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Why Does This Carpet Stain Keep Coming Back?

Posted Friday, March 15th, 2019

We all have that one area. That one spot in the carpet that’s always there. You know the one: a little discoloration, a splotch, a patch, just a little bit different from the rest of the floor. Maybe you’ve even tried to clean it, but, like a winter cold, you just can’t seem to shake it. That carpet stain keeps coming back no matter what you do.

What do you do with carpet spots that just won’t go away? After 4+ decades of cleaning experience, our expert Modtechs have identified the 3 main reasons carpet spots keep reappearing.

Spot vs Stain

There’s one thing we need to clarify first – the difference between a stain and a spot. Colloquially, they’re used interchangeably; we often refer to spots as stains and stains as spots in casual conversation, but did you know they have distinct definitions?
In the professional world of carpet cleaning, a spot is the substance of whatever is on your carpet: a food spot, coffee spot, a dirt spot. The material you can see on your carpet makes a spot, and spots are almost always removable.

A stain, however, is generally more permanent. When carpet gets stained, dyes from the substance (the spot) are transferred into the fibers, changing their color. Sometimes this can be reversed to a degree, but dye transference actively changes the coloring of the fibers – meaning the original color has been altered and makes it very unlikely it will be able to get back to its exact shade.

An easy way to remember the difference is to think about what each one adds:

A spot adds substance
A stain adds color

That’s why we don’t like to call something a stain unless we know for sure that the fibers have been dyed!

1: Betrayed by Over-The-Counter Products

The Problem: If you’ve used an over-the-counter spot cleaner, chances are it worked pretty well – at first, anyway. Many carpet cleaning products available on grocery store shelves contain some kind of soap, which, in theory, sounds like it should be a good thing for your carpet spots.
Unfortunately, the residue that soap-based products leave behind actually ends up collecting more dirt over time! Areas cleaned with soap will inevitably attract new dirt and soil at a much faster rate than the surrounding carpet – which makes it look like the spot is coming back! In reality, it’s a new spot created by soap residue. Gross!
Why does cleaning carpet with soap end up attracting more dirt? Not to get too technical, but soap is made up of molecules that are both hydrophobic (attracts oils) and hydrophilic (attracts water). Having these seemingly opposite molecules is why soap mixes so well with both oil and water, making it very easy to draw up soil (and other substances) from your carpet. Unfortunately, its oil-attracting properties means any leftover residue is going to continue to attract oil, dirt, grease, and other particulate – meaning it gets dirtier faster in that area. Not cool, over-the-counter carpet cleaner!

The Solution: Don’t use over-the-counter carpet cleaning products! They almost always cause more problems down the line. Instead, check out our handy stain solution guide for common household spots. All natural beats all chemical any day!

2: Wickback Effect: Spots Deep in Padding

The Problem: Another common reason for reappearing carpet spots is what we call the wickback effect. We see this a lot in spots with a LOT of substance – large liquid spills and large dog pet spots especially. What happens is that the liquid will soak through the fibers, through the jute backing, and into the padding beneath the carpet.
Since carpet padding is so absorbent, the spot that you can see on the surface of the carpet, much like an iceberg, may be several times larger down in the padding. After a cleaning, as the carpet dries, it wicks up the spot liquid from the saturated padding into the dry carpet, drawing up the substance and making the spot reappear on the surface (sometimes even larger than the original spot!).

The Solution: Prevention! Blot up large liquid spills as soon as possible before they have a chance to soak into the padding. 3M Scotchgard is a fantastic way to help your carpet fibers repel liquid and give you more time to clean up after a spill. If the spill already happened and the pad is saturated: Have a professional deal with it! A truck-mounted hot water extraction machine and an expert Modtech have the power and knowledge to deal with deep-down spots!

3: Fido’s Got a Favorite Area

The Problem: One of the most obvious reasons a carpet spot keeps reappearing is also one of the most frustrating: your pet has chosen a particular area in which to “do its business”. Even though you clean up the mess each and every time (and you can’t see it anymore), your pet continues to go back to the same area. Not fun!

