The A to Z of Carpet Cleaning

Can you do carpet cleaning on your own?

Carpets are essential pieces that make the home comfortable and beautiful. As a finishing, people choose different types of the carpet depending on their budget and lifestyle. With a variety of carpets in the market, there are different cleaning methods for them. It is almost natural that you want to keep your carpet spotless – this is possible. However, if you have a Persian carpet, an antique rug or some other carpet of highvalue, please give them to professionals for proper cleaning. DIY cleaning procedures can likely hurt the fibres of these expensive carpets and reduce their value.

You wouldn’t want that, right? So, how then can you keep your carpet clean? This article will guide you through carpet cleaning methods.

Effective care of carpets

If you clean your carpet, you are doing an excellent job; but keep in mind that there will be spills, smears, and dirt from the shoes on your carpet. Pets, kids, visitors, and a busy lifestyle will also contribute to a messed up carpet.

That said, here are 8 easy steps you must adopt for a long-lasting carpet;

1. Regular vacuuming:

You may have heard this rule before. But we want to reiterate that each passing day, you should ensure to vacuum clean your carpet. What’s in it for you? Vacuuming removes every embedded dirt, dust, hair, mud, and other carpet contaminants. And if you have pets, the more vacuum cleaning you should do. Where you don’t do this, you will have a germ-packed carpet to deal with.

2. Remove household dust:

When there is dust inside your house, it won’t only affect the carpet but also disturb those that are allergic. So, ensure to dust your house each day with a dust cloth. An air filter can also be installed to keep the dust out.

3. Clean the air ducts:

Don’t skip this part. Air ducts are common places where bacteria, allergens, and dust lie. From there, they can spread into the air vents and settle on the carpets. This may seem like no big deal, but it is!

4. Wipe that stain before it dries:

Carpet stains should be quickly cleaned up before they dry.

5. Pick the right carpet:

High-traffic areas on carpets are susceptible to wear and tear. So, choose carpets that are wear-resistant, like oriental rugs and area rugs. You can be sure of new-looking carpets when you buy these carpet types.

6. Set up a feet cleaning spot:

No matter how much you clean, there’ll always be dirt on your carpet. But if the dirt is reduced, cleaning becomes easy. So, try and put up an area where family members and guests can take off their shoes and clean their feet before entering the house. In no small way, this will reduce the level of dusting and vacuuming you’ll do and take out a ton of diseases that could affect little children (if you have any that play on the carpet).

7. Buy a doormat:

Doormats are available in a variety of styles and for sale at affordable prices; you can brighten up your front door with a doormat. What will this do? It will reduce carpet pollutants that come in through the door as it will wipe them off shoes and feet.

8. Hand over the cleaning to professionals:

It is so great a job to do your cleaning by yourself all the time. However, you need some rest from scrubbing, dusting and cleaning. Besides, you can’t keep that carpet thoroughly clean with just your routine cleaning. You must bring in a carpet cleaning specialist to clean your carpet at least once a year. Their cleaning is very intense and would guarantee a hygienic and healthy carpet. Professional cleaning also adds to the longevity of carpets. You cannot clean your carpet so well as a professional would. Most importantly, the health benefits of expert carpet cleaning aren’t something you should trivialise.

Getting rid of carpet stains by yourself

Stains are common on carpets. They come from many sources: spilt coffee, wine, water, oil from foods, accidentally dropped makeup products, etc.

Here are some ways you can tackle stains using home-made recipes:

1. Blot stains; don’t rub:

When you rub stains on the carpet, you end up spreading the particles all over the carpet area. So, instead, get a cleaning solution and cloth or whatever material you can lay your hands on at the time of the spill and dab the stain. Blotting will absorb the stain into the cloth containing the solution. Don’t forget to begin the blotting by working from the outside the stain inward. If you do it in the opposite direction, the stain will spread.

2. Use local cleaning solutions:

A common household cleaning agent you can use to wipe off stains is club soda. But you must do it the right way to achieve the result. If you have tried club soda and a cleaning cloth, yet it did not work, you can proceed to mix equal parts of white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Cover the stained area with the solution and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. This timeline is given for the solution to soak into the stain.

