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Cleaning Tips

Carpets and upholstered furniture can add warmth to a home, but keeping them clean can be a challenge.

For carpets, it is important to vacuum on a regular basis for two reasons: 1) dirt, sand, and materials that come in from outside can act as an abrasive, eventually breaking down the fibers of the carpet; and 2) the longer dirt, sand etc. stay on the carpet, the further down into the carpet it will get pushed, making it harder to get out.

Similarly, treating stains on your carpet and upholstered furniture as soon as you can will help keep the stain from working its way deeper into fibers. Here are some other tips to ease the job of keeping your carpets & upholstered furniture clean:

NEW - Tip: Natural fibers such as wool, cotton or jute can be affected by cleaners or even water. Check with the manufacturer’s recommendation before cleaning to protect the warranty, and to make sure your carpet or upholstered piece won’t be damaged. 

NEW - Tip: Always check for colorfastness (to make sure the dyes won’t bleed) when cleaning your carpet or upholstery. To do this, find an inconspicuous spot – perhaps the underside edge – and press down with a wet sponge to see if some of the color lifts. If no color comes off, it should be safe to clean.

Tip: When removing a stain from carpet or upholstery, always blot on and blot off. Rubbing a stain will push it further into the fibers, and the friction caused by rubbing can break down the fibers.

Tip: Before cleaning carpets with an extraction machine, always pre-treat stains (see below) and high traffic areas. For high traffic areas, make up a solution of 1 oz of Home Solv Laundry Detergent, ½ oz of Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate and about 22 oz of water in a spray bottle. Shake well. Saturate the stains and let sit at least 20 minutes. Also, it is important to do a fresh water rinse after cleaning the carpets to remove all detergent; otherwise the residue can re-attract dirt. For additional information on extracting carpets, please check out our video page.

Tip: Laundry Detergent can be used to clean dirt out of carpet & upholstery – they’re made out of fibers, just like clothing.

AIRBORNE ODORS: Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate can be used to get rid of airborne odors, including cigarette smoke and smoke from a fire, from most washable (see above) carpets & upholstery.

GREASE & OIL BASED STAINS: Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate can be used to remove most grease and oil based stains on most washable (see above) carpets & upholstery. This includes, but is not limited to: lipstick, makeup, ink, grease, tar, cooking oil, pasta sauce, oil-based paint, wax, gum, massage oil and gasoline. For additional stains: http://www.citrasolv.com/solutions.shtml

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With a few simple steps and the right products, laundry will emerge cleaner and fresher… naturally!

NEW - Tip: If there is a particularly soiled spot on an item, work in a little Home Solv Laundry Detergent directly onto the stain before throwing it the washer.

Tip: When using any cleaner to remove stains, always check for colorfastness (that the dyes won’t bleed)

Tip: Always check to make sure a stain has been completely eliminated before throwing anything into the dryer. The heat from a dryer will set the stain



Tip: Be careful to not use more laundry detergent than you need. Front loading machines require much less than top loaders. Always double check with the manufacturer’s instructions and read laundry product labels closely to make sure you are using the correct amount. Too much detergent is not only a waste of money, but also may not completely rinse out, thereby re-attracting soil. Extra detergent also causes the washing machine to over-suds, making the cycle longer to complete.

Tips for getting out hard to remove stains:

AIRBORNE ODORS: Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate also can be used to get rid of airborne odors on most washable fabrics -- including cigarette smoke and smoke from a fire.

GREASE & OIL BASED STAINS: Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate can be used to remove most grease and oil based stains on most washable fabric including, but not limited to: lipstick, makeup, ink, grease, tar, cooking oil, pasta sauce, oil-based paint, wax, gum, massage oil and gasoline. For additional stains: Stain Chart

LAUNDRY BOOST FOR HEAVILY SOILED GARMENTS: Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate can be used as a laundry booster (note: always add when water is in washer drum – never put directly in washer because it can affect some plastics).