The Solution: The problem is smell. The odor remains, leading Fido to go in the same area time and time again. You need to get rid of the smell! Fortunately, we have a variety of pet-specific odor neutralizers that will dissuade pets from using the same area – and leave your home smelling great again.

Modernistic has been permanently removing carpet spots in Michigan since 1973! When it comes to problem spots you just can’t seem to get rid of, trust the carpet cleaning experts! Call or click today.

How to Keep Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture

Posted Friday, January 11th, 2019

Many Modernistic team members and customers share their homes with beloved pets. We love their companionship, but sometimes they do things we can’t stand! For a variety of reasons, cats love to scratch, but how can we keep them off of our furniture?

Does your cat get enough exercise, entertainment, playtime, attention? Cats have a pretty small world they live in everyday. Without your attention, plenty of toys, and scratching surfaces, they will look for other way to get their energy out.

Are you taking care of your cat’s nails? In the wild, cats would be climbing trees, walking on the rough ground, and scratching many surfaces that would help keep their nails trim and in good shape. Living in a cozy human home means they don’t have these natural opportunities to scratch, meaning they will be looking for your best tree and ground like surfaces.

Do you have surfaces specifically meant for your cat to scratch? Cats have a primal instinct to scratch, so you won’t be able to stop them. You can, however, make sure they are scratching appropriate “cat” objects.

Your furniture is usually out in the open, what about the cat posts? Cats like to leave their visual and scent markers in a spot where everyone can see and smell them – What use is marking your territory if no one notices? Putting a scratching post in a back corner is a good way to hide it out of sight of company, but it is also making it less attractive to your cat.

So, what steps can you take to stop a cat from scratching your furniture? Make sure you provide a variety of scratching substitutes, such as cardboard, rope-wrapped posts, and carpet. Don’t hide the scratchers away, put them right out in the open. Place a new scratching post right by the piece of furniture your cat likes to scratch. Give treats for scratching the new post. If your cat responds well of catnip, add some to the new post. There are deterrent sprays and sticky pads you can add to your furniture. Keep in mind, if you only add the deterrent, but don’t have enough appropriate scratching objects, your cat will keep scratching your furniture.

Spend some quality time playing with your cat, trim her nails, and she should be content scratching the new scratching objects. If, after all this, your cat is still more interested in your furniture than her posts, speak with your vet for professional advice.

Since 1973, Modernistic has been cleaning up after Michigan’s pets on carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, and hardwood! Call or click today to see how we can help you with your pet messes.

The Different Levels of Carpet Deodorization

Posted Wednesday, October 31st, 2018

Pet accidents, food spills, dirty feet, you name it; there are a multitude of bad odors that can leave your carpet smelling less than pleasant. Regular vacuuming sometimes isn’t enough to keep the odors at bay, and there comes a time in every carpet’s life that requires some odor intervention! Luckily, there are many different levels of carpet deodorization available to handle all your smelly carpet needs.

Level 1: On The Surface

The most basic deodorizing option is topical. This is when a carpet cleaning technician applies a spray on deodorizer post-cleaning. These commercial products, in addition to smelling nice, actually break down odor-causing molecules. This works great for odors that weren’t caused by a large amount of liquid.

Level 2: Deep Down

The next level of deodorization is submersion. This is ideal for carpeting when you know the issue is coming from a specific spot (ex: a pet continues to use the restroom in same area). The technician will essentially flood the area with the deodorizer and then extract it back out. This allows the cleaning technician to pull the odor out from the padding underneath the carpet. In tandem with this is the injection method of deodorizer for upholstery. The technician will inject deodorizer right into the affected area of the furniture and then pull it back out with their cleaning tool.

