Your carpet is often a victim of abuse, from muddy footprints to pet messes, wine spills and tea/coffee stains. A stained and dingy carpet steals the beauty of a home while allergens and dirt collected on it can cause respiratory problems. However, with the right tools, you can deep clean carpet easily and enjoy a fresh smelling carpet flooring that will last stain-free for years. A clean carpet is critical to the appearance of your home and the health of your family. Here are a few carpet cleaning tips to make life a little easier for you.
How To Clean Carpet Flooring
Regular vacuuming will keep your carpet looking fresh all the time, but tough stains not only make it look dingy and dirty, but also are extremely difficult to handle.
Clean the mess with a detergent
When it comes to cleaning grease stains, the idea is to dissolve a drop of a grease-cutting dishwashing detergent in a glass of water. Add the solution to a spray bottle so it can be sprayed directly onto the stain.
You may need to spray the detergent solution a few times until it completely cuts through the grease and stains in the carpet floor.
Or you may want to spray the solution onto an absorbent cloth and gently dab it on the stained area. Follow up with blotting until the stain dissolves.
Finally, stack a few paper towels on the spot, covering with a heavy pot, for a deep cleaning effect. This will soak up any residual stain hidden inside. Next day, all you need to do is to fluff the fibers gently and let them air-dry.
Freshen it up with baking soda
For a natural carpet cleaning approach, sprinkle one box of baking soda on a stained carpet. Wait for 10 minutes and let the soda absorb the bad odor before vacuuming.
It is a good idea to start with a new vacuum bag and filter so the vacuum’s suction efficiently does the job of picking up the fine powder from the rug or carpet. Baking soda is known to cling to dirt particles and freshen it up.
Steam clean is no option; vacuum cleaning is
For a deep clean carpet, you do not always need to buy or rent a machine to steam clean your carpet and remove stubborn stains. So how can you clean up the mess without a steam cleaner? Well, it’s easy. Your vacuum cleaner can do the job efficiently.
It should help to vacuum both vertically and horizontally for a deep clean effect. This is especially helpful to remove pet hair and dander.
Get rid of pet stains and smells
Your four-legged buddy is your best friend. But those poop and urine stains are a complete mess to clean up from your carpet. It is a good idea to use a carpet cleaner with enzymes. The idea is to destroy odor-causing bacteria. You may want to make a solution with 10 drops of peppermint oil and 16 ounces of warm water.
Pour the solution in a bottle and spray on the stinky area. Leave it for a few minutes to dry. Clean with a damp cloth. Leave the damp cloth on the area for 10-12 hours to remove odor. This should also help prevent pets from soiling the spot again.
Spritz club soda
Did you know that club soda is an excellent cleanser? Wondering how to get rid of those grape juice or red wine stains on the carpet?
When spritzed on the carpet, club soda works as a stain remover on spills, wine stains, and greasy oily spots. It is gentle on most carpet fibers and should not cause damage. Blot up the greasy or colorful substance with folded paper towel. Use a wet absorbent cloth soaked in club soda and press on the spill.
Repeat the process until you see the stain. To speed up the process or to clear stubborn stains, you can sprinkle salt over the area. Leave it for 10 minutes and then vacuum clean the site. To complete the carpet cleaning process, just wipe the area with a fresh damp cloth.
Get the liquid dish soap working
You have accidentally spilled coffee on the carpet. Wondering how to clean carpet flooring? Well, it is simple to get rid of the coffee stains and clean the carpet effortlessly with a liquid soap. Mix one tablespoon each of vinegar and liquid dish soap with double the amount of warm water.
Soak a sponge in the solution and gently rub the stain. Sponge with cold water and let it dry.
While you can try out these green carpet cleaning tips at home, make sure to keep your carpet dry all the time. Wet carpet fiber soaks up a lot of stains and dirt. Not to mention, a wet, moist carpet or rug is a hotbed of mold growth. After cleaning the carpet, plan your exit strategy so nobody walks on a wet carpet.
When it comes to deep clean carpet effect, scrub and blot your rugs and carpets. When you are done, the final step is to dry them out. A paper towel works for a small spot. But for a larger stain, you may use a hairdryer or fan.