DIY Carpet Cleaning: 5 Tips for Clean and Fresh Carpets in Your Home
A clean carpet improves the overall appearance of your home and the health of the people living there. Here are the top 5 ways of cleaning your carpets at home.
22/07/2021
1. Vacuuming Your Carpet
Start by preparing the room by picking up any toys or other objects on the carpet. Don’t forget to look under the furniture for anything like coins. One of these objects might get lodged in the vacuum cleaner damaging it so it’s prudent to prepare the room for vacuuming.
If there are a few areas that are hard to reach, you should use the nozzle attachment. If you can’t move the furniture, the extension should be able to reach underneath and remove any dust there.
Move the vacuum both vertically and horizontally to clean your carpets effectively. That’s because modern carpet fibers are mostly twisted so cleaning in both directions removes the dust effortlessly and lifts them upright again into the positing they should naturally sit.
If you want a clean home, make sure you vacuum regularly. Try vacuuming at least twice every week or more if you have pets and kids. The main reason for vacuuming is to remove pet dander and hair as well as any dust that has accumulated.
2. Spot-Cleaning Your Carpet
It’s usually done for any recent spills on your carpet. Note that, spot cleaning should not be considered as part of regular carpet maintenance.
Choose a plain white cloth for spot-cleaning your carpet. Anything that’s colorful or patterned will transfer to your carpet. You can also use paper towels for the same effect. Blot the fresh stains using a plain white cloth and use another to remove the stain after blotting. Avoid using bristles or brushes because they will damage the carpet fibers.
Make sure you choose the right carpet cleaner for the job. You can choose any commercial cleaners especially those available in spray cans to make your work easier. Make sure you read the instructions carefully to make sure the carpet cleaner is ideal for the stain.
For instance, if you have a fresh blood stain from an accident at the dinner table with a knife, you should blot using cold water or alternatively you can use hydrogen peroxide. Make sure you don’t use warm water because it will set the stain. If it’s a dry stain, use hydrogen peroxide for blotting then use an enzyme-based detergent.
On the other hand, if it’s pet urine, an enzyme-based cleaner is the best option. However, if you can’t find one, use ammonia solution for the fresh stains as well as warm water and detergent.
If you are not sure whether the carpet cleaning spray you bought is the best for the job, you should test it out on a small part of the carpet. Don’t test on the stain itself.
Once you have confirmed the carpet cleaner is good, you can dab it on the area with the stain using a white cloth. Use enough product to treat the stain. If the carpet cleaner is left in the carpet, it will make a bigger stain. Don’t scrub the carpet too hard.
Now you can rinse the carpet. Use a clean cloth to soak up the remaining carpet cleaner. Don’t pour any extra water because it might cause mold and mildew problems if it doesn’t dry properly.
Another option is to hire a professional carpet cleaning company. The reality is that you will be able to deal with a lot of stains yourself but really deep seated stains that have really embedded themselves into the carpet fibers need proper deep steam carpet cleaning sucking up the stains at 200 plus degrees. According to carpet cleaners, you don’t want to try too hard to clean carpet stains yourself as you might actually do more harm than good and a professional firm won’t be able to help. Basically, try once to remove the stain, if it doesn’t come out call a professional.
3. Shampooing Your Carpets
Start by preparing the room you need to clean. Remove any objects and those that can’t be moved should be covered properly. Prepare the carpet by vacuuming and don’t forget about the all corners, nooks and crannies. Use spot-cleaning to remove the stains on the carpet.
Now you need a carpet shampooing equipment. You can either rent or buy it depending on your preferences. Make sure the carpet is completely dry before you start walking on it. The area should be properly ventilated to allow proper drying. You can also use a water extractor to remove any water left.
4. Clean Small Rugs By Hand
If you have any area rugs, it’s advisable to
clean them by hand. You need to use a few
ingredients such as water and detergent for the
best results. But first, vacuum the rug to
remove any loose dirt before cleaning. Now you
can use a sponge or a brush with soft bristles
to clean it. Leave the rug outside to dry
completely before bringing it back into your
home.
And be 100% sure it’s dry. If you are
not 100% confident leave it outside for another
day or two. A damn rug will cause mold growth.
5. Use Baking Soda to Clean the Carpet
Baking soda is a simple product that can be found in any general store in the baking section. It’s an eco-friendly option for carpet cleaning and can be used to remove stains and odors from your carpet. Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain and spray some water on the area using a spray bottle. Let it sit there for a few hours to n soak up the stain completely. Once the area is completely dry, use the vacuum cleaner to remove the baking soda.
In Summary
In conclusion, you need to clean your carpets regularly to prevent any health issues caused by allergens trapped in the fibers. Use these carpet cleaning methods for the best results. A clean home is a healthy home and a healthy home is a home you can be proud of.