Here are some tips and tricks to know how to clean a carpet. Make the task lighter and find a carpet like new. Read more detailed information on the subject below.
How to clean a carpet?
Not easy to remove dust and stains without damaging the carpet. Yet there are techniques to easily clean a carpet at home without having to work too hard. If you maintain your carpet with steam, you can before carrying out this cleaning sprinkle a little baking soda. It will improve everything. Of course, every week you better vacuum the dust. If your carpet has heavily encrusted stains, you can use hot water with vinegar. If your carpet has long pile, shake it against a wall to remove dust and all dirt then mix water and white vinegar (in a ratio of 5/6 and 1/6) and place your mixture in a spray bottle that you can use to “water down” your carpet.
Tips, tricks and advice
There are different ways to clean a carpet. Here are some suggestions depending on the nature of the stain.
How to clean a stained carpet?
Did you just stain your carpet? It is best to act quickly. This is the best stain-proofing tip. When you spill a product or food on your carpet, immediately cover the stain with a paper towel. Never use too much water or a well-dampened sponge, as this could make your stain larger. And then, as a precaution, before using any anti-stain product, test it on a small non-visible area. Here are solutions by type of stain:
- Coffee or tea: rub the stain with a mixture of detergent and white vinegar.
- Chewing gum: do not try to pull on the chewing gum, it could be even more difficult to remove. Instead, harden it with ice cubes so that it is easier to remove. Protect the edge of the stain with a cloth or absorbent paper so that the gum does not penetrate further into the carpet.
- Red wine: place baking soda on the spot of the carpet stain. To be effective, it must be left for three minutes and rinsed with lukewarm water.
- Ink: to remove an ink stain, “pinch” your stain with a clean white cloth soaked in hot liquid milk.
How to clean a carpet that has an unpleasant odor?
To restore a pleasant character to a carpet that has a strong unpleasant smell, neutralize the smell with baking soda. Sprinkle the impregnated area. Let it act for ten minutes then remove the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner. You can then scent your carpet with essential oils such as lavender, geranium or cinnamon oils.
How do you clean a carpet that has furniture marks?
Again, you can solve the problem with ice cubes. Place ice cubes on the area and let them melt. The carpet should puff up a little and make the trace of the furniture disappear. If the mark is very large, to undo the indentation, you can use the tines of a fork to lift the carpet fibers. The easiest way is to rotate your carpet once or twice a year, to balance its wear and ensure that the marks do not always appear in the same place.
How to clean a carpet according to its material?
Not all carpets need to be cleaned the same way. The extent of the damage to be corrected or the material of the carpet will determine the process. Here are the most common tips depending on the material of your mat:
- Wool: shake your rug then vacuum to remove all dirt and clean with a clean cloth dampened with mild soap and water. Dry quickly.
- Cotton: also vacuum, in one direction then in the other. For a thorough cleaning, rinse with white vinegar and warm or hot water.
- Synthetic fibres: vacuum your carpet very frequently and use dry foam to clean it.
- Natural fibres: you can clean your sisal in salt water with a barely dampened cloth. Do not dry it in direct sunlight.
Recommendations for the maintenance of your carpets
If your carpet represents for you a real accessory of design and comfort and brings elegance to your decoration, clean it as well as possible and make sure that it never loses its superbness. In order for your carpet to last a long time, it is necessary to clean it regularly, vacuuming it at least once a week; in this way, dirt does not settle. Because that’s what creates an unpleasant smell: the accumulation of dust in the fibers. You must also take care of the surface of your carpet.
Admittedly, this can help hide damaged soil, but that does not mean that you should forget to maintain this surface. Because it can in turn damage the carpet. In the same way, pay attention to furniture with too sharp edges. Sharp table or chair legs could tear or damage your rug. The excessive weight of your furniture is also a problem. Because not only will they leave marks but they will also deteriorate and reduce the life of your carpet. Finally, you always have the option of leaving the maintenance of your carpet to a cleaning company. Thus, a professional will make every effort to restore the initial delicacy of your carpet and extend its life.