What causes a drain to clog?

In the shower, it is usually a combination of hair, soap scum, and body oils. In the kitchen, it is often grease from the foods that you cook.

Most drain cleaners are not only toxic and potentially harmful – but they only burn through the center of the blockage, leaving remaining buildup on the walls of the pipe. So while your clog may be gone, it’s really just a temporary fix.

Our Home Solv Drain Cleaner is not only a safer alternative, but it works to remove the buildup, too. It can be used for both types of blockages in kitchen and bathroom drains. The key to success with Home Solv Drain Cleaner is that it needs time to work. Pour it down the drain and let it sit. For really heavy buildup, more time and additional applications may be necessary.

Once you get your drain and pipes free-flowing, we suggest using Home Solv Drain Cleaner weekly to help maintain healthy, unclogged pipes. Learn more about Home Solv Drain Cleaner here.
Note: Home Solv Enzyme Drain Cleaner will not work on clogs that are caused by mineral deposits from hard water. Those clogs require a “snake” to break clogs apart.

NEW - Tip: A perfect time to use Home Solv Enzyme Drain Cleaner for maintenance is right before you leave to go on vacation. This allows the product extra time before water washes it away.

Tip: Keep your garbage disposal a little clearer and fresher by periodically pouring a little Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate down.

Tip: Even though we strongly recommend against pouring grease down your drain, if you have to, remember to always use hot water and a little bit of Home Solv Dish soap to help break the grease down as much as possible.

Most hard surfaces can be cleaned with all-purpose or multi-purpose cleaners such as our Home Solv Ready to Use Multi-Purpose cleaner. These cleaners remove most dirt and a little of the grease build up – but for surfaces that are heavier in grease, you will need a degreaser. Our Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate can be diluted down to clean just about any surface in and around your home (depending on dilution rate, you will need to be careful with plastics.)

Antibacterial cleaners and bleach can be harmful to the environment. If you clean on a regular basis and remove the organic material in which the bacteria can grow, you will limit the need for these.

NEW - Tip: Our Home Solv Window & Glass Cleaner can be substituted for “all purpose” cleaners on many surfaces in your home and car. So, if you are cleaning mirrors, you can add to the spray that falls on the counter, and then give that a quick clean up, too! The same process applies for the dashboard in your car.

Tip: A little of our Home Solv Liquid Dish Soap added to a bucket of warm water works great for cleaning all types of floors.

Tip: Dust mopping a floor is quicker and does a better job than sweeping. Start at one end and work your way down the room in an “S” shape pattern. Don’t lift the mop until you get to the end to keep the dust from flying.

Tip: Always dust mop before wet mopping your floor. Start at one end of the room, using a figure “8” pattern; work your way out of the room so you don’t have to step on the area you just cleaned. Watch the video here:

Tip: To clean and freshen up your garbage cans, mix a solution of 1 oz of Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser concentrate to 22 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Spray the inside of the can and wipe with a sponge or brush.

Our Home Solv Window & Glass Cleaner was reformulated with a little touch of vinegar to get windows and glass streak-free and shiny!

NEW -Tip: To make windows & glass shine even more – after you have cleaned them, go back over with a microfiber cloth and rub using a circular motion.

Tip: To clean windows and glass, we recommend terry cloth micro fiber towels - and even old newspaper - over using paper towels. Paper towels are not only less environmental, but also leave lint.

Tip: When you are cleaning multiple windows, hard-to-reach windows or large mirrors, you can save time and money by using a squeegee, strip washer and a bucket of solution.

Tip: Using a terry cloth towel to clean the outside of your car windows will make getting the hard-to-remove bugs off easy– as well as save you from going through a bunch of paper towels.

Tip: Clean the soot off your fireplace glass doors by spraying a little Home Solv Window & Glass Cleaner on a piece of newspaper, dipping it into the cooled ashes, and rubbing the glass with a circular motion. After the soot has been removed, go back and spray Home Solv Window & Glass Cleaner on glass and wipe with newspaper to get them spotless.