Level 3: Source Removal

If the odor issues in your home have gone into the pad but aren’t contained to just one or a few areas, it might be the time to consider pad replacement. A flooring technician can pull the carpeting back, replace the pad underneath with brand new padding, and then lay the carpeting back down. Finally give the carpet a professional cleaning and the room can be good as new!

When you are replacing the pad, upon removal inspect the floor underneath. If the moisture was prevalent enough it could have damaged the flooring itself. This can cause further odor issues and weaken the flooring. If this is the case this would be the best time to replace the flooring.

Level 4: It’s In The Air

The treatments listed above work great for odors that are on your carpet or upholstery but what about if the smell is coming from the entire room? Removing the smell of smoke from a fire or decades of smoking is an example where cleaning the carpeting might not be enough. There are two more treatments that Modernistic offers to help in these more serious circumstances, the first of which is fogging. This is a machine that would be set up in the affected area that continuously spreads the deodorizer throughout the room, making sure every surface in the room is reached. This type of odor intervention is almost always overkill for odors found only in the carpeting.

Level 5: Let’s Get Molecular

If even this isn’t enough it might be time to literally change the molecules in the air. Setting up an ozone machine is the most drastic odor intervention available, and is by far the most dangerous. An ozone machine removes the odor from the air by electrifying the oxygen molecules to add another carbon molecule. Due to this process no one can be in the area for the 24-48 hours that the machine needs to run. Ozone is usually reserved for the worst and hardest-to-remove odors, like smoke and cigarette smells.

The Professional Touch

Discovering how severe the odor in your home is key to deciding what step of deodorization is needed, and the cleaning professionals at Modernistic would be glad to evaluate the issues for you. No matter what kind (or severity) of odor you have, you have options on how to get rid of unwanted carpet smells. Rather than replacing an entire room of carpet just because of a pesky carpet odor, trust Modernistic and the different levels of carpet deodorization we offer. We know you’ll love the outcome!

Create Your Own Homemade Cat Toys

Posted Friday, September 14th, 2018

We’ve all done it. We found that perfect toy in the pet store that we just KNOW our cat would love to play with. But, when we get it home, our furry feline friend ignores the awesome toy and ends up playing with the box it came in instead. How’s that for gratitude! If you’ve ever thought to yourself “Well I’m not wasting any more money on store-bought, I’m going to make my own homemade cat toys!”, then read on dear reader!

Homemade cat toys can be a fun way to personalize your space. You can create toys and furniture for your cat that actually coordinate with your home’s style and color pallet. Plus, you know your cat better than any pet store. Whether your cat likes climbing up high, batting around pieces of trash, or is into the hard stuff (catnip), you can create something personalized your cat will love.

Pompoms

Making pompoms is easy and fun! Buy some yarn in colors that you like, and make a bunch of little puffy balls. You can toss them on the floor for free play or tie them onto a dowel to make a wand toy. Pompoms on a string are great to attach to cat furniture to make them more engaging for your cat.

Sock Toys

Have an unmatched sock after doing laundry? You can turn it into a cat toy! Fill it up with catnip, tie off or sew up the ends, and yours cats will thank you for it! Even just tying an old sock in the middle makes for a simple and fun cat toy she will love to scratch and bite at.

Cardboard Scratcher

Instead of throwing out or recycling old cardboard, you can make a cat scratcher out of it! Cut strips of cardboard and use glue to make a rectangle, or wrap them up into a disc shape. The little holes in corrugated cardboard are great for holding cat nip. To jazz it up, wrap the edge with some wrapping paper or other decorative paper that will look nice

Cat Ladder

You can use a step stool or full size ladder to make a lounging spot for your cat. Use carpeting to make soft and scratchable surfaces. Use an old t-shirt or fleece in the pattern of your choice to create a hammock. Paint the wood to match your interior design. Wrap some of the wooden legs with rope for your cat to scratch. And, you might like to add some fun pompoms on strings for your cat to play with.

