How to Clean Carpet
by jyoti singh digital marketerThe carpet is subjected to a lot of abuse from shoes, spills, and pets. We are willing to put forth the effort to keep it clean, however, because it adds so much warmth and comfort to our feet. Any carpet, including wall-to-wall carpets and rugs, can be extended by frequent vacuuming and periodic deep cleaning. In this article, we'll share some tips and tricks that will make cleaning carpet easier and keep it clean longer.
How Often to Clean Carpet
It is imperative that you vacuum your carpets at least once a week, more frequently if you have pets or children. Stains and spills must be dealt with immediately. At least twice per year, consider hiring a professional carpet cleaning company or doing a deeper clean yourself.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
Vacuum
Spray bottle
Microfiber cloth
Bucket
Oscillating fan
Scrub brush with stiff nylon bristles
Old towels or rags
Clothes steamer
Steam mop
Materials
Distilled white vinegar
Baking soda
Table salt
Instructions
How to clean a carpet with the right materials and tools
A Spruce / Sarah Lee
Cleaning a Carpet Routinely
Get Rid of Dust and Dirt
It is dust and soil particles that make carpet fibers dull and retain odors, and it wears out the carpet backing and fibres over time. To clean carpets, the best method is to use a vacuum that has strong suction. There are also other ways to clean carpet if you do not have a vacuum, such as using an old-fashioned broom or carpet sweeper.
A few tips for your routine cleaning:
Consider moving furniture and other items from the carpet before vacuuming to ensure a thorough cleaning.
To get the strongest suction, place the vacuum at a height appropriate for the type of carpet you have.
Vacuum slowly and several times over high-traffic areas for best results.
For quick clean-up of crumbs, use a lint roller.
To collect pet hair, use a squeegee with a rubber edge.
Spritz baking soda liberally on your carpet every month to make it fresh and bright. Vacuum it away after it has sat for a few hours or more to absorb oily stains and odors.
Cleaning tan carpet with a vacuum machine's suction hose
Spot-Clean Stains
A carpet stain should be treated as soon as possible. To remove liquid spills, use a white cloth or paper towel to blot away the moisture. Use only colorfast clothes and napkins.
To remove more solid mud stains or food drops, use the edge of a credit card or dull knife. Stains should never be rubbed into the fibres with solids. You can use a stain removal chart to remove specific types of stains after the initial clean-up.
The following is a quick reference list of the five most common carpet stains:
Pet accidents
Red wine
Coffee
Ink
Nail polish
Liquid spill over tan carpet blotted with paper towel
Ways to Deep Clean Carpet
To remove heavy soil, restore the buoyancy of the fibres, and brighten the colour of the carpet, a deep cleaning will eventually be required. A professional carpet cleaning service uses a combination of detergents and steam to deep clean carpets, and recommends you have them cleaned at least once per year. Alternatively, you can rent a heavy-duty steam cleaner and use the recommended carpet shampoo. You can use a professional cleaning service or rent a machine if you have wall-to-wall carpeting throughout your home, but it might be cost-prohibitive.
Do-it-yourselfers can use smaller carpet cleaners with liquid carpet shampoo or dry shampoo. Using some simple products and tools you probably have in your pantry, you can also deep clean area carpets or even wall-to-wall carpeting.
Clean With Distilled White Vinegar
Vacuum and Treat Visible Stains
Before cleaning the carpet, vacuum it to remove loose soil, dust, dirt, and debris. The soil may be pushed around or driven deeper into the fibres if you skip this step. Special treatment may be required to remove certain stains like oil, tar, and pet accidents. Consult a stain removal chart to determine the right cleaner to use.
Cleaning a tan carpet with vacuum cleaner
Vinegar and water should be mixed together
Add one part vinegar and three parts water to a spray bottle. Cleaning wall-to-wall carpets will require several refills of the bottle.
WARNING
Spray the vinegar solution on a hidden area of the carpet before starting the deep-cleaning process to determine its colorfastness. Use the solution only if there is no bleeding or color change.
Water and distilled white vinegar in a glass spray bottle
The solution should be applied, waited for, and then blotted
Make sure your carpet is very moist before spraying the vinegar solution. Do not saturate the carpet. Make a grid so you can see when you have finished cleaning. Take extra precautions to protect the floor beneath an area rug when cleaning it.
To break down the soil, allow the solution to remain on the carpet for five minutes. Blot the solution and soil away with a microfiber cloth. Rinse the cloth with clean water afterward. As it becomes soiled, change the water frequently.
The solution is sprayed over the carpet until it is damp
Air-dry the carpet
Increase the airflow in the room by opening windows or adding oscillating fans. Wait until the carpet is completely dry before walking on it.
During wet weather, place plastic sheeting or tarps over the traffic pathways to prevent stains.
While carpet dries, an oscillating brass fan increases airflow
Salt and Baking Soda Clean
Pretreat stains after vacuuming and vacuuming
After you vacuum or sweep the carpet to remove loose soil, follow the stain removal chart instructions to remove visible stains.
Cleaning carpet with baking soda and salt with a red vacuum
Baking soda and salt together
A one-to-one mixture of baking soda and salt should be mixed in a small bowl or bucket. Table or Kosher salt can be used. Pour cold water into a spray bottle.
Mixing salt and baking soda for carpet cleaning
Sprinkling, spritzing, and scrubbing
Spread a liberal amount of baking soda and salt on the carpet. Starting in a corner and working your way to the exit may be easier for you.
After spritzing, use a spray bottle filled with plain water to rinse the area. It should be damp, but not sopping wet. Scrub the carpet with a scrub brush to work the baking soda deeper into its fibers. To lift the soil, move in one direction and then turn 90 degrees.
A tan carpet is sprinkled with baking soda and salt and scrubbed with a scrub brush
Wet, dry, and vacuum
Use old towels or rags to wipe away loose soil after scrubbing. Baking soda can be left in the fibres. Air-dry the carpet completely. Make sure all baking soda remains in the fibers are removed with a vacuum. Make sure the carpet looks brighter and smells fresh.
An old green rag is used to clean the carpet of baking soda and salt
You can also deep clean carpet with a clothes steamer or steam mop that are usually used to clean hard-surface floors.
Pretreat stains after vacuuming and vacuuming
Pretreat stained areas by vacuuming and removing loose soil from the carpet.
Using a white microfiber cloth, pre-treat stains on the carpet
With Baking Soda and Salt, sprinkle and steam
To mix baking soda and salt, follow the same steps. Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet and dampen it with steam rather than cold water.
Hold a clothes steamer about six to twelve inches away from the carpet when using it. Make sure the carpet is completely moistened by the steam. Apply the damp mixture to the carpet with a scrub brush.
Using a steam mop, go over the baking soda mixture on the carpet using the microfiber mop head or carpet attachment. Use the scrub brush to clean the area again.
A roller passes over salt and baking soda sprinkled carpet
Bleach, dry, and vacuum
You can use old towels or microfiber cloths to absorb the loose soil. Ensure that the carpet is completely dry before vacuuming to remove any residue left in the carpet.
Steamed baking soda and salt are absorbed by the vacuum
Tips for keeping carpets clean for longer
To capture soil, place doormats at all entrances.
Avoid tracking dirt into the house by removing your shoes at the door.
Weekly vacuuming is recommended.
Stains should be treated as soon as possible.
Cleaning or changing HVAC filters can trap dust particles circulating in the air before they land on the carpet.
Clean and maintain your vacuum so that it works properly.
To protect your carpet, brush and bathe your pets frequently.
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Created on Apr 3rd 2022 15:56. Viewed 204 times.