Come back to the stain and press down on it with a paper towel, sponge or cloth to absorb the stain and solution. Repeat the procedure until the stain is entirely removed. Good job, right? But you’re just warming up to it. When the stain is wiped off completely, rinse the area with warm water. Then use either a comb or brush to straighten the carpet fibres into their original position.

Place white paper towels on the area and press down with a heavy object. The moisture will be absorbed from the carpet into the towels in around 24 hours.

That’s the end of the procedure. However, if you feel it is too stressful, contact the nearest carpet cleaning professional, and the job will be done in no time.

3. Try shaving cream:

For general carpet stains, you can try using shaving cream. Simply place the shaving cream on the stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. When the shaving cream has been set, get a dry white cloth and blot it away. If you want an amazing outcome, spray the spot with equal parts of white vinegar and water. Blot the place again and finish off by wiping with a dry towel.

4. Chewing gum can help:

Oh yes, your chewing gum can actually work for stain removal. How? Cover the stained spot with some chewing gum. Get ice cubes and freeze the gum for around 60 seconds. After it has become hard, get a spoon, lift the gum and cut the carpet strands near the gum. This may appear way too old fashioned, but it does work. But you still have another option – call a professional carpet cleaner!

5. Use dishwashing detergent:

Aha! This kitchen material is very effective against greasy stains. Not only does it wash your cups, plates and spoons, but it can also remove stains caused by grease on your carpet. So, get a cup of water, and add few drops of dishwashing detergent. It should separate the grease from the carpet like it does the oils from your plates. Alternatively, you can pack the solution into a spray bottle and make a direct application. After this, take a cloth and blot up. You may repeat the process several times until you see a good outcome. Also, you may choose to let go of the hassle and simply give a cleaning expert a call.

6. Candle wax:

Yes, candle wax! Light a candle and drop melted wax over the stain. Allow it to cool and harden. Taking it off the carpet may not produce excellent results, but there’s a way to reduce damage to the carpet.

Lay a white cloth on the wax and place a hot iron on top to warm up the wax. Take a butter knife and scrape off the wax. Continue with laying a paper towel on the stained spot and move the iron over the paper for 30 seconds. Should this be successful, all the wax will melt and stick to the paper. A repeat of the procedure may be done till the wax is removed completely. Be careful not to use a coloured cloth as it will transfer its pigment onto the carpet, particularly if it is a light-coloured carpet. Ensure you use white material.

7. Hydrogen peroxide:

This works for bloodstained carpets. You should begin with a mixture of water and mild detergent – place it on the bloodstain. Scrape as much blood as possible off the carpet fibres and apply the hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain. What you would notice is foaming when the chemical makes contact with the blood. Dab the solution with a cloth.

8. Organic cleaner:

For carpet stains caused by pets, an organic cleaner can work wonders. This may be expensive; however, it will be very effective. Spray the solution on the stain and get ready to scrub. You will not find the smell pleasing, so keep your windows open. Better still, give us a call.

9. For kids-induced stains:

There will certainly be times when your precious carpet fibres will hold candy between them – thanks to your kids. But even this can be removed. Get your butter knife and scrape off the leftover candy as much as possible. The next thing is to mix water and mild soap and place it on the spot. Use a sponge and scrub away. The goal is to remove all the sugar from the carpet as failing to do so will make room for more dirt, and the stickiness will remain. As usual, after scrubbing, get a cloth and blot the dampness.

What you need for DIY carpet cleaning

You will need the following tools if you need to clean your carpet with your hands:

• Rug shampoo or a mild dishwashing detergent
• Soft-bristled brush or sponge
• Bucket
• Rubber gloves
• Water
• Garden hose
• Wet-dry vacuum

Don’t forget to test for colours

Before scrubbing stains, make sure that the cleaning product to be applied does not seep colour. Begin with a corner of the rug and check if the solution retains colour. If the colour does not run, then you are good to go.

If you like a carpet cleaning specialist in London to do the work, you must consider how much it will cost.

The factors that determine the cost include:

• The square footage, whether it is an apartment, office or home
• The type of area – walls, stairs or floors
• The type of cleaning method – hot water steam, deep or dry cleaning
• If you would like protection against stain
• If you would like an anti-insect treatment

Let us know your requirements today, and we’d work with you to achieve an excellent carpet cleaning outcome.