Keeping your cat engaged, giving her a place to feel comfortable, and designated scratching posts will help prevent your cat for scratching where she shouldn’t. Giving her a place up high to retreat can keep her from hiding. These cat toys and furniture will bring joy to your cat, and allow you to customize them to your home’s decor. You will certainly save some money too!

We love our pets here at Modernistic, but we don’t have to love their odors and messes they leave behind. Trust the experts with over 45 years of experience removing pet spots and smells! Call or click today!

Help Your Pets Beat The Heat with these Simple & Quick Summer Safety Tips

Posted Wednesday, September 5th, 2018

This intense summer heat can be tough for any Michigander to beat. For our furry friends, however, it is way tougher. Unless you own a desert tortoise or a camel (or some other exotic hot weather-loving creature), your pet is susceptible to heat exhaustion with temps this high! As their owner and master and protector it is up to you to make sure your pet is not just safe, but comfortable in the warmer months. Let’s start with some basics to help your pets beat the heat this summer:

How Hot is Too Hot?

For cats and dogs, 80-85 degrees can be pushing it! Instead of exposing your pets to a lot of activity take it easy on hot days. Keep the walks close to home or just play in the backyard and save the longer park visits for a cooler day. Make sure your pets have access to shade and cool water whenever they need it at home. If your dog likes splashing around, consider having a kiddie pool just for your pup!

If you are going out for the day or even just a few hours leave the AC or a fan on to provide quick relief for your pet. Avoid walking your dogs midday when temps are at their highest; stick early mornings or evenings. Hot pavement can hurt and even burn paws! If you have a cat try to keep them more indoors midday and let them roam once the temperatures drop.

As a rule of thumb, never ever leave your dog or cat in a parked car on a hot day! The temperatures in cars can skyrocket on a hot day (yes, even with the AC on!). Even if it feels ok to you don’t take the risk with your furry friend.

Know the Signs!

Your ability to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion in pets could end up saving a life! Warning signs for Dogs are rapid heart rate, lethargy, lack of coordination, glazed eyes, and excessive drooling. Loss of consciousness is a major warning sign! If you notice these behaviors get your dog into cooler air, give them some water, and if you can, wet their armpits, neck, and between their hind legs with a wet cloth. If you are outside on a walk or at the park it is time to head home and blast that AC on the way!

Kitties present the warning signs a little differently. A sign that your cat is hot (but not yet overheating!) will be your cat behaving restlessly as they try to find a cool spot. Cats can also begin grooming excessively to cool down. The real warning signs are rapid breathing, vomiting, red tongue and mouth, lethargy, and trouble moving. If you notice these signs act fast and get your cat to a cool environment, soak them with cool (not cold!) water, and give them all the water they want. Then for safety take them to the vet!

Treats to Beat the Heat

Our pets love cool treats on hot summer days as much as we do! While we would love to share our ice cream, there are much healthier options. Here are a few Simple & Quick recipes to make some special snacks to cool down your special furry friends:

Peanut Butter Ice Treats

-1 cup peanut butter
-Half a ripe banana
-Water

In a bowl mix up the peanut butter with a splash of water. Mash the banana into the mixture until everything is mixed together. Spoon the mixture into a ice cube tray and let freeze. Once frozen they are ready to be eaten!

Meat Stock Freezes

-Low sodium Chicken or Beef stock
-Chopped carrots, peas, squash, or potato (or any other veggies your dog loves!)

If your dog loves ice cubes this is the treat for them! Super simple to make too. Just get an ice cube tray and toss a few veggies into each cube. Fill up with the broth and freeze. Perfect for a quick and yummy cool down.

Coconut Oil Coat Treats

-Coconut Oil
-Unsweetened Applesauce
-Blueberries

This treat is the perfect cool down if your pup loves coconut oil. Coconut Oil can help maintain coat shine and health. Dogs skin can get so dry in the summer, so this is a good treat that can provide relief inside and out. Heat the coconut oil so it liquefies. Take an empty ice cube tray or a silicone candy tray and spoon a little applesauce and a few blueberries into each spot. Pour the coconut oil over the fruit and put in the freezer. Treats can be served as soon as they are frozen.

