Carpet Cleaning Tips

Are you sick and tired of your carpets looking dingy and dirty all the time?  With just a few carpet cleaning tips, you can keep your carpet looking clean and new a lot longer.

First of all you really need to invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner with good suction.  This can be quite an investment, so you will need to do research on the best type of vacuum for your needs and the size of your house.  There are many sites where you can find reviews and comparisons.  Vacuum your carpets on a regular basis and you will remove dirt and allergens.  Wipe up spills as soon as possible.  Many spills will attract dirt and create unsightly stains on your carpet.  Also, larger spills may go down into the pad therefore making it harder to remove a stain.  Dirt will become almost like a magnet to these sticky spill spots.

One common problem that homeowners run into is cleaning their carpets too often. Cleaning your carpet too often can actually damage your carpet and shorten its life span.

Another mistake homeowners make is using store bought carpet cleaners. These cleaners contain ingredients that leave behind a sticky residue that temporarily removes the stain and makes the carpet look better. However, in just a few days or weeks, the spot “comes back” even dirtier than before and continues to collect more dirt. Oftentimes the spots that are cleaned are worse than the original spot.

. Ivory bar soap has been used with success in removing red wine, tomato sauce and grape jelly stains from carpet. Simply rub with an old toothbrush and then rinse well.

· Ammonia and water mixture (50-50) with just a few drops of liquid soap is yet another home remedy that works well. Spray the area and let sit for a few seconds. You may gently rub the mixture into the stain. Don’t allow the mixture to sit for more than a few seconds and then suck up with a wet/dry vac. Repeat the process until the stain in gone and continue to use the wet/dry vac until the carpet is almost dry. You don’t want the fluid to sit too long as the stain will seep down deeper into the carpet and into the pad.

· Foam shaving cream is another trick that homeowners use to get mud out of carpet. Let it sit for a couple minutes and then blot it up.

· To remove tea, coffee or red wine stains from your carpet, pour soda water over the stain then blot dry, repeat until stain has gone.

Sometimes using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hot water will also remove stubborn stains. Be sure to test an area of your carpet first as it might bleach the area

· Urine stains come out by using rubbing alcohol on the area. It will take out the pet odor as well because it kills the bacteria. Baking soda sprinkled over the area and left to sit will also help with the odor and stain.

· Pet vomit is especially hard to remove. After blotting up the mess, sprinkle the area with salt and cover with a large damp cloth. Leave on for several hours and the stain will be gone!

· For mold and mildew, use a non-chlorine bleach or lemon juice and salt solution. Or use hydrogen peroxide (3%) mixed with 5 parts water. Be sure to test an area of the fabric or carpet for colorfastness.

Remember that most of the soil that’s in your carpet is dry.  The remainder is oils, greases and starches.  Be sure to vacuum regularly/daily to remove the dirt in your carpet. Other carpet cleaning tips include the obvious:  place rugs at entrances (inside and outside) and have guests and family members remove their shoes before entering the house.  Sometimes purchasing a rug that’s at least 6 to 12 feet long will dramatically cut down on the amount of dirt and grime that is carried to your carpet.