treated with a light coat that contains some pigment, which makes it more soil and stain-resistant.

Protected or Pigmented Leather

This is the most durable type of leather and has a polymer surface coating containing pigments which adds more resistance to scuffing or fading.

What to protect your leather from?

Unlike most fabrics, leather is extremely difficult to restore once it is damaged and it is sensitive to many things. Leather furniture is commonly vulnerable to:

Marks, Scuffs, and Scratches,

Broken Stitching, Cracks, Tears and Rips,

Fading and Discoloration

What are the major causes for Fading and Discoloration?

Oils & Grease 

Over a long time, body oils and perspiration create a chemical reaction changing the pH level and affect the protective finishes of your leather.

Atmospheric Soils 

Direct sunlight / UV rays, humidity, and dust deposits draw moisture out of your leather’s fibers and dislocate vital natural oils that cannot be replenished. Airborne pollutants like cooking oils and atmospheric pollution also cause damage.

Common Soils 

Stains caused by dirt brought into the home by people and pets may leave a permanent tint on your leather. Plants can also easily leave bright green stains due to the chlorophyll in them that acts like a dye on leather. 

Dyes, Inks, and Paints 

Stains from paint, dyes, and inks are considered inorganic stains are tougher to remove. The faster you act, the better. Wet stains are easier to remove, so it’s important to act as quickly as possible before they dry.

Regular care is the best defense against wear and tear to extend the life of your furniture

- Vacuum furniture before using cleaning products

- Blot spills quickly

- Keep pets off of furniture

- Take care to prevent contact with sharp objects

- Protect your furniture from direct sunlight

- Care for cushions by turning them around and fluffing them

- Dust weekly with a dry microfiber cloth

- Check the manufacturer's labels for care instructions

Professional cleaning

Besides your regular cleaning, it is recommended to have furniture cleaned professionally between 2 and 4 times a year, depending on its age and the amount of wear it gets.

In addition to avoiding long-term damage to the upholstery, cleanings also help to remove potential allergens which are obvious health hazards for people who suffer from allergies.

Call Classique Chem-Dry today on 1800 213 006 / 0458 213 408 or schedule an appointment for professional upholstery cleaning to maintain the health and beauty of your leather furniture.

How to protect your home from water damage

You might never know when a flood could strike your home. It is important to prepare your home against a flood. You do not want your furniture, appliance or household items to be soaked by water.

The first precaution you can take is making sure that the electrical circuitry and equipment at your home is raised or kept at above the level of the expected water.

If there has been damage to the roof of your home, repair it. This is done to avoid moisture and protect the interior of your home.

Take out any waste material which is present on the roof drain pipe. This will ensure that the water drains out properly.

When you’re travelling far, make sure to switch off the water supply and check all the pipes in case of any leaks.

Inspect the plants and trees. Make sure that they don’t obstruct the sprinkler system or septic tank.

Pouring grease inside the sink would cause the sink to clog. Freeze the grate and then toss it out into the trash can.

If there’s a leak which you don’t know about, it will reflect on your water bill. Keep a check on your monthly water bills.

Install a water detection device near a water heater; it would sound an alarm in case of any moisture water damage.

We at Classique Chemdry, we provide water damage restoration services Bungendore Crookwell, Goulburn, Yass, Gunning, Marulan, Collectorr and surrounding NSW. Visit our website at http://www.classiquechemdry.com.au/. Call 1800 213 006 for a free quote.

Why you need to clean your home - 3 Top Reasons

Keeping a house clean can be quite tasking with pets and kids around. For those of you who do not like cleaning here are some of the top five reason why you should.

1) Easily find your things - Finding your phone in a clutter could give you a headache. Your time gets wasted in searching an item in an unorganised room. You could reach late to work and you will find yourself accomplish very little because of a clutter. When your home is clean and organised, you’ll get you work done quicker and you will save a lot of time.

2) Calling your friends over- Don’t embarrass yourself by calling a friend to a home filled with clutter. Your reputation is on the line. If that’s the case you may stop having people over altogether. Don’t let your dirty home be the problem t. By keeping your home clean and orderly, you’ll have more motivation to invite people to dinner and enjoy their company.

3) Get better sleep: There’s nothing more relaxing than jumping in a bed with clean sheets and saying good night to an orderly house. You’ll rest at ease when you’re not waking up to chaos. Let your mind rest peacefully in a clean home.

4) Makes you creative: Clean space allows the mind to relax and be more creative. When you’re surrounded by uncleanliness or a disorganised mess, your mind focuses more on the chaos and less on letting your creative juices flow. If you’re a creative person, keeping a clean home will help you do what you do best.

We at Classique Chem-Dry provide the best cleaning service. To know more about us and the services we provide visit us at http://www.classiquechemdry.com.au/

Why do you need to clean your carpet?

Once you own a carpet, it is very important that you look after it. Like most things carpets too have a life period. You can increase the lifetime of your carpet by cleaning it regularly. One interesting fact is that carpets hold four times more dirt than their actual weight. Most people don’t particularly look forward to cleaning their carpets.

There are many reasons to why you need to keep your carpets clean

• You can extend the life of your carpet by keeping them clean. 