With all this extra care and attention your pets may end up loving the summer weather! Remember to put health and safety before fun and make choices that put your pet’s health (and your own) as the top priority. Look out for the heat exhaustion warning signs and act fast! An emergency vet trip is a major summer bummer! With these Simple & Quick ways to help your pets beat the heat, you and your furry friends can enjoy everything a Michigan summer has to offer!

Simple & Quick Homemade Dog Treats

Posted Friday, July 6th, 2018

Dog food and treats can get really expensive, and who knows what mystery ingredients are in those brown little bits? Luckily, there are many easy ways to make your own homemade dog treats! And as an added bonus, even if you add a little too much flour to your treats or leave them in the oven a little too long, your dog will never complain!

Before Getting Started

There are some foods you will need to avoid. Some foods are perfectly safe, or even considered healthy for humans to eat, but are dangerous for dogs. Most of us have heard about the dangers of chocolate, but also avoid any other sources of caffeine, such as coffee or tea. Here is a list of foods to avoid:

Fruits & Vegetables: Avocado, Apple seeds, Persimmon, Peach, and Plum Pits, Grapes & Raisins, Onions & Chives, Garlic, Corn on the Cob, Rhubarb & Tomato Leaves.

Animal Products: Raw Meat, Fat trimmings, Liver, Milk & Cheese (not dangerous, but can cause digestive distress in some dogs), Fish, Cat Food, and Cooked Bones.

Other Foods: Salt, Sugar, Xylitol, Candy, Chewing Gum, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Tobacco, Alcohol, Hops (Beer), Marijuana, Yeast, and Macadamia Nuts.

From that list, you can see how feeding dogs human leftovers could be problematic! I can’t think of a meal I’ve eaten lately that didn’t have Salt, Sugar, or Onions.

Below are some simple recipe ideas for homemade dog treats that are sure to get your pup drooling… more than normal… wait, is that a good thing?

Frozen Treats

Puree 2 cored apples with 1 cup Greek nonfat plain yogurt and water, Freeze in ice cube tray, and serve as a naturally sweet and healthy snack. Makes about 2 trays worth of cubes.

Blend 1 cups cooked chicken, 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 cup chicken stock (ideally homemade unsalted), 1 tablespoon parsley, freeze in ice cube tray, and serve as a savory protein packed snack.

Baked Snacks

Cut sweet potatoes into fries/wedges and bake on parchment at 425F for about 30 min, flipping halfway through the cooking. These things are tasty enough for humans to enjoy!

Mix two cups flour, 1/2 cups peanut butter, 2 eggs, and a little bit of water. Cut using cookie cutters or knife, and bake at 350F for 20 min.

Meal Prep

Think of making this in conjunction with your weekly human meal prep. You will need. 1 1/5 cups brown rice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3 pounds ground turkey, 3 cups fresh spinach, chopped, 2 carrots, shredded, 1 zucchini, shredded, and 1/2 cup peas. Boil your rice and set aside. Cook turkey in a pan with olive oil for 3-5 minutes crumbling, then add the veggies and cook another 3-5 min. Mix in rice, cook, and serve in 1 cup portions.

Speak with your veterinarian about your dog’s dietary needs, and you can create recipes for your own homemade dog treats! Your furry friend will love you for it – I mean, more than he already does!

Pet owners have trusted Modernistic to help keep their homes spot and odor free for over 45 years! We all know that accidents happen, which is why you should trust the pet spot removal experts!

How to Housetrain your Cat or Kitten in 4 Steps

Posted Friday, October 21st, 2016

How can Charlotte, MI cat owners keep their houses clean?

Cat’s may have a reputation for aloof behavior, but if you’re a cat person, you know what rewarding companions cats can be. But that’s only when your cat is happy, and as any cat owner can tell you, successful litter training is an important part of keeping you and your cat happy, and your house clean. Fortunately, it’s not hard to housetrain your cat, because cats prefer a clean living space almost as much as you do.

