Besides vacuuming, there are many things you can do to keep your carpet clean. For example, put doormats at all entrances to reduce indoor dirt and grime, and remove your shoes before entering a home with carpeting.
Various household cleaners are available for removing different stains. Pook recommends formulas that use hydrogen peroxide. For professional help, call All Pro Services now!
Professionals use commercial-grade steam cleaners and cleaning solutions to really get a deep clean of your carpets. They can also handle tough stains like wine, red juice or ink and eliminate bad smells. They also have powerful vacuums that are much more effective than household units, especially for high-traffic areas. Generally, they charge per room or area plus the cost of the cleaning solutions, but they often have a minimum price for services.
One of the most popular methods, hot water extraction, uses hot water and cleaning agents injected into your carpet under pressure to loosen dirt and dissolve residues. It’s the preferred method for most carpet manufacturers and can help reduce allergens, mildew, fungi and bacteria in your home.
Another option is encapsulation cleaning, which uses recently developed chemical technologies to offer low-moisture or no-moistness carpet cleaning for beautification and removal of odors, sand, dirt and other particulates. This technique is ideal for commercial locations because it requires minimal downtime.
Bonnet cleaning involves using a rotating pad with cleaning solution to scrub your carpeting. It provides a quick surface cleaning but doesn’t penetrate as deep as other methods, and it can leave a residue. It’s best used on older carpeting and on carpets that can’t be wet.
Before your professional comes, clear away as much clutter as possible to make their job easier and faster. Move any furniture or items you can, and remove drapes from the floor (or tie them up to prevent damage). Also, note any spots or stains that need special attention. This will help your technician focus on those areas and not miss them. Keep children and pets out of the way, too. They may distract the technician or cause damage to equipment.
DIY Cleaning
Carpets add texture, color and warmth to a room. Unfortunately, they seem to soak up stains like nobody’s business. Regular vacuuming helps, but you need to deep clean your carpets a few times a year to keep them looking and smelling fresh. If you don’t have a professional cleaner or don’t want to rent one, there are DIY ways to get your carpets sparkling clean.
Whether you scrounge through your pantry or check the aisles of your local eco-friendly market, there are plenty of natural cleaning products to choose from. Most of these can be used to clean carpet stains. With some experimenting, you’ll find the right combination of ingredients and ratios to get your rugs looking good as new again.
Before using any DIY natural cleaning solution, make sure you know what type of carpeting you have. Some types of natural fiber may react differently to certain solutions and mixtures, so test a small patch of your carpeting before proceeding. Also, you’ll need to take extra care in moving furniture and covering it with plastic to protect the floors underneath.
To spot clean synthetic rugs, use a clean white cloth and gently dab at the stain. You can also mix a homemade natural carpet shampoo with water in a spray bottle and mist the stain. Just be careful not to pour the mixture directly onto the carpeting, which could damage its backing and cause discoloration.
To make a basic natural carpet shampoo, combine one-half cup of distilled white vinegar with a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and one-fourth cup of powdered oxygen bleach. Mix well and add warm water to fill a clean spray bottle. Spray the solution liberally on a stained area of your carpet and blot it with a clean, dry towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
Vacuuming
Carpets add comfort and warmth to rooms, but they can also trap dirt, dust, and allergens. Getting your carpets cleaned regularly will keep them looking great and make your home healthier, especially for people with allergies or asthma. Vacuuming is the first step, and you should do it often—a couple of times a month is ideal. Use the crevice tool to clean corners and around furniture, too.
A good quality vacuum is essential for keeping your carpets in top shape. Look for a model with the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval to be sure you’re getting the best results. If you don’t want to invest in a new vacuum, you can rent one from most home improvement stores.
Using a shampooer is another way to get your carpets fresh and clean. Be sure to follow all instructions for your specific machine, including pretreating stains and color testing before you begin. You may also want to remove any furniture or other objects that rest on the carpet. When you’re done, let the carpet dry completely before walking on it.
Mix your cleaning solution in the carpet shampooer’s reservoir, or as instructed on the label of the cleaner you purchase. Test the cleaner on an out-of-the-way spot of your carpet to be sure it’s colorfast and safe for your particular carpet. You can also pretreat the stain by blotting it with dry towels until the moisture is removed. This will help your carpet stain remover work even better. After you’ve shampooed your carpet, it should take 6 to 8 hours for it to fully dry. If you need to walk on it before then, put down clean plastic bags to prevent tracking in dirt and dust.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a safe and non-toxic household item that can lift stains and smells from carpets. It’s an excellent deodorizer and works well for removing musty odors from pet accidents and other causes of staining. You can use it on its own or in combination with other products to remove stains and other aesthetic blemishes from your carpet.
However, it’s important to know that too much baking soda can damage your carpet. This happens because it has an abrasive nature and can wear down the fibers of your carpet. It also breaks down the latex adhesive in your carpet’s backing and can cause the fibers to delaminate. This is a big problem and can shorten the life of your carpet, making it expensive to replace.
The best way to use baking soda to remove stains from your carpet is to vacuum it first to lift any loose particles and help with the cleaning process. You should always do this before attempting to clean any type of stain from carpet or upholstery. If your carpet is stained with grease, you should blot it first with a paper towel to try and remove as much of the stain as possible without rubbing the area too hard. Once the area is blotted, sprinkle it with dry baking soda and let it sit for several hours (overnight would work better) to absorb any remaining grease.
When you’re dealing with non-greasy stains such as coffee, wine, or ink, you have a slightly easier time because there is no underlying oily residue. The baking soda just needs to absorb the color of the stain. First, blot the stain with a rag or paper towel and then sprinkle the affected area with baking soda. If it’s still wet, you can try spraying a little water on the area to help moisten the baking soda.
Steam Cleaning
Carpet steam cleaning is a method commonly used by professionals to remove dirt, grime, and allergens from carpets. It works by injecting hot water and a cleaning solution into carpet fibers, which then breaks up the soil and is removed by the power of the steam cleaner. The process can be done at home, but it’s important to know how to use the machine properly.
First, it’s important to clear out the space where you plan to steam clean. Move furniture away from the carpet and pick up small toys, pet beds, and other objects. You can also protect the legs of heavy furnishings by placing squares of foil or wood blocks underneath them. Next, vacuum the carpet with a handheld steam cleaner or your regular vacuum to remove dust and other large particulates from the floor.
Finally, choose a cleaning solution that is safe for your carpet type. Some cleaners are too harsh for certain types of fabric, so it’s important to spot-test them on a corner of the carpet before using them. If you have any doubts, contact a professional.
While regular vacuuming and spot-treating stains as they occur can help keep your carpets looking their best, it’s still important to have them professionally steam cleaned every six months. This will prevent dirt and stains from building up, keeping your carpets fresher for longer and extending their lifespan. It’s also a good idea to regularly dust your walls, baseboards, and ceiling fans to minimize the amount of dust that blows back onto your clean carpet.