The best way to cover the hard floor and decorate the room at the same time is to get a carpet. They can be made from organic or synthetic fibres, they can be beautifully decorated or simple, and they all create a unique atmosphere in the room. However, staining your carpet is almost inevitable. It is simply the consequence of living, moving around, and being clumsy. If you have pets, then it’s likely you had a hard time teaching them not to relieve themselves on your carpets. If you don’t want to say goodbye to your stained carpet and don’t know how to approach cleaning it, read these expert tips.
Vacuum regularly
It goes without saying that floors need to be vacuumed at least once a week. High-traffic areas should be vacuumed twice a week, as the dirt builds up faster on them. It’s important to regularly remove the dirt from the carpet so it doesn’t damage the carpet fibres and create stains. Be careful how you do it, though. Don’t drag the vacuum too fast, as it will grind the carpet with coarse dirt particles, making it appear dull or worn out. Make two slow passes, and it should be enough to get all the dirt out. Also, make sure that filters are clean and the dust bag is changed when needed. Regular carpet maintenance is crucial to creating a healthy house environment, so check out these three health benefits of carpet cleaning.
Try cleaning with only water first
Before reaching out for strong cleaning agents, try to remove the stain with water first. For example, you can remove mud and dirt successfully if you treat them immediately. First, press a dry, white cloth over the stain to absorb it as much as you can. Then, gently work water into the stain with a cloth and repeat the process until the stain is gone. Resist the urge to scrub the stain because you can accidentally damage the fibres and spread the stain across the larger area. Instead, carefully blot the stain and work from its outside toward the inside. When you are done with the cleaning process, let the carpet dry fully before putting the furniture back.
Test out home remedies
If the water alone didn’t remove the stain, it’s time to search for another cleaning solution. Before you purchase chemical cleaning agents, you can try to remove the stain with some home remedies. For wine, coffee and even some older stains, a mix of baking soda and white vinegar will do wonders. Sprinkle the baking soda over the stain and leave for 30 minutes. After that, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with 1 l of warm water. Spray the mixture on the stained area and leave it to rest for one hour. Then gently scrub the stain with the scrubbing brush and remove the mixture with a dry cloth. However, due to the mixture’s high concentration, it is not recommended to apply it on soft fabric carpets such as plush or wool carpets.
Resort to other cleaning chemicals
Although home remedies can be a great cleaning solution if you want to protect your environment, sometimes they may not be enough. In this case, you will need to look for some stronger cleaning agents. Still, be careful. Some cleaning agents contain strong chemicals that can cause even more damage to the carpet than the stain itself. Before applying anything to the carpet, it is advisable to test it on the inconspicuous area first. Blood stains are one of the most stubborn stains that your carpet can face. Luckily, some great cleaning methods can help you save your precious carpet. Sponge the stain with a mixture using a dry cloth. Repeat the process until the stain is removed. If it remains, mix one tablespoon of ammonia with 1 cup of water. Remember never to mix ammonia and chlorine bleach because when combined, their fumes are hazardous.
Leave it to the professionals
If you don’t want to tackle the problem of carpet stains by yourself, you can always hire experienced carpet cleaners. Maybe you don’t want to experiment with cleaning solutions on an expensive carpet. Maybe, you don’t remember the origin of an old stain and therefore don’t know how to clean it. Either way, your carpet would benefit from one of the thorough, professional house cleaning services. Steam cleaners will perform a deep cleaning of your carpet, leaving it looking as good as new. It would feel like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen for years.
To sum up, a great way to decorate your living room is to get a clean carpet. The most important thing about cleaning carpet stains is to act quickly. Don’t let liquids get absorbed deep in the fibers. Blot them with a dry white cloth right away, and then clean what’s left by following the advice listed above. It should be enough to rid your carpet of almost any stain. If none of that works, there are cleaning businesses that can help you out.