• A fresh smelling carpet improves the quality of air in your room. An unclean carpet can trap air born pollutants. Hence they should be removed from the carpet to maintain the quality of your room. 

• If there are spots or stains on your carpet. Make sure to clean it as fast as you can. This will avoid additional soiling to the carpet. 

• A clean carpet will help prevent allergens and bacteria from growing on your carpet. 

• Keeping your carpet clean will help in removing any mites or bugs present on the carpet. 

• A clean carpet will improve the appearance of your room. 

• A clean carpet will also ensure that your pets and kids will remain healthy. 

If you wish to eliminate the dirt from your carpet. Make sure to call us, we at Classique Chem-Dry will make your home feel and smell as good as new. Visit our website at http://www.classiquechemdry.com.au/

Eliminate moulds from Carpets

Ah! That smell......The moulds produced on carpets give out a terrible stench. This stench is caused by the spores which the moulds produce. The moulds not only degrades the quality of your carpet but it can cause harmful effects on those living with moulds. Moulds need moisture to grow. You will mostly find moulds growing in the basements, Underneath or behind refrigerators, air-conditioning units and the list goes on.

• Use goggles, mask for your mouth, and rubber gloves when cleaning moulds. Moulds are toxic and you don’t want them affecting your health.Here are some methods to get rid of the mouldy situation.

• Hire a professional if your mould is found at the back of your carpet. Hiring a professional would eliminate the effort taken to get rid of it. If the mould is too large and has spread across the entire area then you might consider replacing your carpet. 

• If the weather permits, ventilate your room. You must open all your windows and doors and let the sunshine in. Use a fan if there are not windows and doors. The air will provide ventilation into the room, thus reducing the odours present. 

• If your carpet is portable and then take it outside, let the sunshine fall onto your carpet. The sunshine will remove moisture from the carpet and kill the spores present on them.

• 1 cup of bleach to a bucket of water then spray the carpet with the solution. After about 20 minutes vacuum the dirt and mold out. Get rid of all water from carpet as the moisture to cause more mold growth. Next, put your carpet to dry. Keep a check and clean your carpet regularly to avoid mould growth. 

If you’re looking to eliminate dirt/ moulds from your carpets, then call Classique Chem-Dry. We will give you a truly clean, refreshed and healthy carpet. Call us at 1800 213 006 for a free quote.

How to get rid of pet odour

Pet urine smell can be intoxicating as it contains ammonia. If these pet urine stains are not treated on
time, it’s gets hard to get rid of the stain from your household. There are some ways to ensure that your home is always smelling fresh.

• Train your pet: If you have a dog/ cat, make sure it does not urinate in the house. Start on training your pet as if it’s not trained, you will have to deal with the smell and clean the pet urine stains everyday.

• Clean the rugs: Thoroughly clean the rugs, pillows with good amount of baking soda along with your laundry detergent to get rid of the smell and stains. Don’t wait too long to clean these items as the smell could be nauseating.

• Buy a new carpet pad : If you feel like the urine has soaked through your carpet pad, consider replacing it as you would not be able to clean the dry pad.

• Drench fresh urine stains: If the urine stain is fresh drench it from your carpet as fast as you can. This would help less urine to get seeped in the carpet pad.

• Black light method: Buying a black light from an online vendor would help you to see the stains in the dark. These stains would glow in the dark thus making it easier to spot them in the dark.

• Using white vinegar: A ratio of 3:1 warm water to white vinegar solution in a bucket would give you a fresh cleaning smell. 

Removing the pet urine odour from your home could or buying stain cleaners could be a difficult job. If you’re not sure what you are looking for. It’s best to leave it to the professionals. At Classquie Chem-Dry we get rid of the bad pet urine odour. Our service areas include Bungendore, Crookwell, Goulburn, Yass, Gunning, Marulan, Collector. Visit our website at http://www.classiquechemdry.com.au/services/pet-urine-odor-removal/ to know more, or call us at 1800 213 006 to make your home smell fresh and stain free.

Tips to keep you upholstery clean

Keeping upholstery clean can be a tasking job, especially when you have kids and pets in the house or when you have friends and family over. Food spills, food crumbs, dust, dirt, germs, pet hair etc, Some of these can't be avoided.
Here are a few tips to keep your upholstery clean and fresh.

• Take instant action when you have any spills on the upholstery. Blot the spill as fast as possible so that it doesn't spread or soak the furniture. This will help in reducing the efforts for removing the stain later.

• Vacuum the upholstery to remove the dust and dirt, before starting with any upholstery cleaning. This will also leave the furniture looking fresh.

• Use different cleaning techniques depending on the type of upholstery your cleaning. The same cleaning technique will give you different results as each fabric is different.

• Invest in slip covers for the upholstery. You won't have to worry about kids dropping food crumbs or dirtying the furniture. Just remove the cover and put it in the dryer when dirty.

• Keep Leather upholstery way from the windows or direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will dry the leather and cause cracking.

If you are looking for a professional Upholstery cleaning service for your home or business, look no further. With ChemDry’s upholstery cleaning systems you can have your home looking, feeling and smelling as good as new. Give us a call on or visit our website at http://www.classiquechemdry.com.au/