Cleaning a home doesn't stop at the back door, especially in areas where tough stains, odors & grime can linger. Dirt & oil can damage furniture and surfaces, so it’s best to eliminate them seasonally. Here are some tips for cleaning up items out & around the house:

NEW - Tip: CALCIUM CHLORIDE SPOTS ON GARAGE FLOOR, SIDEWALK & STEPS: To remove white winter salt residue, add Home Solv Liquid Dish Soap to a bucket of warm water. Mop. Add a couple of capfuls of vinegar to a bucket of clean warm water, then re-mop with vinegar solution. Vinegar will neutralize the calcium chloride.

GARBAGE PAILS & RECYCLING BINS: Mix in a bucket: 1 quart hot water, 1 ounce of Home Solv Liquid Dish Soap (any scent), and 1 ounce of Citra Solv Concentrate. Scrub well, using a brush with a removable long handle. Remove the handle to scrub the lid of the can. Rinse and let air dry.

PATIO FURNITURE: To remove dirt and light grease from patio furniture, use a solution of 2 oz of Home Solv Liquid Dish Soap to a gallon of water. Scrub well, with a sponge or soft brush. Rinse and let air dry.

If your patio furniture has mold on it (black residue that does not wash off with soap), you will need something to specifically remove it. We recommend Hydrogen Peroxide or Oxygenated Bleach, which are both safer alternatives to regular bleach.

VINYL SIDING: To remove dirt and light grease from your vinyl siding, use a solution of a couple of ounces of Citra Solv Cleaner & Degreaser in a bucket of warm water. Apply and scrub with a siding brush. Rinse with a garden hose.

If your siding has mold on it (black residue that does not wash off with the Citra Solv solution), you will need something to specifically remove it. We recommend Hydrogen Peroxide or Oxygenated Bleach, which are both safer alternatives to regular bleach.

TREE SAP ON DECK: Decks can be made up of different materials, some of which can be affected by Citra Solv Concentrated Cleaner & Degreaser. We recommend always testing in an inconspicuous place on the deck to make sure that the product doesn’t mar the finish. To remove sap, make a small solution of Citra Solv Concentrated Cleaner & Degreaser by using equal parts Concentrate to water. Apply with a sponge or cloth. If the dilution isn’t taking off the sap, use the full strength (once again, be sure to test first.) Rinse with fresh water. *Trex® has tested our product and confirmed that it is safe to use on their deck products.

OIL SPOTS ON CONCRETE, GARAGE FLOOR & DRIVEWAY: Apply a little Citra Solv Concentrated Cleaner & Degreaser directly to the oil spot. Gently scrub with a brush or broom. Rinse well. Reapply if necessary.

Working on a large scale can really teach you how to clean efficiently and effectively. Here are some time saving tips that we learned while in the commercial cleaning industry:

Tip: When you are cleaning multiple windows, hard to reach windows or large mirrors, using a spray bottle and paper towels can really slow you down. Save time and money by using a squeegee, strip washer and a bucket of solution.

Tip: Our Home Solv Window & Glass Cleaner can be substituted for “all purpose” cleaners on many surfaces in your home (and car). So, if you are cleaning mirrors, add a few extra spritzes to the spray that falls on the counter - and then give them a quick clean up, too! This process is great for the dashboard in your car, too.

Tip: Dust mopping a floor is quicker and does a better job than sweeping. Start at one end of the room and work your way down in an “S” shape pattern. Don’t lift the mop until you get to the end to keep the dust from flying. Sweep or vacuum up the pile.

Tip: When wet mopping a floor, always mop in figure 8 patterns. Also, start at one end of the room and work your way down. Not only will it keep you from having to walk over the area you just cleaned, but you won’t end up going over areas that you have already mopped.