1. Have the litter tray ready.

Purchase a litter pan and kitty litter from a pet store and have it ready when you bring home your feline friend. Carry the kitty to the litter pan and set it down right inside. Adult cats usually get the hint right away and will seek out the litter box when they need it. Kittens will also want to use the pan, but they may have trouble remembering how to find it, so it’s best to block off part of the house for them and until they can find it reliably. Importantly, don’t move the litter box without helping your cat find its new location.

2. Where should I put the litter box?

Make sure your cat can access the litter box easily. Cats like a little privacy when they’re doing their business, but they also don’t like to feel trapped. A low-traffic area of your home is best, but a closet or tight corner is likely to make a cat feel trapped. Also keep in mind that noises from the dryer, furnace, or other appliance can make a cat nervous. It’s best to avoid these areas, because your cat will probably avoid them anyway.

And remember: cats often don’t like to share. So if you have more than one cat, place multiple litter boxes in different places around the house.

3. Keep it clean

Cats like clean, so it’s important to clean out the litter box regularly. If you can smell your cat’s waste, you can be sure your cat can smell it, too—and your cat may eliminate in a different, cleaner part of the house.

Scoop out solids and dispose of them daily, and change the clay litter about twice a week. When you change the litter, wash the box with a mild detergent. This will cut down on the odors in your home, to the relief of both you and your cat.

4. Dealing with accidents

Not all accidents are accidental. If male cats aren’t neutered, they may spray around the house to mark their territory. If your cat quits using the litter box, call your veterinarian, as this behavior often signals a problem.

Your veterinarian can help your cat, but who’s going to help your carpet? Blot up what you can and contact Modernistic. Our professional pet stain removal team will clean and flush the area, using a powerful pre-treatment process and a hot-water extraction system to clear out any evidence of an accident.

When your house is clean, your cat will be happy—and so will you.

Keep your pet’s shedding in check

Posted Sunday, August 7th, 2016

How do you have so much hair???

Ways to keep your cat’s shedding under control.

You love your pet. But that doesn’t mean you want hair and dander all over your house. Unfortunately, the battle against loose hair seems never ending. So how can you care for your pet and keep a clean house at the same time? Don’t worry, there are steps you can take. Try these top tips to help you keep your pet’s shedding in check.

Brush your pet regularly.

A good brushing can rid your pet’s coat of a great deal of loose fur. If you take time daily to brush your pet either outdoors, in your garage, or in a breezeway, you will not only help your pet maintain a healthy coat, but you can also contain the spread of hair throughout your home.

Keep removable, washable coverings on your furniture.

If your pet is allowed on furniture in certain rooms, consider keeping a washable covering over couches and armchairs. This will allow you to more readily clean these areas and prevent fur from becoming embedded in upholstery. Vacuuming regularly will also help pet hair from spreading to other parts of the house.

Wash your pet on a weekly basis.

By giving your pet a bath, you can help rinse out loose hair and keep its coat healthy and clean. Regular bathing can also help reduce allergens associated with dander or pollen from outdoors. However, take care to only use shampoo specially formulated for your pet, as other shampoos can cause skin irritation.

Is your pet shedding more than usual?

Pets shed to get rid of dead or damaged hair, or to lighten their coat as warmer weather hits. This means that your pet will almost always be shedding to some degree, although they will shed more over the spring and summer. However, if your pet’s coat seems lackluster and thin, it can be a sign of a poor diet. Look into higher quality pet food to be sure your pet is getting enough digestible proteins. And if your pet’s coat seems to itch, or if it is shedding in patches, it could be a sign of illness and should see a vet.

Try Modernistic’s Pet Solutions

Overwhelmed by cleaning? A thorough, professional cleaning can get rid of a lot of the excess hair floating around your house and help you keep your pet’s shedding in check. Contact the Modernistic team today to schedule an appointment.